bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal Behavior of Alumina Microfibers Precursor Prepared by Surfactant Assisted Microwave Hydrothermal
Authors: He Xuanmeng , Li Guangjun , Liu Hui , Li Junqi , Zhu Zhenfeng
Published: September 2012

Uniform alumina microfibers precursor (ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide, AACH) were successfully synthesized using the microwave hydrothermal method, with average length of 5–10 μm and the diameter around 300–500 nm. FT‐IR spectra indicated AACH was composed of NH4[Al(OOH) HCO3]·H2O. The thermal behaviors of the as‐prepared AACH were investigated using differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC‐TG), XRD, and SEM. The results showed that the thermal decomposition of the AACH microfibers occurred via three steps, which were respectively divided into adsorption of physical water, dehydration of crystalline water, and decomposition of AACH. The activation energies for the above three steps were calculated using Coats‐Redfern method. The phase transformation sequence was found to be AACH→ amorphous Al2O3→ γ‐ and θ‐Al2O3→ α‐Al2O3. It was also observed that the thermal treatment had little influence on fiber morphology of the products. The fibers morphology with high thermal stability will endow to prepare alumina microfibers with novel application potentials.
Statistical Validation for the Profiling of Heroin by Associating Simulated Postcut Samples with the Corresponding Precut Sample
Authors: Chan Kar‐Weng , Tan Guan‐Huat , Wong Richard C. S.
Published: September 2012

Statistical validation is crucial for the clustering of unknown samples. This study aims to demonstrate how statistical techniques can be optimized using simulated heroin samples containing a range of analyte concentrations that are similar to those of the case samples. Eight simulated heroin distribution links consisting of 64 postcut samples were prepared by mixing one of two mixtures of paracetamol–caffeine–dextromethorphan at different proportions with eight precut samples. Analyte contents and compositional variation of the prepared samples were investigated. A number of data pretreatments were evaluated by associating the postcut samples with the corresponding precut samples using principal component analysis and discriminant analysis. Subsequently, combinations of seven linkage methods and five distance measures were explored using hierarchical cluster analysis. In this study, Ward–Manhattan showed better distinctions between unrelated links and was able to cluster all related samples in very close distance under the known links on a dendogram. A similar discriminative outcome was also achieved by 90 unknown case samples when clustered via Ward–Manhattan.
Hydrogen Peroxide‐Mediated Growth of the Root System Occurs via Auxin Signaling Modification and Variations in the Expression of Cell‐Cycle Genes in Rice Seedlings Exposed to Cadmium Stress
Authors: Zhao Feng‐Yun , Han Ming‐Ming , Zhang Shi‐Yong , Wang Kai , Zhang Cheng‐Ren , Liu Tao , Liu Wen
Published: September 2012

The link between root growth, H2O2, auxin signaling, and the cell cycle in cadmium (Cd)‐stressed rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Zhonghua No. 11) was analyzed in this study. Exposure to Cd induced a significant accumulation of Cd, but caused a decrease in zinc (Zn) content which resulted from the decreased expression of OsHMA9 and OsZIP. Analysis using a Cd‐specific probe showed that Cd was mainly localized in the meristematic zone and vascular tissues. Formation and elongation of the root system were significantly promoted by 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (AT), but were markedly inhibited by N,N’‐dimethylthiourea (DMTU) under Cd stress. The effect of H2O2 on Cd‐stressed root growth was further confirmed by examining a gain‐of‐function rice mutant (carrying catalase1 and glutathione‐S‐transferase) in the presence or absence of diphenylene iodonium. DR5‐GUS staining revealed close associations between H2O2 and the concentration and distribution of auxin. H2O2 affected the expression of key genes, including OsYUCCA, OsPIN, OsARF, and OsIAA, in the auxin signaling pathway in Cd‐treated plants. These results suggest that H2O2 functions upstream of the auxin signaling pathway. Furthermore, H2O2 modified the expression of cell‐cycle genes in Cd‐treated roots. The effects of H2O2 on root system growth are therefore linked to auxin signal modification and to variations in the expression of cell‐cycle genes in Cd‐stressed rice. A working model for the effects of H2O2 on Cd‐stressed root system growth is thus proposed and discussed in this paper.
Use of Nested Flow Models and Interpolation Techniques for Science‐Based Management of the Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota, USA
Authors: Gusyev M.A. , Haitjema H.M. , Carlson C.P. , Gonzalez M.A.
Published: September 2012

Noxious weeds threaten the Sheyenne National Grassland (SNG) ecosystem and therefore herbicides have been used for control. To protect groundwater quality, the herbicide application is restricted to areas where the water table is less than 10 feet (3.05 m) below the ground surface in highly permeable soils, or less than 6 feet (1.83 m) below the ground surface in low permeable soils. A local MODFLOW model was extracted from a regional GFLOW analytic element model and used to develop depth‐to‐groundwater maps in the SNG that are representative for the particular time frame of herbicide applications. These maps are based on a modeled groundwater table and a digital elevation model (DEM). The accuracy of these depth‐to‐groundwater maps is enhanced by an artificial neural networks (ANNs) interpolation scheme that reduces residuals at 48 monitoring wells. The combination of groundwater modeling and ANN improved depth‐to‐groundwater maps, which in turn provided more informed decisions about where herbicides can or cannot be safely applied.
Where do Australian children get their dietary fibre? A focus on breakfast food choices
Authors: Grieger Jessica Anne , Kim Susan , Cobiac Lynne
Published: September 2012

Aims:  There is little data in Australian children assessing dietary fibre intakes or ready‐to‐eat cereal consumption. The aims were to: (i) assess the dietary fibre intake of 2‐ to 16‐year‐old children from the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey; (ii) determine the percentage of children meeting adequate fibre intake; and (iii) determine the contribution of breakfast and ready‐to‐eat cereal fibre intake.

