bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A qualitative inquiry into the barriers and facilitators to achieving home death
Authors: Sayma Meelad , Saleh Dina , Kerwat Doa’a , Jamshaid Shiraz , Ahmed Aaniya , Oyewole Folashade , Wahid Abdul Samad , Perry Claire , Cox Benita
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To explore the barriers and facilitators to patients achieving death at home.

Methods

In-depth, semistructured interviews with end-of-life care experts were conducted to develop an insight into the barriers and facilitators to achieving death at home. Thirty-three interviews were conducted compromising of a mixture of face-to-face and tele interviews. Experts included healthcare professionals working in the community, hospital and policy/academic settings. Thematic analysis was undertaken on interview transcripts.

Results

Three overarching themes, further divided into a total of 12 subthemes were identified. The three themes were ‘managing people’, ‘education' and ‘planning’. The ‘managing people’ theme included subthemes of patient preferences and family influences; the ‘education’ theme encompassed knowledge and training, perceptions of death and communication and the ‘planning’ theme contained seven subthemes including ‘coordination’, ‘resources’ and ‘cost’.

Conclusions

Multiple barriers and facilitators to achieving death at home were identified in this study. Of particular significance was the identification of the fear and stigma associated with death among doctors, patients and their families serving as a barrier to home death, not previously identified in the literature. Additionally, the importance of social networks and resource provision were highlighted as key in influencing patient death at home.
Tobacco companies’ use of retailer incentives after a ban on point-of-sale tobacco displays in Scotland
Authors: Stead Martine , Eadie Douglas , Purves Richard I , Moodie Crawford , Haw Sally
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Incentives have been used by tobacco companies for many years to encourage retailers to sell and promote their products. However, few studies have examined the use of retailer incentives in countries with a ban on the open display of tobacco products in stores.

Methods

As part of the DISPLAY(Determining the Impact of Smoking Point of Sale Legislation Among Youth) study, annual qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 small retailers in four Scottish communities. This article focuses on data collected in June to July 2015 and June to July 2016 after a ban on the open display of tobacco was fully implemented in Scotland.

Results

Retailers described being offered and benefiting from a range of financial and other incentives, typically offered via tobacco company representatives (‘reps’). Most of the retailers received tobacco manufacturer support for converting their storage unit to be compliant with the new regulations, and several participated in manufacturer ‘loyalty’ or ‘reward’ schemes. Incentives were additionally offered for maintaining stock levels and availability, positioning brands in specified spaces in the public-facing storage units (even though products were covered up), increasing sales, trialling new products and participating in specific promotions, such as verbally recommending specific brands to customers.

Conclusions

Even in a market where the open display of tobacco is prohibited, tobacco companies continue to incentivise retailers to sell and promote their brands and have developed new promotional strategies. For countries that have implemented tobacco display bans, or are considering doing so, one option to combat these practices would be to ban promotional communications between manufacturers and retailers.
Acute effects of exercise intensity on subsequent substrate utilisation, appetite, and energy balance in men and women
Authors: Shamlan Ghalia , Bech Paul , Robertson M. Denise , Collins Adam L.
Published: August 2017

Exercise is capable of influencing the regulation of energy balance by acutely modulating appetite and energy intake coupled to effects on substrate utilization. Yet, few studies have examined acute effects of exercise intensity on aspects of both energy intake and energy metabolism, independently of energy cost of exercise. Furthermore, little is known as to the gender differences of these effects. One hour after a standardised breakfast, 40 (19 female), healthy participants (BMI 23.6 ± 3.6 kg·m−2, V̇O2peak 34.4 ± 6.8 mL·kg−1·min−1) undertook either high-intensity intermittent cycling (HIIC) consisting of 8 repeated 60 s bouts of cycling at 95% V̇O2peak or low-intensity continuous cycling (LICC), equivalent to 50% V̇O2peak, matched for energy cost (∼950 kJ) followed by 90 mins of rest, in a randomised crossover design. Throughout each study visit, satiety was assessed subjectively using visual analogue scales alongside blood metabolites and GLP-1. Energy expenditure and substrate utilization were measured over 75 min postexercise via indirect calorimetry. Energy intake was assessed for 48 h postintervention. No differences in appetite, GLP-1, or energy intakes were observed between HIIC and LICC, with or without stratifying for gender. Significant differences in postexercise nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were observed between intensities in both genders, coupled to a significantly lower respiratory exchange ratio following HIIC (P = 0.0028), with a trend towards greater reductions in respiratory exchange ratioin males (P = 0.079). In conclusion, high-intensity exercise, if energy matched, does not lead to greater appetite or energy intake, but may exert additional beneficial metabolic effects that may be more pronounced in males.
Fostering comprehension and integration in mycorrhiza biology: conceptual scaffolding as an aid in teaching and exploration,
Authors: Massicotte Hugues B. , Guinel Frédérique C.
Published: August 2017

