bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two Cases of Q-Fever in Hairy Cell Leukemia
Authors: Ammatuna Emanuele , Iannitto Emilio , Tick Lidwine W. , Arents Nicolaas L. A. , Kuijper Philip H. , Nijziel Marten R.
Published: August 2014

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder accounting for about 2% of all leukemias. The clinical course is indolent, however HCL patients are particularly susceptible to infections. Here we report two cases of Q-fever as first manifestation of disease in two patients affected by HCL. Both patients described in this report showed an unusually sluggish clinical response to the antibiotic treatment with ciprofloxacin probably because of the marked immunodeficiency. However, treatment of HCL with cladribine administered soon after the resolution of QF pneumonitis was uneventful and led to a complete remission in both cases. Most probably the association of Coxiella burnetii (CB) infection and HCL that we observed in two patients is due to chance. However, a hairy cell resembling transformation of freshly isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes upon CB has been showed. We think that the possibility of CB infection in febrile HCL patient should be always taken in mind, especially in endemic areas. In addition the potential for such infections to become chronic in HCL patients should not be overlooked and the reporting of further cases should be encouraged.
Network Partitioning Domain Knowledge Multiobjective Application Mapping for Large-Scale Network-on-Chip
Authors: Tei Yin Zhen , Hau Yuan Wen , Shaikh-Husin N. , Marsono M. N.
Published: August 2014

This paper proposes a multiobjective application mapping technique targeted for large-scale network-on-chip (NoC). As the number of intellectual property (IP) cores in multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC) increases, NoC application mapping to find optimum core-to-topology mapping becomes more challenging. Besides, the conflicting cost and performance trade-off makes multiobjective application mapping techniques even more complex. This paper proposes an application mapping technique that incorporates domain knowledge into genetic algorithm (GA). The initial population of GA is initialized with network partitioning (NP) while the crossover operator is guided with knowledge on communication demands. NP reduces the large-scale application mapping complexity and provides GA with a potential mapping search space. The proposed genetic operator is compared with state-of-the-art genetic operators in terms of solution quality. In this work, multiobjective optimization of energy and thermal-balance is considered. Through simulation, knowledge-based initial mapping shows significant improvement in Pareto front compared to random initial mapping that is widely used. The proposed knowledge-based crossover also shows better Pareto front compared to state-of-the-art knowledge-based crossover.
Pre- and Postoperative Vomiting in Children Undergoing Video-Assisted Gastrostomy Tube Placement
Authors: Backman Torbjörn , Sjövie Helén , Mellberg Malin , Börjesson Anna , Anderberg Magnus , Kullendorff Carl-Magnus , Arnbjörnsson Einar
Published: August 2014

Background. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pre- and postoperative vomiting in children undergoing a Video-Assisted Gastrostomy (VAG) operation.Patients and Methods. 180 children underwent a VAG operation and were subdivided into groups based on their underlying diagnosis. An anamnesis with respect to vomiting was taken from each of the children’s parents before the operation. After the VAG operation, all patients were followed prospectively at one and six months after surgery. All complications including vomiting were documented according to a standardized protocol.Results. Vomiting occurred preoperatively in 51 children (28%). One month after surgery the incidence was 43 (24%) in the same group of children and six months after it was found in 40 (22%). There was a difference in vomiting frequency both pre- and postoperatively between the children in the groups with different diagnoses included in the study. No difference was noted in pre- and postoperative vomiting frequency within each specific diagnosis group.Conclusion. The preoperative vomiting symptoms persisted after the VAG operation. Neurologically impaired children had a higher incidence of vomiting than patients with other diagnoses, a well-known fact, probably due to their underlying diagnosis and not the VAG operation. This information is useful in preoperative counselling.
The Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Sirtinol, a Sirtuin Inhibitor on Human Lung Cancer Cells by Modulating Akt/β-Catenin-Foxo3A Axis
Authors: Fong Yao , Lin Yin-Chieh , Wu Chang-Yi , Wang Hui-Min David , Lin Li-Li , Chou Han Lin , Teng Yen-Ni , Yuan Shyng-Shiou , Chiu Chien-Chih
Published: August 2014

Sirtuins, NAD+-dependent deacetylases, could target both histones and nonhistone proteins in mammalian cells. Sirt1 is the major sirtuin and has been shown to involve various cellular processes, including antiapoptosis, cellular senescence. Sirt1 was reported to be overexpressed in many cancers, including lung cancer. Sirtinol, a specific inhibitor of Sirt1, has been shown to induce apoptosis of cancer cells by elevating endogenous level of reactive oxygen species. In the study, we investigated the effect of sirtinol on the proliferation and apoptosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) H1299 cells. The results of proliferation assay and colony formation assay showed the antigrowth effect of sirtinol. The annexin-V staining further confirmed the apoptosis induction by sirtinol treatment. Interestingly, the levels of phosphorylated Akt andβ-catenin were significantly downregulated with treating the apoptotic inducing doses. On the contrary, sirtinol treatment causes the significantly increased level of FoxO3a, a proapoptotic transcription factor targeted by Sirt1. These above results suggested that sirtinol may inhibit cell proliferation of H1299 cells by regulating the axis of Akt-β-catenin-FoxO3a. Overall, this study demonstrates that sirtinol attenuates the proliferation and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells, indicating the potential treatment against NSCLC cells by inhibiting Sirt1 in future applications.
Fog Formation in Cold Season in Ji’nan, China: Case Analyses with Application of HYSPLIT Model
Authors: Wang Xinfeng , Chen Jianmin
Published: August 2014

