bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qushi Huayu Decoction Inhibits Hepatic Lipid Accumulation by Activating AMP-Activated Protein KinaseIn VivoandIn Vitro
Authors: Feng Qin , Gou Xiao-jun , Meng Sheng-xi , Huang Cheng , Zhang Yu-quan , Tang Ya-jun , Wang Wen-jing , Xu Lin , Peng Jing-hua , Hu Yi-yang
Published: March 2013

Qushi Huayu Decoction (QHD), a Chinese herbal formula, has been proven effective on alleviating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in human and rats. The present study was conducted to investigate whether QHD could inhibit hepatic lipid accumulation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)in vivoandin vitro. Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) model was duplicated with high-fat diet in rats and with free fatty acid (FFA) in L02 cells. Inin vivoexperimental condition, QHD significantly decreased the accumulation of fatty droplets in livers, lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in serum. Moreover, QHD supplementation reversed the HFD-induced decrease in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and decreased hepatic nuclear protein expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) in the liver. Inin vitro, QHD-containing serum decreased the cellular TG content and alleviated the accumulation of fatty droplets in L02 cells. QHD supplementation reversed the FFA-induced decrease in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and ACC and decreased the hepatic nuclear protein expression of SREBP-1 and ChREBP. Overall results suggest that QHD has significant effect on inhibiting hepatic lipid accumulation via AMPK pathwayin vivoandin vitro.
HTR8/SVneo Cells Display Trophoblast Progenitor Cell-Like Characteristics Indicative of Self-Renewal, Repopulation Activity, and Expression of “Stemness-” Associated Transcription Factors
Authors: Weber Maja , Knoefler Ilka , Schleussner Ekkehard , Markert Udo R. , Fitzgerald Justine S.
Published: March 2013

Introduction. JEG3 is a choriocarcinoma—and HTR8/SVneo a transformed extravillous trophoblast—cell line often used to model the physiologically invasive extravillous trophoblast. Past studies suggest that these cell lines possess some stem or progenitor cell characteristics. Aim was to study whether these cells fulfill minimum criteria used to identify stem-like (progenitor) cells. In summary, we found that the expression profile of HTR8/SVneo (CDX2+, NOTCH1+, SOX2+, NANOG+, and OCT-) is distinct from JEG3 (CDX2+ and NOTCH1+) as seen only in human-serum blocked immunocytochemistry. This correlates with HTR8/SVneo’s self-renewal capacities, as made visible via spheroid formation and multi-passagability in hanging drops protocols paralleling those used to maintain embryoid bodies. JEG3 displayed only low propensity to form and reform spheroids. HTR8/SVneo spheroids migrated to cover and seemingly repopulate human chorionic villi during confrontation cultures with placental explants in hanging drops. We conclude that HTR8/SVneo spheroid cells possess progenitor cell traits that are probably attained through corruption of “stemness-” associated transcription factor networks. Furthermore, trophoblastic cells are highly prone to unspecific binding, which is resistant to conventional blocking methods, but which can be alleviated through blockage with human serum.
Some Common Fixed Point Results in Rectangular Metric Spaces
Authors: Arshad Muhammad , Ahmad Jamshaid , Karapınar Erdal
Published: March 2013

We obtain sufficient conditions for the existence of unique common fixed point of(ψ−ϕ)-weakly contractive mappings on complete rectangular metric spaces. In the process, we generalize several fixed point results from the literature. We also give an example to illustrate our work.
Global Exponential Stability of Almost Periodic Solutions for SICNNs with Continuously Distributed Leakage Delays
Authors: Zhang Hong , Yang Mingquan
Published: March 2013

Shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks (SICNNs) are considered with the introduction of continuously distributed delays in the leakage (or forgetting) terms. By using the Lyapunov functional method and differential inequality techniques, some sufficient conditions for the existence and exponential stability of almost periodic solutions are established. Our results complement with some recent ones.
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor: A Rarely Seen Submucosal Lesion of the Stomach
Authors: Arslan Deniz , Gündüz Şeyda , Tural Deniz , Uysal Mükremin , Tatlı Ali Murat , Başsorgun Cumhur İbrahim , Elpek Gülsüm Özlem , Coşkun Hasan Şenol , Bozcuk Hakan Şat , Savaş Burhan
Published: March 2013

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare mesenchymal benign tumor which is generally seen in children and in young adults. It is especially located in the lungs. In histopathological examination, neoplastic fusiform cells originating from a subtype of accessory immune system cells which are called fibroblastic reticulum cells are seen (Kouichi and Youichirou, 2008). Although IMT is histopathologically benign, imaging methods show its tendency for local recurrence and invasion. In most of the cases, it may not be possible to make a distinction whether it is malign or benign. Complete surgical resection is the most important treatment method. In this study, we have discussed the findings of our case having a gastric submucosal located IMT in light of the current literatures.
Genetics of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in African Americans
Authors: McCormack Shana , Grant Struan F. A.
Published: March 2013

