bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BEYOND THE FORMAL ECONOMY: EVALUATING THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN INFORMAL SECTOR ENTERPRISES IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: WILLIAMS COLIN C.
Published: December 2013

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the varying level of employment in informal sector enterprises across the globe and to undertake an exploratory analysis of the wider economic and social conditions associated with greater levels of informalization. Examining International Labor Organization surveys conducted in 43 countries, the finding is that the main job of just under one in three (31.5 percent) non-agricultural workers is in an informal sector enterprise. Conducting an exploratory analysis of the correlation between countries with higher levels of employment in informal sector enterprises and economic under-development ('modernization' thesis), higher taxes, corruption and state interference ('neo-liberal' thesis) and inadequate state intervention to protect workers from poverty ('structuralist' thesis), the finding is that there is a need to synthesize various tenets from all three perspectives. The outcome is a tentative call for a 'neo-modernization' perspective, which posits that higher levels of employment in informal sector enterprises are associated with economic under-development, public sector corruption and inadequate state intervention to protect workers from poverty.
MMP-2 is localized to the mitochondria-associated membrane of the heart
Authors: Hughes Bryan G. , Fan Xiaohu , Cho Woo Jung , Schulz Richard
Published: December 2013

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been extensively studied in the context of extracellular matrix remodeling but is also localized within cells and can be activated by prooxidants to proteolyze specific intercellular targets. Although there are reports of MMP-2 in mitochondria, a critical source of cellular oxidative stress, these studies did not take into account the presence within their preparations of the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM), a subdomain of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We hypothesized that MMP-2 is situated in the MAM and therefore investigated its subcellular distribution between mitochondria and the MAM. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed MMP-2 localized in mitochondria of heart sections from mice. In contrast, immunofluorescence analysis of an MMP-2:HaloTag fusion protein expressed in HL-1 cardiomyocytes showed an ER-like distribution, with greater colocalization with an ER marker (protein disulfide isomerase) relative to the mitochondrial marker, MitoTracker red. Although MMP-2 protein and enzymatic activity were present in crude mitochondrial fractions, once these were separated into purified mitochondria and MAM, MMP-2 was principally associated with the latter. Thus, although mitochondria may contain minimal levels of MMP-2, the majority of MMP-2 previously identified as “mitochondrial” is in fact associated with the MAM. We also found that calreticulin, an ER- and MAM-resident Ca2+ handling protein and chaperone, could be proteolyzed by MMP-2 in vitro. MAM-localized MMP-2 could therefore potentially impact mitochondrial function by affecting ER-mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling via its proteolysis of calreticulin.
Hyperoxia induces alveolar epithelial-to-mesenchymal cell transition
Authors: Vyas-Read Shilpa , Wang Wenyi , Kato Satomi , Colvocoresses-Dodds Jennifer , Fifadara Nimita H. , Gauthier Theresa W. , Helms My N. , Carlton David P. , Brown Lou Ann S.
Published: December 2013

Myofibroblast accumulation is a pathological feature of lung diseases requiring oxygen therapy. One possible source for myofibroblasts is through the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). To study the effects of oxygen on alveolar EMT, we used RLE-6TN and ex vivo lung slices and found that hyperoxia (85% O2, H85) decreased epithelial proteins, presurfactant protein B (pre-SpB), pro-SpC, and lamellar protein by 50% and increased myofibroblast proteins, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and vimentin by over 200% ( P < 0.05). In AEC freshly isolated from H85-treated rats, mRNA for pre-SpB and pro-SpC was diminished by ∼50% and α-SMA was increased by 100% ( P < 0.05). Additionally, H85 increased H2O2 content, and H2O2 (25–50 μM) activated endogenous transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), as evident by H2DCFDA immunofluorescence and ELISA ( P < 0.05). Both hyperoxia and H2O2 increased SMAD3 phosphorylation (260% of control, P < 0.05). Treating cultured cells with TGF-β1 inhibitors did not prevent H85-induced H2O2 production but did prevent H85-mediated α-SMA increases and E-cadherin downregulation. Finally, to determine the role of TGF-β1 in hyperoxia-induced EMT in vivo, we evaluated AEC from H85-treated rats and found that vimentin increased ∼10-fold ( P < 0.05) and that this effect was prevented by intraperitoneal TGF-β1 inhibitor SB-431542. Additionally, SB-431542 treatment attenuated changes in alveolar histology caused by hyperoxia. Our studies indicate that hyperoxia promotes alveolar EMT through a mechanism that is dependent on activation of TGF-β1 signaling.
Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) distribution reveals novel pathophysiological differences between human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Varma Saaket , Mahavadi Poornima , Sasikumar Satish , Cushing Leah , Hyland Tessa , Rosser Ann E. , Riccardi Daniela , Lu Jining , Kalin Tanya V. , Kalinichenko Vladimir V. , Guenther Andreas , Ramirez Maria I. , Pardo Annie , Selman Moisés , Warburton David
Published: December 2013