Methods:  Secondary analysis of the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

Results:  On the day of the survey, the mean (SE) dietary fibre intake among all children at breakfast was 4.5 (0.1) g and total daily fibre intake was 20.7 (0.2) g. Fibre adequacy was achieved by 50% of Australian children. Forty‐nine percent of all children consumed ready‐to‐eat cereal, providing 2/3 of fibre intake at breakfast and 1/10 of total daily fibre intake. Consuming ready‐to‐eat cereal was a significant predictor of total daily fibre intake (β= 0.028). Over 60% of all children consumed ready‐to‐eat cereal in which at least a ‘source’ of fibre (1.5–3.0 g) was available; however, <10% of children consumed ready‐to‐eat cereal containing a ‘very high source’ of fibre (≥6.0 g).

Conclusions:  While ready‐to‐eat cereal was only consumed by close to half of all children, it was a significant contributor of fibre at both the breakfast meal occasion and over the whole day. Randomised controlled trials are necessary to identify whether increasing consumption of fibre from ready‐to‐eat cereal alters health outcomes such as anthropometric and biochemical end points.
Regulating the Internet infrastructure: A comparative appraisal of the legitimacy of ICANN, ITU, and the WSIS
Authors: Take Ingo
Published: September 2012

How to generate legitimate forms of governance beyond the nation state is often considered a central question in contemporary world politics. To proceed in theory‐building, scholars need to systematically assign the theory‐driven assumptions on legitimate forms of governance beyond the nation state with the various, already observable, forms of global governance. This article aims to conduct a comparative appraisal of the legitimatory quality of different patterns of governance by applying a framework of indicators for their assessment. The indicators are selected from the scholarly debate within International Relations on the legitimacy of global governance arrangements and structured by a multidimensional concept of legitimacy (input, throughput, and output dimensions). This framework is then applied to international, transnational, and private forms of global governance in the field of Internet regulation in order to show how each of them tries to produce and maintain legitimacy, which strategies it applies, and in how it interacts with its stakeholders.
The development of synchronous movement by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Fellner Wendi , Bauer Gordon B. , Stamper Sarah A. , Losch Barbara A. , Dahood Adrian
Published: September 2012

The development of motor synchrony in dolphins has been described qualitatively, but seldom quantified. We provide a detailed description of the development of synchrony in 12 calves for periods ranging from birth to a few days up to 22 wk. We observed the presence of synchrony, relative positions, and proximity and undertook a videotape analysis of one calf for initiations/terminations of synchrony, response time to breaks in synchrony, and the development of complex behaviors by the calf relative to synchrony. Synchrony was uniformly present more than 90% of the time during month 1, then began to decline gradually. Echelon position was most frequent but calves also spent time in infant position. Initially all calves were most frequently in direct physical contact with their mothers, but by 2 wk of age, all pairs were more likely to be near each other (<0.5 m) without touching. Behavioral complexity increased gradually over the study, and adults frequently performed behaviors during synchronous swimming, providing opportunities for social learning. Synchrony is a predominant behavior in mother‐calf interactions, and we speculate that it may be an important mechanism through which calves learn from their mothersviatheir tandem interactions with the environment.
Interpretation of Mineral Zoning in Submarine Hydrothermal Ore Deposits in Terms of Coupled Fluid Flow‐Precipitation Kinetics Model
Authors: Shikazono Naotatsu , Kawabe Hirochika , Ogawa Yasumasa
Published: September 2012

Major minerals (sulfates, sulfides, quartz) are distributed in different parts of submarine hydrothermal ore deposits. For instance, the abundance of barite increases stratigraphically upwards in the massive orebodies of the Kuroko deposits (black and yellow ores), while quartz is abundant in the lower parts (siliceous ore). The different distribution of barite and quartz in the Kuroko deposits can not be accounted for by thermochemical equilibrium calculations based on the precipitation due to mixing of ascending hydrothermal solutions with ambient cold seawater. In the present study, a coupled fluid flow‐precipitation kinetics model was used to calculate the amounts of quartz, barite, and anhydrite precipitated from a hydrothermal solution mixed with seawater, assuming reasonable values for temperature, precipitation rate, fluid flow velocity, mineral surface area/fluid mass ratio (A/M), and initial concentrations of hydrothermal solution and seawater before mixing occurred. The results indicate that barite precipitates more efficiently than quartz from discharging fluids with relatively higher flow velocity, lower temperatures and under the condition of lower A/M ratios on the seafloor (black ore), whereas quartz precipitates more effectively from solutions with lower flow velocity, higher temperatures and higher A/M ratios beneath the seafloor (siliceous ore) and in the orebody (barite ore, ferruginous chert ore). Anhydrite precipitates in shallow sub‐seafloor environments with lower precipitation rates and higher A/M ratios than barite and higher precipitation rates and lower A/M ratios than quartz. These results explain the observed occurrences of barite, anhydrite, and quartz in the Kuroko deposits. Namely, barite is abundant in black ore and barite ore which formed above the seafloor, anhydrite formed in high‐permeability tuff breccias, and quartz formed in low permeability dacite intrusive bodies in the sub‐seafloor environment.
Geology of the Hida Gaien Belt in the upper Kuzuryu‐gawa River Area in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, Central Japan
Authors: Matsumoto Takayuki
Published: September 2012