Over the last decade, we have witnessed extraordinary progress in the understanding of molecular dialogues between the partners in plant root mutualisms and, as such, a considerable amount of new information now needs to be integrated into an already significant body of literature. The topic of symbiosis has become difficult to explore in a teaching venue, as there is seemingly so much to discuss, and yet students are truly interested in the discipline because of its potential applications in conservation, sustainable agriculture, and forestry. In this minireview targeted to instructors, senior students, and scientists, we offer a means of teaching the symbioses between mycorrhizal fungi and vascular plants, whereby we propose a conceptual staircase with three levels of incremental learning difficulty. At the first level, we describe the fundamentals of mycorrhizas with special emphasis on the plant–fungus interface. At the second level, we focus on the pre-communication between the two partners. At the third level, we discuss the physiology of the interface in terms of agriculture and forestry. At the end of each level, we provide a short summary where the most important concepts have been outlined for an instructor. As well, throughout the text, we raise questions of interest to the field at large.
Adsorption of methanol, methanal, toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene in zeolites: a grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation study
Authors: Zhao Fei , Sun XiShang , Lu Ruifeng , Kang Lihua
Published: August 2017

In this study, the adsorption behaviors of methanol, methanal, toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene molecules in FAU, FER, CON, and MWW zeolites were investigated. The adsorption isotherms of the five adsorbates in the four zeolites at 298 and 350 K were simulated using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Moreover, binary component adsorptions were considered. The results revealed that the saturated adsorption capacity of single components in different zeolites decreased in the order of FAU > MWW > CON > FER, and the adsorption capacity of the five adsorbates in the same zeolite decreased in the order of methanal > methanol > toluene > styrene > ethylbenzene. The equilibrium adsorption capacity slightly decreased with increasing temperature. In terms of binary component adsorption, intense competition existed between the smaller adsorbed molecules. As the differences among the molecular structures increased, the competition in adsorption became more intense.
Habitat features mediate selective consumption of salmon by bears
Authors: Andersson Luke C. , Reynolds John D.
Published: August 2017

Salmon provide a key source of marine-derived nutrients to aquatic and surrounding terrestrial habitats in coastal areas of the North Pacific. Bears are a major predator of salmon and provide an important pathway for carcass transfer to riparian zones. We studied selective consumption of salmon (Oncorhynchus keta and Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) by bears (Ursus arctos and Ursus americanus) on 12 streams on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. We predicted that bears would select more energy-rich parts, and eat less of each fish (i.e., selective consumption), in streams with more prey and simpler habitat (i.e., streams that facilitate salmon capture). Bears were 12% more likely to consume fish selectively in narrow, shallow streams with less pool volume, where salmon are easier to catch, than in deep, wide streams. However, bears were also 21% more likely to selectively consume fish in streams with more wood obstacles and undercut banks, where hunting was predicted to be more difficult. This suggests that stream characteristics can have significant indirect effects on riparian nutrient subsidies to ecosystems through selective feeding by bears.
Limb remote ischemia per-conditioning protects the heart against ischemia–reperfusion injury through the opioid system in rats
Authors: Zhang Li , Guo Hui , Yuan Fang , Hong Zeng-chao , Tian Yan-ming , Zhang Xiang-jian , Zhang Yi
Published: August 2017

Remote ischemia per-conditioning (RPerC) has been demonstrated to have cardiac protection, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying cardiac protection of RPerC. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were used in this study. Cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) was induced by 30 min of occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. RPerC were performed by 5 min of occlusion of the right femoral artery followed by 5 min of reperfusion for three times during cardiac ischemia. The hemodynamics, left ventricular function, arrhythmia, and infarct area were measured. Protein expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), protein kinase C-ε (PKCε), and PKCδ in the myocardium were assayed. During I/R, systolic artery pressure and left ventricular function were decreased, infarct area was increased, and arrhythmia score was increased (P < 0.05). However, changes of the above parameters were significantly attenuated in RPerC-treated rats compared with control rats (P < 0.05). The cardiac protective effects of RPerC were prevented by naloxone or glibenclamide. Also, RPerC increased the protein expression levels of eNOS, iNOS, PKCε, and PKCδ in the myocardium compared with control rats. These effects were blocked by naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, and glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker (KATP). In summary, this study suggests that RPerC protects the heart against I/R injury through activation of opioid receptors and the NO–PKC–KATP channel signaling pathways.
Kinematic equivalence between models driven by DBI field with constant γ and exotic holographic quintessence cosmological models
Authors: Forte Mónica
Published: August 2017

We show the kinematic equivalence between cosmological models driven by Dirac–Born–Infeld (DBI) fields [Formula: see text] with constant proper velocity of the brane and exponential potential [Formula: see text], and interactive cosmological systems with modified holographic Ricci type fluids as dark energy (DE) in flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) cosmologies.
The effect of roughness and correlation on the Casimir torque between two plates
Authors: Tajik Fatemeh , Khorrami Mohammad , Masoudi Amir Ali , Dezashibi Fateme Mohammad
Published: August 2017

The effect of roughness and correlation on the Casimir torque is studied. The plates are assumed to be perfect conductors. This is a good approximation when the separation between plates is not too small. The pairwise summation (PWS) method is used, which is a good approximation when the correlation length is much larger than the distance between the plates. Torque components both parallel and perpendicular to the plates are obtained. It is seen that the component parallel to the plates is nonvanishing even if the plates are smooth, but there are contributions due to roughness and correlation as well, and the contribution of the correlation is an increasing function of both the roughness exponent and the correlation length. The component perpendicular to the plates, however, is nonvanishing only if the plates are rough and correlated to each other. As the roughness exponent increases, this component increases, reaches a peak and then decreases.
Study of ferroelectric lead monohydrogen phosphate type crystals
Authors: Rawat Aanchal , Upadhyay Trilok Chandra
Published: August 2017