Chronic injury of alveolar lung epithelium leads to epithelial disintegrity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We had reported earlier that Grhl2, a transcriptional factor, maintains alveolar epithelial cell integrity by directly regulating components of adherens and tight junctions and thus hypothesized an important role of GRHL2 in pathogenesis of IPF. Comparison of GRHL2 distribution at different stages of human lung development showed its abundance in developing lung epithelium and in adult lung epithelium. However, GRHL2 is detected in normal human lung mesenchyme only at early fetal stage (week 9). Similar mesenchymal reexpression of GRHL2 was also observed in IPF. Immunofluorescence analysis in serial sections from three IPF patients revealed at least two subsets of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC), based on differential GRHL2 expression and the converse fluorescence intensities for epithelial vs. mesenchymal markers. Grhl2 was not detected in mesenchyme in intraperitoneal bleomycin-induced injury as well as in spontaneously occurring fibrosis in double-mutant HPS1 and HPS2 mice, whereas in contrast in a radiation-induced fibrosis model, with forced Forkhead box M1 (Foxm1) expression, an overlap of Grhl2 with a mesenchymal marker was observed in fibrotic regions. Grhl2's role in alveolar epithelial cell plasticity was confirmed by altered Grhl2 gene expression analysis in IPF and further validated by in vitro manipulation of its expression in alveolar epithelial cell lines. Our findings reveal important pathophysiological differences between human IPF and specific mouse models of fibrosis and support a crucial role of GRHL2 in epithelial activation in lung fibrosis and perhaps also in epithelial plasticity.
Inducible HSP70 regulates superoxide dismutase-2 and mitochondrial oxidative stress in the endothelial cells from developing lungs
Authors: Afolayan Adeleye J. , Teng Ru-Jeng , Eis Annie , Rana Ujala , Broniowska Katarzyna A. , Corbett John A. , Pritchard Kirkwood , Konduri Girija G.
Published: December 2013

Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2) is synthesized in the cytosol and imported into the mitochondrial matrix, where it is activated and functions as the primary antioxidant for cellular respiration. The specific mechanisms that target SOD-2 to the mitochondria remain unclear. We hypothesize that inducible heat shock protein 70 (iHSP70) targets SOD-2 to the mitochondria via a mechanism facilitated by ATP, and this process is impaired in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). We observed that iHSP70 interacts with SOD-2 and targets SOD-2 to the mitochondria. Interruption of iHSP70-SOD-2 interaction with 2-phenylethylenesulfonamide-μ (PFT-μ, a specific inhibitor of substrate binding to iHSP70 COOH terminus) and siRNA-mediated knockdown of iHSP70 expression disrupted SOD-2 transport to mitochondria. Increasing intracellular ATP levels by stimulation of respiration with CaCl2 facilitated the mitochondrial import of SOD-2, increased SOD-2 activity, and decreased the mitochondrial superoxide (O2·−) levels in PPHN pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) by promoting iHSP70-SOD-2 dissociation at the outer mitochondrial membrane. In contrast, oligomycin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATPase, decreased SOD-2 expression and activity and increased O2·− levels in the mitochondria of control PAEC. The basal ATP levels and degree of iHSP70-SOD-2 dissociation were lower in PPHN PAEC and lead to increased SOD-2 degradation in cytosol. In normal pulmonary arteries (PA), PFT-μ impaired the relaxation response of PA rings in response to nitric oxide (NO) donor, S-nitroso- N-acetyl-penicillamine. Pretreatment with Mito-Q, a mitochondrial targeted O2·− scavenger, restored the relaxation response in PA rings pretreated with PFT-μ. Our observations suggest that iHSP70 chaperones SOD-2 to the mitochondria. Impaired SOD-2-iHSP70 dissociation decreases SOD-2 import and contributes to mitochondrial oxidative stress in PPHN.
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ-Rho-kinase interactions contribute to vascular remodeling after chronic intrauterine pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Gien Jason , Tseng Nancy , Seedorf Gregory , Roe Gates , Abman Steven H.
Published: December 2013

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and Rho-kinase (ROCK) regulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and contribute to vascular remodeling in adult pulmonary hypertension. Whether these pathways interact to contribute to the development of vascular remodeling in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) remains unknown. We hypothesized that ROCK-PPARγ interactions increase SMC proliferation resulting in vascular remodeling in experimental PPHN. Pulmonary artery SMCs (PASMCs) were harvested from fetal sheep after partial ligation of the ductus arteriosus in utero (PPHN) and controls. Cell counts were performed daily for 5 days with or without PPARγ agonists and ROCK inhibition. PPARγ and ROCK protein expression/activity were measured by Western blot in normal and PPHN PASMCs. We assessed PPARγ-ROCK interactions by studying the effect of ROCK activation on PPARγ activity and PPARγ inhibition (siRNA) on ROCK activity and PASMC proliferation. At baseline, PPHN PASMC cell number was increased by 38% above controls on day 5. ROCK protein expression/activity were increased by 25 and 34% and PPARγ protein/activity decreased by 40 and 50% in PPHN PASMC. ROCK inhibition and PPARγ activation restored PPHN PASMC growth to normal values. ROCK inhibition increased PPARγ activity by 50% in PPHN PASMC, restoring PPARγ activity to normal. In normal PASMCs, ROCK activation decreased PPARγ activity and PPARγ inhibition increased ROCK activity and cell proliferation, resulting in a PPHN hyperproliferative PASMC phenotype. PPARγ-ROCK interactions regulate SMC proliferation and contribute to increased PPHN PASMC proliferation and vascular remodeling in PPHN. Restoring normal PPARγ-ROCK signaling may prevent vascular remodeling and improve outcomes in PPHN.
Dehydroepiandrosterone promotes pulmonary artery relaxation by NADPH oxidation-elicited subunit dimerization of protein kinase G 1α
Authors: Patel Dhara , Kandhi Sharath , Kelly Melissa , Neo Boon Hwa , Wolin Michael S.
Published: December 2013

