bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tale of two collagen receptors, integrin β1 and discoidin domain receptor 1, in epithelial cell differentiation
Authors: Yeh Yi-Chun , Lin Hsi-Hui , Tang Ming-Jer
Published: September 2012

As increase in collagen deposition is no longer taken as simply a consequence but, rather, an inducer of disease progression; therefore, the understanding of collagen signal transduction is fundamentally important. Cells contain at least two types of collagen receptors: integrins and discoidin domain receptors (DDRs). The integrin heterodimers α1β1, α2β1, α10β1, and α11β1 are recognized as the non-tyrosine kinase collagen receptors. DDR1 and 2, the tyrosine kinase receptors of collagen, are specifically expressed in epithelium and mesenchyme, respectively. While integrin β1 and DDR1 are both required for cell adhesion on collagen, their roles in epithelial cell differentiation during development and disease progression seem to counteract each other, with integrin β1 favoring epithelium mesenchyme transition (EMT) and DDR1 inducing epithelial cell differentiation. The in vitro evidence shows that the integrin β1 and DDR1 exert opposing actions in regulation of membrane stability of E-cadherin, which itself is a critical regulator of epithelial cell differentiation. Here, we review the functional roles of integrin β1 and DDR1 in regulation of epithelial cell differentiation during development and disease progression, and explore the underlining mechanisms regarding to the regulation of membrane stability of E-cadherin.
Development of primary human nasal epithelial cell cultures for the study of cystic fibrosis pathophysiology
Authors: de Courcey F. , Zholos A. V. , Atherton-Watson H. , Williams M. T. S. , Canning P. , Danahay H. L. , Elborn J. S. , Ennis M.
Published: September 2012

Cultured primary epithelial cells are used to examine inflammation in cystic fibrosis (CF). We describe a new human model system using cultured nasal brushings. Nasal brushings were obtained from 16 F508del homozygous patients and 11 healthy controls. Cells were resuspended in airway epithelial growth medium and seeded onto collagen-coated flasks and membranes for use in patch-clamp, ion transport, and mediator release assays. Viable cultures were obtained with a 75% success rate from subjects with CF and 100% from control subjects. Amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na channel current of similar size was present in both cell types while forskolin-activated CF transmembrane conductance regulator current was lacking in CF cells. In Ussing chambers, cells from CF patients responded to UTP but not to forskolin. Spontaneous and cytomix-stimulated IL-8 release was similar (stimulated 29,448 ± 9,025 pg/ml; control 16,336 ± 3,308 pg/ml CF; means ± SE). Thus nasal epithelial cells from patients with CF can be grown from nasal brushings and used in electrophysiological and mediator release studies in CF research.
β-Adrenergic regulation of Na+uptake by larval zebrafishDanio rerioin acidic and ion-poor environments
Authors: Kumai Yusuke , Ward Mellissa A. R. , Perry Steve F.
Published: September 2012

The potential role of adrenergic systems in regulating Na+uptake in zebrafish ( Danio rerio) larvae was investigated. Treatment with isoproterenol (a generic β-adrenergic receptor agonist) stimulated Na+uptake, whereas treatment with phenylephrine (an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist) as well as clonidine (an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist) significantly reduced Na+uptake, suggesting opposing roles of α- and β-adrenergic receptors in Na+uptake regulation. The increase in Na+uptake associated with exposure to acidic water (pH = 4.0) was attenuated in the presence of the nonselective β-receptor antagonist propranolol or the β1-receptor blocker atenolol; the β2-receptor antagonist ICI-118551 was without effect. The stimulation of Na+uptake associated with ion-poor water (32-fold dilution of Ottawa tapwater) was unaffected by β-receptor blockade. Translational gene knockdown of β-receptors using antisense oligonucleotide morpholinos was used as a second method to assess the role of adrenergic systems in the regulation of Na+uptake. Whereas β1- or β2B-receptor knockdown led to significant decreases in Na+uptake during exposure to acidic water, only β2A-receptor morphants failed to increase Na+uptake in response to ion-poor water. In support of the pharmacology and knockdown experiments that demonstrated an involvement of β-adrenergic systems in the control of Na+uptake, we showed that the H+-ATPase-rich (HR) cell, a subtype of ionocyte known to be a site of Na+uptake, is innervated and appears to express β-adrenergic receptors (propranolol binding sites) at 4 days postfertilization. These data indicate an important role of adrenergic systems in regulating Na+uptake in developing zebrafish.
Delamination Detection of Reinforced Concrete Decks Using Modal Identification
Authors: Xing Shutao , Halling Marvin W. , Barr Paul J.
Published: September 2012

This study addressed delamination detection of concrete slabs by analyzing global dynamic responses of structures. Both numerical and experimental studies are presented. In the numerical examples, delaminations with different sizes and locations were introduced into a concrete slab; the effects of presence, sizes, and locations of delaminations on the modal frequencies and mode shapes of the concrete slab under various support conditions were studied. In the experimental study, four concrete deck specimens with different delamination sizes were constructed, and experimental tests were conducted. Traditional peak-picking, frequency domain decomposition, and stochastic subspace identification methods were applied to the modal identification from dynamic response measurements. The modal parameters identified by these three methods correlated well. The changes in modal frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes that were extracted from the dynamic measurements were investigated and correlated to the actual delaminations and can indicate presence and severity of delamination. Finite element (FE) models of reinforced concrete decks with different delamination sizes and locations were established. The modal parameters computed from the FE models were compared to those obtained from the laboratory specimens, and the FE models were validated. The delamination detection approach was proved to be effective for concrete decks on beams.
Calculating Zeros of the -Genocchi Polynomials Associated with -Adic -Integral on
Authors: Ryoo C. S.
Published: September 2012

