bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suicide and seasonality
Authors: Christodoulou C. , Douzenis A. , Papadopoulos F. C. , Papadopoulou A. , Bouras G. , Gournellis R. , Lykouras L.
Published: August 2011

Christodoulou C, Douzenis A, Papadopoulos FC, Papadopoulou A, Bouras G, Gournellis R, Lykouras L. Suicide and seasonality.

Objective:  Seasonal variation of deaths by suicide offers an important pathway in the study of possible suicide determinants of suicide and consequently suicide prevention.

Method:  We conducted a review of the literature on suicide seasonality, assessing articles published between 1979 and 2009.

Results:  The majority of the studies confirm a peak in spring, mainly for men, older individuals, and violent methods of suicide. A secondary peak during autumn is observed. There is no common seasonality pattern for suicide methods. However, there are also certain studies that did not confirm seasonal variation. Inconsistent results with reduced, unchanged, and even increased suicide seasonality have been reported. Aspects on the association between seasonality and suicides are discussed. Except sex, age, and method of suicide, other parameters were taken into account to find more specific characteristics of seasonality in suicides as well. The influence of clinical, bioclimatic, sociodemographic as well as biological factors seems to affect the seasonal variation.

Conclusion:  Studies from both the Northern and the Southern hemisphere report a seasonal pattern for suicides. These studies are not only an important source of epidemiological data for suicides but also represent a global effort to uncover hidden parameters of this self‐destructive behaviour.
Ferlins: Regulators of Vesicle Fusion for Auditory Neurotransmission, Receptor Trafficking and Membrane Repair
Authors: Lek Angela , Evesson Frances J. , Sutton R. Bryan , North Kathryn N. , Cooper Sandra T.
Published: August 2011

Ferlins are a family of multiple C2 domain proteins with emerging roles in vesicle fusion and membrane trafficking. Ferlin mutations are associated with muscular dystrophy (dysferlin) and deafness (otoferlin) in humans, and infertility in Caenorhabditis elegans (Fer‐1) and Drosophila (misfire), demonstrating their importance for normal cellular functioning. Ferlins show ancient origins in eukaryotic evolution and are detected in all eukaryotic kingdoms, including unicellular eukaryotes and apicomplexian protists, suggesting origins in a common ancestor predating eukaryotic evolutionary branching. The characteristic feature of the ferlin family is their multiple tandem cytosolic C2 domains (five to seven C2 domains), the most of any protein family, and an extremely rare feature amongst eukaryotic proteins. Ferlins also bear a unique nested DysF domain and small conserved 60–70 residue ferlin‐specific sequences (Fer domains). Ferlins segregate into two subtypes based on the presence (type I ferlin) or absence (type II ferlin) of the DysF and FerA domains. Ferlins have diverse tissue‐specific and developmental expression patterns, with ferlin animal models united by pathologies arising from defects in vesicle fusion. Consistent with their proposed role in vesicle trafficking, ferlin interaction partners include cytoskeletal motors, other vesicle‐associated trafficking proteins and transmembrane receptors or channels. Herein we summarize the research history of the ferlins, an intriguing family of structurally conserved proteins with a preserved ancestral function as regulators of vesicle fusion and receptor trafficking.

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Method to Achieve High Frame Rates in a Scanning Fiber Endoscope
Authors: Kundrat Matthew J. , Reinhall Per G. , Seibel Eric J.
Published: August 2011

A new and miniature imaging device is being developed to allow flexible endoscopy in regions of the body that are difficult to reach. The scanning fiber endoscope employs a single scanning optical fiber to illuminate a target area, while backscattered light is detected one pixel at a time to build a complete image. During each imaging cycle the fiber is driven outward in a spiral pattern from its resting state at the image center to the outer fringe of the image. At this point, the fiber is quickly driven back to its initial position before acquiring a subsequent frame. This work shortens the time between successive images to achieve higher overall frame rates by applying a carefully timed input, which counteracts the tip motion of the scanning fiber, quickly forcing the scanning fiber to the image center. This input is called motion braking and is a square wave function dependent upon the damped natural frequency of the scanning fiber and the instantaneous tip displacement and velocity. Imaging efficiency of the scanning fiber endoscope was increased from 75–89% with this implementation.
Effects of DNA Methylation on Expression of Virulence Genes in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Banas Jeffrey A. , Biswas Saswati , Zhu Min
Published: August 2011