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) controls a vascular smooth muscle relaxing mechanism promoted by the oxidation of cytosolic NADPH, which has been associated with activation of the 1α form of protein kinase G (PKG-1α) by a thiol oxidation-elicited subunit dimerization. This PKG-1α-activation mechanism appears to contribute to responses of isolated endothelium-removed bovine pulmonary arteries (BPA) elicited by peroxide, cytosolic NADPH oxidation resulting from G6PD inhibition, and hypoxia. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone with pulmonary vasodilator activity, which has beneficial effects in treating pulmonary hypertension. Because multiple mechanisms have been suggested for the vascular effects of DHEA and one of the known actions of DHEA is inhibiting G6PD, we investigated whether it promoted relaxation associated with NADPH oxidation, PKG-1α dimerization, and PKG activation detected by increased vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation. Relaxation of BPA to DHEA under aerobic or hypoxic conditions was associated with NADPH oxidation, PKG-1α dimerization, and increased VASP phosphorylation. The vasodilator activity of DHEA was markedly attenuated in pulmonary arteries and aorta from a PKG knockin mouse containing a serine in place of a cysteine involved in PKG dimerization. DHEA promoted increased PKG dimerization in lungs from wild-type mice, which was not detected in the PKG knockin mouse model. Thus PKG-1α dimerization is a major contributing factor to the vasodilator actions of DHEA and perhaps its beneficial effects in treating pulmonary hypertension.
Alterations of mouse lung tissue dimensions during processing for morphometry: A comparison of methods
Authors: Schneider Jan Philipp , Ochs Matthias
Published: December 2013

Preservation of original tissue dimensions is an essential prerequisite for morphometric studies. Shrinkage occurring during tissue processing for histology may severely influence the appearance of structures seen under the microscope and stereological calculations. Therefore, shrinkage has to be avoided so that estimates obtained by application of unbiased stereology are indeed unbiased. The present study investigates the alterations of tissue dimensions of mouse lung samples during processing for histology. Different fixatives as well as embedding protocols are considered. Mouse lungs were fixed by instillation of either 4% formalin or a mixture of 1.5% glutaraldehyde/1.5% formaldehyde. Tissue blocks were sampled according to principles of stereology for embedding in paraffin, glycol methacrylate without treatment with osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate, and glycol methacrylate including treatment with osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate before dehydration. Shrinkage was investigated by stereological measurements of dimensional changes of tissue cut faces. Results show a shrinkage of the cut face areas of roughly 40% per lung during paraffin embedding, 30% during “simple” glycol methacrylate embedding, and <3% during osmium tetroxide/uranyl acetate/glycol methacrylate embedding. Furthermore, the superiority of the glutaraldehyde-containing fixative regarding shrinkage is demonstrated. In conclusion, the use of a glutaraldehyde-containing fixative and embedding in glycol methacrylate with previous treatment of the samples with osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate before dehydration is recommended for stereological studies of the mouse lung.
AltitudeOmics: cerebral autoregulation during ascent, acclimatization, and re-exposure to high altitude and its relation with acute mountain sickness
Authors: Subudhi Andrew W. , Fan Jui-Lin , Evero Oghenero , Bourdillon Nicolas , Kayser Bengt , Julian Colleen G. , Lovering Andrew T. , Panerai Ronney B. , Roach Robert C.
Published: December 2013

Cerebral autoregulation (CA) acts to maintain brain blood flow despite fluctuations in perfusion pressure. Acute hypoxia is thought to impair CA, but it is unclear if CA is affected by acclimatization or related to the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS). We assessed changes in CA using transfer function analysis of spontaneous fluctuations in radial artery blood pressure (indwelling catheter) and resulting changes in middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (transcranial Doppler) in 21 active individuals at sea level upon arrival at 5,260 m (ALT1), after 16 days of acclimatization (ALT16), and upon re-exposure to 5,260 m after 7 days at 1,525 m (POST7). The Lake Louise Questionnaire was used to evaluate AMS symptom severity. CA was impaired upon arrival at ALT1 ( P < 0.001) and did not change with acclimatization at ALT16 or upon re-exposure at POST7. CA was not associated with AMS symptoms (all R < 0.50, P > 0.05). These findings suggest that alterations in CA are an intrinsic consequence of hypoxia and are not directly related to the occurrence or severity of AMS.
Hormonal Modulation in Aging Patients with Erectile Dysfunction and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Costa Inês Campos , Carvalho Hugo Nogueira , Pacheco-Figueiredo Luís , Tomada Inês , Tomada Nuno
Published: December 2013