In this paper we construct the new analogues of Genocchi the numbers and polynomials. We also observe the behavior of complex roots of the -Genocchi polynomials , using numerical investigation. By means of numerical experiments, we demonstrate a remarkably regular structure of the complex roots of the -Genocchi polynomials . Finally, we give a table for the solutions of the -Genocchi polynomials .
Food Access Patterns and Barriers among Midlife and Older Adults with Mobility Disabilities
Authors: Huang Deborah L. , Rosenberg Dori E. , Simonovich Shannon D. , Belza Basia
Published: September 2012

We examined where midlife and older adults with a mobility disability accessed food outside the home in King County, Washington, USA, how they travelled to these food destinations, and facilitators and barriers to food access using qualitative interviews. Thirty-five adults aged ≥50 years with a mobility disability (defined as use of an assistive device for mobility) were interviewed. Supplemental objective information was obtained from a Global Positioning System device worn by participants for 3 days. Participants primarily accessed food at grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops/cafés. The most common transportation modes were walking, obtaining a ride from friends, motorized chair/scooter, and public transit. Location and proximity of food destinations were factors affecting participants’ ability to access these destinations. Adequate space, ease of entry, available amenities such as restrooms, and helpful people were facilitators for participants to access food outside the home.
Application of Wavelet Entropy to Predict Atrial Fibrillation Progression from the Surface ECG
Authors: Alcaraz Raúl , Rieta José J.
Published: September 2012

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia in clinical practice, thus, being the subject of intensive research both in medicine and engineering. Wavelet Entropy (WE) is a measure of the disorder degree of a specific phenomena in both time and frequency domains, allowing to reveal underlying dynamical processes out of sight for other methods. The present work introduces two different WE applications to the electrocardiogram (ECG) of patients in AF. The first application predicts the spontaneous termination of paroxysmal AF (PAF), whereas the second one deals with the electrical cardioversion (ECV) outcome in persistent AF patients. In both applications, WE was used with the objective of assessing the atrial fibrillatory(f)waves organization. Structural changes into the f waves reflect the atrial activity organization variation, and this fact can be used to predict AF progression. To this respect, results in the prediction of PAF termination regarding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 95.38%, 91.67%, and 93.60%, respectively. On the other hand, for ECV outcome prediction, 85.24% sensitivity, 81.82% specificity, and 84.05% accuracy were obtained. These results turn WE as the highest single predictor of spontaneous PAF termination and ECV outcome, thus being a promising tool to characterize non-invasive AF signals.
Characterization of Eigenvalues in Spectral Gap for Singular Differential Operators
Authors: Zheng Zhaowen , Zhang Wenju
Published: September 2012

The spectral properties for n order differential operators are considered. When given a spectral gap (a, b) of the minimal operator T0 with deficiency index r, arbitrary m points βi  (i = 1,2, …, m) in (a, b), and a positive integer function p such that , T0 has a self‐adjoint extension such that each βi  (i = 1,2, …, m) is an eigenvalue of with multiplicity at least p(βi).
Impact of Maternal Physical Activity and Infant Feeding Practices on Infant Weight Gain and Adiposity
Authors: Chu Lisa , Retnakaran Ravi , Zinman Bernard , Hanley Anthony J. G. , Hamilton Jill K.
Published: September 2012

Increasing evidence supports the contribution of intrauterine environmental exposures on obesity risk in offspring. Few studies have included maternal and infant lifestyle factors. Our objective was to study the impact of maternal physical activity, infant feeding, and screen time on offspring weight gain and adiposity. In a prospective cohort study, 246 mothers underwent testing during pregnancy to assess glucose tolerance status and insulin sensitivity. Anthropometry and questionnaires on physical activity, infant feeding, and screen time were completed. Multiple-linear regression was performed to examine the impact of maternal and infant factors on infant weight gain and weight-for-lengthz-score at 1 year. Infant weight outcomes were negatively predicted by maternal pregravid vigorous/sport index and exclusive breastfeeding duration. After adjustment, each unit increase in maternal pregravid vigorous/sport index decreased infant weight gain by 218.6 g (t=2.44,P=0.016) and weight-for-lengthz-score by 0.20 (t=2.17,P=0.031). Each month of exclusive breastfeeding reduced infant weight gain by 116.4 g (t=3.97,P<0.001) and weight-for-lengthz-score by 0.08 (t=2.59,P=0.01). Maternal pregravid physical activity and exclusive breastfeeding duration are associated with weight gain and adiposity as early as 1 year of age.
The Meir‐Keeler Type for Solving Variational Inequalities and Fixed Points of Nonexpansive Semigroups in Banach Spaces
Authors: Katchang Phayap , Kumam Poom
Published: September 2012