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are highly prevalent and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. In the United States, the impact of these conditions may be worse on historically underserved minorities, particularly African Americans. Genetic ancestry and differences in physiology are unlikely to be the sole or primary determinants of these disparities. In addition, research in this area has the ethically problematic possibility of conflating race with biology. Despite these important considerations and the challenges of conducting this work, population-based approaches for investigating the etiology of obesity and T2D may yield useful information about the pathophysiology of disease, and have implications that extend to all affected individuals. The purpose of this paper is to describe what is understood about the genetic variation that underlies obesity and T2D in African Americans and other individuals of more recent African descent and to highlight several examples that illustrate how ensuring adequate minority representation in genetic research improves its quality. For a variety of reasons a number of unique insights have been possible as a result of these efforts.
Surgical Orthodontic Treatment of Severe Skeletal Class II
Authors: Alsulaimani Fahad F. , Al-Sebaei Maisa O. , Afify Ahmed R.
Published: March 2013

This paper describes an adult Saudi male patient who presented with a severe skeletal class II deformity. The case was managed with a combination of presurgical orthodontic treatment followed by a double jaw orthognathic surgery and then another phase of orthodontic treatment for final occlusal detailing. Extraction of the four first premolars was done during the presurgical orthodontic phase of treatment to decompensate upper and lower incisors and to give room for surgical setback of the maxillary anterior segment. Double jaw surgery was performed: bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for 8 mm mandibular advancement combined with three-piece Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy, 6 mm setback of the anterior segment, 8 mm impaction of the maxilla, and 5 mm advancement genioplasty. Although the anteroposterior discrepancy and the facial convexity were so severe, highly acceptable results were obtained, both esthetically as well as occlusally.
Charge Coupled Devices as Particle Detectors
Authors: Iordache Dan A. , Sterian Paul E. , Tunaru Ionel
Published: March 2013

As it is well known, while the most important advantages of the charge coupled devices, as high energy particle detectors are related to their (a) extremely high sensitivity (very important for the underground laboratories, also) and (b) huge number of very small independent components (pixels) of the magnitude order of106, which allow the separate impressions of many different “signatures” of (silicon lattice defects produced by) these particles, their main disadvantages refer to the (a) difficulty to distinguish between the capture traps (of free electrons and holes, resp.) produced by the radiation particles and the numerous types of traps due to the contamination or dopants and (b) huge number of types of lattice defects due to the irradiation. For these reasons, this work achieves a state of art of the (i) main experimental methods and (ii) physical parameters intended to the characterization of the main types of traps embedded in the silicon lattice of CCDs. There were identified also some new physical parameters useful in this aim, as the polarization degree of capture cross-sections and the state character, as well as some new useful notions, as the trans-Fermi level capture states.
Effect of Semisolid Formulation of Persea Americana Mill (Avocado) Oil on Wound Healing in Rats
Authors: de Oliveira Ana Paula , Franco Eryvelton de Souza , Rodrigues Barreto Rafaella , Cordeiro Daniele Pires , de Melo Rebeca Gonçalves , de Aquino Camila Maria Ferreira , e Silva Antonio Alfredo Rodrigues , de Medeiros Paloma Lys , da Silva Teresinha Gonçalves , Góes Alexandre José da Silva , Maia Maria Bernadete de Sousa
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the wound-healing activity of a semisolid formulation of avocado oil, SSFAO 50%, or avocado oilin natura, on incisional and excisional cutaneous wound models in Wistar rats. An additional objective was to quantify the fatty acids present in avocado oil. On the 14th day, a significant increase was observed in percentage wound contraction and reepithelialization in the groups treated with 50% SSFAO or avocado oil compared to the petroleum jelly control. Anti-inflammatory activity, increase in density of collagen, and tensile strength were observed inSSFAO 50% or avocado oil groups, when compared to control groups. The analysis of the components of avocado oil by gas chromatography detected the majority presence of oleic fatty acid (47.20%), followed by palmitic (23.66%), linoleic (13.46%) docosadienoic (8.88%), palmitoleic (3.58%), linolenic (1.60%), eicosenoic (1.29%), and myristic acids (0.33%). Our results show that avocado oil is a rich source of oleic acid and contains essential fatty acids. When usedin naturaor in pharmaceutical formulations for topical use, avocado oil can promote increased collagen synthesis and decreased numbers of inflammatory cells during the wound-healing process and may thus be considered a new option for treating skin wounds.
The Protective Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury Is Mediated by Heme Oxygenase-1
Authors: Lin Yu-Chieh , Lai Yuan-Shu , Chou Tz-Chong
Published: March 2013

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), occurring naturally in human food, is known to possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been reported to exhibit a therapeutic effect in several inflammatory diseases. The aim of study was to test the hypothesis that the protection of ALA against lipopolysaccharide-(LPS-) induced acute lung injury (ALI) is mediated by HO-1. Pre- or posttreatment with ALA significantly inhibited LPS-induced histological alterations of ALI, lung tissue edema, and production of proinflammatory cytokine, cytokine inducible neutrophil chemoattractant-3, and nitrite/nitrate in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, the inflammatory responses including elevation of superoxide formation, myeloperoxidase activity, polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration, nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in lung tissues of LPS-instilled rats were also markedly reduced by ALA. Interestingly, treatment with ALA significantly increased nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation and HO-1 expression in lungs of ALI. However, blocking HO-1 activity by tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), an HO-1 inhibitor, markedly abolished these beneficial effects of ALA in LPS-induced ALI. These results suggest that the protection mechanism of ALA may be through HO-1 induction and in turn suppressing NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses.
The Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions for a Class of Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations with Infinite Delay
Authors: Babakhani Azizollah , Baleanu Dumitru , Agarwal Ravi P.
Published: March 2013

We prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions for two classes of infinite delay nonlinear fractional order differential equations involving Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives. The analysis is based on the alternative of the Leray-Schauder fixed-point theorem, the Banach fixed-point theorem, and the Arzela-Ascoli theorem inΩ={y:(−∞,b]→ℝ:y|(−∞,0]∈ℬ}such thaty|[0,b]is continuous andℬis a phase space.
Hypoplastic Left Lobe of Liver with Accessory Caudate Lobe
Authors: Singh Rajani
Published: March 2013

During routine dissection, a liver from a cadaver of a female aged 50 years was observed to have hypoplastic left lobe, and on posterior surface an accessory caudate lobe was present to the left of main caudate lobe. It was separated by well-defined fissure from caudate lobe. The fissure for ligamentum venosum was present to the left of accessory caudate lobe. Porta hepatis was present below the new lobe. Prominent papillary process continued with caudate process which in turn is fused with right lobe of the liver. These developmental anomalies of liver may cause confusion during procedures like biopsy, transplantation, and lobectomies. This knowledge may be of immense use to clinicians for the diagnosis and management of hepatic diseases, morphologists and anatomists for new variant, and to embryologists for new developmental defect.
A Two-Point Newton Method Suitable for Nonconvergent Cases and with Super-Quadratic Convergence
Authors: Tiruneh Ababu Teklemariam , Ndlela W. N. , Nkambule S. J.
Published: March 2013

An iterative formula based on Newton’s method alone is presented for the iterative solutions of equations that ensures convergence in cases where the traditional Newton Method may fail to converge to the desired root. In addition, the method has super-quadratic convergence of order 2.414 (i.e., ). Newton method is said to fail in certain cases leading to oscillation, divergence to increasingly large number, or offshooting away to another root further from the desired domain or offshooting to an invalid domain where the function may not be defined. In addition when the derivative at the iteration point is zero, Newton method stalls. In most of these cases, hybrids of several methods such as Newton, bisection, and secant methods are suggested as substitute methods and Newton method is essentially blended with other methods or altogether abandoned. This paper argues that a solution is still possible in most of these cases by the application of Newton method alone without resorting to other methods and with the same computational effort (two functional evaluations per iteration) like the traditional Newton method. In addition, the proposed modified formula based on Newton method has better convergence characteristics than the traditional Newton method.
A Case of Solitary Necrotic Nodule Treated with Laparoscopic Hepatectomy: Spontaneous Regression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
Authors: Tomishige Hirokazu , Morise Zenichi , Mizoguchi Yoshikazu , Kawabe Norihiko , Nagata Hidetoshi , Ohshima Hisanori , Kawase Jin , Arakawa Satoshi , Yoshida Rie , Isetani Masashi
Published: March 2013

Solitary necrotic nodule of the liver is a rare benign lesion with a completely necrotic core and a hyalinized fibrotic capsule containing elastic fibers. The pathogenetic mechanism is still unclear. We here describe a case of SNN, whose central reticulin fibers within the nodule suggest the origin as hepatocellular carcinoma or other hepatocyte-origin tumors, treated with laparoscopic anatomical segmentectomy of the liver. A 76-year-old Japanese female, with no prior medical history and no symptom, visited our hospital with the heterogeneous hypoechoic lesion in the liver segment VI incidentally pointed out in abdominal ultrasonography. Computed tomography with contrast demonstrated a 1.1 cm sized low-density lesion with mild ring enhancement on the rim in the arterial phase. Since the possibility of malignant tumor with necrotic change could not be ruled out, she underwent laparoscopic anatomical segmentectomy of the liver. In the histological examination of the surgical specimen, the liver nodule was necrotic tissue without viable cells and signs of inflammation, which had fibrous capsule and central cystic change and showed trabecular pattern alignment of ghost cells and reticulin fibers orthogonal to the capsule. Also, the findings of chronic hepatitis were observed in the background liver.
Ubiquitin Ligase Cbl-b Is Involved in Icotinib (BPI-2009H)-Induced Apoptosis and G1 Phase Arrest ofEGFRMutation-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Mu Xiaodong , Zhang Ye , Qu Xiujuan , Hou Kezuo , Kang Jian , Hu Xuejun , Liu Yunpeng
Published: March 2013

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most promising targets for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Icotinib, a highly selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), has shown promising clinical efficacy and safety in patients with NSCLC. The exact molecular mechanism of icotinib remains unclear. In this study, we first investigated the antiproliferative effect of icotinib on NSCLC cells. Icotinib significantly inhibited proliferation of the EGFR-mutated lung cancer HCC827 cells. The IC50values at 48 and 72 h were 0.67 and 0.07 μM, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that icotinib caused the G1 phase arrest and increased the rate of apoptosis in HCC827 cells. The levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin A2 were decreased. The apoptotic process was associated with activation of caspase-3, -8, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Further study revealed that icotinib inhibited phosphorylation of EGFR, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. In addition, icotinib upregulated ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b expression. These observations suggest that icotinib-induced upregulation of Cbl-b is responsible, at least in part, for the antitumor effect of icotinib via the inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells.
A Gradient Based Iterative Solutions for Sylvester Tensor Equations
Authors: Chen Zhen , Lu Linzhang
Published: March 2013