Fog events almost happened every year in cold season in North China Plain. In this study, hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was applied to analyze the formation of four fog events occurring in Ji’nan, China, during the period from March 2012 to February 2014. Three types of fog have been distinguished, including radiation fog, advection fog, and frontal fog. When fog events happened, the average surface temperature ranged from near zero to 10°C and the relative humidity was around 90%. Fog events often happened immediately after haze episodes (i.e., fog-haze) and sometimes after light rain. Back trajectory analyses show that the air masses during the fog events mostly came from the local Shandong areas and moved in very slow speed (4–24 km h−1). During the fog events, the humidity along the air trajectories always gradually increased to saturation. The mixed layer depth was small, generally below 400 m at noon and around 100 m at midnight. However, the air temperature exhibited complex variations—sometimes decreased and sometimes kept stable or even increased.
Blunt Force Thoracic Trauma: A Case Study of Pericardial Rupture and Associated Cardiac Herniation
Authors: Glotzer O. S. , Bhakta A. , Fabian T.
Published: August 2014

Pericardial rupture, with associated cardiac herniation, is generally fatal. Diagnosis is difficult and frequently missed due to the subtlety of identifying characteristics. We report a case of a left sided pericardial rupture and cardiac herniation resulting from a high speed motorcycle collision. This report describes the course of treatment from the emergent admission to the diagnosis of the pericardial tear to retrospective CT analysis and rupture identification. In addition the difficulties of initial diagnosis, key symptoms, and identification of CT images are presented and discussed.
Inhibiting Effect of Electroacupuncture at Zusanli on Early Inflammatory Factor Levels Formed by Postoperative Abdominal Adhesions
Authors: Zhang Lijian , Wang Huizhen , Huang Zhenjun , Shi Xian , Hu Sen , Gaischek Ingrid , Litscher Daniela , Wang Lu , Litscher Gerhard
Published: August 2014

We observed the inhibitive effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli on inflammatory mediators of postoperative intra‐abdominal adhesions to find out the relationship between EA and the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway. Sixty‐four rats were divided into 8 groups (A–H, each = 8): A = sham control; B = abdominal adhesions model; C = abdominal adhesions plus EA; D = sham acupoint control; E = abdominal adhesions plus vagotomy; F = abdominal adhesions plus EA after vagotomy; G = abdominal adhesions plus α‐bungarotoxin (BGT); and H = abdominal adhesions plus EA after α‐BGT. α‐BGT (1 μg/kg) was injected into the abdominal cavity after surgery, and the bilateral celiac vagotomy was done during the surgery. On the third day the levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF‐α, nitric oxide (NO), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)) in tissues were evaluated. The abdominal adhesion groups developed obvious edema. Compared with sham control, the abdominal adhesion resulted in a significant elevation of inflammatory mediators. EA lowered the elevated levels of inflammatory mediators significantly; EA plus α‐BGT and vagotomy showed less anti‐inflammatory effects. The activation of the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway might be one of the mechanisms of EA at Zusanli acupoints to exert the anti‐inflammatory effects.
The Effect of Nanofluid Concentration on the Cooling System of Vehicles Radiator
Authors: Ali M. , El-Leathy A. M. , Al-Sofyany Z.
Published: August 2014

Experimental investigation on forced convection heat transfer is applied to vehicles’ radiator filled with AL2O3 water nanofluid with different concentrations: 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% by volume. The experiments are done for three cases, each case corresponds to different heat load, coolant flow rate, and air flow rate to simulate the vehicle engine cooling system at various loads relevant to the cooling system of Toyota Yaris 2007. The coolant and air heat transfer coefficients, Nusselt numbers, heat rate lost by the coolant and absorbed by the air, heat exchanger effectiveness, overall heat transfer coefficients, Reynolds number, and the pumping power are calculated. Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) and effectiveness-number of transfer units ( ε-NTU) are used to determine the outside air heat transfer coefficient. Results show gradual enhancement in the heat transfer with concentrations 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% by volume (optimum at 1%); however deterioration occurs at concentrations 1.5% and 2%.
Novel Real-Time Facial Wound Recovery Synthesis Using Subsurface Scattering
Authors: Choi Taeyoung , Chin Seongah
Published: August 2014

We propose a wound recovery synthesis model that illustrates the appearance of a wound healing on a 3-dimensional (3D) face. The H3 model is used to determine the size of the recovering wound. Furthermore, we present our subsurface scattering model that is designed to take the multilayered skin structure of the wound into consideration to represent its color transformation. We also propose a novel real-time rendering method based on the results of an analysis of the characteristics of translucent materials. Finally, we validate the proposed methods with 3D wound-simulation experiments using shading models.
A Literature Review of Approaches for Stick-Slip Vibration Suppression in Oilwell Drillstring
Authors: Zhu Xiaohua , Tang Liping , Yang Qiming
Published: August 2014