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new iterative scheme for finding common solutions of the variational inequalities for an inverse strongly accretive mapping and the solutions of fixed point problems for nonexpansive semigroups by using the modified viscosity approximation method associate with Meir‐Keeler type mappings and obtain some strong convergence theorem in a Banach spaces under some parameters controlling conditions. Our results extend and improve the recent results of Li and Gu (2010), Wangkeeree and Preechasilp (2012), Yao and Maruster (2011), and many others.
Demand for Meat in the Rural and Urban Areas of Kenya: A Focus on the Indigenous Chicken
Authors: Bett H. K. , Musyoka M. P. , Peters K. J. , Bokelmann W.
Published: September 2012

This study intends to estimate the demand for indigenous chicken meat in Kenya, including other available meat products for comparison purposes. Data used was collected from six counties. A total 930 rural and urban households were sampled. Linear Approximated Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) model was used to obtain the demand elasticities and to examine the socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing the meat budget shares. The results ascertain that the socio-demographic factors such as household location, the proportion of household members and the family size are important factors in explaining perceived variations in the consumption of meat products. Indigenous chicken meat, beef and mutton, were identified as necessities. Indigenous chicken meat and beef were identified as substitutes while indigenous chicken, goat and exotic chicken meats were complements. In view of the high expenditure elasticities, therefore, considering a policy option that would enhance consumer income is desirable, since it will result in high consumption thereby providing more incentives for production of meat products. The information generated would be more beneficial to the interest groups in the livestock sector as a whole. This would be utilised in the formulation of effective policies in line with food security and poverty alleviation.
Analysis of Erbium and Vanadium Diffusion in Porous Silicon Carbide
Authors: Mynbaeva Marina G. , Pankratov Evgeny L. , Mokhov Evgeniy N. , Mynbaev Karim D.
Published: September 2012

Experimental data on diffusion of erbium and vanadium in porous and nonporous silicon carbide at 1700 and 2200°C have been used for modelling diffusion in porous SiC. It is shown that the consideration of pore structure modification under annealing via vacancy redistribution allows for satisfactory description of dopant diffusion. As expected, important contribution to the diffusion in the porous medium is found to be made by the walls of the pores: in SiC, the vacancy surface diffusion coefficient on the walls appears to exceed that in the bulk of the material by an order of magnitude. When thermal treatment transforms pore channels into closed voids, pathways for accelerated diffusion cease to exist and diffusion rates in porous and nonporous SiC become similar.
Circulating TGF-β1, Glycation, and Oxidation in Children with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
Authors: Jakuš Vladimír , Sapák Michal , Kostolanská Jana
Published: September 2012

The present study investigates the relationship between diabetes metabolic control represented by levels of HbA1c, early glycation products-(fructosamine (FAM)), serum-advanced glycation end products (s-AGEs), lipoperoxidation products (LPO), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and circulating TGF-βin young patients with DM1. The study group consisted of 79 patients with DM1 (8–18 years). 31 healthy children were used as control (1–16 years). Baseline characteristics of patients were compared by Student’st-test and nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (Statdirect), respectively. The correlations between the measured parameters were examined using Pearson correlation coefficientrand Spearman’s rank test, respectively. AP  value<0.05was considered as statistically significant. HbA1c was measured by LPLC, s-AGEs spectrofluorimetrically, LPO and AOPP spectrophotometrically and TGF-βby ELISA. Our results showed that parameters of glycation and oxidation are significantly higher in patients with DM1 than in healthy control. The level of serum TGF-βwas significantly higher in diabetics in comparison with control: 7.1(3.6; 12.6) versus 1.6(0.8; 3.9) ng/mL. TGF-βsignificantly correlated with age and duration of DM1. There was not found any significant relation between TGF-βand parameres of glycation and oxidation. However, these results do not exclude the association between TGF-βand the onset of diabetic complications.
Generalized Multiparameters Fractional Variational Calculus
Authors: Agrawal Om Prakash
Published: September 2012

This paper builds upon our recent paper on generalized fractional variational calculus (FVC). Here, we briefly review some of the fractional derivatives (FDs) that we considered in the past to develop FVC. We first introduce new one parameter generalized fractional derivatives (GFDs) which depend on two functions, and show that many of the one-parameter FDs considered in the past are special cases of the proposed GFDs. We develop several parts of FVC in terms of one parameter GFDs. We point out how many other parts could be developed using the properties of the one-parameter GFDs. Subsequently, we introduce two new two- and three-parameter GFDs. We introduce some of their properties, and discuss how they can be used to develop FVC. In addition, we indicate how these formulations could be used in various fields, and how the generalizations presented here can be further extended.
Influence of Gender on Cardiac and Encephalic Inflammation in the Elderly with Cysticercosis: A Case Control Study
Authors: Cavellani Camila Lourencini , Corrêa Rosana Rosa Miranda , Ferraz Mara Lúcia Fonseca , Rocha Laura Penna , Faleiros Ana Carolina Guimarães , Lino Junior Ruy de Souza , Reis Marlene Antônia dos , Teixeira Vicente de Paula Antunes
Published: September 2012