This paper is concerned with the numerical solution of the Sylvester tensor equation, which includes the Sylvester matrix equation as special case. By applying hierarchical identification principle proposed by Ding and Chen, 2005, and by using tensor arithmetic concepts, an iterative algorithm and its modification are established to solve the Sylvester tensor equation. Convergence analysis indicates that the iterative solutions always converge to the exact solution for arbitrary initial value. Finally, some examples are provided to show that the proposed algorithms are effective.
New Players for Advanced Prostate Cancer and the Rationalisation of Insulin-Sensitising Medication
Authors: Gunter Jennifer H. , Sarkar Phoebe L. , Lubik Amy A. , Nelson Colleen C.
Published: March 2013

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are recognised risk factors for the development of some cancers and, increasingly, predict more aggressive disease, treatment failure, and cancer-specific mortality. Many factors may contribute to this clinical observation. Hyperinsulinaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypoxia, ER stress, and inflammation associated with expanded adipose tissue are thought to be among the main culprits driving malignant growth and cancer advancement. This observation has led to the proposal of the potential utility of “old players” for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome as new cancer adjuvant therapeutics. Androgen-regulated pathways drive proliferation, differentiation, and survival of benign and malignant prostate tissue. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) exploits this dependence to systemically treat advanced prostate cancer resulting in anticancer response and improvement of cancer symptoms. However, the initial therapeutic response from ADT eventually progresses to castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) which is currently incurable. ADT rapidly induces hyperinsulinaemia which is associated with more rapid treatment failure. We discuss current observations of cancer in the context of obesity, diabetes, and insulin-lowering medication. We provide an update on current treatments for advanced prostate cancer and discuss whether metabolic dysfunction, developed during ADT, provides a unique therapeutic window for rapid translation of insulin-sensitising medication as combination therapy with antiandrogen targeting agents for the management of advanced prostate cancer.
An Overview of the HomePlug AV2 Technology
Authors: Yonge Larry , Abad Jose , Afkhamie Kaywan , Guerrieri Lorenzo , Katar Srinivas , Lioe Hidayat , Pagani Pascal , Riva Raffaele , Schneider Daniel M. , Schwager Andreas
Published: March 2013

HomePlug AV2 is the solution identified by the HomePlug Alliance to achieve the improved data rate performance required by the new generation of multimedia applications without the need to install extra wires. Developed by industry-leading participants in the HomePlug AV Technical Working Group, the HomePlug AV2 technology provides Gigabit-class connection speeds over the existing AC wires within home. It is designed to meet the market demands for the full set of future in-home networking connectivity. Moreover, HomePlug AV2 guarantees backward interoperability with other HomePlug systems. In this paper, the HomePlug AV2 system architecture is introduced and the technical details of the key features at both the PHY and MAC layers are described. The HomePlug AV2 performance is assessed, through simulations reproducing real home scenarios.
A Novel Face Recognition Approach Based on Two-Step Test Sample Representation
Authors: Liu Zun-xiong , Huang Zhi-qiang , Zhang Heng
Published: March 2013

The two-step test sample representation method is proposed for face recognition. It first identifiesk“representative” samples from each category training samples for the test sample then produces a weighted sum of all the “representative” samples that well approximates the test sample. This method assigns the test sample to the class whose training samples have the smallest deviation from the test sample. As the method proposed in this paper is able to reduce the side-effect of the other training samples that are very “far” from the test sample on the recognition decision of the test sample, the high recognition rates can be obtained.
Sunlet Decomposition of Certain Equipartite Graphs
Authors: Akwu Abolape D. , Ajayi Deborah O. A.
Published: March 2013

Let L2n stand for the sunlet graph which is a graph that consists of a cycle and an edge terminating in a vertex of degree one attached to each vertex of cycle Cn. The necessary condition for the equipartite graph Kn+I*K̅m to be decomposed into L2n for n≥2 is that the order of L2n must divide n2m2/2, the order of Kn+I*K̅m. In this work, we show that this condition is sufficient for the decomposition. The proofs are constructive using graph theory techniques.
Metabolism of Genipin in Rat and Identification of Metabolites by Using Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography/Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Ding Yue , Hou Jian-Wei , Zhang Yong , Zhang Li-Ying , Zhang Tong , Chen Yi , Cai Zhen-Zhen , Yang Li
Published: March 2013