Stick-slip vibration presents one of the main problems in the quality of drilling performance limiting tool life and productivity. This type of vibration can be suppressed by means of many approaches, such as varying parameters and use of control tools. Although tremendous improvements have been made in overcoming this dysfunction, stick-slip vibration suppression remains a large problem in the drilling industry. This paper provides an up-to-date review of stick-slip vibration behavior in drillstrings. First, the phenomena and the modeling methods of stick-slip vibrations are reviewed. Then an overview of the approaches for stick-slip suppression in oilwell drillstrings is presented, grouping the references under the categories of passive vibration control and active vibration control. Literature related to passive control is grouped under the categories of optimization of bottom hole assembly (BHA) configurations, bit selection and bit redesign, and use of downhole tools. The contributions related to the active control approaches for stick-slip mitigation are grouped under the categories of drilling parameters optimization based on real-time measurement and use of active control systems. Finally, related discussions and recommendations are conducted.
An Interfield and Intrafield Weighted Interpolative Deinterlacing Algorithm Based on Low‐Angle Detection and Multiangle Extraction
Authors: Qiang Jun , Chen Jun , Wang Jun
Published: August 2014

In the process of converting interlaced scanning to progressive scanning, interline flickers, saw‐tooth, and creeping could be found in motion images. This paper proposes an interfield and intrafield weighted interpolative algorithm based on low‐angle detection and multiangle extraction. Using interframe difference of vertical edge area in current field and interfield difference of other areas as the input of motion detection, incorrect judgment could be avoided by four‐fields motion detection so that static and motive image can be distinguished. Based on the motion image from the motion detection, multipixels are used in low‐angle horizontal detection to extract higher correction angles so as to make interfield and intrafield weighted interpolation. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm could improve peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), restrain some interlace phenomenon, and reach better visual effects. Meanwhile, there is a good balance between efficiency and computation cost.
The Radiation Problem from a Vertical Hertzian Dipole Antenna above Flat and Lossy Ground: Novel Formulation in the Spectral Domain with Closed-Form Analytical Solution in the High Frequency Regime
Authors: Ioannidi K. , Christakis Ch. , Sautbekov S. , Frangos P. , Atanov S. K.
Published: August 2014

We consider the problem of radiation from a vertical short (Hertzian) dipole above flat lossy ground, which represents the well-known “Sommerfeld radiation problem” in the literature. The problem is formulated in a novel spectral domain approach, and by inverse three-dimensional Fourier transformation the expressions for the received electric and magnetic (EM) field in the physical space are derived as one-dimensional integrals over the radial component of wavevector, in cylindrical coordinates. This formulation appears to have inherent advantages over the classical formulation by Sommerfeld, performed in the spatial domain, since it avoids the use of the so-called Hertz potential and its subsequent differentiation for the calculation of the received EM field. Subsequent use of the stationary phase method in the high frequency regime yields closed-form analytical solutions for the received EM field vectors, which coincide with the corresponding reflected EM field originating from the image point. In this way, we conclude that the so-called “space wave” in the literature represents the total solution of the Sommerfeld problem in the high frequency regime, in which case the surface wave can be ignored. Finally, numerical results are presented, in comparison with corresponding numerical results based on Norton’s solution of the problem.
Recent Recreational Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women in the E3N Cohort
Authors: Fournier Agnès , Dos Santos Gaël , Guillas Gwenaëlle , Bertsch Jean , Duclos Martine , Boutron-Ruault Marie-Christine , Clavel-Chapelon Françoise , Mesrine Sylvie
Published: August 2014

Background: Physical activity probably protects against the risk of breast cancer after menopause, but questions remain about how rapidly and for how long this protective effect exists.

Methods: We analyzed data from 59,308 postmenopausal women (2,155 incident invasive breast cancers) followed between 1993 and 2005 (8.5 years postmenopause on average) through biennial questionnaires. Multivariable Cox models included time-varying exposure data, using levels of recreational physical activity self-reported in 1993, 1997, and 2002.

Results: Women with recent (within the previous 4 years) recreational physical activity levels ≥12 metabolic equivalent task-hours (MET-h)/week had a lower risk of invasive breast cancer than women with lower levels [HR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82–0.99], with no apparent dose–response relation beyond 12 MET-h/week. Associations did not vary significantly across ER/PR subtypes. Risk reductions were of the same magnitude order regardless of weight change, body mass index, waist circumference, or less recent (5–9 years earlier) physical activity levels. Among women with levels of physical activity ≥12 MET-h/week 5 to 9 years earlier, those who became less active (<12 MET-h/week) had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared with those who did not (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01–1.35). And, compared with the least active women at both time points, they had no significantly decreased risk of breast cancer (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.87–1.29).

Conclusions: Our results suggest a decrease in risk associated with recent recreational physical activity even of modest levels.