Erectile dysfunction (ED), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and hypogonadism are closely related, often coexisting in the aging male. Obesity was shown to raise the risk of ED and hypogonadism, as well as other endocrinological disturbances with impact on erectile function. We selected 179 patients referred for ED to our andrology unit, aiming to evaluate gonadotropins and estradiol interplay in context of ED, MetS, and hypogonadism. Patients were stratified into groups in accordance with the presence (or not) of MetS and/or hypogonadism. Noticeable differences in total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels were found between patients with and without MetS. Men with MetS evidenced lower TT circulating levels with an increasing number of MetS parameters, for which hypertriglyceridemia and waist circumference strongly contributed. Regarding the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, patients with hypogonadism did not exhibit raised LH levels. Interestingly, among those with higher LH levels, estradiol values were also increased. Possible explanations for this unexpected profile of estradiol may be the age-related adiposity, other estrogen-raising pathways, or even unknown mechanisms. Estradiol is possibly a molecule with further interactions beyond the currently described. Our results further enlighten this still unclear multidisciplinary and complex subject, raising new investigational opportunities.
Effects of the Tip Location on Single Piles Subjected to Surcharge and Axial Loads
Authors: Lv Yaru , Ding Xuanming , Wang Dubo
Published: December 2013

When applying axial load on piles subjected to negative skin friction (NSF), the yielded NSF is gradually eliminated. The process is notably influenced by the tip location (Y) and still a lack of understanding. This paper reports three‐dimensional numerical simulations with tip locations Y = 1.00 pile diameter (D), 0.25D, 0.00D, and −1.00D. It is found that, against expectations, the dragload and NSF are not proportionally related to the tip location. When maximum dragload (Pmax) is eventually eliminated due to an axial load, there is also a negative crest of the skin friction, indicating that NSF still exists based on the criterion of the dragload reduction. The side resistance of the piles with Y = 1.00D and 0.25D is almost fully mobilised, which is demonstrated by the increment of end resistance that greatly increases with the larger axial loads. However, the side resistance of the piles with Y = 0.00D and −1.00D has a potential capacity to carry more loads with continued displacement since the increment of end resistance increases almost linearly with axial load. Therefore, when designing the pile foundation, the inclusion of the NSF should be governed by the amount of axial load to be resisted.
Lipid Lowering Therapy with Combination of Niacin and Statin in Women: Age-Related Endothelial Effects
Authors: Parker Beth , Kothawade Kamlesh , Kim Namee , Paul-Labrador Maura , Bairey Merz Noel , Polk Donna
Published: December 2013

Background. Many women remain at risk for cardiac events despite treatment to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). We hypothesized that for postmenopausal women treated with niacin in addition to statin vascular function will improve. Methods. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 16 weeks of niacin (N) versus placebo (PL) in 43 women (mean age, 67±9 years) previously on statin therapy. Study outcomes included lipoprotein levels, vascular inflammation assessed by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and endothelial function, assessed as brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD). Results. The N group significantly increased HDL-C and decreased LDL-C cholesterol relative to PL (both P<0.01). FMD improved in both groups (P=0.02) irrespective of niacin (P=0.21). Age influenced change in FMD (P=0.01) such that improved FMD (before to after) with lipid lowering therapy was greater with older age (P=0.03 Pearson correlation = 0.34), independent of treatment group. Conclusions. Lipid lowering therapy with combination of niacin and statin does not improve inflammation or endothelial function compared to statin alone. However, older women demonstrate relatively greater endothelial benefit of lipid lowering therapy over 4 months. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00590629.
Relevance Vector Machine Based Analyses of MRR and SR of Electrodischarge Machining Designed by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Nayak Kanhu Charan , Tripathy Rajesh Kumar , Panda Sudha Rani
Published: December 2013

Relevance vector machine is found to be one of the best predictive models in the area of pattern recognition and machine learning. The important performance parameters such as the material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) are influenced by various machining parameters, namely, discharge current (Ip), pulse on time (Ton), and duty cycle (tau) in the electrodischarge machining process (EDM). In this communication, the MRR and SR of EN19 tool steel have been predicted using RVM model and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) results were performed by implementing response surface methodology (RSM). The number of input parameters used for the RVM model is discharge current (Ip), pulse on time (Ton), and duty cycle (tau). At the output, the corresponding model predicts both MRR and SR. The performance of the model is determined by regression test error which can be obtained by comparing both predicted MRR and SR from model and experimental data is designed using central composite design (CCD) based RSM. Our result shows that the regression error is minimized by using cubic kernel function based RVM model and the discharge current is found to be one of the most significant machining parameters for MRR and SR from ANOVA.
Simple Adaptive Asymptotic Tracking Scheme for Parametric Strict-Feedback Nonlinear Systems with Additive Disturbance
Authors: Wang Yanxia , Zhang Zhengqiang , Li Lei , Lu Junwei
Published: December 2013

We consider the same class of systems in a previous paper, that is, a class of parametric strict-feedback nonlinear systems with additive disturbance. By using the backstepping technique, adaptive control algorithm is developed. Unlike the existing control schemes for systems with additive disturbance, no knowledge is assumed on two times continuous differentiability of the disturbance. Also, the developed backstepping controller does not require the uncertain parameters to be restricted within a known interval. Furthermore, overestimation of the system parameters is removed by employing the tuning functions method. It is shown that the proposed controller guarantees not only the stability in the sense of Lyapunov definition, but also the asymptotic tracking.
Chlamydia pneumoniae Antibodies and C‐Reactive Protein Levels in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Sharif M. A. , McDowell D. A. , Badger S. A.
Published: December 2013