Thein vivoandin vitrometabolism of genipin was systematically investigated in the present study. Urine, plasma, feces, and bile were collected from rats after oral administration of genipin at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. A rapid and sensitive method using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF MS) was developed for analysis of metabolic profile of genipin in rat biological samples (urine, plasma, feces, and bile). A total of ten metabolites were detected and identified by comparing their fragmentation patterns with that of genipin using MetaboLynx software tools. On the basis of the chromatographic peak area, the sulfated and glucuronidated conjugates of genipin were identified as major metabolites. And the existence of major metabolites G1 and G2 was confirmed by thein vitroenzymatic study further. Then, metabolite G1 was isolated from rat bile by semipreparative HPLC. Its structure was unambiguously identified as genipin-1-o-glucuronic acid by comparison of its UV, IR, ESI-MS,1H-NMR, and13C-NMR spectra with conference. In general, genipin was a very active compound that would transform immediately, and the parent form of genipin could not be observed in rats biological samples. The biotransformation pathways of genipin involved demethylated, ring-opened, cysteine-conjugated, hydroformylated, glucuronidated, and sulfated transformations.
Morphology and Spatial Dynamics of Urban Villages in Guangzhou’s CBD
Authors: Zacharias John , Hu Yue , Huang Quan Le
Published: March 2013

Studies on the urban village (chengzhongcun) over the past ten years have focussed on legalistic and structural aspects, as well as the social outcomes of village-led redevelopment. Studies on the morphology of villages, their spatial and economic linkage with the city, and their internal spatial dynamics are, in comparison, limited in number and scope. This study of village space in the new central area of Guangzhou focusses on the spatial relationships between village space and the surrounding city—the exchange of people and goods, the movement system in relation to commercial activity, and the relationship between the pattern of building and movement networks—as a primer for new approaches to physical renewal. Primary field data, interviews, and archival research support the analysis of Shipai village, in particular. It was found that Shipai plays a significant role in transport and economy at the district and central city level. The internal movement system functions to connect surrounding areas while supporting a commercial and services system of local and district-level significance. The built form of the village is also self-generated by location and internal rule making. The physical and activity patterns of the self-rebuilt village exhibit the characteristics of emergent spontaneous order.
The Outlier Interval Detection Algorithms on Astronautical Time Series Data
Authors: Hu Wei , Bao Junpeng
Published: March 2013

The Outlier Interval Detection is a crucial technique to analyze spacecraft fault, locate exception, and implement intelligent fault diagnosis system. The paper proposes two OID algorithms on astronautical Time Series Data, that is, variance based OID (VOID) and FFT andknearest Neighbour based OID (FKOID). The VOID algorithm divides TSD into many intervals and measures each interval’s outlier score according to its variance. This algorithm can detect the outlier intervals with great fluctuation in the time domain. It is a simple and fast algorithm with less time complexity, but it ignores the frequency information. The FKOID algorithm extracts the frequency information of each interval by means of Fast Fourier Transform, so as to calculate the distances between frequency features, and adopts the KNN method to measure the outlier score according to the sum of distances between the interval’s frequency vector and theKnearest frequency vectors. It detects the outlier intervals in a refined way at an appropriate expense of the time and is valid to detect the outlier intervals in both frequency and time domains.
A Simple Score to Predict Survival with Dementia in the General Population
Authors: Delva F. , Pimouguet C. , Helmer C. , Péres K. , Bréchat B. , Le Goff M. , Jacqmin-Gadda H. , Amieva H. , Orgogozo J.-M. , Auriacombe S. , Berr C. , Tzourio C. , Barberger-Gateau P. , Dartigues J.F.
Published: March 2013

Background/Aims: This study was designed to develop a practical risk score for predicting 5-year survival after the diagnosis of dementia. Methods: Using the Paquid Study (prospective, population-based, long-term cohort study), we created a prognosis score with incident cases of dementia and validated it in another prospective, population-based, long-term cohort study, the Three City Study. -Results: Among the 3,777 subjects enrolled in the Paquid Study, 454 incident cases of dementia were included in this study. After a 5-year follow-up period, 319 (70.3%) were deceased. The score was constructed from three independent prognostic variables (gender, age at diagnosis and number of ADL restricted). The discriminant ability of the score was good with a c index of 0.754. Sensitivity was 64.7% and specificity 76.3%. In the validation cohort, the discriminant ability of the prognostic score with c statistics was 0.700. Sensitivity was 26.3% and specificity 95.4%. Conclusions: The prognostic factors selected in the predictive model are easily assessable, so this simple score could provide helpful information for the management of dementia, particularly to identify patients with duration of the disease greater than 5 years.
The Relation of Uric Acid to Brain Atrophy and Cognition: The Rotterdam Scan Study
Authors: Verhaaren Benjamin F.J. , Vernooij Meike W. , Dehghan Abbas , Vrooman Henri A. , de Boer Renske , Hofman Albert , Witteman Jacqueline C.M. , Niessen Wiro J. , Breteler Monique M.B. , van der Lugt Aad , Ikram M. Arfan
Published: March 2013

