bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possibilities of Trolleybus Transportation Energy Demand Reduction
Authors: Vorel Pavel , Prochazka Petr , Pazdera Ivo , Cervinka Dalibor , Martis Jan , Cipin Radoslav
Published: December 2015

This paper presents measurement results of energy balance of trolleybus regenerative braking in Brno office of public transportation. Energy storage tank (ultracapacitor or LiFePO4 battery) can be used for utilization of braking energy. Further the possibility to drive without trolley can be very useful for the office of public transportation. In this case the energy storage tank must be paced directly in the vehicle, not in the substation. Detailed measurements were performed in real trolleybus traffic on several representative routes at various work shifts. The energy balance was evaluated from the measured data. Then the energy storage tank was dimensioned (energy and power) considering both variants – ultracapacitor or LiFePO4 batteries. The results were compared each other technically and economically. Considering the ability of independent drive without trolley the solution with LiFePO4 battery is more advantageous than with the ultracapacitor.
Investigation of Multidimensional Electrothermal Impedance Spectroscopy Measurement on Lithium Ion Battery Cell
Authors: Swierczynski Maciej , Stroe Daniel Ioan , Khan Mohammad Rezwan , Kær Soren Knudsen , Teodorescu Remus
Published: December 2015

Because of the safety concerns and strive for optimal battery thermal management, the importance of thermal modelling of lithium ion batteries is growing. Thermal modelling is becoming even more important with ongoing improvements of power capabilities of modern lithium ion batteries and the decrease in their physical dimensions. Recently an electrothermal impedance spectroscopy (ETIS) was proposed by Barsoukov (9) as a non-destructive method of determining the thermal properties of batteries. This paper presents the initial test results from the concept of extending from ETIS measurements from 1D into more battery dimensions what should facilitate in the future in battery 2D and 3D thermal modelling without any a prori knowledge about battery internal composition, internal parameters and electrical behavior
Plasma angiopoietin-2 outperforms other markers of endothelial injury in prognosticating pediatric ARDS mortality
Authors: Zinter Matt S. , Spicer Aaron , Orwoll Benjamin O. , Alkhouli Mustafa , Dvorak Christopher C. , Calfee Carolyn S. , Matthay Michael A. , Sapru Anil
Published: December 2015

Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is a key mediator of pulmonary vascular permeability. This study tested the association between plasma Ang-2 and mortality in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with stratification for prior hematopoietic cellular transplantation (HCT), given the severe, yet poorly understood, ARDS phenotype of this subgroup. We enrolled 259 children <18 years of age with ARDS; 25 had prior HCT. Plasma Ang-2, von Willebrand Factor antigen (vWF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured on ARDS days 1 and 3 and correlated with patient outcomes. Day 1 and day 3 Ang-2 levels were associated with mortality independent of age, sex, race, and P/F ratio [odds ratio (OR) 3.7, 95% CI 1.1–11.5, P = 0.027; and OR 10.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2–46.5, P = 0.003, for each log10increase in Ang-2]. vWF was associated with mortality ( P = 0.027), but VEGF was not. The association between day 1 Ang-2 and mortality was independent of levels of both vWF and VEGF (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.1–12.1, P = 0.039, for each log10increase in Ang-2). 45% of the cohort had a rising Ang-2 between ARDS day 1 and 3 (adjusted mortality OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2–9.2, P = 0.026). HCT patients with a rising Ang-2 had 70% mortality compared with 13% mortality for those without (OR 16.3, 95% CI 1.3–197.8, P = 0.028). Elevated plasma levels of Ang-2 were associated with mortality independent of vWF and VEGF. A rising Ang-2 between days 1 and 3 was strongly associated with mortality, particularly in pediatric HCT patients, suggesting vulnerability to ongoing endothelial damage.
Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering: Preclinical Validation to Bedside Application
Authors: Best Cameron , Onwuka Ekene , Pepper Victoria , Sams Malik , Breuer Jake , Breuer Christopher
Published: December 2015

Advancements in biomaterial science and available cell sources have spurred the translation of tissue-engineering technology to the bedside, addressing the pressing clinical demands for replacement cardiovascular tissues. Here, the in vivo status of tissue-engineered blood vessels, heart valves, and myocardium is briefly reviewed, illustrating progress toward a tissue-engineered heart for clinical use.
Exosomal miRNAs in Heart Disease
Authors: Iaconetti Claudio , Sorrentino Sabato , De Rosa Salvatore , Indolfi Ciro
Published: December 2015

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Exosomes have recently emerged as novel elements of intercellular communication in the cardiovascular system. Exosomal miRNAs could be key players in intercellular cross-talk, particularly during different diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF). This review addresses the functional role played by exosomal miRNAs in heart disease and their potential use as new biomarkers.
Severe Hepatitis Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence via NF-κB Pathway-Mediated Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition after Resection
Authors: Wu Ting-Jung , Chang Shih-Shin , Li Chia-Wei , Hsu Yi-Hsin , Chen Tse-Ching , Lee Wei-Chen , Yeh Chau-Ting , Hung Mien-Chie
Published: December 2015

Purpose: Surgical resection is considered as a curative treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma; however, the incidence of postoperative tumor recurrence is high, leading to worse patient survival. Persistent hepatitis (inflammation) is one of the risk factors of tumor recurrence after surgical resection. The aim of this study is to investigate the underlying mechanisms linking liver inflammation to hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Experimental Design: In this study, we used a cytokine array to identify important cytokines whose levels are increased in liver microenvironment with severe hepatitis. We evaluated the morphologic changes, migration and invasion ability, and signal transduction in hepatocellular carcinoma cells with or without inflammatory cytokine in vitro. Finally, we analyzed the NF-κB signal pathway in tumor specimens from 232 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by immunohistochemical staining.