Bacteria produce a variety of enzymes capable of methylating DNA. In many species, the majority of adenine methylation is accomplished by the DNA adenine methylase Dam. In
Escherichia coli
the Dam methylase plays roles in the initiation of replication, mismatch repair, and gene regulation. In a number of other bacterial species, mutation or overexpression of Dam leads to attenuation of virulence. Homologues of the
dam
gene exist in some members of the
Firmicutes
, including
Streptococcus mutans
, a dental pathogen. An
S. mutans
strain inactivated in the
dam
gene (SMU.504; here designated
damA
) was engineered, and phenotypes linked to cariogenicity were examined. A prominent observation was that the
damA
mutant produced greater amounts of glucan than the parental strain. Real-time PCR confirmed upregulation of
gtfB
. To determine whether other loci were affected by the
damA
mutation, a microarray analysis was carried out. Seventy genes were upregulated at least 2-fold in the
damA
mutant, and 33 genes were downregulated at least 2-fold. In addition to
gtfB
(upregulated 2.6-fold; 1.7-fold when measured by real-time PCR), other upregulated virulence factors included
gbpC
(upregulated 2.1-fold) and loci predicted to encode bacteriocins (upregulated 2- to 7-fold). Various sugar transport operons were also upregulated, the most extreme being the cellobiose operon (upregulated nearly 40-fold). Expression of
sacB
, encoding fructosyltransferase, was downregulated 2.4-fold. The sequence 5′-GATC-3′ appeared to constitute the recognition sequence for methylation. These results provide evidence that DNA methylation in
S. mutans
has a global effect on gene expression, including that of genes associated with cariogenic potential.
Microarray-Based Analysis of IncA/C Plasmid-Associated Genes from Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica
Authors: Lindsey Rebecca L. , Frye Jonathan G. , Fedorka-Cray Paula J. , Meinersmann Richard J.
Published: August 2011

In the family
Enterobacteriaceae
, plasmids have been classified according to 27 incompatibility (Inc) or replicon types that are based on the inability of different plasmids with the same replication mechanism to coexist in the same cell. Certain replicon types such as IncA/C are associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). We developed a microarray that contains 286 unique 70-mer oligonucleotide probes based on sequences from five IncA/C plasmids: pYR1 (
Yersinia ruckeri
), pPIP1202 (
Yersinia pestis
), pP99-018 (
Photobacterium damselae
), pSN254 (
Salmonella enterica
serovar Newport), and pP91278 (
Photobacterium damselae
). DNA from 59
Salmonella enterica
isolates was hybridized to the microarray and analyzed for the presence or absence of genes. These isolates represented 17 serovars from 14 different animal hosts and from different geographical regions in the United States. Qualitative cluster analysis was performed using CLUSTER 3.0 to group microarray hybridization results. We found that IncA/C plasmids occurred in two lineages distinguished by a major insertion-deletion (indel) region that contains genes encoding mostly hypothetical proteins. The most variable genes were represented by transposon-associated genes as well as four antimicrobial resistance genes (
aphA
,
merP
,
merA
, and
aadA
). Sixteen mercury resistance genes were identified and highly conserved, suggesting that mercury ion-related exposure is a stronger pressure than anticipated. We used these data to construct a core IncA/C genome and an accessory genome. The results of our studies suggest that the transfer of antimicrobial resistance determinants by transfer of IncA/C plasmids is somewhat less common than exchange within the plasmids orchestrated by transposable elements, such as transposons, integrating and conjugative elements (ICEs), and insertion sequence common regions (IS
CR
s), and thus pose less opportunity for exchange of antimicrobial resistance.
Enhancement of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Biomass Production under Drought Conditions by the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Sebacina vermifera
Authors: Ghimire Sita R. , Craven Kelly D.
Published: August 2011

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of cocultivating the important bioenergy crop switchgrass with the ectomycorrhizal fungusSebacina vermiferaunder severe drought conditions. Plants cocultivated with the fungus produced significantly higher biomass and had a higher macronutrient content than uninoculated control plants under both adequately watered and drought conditions.
Iron Uptake by Toxic and Nontoxic Strains of Microcystis aeruginosa
Authors: Fujii Manabu , Rose Andrew L. , Waite T. David
Published: August 2011

Iron uptake by microcystin-producing and non-microcystin-producing strains of
Microcystis aeruginosa
was investigated through short-term uptake assays. Although strain-specific differences were observed, the siderophore-independent Fe uptake kinetics were essentially similar (e.g., maximum uptake rates of 2.0 to 3.3 amol·cell
−1
·h
−1
) for the wild-type toxic strain PCC7806 and a genetically engineered mutant unable to produce microcystin.
sxtA
-Based Quantitative Molecular Assay To Identify Saxitoxin-Producing Harmful Algal Blooms in Marine Waters
Authors: Murray Shauna A. , Wiese Maria , Stüken Anke , Brett Steve , Kellmann Ralf , Hallegraeff Gustaaf , Neilan Brett A.
Published: August 2011