Background: Uric acid has been associated with focal vascular brain disease. However, it is unknown whether uric acid also relates to global brain changes such as brain atrophy. We therefore studied the relation of uric acid to brain atrophy and whether this is accompanied by worse cognitive function. Methods: In 814 persons of the population-based Rotterdam Study (mean age 62.0 years), we studied the relation of uric acid levels to brain tissue atrophy and cognition using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex and putative confounders. Brain atrophy was assessed using automated processing of magnetic resonance imaging. Cognition was assessed using a validated neuropsychological test battery and we computed compound scores of cognitive domains. Results: Higher uric acid levels were associated with white matter atrophy [difference in Z-score of white matter volume per standard deviation increase in uric acid: -0.07 (95% CI: -0.12; -0.01)], but not with gray matter atrophy. This was particularly marked when comparing hyperuricemic to normouricemic persons [Z-score difference: -0.27 (-0.43; -0.11)]. Worse cognition was primarily found in persons with hyperuricemia [-0.28 (-0.48; -0.08)]. Conclusions: Hyperuricemia is related to white matter atrophy and worse cognition.
Anterior Choroidal Artery Territory Infarction: Lesions Confined to versus beyond the Internal Capsule
Authors: Sohn Hoyon , Kang Dong-Wha , Kwon Sun U. , Kim Jong S.
Published: March 2013

Background: Studies investigating the clinical features and stroke mechanisms of anterior choroidal artery (AchA) infarction have reported inconsistent results. This may be partly due to different degrees of inclusion of patients with isolated posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) lesions, which may be supplied by lenticulostriate arteries rather than AchA. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical features and stroke mechanisms of AchA infarction, with particular attention to the above problem. Methods: We evaluated patients with AchA infarction assessed with diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance angiography, who were admitted to the Asan Medical Center from July 2001 to April 2011. Probable AchA (pAchA) infarction was diagnosed when the lesions were confined to the lower part of the PLIC, while definite AchA (dAchA) infarction was diagnosed when the lateral geniculate body, the uncus, or the cerebral peduncle were concomitantly involved. We assessed imaging findings, stroke mechanisms, and clinical features, and investigated the differences between patients with dAchA infarction and those with pAchA infarction. Results: We identified 127 patients with AchA infarction: 34 with dAchA infarctions, 90 with pAchA infarctions, and 3 without PLIC lesions. The most important stroke mechanism was small artery disease (SAD), followed by large artery disease (LAD). In patients with LAD, distal internal carotid artery (ICA) disease was a relatively important cause of stroke. The dAchA group, as compared with the pAchA group, was more frequently related to cardioembolism (12 vs. 2%, p = 0.03), distal ICA steno-occlusion (35 vs. 2%, p = 0.001), severe neurologic deficits (higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores and more severe limb weakness), and less often associated with SAD (56 vs. 78%, p = 0.02). Conclusion: In general, SAD was the most important stroke mechanism for AchA infarction followed by LAD. However, dAchA infarction and pAchA infarction differ in that the former was more often associated with cardioembolism, distal ICA steno-occlusion, a worse clinical status and less often associated with SAD than the latter. The different proportion of patients with pure PLIC lesions included in previous studies may have led to inconsistent and confusing results, which should be considered to gain a proper understanding of AchA infarction.
Outcome Analysis of Tubularized Incised Plate Repair in Hypospadias: Is a Catheter Necessary?
Authors: Xu Ning , Xue Xue-Yi , Wei Yong , Li Xiao-Dong , Zheng Qing-Shui , Jiang Tao , Huang Jin-Bei
Published: March 2013

Objective: Tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty is performed by many pediatric urologists and has been widely accepted for repair of distal and mid-shaft hypospadias. However, the role of urethral catheter placement in TIP repair remains controversial. In this study, the surgical outcomes of indwelling urethral catheter and non-catheter TIP repairs in boys with hypospadias were compared. Methods: A total of 254 patients with primary distal and mid-shaft hypospadias underwent TIP repair and were evaluated retrospectively. A urethral catheter was placed in 103 patients (group A) and non-catheter repair was performed in 151 patients (group B). Information obtained included age, toilet training, chordee, type of hypospadias, presence or absence of a catheter, and postoperative complications. The complications recorded included wound infection, urinary tract infection, bladder spasm, urinary retention, urinary extravasation, meatal stenosis, urethral stricture, and urethrocutaneous fistula. Results: There was no statistical difference in age, toilet training, chordee, hypospadias site, or performing surgeon between the two groups. The median follow-up time was 22 and 24 months for groups A and B, respectively. The rate of bladder spasms (10.7 vs. 0%, p < 0.001) and urinary tract infection (9.7 vs. 3.3%, p = 0.034) was significantly higher for group A than group B. Although the rate of urinary retention was higher in group B than in group A (4.0 vs. 0%), there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.084). Likewise, the incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula and meatal stenosis was not significantly different. Conclusion: Non-catheter TIP repair is feasible and positive outcomes can be achieved with minimal complications and less patient discomfort.
A Novel Nuclear Factor κB Inhibitor, Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin, Ameliorates Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Nephrosis in Mice
Authors: Shimo Tomohiko , Adachi Yasushi , Yamanouchi Sohsaku , Tsuji Shoji , Kimata Takahisa , Umezawa Kazuo , Okigaki Mitsuhiko , Takaya Junji , Ikehara Susumu , Kaneko Kazunari
Published: March 2013