Results: The proinflammatory cytokine TNFα was increased in the peritumoral microenvironment and contributed to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Specifically, TNFα promoted hepatocellular carcinoma cancer cell migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating the transcriptional regulator, Snail. We identified Snail as a direct target gene downstream of the TNFα-mediated canonical NF-κB activation. In addition, tumor recurrence-free survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients correlated negatively with high p65 and Snail expression and positively with high E-cadherin expression.

Conclusions: Our results establish a signaling axis that explains how inflammatory tumor microenvironment promotes hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence and metastasis. These findings suggest that controlling liver inflammation and/or targeting NF-κB–mediated Snail expression may be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy. Clin Cancer Res; 22(7); 1800–12. ©2015 AACR.
Identification of Targetable Kinase Alterations in Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma That are Preferentially Associated with Wild-Type RAS/RAF
Authors: Hechtman Jaclyn F. , Zehir Ahmet , Yaeger Rona , Wang Lu , Middha Sumit , Zheng Tao , Hyman David M. , Solit David , Arcila Maria E. , Borsu Laetitia , Shia Jinru , Vakiani Efsevia , Saltz Leonard , Ladanyi Marc
Published: December 2015

Targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma consists of anti-EGFR therapy for patients with RAS/RAF wild-type tumors. However, the response rate remains low, suggesting the presence of alternative drivers possibly also representing potential therapeutic targets. We investigated receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) alterations and MAP2K1 (MEK1) mutations in a large cohort of colorectal carcinoma patients studied by Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets and The Cancer Genome Atlas, focusing on amplifications, fusions, and hotspot mutations in RTK genes and MAP2K1. RTK gene amplifications were confirmed with FISH and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Among 751 colorectal carcinoma cases with next-generation sequencing data, 7% and 1% of colorectal carcinoma harbored RTK alterations and MAP2K1 hotspot mutations (n = 7), respectively. RTK-altered cases had fewer concurrent RAS/RAF mutations (P = 0.003) than RTK/MAP2K1 wild-type colorectal carcinoma. MAP2K1-mutated colorectal carcinoma showed no RAS/RAF mutations. ERBB2 (n = 32) and EGFR (n = 13) were the most frequently altered RTKs, both activated by amplification and/or hotspot mutations. Three RTK fusions were identified: NCOA4-RET, ERBB2-GRB7, and ETV6-NTRK3. Only 1 of 6 patients with an RTK or MAP2K1 alteration who received anti-EGFR and/or anti-ERBB2 therapy demonstrated stable disease; the rest progressed immediately. Overall, RTK alterations and MAP2K1 mutations occur in approximately 8% of colorectal carcinoma. In spite of the usual absence of RAS/RAF mutations, response to anti-EGFR and/or anti-ERBB2 therapy was poor in this limited group. Larger studies are warranted to further define these kinase alterations as novel therapeutic targets in colorectal carcinoma and as negative predictors of response to anti-EGFR therapy.

Implications: Targetable kinase alterations were identified in a subset of advanced colorectal carcinoma patients, preferentially associated with wild-type RAS/RAF, and may predict poor response to standard anti-EGFR therapy. Mol Cancer Res; 14(3); 296–301. ©2015 AACR.
Targeting CDK4 and CDK6: From Discovery to Therapy
Authors: Sherr Charles J. , Beach David , Shapiro Geoffrey I.
Published: December 2015

Biochemical and genetic characterization of D-type cyclins, their cyclin D–dependent kinases (CDK4 and CDK6), and the polypeptide CDK4/6 inhibitor p16INK4 over two decades ago revealed how mammalian cells regulate entry into the DNA synthetic (S) phase of the cell-division cycle in a retinoblastoma protein–dependent manner. These investigations provided proof-of-principle that CDK4/6 inhibitors, particularly when combined with coinhibition of allied mitogen-dependent signal transduction pathways, might prove valuable in cancer therapy. FDA approval of the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib used with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole for breast cancer treatment highlights long-sought success. The newest findings herald clinical trials targeting other cancers.

Significance: Rapidly emerging data with selective inhibitors of CDK4/6 have validated these cell-cycle kinases as anticancer drug targets, corroborating longstanding preclinical predictions. This review addresses the discovery of these CDKs and their regulators, as well as translation of CDK4/6 biology to positive clinical outcomes and development of rational combinatorial therapies. Cancer Discov; 6(4); 353–67. ©2015 AACR.
Sixty-Four–Section Cardiac Computed Tomography in Mechanical Prosthetic Heart Valve Dysfunction
Authors: Gündüz Sabahattin , Özkan Mehmet , Kalçik Macit , Gürsoy Ozan Mustafa , Astarcioğlu Mehmet Ali , Karakoyun Süleyman , Aykan Ahmet Çağri , Biteker Murat , Gökdeniz Tayyar , Kaya Hasan , Yesin Mahmut , Duran Nilüfer Ekşi , Sevinç Deniz , Güneysu Tahsin
Published: December 2015

Background—

Distinguishing pannus and thrombus in patients with prosthetic valve dysfunction is essential for the selection of proper treatment. We have investigated the utility of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in distinguishing between pannus and thrombus, the latter amenable to thrombolysis.