Impact: Starting or maintaining physical activity after menopause may be beneficial regarding breast cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(9); 1893–902. ©2014 AACR.
Clinical Evaluation of Resin-Based Composites in Posterior Restorations: A 3-Year Study
Authors: Çelik Çiğdem , Arhun Neslihan , Yamanel Kivanc
Published: August 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a nanohybrid and a microhybrid composite in class I and II restorations after 3 years. Subjects and Methods: A total of 82 class I and class II restorations were performed in 31 patients (10 males and 21 females) using Grandio and QuiXfil with self-etch adhesives (Futurabond and Xeno III). The restorations were clinically evaluated by 2 operators 1 week after placement (baseline) and at 6 months and 1, 2, and 3 years using modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. At the 3-year follow-up, 62 class I and class II cavities were reevaluated in 23 patients (7 males and 16 females). Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's χ2 and Fisher's exact tests (p < 0.05). Results: At the 6-month follow-up, all restorations received Alfa scores with respect to each evaluation criterion. At the 1-year follow-up, 2 QuiXfil restorations had to be replaced and Grandio restorations started to deteriorate in terms of marginal adaptation. At the end of 2 years, 9 Grandio restorations showed significant deterioration of the surface properties, demonstrating Bravo scores. At the end of 3 years, no significant differences were observed regarding color match, marginal adaptation, secondary caries, marginal discoloration, and anatomic form loss between the evaluated materials in 25 class I and 37 class II restorations. At the 3-year follow-up, Grandio restorations had 21% Bravo scores and showed significant deterioration of the surface properties, which were still clinically acceptable according to USPHS criteria. Three QuiXfil and 1 Grandio restorations were replaced because of secondary caries and loss of retention. Conclusions: Both the nanohybrid (Grandio) and the microhybrid (QuiXfil) composites were clinically functional after 3 years.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection: An Independent Risk Factor for Mortality in Patients with Poststernotomy Mediastinitis
Authors: Şimşek Yavuz Serap , Şensoy Ayfer , Çeken Sabahat , Deniz Denef , Yekeler İbrahim
Published: August 2014

Objective: The mortality rate of patients with poststernotomy mediastinitis remains very high. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with mortality in these patients. Subjects and Methods: Surveillance of sternal surgical-site infections including mediastinitis was carried out for adult patients undergoing a sternotomy between 2004 and 2012. Criteria from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to make the diagnosis. All data on patients with a diagnosis of mediastinitis who were included in the study and on mortality risk factors were obtained from the hospital database and then analyzed using SPPS 16.0 for Windows. Results: Of the 19,767 patients undergoing open heart surgery, 117 (0.39%) had poststernotomy mediastinitis; 32% of these 117 died. The independent risk factors for mortality were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) [odds ratio (OR) 12.11 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.15-46.47], intensive-care unit stays >48 h after the first operation (OR 11.21 and 95% CI 3.24-38.84) and surgery that included valve replacement (OR 6.2 and 95% CI 1.44-27.13). The mortality rate decreased significantly, dropping from 38% (34/89) between 2004 and 2008 to 14% (4/28) between 2009 and 2012 (p = 0.018). Conclusion: In this study, elimination of MRSA from the hospital setting decreased the rate of mortality in patients with poststernotomy mediastinitis.
Electrogram-Gated Radiofrequency Ablations With Duty Cycle Power Delivery Negate Effects of Ablation Catheter Motion
Authors: Chik William W.B. , Barry Michael Anthony , Pouliopoulos Jim , Byth Karen , Midekin Christine , Bhaskaran Abhishek , Sivagangabalan Gopal , Thomas Stuart P. , Ross David L. , McEwan Alistair , Kovoor Pramesh , Thiagalingam Aravinda
Published: August 2014

Background—

Cardiac and respiratory movements cause catheter instability. Lateral catheter sliding over target endocardial surface can lead to poor tissue contact and unpredictable lesion formation. We describe a novel method of overcoming the effects of lateral catheter sliding movements using an electrogram-gated pulsed power ablation.

Methods and Results—

All ablations were performed on a thermochromic gel myocardial phantom. Ablation settings were randomized to conventional (nongated) 30 W versus electrogram-gated at 20% duty cycle (30 W average power) at 0-, 3-, 6-, and 9-mm lateral sliding distances. Forty-eight radiofrequency ablations were performed. Deeper lesions were created in electrogram-gated versus conventional ablations at 3 mm (4.36±0.08 versus 4.05±0.17 mm;
P
=0.009), 6 mm (4.39±0.10 versus 3.44±0.15 mm;
P
<0.001), and 9 mm (4.41±0.06 versus 2.94±0.16 mm;
P
<<0.001) sliding distances. Electrogram-gated ablations created consistent lesions at a quicker rate of growth in depth when compared with conventional ablations (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

(1) Lesion depth decreases and length increases in conventional ablations with greater degrees of lateral catheter movements; (2) electrogram-gated pulsed radiofrequency delivery negated the effects from lateral catheter movement by creating consistently deeper lesions irrespective of the degree of catheter movement; and (3) target lesion depths were reached significantly faster in electrogram-gated than in conventional ablations.
Adipose Stromal Cells Differentiate Along a Smooth Muscle Lineage Pathway Upon Endothelial Cell Contact via Induction of Activin A
Authors: Merfeld-Clauss Stephanie , Lupov Ivan P. , Lu Hongyan , Feng Dongni , Compton-Craig Peter , March Keith L. , Traktuev Dmitry O.
Published: August 2014

Rationale:

Adipose stromal cells (ASC) are therapeutically potent progenitor cells that possess properties of pericytes. In vivo, ASC in combination with endothelial cells (EC) establish functional multilayer vessels, in which ASC form the outer vessel layer and differentiate into mural cells.