In this paper, the ferroelectric transition and dielectric properties of the lead monohydrogen phosphate (PbHPO4) crystal are theoretically investigated. By using Green’s function method and modified two sublattice pseudospin–lattice coupled mode model, formulae for PbHPO4 type crystals are derived. Temperature variations of ferroelectric mode frequency, dielectric constant and loss tangent are calculated for the PbHPO4 crystal. Our results agree well with the experimental data.
New design of multi-band negative-index metamaterial and absorber at visible frequencies
Authors: Gong Boyi , Guo Fan , Zou Wenkang , Chen Lin , Song Kun , Zhao Xiaopeng
Published: August 2017

A new negative-index metamaterial (NIM) structure is proposed by designing the metallic holes of traditional double-fishnet (DF) structures from uniform sizes to several different sizes. Numerical results demonstrate that the new metamaterial, as an improved variant of the DF structure, achieved a multi-band negative refractive index across a wide range of visible frequencies from 470 THz to 540 THz, which covers the red, orange, yellow, and green regions of the visible spectra. Meanwhile, a low-profile nanostrctured absorber was obtained when one side of the perforated metal layer of this multi-band NIM was substituted with a continuous metal film with the same thickness. The absorber showed the high absorption of more than 95% at multiple frequencies of 511, 520, 523, 525, and 527 THz. The behavior of multi-frequency response effectively broadened the working bandwidth. Finally, the physical mechanism of the multi-band operating characteristics of NIM and absorber was analyzed with the distributions of current intensity at different resonant frequencies.
Quantum chemical calculations of thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the intermetallic phases in copper–scandium alloy
Authors: Zhao Zhen , Li Zhi , Lv Linlin
Published: August 2017

To understand how the intermetallic phases of Cu–Sc influence the thermal stability and mechanical strength of Cu–Sc alloys, thermodynamic and mechanical characters of the Cu–Sc alloy have been calculated by first-principles. The lattice parameters of Cu4Sc phase are obtained by calculated and the CuSc phase is found to be the most stable phase based on formation energies. In the binary Cu–Sc alloy, the shear moduli of Cu4Sc and Cu2Sc phases along the [100](001) crystal orientation are easier than those along the [100](010) crystal orientation, respectively. Pure Cu phase acts as the most stiffness phase while [Formula: see text]Sc phase has the lowest stiffness. Cu4Sc phase possesses the best plasticity while CuSc phase possesses the worst plasticity. Cu4Sc phase is the most ductile phase while [Formula: see text]Sc phase is the most brittle phase. From the partial density of states, the valence bands of binary Cu–Sc phases are dominated by the Sc-[Formula: see text] states.
Dynamic Characterization of Brushless DC Motors and Propellers for Flight Applications
Authors: Muzar Dominic , Lanteigne Eric , McLeod Justin
Published: August 2017

Although there exist a number of accurate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) thruster models, these models require the precise measurements of several motor and propeller characteristics. This paper presents a simple motor and propeller model that relies solely upon data provided by manufacturers. The model is validated by comparing theoretical motor and propeller behavior to experimental results obtained from thrust tests in a wind tunnel. The objective is to provide an accurate yet simple model to facilitate the selection of appropriate brushless DC motor and propeller combinations for flight applications.
Cultural Heritage Routing
Authors: Baker Kevin , Verstockt Steven
Published: August 2017

In recent years, thematic route planning is gaining popularity in recreational navigation. A growing number of people start to use route-planning services to prepare, ride, explore, and log their activities, with a particular focus on where they want to ride and what they want to see. In the context of cultural heritage, however, route planners still suffer from lack of data and route weighting/scoring mechanisms to achieve end-user satisfaction. In this article, we take advantage of mobile sensing and geotagging (r)evolution to tackle both issues and propose a novel framework for cultural heritage routing on top of RouteYou’s existing recreational navigation platform. Our first improvement focuses on the automatic collection and multimodal enrichment of thematic cultural heritage points of interest. Second, we introduce a weighting procedure for these points of interest and analyze their meta(data) quality and spatial coverage in our route databases. Finally, we present a novel routing algorithm targeted to cultural heritage exploration. Experimental results show that the proposed framework improves cultural heritage POI coverage and quality with respect to traditional recreational navigation routing algorithms. Furthermore, the proposed framework can easily be used in other thematic routing applications due to its generic architecture, making it a widely applicable approach.
Unsupervised Residential Power Usage Monitoring Using a Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Tan Rui , Phillips Dennis E. , Moazzami Mohammad-Mahdi , Xing Guoliang , Chen Jinzhu
Published: August 2017