Methods and Results—

Sixty-two (23 men, mean age 44±14 years) patients with suspected mechanical prosthetic valve dysfunction assessed by transesophageal echocardiography were included in this prospective observational trial. Subsequently, MDCT was performed before any treatment was started. Periprosthetic masses were detected by MDCT in 46 patients, and their attenuation values were measured as Hounsfield Units (HU). Patients underwent thrombolysis unless contraindicated, and those with a contraindication or failed thrombolysis underwent surgery. A mass which was completely lysed or surgically detected as a clot was classified as thrombus, whereas a mass which was surgically detected as tissue overgrowth was classified as pannus. A definitive diagnosis could be achieved in 37 patients with 39 MDCT masses (22 thrombus and 17 pannus). The mean attenuation value of 22 thrombotic masses was significantly lower than that in 17 pannus (87±59 versus 322±122;
P
<0.001). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.91–0.99;
P
<0.001), and a cutoff point of HU≥145 provided high sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (95.5%) in discriminating pannus from thrombus. Complete lysis was more common for masses with HU<90 compared with those with HU 90 to 145 (100% versus 42.1%;
P
=0.007).

Conclusions—

Sixty-four slice MDCT is helpful in identifying masses amenable to thrombolysis in patients with prosthetic valve dysfunction. A high (HU≥145) attenuation suggests pannus overgrowth, whereas a lower value is associated with thrombus formation. A higher attenuation (HU>90) is associated with reduced lysis rates.
Impaired Right, Left, or Biventricular Function and Resting Oxygen Saturation Are Associated With Mortality in Eisenmenger Syndrome
Authors: Jensen Annette S. , Broberg Craig S. , Rydman Riikka , Diller Gerhard-Paul , Li Wei , Dimopoulos Konstantinos , Wort Stephen J. , Pennell Dudley J. , Gatzoulis Michael A, , Babu-Narayan Sonya V.
Published: December 2015

Background—

Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) have better survival, despite similar pulmonary vascular pathology, compared with other patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is useful for risk stratification in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, whereas it has not been evaluated in ES. We studied CMR together with other noninvasive measurements in ES to evaluate its potential role as a noninvasive risk stratification test.

Methods and Results—

Between 2003 and 2005, 48 patients with ES, all with a post-tricuspid shunt, were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal, single-center study. All patients underwent a standardized baseline assessment with CMR, blood test, echocardiography, and 6-minute walk test and were followed up for mortality until the end of December 2013. Twelve patients (25%) died during follow-up, mostly from heart failure (50%). Impaired ventricular function (right or left ventricular ejection fraction) was associated with increased risk of mortality (lowest quartile: right ventricular ejection fraction, <40%; hazard ratio, 4.4 [95% confidence interval, 1.4–13.5];
P
=0.01 and left ventricular ejection fraction, <50%; hazard ratio, 6.6 [95% confidence interval, 2.1–20.8];
P
=0.001). Biventricular impairment (lowest quartile left ventricular ejection fraction, <50% and right ventricular ejection fraction, <40%) conveyed an even higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 8.0 [95% confidence interval, 2.5–25.1];
P
=0.0004). No other CMR or noninvasive measurement besides resting oxygen saturation (hazard ratio, 0.90 [0.83–0.97]/%;
P
=0.007) was associated with mortality.

Conclusions—

Impaired right, left, or biventricular systolic function derived from baseline CMR and resting oxygen saturation are associated with mortality in adult patients with ES. CMR is a useful noninvasive tool, which may be incorporated in the risk stratification assessment of ES during lifelong follow-up.
Coronary Artery Calcium Progression and Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: O’Neal Wesley T. , Efird Jimmy T. , Qureshi Waqas T. , Yeboah Joseph , Alonso Alvaro , Heckbert Susan R. , Nazarian Saman , Soliman Elsayed Z.
Published: December 2015

Background—

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) measured at a single time point has been associated with an increased risk for atrial fibrillation (AF). It is unknown whether CAC progression over time carries a similar risk.

