bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MODELING THE ECONOMICS OF THE REFERENCE LEVELS FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT EMISSIONS IN THE EU
Authors: LATURI JANI , LINTUNEN JUSSI , UUSIVUORI JUSSI
Published: July 2016

In the Durban climate change conference of UNFCCC in 2011 new accounting rules were agreed for forest sector in Annex I countries to provide incentives for forest management and emission mitigation. There was also pressure to modify accounting rules to avoid giving credits for sequestration which would occur naturally. New accounting rules are based on reference levels against which greenhouse gas emissions and sinks resulting from forest management are compared during the second commitment period (2013–2020) of the Kyoto Protocol. In this study we investigate the timber market impacts and the effectiveness of the reference level policy in promoting forest management actions in the EU countries. We also study how setting of caps for policy-based gains affects the effectiveness of the policy. We found that the policy enhances carbon sequestration, if it is implemented in such a way that it affects harvests. The market impacts and the effects on forest sinks can be substantial in countries where non-LULUCF sector emissions are high relative to the potential of forest resources to act as sinks. In smaller countries with relatively large forest resources, the effectiveness of the policy is dampened by upper limits imposed on the emission compensations. The results of our study can be used to improve the effectiveness of policies in climate change negotiations.
The Cost of Covering Costs: A Nationwide Model for Water Pricing
Authors: Reznik A. , Feinerman E. , Finkelshtain I. , Kan I. , Fisher F. , Huber-Lee A. , Joyce B.
Published: July 2016

This study offers a high-resolution model of nationwide water supply. The model is sufficiently detailed to represent all main water sources in an economy, the principal segments of the conveyance system, urban, industrial and agricultural demand regions, and various water types, including fresh, saline and recycled. Calibrated for Israeli 2010 data, we find that the optimal extraction of fresh water is only 2% larger than the total observed supply from those sources. However, for some specific sources, the deviation between optimal and observed quantities is significant. Assuming average constant recharge, the optimal aggregated desalination is 57% of the 2010 desalination capacity and only 33% of the present desalination capacity. Even with an assumed 40% decline in recharge (for example, due to climate change), the model uses only 50% of the present desalination capacity. This may suggest that the construction of desalination facilities in Israel, which began in 2005, could have been delayed. The model establishes a comprehensive system of pumping levies and user fees that support the optimal allocation. However, due to considerable scale economies, the average cost is almost 50% larger than the marginal cost. The implications are that the welfare cost of the recent Israeli Balanced Budget Water Economy legislation is more than 100 million USD per year, about 10% of the water economy share of the GDP.
Inhibition of mitochondrial complex-1 restores the downregulation of aquaporins in obstructive nephropathy
Authors: Sun Ying , Zhang Yue , Zhu Yangyang , Zhang Aihua , Huang Songming , Yin Xiaoxin , Ding Guixia , Liu Mi , Jia Zhanjun
Published: July 2016

Obstructive kidney disease is a common complication in the clinic. Downregulation of aquaporins (AQPs) in obstructed kidneys has been thought as a key factor leading to the polyuria and impairment of urine-concentrating capability after the release of kidney obstruction. The present study was to investigate the role of mitochondrial complex-1 in modulating AQPs in obstructive nephropathy. Following 7-day unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, and vasopressin 2 (V2) receptor were remarkably reduced as determined by qRT-PCR and/or Western blotting. Notably, inhibition of mitochondrial complex-1 by rotenone markedly reversed the downregulation of AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, and V2. In contrast, AQP4 was not affected by kidney obstruction or rotenone treatment. In a separate study, rotenone also attenuated AQPs' downregulation after 48-h UUO. To study the potential mechanisms in mediating the rotenone effects on AQPs, we examined the regulation of the COX-2/microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES)-1/PGE2/EP pathway and found that COX-2, mPGES-1, and renal PGE2content were all significantly elevated in obstructive kidneys, which was not affected by rotenone treatment. For EP receptors, EP2and EP4but not EP1and EP3were upregulated in obstructive kidneys. Importantly, rotenone strikingly suppressed EP1and EP4but not EP2and EP3receptors. However, treatment of EP1antagonist SC-51322 could not affect AQPs' reduction in obstructed kidneys. Collectively, these findings suggested an important role of mitochondrial dysfunction in modulating AQPs and V2receptor in obstructive nephropathy possibly via prostaglandin-independent mechanisms.
Plane Waves and Fundamental Solutions in Heat Conducting Micropolar Fluid
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Kaur Mandeep
Published: July 2016

In the present investigation, we study the propagation of plane waves in heat conducting micropolar fluid. The phase velocity, attenuation coefficient, specific loss, and penetration depth are computed numerically and depicted graphically. In addition, the fundamental solutions of the system of differential equations in case of steady oscillations are constructed. Some basic properties of the fundamental solution and special cases are also discussed.
Discovery and Validation of Hypermethylated Markers for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wei Jiufeng , Li Guodong , Dang Shuwei , Zhou Yuhui , Zeng Kai , Liu Ming
Published: July 2016

