bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BIPOLAR LINEAR ALGEBRA AND YINYANG-N-ELEMENT CELLULAR NETWORKS FOR EQUILIBRIUM-BASED BIOSYSTEM SIMULATION AND REGULATION
Authors: ZHANG WEN-RAN , ZHANG JANE H. , SHI YONG , CHEN SU-SHING
Published: December 2009

Bipolar linear algebra (BLA) and YinYang-N-Element bipolar cellular networks (BCNs) are presented for equilibrium-based biological simulation and regulation at the system, molecular, and genetic levels. Bipolar fusion, interaction, oscillation, and quantum entanglement with growing, aging, degenerating, equilibrium, and non-equilibrium properties are mathematically characterized; bipolar dynamic equations with metabolic nourishing and regulating relations are formulated; global and local equilibrium conditions are established and proved. Two families of YinYang-N-Element BCNs are compared and analyzed: one family has predefined nourishing and regulation cycles following the classical YinYang-5-Element protocol in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); another family has random connectivity and link weights. Applicability of the theory is illustrated in equilibrium and non-equilibrium simulation of bio-agent interaction and regulation. The significance of this work is two-fold: (1) BLA provides a unique and unifying mathematical foundation for bipolar fusion, interaction, and oscillation in biophysics and bioeconomics; (2) YinYang-N-Element BCNs provide a unique and unifying architecture for modeling equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes at the system, molecular, and genetic levels.
DYNAMICAL BEHAVIOR OF A HARVESTED PREY-PREDATOR MODEL WITH STAGE STRUCTURE AND DISCRETE TIME DELAY
Authors: LIU CHAO , ZHANG QINGLING , HUANG JAMES , TANG WANSHENG
Published: December 2009

A prey-predator model with stage structure for prey and selective harvest effort on predator is proposed, in which gestation delay is considered and taxation is used as a control instrument to protect the population from overexploitation. It is established that when the discrete time delay is zero, the model system is stable around the interior equilibrium and an optimal harvesting policy is discussed with the help of Pontryagin's maximum principle; On the other hand, stability switch of the model system due to the variation of discrete time delay is also studied, which reveals that the discrete time delay has a destabilizing effect. As the discrete time delay increases through a certain threshold, a phenomenon of Hopf bifurcation occurs and a limit cycle corresponding to the periodic solution of model system is also observed. Numerical simulations are carried out to show the consistency with theoretical analysis.
ON THE POSSIBILITY OF COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE INTERVENTION: THE POPULATION MEAN FOR BLOWFLIES MODELS CAN BE AN INCREASING FUNCTION OF THE DEATH RATE
Authors: TEISMANN HOLGER , KARSTEN RICHARD , HAMMOND REBECCA , HARDMAN JOHN , FRANKLIN JEFFREY
Published: December 2009

In this paper, the surprising observation is made that, in a single-species population, an increase in the death rate can in fact lead to an increase in mean population levels. Using a generalized blowflies model, this is shown — numerically as well as analytically — to be a consequence of both the delay and the nonlinearity in the model. Explicit criteria for the occurrence of the observed effects are derived from a Poincaré-Lindstedt expansion. The ramifications of the results for pest management are discussed.
BUILDING AND EVALUATING AN ANIMAL MODEL FOR SYNDROME IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE IN THE CONTEXT OF UNSTABLE ANGINA (MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA) BY SUPERVISED DATA MINING APPROACHES
Authors: GUO SHUZHEN , CHEN JIANXIN , ZHAO HUIHUI , WANG WEI , YI JIANQIANG , LIU LEI , QI QIGE , LIU RENQUAN , QIU QI , WANG YONG
Published: December 2009

Building an animal model for a disease is a better avenue to understand the inner mechanism of it. Traditional Chinese Medicine accumulated much practical experience and a large amount of literature to heal diseases during the past 3000 years. However, as there is no available animal model for TCM research because syndrome, the core of TCM theory, it is hard to be diagnosed from animals. In this paper, we present a novel strategy to build and evaluate an animal model for syndrome in TCM in the context of a disease. We first carried out a clinical epidemiology survey for a syndrome (Blood stasis syndrome, BSS) diagnosed by TCM experts in the context of a disease (Unstable angina, UA). Meanwhile, the blood samples of patients included in the survey were collected and measured as physical and chemical specifications by laboratory examinations. Alternatively, we used supervised data mining methods to build association between the specifications and the syndrome in the context of UA. The accuracy of classification was used to evaluate performance of the association built. Finally, we built an animal model for myocardial ischemia and validated the model by established diagnosis criterion of myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, the built association was used to evaluate whether an animal is with BSS. The results indicated that the strategy successfully evaluates and separates the animal model for syndrome in TCM from the counterpart for myocardial ischemia. The novel strategy presented in the paper provides a better insight to understand the nature of syndrome in TCM and pave a basis for personalized therapies of UA.
MAINTENANCE OF AGE-STRUCTURED POPULATIONS: OPTIMAL CONTROL, STATE CONSTRAINTS, AND BANG–BANG REGIME
Authors: HRITONENKO NATALI , YATSENKO YURI
Published: December 2009