Appliance-level power usage monitoring may help conserve electricity in homes. Several existing systems achieve this goal by exploiting appliances’ power usage signatures identified in labor-intensive in situ training processes. Recent work shows that autonomous power usage monitoring can be achieved by supplementing a smart meter with distributed sensors that detect the working states of appliances. However, sensors must be carefully installed for each appliance, resulting in a high installation cost. This article presents
Supero
—the first ad hoc sensor system that can monitor appliance power usage without supervised training. By exploiting multisensor fusion and unsupervised machine learning algorithms, Supero can classify the appliance events of interest and autonomously associate measured power usage with the respective appliances. Our extensive evaluation in five real homes shows that Supero can estimate the energy consumption with errors less than 7.5%. Moreover, nonprofessional users can quickly deploy Supero with considerable flexibility.
An Innovative Cloud-Based System for the Diachronic Analysis in Numismatics
Authors: Celesti Antonio , Salamone Grazia , Sapienza Anna , Spinelli Marianna , Puglisi Mariangela , Caltabiano Maria
Published: August 2017

Nowadays, ancient coins are under-estimated. In fact, their iconography can provide students and researchers more information than they expect. Existing web solutions allow to retrieve data and to display ancient mints on digital maps, but they do not consider a powerful iconographic approach. The “Digital Iconographic Atlas of Numismatics in Antiquity” (DIANA) fulfill this gap providing a tool for the in-deep analysis of ancient mints specifically considering coin iconography, chronology, and geographical location. In this article, we present the new Cloud-based DIANA architecture that was recently re-engineered extending the Drupal platform. In particular, we focus on a new innovative Graphical User Interface (GUI) and system back-end that allows researchers a smarter diachronic study of the ancient culture according to the mints and coin iconography. The innovative features are highlighted through four case studies regarding personage, animal/mythical creature, flora, and object iconographies.
Optimization and Quality Estimation of Circuit Design via Random Region Covering Method
Authors: Bi Zhaori , Zhou Dian , Wang Sheng-Guo , Zeng Xuan
Published: August 2017

Random region covering is a global optimization technique that explores the landscape by introducing multiple random starting points to initiate the local optimization solvers. This study applies the random region covering technique to circuit design automation and proposes a theory to explain why this technique is efficient at searching for the global optimum. In addition to analyzing the efficiency of the random region covering algorithm, the theory gives a probability-based estimation of the goodness of the optimization result. To enhance the efficiency of the random region covering technique, this work evaluates the boundary of top performance regions and proposes a modified random region covering method that only performs the global optimization on the top design region. The results from a large number of mathematical experiments verify the proposed methodology. The optimized designs of a class-E power amplifier and a wide load range operational amplifier outperform both manual designs and other state-of-the-art optimization techniques.
A Bearingless Induction Motor Direct Torque Control and Suspension Force Control Based on Sliding Mode Variable Structure
Authors: Yang Zebin , Chen Lin , Sun Xiaodong , Sun Weiming , Zhang Dan
Published: August 2017

Aiming at the problems of the large torque ripple and unstable suspension performance in traditional direct torque control (DTC) for a bearingless induction motor (BIM), a new method of DTC is proposed based on sliding mode variable structure (SMVS). The sliding mode switching surface of the torque and flux linkage controller are constructed by torque error and flux error, and the exponential reaching law is used to design the SMVS direct torque controller. On the basis of the radial suspension force mathematical model of the BIM, a radial suspension force closed‐loop control method is proposed by utilizing the inverse system theory and SMVS. The simulation models of traditional DTC and the new DTC method based on SMVS of the BIM are set up in the MATLAB/Simulink toolbox. On this basis, the experiments are carried out. Simulation and experiment results showed that the stable suspension operation of the BIM can be achieved with small torque ripple and flux ripple. Besides, the dynamic response and suspension performance of the motor are improved by the proposed method.
Laboratory Study on Properties of Diatomite and Basalt Fiber Compound Modified Asphalt Mastic
Authors: Cheng Yongchun , Zhu Chunfeng , Tan Guojin , Lv Zehua , Yang Jinsheng , Ma Jiansheng
Published: August 2017

In order to improve the performance of asphalt mastic, some researchers have added diatomite or basalt fiber as a modifier to the asphalt mastic, and the results show that some properties of the asphalt mastic were improved. For the simultaneous addition of diatomite and basalt fiber, two kinds of modifier, compound modified asphalt mastic had not been reported; in this paper, thirteen groups of diatomite and basalt fiber (DBFCMAM) compound modified asphalt mastic with different content were prepared to study the performance. Softening point, cone penetration, viscosity, and DSR tests were conducted, for the high temperature performance evaluation of DBFCMAM, whereas force ductility and BBR tests were used in the low temperature performance study of the DBFCMAM. The results demonstrated that the high temperature performance of DBFCMAM was increased; moreover, the low temperature performance of DBFCMAM improved by diatomite and basalt fiber according to the results of the force ductility test; however, the conclusion of the BBR test data was inconsistent with the force ductility test. In summary, the high temperature and low temperature properties of DBFCMAM had been improved.
Intestinal Stem Cell Niche: The Extracellular Matrix and Cellular Components
Authors: Meran Laween , Baulies Anna , Li Vivian S. W.
Published: August 2017