The recent identification of genes involved in the production of the potent neurotoxin and keystone metabolite saxitoxin (STX) in marine eukaryotic phytoplankton has allowed us for the first time to develop molecular genetic methods to investigate the chemical ecology of harmful algal blooms
in situ
. We present a novel method for detecting and quantifying the potential for STX production in marine environmental samples. Our assay detects a domain of the gene
sxtA
that encodes a unique enzyme putatively involved in the
sxt
pathway in marine dinoflagellates,
sxtA4
. A product of the correct size was recovered from nine strains of four species of STX-producing
Alexandrium
and
Gymnodinium catenatum
and was not detected in the non-STX-producing
Alexandrium
species, other dinoflagellate cultures, or an environmental sample that did not contain known STX-producing species. However,
sxtA4
was also detected in the non-STX-producing strain of
Alexandrium tamarense
, Tasmanian ribotype. We investigated the copy number of
sxtA4
in three strains of
Alexandrium catenella
and found it to be relatively constant among strains. Using our novel method, we detected and quantified
sxtA4
in three environmental blooms of
Alexandrium catenella
that led to STX uptake in oysters. We conclude that this method shows promise as an accurate, fast, and cost-effective means of quantifying the potential for STX production in marine samples and will be useful for biological oceanographic research and harmful algal bloom monitoring.
Nitrate-Dependent Degradation of Acetone by Alicycliphilus and Paracoccus Strains and Comparison of Acetone Carboxylase Enzymes
Authors: Dullius Carlos Henrique , Chen Ching-Yuan , Schink Bernhard
Published: August 2011

A novel acetone-degrading, nitrate-reducing bacterium, strain KN Bun08, was isolated from an enrichment culture with butanone and nitrate as the sole sources of carbon and energy. The cells were motile short rods, 0.5 to 1 by 1 to 2 μm in size, which gave Gram-positive staining results in the exponential growth phase and Gram-negative staining results in the stationary-growth phase. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolate was assigned to the genus
Alicycliphilus
. Besides butanone and acetone, the strain used numerous fatty acids as substrates. An ATP-dependent acetone-carboxylating enzyme was enriched from cell extracts of this bacterium and of
Alicycliphilus denitrificans
K601
T
by two subsequent DEAE Sepharose column procedures. For comparison, acetone carboxylases were enriched from two additional nitrate-reducing bacterial species,
Paracoccus denitrificans
and
P. pantotrophus
. The products of the carboxylase reaction were acetoacetate and AMP rather than ADP. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of cell extracts and of the various enzyme preparations revealed bands corresponding to molecular masses of 85, 78, and 20 kDa, suggesting similarities to the acetone carboxylase enzymes described in detail for the aerobic bacterium
Xanthobacter autotrophicus
strain Py2 (85.3, 78.3, and 19.6 kDa) and the phototrophic bacterium
Rhodobacter capsulatus
. Protein bands were excised and compared by mass spectrometry with those of acetone carboxylases of aerobic bacteria. The results document the finding that the nitrate-reducing bacteria studied here use acetone-carboxylating enzymes similar to those of aerobic and phototrophic bacteria.
Simultaneous Nitrite-Dependent Anaerobic Methane and Ammonium Oxidation Processes
Authors: Luesken Francisca A. , Sánchez Jaime , van Alen Theo A. , Sanabria Janeth , Op den Camp Huub J. M. , Jetten Mike S. M. , Kartal Boran
Published: August 2011

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (n-damo) and ammonium (anammox) are two recently discovered processes in the nitrogen cycle that are catalyzed by n-damo bacteria, including “
Candidatus
Methylomirabilis oxyfera,” and anammox bacteria, respectively. The feasibility of coculturing anammox and n-damo bacteria is important for implementation in wastewater treatment systems that contain substantial amounts of both methane and ammonium. Here we tested this possible coexistence experimentally. To obtain such a coculture, ammonium was fed to a stable enrichment culture of n-damo bacteria that still contained some residual anammox bacteria. The ammonium supplied to the reactor was consumed rapidly and could be gradually increased from 1 to 20 mM/day. The enriched coculture was monitored by fluorescence
in situ
hybridization and 16S rRNA and
pmoA
gene clone libraries and activity measurements. After 161 days, a coculture with about equal amounts of n-damo and anammox bacteria was established that converted nitrite at a rate of 0.1 kg-N/m
3
/day (17.2 mmol day
−1
). This indicated that the application of such a coculture for nitrogen removal may be feasible in the near future.
High Yields of 2,3-Butanediol and Mannitol in Lactococcus lactis through Engineering of NAD
+
Cofactor Recycling
Authors: Gaspar Paula , Neves Ana Rute , Gasson Michael J. , Shearman Claire A. , Santos Helena
Published: August 2011