Background. The present study explores the influence of the host’s age and gender upon the inflammatory infiltrate. We aimed to quantify the inflammatory infiltrate caused by cysticercosis, which is related to aging, in the heart and in the encephalon.Methods. 75 autopsy protocols with cysticercosis diagnosis from department of pathology at a university hospital from 1970 to 2008 were reviewed. Two groups were formed: elderly with cysticercosis and nonelderly with cysticercosis. We used KS-300 (Kontron-Zeiss) software for morphometric analysis of the inflammation.Results.The elderly had an average of3.1±2.5cysticerci, whereas the non-elderly had2.7±3.8parasites. The non-elderly group with cysticercosis had significantly more inflammation, both cardiac and encephalic, than the elderly group. The elderly females with cysticercosis had more cardiac and encephalic inflammation.Conclusions. In this study, we showed that the non-elderly had significantly more cardiac and encephalic inflammation than the elderly, and that such inflammatory infiltrate decreases with age and depends upon the evolutionary stage of the cysticercus. Furthermore, there are differences concerning gender in the intensity of the inflammatory response due to cysticerci in the heart and brain parenchyma during senescence. Even during this period, women continue to have a more intense response to the parasitosis.
Comparison Results on Preconditioned GAOR Methods for Weighted Linear Least Squares Problems
Authors: Wang Guangbin , Du Yanli , Tan Fuping
Published: September 2012

We present preconditioned generalized accelerated overrelaxation methods for solving weighted linear least square problems. We compare the spectral radii of the iteration matrices of the preconditioned and the original methods. The comparison results show that the preconditioned GAOR methods converge faster than the GAOR method whenever the GAOR method is convergent. Finally, we give a numerical example to confirm our theoretical results.
Characterizing the Relative Spatial Structure of Point Patterns
Authors: Marcon Eric , Puech Florence , Traissac Stéphane
Published: September 2012

We generalize Ripley’sKfunction to get a new function,M, to characterize the spatial structure of a point pattern relatively to another one. We show that this new approach is pertinent in ecology when space is not homogenous and the size of objects matters. We present how to use the function and test the data against the null hypothesis of independence between points. In a tropical tree data set we detect intraspecific aggregation and interspecific competition.
On Ideals of Implication Groupoids
Authors: Bandaru Ravi Kumar
Published: September 2012

Ideals of implication groupoids are considered. Given a subset of a distributive implication groupoid, the smallest ideal containing it is constructed. A characterization of ideals in distributive implication groupoid using upper sets is given.
Mn-Rich Nanostructures inGe1-xMnx: Fabrication, Microstructure, and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Jiang Ying , Wang Yong
Published: September 2012

Magnetic semiconductors have attracted extensive attention due to their novel physical properties as well as the potential applications in future spintronics devices. Over the past decade, tremendous efforts have been made in the diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) system, with many controversies disentangled but many puzzles unsolved as well. Here in this paper, we summarize recent experimental results in the growth, microstructure and magnetic properties of Ge-based DMSs (mainlyGe1-xMnx), which have been comprehensively researched owing to their compatibility with Si microelectronics. Growth conditions of high-quality, defect-free, and magneticGe1-xMnxbulks, thin films, ordered arrays, quantum dots, and nanowires are discussed in detail.
MicroRNAs in Vascular Biology
Authors: Yamakuchi Munekazu
Published: September 2012

Vascular inflammation is an important component of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and aneurysms. All vascular cells, including endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and infiltrating cells, such as macrophages, orchestrate a series of pathological events. Despite dramatic improvements in the treatment of atherosclerosis, the molecular basis of vascular inflammation is not well understood. In the last decade, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been revealed as novel regulators of vascular inflammation. Each miRNAs suppresses a set of genes, forming complex regulatory network. This paper provides an overview of current advances that have been made in revealing the roles of miRNAs during vascular inflammation. Recent studies show that miRNAs not only exist inside cells but also circulate in blood. These circulating miRNAs are useful biomarkers for diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate that circulating miRNAs are delivered into certain recipient cells and act as messengers. These studies suggest that miRNAs provide new therapeutic opportunities.
Influence of Corn (Zea maysL.) Cultivar Development on Grain Nutrient Concentration
Authors: Ferreira Carla Fernanda , Motta Antônio Carlos Vargas , Prior Stephen A. , Reissman Carlos Bruno , Santos Nicolas Z. dos , Gabardo Juarez
Published: September 2012

While corn productivity has been increased by the adoption of high-yield hybrids, there are concerns that increased grain potential may be associated with diminished grain nutrient concentration. Ten corn (Zea maysL.) cultivars representing five technological levels (landrace variety, commercial variety, and double, triple, and single cross-hybrids) were cropped on a Rhodic Ferralsol Eutric soil with high fertility in 2006 (dry year) and 2007 (normal year) in Rolândia County, Brazil. At maturity, grain was evaluated for concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu. In general, differences among cultivars were noted for all nutrients in both years. Concentrations of P, K, Fe, and Mn were lower in the dry year, while Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn were higher. Soil water availability appeared to exert more influence on grain nutrient concentration than did cultivar development; nutrient removal due to grain harvest was also greatly influenced by rainfall patterns and their impact on corn productivity. Even though genetic differences were noted, which may be useful to breeding programs, long-term testing in subtropical environments will be required to clarify the interaction between genetics and climate events on grain nutrient quality and exportation.
Multilocus Family-Based Association Analysis of Seven Candidate Polymorphisms with Essential Hypertension in an African-Derived Semi-Isolated Brazilian Population
Authors: Kimura L. , Angeli C. B. , Auricchio M. T. B. M. , Fernandes G. R. , Pereira A. C. , Vicente J. P. , Pereira T. V. , Mingroni-Netto R. C.
Published: September 2012