Geological, paleontological, and geochronological studies of the Hida Gaien Belt were carried out in the upper Kuzuryu‐gawa River area, northern central Japan. The Hida Gaien Belt lies between the Hida and Mino belts of Southwest Japan and is one of the most complex geologic belts in Japan. The geology of the following units in the study area, mostly bounded by longitudinal, high‐angle faults, was particularly reexamined and described: the Ise metamorphic rocks, the Fujikuradani, Tomedoro, Oguradani, Motodo, Ootani, and Konogidani Formations, and the Tetori Group. Among them, the Tomedoro and Konogidani Formations are both composed mainly of greenstone, and were conventionally coupled together as ‘the Tomedoro schalstein member’ or ‘the Konogidani Formation’. However, the conformable relationship between the Tomedoro Formation and overlying Middle Permian Oguradani Formation, and the K–Ar and 40Ar–39Ar ages of 75–69 Ma (Late Cretaceous) from the basalt lava of the Konogidani Formation reveal that they are separate formations with different ages. The Oguradani Formation, consisting of limestone, shale, and sandstone with Middle Permian Boreal‐Tethyan mixed brachiopod fauna, is correlated with the Moribu Formation in the Takayama area of the Hida Gaien Belt, and with the Middle Formation of the Maizuru Group in the Maizuru Belt. The Tomedoro Formation below the Oguradani Formation, in turn, is correlated with the Lower Formation of the Maizuru Belt. The new Late Cretaceous age data from the Konogidani Formation and presence of latest Cretaceous, post‐tectonic volcanic rocks in the study area finally indicate that the fault‐bound structure of the Hida Gaien Belt between the Hida and Mino belts was formed in a very short period in Late Cretaceous age.
Prognosis of autoimmune hepatitis showing acute presentation
Authors: Yamamoto Kazuhide , Miyake Yasuhiro , Ohira Hiromasa , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Zeniya Mikio , Onji Morikazu , Tsubouchi Hirohito ,   Intractable Liver and Biliary Diseases Study Group of Japan
Published: September 2012

Aim

The number of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) showing acute presentation has increased. This study aimed to assess their prognosis.

Methods

A survey of AIH patients by sending questionnaires was performed, and 96 patients showing acute presentation were investigated.

Results

The median age was 58 years and 78 patients (81%) were female. Eighty‐four patients (88%) were positive for antinuclear antibody and/or anti‐smooth muscle antibody. The median serum immunoglobulin G level was 2252 mg/dL. Twenty‐five patients (26%) showed histological acute hepatitis. As initial treatment, 88 patients (92%) were treated with corticosteroid, and 28 of them received pulse steroid treatment. Overall, 11 patients (11%) reached fatal outcomes (nine death and two liver transplantation). Patients with histological acute hepatitis showed higher serum bilirubin levels, lower prothrombin activities and higher prothrombin time–international normalized ratios (PT‐INR) and reached fatal outcomes more frequently. With a multivariate logistic regression analysis, prothrombin activity and PT‐INR at presentation was associated with fatal outcomes. Nine of 13 patients (69%) showing prothrombin activity of 40% or lower at presentation and nine of 19 patients (47%) showing PT‐INR of 1.5 or higher reached fatal outcomes. Furthermore, of 13 patients showing prothrombin activity of 40% or lower and/or PT‐INR of 1.5 or higher at presentation who were treated with pulse steroid treatment, four (31%) died from infectious disease.

Conclusion

Prothrombin activity and PT‐INR are prognostic factors for AIH showing acute presentation. Physicians should pay attention to the development of infectious disease when pulse steroid treatment is performed.
The role of cultural values and religion on views of body size and eating practices among adolescents from Fiji, Tonga, and Australia
Authors: McCabe Marita P. , Waqa Gade , Dev Anjileena , Cama Tilema , Swinburn Boyd A.
Published: September 2012

Objectives

This study investigated cultural values related to body image and eating practices in Western and non‐Western societies.

Design and Methods

In total, 628 Fijian, 463 Indo‐Fijian, 598 Tongan, and 534 Australian adolescents completed measures of cultural values and religious influences in relation to the ideal body and eating practices.

Results

Fijian and Tongan adolescents were more likely to value a large body. Religious influences were most strongly associated with eating practices for Fijians, Indo‐Fijians, and Tongans.

Conclusions

The findings support the role of religion in transmitting cultural values regarding eating practices in Pacific Island communities.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Previous research has demonstrated that sociocultural factors shape body image and eating behaviours.

Most of this research has been conducted in Western countries.

What does this study add?

The current study identifies the role of cultural values and religious influences on body image and eating behaviours in a number of different cultural groups.