The paper analyzes the optimal maintenance of a "fully manageable" biological population with no natural reproduction. Examples of such populations include dairy farms, horse breeding, gardening, and forestry. Mathematically, the problem leads to the nonlinear optimal control of a first-order partial differential equation with pointwise state constraints. A necessary extremum condition is proven using the abstract optimization theory in Banach spaces. It is shown that the optimal dynamics has a bang–bang structure with three jumps and involves buying new young individuals and selling the old ones when their anticipated future expenses exceed the profit.
DYNAMICS OF A STAGE-STRUCTURED PREDATOR-PREY MODEL CONCERNING IMPULSIVE CONTROL STRATEGY
Authors: DU YANKE , XU RUI , DUAN LIJIANG
Published: December 2009

A stage-structured predator-prey model concerning impulsive control strategy is proposed and investigated. The global attractiveness of the pest-eradication periodic solution is discussed, and sufficient conditions are obtained for the permanence of the system. Further, numerical simulations show that there is a characteristic sequence of bifurcations leading to a chaotic dynamics, which implies that the system with constant periodic impulsive perturbations admits rich and complex dynamics.
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE STOCHASTIC GATING OF THE IP3R CALCIUM RELEASE CHANNEL: A NUMERICAL SIMULATION STUDY
Authors: HAERI H. H. , HASHEMIANZADEH S. M. , MONAJJEMI M.
Published: December 2009

The importance of the kinetic study of endoplasmatic calcium ion channels in different intracellular processes is known today. Although there are few experimental reports on the temperature dependency of IP3R channel functions, we did not find any detailed theoretical study on this subject. For this purpose, we used a modified Gillespie algorithm to investigate the effect of temperature on the conditions affecting the open state of a single subunit of the De Young-Keizer (DYK) model. Population of the states was considered as the subject of fluctuation. Key features of the channel, such as bell-shaped dependency of open probability to the Calcium concentrations were modeled at different temperatures, too. The range of temperature variation was selected by regarding the experimental data on IP3R channel.

By increasing the temperature, we had the very slow time domains (t: 10-1s ) and the much slower time domains (t: 100s ) in addition to other time domains, which could be seen as new time categories in InsP3R studies, and so the results were reported in these time domains, as well.

We found out that increase in temperature declined the open probability in some concentrations of Ca2+and/or IP3. Also, by introducing the intensity graphs, broadening of the range of fluctuations and lowering of the order of frequency of fluctuations for the population of each state were observed due to the temperature increments.

The temperature effects on the activation and inactivation states of the channel were studied in the framework of the reaction paths. We did not find similar paths at different time domains; several paths observed which were totally different all together. These time-dependent reaction paths are also depending on the Ca2+and/or the IP3 concentrations. So, one can predict the most probable reaction paths at different concentrations and temperatures and also determine which kind of the path it is; a path for closing the channel or a path to open it.

Finally, the temperature effects on the calcium inhibited states were studied. We found out that calcium ion inhibitions were shifted to lower calcium concentration by increasing the temperature. The results suggests that inhibiting role of calcium is not only [ Ca2+] and/or [IP3] dependent, but also temperature dependent.
A NEUROECONOMIC MODELING OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)
Authors: FREITAS DA ROCHA ARMANDO , BURATTINI MARCELO NASCIMENTO , ROCHA FÁBIO THEOTO , MASSAD EDUARDO
Published: December 2009

In this paper we present a new neuroeconomics model for decision-making applied to the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The model is based on the hypothesis that decision-making is dependent on the evaluation of expected rewards and risks assessed simultaneously in two decision spaces: the personal (PDS) and the interpersonal emotional spaces (IDS). Motivation to act is triggered by necessities identified in PDS or IDS. The adequacy of an action in fulfilling a given necessity is assumed to be dependent on the expected reward and risk evaluated in the decision spaces. Conflict generated by expected reward and risk influences the easiness (cognitive effort) and the future perspective of the decision-making. Finally, the willingness (not) to act is proposed to be a function of the expected reward (or risk), adequacy, easiness and future perspective. The two most frequent clinical forms are ADHD hyperactive(AD/HDhyp) and ADHD inattentive(AD/HDdin). AD/HDhyp behavior is hypothesized to be a consequence of experiencing high rewarding expectancies for short periods of time, low risk evaluation, and short future perspective for decision-making. AD/HDin is hypothesized to be a consequence of experiencing high rewarding expectancies for long periods of time, low risk evaluation, and long future perspective for decision-making.
IMMUNE LEVEL APPROACH FOR MULTIPLE STRAIN PATHOGENS
Authors: NUÑO M. , MARTCHEVA M. , CASTILLO-CHAVEZ C.
Published: December 2009

We introduce a general framework to study the dynamics of multiple strain pathogens that can impart cross–immunity through a variety of structures. We propose two types of immunity and apply them to assess the dynamics of two competing strains. We illustrate this framework using two "visions": the next–to–kin protection (NTKP) approach which assumes that strains confer cross–immunity to next in order (neighboring) strains, while providing no protection against all other strains; and the differential protection (DP) approach assumes that individuals randomly gain partial (may be reinfected) and full cross-immunity following an infection with respective probabilities. We show that the risk of infection with a particular strain is significantly higher in the DP model that the NKTP. Moreover, we demonstrate that weaker cross-immunity structures in these models are more likely to lead to instability (sustained oscillations) in the strain coexistence mode. That is, periodic oscillations are sustained in the two-strain DP model for intermediate to weak levels of cross-immunity, while the NTKP model requires at least three strains to support these unstable dynamics.
THE USE OF NONPARAMETRIC METHODS OF STATIONARY POINT PROCESSES IN THE STUDY OF COMPLEX INTERACTIONS IN THE NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM
Authors: KARAVASILIS G. J. , RIGAS A. G.
Published: December 2009