Objective:

To identify factors responsible for ASC differentiation toward the smooth muscle cell phenotype via interaction with EC.

Methods and Results:

An in vitro model of EC cocultivation with ASC was used, in which EC organized into vascular cords, accompanied by ASC migration toward EC and upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin, SM22α, and calponin expression. Conditioned media from EC–ASC, but not from EC cultures, induced smooth muscle cell protein expression in ASC monocultures. EC–ASC cocultivation induced marked accumulation of activin A but not transforming growth factor-β1 in conditioned media. This was attributed to induction of activin A expression in ASC on contact with EC. Although transforming growth factor-β and activin A were individually sufficient to initiate expression of smooth muscle cell antigens in ASC, only activin A IgG blocked the effect of EC–ASC conditioned media. Although transforming growth factor-β was able to induce activin A expression in ASC, in cocultures this induction was transforming growth factor-β independent. In EC–ASC cocultures, activin A IgG or ALK4/5/7 receptor inhibitors blocked expression of α-smooth muscle actin in ASC in the absence of direct EC-cord contact, but this inhibition was circumvented in ASC by direct EC contact.

Conclusions:

EC initiate a smooth muscle cell differentiation program in adjacent ASC and propagate this differentiation in distant ASC by induction of activin A expression.
Temporal Trends in the Population Attributable Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Cheng Susan , Claggett Brian , Correia Andrew W. , Shah Amil M. , Gupta Deepak K. , Skali Hicham , Ni Hanyu , Rosamond Wayne D. , Heiss Gerardo , Folsom Aaron R. , Coresh Josef , Solomon Scott D.
Published: August 2014

Background—

The extent to which the relative contributions of traditional cardiovascular risk factors to incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) may have changed over time remains unclear.

Methods and Results—

We studied 13 541 participants (56% women, 26% black) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, aged 52 to 66 years and free of CVD at exams in 1987 through 1989, 1990 through 1992, 1993 through 1995, or 1996 through 1998. At each examination, we estimated the population attributable risks (PAR) of traditional risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking) for the 10-year incidence of CVD. Overall, the PAR of all risk factors combined appeared to decrease from the late 1980s to the late 1990s (0.58 to 0.53). The combined PAR was higher in women than men in 1987 through 1989 (0.68 versus 0.51,
P
<0.001) but not by the late 1990s (0.58 versus 0.48,
P
=0.08). The combined PAR was higher in blacks than whites in the late 1980s (0.67 versus 0.57,
P
=0.049), and this difference was more pronounced by the late 1990s (0.67 versus 0.48,
P
=0.002). By the late 1990s, the PAR of hypertension had become higher in women than men (
P
=0.02) and also appeared higher in blacks than whites (
P
=0.08). By the late 1990s, the PAR of diabetes mellitus remained higher in women than men (
P
<0.0001) and in blacks than whites (
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—

The contribution to CVD of all traditional risk factors combined is greater in blacks than whites, and this difference may be increasing. The contributions of hypertension and diabetes mellitus remain especially high, in women as well as blacks. These findings underscore the continued need for individual as well as population approaches to CVD risk factor modification.
Pex11a Deficiency Is Associated With a Reduced Abundance of Functional Peroxisomes and Aggravated Renal Interstitial Lesions
Authors: Weng Huachun , Ji Xu , Endo Kosuke , Iwai Naoharu
Published: August 2014

Although proteinuria is known to be associated with the deterioration of chronic kidney disease, the molecular basis of this mechanism is not fully understood. We previously found that Pex11a deficiency was associated with a reduction of functional peroxisomes and impaired fatty acid metabolism in hepatocytes and resulted in steatosis. Proximal tubule cells are rich in peroxisomes. We assessed whether Pex11a deficiency might result in the derangement of peroxisome systems in proximal tubule cells and the aggravation of tubulointerstitial lesions in chronic kidney disease. Histological analyses showed that the number of functional peroxisomes in proximal tubule cells was reduced in
Pex11a
knockout (
Pex11a

−/−

) mice. To clarify whether a decrease in the number of tubular peroxisomes might aggravate interstitial lesions, we assessed 2 models in which proximal tubule cells are overloaded with fatty acids (ie, deoxycorticosterone acetate and salt hypertension and the overload of fatty acid–bound albumin). Deoxycorticosterone acetate -salt–treated
Pex11a

−/−

mice exhibited greater interstitial lesions than deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt–treated wild-type mice in terms of tubular lipid accumulation, blood pressure, urinary albumin, urinary N-acetyl-β-
d
-glucosaminidase, urinary 8-iso-prostane, and the histological evaluation of fibrosis and inflammation. An overload of fatty acid–bound albumin also resulted in more severe tubulointerstitial lesions in
Pex11a