Background. It has been widely suggested that analyses considering multilocus effects would be crucial to characterize the relationship between gene variability and essential hypertension (EH).Objective. To test for the presence of multilocus effects between/among seven polymorphisms (six genes) on blood pressure-related traits in African-derived semi-isolated Brazilian populations (quilombos).Methods. Analyses were carried out using a family-based design in a sample of 652 participants (97 families). Seven variants were investigated:ACE(rs1799752),AGT(rs669),ADD2 (rs3755351),NOS3 (rs1799983),GNB3(rs5441 and rs5443), andGRK4(rs1801058). Sensitivity analyses were further performed under a case-control design with unrelated participants only.Results. None of the investigated variants were associated individually with both systolic and diastolic BP levels (SBP and DBP, respectively) or EH (as a binary outcome). Multifactor dimensionality reduction-based techniques revealed a marginal association of the combined effect of bothGNB3variants on DBP levels in a family-based design (P=0.040), whereas a putativeNOS3-GRK4interaction also in relation to DBP levels was observed in the case-control design only (P=0.004).Conclusion. Our results provide limited support for the hypothesis of multilocus effects between/among the studied variants on blood pressure inquilombos. Further larger studies are needed to validate our findings.
Deep Subwavelength Power Concentration-Based Hyperbolic Metamaterials
Authors: Kaur Amanpreet , Banerjee Saptarshi , Zhao Wangshi , Venkataraman Jayanti , Lu Zhaolin
Published: September 2012

Hyperbolic metamaterials can manipulate electromagnetic waves by converting evanescent waves into propagating waves and thus support light propagation without diffraction limit. In this paper, deep subwavelength focusing (or power concentration) is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally using hyperbolic metamaterials. The results verify that hyperbolic metamaterials can focus a broad collimated beam to spot size of ~λ0/6 using wired medium design for both normal and oblique incidence. The nonmagnetic design, no-cut-off operation, and preferred direction of propagation in these materials significantly reduce the attenuation in electromagnetic waves.
Miscibility Studies of Hydroxypropyl Cellulose/Poly(Ethylene Glycol) in Dilute Solutions and Solid State
Authors: Sudharsan Reddy K. , Prabhakar M. N. , Kumara Babu P. , Venkatesulu G. , Kumarji Rao U. Sajan , Chowdoji Rao K. , Subha M. C. S.
Published: September 2012

The miscibility of Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blends over an extended range of concentrations in water. The viscosity, ultrasonic velocity, and refractive index of the above blend solutions have been measured at 30°C. The interaction parameters such as and μ proposed by Chee and α proposed by Sun have been obtained using the viscosity data to probe the miscibility of the polymer blends. The values indicated that the blends were miscible when HPC content is more than 40% in the blend. The obtained results have been confirmed by the ultrasonic velocity and refractive index studies. The films of the blends were prepared by solution casting method using water as a solvent. The prepared films have been characterized by analytical techniques such as FTIR, DSC, X-RD, and SEM to probe the miscibility of HPC/PEG blends. The compatibility in the above compositions may be due to the formation of H-bonding between hydroxyl groups of HPC and etheric oxygen atom of PEG molecules.
Minimum‐Norm Fixed Point of Pseudocontractive Mappings
Authors: Zegeye Habtu , Shahzad Naseer , Alghamdi Mohammad Ali
Published: September 2012

Let K be a closed convex subset of a real Hilbert space H and let T : K → K be a continuous pseudocontractive mapping. Then for β ∈ (0, 1) and each t ∈ (0, 1), there exists a sequence {yt} ⊂ K satisfying yt = βPK[(1 − t)yt] + (1 − β)T(yt) which converges strongly, as t → 0+, to the minimum‐norm fixed point of T. Moreover, we provide an explicit iteration process which converges strongly to a minimum‐norm fixed point of T provided that T is Lipschitz. Applications are also included. Our theorems improve several results in this direction.
Vitreous Diagnosis in Neoplastic Diseases
Authors: Asencio-Duran Mónica , Vallejo-Garcia José Luis , Pastora-Salvador Natalia , Fonseca-Sandomingo Agustín , Romano Mario R.
Published: September 2012