Manipulation of NADH-dependent steps, and particularly disruption of the
las
-located lactate dehydrogenase (
ldh
) gene in
Lactococcus lactis
, is common to engineering strategies envisaging the accumulation of reduced end products other than lactate. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments revealed that three out of the four genes assigned to lactate dehydrogenase in the genome of
L. lactis
, i.e., the
ldh
,
ldhB
, and
ldhX
genes, were expressed in the parental strain MG1363. Given that genetic redundancy is often a major cause of metabolic instability in engineered strains, we set out to develop a genetically stable lactococcal host tuned for the production of reduced compounds. Therefore, the
ldhB
and
ldhX
genes were sequentially deleted in
L. lactis
FI10089, a strain with a deletion of the
ldh
gene. The single, double, and triple mutants, FI10089, FI10089Δ
ldhB
, and FI10089Δ
ldhB
Δ
ldhX
, showed similar growth profiles and displayed mixed-acid fermentation, ethanol being the main reduced end product. Hence, the alcohol dehydrogenase-encoding gene, the
adhE
gene, was inactivated in FI10089, but the resulting strain reverted to homolactic fermentation due to induction of the
ldhB
gene. The three lactate dehydrogenase-deficient mutants were selected as a background for the production of mannitol and 2,3-butanediol. Pathways for the biosynthesis of these compounds were overexpressed under the control of a nisin promoter, and the constructs were analyzed with respect to growth parameters and product yields under anaerobiosis. Glucose was efficiently channeled to mannitol (maximal yield, 42%) or to 2,3-butanediol (maximal yield, 67%). The theoretical yield for 2,3-butanediol was achieved. We show that FI10089Δ
ldhB
is a valuable basis for engineering strategies aiming at the production of reduced compounds.
Differential Bacteriophage Mortality on Exposure to Copper
Authors: Li Jinyu , Dennehy John J.
Published: August 2011

Many studies report that copper can be used to control microbial growth, including that of viruses. We determined the rates of copper-mediated inactivation for a wide range of bacteriophages. We used two methods to test the effect of copper on bacteriophage survival. One method involved placing small volumes of bacteriophage lysate on copper and stainless steel coupons. Following exposure, metal coupons were rinsed with lysogeny broth, and the resulting fluid was serially diluted and plated on agar with the corresponding bacterial host. The second method involved adding copper sulfate (CuSO
4
) to bacteriophage lysates to a final concentration of 5 mM. Aliquots were removed from the mixture, serially diluted, and plated with the appropriate bacterial host. Significant mortality was observed among the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) bacteriophages Φ6 and Φ8, the single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) bacteriophage PP7, the ssDNA bacteriophage ΦX174, and the dsDNA bacteriophage PM2. However, the dsDNA bacteriophages PRD1, T4, and λ were relatively unaffected by copper. Interestingly, lipid-containing bacteriophages were most susceptible to copper toxicity. In addition, in the first experimental method, the pattern of bacteriophage Φ6 survival over time showed a plateau in mortality after lysates dried out. This finding suggests that copper's effect on bacteriophage is mediated by the presence of water.
High-Throughput Workflow for Monitoring and Mining Bioprocess Data and Its Application to Inferring the Physiological Response of Escherichia coli to Perturbations
Authors: Heux Stéphanie , Philippe Benjamin , Portais Jean-Charles
Published: August 2011