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. Screening and early diagnosis are critical for the clinical management of this disease. DNA methylation changes have been regarded as promising biomarkers for CRC diagnosis. Here, we map DNA methylation profiling on CRC in six CRCs and paired normal samples using a 450 K bead array. Further analysis confirms the methylation status of candidates in two data sets from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are calculated to determine the diagnostic performances. We identify 1549 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) showing differences in methylation between CRC and normal tissue. Two genes (ADD2andAKR1B1), related to the DMRs, are selected for further validation. ROC curves show that the areas under the curves ofADD2andAKR1B1are higher than that ofSEPT9, which has been clinically used as a screening biomarker of CRC. Our data suggests that aberrant DNA methylation ofADD2andAKR1B1could be potential screening markers of CRC.
Paediatric Nonfunctioning Adrenocortical Carcinoma with Extension up to Right-Side Heart: Cardiac Surgery Approach
Authors: Iezzi Federica , Quarti Andrea , Surace Chiara , Pozzi Marco
Published: July 2016

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy. Due to late diagnosis and no adequate effective adjuvant treatment, prognosis remains poor. Only approximately 30% of these malignancies are confined to the adrenal gland when they are diagnosed, as these tumors tend to be found years after their genesis. Cardiac involvement of adrenal carcinoma is very rare. We report a rare case of a 7-year-old female with right adrenal cortical carcinoma, involving the right-side heart.
Cognitive Rehabilitation in Patients with Gliomas and Other Brain Tumors: State of the Art
Authors: Bergo E. , Lombardi G. , Pambuku A. , Della Puppa A. , Bellu L. , D’Avella D. , Zagonel V.
Published: July 2016

Disease prognosis is very poor in patients with brain tumors. Cognitive deficits due to disease or due to its treatment have an important weight on the quality of life of patients and caregivers. Studies often take into account quality of life as a fundamental element in the management of disease and interventions have been developed for cognitive rehabilitation of neuropsychological deficits with the aim of improving the quality of life and daily-life autonomy of patients. In this literature review, we will consider the published studies of cognitive rehabilitation over the past 20 years.
A Combined Therapy with Myo-Inositol and D-Chiro-Inositol Improves Endocrine Parameters and Insulin Resistance in PCOS Young Overweight Women
Authors: Benelli Elena , Del Ghianda Scilla , Di Cosmo Caterina , Tonacchera Massimo
Published: July 2016

Introduction.We evaluated the effects of a therapy that combines myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) in young overweight women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by oligo- or anovulation and hyperandrogenism, correlated to insulin resistance.Methods.We enrolled 46 patients affected by PCOS and, randomly, we assigned them to two groups, A and B, treated, respectively, with the association of MI plus DCI, in a 40 : 1 ratio, or with placebo (folic acid) for six months. Thus, we analyzed pretreatment and posttreatment FSH, LH, 17-beta-Estradiol, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, androstenedione, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, HOMA index, and fasting glucose and insulin.Results.We recorded a statistically significant reduction of LH, free testosterone, fasting insulin, and HOMA index only in the group treated with the combined therapy of MI plus DCI; in the same patients, we observed a statistically significant increase of 17-beta-Estradiol levels.Conclusions.The combined therapy of MI plus DCI is effective in improving endocrine and metabolic parameters in young obese PCOS affected women.
Inhibition of DNA Methylation Impairs Synaptic Plasticity during an Early Time Window in Rats
Authors: Muñoz Pablo , Estay Carolina , Díaz Paula , Elgueta Claudio , Ardiles Álvaro O. , Lizana Pablo A.
Published: July 2016

Although the importance of DNA methylation-dependent gene expression to neuronal plasticity is well established, the dynamics of methylation and demethylation during the induction and expression of synaptic plasticity have not been explored. Here, we combined electrophysiological, pharmacological, molecular, and immunohistochemical approaches to examine the contribution of DNA methylation and the phosphorylation of Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) to synaptic plasticity. We found that, at twenty minutes after theta burst stimulation (TBS), the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5AZA) impaired hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). Surprisingly, after two hours of TBS, when LTP had become a transcription-dependent process, 5AZA treatment had no effect. By comparing these results to those in naive slices, we found that, at two hours after TBS, an intergenic region of the RLN gene was hypomethylated and that the phosphorylation of residue S80 of MeCP2 was decreased, while the phosphorylation of residue S421 was increased. As expected, 5AZA affected only the methylation of the RLN gene and exerted no effect on MeCP2 phosphorylation patterns. In summary, our data suggest that tetanic stimulation induces critical changes in synaptic plasticity that affects both DNA methylation and the phosphorylation of MeCP2. These data also suggest that early alterations in DNA methylation are sufficient to impair the full expression of LTP.
Aggressiveness Niche: Can It Be the Foster Ground for Cancer Metastasis Precursors?
Authors: ElShamy Wael M. , Sinha Abhilasha , Said Neveen
Published: July 2016