In this paper we study the complex interactions involved in the incoming stimulus, from a gamma (γ) and/or an alpha (α) motoneuron, and the outgoing response from the muscle spindle transmitted by the Ia sensory afferent neuron to the spinal cord. The most interesting case is the γ and α coactivation to the function of the muscle spindle, while the effect from a single (γ or α) motoneuron is also presented as a comparison. The mathematical background of this analysis is based on the theory of stationary point processes. A kernel type method of estimating second- and third-order conditional densities is used. Under certain conditions the asymptotic distributions of these estimates are Normal and the construction of 95% approximate confidence intervals is feasible. The application of these asymptotic results to the system of the muscle spindle enables us to detect and interpret its excitatory and/or inhibitory behavior.
FINITE ELEMENT ESTIMATION OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL UNSTEADY STATE HEAT REGULATION IN HUMAN HEAD EXPOSED TO COLD ENVIRONMENT
Authors: KHANDAY M. A. , SAXENA V. P.
Published: December 2009

The thermal equilibrium in human head is more stable as compared to other body organs. The thermoregulatory phenomenon is mainly dependent on brain temperature. It is therefore desirable to develop a numerical model to monitor thermal changes in the head. A theoretical model has been developed by using finite element approach for the estimation of temperature variations in human brain and overlying layers at cold environment. The effect of atmospheric temperature has been analyzed at micro level for rapid change in outer layers of the head. The estimation is based on bio-heat equation associated with biophysical and biochemical reactions taking place.
OCEAN TURBINES — A RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT
Authors: SLOAN JOHN C. , KHOSHGOFTAAR TAGHI M. , BEAUJEAN PIERRE-PHILIPPE , DRISCOLL FREDERICK
Published: December 2009

This paper identifies factors that impact reliability and safety of ocean turbines. We describe how physical and environmental factors will impact the design of its machine condition monitoring (MCM) system. Environmental factors like fouling, corrosion, and inaccessibility of equipment sets this MCM problem apart from those encountered by wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, or even ship hulls and propellers. Fouling constitutes the primary and most persistent source of failure. In addition to compromising turbine efficiency and reliability, fouling reduces sensor data quality — masking faults that will ultimately lead to failure. Unmitigated fouling triggers a form of biological succession known as flocculation that may eventually attract threatened species of tortoises and cetaceans to this rotating machinery. We review and suggest refinements to a class of non-toxic biologically-inspired anti-fouling techniques known as engineered topographies. Advances in this area will enable turbines to operate in portions of the water column that maximize momentum flux while minimizing retrieval cost.
GENERALIZED MARKOVIAN SOFTWARE RELIABILITY MODELING AND ITS ALTERNATIVE CALCULATION
Authors: TOKUNO KOICHI , KODERA TAKAHIRO , YAMADA SHIGERU
Published: December 2009

In this paper, we attempt generalization of the Markovian software reliability model (MSRM). Defining the stochastic process whose state space is the cumulative number of corrected faults, we show the theoretical framework of the MSRM by assuming that the time interval between software failures is distributed generally. We also consider the imperfect debugging environment where the debugging activities are uncertain. Several software reliability assessment measures are expressed with the distribution of the transition time between arbitrary two states. Furthermore, we propose the approximation method for practical computation of the quantitative measures. Finally, we investigate the validity of our proposed approximation method.
TOWARDS AGENT-BASED MODELING AND VERIFICATION OF COLLABORATIVE BUSINESS PROCESSES: AN APPROACH CENTERED ON INTERACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS
Authors: STUIT MARCO , SZIRBIK NICK B.
Published: December 2009

This paper presents the process-oriented aspects of a formal and visual agent-based business process modeling language. The language is of use for (networks of) organizations that elect or envisage multi-agent systems for the support of collaborative business processes. The paper argues that the design of a collaborative business process should start with a proper understanding of the work practice of the agents in the business domain under consideration. The language introduces a novel diagram to represent the wide range of (cross-enterprise) business interactions as a hierarchy of role-based interactions (including their ordering relations) in a tree structure. The behaviors owned by the agents playing the roles in the tree are specified in separate process diagrams. A collaborative business process studied in the context of a case study at a Dutch gas transport company is used to exemplify the modeling approach. Explicit (agent-based) process models can and should be verified using formal methods. In the business process community, design-time verification of a process design is considered vital in order to ensure the correctness and termination of a collaborative business process. The proposed modeling approach is enhanced with a design-time verification method. The direction taken in this research is to combine the interaction tree and the associated agent behaviors into a verifiable hierarchical colored Petri net in order to take advantage of its well-defined (execution) semantics and proven (computerized) verification techniques. The verification method presented in this paper consists of three steps: (1) the translation of the agent-based process design to a hierarchical colored Petri net, (2) the identification of process design errors, and (3) the correction and rollback of process design errors to the agent-based model. The translation technique has been implemented in a software tool that outputs the hierarchical colored Petri net in a format that can be loaded in the widely used CPN Tools software package. Verification results are discussed for the case study model.
ALGEBRAIC ENTROPY OF ENDOMORPHISMS OVER LOCAL ONE-DIMENSIONAL DOMAINS
Authors: ZANARDO PAOLO
Published: December 2009