Introduction. The study aim was to assess the relationship between the presence of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) incidence. Patients and Methods. Consecutive AAA patients and AAA‐free controls were recruited prospectively. Serum samples from both groups were examined to determine Immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG titres against Chlamydia pneumoniae by ELISA and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Results were expressed as mean (SD) or median (IQR) and compared using χ2 and Mann‐Whitney U tests. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Each study group (AAA/nAAA) comprised 250 patients. 196 (78.7%) AAA patients had positive IgA antichlamydial antibody titres, compared to 181 (72.4%) in the control group (P = 0.008, OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.5). However, positive IgG antibody titres were similar (191 versus 203; P = 0.222, OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.3). Average CRP concentrations were higher in AAA individuals. IgA or IgG antibody titres were not related to CRP concentrations. Conclusions. These results demonstrated that the frequent incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies within the general population makes it difficult to relate its presence to AAA development, despite the high IgA antibody titres. In addition, raised CRP concentrations in AAA patients are not related to the presence of antichlamydial antibodies.
Immobilization of Bone Morphogenetic Protein on DOPA- or Dopamine-Treated Titanium Surfaces to Enhance Osseointegration
Authors: Kang Jeonghwa , Tada Seiichi , Kitajima Takashi , Son Tae Il , Aigaki Toshiro , Ito Yoshihiro
Published: December 2013

Titanium was treated with 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA) or dopamine to immobilize bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), a biomolecule. DOPA and dopamine solutions turned into suspensions, and precipitates were produced at high pH. Both treatments produced a brown surface on titanium that was thicker at high pH than low pH. Dopamine produced a thicker layer than DOPA. The hydrophobicity of the surfaces increased after treatment with dopamine independent of pH. Furthermore, there were more amino groups in the layers formed at pH 8.5 than pH 4.5 in both treatments. Dopamine treatment produced more amino groups in the layer than DOPA. BMP2 was immobilized on the treated surfaces via a coupling reaction using carbodiimide. More BMP2 was immobilized on surfaces treated at pH 8.5 than pH 4.5 in both treatments. The immobilized BMP induced specific signal transduction and alkali phosphatase, a differentiation marker. Thus, the present study demonstrates that titanium treated with DOPA or dopamine can become bioactive via the surface immobilization of BMP2, which induces specific signal transduction.
The Globalization of Traditional Medicine in Northern Peru: From Shamanism to Molecules
Authors: Bussmann Rainer W.
Published: December 2013

Northern Peru represents the center of the Andean “health axis,” with roots going back to traditional practices of Cupisnique culture (1000 BC). For more than a decade of research, semistructured interviews were conducted with healers, collectors, and sellers of medicinal plants. In addition, bioassays were carried out to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of plants found. Most of the 510 species encountered were native to Peru (83%). Fifty percent of the plants used in colonial times have disappeared from the pharmacopoeia. Market vendors specialized either on common and exotic plants, plants for common ailments, and plants only used by healers or on plants with magical purposes. Over 974 preparations with up to 29 different ingredients were used to treat 164 health conditions. Almost 65% of the medicinal plants were applied in these mixtures. Antibacterial activity was confirmed in most plants used for infections. Twenty-four percent of the aqueous extracts and 76% of the ethanolic extracts showed toxicity. Traditional preparation methods take this into account when choosing the appropriate solvent for the preparation of a remedy. The increasing demand for medicinal species did not increase the cultivation of medicinal plants. Most species are wild collected, causing doubts about the sustainability of trade.
Adenofibroma in a Young Patient: A Rare Entity in an Uncommon Age
Authors: Maciel R. , Carvalho S. , Teixeira M. , Areias M. J.
Published: December 2013

Adenofibroma is an extremely uncommon benign tumor composed of glandular and fibrous tissues. It occurs more often in the endometrium but it can also occur in the cervix and extrauterine sites. We report a case of a 32-year-old asymptomatic woman with cervical adenofibroma, first detected in a routine endovaginal ultrasound, as a cervical mass containing multiple cystic components. Histopathologic findings diagnosed its nature. As adenofibromas are very rare, we present this case with a brief review of the literature.
Foreign Body Aspiration Presenting with Asthma-Like Symptoms
Authors: Kam Jennifer C. , Doraiswamy Vikram , Dieguez Javier F. , Dabu Joan , Cholankeril Matthew , Govind Mayur , Miller Richard , Adelman Marc
Published: December 2013

Aspiration of a foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree is rare in adults. In the majority of these cases there is an underlying condition such as mental retardation, depressed mental status, impairment in the swallowing reflex, neurological impairment, alcohol or sedative abuse, or complications from dental manipulations that contributed to the aspiration. These patients are commonly misdiagnosed with asthma and typically do not respond to mainstay anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilator therapy. We describe the case of a patient with a foreign body aspiration in the upper trachea not recognized by radiographic studies that presented with asthma-type symptoms.
Cadmium Phytoremediation byArundo donaxL. from Contaminated Soil and Water
Authors: Sabeen Maria , Mahmood Qaisar , Irshad Muhammad , Fareed Iftikhar , Khan Afsar , Ullah Farid , Hussain Jamshaid , Hayat Yousaf , Tabassum Sobia
Published: December 2013