This is the first study to use the same methodology to explore these relationships across Western and Pacific Island communities.
Preschoolers' social information processing and early school success: The challenging situations task
Authors: Denham Susanne A. , Way Erin , Kalb Sara C. , Warren‐Khot Heather K. , Bassett Hideko H.
Published: September 2012

As part of a larger longitudinal project on the assessment of preschoolers' social‐emotional development, children's social information processing (SIP) responses to unambiguous hypothetical situations of peer provocation were assessed for 298 four‐year‐olds from Head Start and private childcare settings. Measurement focused on emotions children would feel during these situations, and their behaviour response decisions. Participants most often chose sad and angry emotions, and socially competent and passive behaviours. Relations were found between sad emotion and socially competent behaviour choices, as well as between angry emotion and aggressive behaviour choices. Sad emotion and socially competent behaviour responses contributed to variance in contemporaneous and later school adjustment and kindergarten academic readiness. There was evidence that the contributions of sad emotion responses were mediated by those of socially competent behaviour choices. Results bolstered calls to include emotion in SIP measures, supported predictive validity for this SIP measure in a large representative sample of preschoolers, and pointed to fruitful pathways for future research.
Antenatal education and breastfeeding in a cohort of primiparas
Authors: Artieta‐Pinedo Isabel , Paz‐Pascual Carmen , Grandes Gonzalo , Bacigalupe Amaia , Payo Janire , Montoya Imanol
Published: September 2012

Aims

To assess the association between attendance at antenatal education sessions and breastfeeding during the first year of life.

Background

Although there is evidence that antenatal education encourages breastfeeding, the size and duration of its effect remain unclear.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Methods

The study was conducted inBizkaia (North ofSpain) between May 2005–June 2007 with a consecutive sample of 614 primiparas. Women were classified into three groups according to whether they had received antenatal education and, if so, how many classes (0, 1–4, or 5 or more). Telephone interviews at 1·5, 3, 6 and 12 months were used to estimate the risk of cessation of any breastfeeding and to compare the groups with Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Findings

Initially, 90% of women breastfed their infants, with no differences between the groups. During the first month, the risk of cessation of any breastfeeding was three times as high among non‐attendees and twice as high among women who attended 1–4 classes compared with those who attended 5 or more classes. The risk was, however, similar in the three groups from the end of first month onwards.

Conclusion

The results suggest that though antenatal education may be associated with higher rates of breastfeeding in our setting this is only the case for the first month after the birth. Further research is necessary to optimize this beneficial effect to achieve long‐term continuation of breastfeeding.
Evaluation of gustatory function in HIV‐infected subjects with and without HAART
Authors: Raja Jigna V. , Rai Puja , Khan Mubeen , Banu Asima , Bhuthaiah Satish
Published: September 2012

Background

Alteration in gustatory function among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is sparsely studied and provides contradictory findings. The objectives of the study were to evaluate taste perversion in HIV‐infected subjects and compare taste acuity between patients with and without Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Materials and Methods

Fifty HIV‐infected subjects aged 25–55 years were selected and divided into two subgroups: patients with HAART and patients without HAART. Control group included 50 healthy, age‐, sex‐, gender‐, and socioeconomic status‐matched individuals. Taste complaints were recorded on a structured questionnaire, and formal taste testing was carried out with triadic forced choice whole‐mouth, above‐threshold taste test for four tastants – sweet, salt, sour, and bitter. Taste identification, detection threshold, and intensity of tastant were recorded.

Results

Twenty‐four (48%) among study group complained of taste perversion when compared to none among the control group (P < 0.001). During taste testing, identification and intensity scores were lower, while detection threshold scores for four tastants were higher in study group than in control group (P < 0.05). Among those patients with taste complaints, 16 were with HAART, while eight were without HAART (P = 0.043). Formal taste testing revealed greater taste perversion for sour and bitter tastants among patients with HAART medication.

Conclusion

The results document significant taste losses in HIV‐infected subjects, and HAART contributes considerably to such taste perversion.
Changes in beta‐adrenergic neurotransmission during postoperative ileus in rat circular jejunal muscle
Authors: Goetz B. , Benhaqi P. , Müller M. H. , Kreis M. E. , Kasparek M. S.
Published: September 2012

Background  To explore postoperative changes in β‐adrenergic neurotransmission that participate in pathophysiology of postoperative ileus.

Methods  Contractile activity of circular jejunal muscle strips was studied. Groups (n = 6/group) were: naïve controls, sham controls 1 and 7 days after laparotomy, and rats 12 h, 1, 3, and 7 days after laparotomy with standardized small bowel manipulation (postoperative ileus). Dose‐responses to the β‐agonist isoprenaline (3 × 10−10–10−7 mol L−1) were studied in presence/absence of tetrodotoxin (global neural blockade; 10−6 mol L−1), N6‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐l‐lysine (inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthesis; 10−4 mol L−1), nimesulide (cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibition; 10−5 mol L−1), or propranolol (β‐blockade; 5 × 10−6 mol L−1). Histochemistry for inflammatory cells and intestinal transit were studied.