The relationship between tumor initiation and tumor progression can follow a linear projection in which all tumor cells are equally endowed with the ability to progress into metastasis. Alternatively, not all tumor cells are equal genetically and/or epigenetically, and only few cells are induced to become metastatic tumor cells. The location of these cells within the tumor can also impact the fate of these cells. The most inner core of a tumor where an elevated pressure of adverse conditions forms, such as necrosis‐induced inflammation and hypoxia‐induced immunosuppressive environment, seems to be the most fertile ground to generate such tumor cells with metastatic potential. Here we will call this necrotic/hypoxic core the “aggressiveness niche” and will present data to support its involvement in generating these metastatic precursors. Within this niche, interaction of hypoxia‐surviving cells with the inflammatory microenvironment influenced by newly recruited mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), and other types of cells and the establishment of bidirectional interactions between them elevate the aggressiveness of these tumor cells. Additionally, immune evasion properties induced in these cells most likely contribute in the formation and maintenance of such aggressiveness niche.
A Tale of Two Joints: The Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Cartilage Biology
Authors: Rose Brandon J. , Kooyman David L.
Published: July 2016

Matrix metalloproteinases are a class of enzymes involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix molecules. While these molecules are exceptionally effective mediators of physiological tissue remodeling, as occurs in wound healing and during embryonic development, pathological upregulation has been implicated in many disease processes. As effectors and indicators of pathological states, matrix metalloproteinases are excellent candidates in the diagnosis and assessment of these diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss matrix metalloproteinases as they pertain to cartilage health, both under physiological circumstances and in the instances of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and to discuss their utility as biomarkers in instances of the latter.
Accurate Identification of Cancerlectins through Hybrid Machine Learning Technology
Authors: Zhang Jieru , Ju Ying , Lu Huijuan , Xuan Ping , Zou Quan
Published: July 2016

Cancerlectins are cancer-related proteins that function as lectins. They have been identified through computational identification techniques, but these techniques have sometimes failed to identify proteins because of sequence diversity among the cancerlectins. Advanced machine learning identification methods, such as support vector machine and basic sequence features (n-gram), have also been used to identify cancerlectins. In this study, various protein fingerprint features and advanced classifiers, including ensemble learning techniques, were utilized to identify this group of proteins. We improved the prediction accuracy of the original feature extraction methods and classification algorithms by more than 10% on average. Our work provides a basis for the computational identification of cancerlectins and reveals the power of hybrid machine learning techniques in computational proteomics.
In VivoCorneal Biomechanical Properties with Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology in Chinese Population
Authors: Wu Ying , Tian Lei , Huang Yi-fei
Published: July 2016

Purpose. To determine the repeatability of recalculated corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (CorVis ST) parameters and to study the variation of biomechanical properties and their association with demographic and ocular characteristics.Methods. A total of 783 healthy subjects were included in this study. Comprehensive ophthalmological examinations were conducted. The repeatability of the recalculated biomechanical parameters with 90 subjects was assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to identify demographic and ocular factors.Results. The repeatability of the central corneal thickness (CCT), deformation amplitude (DA), and first/second applanation time (A1/A2-time) exhibited excellent repeatability (CV%≤3.312% and ICC≥0.929 for all measurements). The velocity in/out(Vin/out), highest concavity- (HC-) radius, peak distance (PD), and DA showed a normal distribution. Univariate linear regression showed a statistically significant correlation betweenVin,Vout, DA, PD, and HC-radius and IOP, CCT, and corneal volume, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that IOP and CCT were negatively correlated withVin, DA, and PD, while there was a positive correlation betweenVoutand HC-radius.Conclusion. The ICCs of the recalculated parameters, CCT, DA, A1-time, and A2-time, exhibited excellent repeatability. IOP, CCT, and corneal volume significantly influenced the biomechanical properties of the eye.
Mugwort-Mustard Allergy Syndrome due to Broccoli Consumption
Authors: Sugita Yuri , Makino Teruhiko , Mizawa Megumi , Shimizu Tadamichi
Published: July 2016

Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is a relatively rare form of food allergy which develops in individuals who are sensitized to pollen. Tree pollens, especially birch pollen, frequently induce PFAS; however, the incidence of PFAS due to grass or weed pollens such as ragweed or mugwort is relatively rare. Mugwort-mustard allergy syndrome (MMAS) is an example of a PFAS in which individuals sensitized to mugwort may develop an allergy to mustard and experience severe reactions. We herein describe a case of MMAS due to broccoli consumption.
Energetic Assessment of the Nonexercise Activities under Free-Living Conditions
Authors: Sun Shijie , Tang Qiang , Quan Haiying , Lu Qi , Sun Ming , Zhang Kuan
Published: July 2016