Vitreous body is an intraocular structure, origin of diverse pathologies, but is also the place where cells and inflammatory mediators are released coming from several pathologic processes. These inflammatory reactions can happen in any other ocular location like choroid, retina, optic nerve, or ciliary body and vitreous humor constitutes a stagnant reservoir for these resulting substances and debris. Through the recent techniques of vitreous collecting, handling, and analysis, increasingly more sophisticated and with fewer complications, cellularity and molecules in the vitreous of challenging pathologies for the ophthalmologist can now be studied. The most usefulness for vitreous diagnosis would be the masquerade syndromes, and the best exponent in this group is the primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL), in which cytology and an IL-10/IL-6 ratio more than 1 is fundamental for the diagnosis.
Synthesis and Thermal Characterization of Lanthanide(III)Complexes with Mercaptosuccinic Acid and Hydrazine as Ligands
Authors: Devipriya S. , Arunadevi N. , Vairam S.
Published: September 2012

Reaction of hydrazine and mercaptosuccinic acid with metal ions forms complexes with general formula [Ln(N2H4)2{CH2(COO)CH(SH)(COO)}1.5]·(H2O), where Ln = La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), and Gd(III) at pH 5. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV‐visible spectroscopic, thermal and X‐ray diffraction studies. The IR data reveal that the acid moiety in the complexes is present as dianion due to the deprotonation of COOH groups by lanthanides in these complexes, leaving –SH group unionized and hydrazine as bidental neutral ligand showing absorptions in the range of 945–948 cm−1. The thermoanalytical data evince that the complexes are stable up to 103°C and undergo complete decomposition in the range of 550–594°C resulting in metal oxides. SEM images of La2O3 and Gd2O3 residues show their nano sized clusters suggesting that the complexes may be used as precursors for nano La2O3 and Gd2O3, respectively. X‐ray powder diffraction patterns show isomorphism among the complexes. The kinetic parameters of the decomposition of the complexes have been computed by Coats‐Redfern equation.
Recognition Preference of Rhodamine Derivative Bearing Phthalimido Gly forHg2+by UV-Vis and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Authors: Yan Fanyong , Wang Meng , Cao Donglei , Yang Ning , Ma Bin , Chen Li
Published: September 2012

An effective Hg2+-specific probe1was designed and prepared based on Phthalimido Gly modified rhodamine B. The sensing behavior of probe1was studied by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Probe1showed excellent high selectivity and sensitivity towards Hg2+over commonly coexistent metal ions in neutral solution, which could be attributed to the Hg2+-triggered ring opening of the spirolactam of the rhodamine moiety and the formation of a 1 : 11-Hg2+complex. The limit of detection (LOD) based on3δblank/kwas calculated to be 2.8 × 10−8 M, as well as an excellent linear relationship with the concentration of Hg2+in the range from 0.1 × 10−6to 1.0 × 10−6 mol/L (R2=0.98927). In addition, the effects of pH, coexisting metal ions, and the reversibility were investigated in detail.
Cytological and Molecular Features of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Prominent Hobnail Features: A Case Report
Authors: Bellevicine Claudio , Cozzolino Immacolata , Malapelle Umberto , Zeppa Pio , Troncone Giancarlo
Published: September 2012

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with prominent hobnail features is a recently recognized PTC variant. Its histological hallmark is represented by elongated cells showing a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and a hobnail appearance. Few histological studies have been performed showing aggressive clinical and pathological features. Thus, a better patient management might benefit from its early diagnosis on fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples. To date, the FNA cytology of PTC with prominent hobnail features has not been described. Case Report: We retrospectively analyzed the FNA taken from a histologically proven PTC with prominent hobnail features. Although there was a certain degree of morphological overlap with the tall cell variant, some peculiar cytological features were observed. In particular, the novel ‘comet-like’ cell feature could represent the cytological counterpart of the histological hobnailing. V600E BRAF mutation was observed on a matched cytohistological specimen. Conclusion: Further investigation is required to validate our diagnostic criteria, as the recognition of PTC with prominent hobnail features on FNA may prospectively enable its preoperative diagnosis, suggesting more aggressive neck surgery.
Classification of Thymoma by Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy According to WHO Classification: A Cytological Algorithm for Stepwise Analysis in the Classification of Thymoma
Authors: Ryu Han Suk , Koh Jae Soo , Park Sunhoo , Kim Min Suk , Cho Soo Youn , Lee Seung-Sook
Published: September 2012

Objective: To evaluate the cytological characteristics of each type of thymoma and introduce an algorithm to classify thymoma using fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed the cytological characteristics of 15 cases of thymoma with three thymic carcinoma (1 type A thymoma, 6 type AB thymomas and 8 type B thymomas), which were confirmed by histology. Three major and one minor cytomorphologic parameter were adopted for classification: (1) number of lymphocytes in the smear background; (2) nuclear characteristics of thymic cells; (3) lymphocytes and crush artifacts in thymic cell clusters, and (4) nuclear arrangement of thymic cells. Results: An abundant lymphocytic smear background indicated type B thymomas in 87.5% of cases, contrary to the few lymphocytes in the remaining thymic tumors excluding type B thymomas (90%). Thymic cells contained no vesicular nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli in 85.7% of type A thymoma and type AB thymoma cases. Type AB thymomas and type B thymomas showed more prominent crush artifacts in cell clusters than type A thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Thymic cells of type B thymomas and thymic carcinoma were arranged without whirling architecture in clusters. The proposed algorithm demonstrated a predictive rate of 88.8% for thymoma classification. Conclusions: The stepwise classification of thymoma with FNAB may be useful in patients for whom an invasive diagnosis approach is not feasible.
The Role of Intraoperative Cytology in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Ovarian Neoplasms
Authors: Shahid Mohammad , Zaheer Sufian , Mubeen Aysha , Rahman Khaliqur , Sherwani Rana K.
Published: September 2012

