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Summary: A broadband ±45° dual‐polarized omnidirectional array with small size is presented. A crossed‐arranged dipole element is proposed to generate a wide unidirectional radiation beam. A crossed‐arranged parasitic strip is used to dramatically widen the impedance bandwidth of the dipole element. Based on the dipole element, a rotational two‐unit subarray, which comprises a small number of dipole elements and occupies a small space, is originally proposed to generate excellent omnidirectional radiation performance. Then a four‐unit array with a simple feed network is designed based on the rotational subarray. The array obtains a wide bandwidth of 59.4% (1.55–2.86 GHz) for reflection coefficient <−10 dB and an isolation beyond 21 dB between the two polarizations. Meanwhile, a very low gain variation of below 3 dB, as well as a stable and high realized gain of 5.1 ± 0.5 dBi are achieved over the operating band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is closely linked to the release of proinflammatory cytokines in brain capillary endothelial cells. We have previously reported that lychee seed polyphenols (LSP) exerted anti‐neuroinflammatory effect. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effect of LSP on BBB integrity. The monolayer permeability of bEnd.3 cells, and the mRNA level and protein expression of tight junction proteins (TJs), including Claudin 5, Occludin, and ZO‐1, were examined. In addition, the inhibition of Aβ(25–35)‐induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the autophagy induced by LSP were investigated by detecting the expression of NLRP3, caspase‐1, ASC, LC3, AMPK, mTOR, and ULK1. Furthermore, the cognitive function and the expression of TJs, NLRP3, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and p62 were determined in APP/PS1 mice. The results showed that LSP significantly decreased the monolayer permeability and inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome in Aβ(25–35)‐induced bEnd3 cells. In addition, LSP induced autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway in bEnd.3 cells, and improved the spatial learning and memory function, increased the TJs expression, and inhibited the expression of NLRP3, caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and p62 in APP/PS1 mice. Therefore, LSP protects BBB integrity in AD through inhibiting Aβ(25–35)‐induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1‐mediated autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cartilaginous metaplasia is rare in primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms and has not been described in the histone 3 (H3) gene (H3) with a substitution of lysine to methionine (H3 K27M mutant) diffuse midline glioma before. Here, we report a case of H3 K27M mutant diffuse midline glioma with cartilaginous metaplasia in a 56‐year‐old woman. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a ring‐enhanced lesion located in the medulla oblongata and extended superiorly into the fourth ventricle. The tumor was macroscopically completely resected. Histologically, the tumor was composed of a gliomatous component and a well‐differentiated cartilaginous component. Microvascular proliferation and necrosis were noted. According to immunohistochemical staining, glial cells were diffusely and strongly positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 (Olig2), H3 K27M, and S‐100 protein but negative for H3K27me3. The chondrocytes also were positive for GFAP and S‐100 protein. The H3 K27M mutation was confirmed by sequencing in both the gliomatous and cartilaginous components, suggesting a common origin from the same progenitor cells. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a diffuse midline glioma with H3 K27M mutation with widespread cartilaginous metaplasia, corresponding to WHO grade IV. This is an extremely rare H3 K27M mutant diffuse midline glioma with cartilaginous metaplasia, and reporting this unusual case adds to the understanding of this tumor type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intensive winter wheat–summer maize (Triticum aestivum L.–Zea mays L.) double‐cropping systems in the North China Plain often show high nitrogen (N) losses and water use causing harmful threats to the environment. Methods: Continuous multiple‐year simulations (31 years) with the HERMES model were used to spatially quantify N and water losses at county scale in order to identify best‐practice management applications. Results: Results show simulated annual long‐term N losses for the investigated Quzhou County, Hebei Province of 297 kg N ha−1 under common farmers practice treatment (FP) and 102 kg N ha−1 under optimized treatment including model derived N fertilizer recommendation and automated irrigation (OPTai). Total losses by N leaching, volatilization and denitrification were 57% (FP) and 40% (OPTai) of the applied fertilizer N, respectively. Spatial