Nonexercise activities (NAs) are common types of physical activity in daily life and critical component in energy expenditure. However, energetic assessment of NA, particularly in free-living subjects, is a technical challenge. In this study, mechanical modeling and portable device were used to evaluate five common types of NA in daily life: sit to stand, lie to sit, bowing while standing, squat, and right leg over left. A human indirect calorimeter was used to measure the activity energy expenditure of NA. Mechanical work and mechanical efficiency of NA were calculated for mechanical modeling. Thirty-two male subjects were recruited for the study (20 subjects for the development of models and 12 subjects for evaluation of models). The average (mean ± SD) mechanical work of 5 NAs was 2.31 ± 0.50, 2.88 ± 0.57, 1.75 ± 0.55, 3.96 ± 1.25, and 1.25 ± 0.51 J/kg·m, respectively. The mean mechanical efficiencies of those activities were 22.0 ± 3.3%, 26.5 ± 5.1%, 19.8 ± 3.7%, 24.0 ± 5.5%, and 26.3 ± 5.5%. The activity energy expenditure estimated by the models was not significantly different from the measurements by the calorimeter (p>0.05) with accuracies of 102.2 ± 20.7%, 103.7 ± 25.8%, 105.6 ± 14.6%, 101.1 ± 28.0%, and 95.8 ± 20.7%, respectively, for those activities. These findings suggest that the mechanical models combined with a portable device can provide an alternative method for the energetic analysis of nonexercise activities under free-living condition.
Risk of Cerebral Infarction in Japanese Hemodialysis Patients: Miyazaki Dialysis Cohort Study (MID study)
Authors: Toida Tatsunori , Sato Yuji , Nakagawa Hideto , Komatsu Hiroyuki , Uezono Shigehiro , Yamada Kazuhiro , Ishihara Tabito , Hisanaga Shuichi , Kitamura Kazuo , Fujimoto Shouichi
Published: July 2016

Background/Aims: Predictors including the preventive effects of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs on cerebral infarction (CI) events have not yet been clarified in dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the risk of CI and preventive effects of these drugs in Japanese hemodialysis patients. Methods: Patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (n=1,551, median age (interquartile range), 69.0 (59.0-78.0) years; 41.5% female) were enrolled in the Miyazaki Dialysis Cohort Study and prospectively followed-up for 3 years. Kaplan-Meier and Cox's regression analyses were used to clarify the risk of CI. Results: Eighty-four patients developed CI at an incidence of 21.5/1000 patients per year. The presence of a previous history of CI, atrial fibrillation (AF), and diabetes mellitus in addition to age were also identified as predictive factors for new CI, whereas no relationship was observed between antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant usage and CI. Furthermore, no significant difference was noted in the frequency of CI events between patients with AF who received warfarin and those who did not. Conclusions: The incidence of CI was higher in dialysis patients with a previous history of CI and AF; however, the preventive effects of antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs on the development of CI were not evident.
The Diagnostic Utility of the NINDS-CSN Neuropsychological Battery in Memory Clinics
Authors: Xu Xin , Chan Qun Lin , Hilal Saima , Ikram Mohammad Kamran , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Tan Boon Yeow , Dong Yanhong , Chen Christopher Li-Hsian , Collinson Simon L.
Published: July 2016

Aims: To examine the diagnostic utility of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Canadian Stroke Network (NINDS-CSN) neuropsychological battery in memory clinics comparing controls with patients with no cognitive impairment (NCI), patients with cognitive impairment-no dementia (CIND) at varying severity levels (mild/moderate), and patients with dementia. Methods: A total of 405 participants with NCI, CIND or dementia were assessed with the NINDS-CSN battery. The discriminatory properties of all three protocols (5, 30 and 60 min) before and after education stratification (none/primary vs. secondary/above) were examined by receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Overall, the shorter protocols are equivalent to the longer protocol in diagnosing dementia, regardless of education. To discriminate between nondementia groups, before education stratification, the 5-min protocol showed varied discriminatory properties between different diagnostic/severity groups. After stratification, the 5-min protocol was broadly equivalent to the longer protocols in lower-education groups [area under the curve (AUC) range: 0.77-0.87] but was less accurate in the higher-education groups (AUC range: 0.68-0.78). The 30- and 60-min protocol constantly showed moderate-to-excellent differentiating capacities regardless of education (AUC range: 0.80-0.90). Conclusion: The NINDS-CSN neuropsychological battery can be applied in memory clinics and effectively discriminate between cognitively intact individuals and those with cognitive impairments of varying severity. Furthermore, level of education should be taken into consideration when choosing protocols with different lengths for cognitive assessment.
Comparable Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcome of a Haplo-Identical Family Donor with an Alternative Donor in Adult Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Kim Hawk , Lee Je-Hwan , Joo Young-Don , Bae Sung-Hwa , Lee Sang Min , Jo Jae-Cheol , Choi Yunsuk , Lee Jung-Hee , Kim Dae-Young , Ryoo Hun Mo , Lee Kyoo-Hyung ,   CoOperative Study Group A for Hematology (COSAH)
Published: July 2016

We performed a study on allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) from an HLA-haplo-identical familial donor (haploFD) using a busulfan-fludarabine-antithymocyte globulin conditioning regimen for severe aplastic anemia (sAA) and hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome. For the comparison between a haploFD and an alternative donor (AD; matched unrelated or partially matched donor) for sAA in adults, we collected haploFD data retrospectively and prospectively. Forty-eight AD cases were selected for the comparison with 16 haploFD cases. All transplantation outcomes except for extensive chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) were similar. The frequencies of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (p = 1.000), acute GvHD (p = 0.769), grade 3/4 acute GvHD (p = 0.258), chronic GvHD (p = 0.173), extensive chronic GvHD (p = 0.099), primary neutrophil engraftment failure (p = 1.000), secondary graft failure (p = 1.000) and platelet engraftment failure (p = 0.505) were similar. Time to neutrophil engraftment was faster in haploFD (p = 0.003), while the cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment was similar (p = 0.505). Overall survival was also similar between AD and haploFD (p = 0.730). In conclusion, alloHCT from haploFD in sAA was comparable with alloHCT from AD, but extensive chronic GvHD seemed frequent in haploFD. Therefore alloHCT from haploFD could be an alternative approach for alloHCT from AD in adult sAA.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Its Risk Factors in North Africans Living in Algeria and Italy
Authors: Lazreg Sihem , Delcourt Cécile , Zeggane Sihem , Sanchez Alice , Ziani Assia , Daghbouche Mounir , Benmoussa Salaheddine , Mokrani Karim , Billah Mekki Moatez , Renault Didier , Battaglia Parodi Maurizio , Bandello Francesco , Nouri Mohamed Tahar
Published: July 2016