Key Results  Intramural inflammation and delayed transit (postoperative ileus) occurred only in ileus groups. The inhibitory potential of isoprenaline decreased in all postoperative groups including sham (P < 0.05). Tetrodotoxin enhanced isoprenaline‐induced inhibition in ileus and sham groups (P < 0.05). N6‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐l‐lysine and nimesulide decreased isoprenaline‐induced inhibition in ileus groups 12 h, 1, and 7 days, and in sham controls 7 days postoperatively (P < 0.05). Propranolol prevented isoprenaline effects in all groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions & Inferences  Inhibitory effects of isoprenaline on contractile activity were decreased for 7 days postoperatively. Changes in β‐adrenergic neurotransmission do not induce postoperative ileus and appear to be caused by anesthesia and laparotomy rather than bowel manipulation.
Synergic effect of curcumin or lycopene with irradiation upon oral squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Camacho‐Alonso F , López‐Jornet P , Tudela‐Mulero MR
Published: September 2012

Objective

An in vitro study was carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin, lycopene, and irradiation upon oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials and methods

Curcumin and lycopene were administrated at doses of 3, 4.25, 5.50, and 6.75 μM in PE/CA‐PJ15 OSCC cultures irradiated with different doses (1, 2.5, and 5 Gy), followed by evaluation of the effects upon cell viability, apoptosis, and migration after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation.

Results

The application of curcumin or lycopene to the tumor cells during 24, 48, and 72 h without irradiation exerted an inhibitor effect upon cell viability and increased cell apoptosis. The maximum reduction in cell viability and the peak apoptotic effect was recorded with the 5.50 and 6.75 μM doses, for both curcumin and lycopene. Likewise, curcumin and lycopene exerted a synergic effect upon both variables on applying irradiation. Lastly, the 5.50 and 6.75 μM drug doses, together with 5 Gy of irradiation, yielded the greatest decrease in cell migration capacity with both curcumin and lycopene.

Conclusions

Curcumin and lycopene increase cytotoxic activity in the PE/CA‐PJ15 cell line and reduce cell migration capacity, while the combination of curcumin or lycopene with irradiation exerts a synergic effect.
Our Long‐Term Results of Tenckhoff Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters Placement via Laparoscopic Preperitoneal Tunneling Technique
Authors: Gultekin Fatma A. , Cakmak Guldeniz K. , Karakaya Kemal , Emre Ali U. , Tascilar Oge , Oner Muzaffer O. , Comert Mustafa , Kulah Eyup
Published: September 2012

Previously we described the technique to lessen complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to achieve immediate use of the catheter. In this study we evaluated our long‐term results of the technique. A total of 61 procedures were carried out in 58 patients from September 2003 to February 2009. All patients were followed in our hospital CAPD clinic. Demographic, medical, operative, postoperative, and other information regarding complications and continued patient management was obtained retrospectively from the patients’ medical records and entered into a computerized database. There were 33 men and 25 women. The mean age was 58 years. In 29 of the 58 patients indication of catheter placement was end stage renal failure combined with diabetes mellitus. Mean follow‐up time was 33.31 ± 20.11 months. Catheter related complications were outflow obstruction (n = 3, 5.2%) and peritonitis (n = 2, 3.4%). Etiologies of catheter removal were out flow obstruction (n = 2), recovery from renal disease (n = 2), peritonitis (n = 1), and pregnancy (n = 1). The mean catheter survival time was found 5.57 ± 0.17 years. Our long‐term results showed that the method ensured accurate placement, preperitoneal fixation, and immediate use of the catheter for routine peritoneal dialysis. Preperitoneal fixation of the catheter decreased outflow obstruction over long‐term follow‐up.
The effect of hypoxia and exercise on heart rate variability, immune response, and orthostatic stress
Authors: Koelwyn G. J. , Wong L. E. , Kennedy M. D. , Eves N. D.
Published: September 2012

Hypoxia with exercise is commonly used to enhance physiological adaptation in athletes, but may prolong recovery between training bouts. To investigate this, heart rate variability (HRV), systemic immune response, and response to an orthostatic challenge were measured following exercise in hypoxia and air. Eleven trained men performed a 10‐km cycling time trial breathing hypoxia (16.5 ± 0.5% O2) or air. HRV and the heart rate response to an orthostatic challenge were measured for 3 days before and after each trial, while venous blood samples were collected pre‐, 0, 2, and 24 h post‐exercise. Hypoxia had no significant effect compared with air. Subgroup analysis of those who had a drop in oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) > 10% between hypoxia and air compared with those who did not, demonstrated a significantly altered HRV response (△HFnu: −2.1 ± 0.9 vs 8.6 ± 9.3, △LFnu: 2.1 ± 1.0 vs −8.6 ± 9.4) at 24 h post‐exercise and increased circulating monocytes (1.3 ± 0.2 vs 0.8 ± 0.2 × 109/L) immediately post‐hypoxic exercise. Exercise and hypoxia did not change HRV or the systemic immune response to exercise. However, those who had a greater desaturation during hypoxic exercise had an attenuate recovery 24 h post‐exercise and may be more susceptible to accumulating fatigue with subsequent training bouts.
Deep Drawing of Square-Shaped Sheet Metal Parts, Part 1: Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Majlessi S. A. , Lee D.
Published: September 2012

The process of square-cup drawing is modeled employing a simplified finite element analysis technique. In order to make the algorithm computationally efficient, the deformation (total strain) theory of plasticity is adopted. The solution scheme is comprised of specifying a mesh of two-dimensional finite elements with membrane properties over the deformed configuration of the final part geometry. The initial positions of these elements are then computed by minimization of the potential energy, and therefore the strain distributions are determined. In order to verify predictions made by the finite element analysis method, a drawing apparatus is built and various drawing experiments are carried out. A number of circular and square cups are drawn and strain distributions measured. It is observed that there is generally a good agreement between computed and measured results for both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric cases.
An Efficient 2D Finite Element Procedure for the Quenching Analysis With Phase Change
Authors: Wang K. F. , Chandrasekar S. , Yang H. T. Y.
Published: September 2012