−/−

mice than in wild-type mice. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist, restored the abundance of peroxisomes and reduced the tubulointerstitial lesions induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertension. In conclusion, our results indicate that proximal tubule peroxisomes play an important role in proteinuria-induced interstitial lesions. The activation of tubular peroxisomes might be an excellent therapeutic strategy against chronic kidney disease.
Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) Classification and Vascular Territory of Ischemic Stroke Lesions Diagnosed by Diffusion‐Weighted Imaging
Authors: Chung Jong‐Won , Park Su Hyun , Kim Nayoung , Kim Wook‐Joo , Park Jung Hyun , Ko Youngchai , Yang Mi Hwa , Jang Myung Suk , Han Moon‐Ku , Jung Cheolkyu , Kim Jae Hyoung , Oh Chang Wan , Bae Hee‐Joon
Published: August 2014

Background

The association between the location and the mechanism of a stroke lesion remains unclear. A diffusion‐weighted imaging study may help resolve this lack of clarity.

Methods and Results

We studied a consecutive series of 2702 acute ischemic stroke patients whose stroke lesions were confirmed by
diffusion‐weighted imaging
and who underwent a thorough etiological investigation. The vascular territory in which an ischemic lesion was situated was identified using standard anatomic maps of the dominant arterial territories. Stroke subtype was based on the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment, or TOAST, classification. Large‐artery atherosclerosis (37.3%) was the most common stroke subtype, and middle cerebral artery (49.6%) was the most frequently involved territory. Large‐artery atherosclerosis was the most common subtype for anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, vertebral, and anterior and posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarctions. Small vessel occlusion was the leading subtype in basilar and posterior cerebral artery territories. Cardioembolism was the leading cause in superior cerebellar artery territory. Compared with carotid territory stroke, vertebrobasilar territory stroke was more likely to be caused by small vessel occlusion (21.4% versus 30.1%,
P
<0.001) and less likely to be caused by cardioembolism (23.2% versus 13.8%,
P
<0.001). Multiple‐vascular‐territory infarction was frequently caused by cardioembolism (44.2%) in carotid territory and by large‐artery atherosclerosis (52.1%) in vertebrobasilar territory.

Conclusions

Information on vascular territory of a stroke lesion may be helpful in timely investigation and accurate diagnosis of stroke etiology.
The Changing Pattern and Future of Foreign Investment Law and Policy in Ghana: The Role of Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements
Authors: Dagbanja Dominic Npoanlari
Published: August 2014

This article assesses the implications of investment promotion and protection agreements (ippas) for domestic investment law and policymaking in Ghana. It reviews the terms of domestic investment legislation prior to and after Ghana entered into ippas to ascertain the differences in the content of domestic laws and the role of the ippas in the changing pattern of foreign investment law and policy in Ghana. The review shows fundamental differences. Whereas, for example, under the pre-investment treaty domestic investment laws, a proposed investment could be admitted only if it would contribute to the national economy, the post-investment treaty domestic investment law requires only minimum capital for admission. What explains the fundamental change in the content of the post-investment treaty domestic law? The literature reveals that the change in government policy from a regulatory to a more investment promotion-oriented policy explains the shift in the content in investment law in Ghana. The post-investment treaty domestic law was enacted against the backdrop of structural adjustment policies that emphasised liberalization. The article argues complementarily that the coming into force of the ippas of Ghana also explains the changing pattern in the content of domestic investment law. Given the definitions of investment and the substantive obligations under the ippas, Ghana could not, even without independent policy change, retain the content of domestic investment law as was the case when she was not party to any ippas. The thesis is that ippas have the effect of limiting regulatory autonomy and will limit future legislative powers of the State in defining the content of domestic investment law and policy. This will ultimately determine the pattern and trend of domestic investment law and policy in Ghana. The article proposes that the ippas should be renegotiated to take into account the constitutional responsibility of the Government to protect the welfare of the people of Ghana.
Justification of Women’s Right of Access to Safe and Legal Abortion in Nigeria
Authors: Olaide Gbadamosi , Olaide Gbadamosi , Aderibigbe Titilayo O.
Published: August 2014

Abortion remains one of the most controversial, emotional and burning political issues of our time. Unsafe abortion is a serious public health problem and human rights issue. The pervasive criminalization of abortion in Nigeria is a serious obstacle to improving access to safe and legal abortion. Women’s lack of access to safe legal abortion is a major cause of high rates of maternal mortality. The Nigerian government’s failure to fulfill its human rights obligations under national, regional and international law is largely responsible for this situation. Overcoming these considerable barriers requires governments to sustain a firm commitment to women’s human rights and to ensure access to safe and legal abortion services. Women’s restrictive legal access to safe abortion services violates their human rights and is perhaps one of the pervasive manifestations of unjustified discrimination against women. This article attempts a justification of women’s right of access to safe and legal abortions within national, regional and international laws to which Nigeria is a signatory. Criminalization of abortion leads women to obtain unsafe abortions which threaten their lives and health. The denial of free access to abortion service is a denial of their fundamental human right. Using an analysis of legislations and case laws, we posit that advancing access to safe abortion by the Nigerian government is a necessary requirement to save women’s lives, protect their rights to health, equality and human dignity as specified under the Constitution.
A Remark on the Form of Greek Loanwords in the Targum
Authors: Heijmans Shai
Published: August 2014