Methods and Results—

This analysis included 5612 participants (mean age: 62±10; 52% women; 39% whites; 27% blacks; 20% Hispanics; 12% Chinese Americans) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Phantom-adjusted Agatston scores for baseline and follow-up measurements were used to compute change in CAC per year (≤0, 1–100, 101–300, and >300 U/year). AF was ascertained by review of hospital discharge records and from Medicare claims data through December 31, 2010. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between CAC progression and AF. Over a median follow-up of 5.6 years (25th, 75th percentiles=5.1, 6.8), a total of 203 (3.6%) incident AF cases were detected. Any CAC progression (>0/year) was associated with an increased risk for AF (HR=1.55, 95% CI=1.10, 2.19), and the risk increased with higher levels of CAC progression (≤0/year: HR=1.0 [reference]; 1–100/year: HR=1.47, 95% CI=1.03, 2.09; 101–300/year: HR=1.92, 95%CI=1.15, 3.20; >300/year: HR=3.23, 95%CI=1.48, 7.05). An interaction was observed by age with the association of CAC progression with AF being stronger for younger (<61 years: HR=3.53, 95% CI=1.29, 9.69) compared with older (≥61 years: HR=1.42, 95% CI=0.99, 2.04) participants (
P
interaction=0.037).

Conclusions—

CAC progression during an average of 5 to 6 years of follow-up is associated with an increased risk for AF.
Comparison of Atherosclerotic Calcification in Major Vessel Beds on the Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality
Authors: Bos Daniel , Leening Maarten J.G. , Kavousi Maryam , Hofman Albert , Franco Oscar H. , Lugt Aad van der , Vernooij Meike W. , Ikram M. Arfan
Published: December 2015

Background—

Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Although atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, its burden varies considerably across vessel beds, which may translate into differences in mortality risk.

Methods and Results—

From 2003 to 2006, a sample of 2408 elderly participants (mean age, 69.6±6.7 years; 52.4% female) from the population-based Rotterdam Study underwent computed tomography to quantify atherosclerotic calcification in the coronary arteries, aortic arch, extracranial, and intracranial internal carotid arteries. Mortality follow-up was complete until January 1, 2012. We investigated associations of calcification in each vessel bed with mortality using Cox regression, adjusting for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. Next, all vessel beds were included into 1 model to investigate independency of associations. Finally, we investigated the predictive value of calcification beyond the predictors included in the Pooled Cohort equations. During 15 775 person-years of follow-up, 283 participants died. Larger calcification volumes in all vessels were related to higher risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular mortality, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Most prominent associations were found for aortic arch calcification and cardiovascular mortality (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio per 1-SD increase 2.72 [95% confidence interval, 1.85–4.02]), independent of calcification elsewhere (hazard ratio, 1.75 (95% confidence interval, 1.13–2.72]). Calcification in any vessel improved prediction for all 3 outcomes.

Conclusions—

Atherosclerotic load in major vessel beds is associated with an increased risk of death. In particular, aortic arch calcification volume yields unique information with regard to mortality in addition to atherosclerosis in other vessel beds.
Heart Failure Resulting From Age-Related Cardiac Amyloid Disease Associated With Wild-Type Transthyretin
Authors: Connors Lawreen H. , Sam Flora , Skinner Martha , Salinaro Francesco , Sun Fangui , Ruberg Frederick L. , Berk John L. , Seldin David C.
Published: December 2015

Background—

Heart failure caused by wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) is an underappreciated cause of morbidity and mortality in the aging population. The aims of this study were to examine features of disease and to characterize outcomes in a large ATTRwt cohort.

Methods and Results—

Over 20 years, 121 patients with ATTRwt were enrolled in a prospective, observational study. Median age at enrollment was 75.6 years (range, 62.6–87.8 years); 97% of patients were white. The median survival, measured from biopsy diagnosis, was 46.69 months (95% confidence interval, 41.95–56.77); 78% of deaths were attributable to cardiac causes. By Kaplan–Meier analysis, 5-year survival was 35.7% (95% confidence interval, 25–46). Impaired functional capacity (mean V
o
2
max, 13.5 mL·kg
−1
·min
−1
) and atrial fibrillation (67%) were common clinical features. Multivariate predictors of reduced survival were elevated serum brain natriuretic peptide (482±337 pg/mL) and uric acid (8.2±2.6 mg/dL), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (50% median; range, 10%–70%), and increased relative wall thickness (0.75±0.19).

Conclusions—

In this series of patients with biopsy-proven ATTRwt, poor functional capacity and atrial arrhythmias were common clinical features. Elevated brain natriuretic peptide and uric acid, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, and increased relative wall thickness were associated with limited survival of only 35.7% at 5 years for the group as a whole. These data establish the natural history of ATTRwt, provide statistical basis for the design of future interventional clinical trials, and highlight the need for more sensitive diagnostic tests and disease-specific treatments for this disease.
Repolarization Alternans and Ventricular Arrhythmia in a Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Animal Model
Authors: Chiu Shuenn‐Nan , Tsai Chia‐Ti , Lin Lian‐Yu , Huang Shu‐Chien , Chen Yih‐Sharng , Wang Jou‐Kou , Wu Mei‐Hwan , Lai Ling‐Ping , Lin Jiunn‐Lee
Published: December 2015

Background

Ventricular arrhythmia is an important cause of late death in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (
rTOF
). By using an
rTOF
canine model, we investigated the role of repolarization alternans and its electrophysiological mechanisms.