differences in N losses were found due to survey‐specific differences of average N inputs among the townships. More than 260 kg N ha−1 y−1 of fertilizer input, N losses of 190 kg N ha−1 y−1, and around 116 mm y−1 of irrigation water could be saved on average by optimized treatments compared to farmers practice. Conclusion: On clay loam soil only OPTai could maintain crop yield without drought stress. The optimized treatments had the lowest N inputs and N losses but they did not seem to be able to sustain the organic N pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the surgical results of a single‐stage posterolateral approach with arc incision, unilateral laminectomy, and costotransversectomy for the management of dumbbell tumors and paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine. From January 2010 to March 2017, 14 patients with dumbbell tumors or paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine who underwent resection with single‐stage posterolateral approach were followed up and analyzed retrospectively. The operations were performed using a single‐stage posterolateral approach with arc incision, unilateral laminectomy, and costotransversectomy without any instrumentation. We reviewed the scores of clinical symptoms and imaging results, including postoperative MRI and reconstructed 3D‐CT images. Gross total removal was achieved in 13 patients, and subtotal removal was achieved in 1 case. Histopathology revealed schwannoma in 9 patients, angiolipoma in 1 patient, and paraganglioma and mixed hemangioma in 2 patients each. No significant operative or postoperative complications occurred in any patient. The 14 patients were followed up for 14–68 months (mean 39.4 months). At the final follow‐up, no obvious spinal deformity or tumor recurrence was found in any patient except one with paraganglioma. Single‐stage posterolateral approach is a good alternative surgical method for removing dumbbell tumors and paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine without necessitating a subsequent anterior operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: Microglial abnormalities have been reported in pathologic specimens from patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder characterized by epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism. However, the pathogenic role of microglia in epilepsy in TSC is poorly understood, particularly whether microglia defects may be a primary contributor to epileptogenesis or are secondary to seizures or simply epiphenomena. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Tsc1 gene inactivation in microglia is sufficient to cause epilepsy in mouse models of TSC. Methods: Using a chemokine receptor, Cx3cr1, to target microglia, conventional Tsc1Cx3cr1‐CreCKO (conditional knockout) mice and postnatal‐inducible Tsc1Cx3cr1‐CreERCKO mice were generated and assessed for molecular and histopathologic evidence of microglial abnormalities, mechanistic target of rapamycin 1 (mTORC1) pathway activation, and epilepsy. Results: Tsc1Cx3cr1‐CreCKO mice exhibited a high efficiency of microglia Tsc1 inactivation, mTORC1 activation, increased microglial size and number, and robust epilepsy, which were rapamycin‐dependent. However, Cre reporter studies demonstrated that constitutive Cx3cr1 expression affected not only microglia, but also a large percentage of cortical neurons, confounding the role of microglia in epileptogenesis in Tsc1 Cx3cr1‐CreCKO mice. In contrast, postnatal inactivation of Tsc1 utilizing a tamoxifen‐inducible Cx3cr1‐CreER resulted in a more‐selective microglia Tsc1 inactivation with high efficiency, mTORC1 activation, and increased microglial size and number, but no documented epilepsy. Significance: Microglia abnormalities may contribute to epileptogenesis in the context of neuronal involvement in TSC mouse models, but selective Tsc1 gene inactivation in microglia alone may not be sufficient to cause epilepsy, suggesting that microglia have more supportive roles in the pathogenesis of seizures in TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advances of cloud computing, business and scientific-oriented jobs with certain workflows are increasingly migrated to and run on a variety of cloud environments. These jobs are often with the property of deadline constraint and have to be completed within limited time. Therefore, to schedule a job with workflow (short for workflow) with deadline constraint is increasingly becoming a crucial research issue. In this paper, we, based on previous work, propose an agent-based workflow scheduling mechanism to schedule workflows that are with deadline constraint into federated cloud environment. Design and Methods We add a workflow agent into the original framework to schedule the deadline-constraint workflow. The workflow agent can smoothly schedule workflows to the cloud system according to their required resource and automatically monitor their execution. In order to