Let R be a local one-dimensional integral domain, with maximal ideal 𝔐 and field of fractions Q. Here, a local ring is not necessarily Noetherian. We consider the algebraic entropy entg, defined using the invariant gen, where, for M a finitely generated R-module, gen (M) is its minimal number of generators. We relate some natural properties of R with the algebraic entropies entg(ϕ) of the elements ϕ ∈ Q, regarded as endomorphisms in EndR(Q). Specifically, let R be dominated by an Archimedean valuation domain V, with maximal ideal P. We examine the uniqueness of V, the transcendency of the residue field extension V/P over R/𝔐, and the condition for R to be a pseudo-valuation domain. We get mutual information between these properties and the behavior of entg, focusing on the conditions entg(ϕ) = 0 for every ϕ ∈ Q, entg(ψ) = ∞ for some ψ ∈ Q, and entg(ϕ) < ∞ for every ϕ ∈ Q.
FINITELY GENERATED LIMIT VARIETIES OF APERIODIC MONOIDS WITH CENTRAL IDEMPOTENTS
Authors: LEE EDMOND W. H.
Published: December 2009

A non-finitely based variety of algebras is said to be a limit variety if all its proper subvarieties are finitely based. Recently, Marcel Jackson published two examples of finitely generated limit varieties of aperiodic monoids with central idempotents and questioned whether or not they are unique. The present article answers this question affirmatively.
THE RANGE OF AN ORTHOMORPHISM
Authors: TOUMI MOHAMED ALI , TOUMI NEDRA
Published: December 2009

Let A be a uniformly complete vector lattice, let H be the collection of all order bounded linear mappings T : A → ℝ such that |T(x)| = |T(|x|)| for all x ∈ A and let σ(A, H) the weak topology on A. If (A, σ(A, H)) is a complete topological vector space then the range of any orthomorphism π: A → A is an order ideal of A.
身份认同的转移：
Authors: 黄坚立
Published: December 2009

李光前是1920年代至1960年代亚洲移民世界中最具影响力的华人企业家之一。 李的一生经历了许多重要的历史时期，作为一个公众人物，其个人形象也总是随着时空的变化而不断地被设计和塑造着。本文从对一些关于李光前的中文文献进行批判性分析入手，进而考察在权力关系的变迁和身份认同的转移中，建构李光前个人形象的三种主要趋向：杰出的南洋资本家和慈善家；爱国华侨的代表；新加坡新历史叙述中的本土“先贤”。
Signaling and biological effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow
Authors: Sanz C. , Vázquez P. , Blázquez C. , Barrio P. A. , Alvarez M. Del M. , Blázquez E.
Published: December 2009

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) functions as an incretin hormone with antidiabetogenic properties. However, the role of GLP-1 in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), if any, remains unknown. The effects of GLP-1 on hMSCs were tested with regard to cell proliferation, cytoprotection, and cell differentiation into adipocytes. The signaling pathways involved in these processes were also analyzed. Cells were characterized with biochemical and morphological approaches before and after being induced to differentiate into adipocytes. PCNA protein levels were used as a proliferation index, whereas cell apoptosis was studied by deprivation of fetal bovine serum. Isolated hMSCs expressed stem cell markers as well as mRNA and GLP-1 receptor protein. GLP-1 increased the proliferation of hMSCs, which decreased when they were induced to differentiate into adipocytes. This process produced biochemical and morphological changes in cells expressing PPARγ, C/EBPβ, AP2, and LPL in a time-dependent pattern. Notably, GLP-1 significantly reduced the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and LPL. These effects were exerted at least through the MEK and PKC signaling pathways. In addition, GLP-1 significantly reduced cell apoptosis. Our data indicate that, in hMSCs, GLP-1 promotes cellular proliferation and cytoprotection and prevents cell differentiation into adipocytes. These latter findings underscore the potential therapeutic role of GLP-1 in preventing the adipocyte hyperplasia associated with obesity and, additionally, could bolster the maintenance of hMSC stores by promoting the proliferation and cytoprotection of undifferentiated hMSC.
Multiple pathways ensure retinoid delivery to milk: studies in genetically modified mice
Authors: O'Byrne Sheila M. , Kako Yuko , Deckelbaum Richard J. , Hansen Inge H. , Palczewski Krzysztof , Goldberg Ira J. , Blaner William S.
Published: December 2009