The intestinal epithelium comprises a monolayer of polarised columnar cells organised along the crypt-villus axis. Intestinal stem cells reside at the base of crypts and are constantly nourished by their surrounding niche for maintenance, self-renewal, and differentiation. The cellular microenvironment including the adjacent Paneth cells, stromal cells, smooth muscle cells, and neural cells as well as the extracellular matrix together constitute the intestinal stem cell niche. A dynamic regulatory network exists among the epithelium, stromal cells, and the matrix via complex signal transduction to maintain tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of these biological or mechanical signals could potentially lead to intestinal injury and disease. In this review, we discuss the role of different intestinal stem cell niche components and dissect the interaction between dynamic matrix factors and regulatory signalling during intestinal stem cell homeostasis.
Use of Calcium Channel Blockers and Breast Cancer Risk in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Brasky Theodore M. , Krok-Schoen Jessica L. , Liu Jingmin , Chlebowski Rowan T. , Freudenheim Jo L. , Lavasani Sayeh , Margolis Karen L. , Qi Lihong , Reding Kerryn W. , Shields Peter G. , Simon Michael S. , Wactawski-Wende Jean , Wang Ange , Womack Catherine , Manson JoAnn E.
Published: August 2017

Background: Use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) has been associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some, but not all, studies. Differences in reported associations from prior studies may be due, in part, to inadequate control of confounding factors.

Methods: Participants were 28,561 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative who reported use of either CCBs or other antihypertensive medications (AHMs) at baseline; 1,402 incident breast cancer cases were diagnosed during 12 years of follow-up. Adjusted Cox regression models were used to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations between CCB use relative to other AHM use and breast cancer risk.

Results: Use of CCBs was not associated with breast cancer risk (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.94–1.20) relative to use of other AHMs. Associations approximated the null value when CCBs were considered by duration of use, length of action, or drug class.

Conclusions: We provide additional evidence that CCBs do not influence breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

Impact: The results from this study, which includes strong control for potential confounding factors, cast doubt on increases in risk with CCBs. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(8); 1345–8. ©2017 AACR.
Coffee and Green Tea Consumption and Subsequent Risk of Malignant Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma in Japan: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study
Authors: Ugai Tomotaka , Matsuo Keitaro , Sawada Norie , Iwasaki Motoki , Yamaji Taiki , Shimazu Taichi , Sasazuki Shizuka , Inoue Manami , Kanda Yoshinobu , Tsugane Shoichiro
Published: August 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of coffee and green tea consumption and the risk of malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma in a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan.

Methods: In this analysis, a total of 95,807 Japanese subjects (45,937 men and 49,870 women; ages 40–69 years at baseline) of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study who completed a questionnaire about their coffee and green tea consumption were followed up until December 31, 2012, for an average of 18 years. HRs and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a Cox regression model adjusted for potential confounders as a measure of association between the risk of malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma associated with coffee and green tea consumption at baseline.

Results: During the follow-up period, a total of 411 malignant lymphoma cases and 138 multiple myeloma cases were identified. Overall, our findings showed no significant association between coffee or green tea consumption and the risk of malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma for both sexes.

Conclusions: In this study, we observed no significant association between coffee or green tea consumption and the risk of malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma.

Impact: Our results do not support an association between coffee or green tea consumption and the risk of malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(8); 1352–6. ©2017 AACR.
Circulating Tumor DNA Reveals Clinically Actionable Somatic Genome of Metastatic Bladder Cancer
Authors: Vandekerkhove Gillian , Todenhöfer Tilman , Annala Matti , Struss Werner J. , Wong Amanda , Beja Kevin , Ritch Elie , Brahmbhatt Sonal , Volik Stanislav V. , Hennenlotter Jörg , Nykter Matti , Chi Kim N. , North Scott , Stenzl Arnulf , Collins Colin C. , Eigl Bernhard J. , Black Peter C. , Wyatt Alexander W.
Published: August 2017

Purpose: Targeted agents and immunotherapies promise to transform the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer, but therapy selection will depend on practical tumor molecular stratification. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is established in several solid malignancies as a minimally invasive tool to profile the tumor genome in real-time, but is critically underexplored in bladder cancer.

Experimental Design: We applied a combination of whole-exome sequencing and targeted sequencing across 50 bladder cancer driver genes to plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from 51 patients with aggressive bladder cancer, including 37 with metastatic disease.

Results: The majority of patients with metastasis, but only 14% of patients with localized disease, had ctDNA proportions above 2% of total cfDNA (median 16.5%, range 3.9%–72.6%). Twelve percent of estimable samples had evidence of genome hypermutation. We reveal an aggressive mutational landscape in metastatic bladder cancer with 95% of patients harboring deleterious alterations to TP53, RB1, or MDM2, and 70% harboring a mutation or disrupting rearrangement affecting chromatin modifiers such as ARID1A. Targetable alterations in MAPK/ERK or PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways were robustly detected, including amplification of ERBB2 (20% of patients) and activating hotspot mutations in PIK3CA (20%), with the latter mutually exclusive to truncating mutations in TSC1. A novel FGFR3 gene fusion was identified in consecutive samples from one patient.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that ctDNA provides a practical and cost-effective snapshot of driver gene status in metastatic bladder cancer. The identification of a wide spectrum of clinically informative somatic alterations nominates ctDNA as a tool to dissect disease pathogenesis and guide therapy selection in patients with metastatic bladder cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(21); 6487–97. ©2017 AACR.
CDK4/6 Inhibition on Glucose and Pancreatic Beta Cell Homeostasis in Young and Aged Rats
Authors: Sacaan Aida I. , Thibault Stephane , Hong Miyoun , Kondegowda Nagesha G. , Nichols Tim , Li Rosemary , Rosselot Carolina , Evering Winston , Fenutria Rafael , Vitsky Allison , Brown Thomas , Finkelstein Martin , Garcia-Ocaña Adolfo , Khan Nasir , Stewart Andrew F. , Vasavada Rupangi C.
Published: August 2017