Purpose: To determine the risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Algerians, and compare these data with those on North Africans living in Italy. Methods: All patients over 55 years of age consulting one of the 23 involved Algerian ophthalmologists were invited to participate, and 1,183 patients were included. Data collection was standardized based on the Simplified Théa Risk Assessment Scale (STARS) questionnaire. A similar study was conducted in North Africans living in Italy (n = 1,011). Patients with only soft drusen and/or pigmentary abnormalities were classified as early AMD, and patients with geographic atrophy and/or neovascular AMD were classified as late AMD. Results: In the final multivariate model, risk for early and/or late AMD was significantly increased with older age, family history of AMD, Black ethnicity, atherosclerosis, beer consumption, high fruit consumption, cataract surgery, myopia, and hyperopia. High consumption of green vegetables was associated with lower risk for both early and late AMD. In comparison with North Africans from Italy, Algerians generally had a healthier profile (younger, less obesity, smoking, and cardiovascular diseases, and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables) and a lower risk for AMD. Conclusion: This study documents risk factors for AMD in North-African populations for the first time.
Kidneys in Oriental and Occidental Medicine
Authors: Kondo Tetsuya
Published: July 2016

Background: Oriental medicine is based on the 5-phase theory, in which the balance among the 5 viscera - the liver, the heart, the spleen, the lung and the kidney - is important. It is confusing that the viscera in Oriental and Occidental medicine have the same name. Out of the 5 viscera in Oriental medicine, it is the spleen that differs most from that in Occidental medicine. It mainly corresponds to the digestive organs and pancreas and has no relation to the spleen in Occidental medicine, a kind of lymph tissue. On the other hand, the concept of each of the other Oriental viscera includes the corresponding viscus in Occidental medicine. Key Messages: The 11 aspects of the kidney in Oriental medicine correspond to three kinds of endocrine and metabolic systems, all of which are associated with aging.
Relationship between Interleukin-6 (-174G/C and -572C/G) Promoter Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Misra Shubham , Kumar Yadav Arun , Kumar Amit , Sriwastva Mukesh , Prasad Kameshwar
Published: July 2016

Background: Polymorphisms of -174G/C and -572C/G in the Interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter gene can affect both transcription and secretion of IL-6 and may be involved in the inflammatory mechanisms in early and delayed phases after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The role of these polymorphisms remains unclear for the pathogenesis of ICH. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Google Scholar searches were conducted from January 1, 1950 to February 29, 2016 and were supplemented with relevant articles identified in the references. The following search terms were used: (‘interleukin-6' or ‘IL-6') and (‘genetic polymorphism' or ‘single nucleotide polymorphisms' or ‘SNP') and (‘intracerebral hemorrhage' or ‘ICH') and (‘hemorrhagic stroke' or ‘HS'). Fixed or random effects models were used to estimate the pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Begg's funnel plot was used to assess the potential for publication bias. Results: In our meta-analysis, three case-control studies involving 446 ICH cases and 2,322 controls were included. No significant association was observed for the IL-6 (-174G/C and -572C/G) gene polymorphisms with the risk of ICH under dominant, recessive and allelic models. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that IL-6 gene polymorphisms are not associated with the risk of ICH. However, caution must be taken while considering the results of our meta-analysis due to the presence of small sample size. Our results cannot be extrapolated to represent the effect of entire IL-6 genetic polymorphism on stroke patients worldwide. Therefore, further well-designed studies with large sample size are warranted to validate our findings and provide a profound conclusion.
Metabolomics in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Unraveling the Biochemistry of a Silent Killer
Authors: Darshi Manjula , Van Espen Benjamin , Sharma Kumar
Published: July 2016

The development of new therapies for chronic diseases, such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD), will continue to be hampered by lack of sufficient biomarkers that will provide insights and will be responsive to treatment interventions. The recent application of metabolomic technologies, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy, has allowed large-scale analysis of small molecules to be interrogated in a targeted or untargeted manner. Recent advances from both human and animal studies that have arisen from metabolomic analysis have recognized that mitochondrial function and fatty acid oxidation play key roles in the development and progression of DKD. Although many challenges in the technology for clinical chronic kidney disease (CKD) are yet to be validated, there will very likely be ongoing major contributions of metabolomics to develop new biochemical understanding for diabetic and CKD. The clinical application of metabolomics and accompanying bioinformatic tools will likely be a cornerstone of personalized medicine triumphs for CKD.
Novel pharmacological inhibitors demonstrate the role of the tyrosine kinase Pyk2 in adhesion and aggregation of human platelets
Authors: Zarà Marta , Canobbio Ilaria , Visconte Caterina , Di Nunzio Giada , Torti Mauro , Guidetti Gianni
Published: July 2016