Retinoids are absolutely required for normal growth and development during the postnatal period. We studied the delivery of retinoids to milk, availing of mouse models modified for proteins thought to be essential for this process. Milk retinyl esters were markedly altered in mice lacking the enzyme lecithin:retinol acyltransferase ( Lrat−/−), indicating that this enzyme is normally responsible for the majority of retinyl esters incorporated into milk and not an acyl-CoA dependent enzyme, as proposed in the literature. Unlike wild-type milk, much of the retinoid in Lrat−/−milk is unesterified retinol, not retinyl ester. The composition of the residual retinyl ester present in Lrat−/−milk was altered from predominantly retinyl palmitate and stearate to retinyl oleate and medium chain retinyl esters. This was accompanied by increased palmitate and decreased oleate in Lrat−/−milk triglycerides. In other studies, we investigated the role of retinol-binding protein in retinoid delivery for milk formation. We found that Rbp−/−mice maintain milk retinoid concentrations similar to those in matched wild-type mice. This appears to arise due to greater postprandial delivery of retinoid, a lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-dependent pathway. Importantly, LPL also acts to assure delivery of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) to milk. The fatty acid transporter CD36 also facilitated LCFA but not retinoid incorporation into milk. Our data show that compensatory pathways for the delivery of retinoids ensure their optimal delivery and that LRAT is the most important enzyme for milk retinyl ester formation.
Brain vasopressin V1 receptors contribute to enhanced cardiovascular responses to acute stress in chronically stressed rats and rats with myocardial infarcton
Authors: Cudnoch-Jedrzejewska Agnieszka , Szczepanska-Sadowska Ewa , Dobruch Jakub , Gomolka Ryszard , Puchalska Liana
Published: December 2009

The present study was designed to determine the role of central vasopressin 1 receptors (V1R) in the regulation of cardiovascular parameters in chronically stressed infarcted rats and sham-operated rats under resting conditions and during exposure to acute alarming stress. The experiments were performed on four groups of conscious sham-operated and four groups of infarcted rats subjected to intraventricular infusion of either vehicle or a V1R antagonist (V1RANT). Two groups of infarcted and two groups of sham-operated rats were subjected to mild chronic stressing. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) were determined under resting conditions and after exposure to acute stress (air jet). During vehicle infusion, MABP and HR increases in response to acute stress in the infarcted rats not subjected to chronic stress, and in the infarcted and sham-operated chronically stressed rats, were significantly greater than in the sham-operated rats not exposed to chronic stress. However, MABP and HR responses to acute stress in the chronically stressed infarcted rats and chronically stressed sham-operated rats did not differ. V1RANT abolished differences in cardiovascular responses to acute stress between the experimental groups. Resting cardiovascular parameters were not affected by any of the experimental treatments. It is concluded that chronic stressing enhances the pressor and tachycardic responses to acute stress in the sham-operated rats but does not further intensify these responses in infarcted rats.The results provide evidence that central V1Rs are involved in potentiation of cardiovascular responses to acute stress in chronically stressed rats, infarcted rats, and chronically stressed infarcted rats.
Plantar Cutaneous Afferents Normalize the Reflex Modulation Patterns During Stepping in Chronic Human Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Knikou Maria
Published: December 2009

Plantar cutaneous afferent transmission is critical for recovery of locomotion in spinalized animals, whereas a phase-dependent reflex modulation is apparent during fictive or real locomotion. In nine people with a chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) the effects of foot sole stimulation on the soleus H-reflex and tibialis anterior (TA) flexion reflex modulation patterns during assisted stepping were established on different days. The soleus H-reflex was elicited by posterior tibial nerve stimulation followed by a supramaximal stimulus 100 ms after the test H-reflex to control for movement of recording electrodes. The flexion reflex was evoked by sural nerve stimulation with a 30-ms pulse train, recorded from the ipsilateral TA muscle, and elicited at 1.2- to twofold the reflex threshold. During assisted stepping, spinal reflexes were conditioned by percutaneous stimulation of the ipsilateral metatarsals at threefold perceptual threshold with a 20-ms pulse train delivered at 9- to 11-ms conditioning-test intervals. Stimuli were randomly dispersed across the step cycle, which was divided into 16 equal bins. The conditioned soleus H-reflex was significantly facilitated at midstance and depressed during midswing when compared with the unconditioned soleus H-reflex recorded during stepping. Foot sole stimulation induced a significant facilitation of the long-latency TA flexion reflex before, during, and after stance-to-swing transition when compared with the unconditioned long-latency TA flexion reflex during stepping. This study provides evidence that plantar cutaneous afferents remarkably influence the soleus H-reflex and TA flexion reflex modulation patterns during stepping and support that actions of plantar cutaneous afferents onto spinal interneuronal circuits engaged in locomotion are manifested in a phase-dependent manner in chronic SCI subjects.
Cloning, Identification, and Characterization of the rpoS‐Like Sigma Factor rpoX from Vibrio alginolyticus
Authors: Zhao Jing-jing , Chen Chang , Zhang Lv-ping , Hu Chao-qun
Published: December 2009

Vibrio alginolyticus ZJ‐51 displays phase variation between opaque/rugose colonies (Op) and translucent/smooth colonies (Tr). These colony variants show great differences in biofilm formation and motility. In this study, a gene encoding for an rpoS‐like sigma factor, rpoX, has been cloned and characterized. The absence of rpoX did not affect colony switching rate but did decrease biofilm formation in both the Op and the Tr variants. When challenged with hydrogen peroxide, the Δ rpoX in the Op background showed a slightly higher survival rate compared with the wild type, whereas survival was decreased in the Tr background. Deletion of rpoX in the Tr background resulted in a higher ability to resist ethanol challenges and to survive hyperosmolarity challenges, and in the Op background the opposite phenotype was observed. This indicates that the rpoX gene is involved in biofilm formation and stress response but the effects are controlled by colony phase variation in V. alginolyticus.
The Use of N-Terminal-Pro-BNP in Preterm Infants
Authors: EL-Khuffash Afif , Molloy Eleanor
Published: December 2009