Objective: To determine the role of intraoperative cytology (IOC) in the diagnostic evaluation of ovarian neoplasms. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, India, over a time span of 18 months. Depending on the consistency of the lesion, touch, scrape or crush techniques were used to prepare cytological smears. Smears were fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin or Papanicolaou stains. Cytological results were compared with the histological diagnosis taking the latter as the gold standard. Results: Of 50 lesions studied by IOC, 25 lesions were labeled as benign, 24 lesions as malignant and 1 lesion was inconclusive. Final histological diagnoses labeled 25 lesions as benign and 25 lesions as malignant. Comparing the diagnosis of cytology smears with histology sections, 47 of 50 cases were concordant. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 95.8, 96.0 and 95.8%, respectively. Conclusions: IOC is a good complement to histopathology in the study of ovarian neoplasms, particularly in developing countries like ours, where the facility of frozen sections is often not available, since a rapid preliminary diagnosis may help in surgical management planning.
The Diagnostic Utility of D2-40, Calretinin, CK5/6, Desmin and MOC-31 in the Differentiation of Mesothelioma from Adenocarcinoma in Pleural Effusion Cytology
Authors: Hyun Teresa S. , Barnes Michael , Tabatabai Z. Laura
Published: September 2012

Objective: To evaluate the utility of the lymphatic endothelial marker D2-40, along with calretinin, CK5/6, desmin and MOC-31, in differentiating mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma in pleural effusion cytology. Study Design: Forty-five pleural effusion cases representing confirmed reactive effusions (13), mesotheliomas (11) and metastatic adenocarcinomas (21) were immunostained with antibodies against D2-40, calretinin, CK5/6, desmin and MOC-31. Results: D2-40 showed membranous staining in 82% of mesotheliomas and 77% of reactive effusions. Calretinin and CK5/6 were positive in 100 and 64% of mesotheliomas, and 92 and 31% of reactive effusions, respectively. All adenocarcinomas showed lack of staining with these markers. Desmin was negative in all malignant cases and positive in 85% of reactive effusions. All adenocarcinomas were positive for MOC-31 and negative for the remaining markers. Conclusion: Calretinin was the most sensitive in detecting mesothelial differentiation, followed by D2-40. Although useful, D2-40 necessitated cautious interpretation due to occasional focal/weak positivity, particularly in limited cellularity samples. The muscle marker desmin was useful in differentiating benign from malignant effusions but not in distinguishing mesotheliomas from adenocarcinomas. MOC-31 was both highly sensitive and specific for detecting adenocarcinoma and was useful as part of a panel of stains in differentiating cells of mesothelial origin from adenocarcinoma.
The Role of Urine Cytology for ‘Decoy Cells’ as a Screening Tool in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Ranzi Alana Durayski , Prolla João Carlos , Keitel Elizete , Brackmann Rosicler , Kist Roger , dos Santos Giovana Tavares , Bica Claudia Giuliano
Published: September 2012

Objective: To determine the role of urine cytology for ‘decoy cells’ as a screening tool for polyomavirus type BK (BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients. Study Design: This was a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing renal transplantation between 2006 and 2010. Results: A total of 442 patients underwent urine cytology for decoy cells, 27.8% underwent 1 examination only and 72.2% more than one. Of the 1,713 examinations reviewed, 426 (24.9%) were positive and 785 (45.8%) were negative for ‘decoy’ cells, 380 (22.2%) showed degenerated tubular cells and 122 (7.1%) were unsatisfactory for analysis. Urine cytology was found to have a specificity of 68.5%, a sensitivity of 84.6%, a positive predictive value of 21.2%, a negative predictive value of 97.8% and an overall accuracy of 69.9%. The incidence of polyomavirus nephropathy among the patients investigated was 11.8%. Of the 442 patients, 32 (7.2%) had graft loss, which was attributed to BKV nephropathy in 2 (6.2% of the 32). Conclusions: Urine cytology is an effective screening method for monitoring renal transplant patients, with high sensitivity and a high negative predictive value, and can therefore be used routinely in the follow-up of renal transplant patients.
Distinguishing Urothelial Carcinoma in the Upper Urinary Tract from Benign Diseases with Hematuria Using FISH
Authors: Wang Jiandong , Wu Jinrong , Peng Libo , Tu Pin , Li Wanchun , Liu Leilei , Cheng Wen , Wang Xuan , Zhou Shuigen , Shi Shanshan , Ma Henghui , Lu Guangming , Zhou Xiaojun
Published: September 2012