accurately predict the execution time of each task to meet deadline constraint on certain VM with given resource, we inherit the use of rough set theory to estimate execution time of task in our previous work. Result and Discussion A heuristic algorithm that is embedded into the workflow agent is also proposed because the problem had been shown to be NP-complete. The mechanism also adopts dynamic job dispatching method to reduce the usage of VM and to improve the resource utilization. We also conducted experiments to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness. Conclusion The experimental results show that the prediction time is very close to the real execution time and can efficiently schedule multiple scientific workflows to meet the deadline constraints simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In 2011, the International League Against Epilepsy ( ILAE) proposed a consensus classification system of focal cortical dysplasia ( FCD) to distinguish clinicopathological subtypes, for example, 'isolated' FCD type Ia-c and IIa-b, versus 'associated' FCD type IIIa-d. The histopathological differentiation of FCD type I and III variants remains, however, a challenging issue in everyday practice. We present a unique histopathological pattern in patients with difficult-to-diagnose FCD, which highlights this dilemma, but also helps to refine the current ILAE classification scheme of FCD. Methods We present a retrospective series of 11 male and one female patient with early onset pharmacoresistant epilepsy of the posterior quadrant (mean age at seizure onset = 4.6 years). All surgical specimens were reviewed. Clinical histories were retrieved and extracted from archival patient files. Results Microscopic inspection revealed abnormalities in cortical architecture with complete loss of layer 4 in all surgical samples of the occipital lobe, as confirmed by semiquantitative measurements (p < 0.01). Clinical history reported early transient hypoxic condition in nine patients (75%). Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) revealed abnormal signals in the occipital lobe in all patients, and signal changes suggestive of subcortical encephalomalacia were found in seven patients. Surgical treatment achieved favorable seizure control (Engel class I and II) in seven patients with an available follow-up period of 6.1 years. Significance Prominent disorganization of cortical layering and lack of any other microscopically visible principle lesion in the surgical specimen would result in this neuropathological pattern hitherto being classified as FCD ILAE type Ib. However, perinatal hypoxia with distinctive MRI changes suggested primarily a hypoxemic lesion and acquired pathomechanism of neuronal cell loss in the occipital lobe of our patient series. We propose, therefore, classifying this distinctive clinicopathological pattern as a separate variant of FCD ILAE type IIId. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To study three atypical glioneuronal tumours ( GNTs), in order to shed light on the clinical and pathological features of this diverse tumour group. Methods and results Clinical and neuropathological data for each case were retrospectively reviewed. Case 1 involved a 17-year-old boy with left leg movement difficulty. A mass lesion in the basal ganglia was detected radiologically; histopathological features included neurocytic/perivascular rosettes and a pilocytic astrocytoma component. Case 2 involved a 33-year-old man with intractable epilepsy. His left parietal lobe contained a cyst-like mass, resembling dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour and rosette-forming glioneuronal tumour of the fourth ventricle microscopically. Case 3 involved a 21-year-old woman with a mass lesion in the mesencephalic tegmentum extending to the third and fourth ventricles and the suprasellar region. The lesion contained perivascular/neurocytic rosettes and an oligodendroglioma-like component. None of the tumours expressed an isocitrate dehydrogenase I mutation of the R132H type or contained a 1p/19q deletion, a BRAFV600E mutation, or KIAA1549-BRAF fusion. Conclusions We describe three GNTs with atypical histopathology and locations. Additional cases and molecular studies are needed to better understand the biological nature of GNTs and to refine their classification system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnII/CdII coordination polymers (CPs) based on 2-(4- carboxy-phenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline (HNCP) and different derivatives of 5-R-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (5-R-1,3- BDC) (R = NO2 , H, OH), [Zn(HNCP)(5-NO2-1,3-BDC)]n (1), [Cd(HNCP)(5-NO2-1,3-BDC)]n (2), [Zn(HNCP)(1,3-BDC)(H2O)2]n (3), and {[Zn(HNCP)(5-OH-1,3-BDC)(H2O)·H2O}n (4) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Compounds 1-4 were determined by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 are isomorphous, presenting a 