Genetic deletion of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) is associated with pancreatic beta cell loss and glucose dysregulation in rodents. Palbociclib, one of the first selective CDK4/6 inhibitors approved for the treatment of advanced breast cancer, is currently being investigated as an adjuvant treatment in patients with early-stage breast cancer and in a variety of cancers covering a wide-range of patient populations. Hence, longer chronic toxicity studies were necessary to further examine its safety profile. The effects of different doses and duration of palbociclib administration on glucose and beta cell homeostasis in young (two months) versus aged (12 months) rats was compared. Glucose dysregulation, due to pancreatic beta cell degeneration, was observed in young rats administered the highest dose of palbociclib for 6 months. Abnormal pancreatic islet histology and activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response in beta cells were detected after shorter administration with high-dose palbociclib in young rats. To test the hypothesis that palbociclib-associated inhibition of beta cell proliferation will more profoundly affect younger animals that have not achieved replicative quiescence, we administered high-dose palbociclib to aged rats for 6 months. In contrast to the young rats, despite equivalent exposures to palbociclib, no evidence of impaired glucose tolerance, hypoinsulinemia, beta cell vacuolization, or beta cell loss was seen in aged rats. Palbociclib administration induces beta cell failure in young but not aged rats.

Implications: Although adult humans receiving palbociclib have not displayed detectable adverse effects on glucose metabolism, the risk of beta cell failure in children remains unexplored. Mol Cancer Res; 15(11); 1531–41. ©2017 AACR.
The GENIE Is Out of the Bottle: Landmark Cancer Genomics Dataset Released
Authors: Litchfield Kevin , Turajlic Samra , Swanton Charles
Published: August 2017

Summary: In this issue of Cancer Discovery, an overview of the AACR Project GENIE, a landmark study in cancer genomics, is presented by The AACR Project GENIE Consortium. A summary of the goals and objectives of this ambitious program is provided, together with an analysis of the phase I cohort of 19,000 samples. Cancer Discov; 7(8); 796–8. ©2017 AACR.

See related article by The AACR Project GENIE Consortium, p. 818.
Mapas de anomalias gravimétricas da Cidade Universitária Armando Salles de Oliveira – USP/SP
Authors: Marangoni Yára Regina , Moura Denise Silva de , Ferreira Herbert
Published: August 2017

A Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira, da Universidade de São Paulo (CUASO –USP/SP), é considerada um laboratório natural de pesquisas em Ciências da Terra. Ao longo de mais de duas décadas, dados gravimétricos foram obtidos como forma de treinamento de alunos e técnicos, formando um conjunto de 787 pontos distribuídos em 8 km2. O mapa de anomalia ar-livre apresenta forte correlação com a topografia, enquanto o mapa de anomalia Bouguer não apresenta correlação com a topografia e a geologia. Este mapa permitiu identificar um gradiente EW centrado na área, revelando uma estrutura de subsuperfície, modelada, neste mesmo estudo, como uma falha praticamente vertical, com atitude 090/80 N e cerca de 50 m de deslocamento vertical.
Fosfatos de Fe e Mn primários e secundários em pegmatitos graníticos do Campo Pegmatítico Mata Azul, Jaú do Tocantins, TO, Brasil
Authors: Queiroz Hudson de Almeida , Botelho Nilson Francisquini
Published: August 2017

No sul do Estado do Tocantins e norte do Estado de Goiás, pegmatitos graníticos estéreis e mineralizados são conhecidos e explorados há muito tempo, mas só recentemente foram caracterizados quanto aos aspectos mineralógicos, composicionais e genéticos e agrupados sob a denominação de Campo Pegmatítico Mata Azul. Em três desses corpos localizados no município de Jaú do Tocantins, com mineralização de berilo, fosfatos de Fe e Mn ocorrem sob a forma de nódulos ou massas centimétricas. Duas associações de fosfatos são diferenciadas. Na primeira delas, hospedada nos pegmatitos São Júlio e Pichorra, foram descritas três fases primárias, identificadas como zwieselita, sarcopsídio e fluorapatita. Processos hidrotermais alteram essas fases, formando rockbridgeíta, uma fase do subgrupo da alluaudita e heterosita. Na segunda associação, presente no pegmatito Fazenda Mesquita, não há sinal de fosfato primário e todas as fases presentes são secundárias. Rockbridgeíta, de cor verde a alaranjada, compõe boa parte do volume das amostras. Fosfosiderita e strengita aparecem como alterações da rockbridgeíta, às vezes preenchendo cavidades nas massas de fosfato. Nas duas associações, óxidos e hidróxidos de Fe e Mn, oriundos da oxidação intempérica, correspondem às últimas fases formadas, podendo constituir crostas que recobrem boa parte dos nódulos e das massas de fosfatos. Em algumas amostras das associações de fosfatos, cristais de uraninita, gahnita, almandina e columbita-(Fe) foram identificados.
Os diques na encosta ocidental da Serra de Ybytyruzú, região centro‑oriental do Paraguai
Authors: Gomes Celso de Barros , Clerici Ana Maria Castillo Clerici , Fernandez Victor Velázquez , Min Angelo De , Comin‑Chiaramonti Piero
Published: August 2017