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical utility of a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay as a non-invasive molecular test to distinguish urothelial carcinoma (UC) in the upper urinary tract (UUT) from benign lesions presenting with hematuria. Study Design: The chromosomal abnormalities of chromosomes 3, 7, 17 and 9 (p16) in hematuria specimens from 34 patients with UUT-UC and 33 patients with benign disorders were detected using a set of fluorescently labeled DNA probes. The abnormalities of the chromosomes were determined and analyzed between UUT-UC and benign disorders. Results: Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 25 of 34 (73.5%) patients with UUT-UC and in 2 of 33 (6.1%) patients with benign disorders (p < 0.001). Conclusions: FISH of chromosomes 3, 7, 9 and 17 performed on exfoliated cells from voided urine specimens may serve as a non-invasive tool to distinguish UUT-UC from benign disorders presenting with hematuria.
A Case of Fatal Fulminant Myocarditis Presenting as an Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Persistent Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia Associated with Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in a Previously Healthy Pregnant Woman
Authors: Ona Mel A. , Bashari Daniel R. , Tharayil Zubin , Charlot Aglae , Hoskins Iffath , Timoney Michael , Usmani Shakeel , Royzman Roman
Published: September 2012

Several studies have reported influenza A (H1N1) virus as a cause of fulminant myocarditis. We report the first fatal case of fulminant myocarditis presenting as an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and ventricular tachyarrhythmia associated with influenza A (H1N1) in a previously healthy pregnant woman. A 38-year-old Asian woman, gravida 3, para 1-0-1-1, presented with flu-like symptoms. Initially, she developed wide-complex tachycardia requiring several defibrillations and was later intubated. Electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation. Coronary angiogram was negative and a pulmonary angiogram ruled out pulmonary embolism. Fetal compromise was noted on the monitor, and the patient underwent an emergent cesarean section. She subsequently expired. Autopsy confirmed severe myocarditis. Further testing confirmed influenza A (H1N1) virus. This case of a rare, yet lethal, complication of H1N1 infection underscores the importance of increased awareness among health care professionals to provide pregnant women with vaccination and prompt treatment.
Neurogenesis and Neuronal Migration in the Forebrain of the TorsinA Knockout Mouse Embryo
Authors: McCarthy Deirdre M. , Gioioso Valeria , Zhang Xuan , Sharma Nutan , Bhide Pradeep G.
Published: September 2012

Early-onset generalized torsion dystonia, also known as DYT1 dystonia, is a childhood onset heritable neurological movement disorder involving painful, involuntary muscle contractions, sustained abnormal postures, and repetitive movements. It is caused by a GAG deletion in the Tor1A gene located on chromosome 9. TorsinA, the product of the Tor1A gene, is expressed throughout the brain beginning early in embryonic development. It plays a role in the regulation of nuclear envelope-cytoskeletal interactions, and presumably nuclear translocation. Since nuclear translocation, powered by cytoskeletal traction, is critical for cell proliferation and migration, we examined whether neurogenesis and neuronal migration are affected in Tor1A–/– mouse brain. Our data show that interkinetic nuclear migration and the pattern of migration of newly generated neurons are impaired in the dorsal forebrain of the Tor1A–/– embryo. However, neurogenesis is not altered significantly. The rate of migration of cells from explants of the medial ganglionic eminence is also impaired in the Tor1A–/– embryo. Thus, loss of torsinA results in subtle but significant alterations in cell proliferation and migration in the embryonic forebrain. These subtle developmental changes are consistent with a lack of significant changes in neuronal numbers, neuronal positioning or size of brain regions in DYT1 dystonia patients.
Care of the Patient after Renal Allograft Failure: Managing the Present and Planning for the Future
Authors: Fuquay Richard , Teitelbaum Isaac
Published: September 2012

The number of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing kidney transplantation – both cadaveric and living-donor – continues to rise. With long-term graft survival relatively fixed, this trend means that increasing numbers of patients are returning to dialysis after graft loss. Most will never be retransplanted, which introduces a host of clinical questions regarding optimal management of this unique patient population. In this paper, we explore data that informs astute care of the patient requiring dialysis after graft loss. We address new data about the increased clinical risk and the optimal dialysis modality in renal allograft loss, explore new approaches to immunosuppression and transfusion management, and examine the risks and benefits of allograft nephrectomy and timing thereof. While there are no randomized clinical trials in this field, rapidly evolving data will aid the clinician whose practice includes patients who have been transplanted and are returning to dialysis.
Evaluation of a Bayesian Model Integration-Based Method for Censored Data
Authors: Hou Liping , Wang Kai , Bartlett Christopher W.
Published: September 2012

Objective: Non-random missing data can adversely affect family-based linkage detection through loss of power and possible introduction of bias depending on how censoring is modeled. We examined the statistical properties of a previously proposed quantitative trait threshold (QTT) model developed for when censored data can be reasonably inferred to be beyond an unknown threshold. Methods: The QTT model is a Bayesian model integration approach implemented in the PPL framework that requires neither specification of the threshold nor imputation of the missing data. This model was evaluated under a range of simulated data sets and compared to other methods with missing data imputed. Results: Across the simulated conditions, the addition of a threshold parameter did not change the PPL’s properties relative to quantitative trait analysis on non-censored data except for a slight reduction in the average PPL as a reflection of the lowered information content due to censoring. This remained the case for non-normally distributed data and extreme sampling of pedigrees. Conclusions: Overall, the QTT model showed the smallest loss of linkage information relative to alternative approaches and therefore provides a unique analysis tool that obviates the need for ad hoc imputation of censored data in gene mapping studies.