The use of natriuretic peptides in the neonatal population is emerging. B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and N-terminal-Pro-BNP (NTpBNP) are used in the adult population to assess myocardial function and volume loading. Their role in prognosis following cardiac surgery has also been identified. In preterm infants NTpBNP is becoming increasingly recognised as a potential screening tool for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and a marker for myocardial performance. In addition, NTpBNP may provide prognostic information in preterm infants and term infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). In this paper, the role of NTpBNP in the preterm population will be discussed.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi May Mitigate the Influence of a Joint Rise of Temperature and AtmosphericCO2on Soil Respiration in Grasslands
Authors: Vicca S. , Zavalloni C. , Fu Y. S. H. , Voets L. , Dupré de Boulois Hervé , Declerck S. , Ceulemans R. , Nijs I. , Janssens I. A.
Published: December 2009

We investigated the effects of mycorrhizal colonization and future climate on roots and soil respiration (Rsoil) in model grassland ecosystems. We exposed artificial grassland communities on pasteurized soil (no living arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present) and on pasteurized soil subsequently inoculated with AMF to ambient conditions and to a combination of elevatedCO2and temperature (future climate scenario). After one growing season, the inoculated soil revealed a positive climate effect on AMF root colonization and this elicited a significant AMF x climate scenario interaction on root biomass. Whereas the future climate scenario tended to increase root biomass in the noninoculated soil, the inoculated soil revealed a 30% reduction of root biomass under warming at elevatedCO2(albeit not significant). This resulted in a diminished response ofRsoilto simulated climatic change, suggesting that AMF may contribute to an attenuated stimulation ofRsoilin a warmer, highCO2world.
Porosity of Convex Nowhere Dense Subsets of Normed Linear Spaces
Authors: Strobin Filip
Published: December 2009

This paper is devoted to the following question: how to characterize convex nowhere dense subsets of normed linear spaces in terms of porosity? The motivation for this study originates from papers of V. Olevskii and L. Zajíček, where it is shown that convex nowhere dense subsets of normed linear spaces are porous in some strong senses.
Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases: Old and New Approaches
Authors: Ndao Momar
Published: December 2009

Methods for the diagnosis of infectious diseases have stagnated in the last 20–30 years. Few major advances in clinical diagnostic testing have been made since the introduction of PCR, although new technologies are being investigated. Many tests that form the backbone of the “modern” microbiology laboratory are based on very old and labour-intensive technologies such as microscopy for malaria. Pressing needs include more rapid tests without sacrificing sensitivity, value-added tests, and point-of-care tests for both high- and low-resource settings. In recent years, research has been focused on alternative methods to improve the diagnosis of parasitic diseases. These include immunoassays, molecular-based approaches, and proteomics using mass spectrometry platforms technology. This review summarizes the progress in new approaches in parasite diagnosis and discusses some of the merits and disadvantages of these tests.
Impulsive Exponential Stabilization of Functional Differential Systems with Infinite Delay
Authors: Sun Xiaoli , Li Xiaodi
Published: December 2009

By using the Razumikhin technique and Lyapunov functions, we investigated the impulsive exponential stabilization of functional differential systems with infinite delay. A new result on the exponential stabilization by impulses is gained. Our result shows that impulses can make unstable systems stable. A numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility of the result.
MMP9 but Not EGFR, MET, ERCC1, P16, and P-53 Is Associated with Response to Concomitant Radiotherapy, Cetuximab, and Weekly Cisplatin in Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Fountzilas George , Kalogera-Fountzila Anna , Lambaki Sophia , Wirtz Ralph M. , Nikolaou Angelos , Karayannopoulou Georgia , Bobos Mattheos , Kotoula Vassiliki , Murray Samuel , Lambropoulos Alexandros , Aravantinos Gerasimos , Markou Konstantinos , Athanassiou Eleni , Misailidou Despina , Kalogeras Konstantine T. , Skarlos Demosthenis
Published: December 2009

Concomitant administration of radiotherapy with cisplatin or radiotherapy with cetuximab appear to be the treatment of choice for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. In the present retrospective analysis, we investigated the predictive role of several biomarkers in an unselected cohort of patients treated with concomitant radiotherapy, weekly cisplatin, and cetuximab (CCRT). We identified 37 patients treated with this approach, of which 13 (35%) achieved a complete response and 10 (27%) achieved a partial response. Severe side effects were mainly leucopenia, dysphagia, rash, and anemia. Tumor EGFR, MET, ERCC1, and p-53 protein and/or gene expression were not associated with treatment response. In contrast, high MMP9 mRNA expression was found to be significantly associated with objective response. In conclusion, CCRT is feasible and active. MMP9 was the only biomarker tested that appears to be of predictive value in cetuximab treated patients. However, this is a hypothesis generating study and the results should not be viewed as definitive evidence until they are validated in a larger cohort.
Outcomes of First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma of Uterine and Non-Uterine Origin
Authors: Oosten A. W. , Seynaeve C. , Schmitz P. I. M. , den Bakker M. A. , Verweij J. , Sleijfer S.
Published: December 2009