4-connected uninodal (4,4)-sql 2D framework with threefold interpenetration, which are further extended into the three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular architecture through π···π stacking interactions between the aryl rings of 5-NO2-1,3-BDC. Compared to compound 1, 3 is obtained by using different reaction temperatures and metal-ligand ratios, generating a 3D framework with -ABAB- fashion via π···π stacking interactions. Compound 4 is a 1D chain, which is further extended into a 3D supramolecular net by hydrogen bonds and π···π stacking interactions. The thermogravimetric and fluorescence properties of 1-4 were also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sturge- Weber syndrome ( SWS) is a rare syndrome characterized by capillary-venous malformations involving skin and brain. Many patients with SWS also suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy. We retrospectively studied a series of six SWS patients with epilepsy and extensive neurosurgical resections. At time of surgery, the patients' age ranged from 11 to 35 years (with a mean of 20.2 years). All surgical specimens were well preserved, which allowed a systematic microscopical inspection utilizing the 2011 ILAE classification for focal cortical dysplasia ( FCD). Neuropathology revealed dysmorphic-like neurons with hypertrophic cell bodies reminiscent to those described for FCD type IIa in all cases. However, gross architectural abnormalities of neocortical layering typical for FCD type IIa were missing, and we propose to classify this pattern as FCD ILAE type IIIc. In addition, our patients with earliest seizure onset also showed polymicrogyria ( PMG; n = 4). The ictal onset zones were identified in all patients by subdural electrodes, and these areas always showed histopathological evidence for FCD type IIIc. Four out of five patients had favorable seizure control after surgery with a mean follow-up period of 1.7 years. We concluded from our study that FCD type IIIc and PMG are frequently associated findings in SWS. FCD type IIIc may play a major epileptogenic role in SWS and complete resection of the associated FCD should be considered a prognostic key factor to achieve seizure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a six-year-old girl who was brought to the doctor for the treatment of paroxysmal binocular blindness. She was diagnosed with dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT). The author also discusses the three subtypes of DNTs that are simple, complex, and non-specific.

Aims Angiocentric glioma ( AG) is a rare, slow-growing tumour of the central nervous system. It is often associated with refractory epilepsy and occurs most commonly in children and young adults. We herein report nine cases of AG, including four with atypical histological findings. Methods The clinical data and clinicopathological findings of nine cases with AG histological features were described. Results All nine patients had a history of refractory epilepsy with a mean history of 4.4 years and a median age of 17.6 years at surgery. The AG lesions were located in the superficial cerebrocortical region. Histological examination of these cases revealed characteristic structural features of AG, including bipolar spindle-shaped cells with an angiocentric growth pattern. However, four cases also exhibited atypical histological features: one had astroblastoma-like characteristics, two had a distinct cystic region with an onion-like structure and myxoid changes, and the other one had a region involving many abnormal neurones reminiscent to ganglioglioma. All were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin. Eight cases were positive for epithelial membrane antigen ( EMA), with a dot-like staining pattern. A diffuse D2-40 staining was visible in these cases, with two having similar staining pattern to EMA. All cases were immunonegative for BRAF V600 E and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 R132 H mutations. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that atypical histological features can be present in AG. A collection of more cases and further molecular analyses are required to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video surveillance system (VSS) is increasingly becoming important part in daily life. For traditional VSS, each camera stores streaming data to a centralized server. It will create a great volume of video data for a large VSS and may raise some issues in keeping daily video data to centralized server, such as limited bandwidth and storage insufficiency of server and lower reliability and scalability. In order to solve the problem, we have proposed an architecture for VSS based on well-developed peer-to-peer technique and emerging cloud computing. In this paper, we implement a large-scale VSS (LVSS) and propose an evaluation framework based on the proposed architecture. We implement the LVSS exploits inherent characteristics of P2P and cloud computing