An efficient finite element procedure has been developed for the analysis of quenching problems involving nonisothermal phase changes. The finite element analysis includes temperature dependent material properties, a mixed hardening rule to describe the material constitutive model, and the incorporation of time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams. The procedure is applied to the simulation of quenching of steel cylinders and an aluminum connector with temperature-dependent convection boundary conditions. First, the stress analysis of the quenching of an infinite cylinder is carried out and the predicted distributions of temperature and stresses are compared with an available numerical solution to validate the accuracy of the present formulation and procedure. To demonstrate the predictive capability and practical applicability of the developed procedure, the simulation of quenching of finite cylinders of various length-to-diameter ratios and of a square bar are presented. The role of edge effects and specimen geometry on the residual stress distribution is analyzed. In addition, the microstructures developed during the quenching of 1080 carbon steel cylinders are predicted using TTT diagram incorporated in the analysis. The final example addresses the simulation of age hardening in spray quenched 2024 aluminum connector. The example problems are directly related to many practical applications, such as the heat-treatment of solid piston pins used in automotive engines and the spray quenching of aluminum connector. They also illustrate the wide range of material transformations which can be modeled using the present finite element procedure.
Gouge Detection Algorithms for Sculptured Surface NC Generation
Authors: Oliver J. H. , Wysocki D. A. , Goodman E. D.
Published: September 2012

Two algorithms are presented to detect and correct milling errors which can occur in commonly applied three-axis NC generation procedures for sculptured surface parts. The first method exploits surface normals and the geometry of the tool to accurately characterize the chordal deviation resulting from an actual tool motion. The second technique considers the global nature of an entire tool pass to detect gouging in areas of high curvature variation. This method is capable of detecting gouges in both locally concave and convex regions of curvature. The algorithms are designed in a modular fashion and can be incorporated as part of the general generative procedure. Results of such an implementation are presented which demonstrate the benefits of the gouge detection algorithms.
A New Theoretical Approach for the Prediction of Machine Tool Chatter in Milling
Authors: Minis I. , Yanushevsky R.
Published: September 2012

A new method for the prediction of chatter in milling is presented. The dynamics of the milling process are described by a set of differential-difference equations with time varying periodic coefficients. The stability of this system is examined using Fourier analysis and basic properties of the parametric transfer functions of linear periodic systems. The resulting characteristic equation is of infinite order and has constant coefficients. Its truncated version is used to determine the limit of stability employing standard techniques of control theory. The proposed method is applied to a theoretical example and a practical milling system.
On-Line Flank Wear Estimation Using an Adaptive Observer and Computer Vision, Part 1: Theory
Authors: Park Jong-Jin , Ulsoy A. Galip
Published: September 2012

The problem of developing a reliable on-line flank wear measurement system is treated using the integration of an adaptive observer, based on cutting force measurement, and computer vision. In this part of the paper, the theoretical basis and design of the integrated method is presented. Implementation issues are discussed in Part 2 of the paper along with experimental results. The flank wear is modeled as the summation of two unmeasurable states in a nonlinear dynamic system realized in state space equation form. The inputs to the system are the feed, the cutting speed, and the depth of cut (i.e., the cutting conditions) and the output is the cutting force. Based on a simplified version of this flank wear model, an adaptive observer is designed by combining the observer technique and the recursive least squares parameter estimation algorithm. The designed adaptive observer indirectly measures the flank wear and simultaneously estimates one unknown model parameter, using measurements of the cutting force and the cutting conditions. The adaptive observer is integrated with a computer vision system which can directly measure the flank wear with good accuracy. In the integrated system, the adaptive observer is intermittently calibrated using direct flank wear measurements via computer vision. In this part of the paper, the integrated method is presented without referring to any specific computer vision technique. However, a computer vision technique is developed in Part 2 of the paper for an experimental evaluation of the proposed method. The fundamental idea behind the proposed integrated method is that a less accurate indirect flank wear measuring method (i.e., the adaptive observer) is intermittently calibrated by a more accurate direct measurement method (i.e., computer vision).
An On-Line Measurement Technique for Machine Volumetric Error Compensation
Authors: Ni J. , Wu S. M.
Published: September 2012

A hybrid on-line and off-line measurement technique is developed for machine volumetric error compensation based on a multiple-degree-of-freedom laser optical system. When implemented on a 3-axis machine up to 15 geometric error components can be measured simultaneously on-line and the remaining 6 components need to be calibrated off-line. Since the on-line measurement systems use different metrology bases, a modified volumetric error model is derived for a milling machine by considering the measurement features of the multiple-degree-of-freedom system. Through experimental tests, it was found that the discrepancy between the identified errors and the actual errors was less than 4 μm out of a maximum range of 20 μm.
An RNA Profile Identifies Two Subsets of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Differing in Disease Activity
Authors: Ottoboni Linda , Keenan Brendan T. , Tamayo Pablo , Kuchroo Manik , Mesirov Jill P. , Buckle Guy J. , Khoury Samia J. , Hafler David A. , Weiner Howard L. , De Jager Philip L.
Published: September 2012

A peripheral blood mononuclear cell transcriptional profile differentiates two subsets of multiple sclerosis patients differing in their probability of a relapse.
Regulation from the Inside Out
Authors: Methe Heiko
Published: September 2012