Background/Aims: Minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is a kidney disease defined by selective proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia occurring in the absence of cellular glomerular infiltrates or immunoglobulin deposits. Recent observations suggest that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) of podocyte is strongly associated with the development of proteinuria in MCNS. Dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) is a novel NF-κB inhibitor that potently inhibits DNA-binding activity of NF-κB, resulting in several therapeutic effects in various pathological conditions. We conducted this study to ask whether DHMEQ may ameliorate the nephrosis in mice induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), which is considered to be an animal model for MCNS. Methods/Results: Pretreatment with DHMEQ alleviated the proteinuria and reversed the serum abnormalities in mice nephrosis induced by 450 mg/kg of PAN. Increased serum interleukin-6 level in PAN-induced nephrosis was also completely suppressed by DHMEQ. Electron microscopic analyses of glo-meruli indicated that DHMEQ can inhibit the podocyte foot process effacement via blocking the translocation of podocyte NF-κB from cytoplasm to nucleus. Conclusions: These results suggest that DHMEQ can be a potential therapeutic agent for MCNS.
Central Mineralocorticoid Receptors and the Role of Angiotensin II and Glutamate in the Paraventricular Nucleus of Rats With Angiotensin II–Induced Hypertension
Authors: Gabor Alexander , Leenen Frans H.H.
Published: March 2013

A chronic increase in circulating angiotensin II (Ang II) activates an aldosterone–mineralocorticoid receptor-ouabain neuromodulatory pathway in the brain that increases neuronal activation in hypothalamic nuclei, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and causes progressive hypertension. Several models of chronic sympathetic hyperactivity are associated with an increase in AT
1
and glutamate receptor activation in the PVN. The current study evaluated whether increased angiotensin type 1 (AT
1
) and glutamate receptor-dependent signaling in the PVN contributes to the maintenance of blood pressure (BP) in Ang II-hypertensive Wistar rats, and the role of aldosterone–mineralocorticoid receptor pathway in this enhanced signaling. After subcutaneous infusion of Ang II for 2 weeks, in conscious rats BP and heart rate were recorded after (1) 10-minute bilateral infusions of candesartan and kynurenate in the PVN; (2) 1 hour intracerebroventricular infusion of eplerenone, and (3) candesartan and kynurenate after eplerenone. Candesartan or kynurenate in the PVN fully reversed the increase in BP from circulating Ang II. Kynurenate after candesartan or candesartan after kynurenate did not further lower BP. Intracerebroventricular infusion of eplerenone at 16 hours after its infusion fully reversed the increase in BP from circulating Ang II. After eplerenone, candesartan and kynurenate in the PVN did not further decrease BP. These findings suggest that increased mineralocorticoid receptor activation in the brain activates a slow neuromodulatory pathway that maintains enhanced AT
1
and glutamate receptor-dependent signaling in the PVN, and thereby the hypertension from a chronic increase in circulating Ang II.
Role of Endogenous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Humans
Authors: Thijs Anna M.J. , van Herpen Carla M.L. , Sweep Fred C.G.J. , Geurts-Moespot Anneke , Smits Paul , van der Graaf Winette T.A. , Rongen Gerard A.
Published: March 2013

Angiogenesis inhibitors have remarkably improved the outcome of patients with several types of cancer. Hypertension is the most reported side effect of angiogenesis inhibitors interfering with vascular endothelial growth factor signaling. In this study, we test the hypothesis that circulating vascular endothelial growth factor at physiological concentrations is essential to preserve normal endothelial control of vasomotor tone. In 7 healthy male volunteers, infusion of bevacizumab (monoclonal vascular endothelial growth factor antibody) into the brachial artery for 15 minutes (144 μg/dL forearm volume per minute) did not affect forearm vasodilator tone as measured with venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography. In a separate group of 12 male volunteers, a similar bevacizumab infusion reduced the vasodilator response to 2 dosages of acetylcholine from (mean±SE) 440±157% and 926±252% to 169±40% and 612±154% (
P
<0.05). Finally, in a third group of 12 volunteers, bevacizumab did not alter the percentage increase in forearm blood flow during infusion of sodium nitroprusside at dosages equipotent to acetylcholine. Bevacizumab acutely and specifically reduced endothelium-mediated vasodilation at local concentrations that resemble plasma concentrations after systemic exposure to bevacizumab. This observation suggests a physiological role for vascular endothelial growth factor in maintaining normal endothelial control of vasomotor tone. The role of the endothelium in the mechanism of bevacizumab-induced hypertension deserves further exploration.
Building the Builders Association: A Conversation with Marianne Weems, James Gibbs, and Moe Angelos
Authors: Schechner Richard
Published: March 2013

The Builders Association construct their multimedia extravaganzas by means of intense and prolonged research, workshop experiments, interactions among participating artists, and a deep knowledge of postmodern globalized societies. Artistic director Marianne Weems, dramaturg-writer James Gibbs, and performer-writer Moe Angelos in conversation with Richard Schechner range over TBA's deeply collaborative methods and how these have developed from early influences to their most recent works.
Performing Pain-Taking and Ghostly Remembering in Vietnam
Authors: Eisner Rivka Syd
Published: March 2013

Cô Định and cô Xuân, two women veterans in Ho Chi Minh City, recount their memories of torture during the Vietnamese-American war. Their remembering requires a performance-centered exploration of the Vietnamese women's tradition of “pain-taking,” as well as their haunting return to the Con Dao prisons as veteran-tourists.
Precarity and Performance: An Introduction
Authors: Ridout Nicholas , Schneider Rebecca
Published: March 2013