to provide an economic, scalable, reliable, and efficient approach to store streaming video. We conducted some experiments to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of the system. The result shows that the proposed architecture outperforms traditional VSS in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, reliability, and scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to extend the lattice method proposed by Ritchken and Trevor (1999) for pricing American options with one-dimensional stochastic volatility models to the two-dimensional cases with strangle payoff. This proposed method is compared with the least square Monte-Carlo method via numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chordoid glioma is a rare, slowly growing tumor of the CNS, which is always located in the third ventricle of adults. Chordoid glioma has classic histological features consisting of clusters and cords of epithelioid tumor cells embedded within a mucinous stroma with rich lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. The important distinctive immunohistochemical feature of this neoplasm is strong and diffuse reactivity for GFAP. Here, we report four cases of chordoid glioma that occupied the anterior portion of the third ventricle or suprasellar region. These four cases were all adult females with almost typical clinical, radiological, histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of chordoid glioma. However, in one case there was an unusual histologic finding with regard to the papillary region. In this region, elongated tumor cells were observed radiating toward a central vessel to form characteristic papillary structures. Immunohistochemically, three cases showed strong reactivity for GFAP, and one exhibited weak reactivity. All cases were focally positive for epithelial membrane antigen, CD34 and D2-40, but negative for neurofilament protein (NFP). Several ultrastructural investigations have supported the ependymal origin of chordoid glioma. In some cases of immunoreactivity for NFP, some authors have supposed that chordoid glioma originates from a multipotential stem cell with glial and neuronal cell differentiation. With regard to the present four cases with immunoreactivity for D2-40 (an ependymal marker) and CD34 (undifferentiated neural precursors) and based on previously published data, we considered that the majority of chordoid gliomas had an ependymal origin, and that a small minority might have originated from a multipotential stem cell having ependymal and neuronal cell differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel compounds, {[ Ln(Hbidc)(ox)0.5(H2O)] ·H2O} n [ Ln = Pr ( 1), Sm ( 2), Eu ( 3)] were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction of 1H-benzimidazole-5, 6-dicarboxylic acid (H3bidc) and oxalate (ox) with Ln(NO3)3 ·6H2O in the presence of NaOH solution at 180 °C, and were structurally characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveal that all the compounds are isomorphous, displaying 3D networks with 9-connected topology based on the linkages of 2D layers and 1D zigzag chains. In addition, complex 3 exhibits strong luminescent property in the solid state at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two 2D zinc(II) layered coordination polymer compounds [Zn2(atz)2(na)2] n ( 1), and [Zn(atz)(ina)] n ( 2) (Hatz = 3-amino-1H-1, 2, 4-triazole, na = nicotinic acid, ina = isonicotinic acid) were synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The interconnection of a coplanar six-membered hexagonal ring and a 16-membered non-planar chair-like ring results in a 2D sheet with (4, 82) topological network. Hydrogen bonds connect the neighboring planes into 3D supramolecular architectures. Furthermore, both complexes exhibit strong luminescent properties in the solid state at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of H3tda (H3tda = 1H-1, 2, 3-triazole-4, 5-dicarboxylic acid) with Sm(NO3)3 ·6H2O, Eu(NO3)3 ·6H2O, and Tb(NO3)3 ·6H2O, in the presence of NaOH under hydrothermal conditions, produced three new coordination polymers, [ Ln2(tda)2(H2O)3] ·5H2O [ Ln = Sm ( 1), Eu ( 2), Tb ( 3)]. These compounds were structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PXRD and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of compounds 1- 3 reveal that all compounds are three-dimensional porous structures with chiral frameworks. Furthermore, the luminescence studies of compound 2 and 3 in the solid state reveal that they are potential luminescent materials at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of an 11-year-old girl who is admitted to the hospital due to polydipsia, polyuria and skull lesion in Beijing, China. After a month in the hospital, there is a painful mass beneath her scalp and she experienced vomiting and headache. Results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals that she has two lesions under the right occipital and parietal bones of skin.