Greek loanwords have often been prone to spelling mistakes made by copyists. However, not all ‘mismatches’ with the Greek spelling should be considered mistakes; in fact some ‘mismatches’ can be explained as preserving the original pronunciation of the words during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Greek loanwords in Hebrew and Aramaic may in some cases represent the original pronunciation even better than contemporary documents written in Greek, due to the conservative nature of orthography. The author discusses three such possible cases.
Exegetical Similarities and the Liturgical Use of the Targumim of the Megilloth
Authors: Brady Christian M.M.
Published: August 2014

It has long been noted that the relatively expansive Targumim of the Five Scrolls share a number of ‘significant affinities’. These similarities, the expansive nature and structure, the admonition to study Torah and continue to perform good deeds, and the expectation of the coming Messianic era, suggest that they are part of a larger agenda to remind their audiences of God’s guiding hand in Israel’s history and to promote piety. Possibly receiving their final form in the same period and in the same contexts, it seems that the festal use of the biblical texts led to their rather unique formation.
Propaganda for Astrology in Aramaic Literature
Authors: Rudolf Stefanie
Published: August 2014

Astrology is often depicted as antagonistic towards official religion. However, we find indications hidden in the technical texts themselves that seem to reveal the contrary. This article will concentrate on Aramaic astrology and divination and try to unfold formulas and practices that are typical for this and neighboring genres. These stylistic devices will moreover be identified as rhetorical strategies employed as a type of propaganda.
Systematics, morphology, and ecological history of the Mascarene starlings (Aves: Sturnidae) with the description of a new genus and species from Mauritius
Authors: HUME JULIAN PENDER
Published: August 2014

Two endemic starlings, both extinct, have been described from the Mascarene Islands of Réunion and Rodrigues: the Hoopoe Starling, Huppe or Réunion Crested Starling Fregilupus varius, which is known from 19 skins and a single Holocene proximal end of a fossil femur, and the Rodrigues Starling Necropsar rodericanus, which is known as specimens only from fossils of most skeletal elements. Both were recorded alive in early accounts of Mascarene faunas. A third species of starling Cryptopsar ischyrhynchus gen. nov. sp. nov. is described herein from fossils from Mauritius, but was never reported in the early literature. This paper provides an analysis of the Sturnidae of the Mascarene Islands based on newly discovered fossil remains, and details historical reports and accounts. Their ecology and extinction are interpreted from historical evidence. Necropsar, Cryptopsar and Fregilupus clearly form part of the same clade, but morphological analysis shows that Necropsar and Cryptopsar are more closely related to each other than to Fregilupus and may have been part of a different colonisation event. All three genera appear to have their origins in SE Asia and have morphological similarities with the SE Asian sturnid genera, Sturnia and Gracupica, so they presumably colonised the islands via island-hopping during lower sea level stands.
Estimating Vertical Motion Profile Shape within Tropical Weather States over the Oceans
Authors: Handlos Zachary J. , Back Larissa E.
Published: August 2014

The vertical structure of tropical deep convection strongly influences interactions with larger-scale circulations and climate. This paper focuses on investigating this vertical structure and its relationship with mesoscale tropical weather states. The authors test the hypothesis that latent heating plus turbulent flux convergence varies (in space and time) in association with weather state type.

The authors estimate mean-state vertical motion profile shape and latent heating plus turbulent flux convergence for six weather states defined using cloud-top pressure and optical depth properties from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) dataset. Assuming two modes of vertical motion profile variability, these modes are statistically extracted from reanalysis data using a principal component analysis. Using these modes and the relationship between vertical motion, the dry static energy budget, and mass continuity, the authors estimate vertical motion profile shape. In these estimates, the authors use Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) [and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42] precipitation and Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) surface convergence data in the ITCZ region from 2001 to 2006. Finally, these profile shapes are categorized by weather state type and spatiotemporally averaged to generate mean-state vertical motion profiles and latent heating plus turbulent flux convergence.

The authors find that vertical motion profile shape varies by weather state. The isolated systems convective regime exhibits more “bottom heaviness” than the other convectively active regimes, with maximum upward vertical motion occurring in the lower troposphere rather than the middle to upper troposphere. The variability observed does not coincide with the conventional profile variability based on stratiform rain fraction.
Quasi-Decadal Variation in Intensity of the Western Part of the Winter Subarctic SST Front in the Western North Pacific: The Influence of Kuroshio Extension Path State
Authors: Sugimoto Shusaku , Kobayashi Nakaba , Hanawa Kimio
Published: August 2014