The potential ofArundo donaxL. for phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) from contaminated soil and water was probed. The plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in pots containing a nutrient solution or soil with increasing doses of Cd (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 μg L−1) for 21 days. The growth and physiology of plants were evaluated at the end of the experiment. The maximum Cd content in root was 300 μg g−1during hydroponics experiments over 230 μg g−1in soil experiment. Cd concentration in stem was 262 μg g−1at 750 μg L−1supplied Cd in hydroponics over 191.2 μg g−1at 1000 in soil experiment. The maximum Cd concentration in leaves from hydroponics was 187 μg g−1. Relatively low Cd uptake occurred during soil experiment with low translocation factor (TF) values. Both Bioaccumulation Factor (BF) and TF values for hydroponics were greater than 1. The IC50values of ABTS and DPPH showed that both time and increasing Cd concentrations affected the production of antioxidants with lower half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value on the 21st days.A. donaxshowed better potential for Cd remediation of aquatic environments.
The Development of Silicon Nanowire as Sensing Material and Its Applications
Authors: Abdul Rashid Jahwarhar Izuan , Abdullah Jaafar , Yusof Nor Azah , Hajian Reza
Published: December 2013

The application of silicon nanowire (SiNW) as a sensing nanomaterial for detection of biological and chemical species has gained attention due to its unique properties. In this review, a short description is also demonstrated on the synthesis techniques of SiNWs and recent progress on sensor development based on electrochemical methods, fluorescence field‐effect transistors (FET), and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. We also discussed the challenges of SiNW‐based sensors in the future.
An FPGA Based Controller for a SOFC DC-DC Power System
Authors: Bhuyan Kanhu Charan , Sao Sumit Kumar , Mahapatra Kamalakanta
Published: December 2013

Fuel cells are an attractive option for alternative power and of use in a variety of applications. This paper proposes a state space model for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based power system that comprises fuel cell, DC-DC buck converter, and load. In this investigation we have taken up a case study for SOFC feeding a DC load where a DC-DC buck converter acts as the interface between the load and the source. A proportional-integral (PI) controller is used in conjunction with pulse width modulation (PWM) that computes the pulse width and switches the MOSFET at the right instant so that the desired voltage is obtained. The proposed model is validated through extensive simulation using MATLAB/SIMULINK. Controller for the fuel cell power system (FCPS) is prototyped using XC3S500E development board containing a SPARTAN 3E Xilinx FPGA that simplifies the entire control circuit besides providing additional flexibility for further improvement. The results clearly indicate improved performance and validate our proposed model.
Study on Notch Sensitivity of Fracture Properties of Concrete Containing Nano‐SiO2 Particles and Fly Ash
Authors: Zhang Peng , Guan Qiao-Yan , Liu Chen-Hui , Li Qing-Fu
Published: December 2013

The fracture parameters and fracture relational curves of the concrete containing nano‐SiO2 and fly ash with different relative notch depth of the notched beam specimens were measured by means of three‐point bending method. The results indicate that the relative notch depth of the notched specimens has great effect on ac, , , GF, CMODc, and the fracture relational curves of the concrete containing nano‐SiO2 and fly ash. There is a tendency of increase in ac and CMODc with the increase of relative notch depth, while , , and GF are decreasing gradually with the increase of relative notch depth of the notched beam specimens. Besides, when the relative notch depth increases from 0.2 to 0.5, the nonlinear stage of the curve becomes shorter and shorter, and the descent stage of the curve becomes sharper and sharper. The fracture parameters of ac, , , GF, and CMODc and the fracture curves are sensitive to the relative notch depth, while CTODc may be not sensitive to the relative notch depth of the specimens of the concrete containing nano‐SiO2 and fly ash.
Influence of pH and Fluoride Species on the Corrosion Behavior of Ti-xNb-13Zr Alloys in Ringer’s Solution
Authors: Robin A. , Carvalho O. A. S.
Published: December 2013

Ti-Nb-Zr alloys are interesting materials for implant applications due to the atoxic character of the Nb and Zr alloying elements and to their low elastic modulus when compared to CP-Ti. In this work, the corrosion behaviour of CP-Ti, Ti-5Nb-13Zr, Ti-13Nb-13Zr, and Ti-20Nb-13Zr alloys was investigated in Ringer’s solution of pH 2, 5, and 7.5 without fluorides and containing 1000 ppm F at 37°C, through open-circuit potential measurements, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The four materials showed a passive behavior in Ringer's solution without fluorides for pH ranging from 2 to 7.5 and in Ringer's solution of pH 5 and 7.5 containing 1000 ppm F but presented an active behavior in Ringer's solution of pH 2 containing fluorides. The corrosion resistance of all materials in Ringer's solution decreases with both decrease of pH and addition of fluorides. Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy is a little more corrosion resistant than the Ti-5Nb-13Zr and Ti-20Nb-13Zr alloys and, in most conditions, the Ti-Nb-Zr alloys present higher corrosion resistance than CP-Ti.
Adverse Health Effects and Unhealthy Behaviors among Medical Students Using Facebook
Authors: Al-Dubai Sami Abdo Radman , Ganasegeran Kurubaran , Al-Shagga Mustafa Ahmed Mahdi , Yadav Hematram , Arokiasamy John T.
Published: December 2013