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS n) has been developed for structural characterization and identification of multi-constituents in Yiqing Capsule, a well-known combined herbal remedy prepared from the extract mixtures of Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and Radix Scutellariae. The UPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent ZorBax SB-C18 column (4.6 mm×50 mm, 1.8 μm) and gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid solution and acetonitrile in 16 min. Based on their retention times and mass spectra in comparison with the data from standards or references, a total of 29 compounds including 3 phenolic acids and 4 anthraquinones from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, 8 alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis and 14 flavonoids from Radix Scutellariae were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized in the complex system. The MS data and fragmentation information of two isomers of feruloylquinic acid were first reported in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and in Yiqing Capsules. This study is expected to be accepted as an effective and reliable pattern for comprehensive and systematic characterization of this commonly used Chinese herbal preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citation Lin Y-S, Tsai S-J, Lin M-W, Yang C-T, Huang M-F, Wu M-H. Interleukin-6 as an early chronic inflammatory marker in polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin receptor substrate-2 polymorphism. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 66: 527-533 Problem Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disorder. This study was to evaluate whether insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 Gly1057Asp polymorphism influences chronic inflammatory parameters in Taiwanese patients with PCOS. Method of study DNA was extracted from whole blood samples for genotyping and detection of IRS-2 Gly1057Asp polymorphism in 129 PCOS women and 109 control women. Ninety-seven PCOS women accepted metformin treatment for 3 months, and low-grade chronic inflammatory markers were assessed. Results The levels of IL-6 were significantly elevated in PCOS women compared with normal women. Among allelic variant of IRS-2, concentrations of IL-6 were greater in IRS-2 homozygous Asp population. Treatment with metformin significantly reduced IL-6, especially in PCOS patients with IRS-2 homozygous Asp variant. Conclusion The results showed that IL-6 may be an early low-grade chronic inflammatory marker among PCOS patients with IRS-2 polymorphism in Taiwanese population. This pharmacologic study in IRS-2 polymorphism may provide more information for preventing long-term complications in PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of patients with intractable epilepsy undergoing surgical management in China is increasing rapidly. We retrospectively reviewed 435 consecutive cases of intractable epilepsy receiving surgical resection from 2005 to 2008 in our hospital, looking specifically at the neuropathological findings. The three most common causes of intractable epilepsy were focal cortical dysplasia (FCD; 52.9%), scar lesions (22.8%) and brain tumors (11.7%). Hippocampal sclerosis was identified in 74 cases (17.0%), although most of these were accompanied by dual pathology with FCD (especially Palmini type IB), scar lesions or tumors. Among FCD cases, Palmini type I lesions are the most frequently observed abnormality, with a preferred location in the temporal lobe (60.1%) and often accompanied by dual pathology. In contrast, Palmini type II FCD lesions occurred predominantly in the frontal regions and with a lower age of onset. Most tumors were mixed neuronal–glial tumors, mainly ganglioglioma (19 cases) and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (10 cases), with a trend toward a temporal location and usually accompanied by cortical dysplasia in the peritumor area. Our data on the neuropathology of intractable epilepsy in China show that glioneuronal lesions are the most prominent cause of intractable epilepsy, and this is consistent with reports from other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) mutations are common in lung adenocarcinomas of Asian patients, implying a good response to treatment with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, gefitinib and erlotinib. However, the distinct chromosomal imbalances between lung adenocarcinomas with and those without EGFR mutations have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Seventy-seven patients of surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma were analysed for the EGFR exon 19 deletion and the L858R mutation, using mutant-enriched PCR, and for chromosomal imbalance alterations using comparative genomic hybridization. Results: EGFR mutations were detected in 42 (54.5%) patients, including 22 with the exon 19 deletion and 20 with the L858R mutation. The mean number of chromosomal arms with imbalance alterations was significantly higher in tumours with EGFR mutations than in those lacking these two mutations. The minimal regions with gain on 1q23–q31, 6p12–p21.1 and 7q11.2, and loss on 3p21, 8p22–p23, 9q33, 10q25 and 13q13, differed significantly between lung adenocarcinomas with or without EGFR mutations. However, neither EGFR mutations, nor any of the common chromosomal imbalance alterations alone, exhibited significant associations with tumour stage or disease-specific survival of the patients. Conclusions: These results indicate that imbalance alterations at several chromosomal regions occur significantly more frequently in lung adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutations than in those without such mutations. Tumour growth-related genes in these chromosomal regions should be further investigated to improve our understanding of the common genetic alterations in lung adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrocartilaginous embolism is a rare cause of anterior spinal cord infarction. We report a case of anterior spinal cord infarction caused by a fibrocartilaginous embolism of 3 months duration in a 23-year-old man. Ten days after a trivial strike to the neck and back, he had sudden back pain, weakness of the upper and lower extremities, developed dyspnea and became unconscious. Cervical MRI showed an enlargement of the lower medulla and cervical cord with abnormal signals in the ventral portion. The follow-up MRI performed 2 months later showed atrophy of the above lesion. On histopathological examination, there was a recent, extensive infarct in the cervical cord and lower medulla. The lesion was symmetrical, and predominantly involved the anterior part of the spinal cord. Moreover, many basophilic, alcian blue-positive emboli in the arteries and veins of the lesion were detected. This is the first autopsy case of anterior spinal cord infarction caused by a fibrocartilaginous embolism that has been confirmed in China. The clinicopathological features of this case are reviewed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurenteric cysts are uncommon cystic lesions lined by endodermal-derived epithelium, which are rarely found in the CNS, especially in the intracranial region. Although recurrences and disseminations of these cysts have been reported, only one case of intracranial malignant transformation has previously been described. Here we report a cerebellopontine angle neurenteric cyst in a 26-year-old woman. The cyst wall was lined by columnar epithelium with atypical nuclei and high MIB-1 index. In addition, stromal invasion was found in the subepithelial areas, which shows malignant features. Dissemination was speculated on MRI 6 months after total excision of the original cyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leigh syndrome is a mitochondrial disease of infancy and early childhood and is rare in adults. We report an autopsy case of adult Leigh syndrome of 15 years duration in a 32-year-old man with a familial history of the disease. His initial symptom was clumsiness followed by dullness, and dysphasia and dysarthria appeared in the last 3 months. His brother had similar symptoms and died at the age of 27 years. His sister is also demented. Cranial MRI revealed abnormal signals in the bilateral putamen and tegmentum of the brainstem. Neuropathologically, there were symmetrical, well-demarcated necrotizing lesions with proliferation of capillaries in the putamen, caudate nucleus and thalamus, as well as in the periaqueductal gray matter of the midbrain and tegmentum of the pons. It seems that the lesions in the putamen were more severe and older than those of the brainstem, the latter having numerous macrophage infiltrations. Neuronal loss and gliosis were also observed in the substantia nigra and cerebellar cortex. This is the first autopsy-confirmed familial adult Leigh syndrome in China. The clinicopathological features are presented together with a literature review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papillary glioneuronal tumor (PGNT) has recently been identified as a new variant of mixed neuronal-glial tumors. We report the clinical and pathological features of PGNT in two Chinese patients. One patient was a 35-year-old man who suffered from intractable seizures for 16 years. Another was a 26-year-old woman who presented with headache for 2 years. In both patients, magnetic resonance imaging showed well demarcated, mixed cystic and solid tumor in the temporal lobe. Histology of the excised tumors revealed a pseudopapillary architecture surrounded by a glial component and intervening areas were occupied by neuronally differentiated cells. No cortical dysplasia was found in the neighboring cortex in one of them. The glial component showed immunoreactivity with glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein. Neuronally differentiated cells were immunolabeled by antisynaptophysin, NF, NeuN and MAP2 antibodies. Some small cells surrounding the surface of the pseudopapillae and in the compact area were immunopositive for Olig2. The MIB-1 labeling index was <3%. The tumor did not recur within the follow-up periods of 50 months and 13 months, and the patient with temporal lobe epilepsy became seizure-free after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of human prion disease of 29 months duration in a 74-year-old Japanese man. The disease started with progressive sleeplessness and dementia. MRI showed gradually progressive cerebral atrophy. Neuronal loss, spongiform change and gliosis were evident in the thalamus and cerebral cortex, as well as in the striatum and amygdaloid nucleus. In the cerebellar cortex, mild-to-moderate depletion of Pukinje cells and spongiform change were observed. Mild neuronal loss in the inferior olivary nucleus was also seen. Immunohistochemistry revealed widespread perivacuolar deposits of abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, and brainstem, and minimal plaque-like deposits of PrPSc in the cerebellar cortex. In the cerebellar plaque-like deposits, the presence of amyloid fibrils was confirmed ultrastructurally. The entire pathology appeared to lie halfway between those of CJD and fatal insomnia, and further demonstrated the relationship between spongiform degeneration and PrPSc deposits, especially in the diseased thalamus. By immunoblotting, the