Although leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) form the largest subgroup of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), the efficacy of chemotherapy in this group is largely unclear, partly because older studies are contaminated with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). In this retrospective study we investigated the outcome of first line chemotherapy in 65 patients with unresectable or metastatic LMS. The overall response rate (ORR) was 18%; and the median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.8 and 9.7 months respectively. No statistically significant differences in outcomes for uterine and non-uterine LMS were found. In non-uterine LMS, however, the PFS and OS seemed to be longer for females than for males, potentially negatively affecting outcomes in this group. If our observations are confirmed in other series, they would suggest that studies performed in STS patients should not only stratify for histological subtype but also for uterine versus non-uterine LMS and for gender.
Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma: An Exceptional Localisation of a Not Unfrequent Bone Tumor
Authors: Moerman Mieke , Kreps Bernard , Forsyth Ramses
Published: December 2009

After osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary bone tumor accounting for 26% of all malignancies. In the laryngeal region however, chondrosarcomas are rather rare. Only 300 cases are reported in literature. Considering laryngeal chondrosarcoma, about 75% occur in the cricoid cartilage, whereas 20% occur in the thyroid cartilage. In this paper we report a case of thyroidal chondrosarcoma, and based on a thorough literature search we suggest some practical guidelines concerning diagnosis and therapy.
The Impact of Multiple Malignancies on Patients with Bladder Carcinoma: A Population-Based Study Using the SEER Database
Authors: Ehrlich Joshua R. , Schwartz Michael J. , Ng Casey K. , Kauffman Eric C. , Scherr Douglas S.
Published: December 2009

Purpose. To date, no study has examined a population-based registry to determine the impact of multiple malignancies on survival of bladder cancer patients. Our experience suggests that bladder cancer patients with multiple malignancies may have relatively positive outcomes.Materials & Methods. We utilized data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEERs) database to examine survival between patients with only bladder cancer (BO) and with bladder cancer and additional cancer(s) antecedent (AB), subsequent (BS), or antecedent and subsequent to bladder cancer (ABS).Results. Analyses demonstrated diminished survival among AB and ABS cohorts. However, when cohorts were substratified by stage, patients in the high-stage BS cohort appeared to have a survival advantage over high-stage BO patients.Conclusions. Bladder cancer patients with multiple malignancies have diminished survival. The survival advantage of high-stage BS patients is likely a statistical phenomenon. Such findings are important to shape future research and to improve our understanding of patients with multiple malignancies.
Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum in Pregnancy: A Case Report
Authors: Sathiyathasan S. , Jeyanthan K. , Furtado G. , Hamid R.
Published: December 2009

Case Report. A 37 years old patient at 40 weeks gestation presented with acute severe hypoxia with a seizure followed by fetal bradycardia. Caesarean section was performed under GA and she was intubated and ventilated. History revealed longstanding right pleural endometriosis with multiple pneumothoraces and hydrothoraces. A CT chest showed extensive bilateral pnenumothoraces. Her clinical condition improved with a left-sided chest drain.Discussion. Severe hypoxia and seizures in a patient with previous history of pnenumothorax are highly suggestive of tension pneumothorax. Radiological investigations are vital for diagnosis. The traditional treatment approach to recurrent pneumothorax has been thorocotomy with bleb or bulla resection and pleurodeisis. The advantages of thorocoscopic surgical treatment over thorocotomy are decreased time of exposure to anaesthetic drugs, rapid lung expansion, decreased post operative pain, and a potentially shorter post operative recovery. In any future pregnancy due to the high risk of recurrence of pneumothorax Contemporary obstetric management should determine the method of delivery and continuous lumbar/epidural anesthesia should be used if at all feasible. Preconceptual counseling about this risk is vital, and women must be advised about potential serious adverse outcomes.
Investigating Topological and Functional Features of Multimodular Proteins
Authors: Lubovac Zelmina
Published: December 2009

To generate functional modules as functionally and structurally cohesive formations in protein interaction networks (PINs) constitutes an important step towards understanding how modules communicate on a higher level of the PIN organisation that underlies cell functionality. However, we need to understand how individual modules communicate and are organized into the higher‐order structure(s) of the PIN organization that underlies cell functionality. In an attempt to contribute to this understanding, we make an assumption that the proteins reappearing in several modules, termed here as multimodular proteins (MMPs), may be useful in building higher‐order structure(s) as they may constitute communication points between different modules. In this paper, we investigate common properties shared by these proteins and compare them with the properties of so‐called single‐modular proteins (SMPs) by analyzing three aspects: functional aspect, that is, annotation of the proteins, topological aspect that is betweenness centrality of the proteins, and lethality. Furthermore, we investigate the interconnectivity role of some proteins that are identified as functionally and topologically important.
Some Monotonicity Results for the Ratio of Two‐Parameter Symmetric Homogeneous Functions
Authors: Yang Zhen-Hang
Published: December 2009

Applying well properties of homogeneous functions,
some monotonicity results for the ratio of two‐parameter symmetric homogeneous functions are presented, which give an easier access to find two‐parameter symmetric homogeneous means having ratio simple monotonicity properties proposed by L. Losonczi. As an application, a chain of inequalities of ratio of bivariate means is established.
A Quantization Procedure of Fields Based on Geometric Langlands Correspondence
Authors: Ngoc Diep Do
Published: December 2009