Methods and Results

Six dogs received right ventricular outflow tract (
RVOT
) transannular patch, pulmonary valve destruction, and right bundle branch ablation to simulate
rTOF
. After 1 year, we performed high‐resolution dual‐voltage and calcium optical mapping to record action potentials and calcium transients on the excised right ventricular outflow tract wedges. Another 6 dogs without operation served as control. The
rTOF
group was more susceptible to action potential duration alternans (
APD
‐
ALT
) and spatially discordant
APD
‐
ALT
than control (threshold for
APD
‐
ALT
: 516±36 vs 343±36 ms;
P
=0.017; threshold for discordant
APD
‐
ALT
: 387±30 vs 310±14 ms;
P
=0.046). We detected 2 episodes of ventricular tachycardia in the
rTOF
group, but none in the control. Expressions of Kv4.3 and
KC
h
IP
2 decreased in the
rTOF
group. Expression of connexin 43 also decreased in the
rTOF
group with a corresponding decrease of conduction velocity and might contribute to spatially discordant
APD
‐
ALT
. We also found distinct electrophysiological features of the
RVOT
, including biphasic relationship between magnitude of
APD
‐
ALT
and pacing cycle length, uncoupling of
APD
‐
ALT
, and calcium transients alternans, and shortened
APD
, but unchanged,
APD
restitution in
rTOF
.

Conclusions

We demonstrated novel electrophysiological properties of the
RVOT
. In an
rTOF
model, the
RVOT
exhibits increased susceptibility to temporal and spatially discordant
APD
‐
ALT
, which was not totally dependent on calcium transient alternans.
Determinants of Myocardial Lactate Production During Acetylcholine Provocation Test in Patients With Coronary Spasm
Authors: Kaikita Koichi , Ishii Masanobu , Sato Koji , Nakayama Masafumi , Arima Yuichiro , Tanaka Tomoko , Sugamura Koichi , Sakamoto Kenji , Izumiya Yasuhiro , Yamamoto Eiichiro , Tsujita Kenichi , Yamamuro Megumi , Kojima Sunao , Soejima Hirofumi , Hokimoto Seiji , Matsui Kunihiko , Ogawa Hisao
Published: December 2015

Background

Myocardial lactate production in the coronary circulation during acetylcholine (
AC
h)‐provocation test (abbreviated as lactate production) provides supporting evidence for coronary spasm–induced myocardial ischemia. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical features, predictive factors, and prognosis of patients with coronary vasospastic angina (
VSA
) and lactate production.

Methods and Results

We examined all 712 patients who underwent both myocardial lactate measurement during
AC
h‐provocation test in the left coronary artery and genetic screening test of a –786T/C polymorphism in the 5′‐flanking region of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (

eNOS

) gene between January 1991 and December 2010. Lactate production was observed in 252 of the 712 patients and in 219 of 356
VSA
patients diagnosed by
AC
h‐provocation test. Compared with lactate production–negative
VSA
patients, the lactate production–positive counterparts were more likely to be nonsmoker female diabetics with –786T/C

eNOS

polymorphism (61% vs 31%,
P
<0.001, 62% vs 34%,
P
<0.001, 24% vs 14%,
P
=0.016, and 25% vs 15%,
P
=0.018, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified female sex, diabetes mellitus, and –786T/C

eNOS

polymorphism to correlate with lactate production (odds ratio 3.51, 95%
CI
2.16 to 5.70,
P
<0.001; odds ratio 2.53, 95%
CI
1.38 to 4.65,
P
=0.003; and odds ratio 1.85, 95%
CI
1.02 to 3.35,
P
=0.044, respectively). Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed no difference in 5‐year survival rate free from major adverse cardiac events between lactate production–positive and –negative
VSA
patients (
P
=0.319).

Conclusions

The results indicated that female sex, diabetes, and mutation in –786T/C

eNOS

gene correlate with
AC
h‐provoked myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary spasm.
A test of scent-trailing as a contributing factor in the climbing behaviour of the redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Authors: Cote Griffin , Getty Sarah , Vokoun Amanda , Carmichael Seth , Hunt Hallee , Letton Nate , McEntire Kira D. , Wooten Jessica A. , Camp Carlos D.
Published: December 2015

Terrestrial salamanders of the family Plethodontidae are common predators of invertebrates in deciduous forest communities of eastern North America. While normally residing and foraging in forest-floor microhabitats, many species facultatively climb vegetation. Different hypotheses have been proffered to explain this behaviour including optimal-foraging strategies and predator avoidance. Using laboratory-based trials, we tested the hypothesis that the terrestrial salamander Plethodon cinereus climbs in response to scent trails left by insect prey. We found that salamanders climbed significantly higher and spent significantly more time climbing on wooden dowel rods that had been treated with prey residue than they did on control rods. Scent trailing possibly interacts with other factors such as optimal-foraging opportunities and predation risk in influencing climbing behaviour in these salamanders.
Can Link Analysis Be Applied to Identify Behavioral Patterns in Train Recorder Data?
Authors: Strathie Ailsa , Walker Guy H.
Published: December 2015

Objective:

A proof-of-concept analysis was conducted to establish whether link analysis could be applied to data from on-train recorders to detect patterns of behavior that could act as leading indicators of potential safety issues.

Background:

On-train data recorders capture data about driving behavior on thousands of routine journeys every day and offer a source of untapped data that could be used to offer insights into human behavior.

Method:

Data from 17 journeys undertaken by six drivers on the same route over a 16-hr period were analyzed using link analysis, and four key metrics were examined: number of links, network density, diameter, and sociometric status.