Variations of the subarctic front (SAF), which is extracted as a strong sea surface temperature (SST) gradient in the longitudinal band of 146°–152°E, were investigated over 30 winters (January–March) from 1982 to 2011, using high-spatial-resolution satellite-derived SST dataset and hydrographic observations. The SAF had little meridional movement in this longitudinal band, lying between 40° and 41°N throughout the analysis period. The SAF intensity had a dominant quasi-decadal time scale (about 8 yr); its intensity in the strong phase was up to about 50% higher than in the weak phase. The SAF intensity strongly reflected upper-ocean conditions in the Kuroshio–Oyashio Confluence (KOC) region just south of the SAF. In the strong SAF phase, large positive anomalies in both temperature and salinity were found in the KOC region, not only at the sea surface but also below 300 m, and the water properties in the KOC region were those of the Kuroshio water. The warm, salty water in the KOC region was supplied by mesoscale eddies, which detached northward from the Kuroshio Extension during the unstable state of the Kuroshio Extension path.
Finescale Radar and Airmass Structure of the Comma Head of a Continental Winter Cyclone: The Role of Three Airstreams
Authors: Rauber Robert M. , Macomber Matthew K. , Plummer David M. , Rosenow Andrew A. , McFarquhar Greg M. , Jewett Brian F. , Leon David , Keeler Jason M.
Published: August 2014

Data from airborne W-band radar, thermodynamic fields from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, and air parcel back trajectories from the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model are used to investigate the finescale reflectivity, vertical motion, and airmass structure of the comma head of a winter cyclone that produced 15–25 cm of snow across the U.S. Midwest on 29–30 January 2010.

The comma head consisted of three vertically stacked air masses: from bottom to top, an arctic air mass of Canadian origin, a moist cloud-bearing air mass of Gulf of Mexico origin, and a drier air mass originating mostly at low altitudes over Baja California and the Mexican Plateau. The drier air mass capped the entire comma head and significantly influenced precipitation distribution and type across the storm, limiting cloud depth on the warm side, and creating instability with respect to ice-saturated ascent, cloud-top generating cells, and a seeder–feeder process on the cold side. Convective generating cells with depths of 1.5–3.0 km and vertical air velocities of 1–3 m s−1 were ubiquitous atop the cold side of the comma head.

The airmass boundaries within the comma head lacked the thermal contrast commonly observed along fronts in other sectors of extratropical cyclones. The boundary between the Gulf and Canadian air masses, although quite distinct in terms of precipitation distribution, wind, and moisture, was marked by almost no horizontal thermal contrast at the time of observation. The higher-altitude airmass boundary between the Gulf of Mexico and Baja air masses also lacked thermal contrast, with the less-stable Baja air mass overriding the stable Gulf of Mexico air.
Evaluation of the Storm Prediction Center’s Convective Outlooks from Day 3 through Day 1
Authors: Hitchens Nathan M. , Brooks Harold E.
Published: August 2014

The Storm Prediction Center issues four categorical convective outlooks with lead times as long as 48 h, the so-called day 3 outlook issued at 1200 UTC, and as short as 6 h, the day 1 outlook issued at 0600 UTC. Additionally, there are four outlooks issued during the 24-h target period (which begins at 1200 UTC on day 1) that serve as updates to the last outlook issued prior to the target period. These outlooks, issued daily, are evaluated over a relatively long period of record, 1999–2011, using standard verification measures to assess accuracy; practically perfect forecasts are used to assess skill. Results show a continual increase in the skill of all outlooks during the study period, and increases in the frequency at which these outlooks are skillful on an annual basis.
The New Politics of Interdependence
Authors: Farrell Henry , Newman Abraham
Published: August 2014

How are regulatory disputes between the major powers resolved? Existing literature generally characterizes such regulatory disagreements as system clash, in which national systems of regulation come into conflict, so that one sets the global standard, and the other adjusts or is marginalized. In this article, we offer an alternative account, which bridges early literature on interdependence with work from Historical Institutionalism in comparative politics. We argue that rule overlap creates opportunities for regulatory actors to develop transnational alliances in support of an alternative institutional agenda. Over time, the resulting “cross-national layers” have the potential to transform domestic institutions and in turn global rules. International regulatory disputes are less discrete international conflicts between sovereign jurisdictions than ongoing battles among regulatory actors within jurisdictions (and alliances across them). We examine two critical issue areas—surveillance information sharing and accounting standards—which allow us to contrast our argument against standard accounts emphasizing veto points and switching costs, respectively.
Investigating urban transformations: GIS, map-elicitation and the role of the state in regeneration
Authors: Moore-Cherry Niamh , Crossa Veronica , O’Donnell Geraldine
Published: August 2014

The value of mixed-methods research has recently re-gained impetus among geographers interested in the production of knowledge (Elwood, 2010). Key conversations have centred on efforts to blend traditionally viewed quantitative tools such as GIS with more qualitative practices and data. While discussions in qualitative GIS have demonstrated the value of merging the qualitative in GIS, we highlight the unexplored potential of GIS in the enactment of qualitative research, specifically as visual method. Our argument is based on research which explored the role of the state in urban change in Dublin City. We conclude that there is significant potential to better incorporate GIS into visual methods, particularly through photo-elicitation style interviews. Contrary to some of the existing literature, the persuasive power of the map as visual resource can prove particularly successful in engaging elite stakeholders. Further, we conclude that the methodological approach we took, facilitated the production of different kinds of knowledge around processes of urban governance.