Pyk2 is a Ca2+-regulated kinase predominantly expressed in neuronal and in haematopoietic cells. Previous studies on Pyk2-null mice have demonstrated that Pyk2 plays a crucial role in platelet activation and thrombus formation, thus representing a possible target for antithrombotic therapy. Very limited information is available about the role of Pyk2 in human platelets, mainly because of the lack of specific pharmacological inhibitors. In this work, we have tested two novel Pyk2 inhibitors, PF-4594755 and PF-4520440, to validate their specificity and to investigate their ability to modulate platelet activation. Both molecules were able to efficiently block Pyk2 activity in human and mouse platelets stimulated with thrombin or with the Ca2+-ionophore. In wild-type murine platelets, PF-4594755 and PF-4520440 reduced thrombin-induced aggregation to the level observed in Pyk2 knockout platelets, but did not affect aggregation induced by GPVI stimulation. Importantly, neither compounds affected the residual thrombin-induced aggregation of Pyk2-null platelets, thus excluding possible off-target effects. In human platelets, PF-4594755 and PF-4520440 significantly reduced aggregation stimulated by thrombin, but not by the GPVI agonist convulxin. Both inhibitors reduced platelet adhesion on fibrinogen and prevented Akt phosphorylation in adherent cells, indicating that Pyk2 regulates PI3K and cell spreading downstream of integrins in human platelets. Finally, the Pyk2 inhibitors significantly inhibited thrombus formation upon blood perfusion on immobilized collagen under arterial flow rate. These results demonstrate that PF-4594755 and PF-4520440 are specific inhibitors of Pyk2 in intact platelets and allowed to reliably document that this kinase plays a relevant role in human platelet activation.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Performance Analysis of MTD64, our Tiny Multi-Threaded DNS64 Server Implementation: Proof of Concept
Authors: Lencse Gábor
Published: July 2016

In the current stage of IPv6 deployment, the combination of DNS64 and NAT64 is an important IPv6 transition technology, which can be used to enable IPv6 only clients to communicate with IPv4 only servers. In addition to the existing free software DNS64 implementations, we proposed a tiny multithreaded one, MTD64.In this paper, the performance of MTD64 is measured and compared to that of the industry standard BIND in order to check the correctness of the design concepts of MTD64, especially of the one that we use a new thread for each request. For the performance measurements, our earlier proposed dns64perf program is enhanced as dns64perf2, which one is also documented in this paper. We found that MTD64 seriously outperformed BIND and hence our design principles may be useful for the design of a high performance production class DNS64 server. As an additional test, we have also examined the effect of dynamic CPU frequency scaling to the performance of the implementations.
Análise de regressão: uma introdução à econometria
Authors:   Univeridade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Hoffmann Rodolfo
Published: July 2016

O autor apresenta métodos estatísticos para disciplinas de econometria e análise de regressão ministradas na ESALQ-USP e aplicadas em diversas áreas como: pesquisas econômicas, biologia, física ou engenharia.
Análise estatística de relações lineares e não lineares
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Hoffmann Rodolfo
Published: July 2016

O livro apresenta técnicas estatísticas para análise de relações lineares e não lineares entre variáveis: regressão linear múltipla, incluindo as maneiras de detectar observações discrepantes ou muito influentes, regressão não linear, modelos para variáveis dependentes binárias (lógite e próbite), análise de componentes principais e análise fatorial. Segundo o autor "o objetivo é fazer uma apresentação dessas técnicas, de maneira que o estudante compreenda seus fundamentos estatísticos, podendo avaliar seu potencial de aplicação em vários tipos de pesquisa, e também suas limitações. O texto tem finalidade didática, incluindo exercícios com respostas no final de cada capítulo.
Pigment Epithelium‐Derived Factor (PEDF) Improves Ischemic Cardiac Functional Reserve Through Decreasing Hypoxic Cardiomyocyte Contractility Through PEDF Receptor (PEDF‐R)
Authors: Lu Peng , Zhang Yi‐Qian , Zhang Hao , Li Yu‐Feng , Wang Xiao‐Yu , Xu Hao , Liu Zhi‐Wei , Li Lei , Dong Hong‐Yan , Zhang Zhong‐Ming
Published: July 2016

Background

Pigment epithelium‐derived factor (
PEDF
), which belongs to the noninhibitory serpin family, has shown the ability to stimulate several physiological processes, such as antiangiogenesis, anti‐inflammation, and antioxidation. In the present study, the effects of
PEDF
on contractility and calcium handling of rat ventricular myocytes were investigated.