thalamus was shown to contain the lowest amount of PrPSC among the brain regions examined. The PrPSc of type 2, in which the ratio of the three glycoforms was compatible with that of sporadic fatal insomnia (MM2-thalamic variant) reported previously, was also demonstrated. Analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) showed no mutation, and homozygosity for methionine at codon 129. In conclusion, we considered that this patient had been suffering from sporadic, pathologically atypical fatal insomnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy conservation is the top-priority policy for public street light infrastructure construction in recent years. Traditional periodically always-on policy guarantees the brightness for dark nights, but it consumes most energy and wastes a lot of money. Hence, there are strong demands to intelligently manage the construction and control over street light infrastructures. In this article, a scheme for locating the control point of street light network in urban district is proposed to replace the conventional always-on policy based on the geographic information of an urban environment. We first exploit the geographic map of an urban district to estimate the total number of street lights, and then partition the district into several adaptive blocks. Finally, the control point of each partitioned block is found and the connection of all street lights is established. Some experiments have been conducted to evaluate the performance and the feasibility of the proposed scheme. And the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is very reliable and efficient to construct the street light network of urban district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision tree is one of the famous classification methods in data mining. Many researches have been proposed, which were focusing on improving the performance of decision tree. However, those algorithms are developed and run on traditional distributed systems. Obviously the latency could not be improved while processing huge data generated by ubiquitous sensing node in the era without new technology help. In order to improve data processing latency in huge data mining, in this paper, we design and implement a new parallelized decision tree algorithm on a CUDA (compute unified device architecture), which is a GPGPU solution provided by NVIDIA. In the proposed system, CPU is responsible for flow control while the GPU is responsible for computation. We have conducted many experiments to evaluate system performance of CUDT and made a comparison with traditional CPU version. The results show that CUDT is 5 ∼ 55 times faster than Weka-j48 and is 18 times speedup than SPRINT for large data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title complex, C12H9N2+·C10H5O8− or (Hphen)+(H3btc)− [H4btc = benzene-1,2,4,5-tetra­carboxylic acid and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline(C12H8N2)], has been synthesized under hydro­thermal conditions. The compound is composed of extended sheets of [H3btc]− anions interleaved by stacks of planar [Hphen]+ cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title complex, [Mg(C(2)H(3)O(3))(H(2)O)(4)]NO(3), the Mg(II) cation is hexa-coordinated by four O atoms from water mol-ecules and two O atoms from a 2-hy-droxy-acetate ligand in a distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry. The structure exhibits a three-dimensional supra-molecular network, which is stabilized by nine different O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

In the title centrosymmetric dinuclear Eu(III) complex, [Eu(2)(CH(3)COO)(6)(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)], each Eu(III) cation is coordinated by seven O atoms from five acetate anions and two N atoms from one phenanthroline ligand in a distorted tricapped trigonal-prismatic geometry. Four acetate anions bridge two Eu(III) cations to form the dinuclear complex, with an Eu⋯Eu distance of 3.9409 (8) Å. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

In the title compound, {[AgSm(C(6)H(4)NO(2))(2)(C(2)O(4))]·H(2)O}(n), the asymmetric unit contains one Sm(III) ion, one Ag(I) ion, two unique isonicotinate (ina) ligands, two half oxalate (ox) ligands (one on an inversion centre, the other on a twofold axis) and one uncoordinated water mol-ecule. The central Sm(III) ion is nine-coordinated by four O-donor atoms from separate bidentate bridging ox ligands and five O-donor atoms from the two ina ligands (both bidentate) and a symmetry-related ina ligand [Sm-O = 2.389 (4)-2.791 (4) Å], giving a distorted monocapped square anti-prismatic geometry. The Ag(I) ion is three-coordinated in a T-shaped geometry involving two ina N-donor atoms [Ag-N = 2.181 (6) and 2.185 (5) Å] and a bridging oxalate O-donor atom [Ag-O = 2.620 (4) Å]. The three-dimensional heterometallic Sm-Ag coordination polymer, having a unique (3,4,6)-connected five-nodal net topology, is constructed from two-dimensional samarium-oxalate layers and pillared Ag(ina)(2) subunits. Inter-molecular water-carboxyl-ate O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions are also present.

The three-dimensional polymeric title compound, {[Zn(C(9)H(4)N(2)O(4))]·H(2)O}(n), contains one crystallographically independent Zn(II) atom, one fully deprotonated 1H-benzimid-azole-5,6-dicarboxyl-ate (bdc) ligand and one uncoordinated water mol-ecule. The Zn(II) atom is four-coordinated by three O atoms and one N atom from the bdc ligands, giving a distorted tetra-hedral coordination geometry. The uncoordinated water mol-ecule is bound to the main structure through a strong bdc-water N-H⋯O hydrogen bond, and two much weaker water-bdc O-H⋯O inter-actions.