Results:

The results established that link analysis can be usefully applied to data captured from on-vehicle recorders. The four metrics revealed key differences in normal driver behavior. These differences have promising construct validity as leading indicators.

Conclusion:

Link analysis is one method that could be usefully applied to exploit data routinely gathered by on-vehicle data recorders. It facilitates a proactive approach to safety based on leading indicators, offers a clearer understanding of what constitutes normal driving behavior, and identifies trends at the interface of people and systems, which is currently a key area of strategic risk.

Application:

These research findings have direct applications in the field of transport data monitoring. They offer a means of automatically detecting patterns in driver behavior that could act as leading indicators of problems during operation and that could be used in the proactive monitoring of driver competence, risk management, and even infrastructure design.
Sufficiency Economy and Backdated Claims of its Application: Phooyai (Headman) Wiboon’s Agroforestry and Self-narrative
Authors: Singsuriya Pagorn
Published: December 2015

The King of Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy (SE) has been heralded and influential in Thailand. It was also featured in the United Nations Development Programme Thailand Human Development Report 2007. Reports and personal stories of applying the SE are widely available. A striking remark is that many of these claims were backdated. Projects, activities, and practice claimed to be its implementation predated the SE in its present form. As the SE is caught in political struggles, this is perceived to reveal propaganda. In this article, through a case of Phooyai Wiboon’s agroforestry, the act of backdating the claims is analyzed and re-interpreted with help of Ricoeur’s concept of narrative time.
The influence of equi-biaxially fabric prestressing on the flexural performance of woven E-glass/polyester-reinforced composites
Authors: Mostafa Nawras H , Ismarrubie ZN , Sapuan SM , Sultan MTH
Published: December 2015

The flexural properties of plain-weave woven fabric-reinforced composites have been investigated to clarify the effects of equi-biaxially fabric prestressing on flexural characteristics. The prestressed composite samples were manufactured by applying the symmetrical tension load to both warp and weft yarns prior to matrix curing. The fabricated samples were tested under different fabric orientation angles, i.e. from warp to bias direction. The decline in the flexural properties of the prestressed composite due to matrix creep was checked. From three-point bending tests, the prestressed samples exhibited a maximum increase in the flexural performance, such as the strength and modulus, of ∼16% at a prestressing level of 50 MPa when compared with unprestressed counterparts. The level of improvement in the flexural properties reduced with increasing fabric orientation angle. The creep was induced in the prestressed matrix and subsequent decline in the improved flexural properties was indicated in the prestressed samples. The decline in flexural properties occurred mostly during the short-term creep.
Students’ Sense of Belonging at School in 41 Countries
Authors: Chiu Ming Ming , Chow Bonnie Wing-Yin , McBride Catherine , Mol Stefan Thomas
Published: December 2015

This study examined whether students’ sense of belonging at school (SOBAS) differed across attributes of countries, families, schools, teachers, or students. Multilevel analyses of survey and test data from 193,073 15-year-old students in 41 countries yielded four main findings. First, students in more egalitarian cultures often had higher SOBAS than those in more hierarchical cultures. Second, the teacher–student relationship had the strongest link with SOBAS and mediated the link between egalitarianism and SOBAS. Third, collectivism was not significantly linked to SOBAS. Finally, family characteristics (immigrant status, language spoken at home, socio-economic status [SES], books at home, family wealth, and family communication), schoolmates’ characteristics (SES and social communication), teacher characteristics (teacher–student relationship, teacher support and disciplinary climate), and student characteristics (reading achievement, self-efficacy, and self-concept) were also linked to students’ SOBAS and accounted for most of its variance. This ecological model shows how attributes at multiple levels are related to SOBAS.
Stay Close to Me
Authors: Marey-Sarwan Ibtisam , Keller Heidi , Otto Hiltrud
Published: December 2015

Our study examines stranger anxiety and maternal beliefs about child development in a traditional society living in an adverse socio-political situation. Thirty Bedouin mothers from the “unrecognized” villages in the Naqab and their 1-year-old children participated in our study, which utilized a mixed-method approach. First, we observed children’s stranger anxiety in everyday situations and examined their mothers’ ethnotheories via questionnaires and interviews. Second, we conducted a focus group discussion about stranger anxiety. The data revealed an emphasis on the cultural model of hierarchical relatedness, reflecting traditional values. Although multiple childcare arrangements created an expectation that Bedouin children would adjust easily to strangers, more than half of the Bedouin children showed stranger anxiety. Based on the focus group findings, we attribute the high levels of stranger anxiety to the adverse socio-political situation. Our study highlights the impact of the socio-political context on children’s stranger anxiety and their mothers’ belief systems. The findings show that definitions of security can take very different forms, depending also on the socio-political situation. Accordingly, parental and child behaviors can carry different meanings.
γ-Synuclein Expression Is a Malignant Index in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Cheng J.C. , Chiang M.T. , Lee C.H. , Liu S.Y. , Chiu K.C. , Chou Y.T. , Huang R.Y. , Huang S.M. , Shieh Y.S.
Published: December 2015