Precarity has become a byword for life in late and later capitalism. How do we pay attention to precarity—economic precarity, neoliberal precarity—through a close reading of the performing body? Does the place of the arts in global capitalism, and the particular relations implied by “affective labor” and “creative capital,” mean that we are working and living in the affect factory? What can theatre and performance tell us about this condition?
Cancer Previval and the Theatrical Fact
Authors: Nye Coleman
Published: March 2013

Healthy women who are at hereditary risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer are surgically enacting the disease in material registers on their flesh in order to survive cancer in advance. In this practice of “previval,” the disease becomes itself, or gains biomedical substance, through its own theatrical gesture.
Swimming Upstream: A Rain Dance
Authors: Bebelle Carol
Published: March 2013

Drawing from her experience working with women from a wide range of backgrounds and struck by the pervasive sense of disempowerment in post-disaster New Orleans, Eve Ensler saw the need for a catalyst that could help women through their enormous distress and also provide an outlet for them to convert their pain into power. Together with the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Ensler formed a workshop that created Swimming Upstream from personal stories of grief, loss, infringement, violation, disempowerment, insight, resolution, recovery, healing, and resilience.
Reclaiming, Remembering, Resisting: Swimming Upstream Flows from the Superdome into the New Orleans Diaspora
Authors: Fox Anne-Liese Juge
Published: March 2013

“Culture Vulture” or community activist? When New Orleanian artists had to compete with higher-profile artists for funding and resources to create works in response to their own disaster, ethical issues emerged. Of the many post-disaster performances in New Orleans, the collaboratively written play Swimming Upstream thrives as an ongoing process and model for a partnership of local and out-of-region responses to disaster.
A new endemic species of Trigonachras (Sapindaceae) from Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
Authors: BUERKI SVEN , DAVIDSON CHRISTOPHER , PEREIRA JOAN T. , CALLMANDER MARTIN W.
Published: March 2013

A new species of Trigonachras from Borneo is described and illustrated. Trigonachras postardanjeisin is endemic to the ultramafic soils of the Tawai Forest Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo). It is morphologically close to the widespread Trigonachras acuta but differs by its glabrous inflorescence and infrutescence axes and fruits. The two species also differ by their ecology and distribution. Line drawings are provided for the new taxa, along with discussions of its morphological affinities and preliminary risk of extinction assessment.
The World’s largest known Gorgonian
Authors: WATLING LES , ROWLEY SONIA , GUINOTTE JOHN
Published: March 2013

Gorgonians in the deep sea can be much larger than their shallow water counterparts, but there are only a few scattered measurements. We have estimated the size of a chrysogorgiid gorgonian, Iridogorgia magnispiralis Watling 2007, observed from a submersible on Twin Banks in theNorthwest Hawaiian Islands, as being 5.7 m tall.
Systematics of Sturnira (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Ecuador, with comments on species boundaries
Authors: JARRÍN-V PABLO , CLARE ELIZABETH L.
Published: March 2013

Molecular and morphological analyses of variation often conflict with historical species descriptions based on a few characters and small samples sizes. Here we present a molecular phylogeny together with a quantitative morphological analysis of the species in Sturnira in Ecuador. The 438 terminal taxa or organisms included in the anlaysis occur within a total of 10 ingroup lineages, which contain considerable substructure. Some species, as recognized by their morphological traits, form paraphyletic arrangements with other taxa. We could not distinguish the close species pairs S. erythromos / S. bogotensis and S. ludovici / S. oporophilum in morphospace and therefore when distinct lineages were recovered genetically, they initially contained mixed membership of specimens identified using morphological criteria. Similarly, the qualitative character states that diagnose S. luisi in its original description are not recovered in a quantitative analysis of morphological variation and thus S. luisi cannot be mapped to a single lineage in a molecular phylogeny. We present additional evidence to corroborate the existence of S. perla as a species. We found a remarkable geographic structure within some species containing sister pairings, with lineages having a clear eastern or western distribution in relation to theAndes. Our analysis demonstrates the potential for conflict between character-based diagnoses, analysis of morphological variation and molecular phylogenetics in the identification of species and supports a combined approach to this problem.
A new species of Nemipterus (Pisces: Nemipteridae) from the Western Indian Ocean
Authors: RUSSELL BARRY C. , TWEDDLE DENIS
Published: March 2013

A new species of threadfin bream, Nemipterus flavomandibularis, from the Western Indian Ocean is described and figured. The new species appears most closely related to N. bipunctatus (Valenciennes), but differs principally in colour pattern: N. flavomandibularis is distinct from N. bipunctatus in having two yellow bands on the snout, the upper lip narrowly edged with yellow; and lower lip and chin beneath lip yellow, this colour extending as a narrow band posteriorly to lower margin of opercle. Also, in N. flavomandibularus the scale rows below the lateral line are more or less horizontal (versus distinctly ascending anteriorly in N. bipunctatus), and the maxillary reaches to between level of posterior nostril and anterior margin of eye (versus reaching to below the anterior half of the eye in N. bipunctatus).