The PI3 kinase C2α in endothelial cells orchestrates the creation and maintenance of a healthy vascular system.
The Lymph Node Labyrinth
Authors: Yipp Bryan G.
Published: September 2012

Lymph node innate immune cells are structurally orientated to trap and eradicate entering pathogens.
Analysis of Immune Responses against a Wide Range of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens in Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Kassa Desta , Ran Leonie , Geberemeskel Wudneh , Tebeje Mekashaw , Alemu Amelewerk , Selase Alemayehu , Tegbaru Belete , Franken Kees L. M. C. , Friggen Annemieke H. , van Meijgaarden Krista E. , Ottenhoff Tom H. M. , Wolday Dawit , Messele Tsehaynesh , van Baarle Debbie
Published: September 2012

Characterizing host immune responses to molecular targets ofMycobacterium tuberculosisis essential to develop effective immunodiagnostics and better vaccines. We investigated the immune response against a large series ofM. tuberculosisantigens, including 5 classical and 64 nonclassical (39 DosR regulon-encoded, 4 resuscitation-promoting factor [RPF], and 21 reactivation-associated) antigens in active-pulmonary-tuberculosis (TB) patients. Whole blood from TB patients (n= 34) was stimulatedin vitrowithM. tuberculosisantigens. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was measured after 7 days of stimulation, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The majority of the study participants responded to the classicalM. tuberculosisantigens TB10.4 (84.8%), early secreted antigenic target-6 kDa (ESAT-6)/CFP-10 (70.6%), and purified protein derivative (PPD) (55.9%). However, only 26.5% and 24.2% responded to HSP65 and Ag85A/B, respectively. Of the 64 nonclassical antigens, 23 (33.3%) were immunogenic (IFN-γ levels, >62 pg/ml) and 8 were strong inducers of IFN-γ (IFN-γ levels, ≥100 pg/ml). The RPF antigens were the most immunogenic. In addition, we observed distinct cytokine expression profiles in response to severalM. tuberculosisantigens by multiplex immunoassay. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and IL-6 were commonly detected at high levels after stimulation with 4/15 latency antigens (Rv0081, Rv2006, Rv2629, and Rv1733c) and were found especially in supernatants of the three strong IFN-γ inducers (Rv2629, Rv1009, and Rv2389c). IL-8, IL-6, and IL-17 were exclusively detected after stimulation with Rv0574c, Rv2630, Rv1998, Rv054c, and Rv2028c. In conclusion, in active-pulmonary-TB patients, we identified 23 new immunogenicM. tuberculosisantigens. The distinct expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in response to specific subsets ofM. tuberculosisantigens may be promising for the development of immunodiagnostics.
Variable Expression of O:6
1
in Salmonella Group C2
Authors: Mikoleit M. , Van Duyne M. S. , Halpin J. , McGlinchey B. , Fields P. I.
Published: September 2012

According to the Kauffmann-White scheme, 39 pairs of serovars in
Salmonella
serogroup C2 differ only by the minor antigen O:6
1
. We characterized strains from 10 serovars representing five
Salmonella
serogroup C2 pairs. All strains demonstrated variable expression of O:6
1
. These results indicate that these pairs are not distinct serovars.
Comparison of Three Statistical Methods for Establishing Tentative Wild-Type Population and Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Echinocandins, Amphotericin B, Flucytosine, and Six Candida Species as Determined by the Colorimetric Sensititre YeastOne Method
Authors: Cantón Emilia , Pemán Javier , Hervás David , Iñiguez Carmen , Navarro David , Echeverría Julia , Martínez-Alarcón José , Fontanals Dionisia , Gomila-Sard Bárbara , Buendía Buenaventura , Torroba Luis , Ayats Josefina , Bratos Angel , Sánchez-Reus Ferran , Fernández-Natal Isabel ,   the FUNGEMYCA Study Group
Published: September 2012

The Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) method is a widely used method to determine the susceptibility of
Candida
spp. to antifungal agents. CLSI clinical breakpoints (CBP) have been reported for antifungals, but not using this method. In the absence of CBP, epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) are useful to separate wild-type (WT) isolates (those without mechanisms of resistance) from non-WT isolates (those that can harbor some resistance mechanisms), which is the goal of any susceptibility test. The ECVs for five agents, obtained using the MIC distributions determined by the SYO test, were calculated and contrasted with those for three statistical methods and the MIC
50
and modal MIC, both plus 2-fold dilutions. The median ECVs (in mg/liter) (% of isolates inhibited by MICs equal to or less than the ECV; number of isolates tested) of the five methods for anidulafungin, micafungin, caspofungin, amphotericin B, and flucytosine, respectively, were as follows: 0.25 (98.5%; 656), 0.06 (95.1%; 659), 0.25 (98.7%; 747), 2 (100%; 923), and 1 (98.5%; 915) for
Candida albicans
; 8 (100%; 352), 4 (99.2%; 392), 2 (99.2%; 480), 1 (99.8%; 603), and 0.5 (97.9%; 635) for
C. parapsilosis
; 1 (99.2%; 123), 0.12 (99.2%; 121), 0.25 (99.2%; 138), 2 (100%; 171), and 0.5 (97.2%; 175) for
C. tropicalis
; 0.12 (96.6%; 174), 0.06 (96%; 176), 0.25 (98.4%; 188), 2 (100%; 209), and 0.25 (97.6%; 208) for
C. glabrata
; 0.25 (97%; 33), 0.5 (93.9%; 33), 1 (91.9%; 37), 4 (100%; 51), and 32 (100%; 53) for
C. krusei
; and 4 (100%; 33), 2 (100%; 33), 2 (100%; 54), 1 (100%; 90), and 0.25 (93.4%; 91) for
C. orthopsilosis
. The three statistical methods gave similar ECVs (within one dilution) and included ≥95% of isolates. These tentative ECVs would be useful for monitoring the emergence of isolates with reduced susceptibility by use of the SYO method.
Female Epidemiology of Transcription-Mediated Amplification-Based Trichomonas vaginalis Detection in a Metropolitan Setting with a High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infection
Authors: Munson Erik , Kramme Timothy , Napierala Maureen , Munson Kimber L. , Miller Cheryl , Hryciuk Jeanne E.
Published: September 2012