A Cordilheira do Ybytytyruzú na região centro‑oriental do Paraguai é formada dominantemente de derrames de lavas toleíticas de idade Cretáceo Inferior (130–134 Ma) cortados por diques alcalinos potássicos e corpos intrusivos com idades entre 125 e 127 Ma. Estudos petroquímicos focalizando 14 amostras de diques da região mostram uma aparente afinidade com as rochas da Província do Tipo Romano e total consistência com a associação petrográfica global do gráben Assunção‑Sapucai‑Villarrica (ASV). Duas suítes potássicas principais são distinguidas: B‑P (basanito‑tefrito‑fonotefrito‑fonolito) e AB‑T (álcali basalto‑traquibasalto‑traquiandesito‑traquifonolito/traquito). A ocorrência de rochas lamproíticas na área não foi até então confirmada.
Mapeamento das morfologias de alteração das rochas do Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Ricardo Amanda Menezes , Mansur Kátia Leite , Barroso Emilio Velloso , Senra Fernanda , Avellar Gabriela , Ribeiro Roberto Carlos da Conceição
Published: August 2017

O Paço Imperial é uma edificação do período colonial localizada no centro da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e com valor histórico e cultural. Para a sua construção, no século XVIII, foram utilizados dois tipos de gnaisses oriundos das pedreiras da própria cidade. O primeiro é um gnaisse grosso com estrutura oftálmica dada por megacristais de microclinio e matriz granítica, enquanto o segundo gnaisse tem composição quartzo-feldspática, com discreto bandamento e, não raro, aspecto maciço. Tradicionalmente essas rochas são denominadas gnaisse facoidal e leptinito, respectivamente, sendo assim conhecidas por profissionais da conservação do patrimônio construído na cidade. Além desses gnaisses, o calcário lioz também foi extensivamente utilizado na parte interna e na fachada externa como ornatos ao redor das portas e janelas. Em volume bem menor, foi identificado na fachada um granito fino, com textura equigranular e de cor cinza, provavelmente da própria cidade, mas cuja unidade geológica não foi identificada. Estudos sobre o intemperismo desses gnaisses já foram publicados, contudo pouco ainda se conhece sobre a degradação dessas rochas no ambiente construído e urbano da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, com aplicação à conservação do patrimônio cultural. Neste artigo apresenta-se uma avaliação da degradação das rochas descritas, baseada em mapeamento de campo, segundo as recomendações do Conselho Internacional de Monumentos e Sítios (ICOMOS) e tratamento dos dados com a ferramenta ArcGis10. As principais formas de alteração identificadas foram alteração cromática, crosta negra, perda de material e esfoliação. A análise química da água de lavagem das superfícies das rochas na fachada mostrou que o principal elemento presente é o enxofre. Os resultados deste trabalho são relevantes para auxiliar nas medidas de conservação deste importante patrimônio.
Magmatismo basáltico do Andar Alagoas (Bacia de Campos)
Authors: Dani Ana Paula de Oliveira , Remus Marcus Vinicius Dornelles , Dani Norberto , Lima Evandro Fernandes de
Published: August 2017

Magmatismo associado com o estágio pré-evaporítico da Bacia de Campos foi estudado a partir de testemunhos de quatro furos de sondagens. Os dados levantados são importantes no contexto da evolução tectônica e estratigráfica da bacia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a caracterização dessas rochas a partir da petrografia, litoquímica, química mineral e composição isotópica Sr-Nd. A aplicação das metodologias de estudo convencionais foi dificultada devido ao grau de alteração das rochas, marcado por modificações mineralógicas (substituição de minerais por argilominerais, palagonitização do vidro vulcânico, sericitização dos plagioclásios e presença de vesículas), ao elevado valor de perda ao fogo (LOI) e à identificação de sedimentos arenosos englobados pela rocha vulcânica. Para minimizar os efeitos da alteração, empregaram-se metodologias que permitiram avaliar o grau de alteração das amostras e a mobilidade dos elementos químicos na rocha total. Os resultados obtidos estabelecem que as rochas vulcânicas são basaltos originados a partir de magmas com composição subalcalina, toleítica a transicional, baixo TiO2 e alto magnésio. Os elementos terras raras (ETR) e o padrão de distribuição dos elementos traço estão em conformidade com o padrão dos basaltos toleíticos baixo TiO2 da Formação Serra Geral e são diferentes dos enriched-mid ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB) e dos ocean island basalts (OIB) do oceano Atlântico, embora alguns elementos tenham comportamento similar. O piroxênio dominante é a augita e, quimicamente, confirma que os basaltos pertencem à série subalcalina, bem como ao intervalo de transição entre as séries cálcio-alcalina e toleítica. Isotopicamente, as amostras estudadas incidem fora do campo estabelecido como “mantle array”; e seguem o comportamento dos basaltos da Bacia de Campos com alto potássio. Os parâmetros levantados estabelecem a correlação das rochas vulcânicas do Andar Alagoas da Bacia de Campos com os basaltos intracontinentais da Bacia do Paraná.
Aspectos tectônicos do emplacement da borda leste do Complexo Granítico Três Córregos, Cerro Azul (PR)
Authors: Zanella Renata Ribas , Cury Leonardo Fadel
Published: August 2017