Miniaturization and high-throughput screening are currently the focus of emerging research areas such as systems biology and systems biotechnology. A fluorescence-based screening assay for the online monitoring of oxygen and pH and a numerical method to mine the resulting online process data are described. The assay employs commercial phosphorescent oxygen- and pH-sensitive probes in standard 48- or 96-well plates on a plate reader equipped with a shaker. In addition to dual parametric analysis of both pH and oxygen in a single well, the assay allows monitoring of growth, as measured by absorbance. Validation of the assay is presented and compared with commercially available plates equipped with optical sensors for oxygen and pH. By using model-free fitting to the readily available online measurements, the length and rate of each phase such as the duration of lag and transition phase or acidification, growth, and oxygen consumption rates are automatically detected. In total, nine physiological descriptors, which can be used for further statistical and comparison analysis, are extracted from the pH, oxygen partial pressure (pO
2
), and optical density (OD) profiles. The combination of a simple mix-and-measure procedure with an automatic data mining method allows high sample throughput and good reproducibility while providing a physiological state identification and characterization of test cells. As a proof of concept, the utility of the workflow in assessing the physiological response of
Escherichia coli
to environmental and genetic perturbations is demonstrated.
An Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factor-Mediated Cell Surface Signaling System in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 Regulates Gene Expression in Response to Heterologous Siderophores
Authors: Markel Eric , Maciak Charlene , Butcher Bronwyn G. , Myers Christopher R. , Stodghill Paul , Bao Zhongmeng , Cartinhour Sam , Swingle Bryan
Published: August 2011

The diversity of regulatory systems encoded by bacteria provides an indication of the variety of stresses and interactions that these organisms encounter in nature. We have been investigating how the plant pathogen
Pseudomonas syringae
pv. tomato DC3000 responds to iron limitation and have focused on the iron starvation (IS) sigma factors to identify regulon members and to explore the mechanistic details of genetic control for this class of regulators. In the study described in this report, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation paired with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to screen the genome for locations associated with binding of the
P. syringae
IS sigma factor PSPTO_1203. We used multiple methods to demonstrate differential regulation of two genes identified in the ChIP-Seq screen and characterize the promoter elements that facilitate PSPTO_1203-dependent regulation. The genes regulated by PSPTO_1203 encode a TonB-dependent transducer (PSPTO_1206) and a cytoplasmic membrane protein (PSPTO_2145), which is located in the
P. syringae
pyoverdine cluster. Additionally, we identified siderophores that induce the activity of PSPTO_1203 and used this information to investigate the functional components of the signal transduction cascade.
Bacterioopsin-Mediated Regulation of Bacterioruberin Biosynthesis in Halobacterium salinarum
Authors: Dummer Antoinette M. , Bonsall Jessica C. , Cihla Jacob B. , Lawry Stephanie M. , Johnson Gabriela C. , Peck Ronald F.
Published: August 2011

Integral membrane protein complexes consisting of proteins and small molecules that act as cofactors have important functions in all organisms. To form functional complexes, cofactor biosynthesis must be coordinated with the production of corresponding apoproteins. To examine this coordination, we study bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a light-induced proton pump in the halophilic archaeon
Halobacterium salinarum
. This complex consists of a retinal cofactor and bacterioopsin (BO), the BR apoprotein. To examine possible novel regulatory mechanisms linking BO and retinal biosynthesis, we deleted
bop
, the gene that encodes BO.
bop
deletion resulted in a dramatic increase of bacterioruberins, carotenoid molecules that share biosynthetic precursors with retinal. Additional studies revealed that bacterioruberins accumulate in the absence of BO regardless of the presence of retinal or BR, suggesting that BO inhibits bacterioruberin biosynthesis to increase the availability of carotenoid precursors for retinal biosynthesis. To further examine this potential regulatory mechanism, we characterized an enzyme, encoded by the
lye
gene, that catalyzes bacterioruberin biosynthesis. BO-mediated inhibition of bacterioruberin synthesis appears to be specific to the
H. salinarum
lye
-encoded enzyme, as expression of a
lye
homolog from
Haloferax volcanii
, a related archaeon that synthesizes bacterioruberins but lacks opsins, resulted in bacterioruberin synthesis that was not reduced in the presence of BO. Our results provide evidence for a novel regulatory mechanism in which biosynthesis of a cofactor is promoted by apoprotein-mediated inhibition of an alternate biochemical pathway. Specifically, BO accumulation promotes retinal production by inhibiting bacterioruberin biosynthesis.
ISOMERIC YIELDS RATIOS IN 120Te(γ,n)119m,gTe REACTION IN THE E1-GIANT RESONANCE REGION
Authors: MAZUR V. M. , SYMOCHKO D. M. , BIGAN Z. M. , POLTORZHYTSKA T. V.
Published: August 2011

Isomeric state excitation in the 120 Te (γ,n)119m,g Te reaction within the 10–20 MeV energy range has been studied with bremsstrahlung beams. Energy dependences of experimental isomeric yields ratios and reaction cross-sections have been obtained. Experimental results are compared with TALYS-1.2 calculations.
Indoleamine 2,3-diooxygenase in periaortic fat: mechanisms of inhibition of contraction
Authors: Watts Stephanie W. , Shaw Samantha , Burnett Robert , Dorrance Anne M.
Published: August 2011