Dysregulation of γ-synuclein (SNCG) has been reported in many cancers; however, its role in cancer development is still controversial. Here, we examined the potential involvement of DNA methylation in regulating SNCG and its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We used 8 OSCC cell lines to investigate SNCG methylation and expression. SNCG methylation was examination by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfate sequencing. Cells showing a high degree of SNCG methylation were treated with 5-aza (methylation inhibitor), and changes in their methylation and expression profiles were analyzed. Functional effects of SNCG in OSCC were examined by its overexpression and knockdown. Additionally, methylation and expression of SNCG in OSCC tissues were investigated and correlated with clinicopathologic features. All OSCC cells showed detectable SNCG expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfate sequencing revealed high SNCG expression in SCC25 cells with the unmethylated allele, and their 15 CpG islands were unmethylated. The methylated allele was detected only in OEC-M1 cells exhibiting low SNCG expression, and their CpG islands were partially methylated. 5-aza treatment in OEC-M1 cells attenuated methylation and restored SNCG expression. SNCG overexpression increased colony forming, migration, and invasion abilities in OEC-M1 cells. Silencing SNCG in SCC25 cells suppressed these behaviors. All 25 tumor-adjacent normal tissues were negative for SNCG immunostaining. SNCG upregulation was frequently observed in dysplastic and OSCC tissues. Positive SNCG expression was found in 45% (37 of 82) OSCC tissues. Positive SNCG expression in OSCC significantly correlated with cancer staging and lymph node metastasis. However, SNCG methylation did not correlate with its expression and clinicopathologic variables in OSCC tissues. DNA methylation may participate in regulating SNCG expression in some OSCC cells. SNCG upregulation could be involved in OSCC progression.
C-myb Regulates Autophagy for Pulp Vitality in Glucose Oxidative Stress
Authors: Lee Y.H. , Kim H.S. , Kim J.S. , Yu M.K. , Cho S.D. , Jeon J.G. , Yi H.K.
Published: December 2015

Diabetes mellitus is closely related to oral-complicated diseases by oxidative stress. This study investigates whether cellular myeloblastosis (c-myb) could protect human dental pulp cells against glucose oxidative stress and regulate autophagy activity for pulp vitality. Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin in Sprague-Dawley rats, and their pulp tissue in teeth was analyzed in terms of pulp cavity and molecules by hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry staining. Human dental pulp cells were serially subcultured and treated with glucose oxidase in the presence of elevated glucose to generate glucose oxidative stress. The replication-deficient adenovirus c-myb and small interfering RNA c-myb were introduced for c-myb expression. The pulp tissue from the diabetic rats was structurally different from normal tissue in terms of narrow pulp capacity, reduced c-myb, and dentinogenesis molecules. Glucose oxidase treatment decreased c-myb and dentinogenesis molecules (bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 7, dentin matrix protein 1, and dentin sialophosphoprotein) in human dental pulp cells. However, overexpression of c-myb by adenovirus c-myb increased dentinogenesis, autophagy molecules (autophagy protein 5, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B–light chain 3, and Beclin-1), and cell survival via p-AMPK/AKT signaling even with glucose oxidative stress. In contrast, the lack of c-myb decreased the above molecules and cell survival by downregulating p-AMPK/AKT signaling. The results indicate that diabetes leads to irreversible damage to dental pulp, which is related to downexpression of autophagy via the p-AMPK/AKT pathway by decline of c-myb. The findings of this study provide a new insight that c-myb could ameliorate autophagy activity and that it is applicable for monitoring complicated diseases of dental pulp. The involvement of c-myb in pulp pathology could serve a therapeutic target in oral-complicated diseases.
The effect of handling method on the mouse grimace scale in two strains of laboratory mice
Authors: Miller Amy L , Leach Matthew C
Published: December 2015

Pain assessment in laboratory animals is an ethical and legal requirement. The mouse grimace scale (MGS) is a new method of pain assessment deemed to be both accurate and reliable, and observers can be rapidly trained to use it. In order for a new pain assessment technique to be effective, we must ensure that the score awarded by the technique is only influenced by pain and not by other husbandry or non-painful but integral aspects of research protocols. Here, we studied 16 male mice, housed under standard laboratory conditions. Eight mice were randomly assigned to tail handling and eight to tube handling on arrival at the unit. On each occasion the mice were removed from their cage for routine husbandry, they were picked up using their assigned handling method. Photographs of the mouse faces were then scored by treatment-blind observers as per the MGS manual (see Nature Methods 2010, Vol. 7, pp 447–449), and scores from the two groups were compared. There was no significant difference in MGS scores between the mice that had been handled using a tube compared with the tail. Consequently, these methods of handling did not influence the baseline grimace score given, suggesting that these handling techniques are not confounding factors when establishing baseline MGS scores, further validating this technique.
Distributed multi-scale muscle simulation in a hybrid MPI–CUDA computational environment
Authors: Ivanović Miloš , Stojanović Boban , Kaplarević-Mališić Ana , Gilbert Richard , Mijailovich Srboljub
Published: December 2015