Grandes quantidades de rochas graníticas foram geradas durante a evolução do Ciclo Brasiliano, destacando-se o Complexo Granítico Três Córregos (CGTC), um importante complexo ígneo do Neoproterozoico, intrudido nas rochas metassedimentares mesoproterozoicas da Formação Água Clara. No âmbito da Formação Água Clara reconheceram-se duas associações litológicas: uma constituída por rochas calciossilicáticas e outra composta por mármores calcíticos intercalados a carbonato xistos e filitos. O padrão estrutural observado nessas rochas é caracterizado por duas foliações, onde S1 configura uma clivagem ardosiana que evolui para uma xistosidade contínua, subparalela ao bandamento composicional, observada nos micrólitons de foliação S2, esta desenvolvida em um sistema de transposição parcial a total de S1 em uma tectônica de cavalgamento, resultando em paralelismo entre as duas estruturas. As fácies graníticas Arrieiros-Cerro Azul e São Sebastião reconhecidas na borda leste do CGTC apresentam foliação de fluxo magmático definida pela orientação de máficos da matriz e/ou orientação de fenocristais de feldspato potássico, com atitudes concordantes com os contatos e com as foliações das rochas metassedimentares. Foram reconhecidas paragêneses das fácies xisto verde e anfibolito superior, com gradiente expresso por uma distribuição consistente de minerais índices de temperaturas relativamente mais elevadas em toda a área de estudo. As paragêneses compatíveis com a zona da sillimanita em rochas pelito-aluminosas e calciossilicáticas, a relação dos aspectos petrotectônicos dos granitos com suas encaixantes, bem como os padrões estruturais observados nos granitos e rochas metassedimentares concordantes podem ser explicados pela sobreposição, ao menos parcial, entre os eventos de instalação do CGTC e do desenvolvimento da foliação S2, indicando que os processos iniciais de abertura de espaço para a colocação do CGTC estão relacionados à tectônica de baixo ângulo.
Cartografia geofísica regional do magmatismo mesozoico na Bacia do Parnaíba
Authors: Mocitaiba Leonardo Silva Ribeiro , Castro David Lopes de , Oliveira Diógenes Custódio de
Published: August 2017

Durante a desagregação mesozoica do megacontinente Pangea e abertura do Oceano Atlântico, rochas ígneas intrusivas e extrusivas acomodaram-se na Bacia do Parnaíba no Eojurássico e Eocretáceo, resultando nas sucessões ígneas Mosquito e Sardinha, respectivamente. O principal objetivo desta pesquisa é a cartografia geofísica regional desses corpos magmáticos com base em técnicas de realce de anomalias magnéticas e mapeamento semiautomático (SOM). Um vasto conjunto de dados magnéticos aerolevantados foi processado e interpretado com o objetivo de cartografar a distribuição da atividade ígnea na Bacia do Parnaíba. Os mapas geofísicos resultantes indicam que o magmatismo mosquito tem proeminente ocorrência nas bordas oeste e sul da bacia, enquanto que o magmatismo sardinha está concentrado nas porções centro-leste e nordeste. Dados de susceptibilidade magnética das rochas magmáticas permitiram individualizar os dois principais eventos magmáticos mesozoicos, constatando que a Formação Sardinha exibe susceptibilidade magnética média aproximadamente duas vezes maior que a Formação Mosquito, revelando uma diferenciação composicional desses dois eventos magmáticos. Análise comparativa entre seções sísmicas, dados magnéticos e geológicos de superfície revela que a ocorrência das rochas magmáticas é muito mais extensa em subsuperfície e que soleiras e diques ocorrem principalmente intercalados entre as sequências tectono-sedimentares paleozoicas. As direções dos lineamentos magnéticos revelaram a possível ocorrência de feições riftes de direções ENE-WSW e NNE-SSW, associados à desagregação do Gondwana Oeste, e trends estruturais E-W e NE-SW, associados a zonas de cisalhamento brasilianas. Essa herança tectônica controlou parcialmente o alojamento do magmatismo mesozoico na Bacia do Parnaíba. Por fim, estruturas rifte sotopostas discordantemente sob as sequências sedimentares demostram uma relação próxima com as direções magnéticas orientadas para ENE-WSW e NNE-SSW. Por outro lado, anisotropias profundas associadas ao Lineamento Transbrasiliano revelaram trends estruturais E-W e NE-SW, governando o padrão de alojamento do magmatismo mesozoico na Bacia do Parnaíba.