Little is known about the relationships between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students using Facebook. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors with Facebook use. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a private university in Malaysia among 316 medical students. A self‐administered questionnaire was used. It included questions on sociodemographics, pattern of Facebook use, social relationship, unhealthy behaviors, and health effects. Mean age was 20.5 (±2.7) years. All students had a Facebook account. The average daily Facebook surfing hours were 2.5 (±1.7). Significant associations were found between average hours of Facebook surfing and the following factors: isolation from family members and community, refusing to answer calls, musculoskeletal pain, headache, and eye irritation (P < 0.005). The average hours spent on Facebook were significantly associated with holding urination and defecation while online, surfing Facebook until midnight, and postponing, forgetting, or skipping meals (P < 0.005). The average hours spent on Facebook were associated with adverse health effects and unhealthy behaviors among medical students, as well as social isolation from the family and community.
What Is the Clinical Significance of FDG Unexpected Uptake in the Prostate in Patients Undergoing PET/CT for Other Malignancies?
Authors: Bhosale Priya , Balachandran Aparna , Vikram Raghu , Viswanathan Chitra , Macapinlac Homer , Rohren Eric , Prativadi Ramanujan
Published: December 2013

Purpose. To determine the clinical significance of unexpected, abnormal FDG uptake in the prostate in patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT for staging of other primary malignancies without a prior history of prostate carcinoma. Methods. Retrospective search of FDG-PET/CT studies to identify patients with unexpected, abnormal FDG uptake in the prostate gland, who underwent subsequent biopsy, was performed. 26 patients were identified. Images were reviewed to determine the pattern of uptake within the prostate (focal or diffuse) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). PSA and Gleason scores were recorded. Results. 15/26 (58%) patients were found to have prostate carcinoma. Gleason scores ranged from 6 to 9.9. There was no statistical difference in the pattern of uptake (focal versus diffuse) or the SUVmax. Serum PSA levels with cancer (range, 2–26.8 ng; mean, 10.2 ng) and those without cancer (range, 2–10.5 ng; mean, 2.2 ng) were statistically significant (P<0.007, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Conclusions. Patients with abnormal uptake in the prostate have a 58% likelihood of occult prostate cancer. In the setting of elevated serum PSA levels, abnormal prostate uptake should therefore be viewed with suspicion and a urology consult should be obtained; however, it is irrelevant in patients with underlying aggressive malignancies.
A Rare Presentation of Community Acquired Methicillin ResistantStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Docekal J. , Hall J. , Reese B. , Jones J. , Ferguson T.
Published: December 2013

Prostatic abscess is a rarely described condition and is commonly caused by gram-negative organisms such as enterobacteria. However, as the prevalence of methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) increases in the community, unusual infections due to this organism have been recently published. In this report, we describe a patient with diabetes mellitus type 2, who presents with diabetic ketoacidosis—later found to be due to a prostatic abscess from which MRSA was cultured.
Content Analysis of Work Limitation, Stanford Presenteeism, and Work Instability Questionnaires Using International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health and Item Perspective Framework
Authors: Arumugam Vanitha , MacDermid Joy C. , Grewal Ruby
Published: December 2013

Background. Presenteeism refers to reduced performance or productivity while at work due to health reasons. WLQ-26, SPS-6, and RA-WIS are the commonly used self-report presenteeism questionnaires. These questionnaires have acceptable psychometric properties but have not been subject to structured content analysis that would define their conceptual basis.Objective. To describe the conceptual basis of the three questionnaires using ICF and IPF and then compare the distribution and content of codes to those on the vocational rehabilitation core set.Methods. Two researchers independently linked the items of the WLQ-26, SPS-6, and RA-WIS to the ICF and IPF following the established linking rules. The percentage agreement on coding was calculated between the researchers.Results. WLQ-26 was linked to 62 ICF codes, SPS-6 was linked to 17 ICF codes, and RA-WIS was linked to 74 ICF codes. Most of these codes belonged to the activity and participation domains. All the concepts were classified by the IPF, and the most were rational appraisals within the social domain. Only 12% of codes of the core set for vocational rehabilitation were used in this study to code these questionnaires.Conclusion. The specific nature of work disability that was included in these three questionnaires was difficult to explain using ICF since many aspects of content were not confined. The core set for vocational rehabilitation covered very limited content of the WLQ-26, SPS-6, and RA-WIS.
Successive Approximation of SFDEs with Finite Delay Driven byG-Brownian Motion
Authors: Yan Litan , Zhang Qinghua
Published: December 2013

We consider the stochastic functional differential equations with finite delay driven byG-Brownian motion. Under the global Carathéodory conditions we prove the existence and uniqueness, and as an application, we price the European call option when the underlying asset's price follows such an equation.
A Genetic Algorithm for Task Scheduling on NoC Using FDH Cross Efficiency
Authors: Chai Song , Li Yubai , Wang Jian , Wu Chang
Published: December 2013