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) metabolizes l-tryptophan to l-kynurenine, promotes immunosuppression, and has been described as a consumer of superoxide. We discovered IDO expression in periaortic fat and tested the hypothesis that periarterial IDO functionally reduces agonist-induced contraction. Our model was the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and superior mesenteric artery of the male Sprague-Dawley rat. Periaortic fat from the thoracic aorta stained intensely for IDO, the brown fat marker uncoupling protein-1, and oil red O as a general lipid marker. White fat around the mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta stained less for IDO; brown fat was less abundant. IDO activity (kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio via HPLC) was detected in visceral and mesenteric artery fat (ratio: ∼4) but was highest in perithoracic aortic fat (ratio: 10 ± 1.1). In isometric contractile experiments, periadventitial fat reduced ANG II-induced thoracic aortic (with fat: 34% of without fat) and mesenteric artery (with fat: 63% of without fat) maximal contraction. In contrast, periadventitial fat did not reduce agonist-induced contraction in the abdominal aorta. The IDO inhibitor 1-l-methyltryptophan (1-MT) reversed the fat-induced reduction of ANG II-induced contraction in the thoracic aorta but not in the mesenteric artery. The IDO metabolite kynurenine relaxed the thoracic aorta only at high (9 mM) concentrations, whereas the downstream metabolite quinolinic acid (1 mM) relaxed the contracted thoracic aorta (∼80%). 1-MT did not correct the reduction in basal superoxide levels observed in the presence of perithoracic aortic fat. We conclude that IDO is an enzyme active primarily in brown fat surrounding the thoracic aorta and depresses aortic contractility.
Uridine adenosine tetraphosphate induces contraction of airway smooth muscle
Authors: Gui Yu , Wang ZengYong , Sun XiaoRui , Walsh Michael P. , Li Jing-Jing , Gao Jie , Zheng Xi-Long
Published: August 2011

Contraction of airway smooth muscle (ASM) plays an important role in the regulation of air flow and is potentially involved in the pathophysiology of certain respiratory diseases. Extracellular nucleotides regulate ASM contraction via purinergic receptors, but the signaling mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Uridine adenosine tetraphosphate (Up4A) contains both pyrimidine and purine moieties, which are known to potentially activate P2X and P2Y receptors. Both P2X and P2Y receptors have been identified in the lung, including airway epithelial cells and ASM. We report here a study of purinergic signaling in the respiratory system, with a focus on the effect of Up4A on ASM contraction. Up4A induced contraction of rat isolated trachea and extrapulmonary bronchi as well as human intrapulmonary bronchioles. Up4A-induced contraction was blocked by di-inosine pentaphosphate, a P2X antagonist, but not by suramin, a nonselective P2 antagonist. Up4A-induced contraction was also attenuated by α,β-methylene-ATP-mediated P2X receptor desensitization. Several P2X receptors were detected at the mRNA level: P2X1, P2X4, P2X6, and P2X7, and to a lesser extent P2X3. Furthermore, the Up4A response was inhibited by removal of extracellular Ca2+ and by the presence of the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine, or the Rho-associated kinase inhibitor, H1152. We conclude that Up4A stimulates ASM contraction, and the underlying signaling mechanism appears to involve P2X (most likely P2X1) receptors, extracellular Ca2+ entry via L-type Ca2+ channels, and Ca2+ sensitization through the RhoA/Rho-associated kinase pathway. This study will add to our understanding of the pathophysiological roles of extracellular nucleotides in the lung.
Exposure to Glycolytic Carbon Sources Reveals a Novel Layer of Regulation for the MalT Regulon
Authors: Reimann Sylvia A. , Wolfe Alan J.
Published: August 2011

Bacteria adapt to changing environments by means of tightly coordinated regulatory circuits. The use of synthetic lethality, a genetic phenomenon in which the combination of two nonlethal mutations causes cell death, facilitates identification and study of such circuitry. In this study, we show that theE.coli ompR malTcondouble mutant exhibits a synthetic lethal phenotype that is environmentally conditional. MalTcon, the constitutively active form of the maltose system regulator MalT, causes elevated expression of the outer membrane porin LamB, which leads to death in the absence of the osmoregulator OmpR. However, the presence and metabolism of glycolytic carbon sources, such as sorbitol, promotes viability and unveils a novel layer of regulation within the complex circuitry that controls maltose transport and metabolism.
Tariffs Ranking in Mixed Oligopoly with Revenue Constraint
Authors: Wang Leonard F. S. , Wang Jean , Tang Long , Lee Jen-Yao
Published: August 2011