Methods and Results

Adult Sprague‐Dawley rat models of acute myocardial infarction (
AMI
) were surgically established.
PEDF
‐lentivirus was delivered into the myocardium along and away from the infarction border to overexpress
PEDF
. Video edge detection was used to measure myocyte shortening in vitro. Intracellular Ca
2+
was measured in cells loaded with the Ca
2+
sensitive fluorescent indicator, Fura‐2‐acetoxymethyl ester.
PEDF
local overexpression enhanced cardiac functional reserve in
AMI
rats and reduced myocardial contracture bordering the infracted area. Exogenous
PEDF
treatment (10 nmol/L) caused a significant decrease in amplitudes of isoproterenol‐stimulated myocyte shortening, Ca
2+
transients, and caffeine‐evoked Ca
2+
transients in vitro. We then tested a potential role for PEDF receptor‐mediated effects on upregulation of protein kinase C (
PKC
) and found evidence of signaling through the diacylglycerol/
PKC
α pathway. We also confirmed that pretreatment of cardiomyocytes with
PEDF
exhibited dephosphorylation of phospholamban at Ser
16
, which could be attenuated with
PKC
inhibition.

Conclusions

The results suggest that
PEDF
depresses myocyte contractility by suppressing phosphorylation of phospholamban and Ca
2+
transients in a
PKC
α‐dependent manner through its receptor, PEDF receptor, therefore improving cardiac functional reserve during AMI.
Influence of bacterial density and mating on life history traits of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Authors: Addis Temesgen , Demissie Shiferaw , Strauch Olaf , Ehlers Ralf-Udo
Published: July 2016

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, associated with Photorhabdus luminescens, is commonly used against insect pests. Dauer juveniles (DJ) develop into self-fertilising hermaphrodites that lay eggs until juveniles hatch inside the uterus and feed on the body content of the mother (endotokia matricida). The life history traits of H. bacteriophora were studied at 2.5 × 109, 5 × 109, 10 × 109 and 20 × 109 cells ml−1 of P. luminescens at 25°C using a hanging drop technique. The number of offspring produced per hermaphrodite increased from 50 at 2.5 × 109 cells ml−1 to 269 at 20 × 109 cells ml−1 of P. luminescens. The bacterial density did not influence the beginning of endotokia matricida, hermaphrodite death, DJ release from the maternal carcass and the percentage of juveniles obtained through endotokia matricida. Mating of automictic females could not increase offspring production and survival. Endotokia matricida is an obligatory developmental step in H. bacteriophora.
The Anonymisation of Research Data — A Pyric Victory for Privacy that Should Not Be Pushed Too Hard by the eu Data Protection Framework?
Authors: Quinn Paul
Published: July 2016

Personal health data is essential to many forms of scientific research. Such data may come from a large variety of sources including electronic health records (ehrs), datasets used for previous research and from data linked to biobanks. European data protection law recognises that in addition to using consent as a legal basis for the processing of personal health data for scientific research, such data may be used without consent where it is in the ‘public interest’. Despite the existence of such a legal option, ethics bodies in a number of states have shown reticence to utilise it, often pushing researchers into either obtaining consent or anonymising the data in question. Whilst the latter option may be appealing from a legal point of view, if carried out properly, the result may be that the research value of the data is reduced or even destroyed.
‘Other Diplomacies’ and World Order: Historical Insights from Canadian–Asian Relations
Authors: Young Mary M. , Henders Susan J.
Published: July 2016

This article examines the diplomatic practices of non-state actors in the history of Canadian–Eastern Asian relations in order to theorize and show empirically how diplomacies make and can transform world orders. Analysing examples of trans-Pacific missionary, commercial and labour interactions from the late eighteenth century to the Second World War, the article points to how the diplomatic practices of non-state actors, often in everyday circumstances, enacted Canadian–Asian relations. They, in turn, constituted and challenged the hierarchical social relations of the European imperial world order that was linked with race, class, gender, civilization and culture — hierarchies that conditioned patterns of thought and action, in that order. The analysis uses and further develops the concept of ‘other diplomacies’, as introduced by Beier and Wylie, to highlight the centrality to world orders of practices that have a diplomatic character, even when the actors involved do not represent states.
Reinstatement of Centaurea cyanomorpha (Asteraceae), an endemic species from Southeastern Bulgaria
Authors: STOYANOV STOYAN S.
Published: July 2016

Centaurea cyanomorpha, so far known only from a single plant collected in May 1926, was rediscovered and studied at its locus classicus Kara Bair, near the town of Topolovgrad (SE Bulgaria). Its taxonomic status varied in times and remained hitherto uncertain. The species has been treated as a synonym of C. pseudaxillaris, C. napulifera and C. depressa. However, a detailed examination of the type specimen and plants from the type locality, as well as additional plants from different localities indicate that C. cyanomorpha is a clearly distinct taxon and should be maintained as a separate species. Cyanus diospolitanus (≡ Centaurea diospolitana), recently described from Derventski Hills, Yambol Province (SE Bulgaria), has turned out to be identical to C. cyanomorpha and should be treated as a later heterotypic synonym of the latter. Comparisons of the key morphological characters of the close relatives C. cyanomorpha and C. pseudaxillaris and maps of their distributions are given. A new combination, Cyanus cyanomorphus comb. nov., is provided.
A remarkable new species of Sicophion Gauld, 1979 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Peru, with a key to the species
Authors: ALVARADO M.
Published: July 2016