We expose a new procedure of quantization of fields, based on the Geometric Langlands Correspondence. Starting from fields in the target space, we first reduce them to the case of fields on one‐complex‐variable target space, at the same time increasing the possible symmetry group  LG. Use the sigma model and momentum maps, we reduce the problem to a problem of quantization of trivial vector bundles with connection over the space dual to the Lie algebra of the symmetry group  LG. After that we quantize the vector bundles with connection over the coadjoint orbits of the symmetry group  LG. Use the electric‐magnetic duality to pass to the Langlands dual Lie group G. Therefore, we have some affine Kac‐Moody loop algebra of meromorphic functions with values in Lie algebra 𝔤 = Lie(G). Use the construction of Fock space reprsentations to have representations of such affine loop algebra. And finally, we have the automorphic
representations of the corresponding Langlands‐dual Lie groups G.
Model-Based Identification of the Base of the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone in Multichannel Reflection Seismic Data, Offshore Costa Rica
Authors: Gehrmann Romina , Müller Christian , Schikowsky Peter , Henke Thomas , Schnabel Michael , Bönnemann Christian
Published: December 2009

Along the pacific margin offshore Costa Rica the Bottom Simulating Reflector (BSR) shows a patchy occurrence in 2-D seismic reflection profiles. The reason for this can be either lack of free gas beneath parts of the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) or poor seismic imaging. We compare far to near offset stacked common midpoint sections to reduce imaging ambiguity utilizing the amplitude variation with offset effect and thus successfully distinguish BSRs from regular sediment reflections. In combination with 1-D modeling of the base of the GHSZ we disqualify or qualify reflections in the predicted depth range as BSR. Additionally we calculate the heat flow and compare it with an analytical solution to detect thermal anomalies, for example, at the frontal prism. The higher confidence in BSR depths based on the far offset stacks and heat flow calculations allows further analyses on gas hydrate concentration estimates and tectonic evolution of the margin.
Reducing Unplanned Extubations in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Approach
Authors: Rachman Bonnie R. , Watson Robin , Woods Norline , Mink Richard B.
Published: December 2009

Objective. To prospectively determine the rate of unplanned extubations and contributing factors and determine whether a targeted intervention program would be successful in decreasing the rate of unplanned extubations.Design. Prospective, observational study.Setting. A 10-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).Patients. All intubated pediatric patients during two time periods: September 1, 2000–March 31, 2001 and November 1, 2001–April 30, 2002.Interventions. After determining the rate and causes of unplanned extubation, a program was developed consisting of education and a formalized endotracheal tube taping policy. Data were then collected after implementation of the program.Measurements and Main Results. Prior to the implementation of the program, there were 10 (14.7%) unplanned extubations for a rate of 6.4 unplanned extubations per 100 ventilated days. Of the ten unplanned extubations, reintubation was required in 2 (20%). Inadequate sedation, poor taping, and improper position of the endotracheal tube were the items most frequently cited as causing an unplanned extubation. Following the program, there were two (3.4%) unplanned extubations for 1.0 unplanned extubations per 100 ventilated days. Neither patient required reintubation. There were no significant differences () in age, weight, endotracheal tube size, or duration of intubation in the two time periods. However, there was a significant decrease in both the number () and the rate () of unplanned extubations after the implementation of the quality improvement program.Conclusions. The rate of unplanned extubation in a PICU can be decreased with a quality improvement program that targets the institution's specific needs.
Modern Breast Cancer Detection: A Technological Review
Authors: Nover Adam B. , Jagtap Shami , Anjum Waqas , Yegingil Hakki , Shih Wan Y. , Shih Wei-Heng , Brooks Ari D.
Published: December 2009

Breast cancer is a serious threat worldwide and is the number two killer of women in the United States. The key to successful management is screening and early detection. What follows is a description of the state of the art in screening and detection for breast cancer as well as a discussion of new and emerging technologies. This paper aims to serve as a starting point for those who are not acquainted with this growing field.
The OAdM Robotic Observatory
Authors: Colomé Josep , Ribas Ignasi , Francisco Xavier , Casteels Kevin , Fernández David , Isern Jordi , Palau Xavier , Torra Jordi
Published: December 2009

The Montsec Astronomical Observatory (OAdM) is a small‐class observatory working in fully unattended control, due to the isolation of the site. Robotic operation is, then, mandatory for its routine use. We present a description of the general control software and several software packages developed. The general control software protects the system specially at the identified single points of failure and makes a distributed control of any subsystem.
Kinetostatic Analysis of 4-R(CRR) Parallel Manipulator with Overconstraints via Reciprocal-Screw Theory
Authors: Huang Zhen , Zhao Yan , Liu Jingfang
Published: December 2009

The paper proposes a new approach based on reciprocal screw theory to analyze kinetostatics of lower-mobility parallel mechanisms with overconstraints and static indeterminacy. For force analysis of parallel mechanisms, the main reactions should be solved firstly, and then all other constraint reactions are easy to be obtained. The approach can remarkably reduce the number of unknowns and keep the number of simultaneous equilibrium equations not more than six each time. For static indeterminacy, it also needs to set some complementary equations. All active forces and constraint reactions of the kinematic pairs can be simultaneously obtained by analyzing the equilibrium of everybody one by one. A 4-R(CRR) parallel manipulator with collinear-force static indeterminacy is taken to introduce the method, which indicates that the method is simple and effective.