Utilizing linear mixed oligopoly model, this paper explores the magnitude of the maximum‐revenue tariff, optimum‐welfare tariff, and revenue‐constrained optimal tariff that is especially designed for the consideration of the bureaucratic inefficiency. In particular, the tariff ranking issue is examined under both cases of Cournot competition and domestic public leadership. We found that, under Cournot competition, the optimum‐welfare tariff is the highest and it is followed by the revenue‐constrained optimal tariff while the maximum‐revenue tariff is the lowest. But, under Stackelberg public leadership, if the domestic private firms are fewer than the foreign firms, the maximum‐revenue tariff becomes the highest and the optimum‐welfare exceeds the revenue‐constrained optimal tariff.
Yule-Walker Estimation for the Moving-Average Model
Authors: Dimitriou-Fakalou Chrysoula
Published: August 2011

The standard Yule-Walker equations, as they are known for an autoregression, are generalized
to involve the moments of a moving-average process indexed on any number of dimensions. Once
observations become available, new moments estimators are set to imitate the theoretical equations.
These estimators are not only consistent but also asymptotically normal for any number of indexes.
Their variance matrix resembles a standard result from maximum Gaussian likelihood estimation.
A simulation study is added to conclude on their efficiency.
New Topologies of Lossless Grounded Inductor Using OTRA
Authors: Pandey Rajeshwari , Pandey Neeta , Paul Sajal K. , Singh A. , Sriram B. , Trivedi K.
Published: August 2011

Two alternate topologies of lossless grounded inductor have been proposed using operational transresistance amplifier (OTRA). Three applications using the proposed inductors are also included. PSPice simulation and experimental results have been included to demonstrate the performance and verify the theoretical analysis.
Oscillation of Certain Second‐Order Sub‐Half‐Linear Neutral Impulsive Differential Equations
Authors: Sun Yuangong
Published: August 2011

By introducing auxiliary functions, we investigate the oscillation of a class
of second‐order sub‐half‐linear neutral impulsive differential equations of the form [r(t)ϕβ(z′(t))] ′ + p(t)ϕα(x(σ(t))) = 0, t ≠ θk, where β > α > 0, z(t) = x(t) + λ(t)x(τ(t)).   Several oscillation criteria for the above equation are established in both the case 0 ≤ λ(t) ≤ 1 and the case −1 < −μ ≤ λ(t) ≤ 0, which generalize and complement some existing results in the literature. Two examples are also given to illustrate the effect of impulses on the oscillatory behavior of solutions to the equation.
Management of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Using Glucocorticoid: A Case Report
Authors: Yalcin Selim , Toprak Selami Kocak , Erismis Betul , Altundag Ozden , Ozdemir Handan , Topcuoglu Nuray
Published: August 2011

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a self-limiting, benign, and rare systemic lymphadenitis with unknown etiology. The cardinal symptoms are fever, lymphadenopathy and night sweat; consequently, it is first necessary to rule out infectious, lymphoproliferative, and connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Histology can allow diagnosis by demonstrating necrotizing histiocyte lymphadenitis. Disease, which has no specific treatment, self-limits itself in 1 to 6 months clinically. However, non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents can be given for symptomatic treatment and there are reports using corticosteroids and antibiotics in complicated cases. This article concerns a 32-years-old female who diagnosed Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and treated with glucocorticoid.
Acquired Activated Protein C Resistance, Thrombophilia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Study Performed in an Irish Cohort of Pregnant Women
Authors: Sedano-Balbás Sara , Lyons Mark , Cleary Brendan , Murray Margaret , Gaffney Geraldine , Maher Majella
Published: August 2011

The combination of thrombophilia and pregnancy increases the risk of thrombosis and the potential for adverse outcomes during pregnancy. The most significant common inherited risk factor for thrombophilia is activated protein C resistance (APCR), a poor anticoagulant response of APC in haemostasis, which is mainly caused by an inherited single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), factor V G1691A (FV Leiden) (FVL), referred as inherited APCR. Changes in the levels of coagulation factors: FV, FVIII, and FIX, and anticoagulant factors: protein S (PS) and protein C (PC) can alter APC function causing acquired APCR. Prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T are prothrombotic SNPs which in association with APCR can also increase the risk of thrombosis amongst Caucasians. In this study, a correlation between an acquired APCR phenotype and increased levels of factors V, VIII, and IX was demonstrated. Thrombophilic mutations amongst our acquired APCR pregnant women cohort are relatively common but do not appear to exert a severe undue adverse effect on pregnancy.
A Biometric Key Establishment Protocol for Body Area Networks
Authors: Yao Lin , Liu Bing , Wu Guowei , Yao Kai , Wang Jia
Published: August 2011