The small Neotropical genus Sicophion currently comprises two described species. The genus is recorded for the first time in Peru and S. yana sp. n. is described. A key to species is also presented.
Caddisflies (Trichoptera) and diatoms of some springs in the vicinity of Łódź (Central Poland)
Authors: KWIATKOWSKA KATARZYNA , ŻELAZNA-WIECZOREK JOANNA , ZIUŁKIEWICZ MACIEJ , MAJECKI JANUSZ
Published: July 2016

The distribution, species richness and ecology of Trichoptera, the diversity of benthic diatoms, and hydrochemical data in 7 springs in the vicinity of Łódź were investigated in 2011. In total, 17 Trichoptera taxa and more than 300 diatom taxa were collected from the studied springs. Trichoptera and especially diatom taxa are very sensitive indicators of ecological conditions; both showed a strong response to degradation in lowland springs. On the basis of faunal, diatom microfloral, and hydrochemical data, the typology of springs of the vicinity of Łódź is proposed. Two groups of factors (differentiating and non-differentiating) which contribute to distinguishing the studied springs are described. Additional experiments and observations were done on Trichoptera, including their life cycles, biology, and larval diet. In particular, the abundance of common diatom taxa in the guts of Silo sp. larvae was investigated.
Two Types of Interannual Variability of South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset Related to the SST Anomalies before and after 1993/94
Authors: Liu Boqi , Zhu Congwen , Yuan Yuan , Xu Kang
Published: July 2016

An advance in the timing of the onset of the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon (SCSSM) during the period 1980–2014 can be detected after 1993/94. In the present study, the interannual variability of the SCSSM onset is classified into two types for the periods before and after 1993/94, based on their different characteristics of vertical coupling between the upper- and lower-tropospheric circulation and the differences in their related sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs). On the interannual time scale, type-I SCSSM onset is characterized by anomalous low-level circulation over the northern SCS during 1980–93, whereas type-II SCSSM onset is associated with anomalies of upper-level circulation in the tropics during 1994–2014. The upper-tropospheric thermodynamic field and circulation structures over the SCS are distinct between the two types of SCSSM onset, and this investigation shows the importance of the role played by the spring SSTAs in the southern Indian Ocean (SIO) and that of ENSO events in type-I and type-II SCSSM onset, respectively. In the early episode, the warming SIO SSTAs can induce an anomalous low-level anticyclone over the northern SCS that affects local monsoonal convection and rainfall over land to its north, demonstrating a high sensitivity of subtropical systems in type-I SCSSM onset. However, in type-II SCSSM onset during the later episode, the winter warm ENSO events and subsequent warming in the tropical Indian Ocean can influence the SCSSM onset by modulating the spring tropical temperature and upper-level pumping effect over the SCS.
Representation of Snow in the Canadian Seasonal to Interannual Prediction System. Part II: Potential Predictability and Hindcast Skill
Authors: Sospedra-Alfonso Reinel , Merryfield William J. , Kharin Viatcheslav V.
Published: July 2016

This paper examines potential predictability (PP) and actual skill for snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Canadian Seasonal to Interannual Prediction System (CanSIPS). A significant PP is found for SWE, with potentially predictable variance over 50% of the total variance at up to a 5-month lead in mid- to high latitudes in forecasts initialized after snow onset. Much, though not all, of this PP stems from a tendency for SWE anomalies to persist through the snow season. Although the spring melt acts as a PP barrier regardless of initialization date, in some regions significant PP reemerges in the following snow season. This is due primarily to ENSO teleconnections that are modeled realistically by CanSIPS, particularly in northwestern North America. Actual skill of CanSIPS in forecasting SWE is assessed using several verification datasets. Highest skills are obtained using a blend of five such datasets, consistent with the hypothesis that skill scores are degraded by errors in the verification data as well as by forecast errors, and that observational errors can be reduced by blending multiple datasets, much as forecast errors can be reduced by averaging across different models. Actual skill for SWE is comparable to, though generally lower than, that implied by PP. This is due in part to the similar autocorrelation properties of the forecast and observed SWE anomalies, which provide skill through anomaly persistence, combined with reasonably accurate initialization of SWE by CanSIPS. Long-lead skill across snow seasons is found to be linked to ENSO, particularly in western North America, much as for PP.
Clinical Translation of Tissue Engineered Trachea Grafts
Authors: Chiang Tendy , Pepper Victoria , Best Cameron , Onwuka Ekene , Breuer Christopher K
Published: July 2016

Objective:

To provide a state-of-the-art review discussing recent achievements in tissue engineered tracheal reconstruction.

Data Sources and Review Methods:

A structured PubMed search of the current literature up to and including October 2015. Representative articles that discuss the translation of tissue engineered tracheal grafts (TETG) were reviewed.

Conclusions:

The integration of a biologically compatible support with autologous cells has resulted in successful regeneration of respiratory epithelium, cartilage, and vascularization with graft patency, although the optimal construct composition has yet to be defined. Segmental TETG constructs are more commonly complicated by stenosis and delayed epithelialization when compared to patch tracheoplasty.

Implications for Practice:

The recent history of human TETG recipients represents revolutionary proof of principle studies in regenerative medicine. Application of TETG remains limited to a compassionate use basis; however, defining the mechanisms of cartilage formation, epithelialization, and refinement of in vivo regeneration will advance the translation of TETG from the bench to the bedside.