We present Mexie, an extensible and scalable software solution for distributed multi-scale muscle simulations in a hybrid MPI–CUDA environment. Since muscle contraction relies on the integration of physical and biochemical properties across multiple length and time scales, these models are highly processor and memory intensive. Existing parallelization efforts for accelerating multi-scale muscle simulations imply the usage of expensive large-scale computational resources, which produces overwhelming costs for the everyday practical application of such models. In order to improve the computational speed within a reasonable budget, we introduce the concept of distributed calculations of multi-scale muscle models in a mixed CPU–GPU environment. The concept is applied to a two-scale muscle model, in which a finite element macro model is coupled with the microscopic Huxley kinetics model. Finite element calculations of a continuum macroscopic model take place strictly on the CPU, while numerical solutions of the partial differential equations of Huxley’s cross-bridge kinetics are calculated on both CPUs and GPUs. We present a modular architecture of the solution, along with an internal organization and a specific load balancer that is aware of memory boundaries in such a heterogeneous environment. Solution was verified on both benchmark and real-world examples, showing high utilization of involved processing units, ensuring high scalability. Speed-up results show a boost of two orders of magnitude over any previously reported distributed multi-scale muscle models. This major improvement in computational feasibility of multi-scale muscle models paves the way for new discoveries in the field of muscle modeling and future clinical applications.
Development of low-cost event marker for EEG-based emotion recognition
Authors: Singh Moon Inder , Singh Mandeep
Published: December 2015

The study of changes in physiological signals for emotion recognition in human subjects has generated immense interest in medical instrumentation. One of the effective ways of classifying emotions is by the use of the event-related potentials (ERPs) of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. This requires projection of an image on one computer system while simultaneously putting a marker on another computer system acquiring the EEG. This is achieved using costly modules to synchronize the stimulus presentation system with the data acquisition system. This paper describes an innovative low-cost technique to achieve this simultaneous triggering on the second computer system using the parallel operation of mechanical keyboards. The latency aspect of both USB and PS/2 keyboards with their two keys galvanically connected have been experimentally analysed and compared. It has been found experimentally that the USB keyboards, if used in cognition research, would give better latency results compared with the PS/2 keyboards. The synchronization error between the two USB keyboards has been found to be lower than or equal to 1 ms for the maximum number of keystrokes. The horizon of applications of this technique is unlimited and it can be used in almost every sphere of cognition enhancement and research, where a perfect synchronization of the brain stimulus with the corresponding physiological signals being acquired is required.
Characterizing Factors of Employment Status in Persons With Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Chen Fang-pei , Samet Sharon , Gorroochurn Prakash , O’Hara Kathleen M.
Published: December 2015

Employment is fundamental to mental health recovery. The aim of this study is to construct a parsimonious profile indicating employment potential of people with major depressive disorder (MDD) to facilitate clinical assessment on employment participation. Data were drawn from Waves 1 (2001–2002) and 2 (2004–2005) of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. We included participants who had MDD at Wave 1 and were interviewed in both waves ( N = 2,864). We conducted Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis to identify key characterizing factors of Wave 2 employment among 32 Wave 1 risk and protective factors. The results show that 82.1% of those employed at Wave 1 were likely to be employed at Wave 2. Among those unemployed at Wave 1, 51% of those motivated to work, measured by work-seeking behavior in the prior year, were likely to be employed at Wave 2. Among those unemployed and motivated to work, better functional mental health was associated with employment (>25.3 vs. ≤25.3). Results highlight the importance of motivation to work, shown in active work seeking, in facilitating employment despite clinical conditions.
Topic modelling for qualitative studies
Authors: Nikolenko Sergey I. , Koltcov Sergei , Koltsova Olessia
Published: December 2015

Qualitative studies, such as sociological research, opinion analysis and media studies, can benefit greatly from automated topic mining provided by topic models such as latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA). However, examples of qualitative studies that employ topic modelling as a tool are currently few and far between. In this work, we identify two important problems along the way to using topic models in qualitative studies: lack of a good quality metric that closely matches human judgement in understanding topics and the need to indicate specific subtopics that a specific qualitative study may be most interested in mining. For the first problem, we propose a new quality metric, tf-idf coherence, that reflects human judgement more accurately than regular coherence, and conduct an experiment to verify this claim. For the second problem, we propose an interval semi-supervised approach (ISLDA) where certain predefined sets of keywords (that define the topics researchers are interested in) are restricted to specific intervals of topic assignments. Our experiments show that ISLDA is better for topic extraction than LDA in terms of tf-idf coherence, number of topics identified to predefined keywords and topic stability. We also present a case study on a Russian LiveJournal dataset aimed at ethnicity discourse analysis.
A qualitative investigation of users’ discovery, access, and organization of video games as information objects
Authors: Lee Jin Ha , Clarke Rachel Ivy , Rossi Stephanie
Published: December 2015

Video games are popular consumer products as well as research subjects, yet little exists about how players and other stakeholders find video games and what information they need to select, acquire and play video games. With the aim of better understanding people’s game-related information needs and behaviour, we conducted 56 semi-structured interviews with users who find, play, purchase, collect and recommend video games. Participants included gamers, parents, collectors, industry professionals, librarians, educators and scholars. From this user data, we derive and discuss key design implications for video game information systems: designing for target user populations, enabling recommendations based on appeals, offering multiple automatic organization options and providing relationship-based, user-generated, subject and visual metadata. We anticipate this work will contribute to building future video game information systems with new and improved access to games.