A CrosFDH-GA algorithm is proposed for the task scheduling problem on the NoC-based MPSoC regarding the multicriterion optimization. First of all, four common criterions, namely, makespan, data routing energy, average link load, and workload balance, are extracted from the task scheduling problem on NoC and are used to construct the DEA DMU model. Then the FDH analysis is applied to the problem, and a FDH cross efficiency formulation is derived for evaluating the relative advantage among schedule solutions. Finally, we introduce the DEA approach to the genetic algorithm and propose a CrosFDH-GA scheduling algorithm to find the most efficient schedule solution for a given scheduling problem. The simulation results show that our FDH cross efficiency formulation effectively evaluates the performance of schedule solutions. By conducting comparative simulations, our CrosFDH-GA proposal produces more metrics-balanced schedule solution than other multicriterion algorithms.
Hmgb1-IL-23-IL-17-IL-6-Stat3 Axis Promotes Tumor Growth in Murine Models of Melanoma
Authors: Tang Qiu , Li Jian , Zhu Hongfei , Li Pan , Zou Zhenwei , Xiao Yin
Published: December 2013

In order to understand how tumor cells can escape immune surveillance mechanisms and thus develop antitumor therapies, it is critically important to investigate the mechanisms by which the immune system interacts with the tumor microenvironment. In our current study, IL-17 deficiency results in reduced melanoma tumor size, diminished numbers of proliferating cells and blood vessels, and decreased percentage of CD11b+Gr-1+MDSCs in tumor tissues. IL-17 promotes IL-6 induction and Stat3 activation. Treatment of Stat3 inhibitor WP1066 in B16-F10 tumor cells inoculated wild-type mice inhibits tumor growth. Additional administration of recombinant IL-6 into B16-F10 tumor-bearing IL-17−/−mice results in markedly increased tumor size and p-Stat3 expression, whereas additional recombinant IL-17 administration into B16-F10 tumor-bearing wild-type mice treated with anti-IL-6 mAb does not significantly alter the tumor growth and p-Stat3 expression. In our further study, blockade of Hmgb1-RAGE pathway inhibits melanoma tumor growth and reduces production of IL-23 and IL-17. All these data suggest that Hmgb1-IL-23-IL-17-IL-6-Stat3 axis plays a pivotal role in tumor development in murine models of melanoma, and blocking any portion of this axis will attenuate melanoma tumor growth.
Walking on a Tissue-Specific Disease-Protein-Complex Heterogeneous Network for the Discovery of Disease-Related Protein Complexes
Authors: Jacquemin Thibault , Jiang Rui
Published: December 2013

Besides the pinpointing of individual disease-related genes, associating protein complexes to human inherited diseases is also of great importance, because a biological function usually arises from the cooperative behaviour of multiple proteins in a protein complex. Moreover, knowledge about disease-related protein complexes could also enhance the inference of disease genes and pathogenic genetic variants. Here, we have designed a computational systems biology approach to systematically analyse potential relationships between diseases and protein complexes. First, we construct a heterogeneous network which is composed of a disease-disease similarity layer, a tissue-specific protein-protein interaction layer, and a protein complex membership layer. Then, we propose a random walk model on this disease-protein-complex network for identifying protein complexes that are related to a query disease. With a series of leave-one-out cross-validation experiments, we show that our method not only possesses high performance but also demonstrates robustness regarding the parameters and the network structure. We further predict a landscape of associations between human diseases and protein complexes. This landscape can be used to facilitate the inference of disease genes, thereby benefiting studies on pathology of diseases.
A Game Theoretical Model for Location of Terror Response Facilities under Capacitated Resources
Authors: Meng Lingpeng , Kang Qi , Han Chuanfeng , Xu Weisheng , Wu Qidi
Published: December 2013

This paper is concerned with the effect of capacity constraints on the locations of terror response facilities. We assume that the state has limited resources, and multiple facilities may be involved in the response until the demand is satisfied consequently. We formulate a leader‐follower game model between the state and the terrorist and prove the existence and uniqueness of the Nash equilibrium. An integer linear programming is proposed to obtain the equilibrium results when the facility number is fixed. The problem is demonstrated by a case study of the 19 districts of Shanghai, China.
A WebGIS-Based Information System for Monitoring and Warning of Geological Disasters for Lanzhou City, China
Authors: Miao Fang , Yuan Qi
Published: December 2013

Monitoring and warning of geological disasters accurately and in a timely fashion would dramatically mitigate casualties and economic losses. This paper takes Lanzhou city as an example and designs a Web-based system, namely the information system for geological disaster monitoring and warning (ISGDMW). Presented are its framework, key developing technologies, database, and working flow. The information system adopts a Browser/Server (B/S) structure and has three-tier architecture, combining in-situ monitoring instruments, the wireless sensor network, WebGIS techniques and the grey system theory. The framework of the ISGDMW can be divided into three categories: (1) in-situ monitoring system, it aims to monitor geological disaster sites and get state information of geological disaster sites; (2) database, manage in-situ monitoring data, antecedent field investigating data and basic data; (3) analyzing and warning system, analyze in-situ monitoring data, understand the deformation trend of the potential geological disaster, and release disaster warning information to the public. The ISGDMW allow the processes of geological disaster monitoring, in-situ monitoring data analysis, geological disaster warning to be implemented in an efficient and quick way, and can provide scientific suggestions to commanders for quick response to the possibility of geological disaster.