Recent literature has reported increased accuracy of
Trichomonas vaginalis
transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)-based analyte-specific reagent (ASR) testing in female populations. A retrospective investigation assessed 7,277 female first-void urine, cervical, or vaginal specimens submitted from a high-prevalence sexually transmitted infection (STI) community to characterize prevalence of disease etiologies. The most common STI phenotype reflected detection of solely
T. vaginalis
(54.2% of all health care encounters that resulted in STI detection). In females with detectable
T. vaginalis
, codetection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
occurred in 7.8% and 2.7% of health care encounters, respectively. The mean age of women with detectable
T. vaginalis
(30.6) was significantly higher than those for women with
C. trachomatis
or
N. gonorrhoeae
(22.3 and 21.6, respectively;
P
< 0.0001).
T. vaginalis
was the predominant sexually transmitted agent in women over the age of 20 (
P
< 0.0002).
C. trachomatis
was the most commonly detected agent in females under the age of 21, particularly from cervical specimens. However, first-void urine detection rates for
T. vaginalis
and
C. trachomatis
within this age demographic demonstrated no difference (
P
= 0.92). While overall and cervical specimen-derived detection of
T. vaginalis
within African American majority geographical locales outweighed that within majority Caucasian geographical regions (
P
≤ 0.004), this difference was not noted with first-void urine screening (
P
= 0.54). Health care professionals can consider TMA-based
T. vaginalis
screening for a wide age range of patients; incorporation of first-void urine specimens into screening algorithms can potentiate novel insight into the epidemiology of trichomoniasis.
Multicenter Clinical Evaluation of the Portrait Toxigenic C. difficile Assay for Detection of Toxigenic Clostridium difficile Strains in Clinical Stool Specimens
Authors: Buchan Blake W. , Mackey Tami-Lea A. , Daly Judy A. , Alger Garrison , Denys Gerald A. , Peterson Lance R. , Kehl Sue C. , Ledeboer Nathan A.
Published: September 2012

We compared the Portrait Toxigenic
C. difficile
Assay, a new semiautomated sample-to-result molecular test, to a toxigenic bacterial culture/cell cytotoxin neutralization assay (TBC/CCNA) for the detection of toxigenic
Clostridium difficile
in 549 stool specimens. Stool specimens were also tested by one of three alternative FDA-cleared molecular tests for toxigenic
C. difficile
(Xpert
C. difficile
, Illumigene
C. difficile
, or GeneOhm Cdiff). The sensitivities and specificities of the molecular tests compared to TBC/CCNA were as follows: 98.2% and 92.8% for the Portrait assay, 100% and 91.7% for the Xpert assay, 93.3% and 95.1% for the Illumigene assay, and 97.4% and 98.5% for the GeneOhm assay, respectively. The majority of Portrait false-positive results (20/31; 64.5%) were also positive for
C. difficile
by an alternative molecular test, suggesting an increased sensitivity compared to the culture-based “gold standard” method. The Portrait test detected an assay input of 30 CFU in 100% of spiked samples and detected an input of 10 CFU in 96.7% of samples tested.
Amplification of JNK Signaling Is Necessary To Complete the Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Lytic Replication Cycle
Authors: Stahl James A. , Paden Clinton R. , Chavan Shweta S. , MacLeod Veronica , Edmondson Ricky D. , Speck Samuel H. , Forrest J. Craig
Published: September 2012

Several studies have previously defined host-derived signaling events capable of driving lytic gammaherpesvirus replication or enhancing immediate-early viral gene expression. Yet signaling pathways that regulate later stages of the productive gammaherpesvirus replication cycle are still poorly defined. In this study, we utilized a mass spectrometric approach to identify c-Jun as an abundant cellular phosphoprotein present in late stages of lytic murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) infection. Kinetically, c-Jun phosphorylation was enhanced as infection progressed, and this correlated with enhanced phosphorylation of the c-Jun amino-terminal kinases JNK1 and JNK2 and activation of AP-1 transcription. These events were dependent on progression beyond viral immediate-early gene expression, but not dependent on viral DNA replication. Both pharmacologic and dominant-negative blockade of JNK1/2 activity inhibited viral replication, and this correlated with inhibition of viral DNA synthesis and reduced viral gene expression. These data suggest a model in which MHV68 by necessity amplifies and usurps JNK/c-Jun signaling as infection progresses in order to facilitate late stages of the MHV68 lytic infection cycle.