Current advances in semiconductor technology have made it possible to implant a network of biosensors inside the human body for health monitoring. In the context of a body area network (BAN), the confidentiality and integrity of the sensitive health information is particularly important. In this paper, we present an ECG (electrocardiogram)-signal-based key establishment protocol to secure the communication between every sensor and the control unit before the physiological data are transferred to external networks for remote analysis or diagnosis. The uniqueness of ECG signal guarantees that our protocol can provide long, random, distinctive and temporal variant keys. Biometric Encryption technique is applied to achieve the mutual authentication and derive a non-linkable session key between every sensor and the control unit. The correctness of the proposed key establishment protocol is formally verified based on SVO logic. Security analysis shows that our protocol can guarantee data confidentiality, authenticity and integrity. Performance analysis shows that it is a lightweight protocol.
Quasi Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Incorporating Highly Conducting Polythiophene-Coated Carbon Nanotube Composites in Ionic Liquid
Authors: Karim Mohammad Rezaul , Islam Ashraful , Singh Surya Prakash , Han Liyuan
Published: August 2011

Conducting polythiophene (PTh) composites with the host filler multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) have been used, for the first time, in the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). A quasi solid-state DSCs with the hybrid MWNT-PTh composites, an ionic liquid of 1-methyl-3-propyl imidazolium iodide (PMII), was placed between the dye-sensitized porous TiO2 and the Pt counter electrode without adding iodine and higher cell efficiency (4.76%) was achieved, as compared to that containing bare PMII (0.29%). The MWNT-PTh nanoparticles are exploited as the extended electron transfer materials and serve simultaneously as catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of .
Proteomics in Pancreatic Cancer Research
Authors: Geng Ruihui , Li Zhaoshen , Li Shude , Gao Jun
Published: August 2011

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis and deeply affects the life of people. Therefore, the earlier diagnosis and better treatments are urgently needed. In recent years, the proteomic technologies are well established and growing rapidly and have been widely applied in clinical applications, especially in pancreatic cancer research. In this paper, we attempt to discuss the development of current proteomic technologies and the application of proteomics to the field of pancreatic cancer research. This will explore the potential perspective in revealing pathogenesis, making the diagnosis earlier and treatment.
Enhancing Facial Esthetics by Other Modalities
Authors: Suman Thotapalli
Published: August 2011

Preprosthetic surgeries are generally dealt with surgical procedures performed to facilitate fabrication of prosthesis or improve the prognosis of prosthodontic care. In general the surgical procedures include various soft and hard tissue procedures which are restricted intraorally. Maxillofacial prosthodontics is not restricted to restorations performed intra-orally. Various extraoral surgical procedures have come into light in the recent past which helps to improve the prosthodontic outcome of craniofacial region. The current paper tries to elaborate various minimally invasive cosmetic reconstructive procedures and materials available in recent times.
Approximate Boundary Controllability for Semilinear Delay Differential Equations
Authors: Wang Lianwen
Published: August 2011

This paper considers the approximate controllability for a class of semilinear
delay control systems described by a semigroup formulation with boundary control. Sufficient conditions for approximate controllability are established provided the approximate
controllability of corresponding linear systems.
Application of Chaos and Neural Network in Power Load Forecasting
Authors: Li Li , Chong-xin Liu
Published: August 2011

This paper employs chaos theory into power load forecasting. Lyapunov exponents on chaos theory are calculated to judge whether it is a chaotic system. Delay time and embedding dimension are calculated to reconstruct the phase space and determine the structure of artificial neural network (ANN). Improved back propagation (BP) algorithm based on genetic algorithm (GA) is used to train and forecast. Finally, this paper uses the load data of Shaanxi province power grid of China to complete the short‐term load forecasting. The results show that the model in this paper is more effective than classical standard BP neural network model.
Spirooxazine Photoisomerization and Relaxation in Polymer Matrices
Authors: Larkowska Maria , Wuebbenhorst Michael , Kucharski Stanislaw
Published: August 2011

9′-Hydroxy-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[indoline-2,3′[3H]naphtha[2,1-b]-1,4oxazine] (SPO-7OH) was used in studies of photochromic transformations in polymer matrices. Illumination with UV lamp caused opening the spirostructure of the oxazine with formation of open merocyanine species absorbing at ca. 610 nm. The kinetic studies of thermal relaxation of the open form showed that this process can be described with a biexponential function including both photochemical reaction and rheological behaviour of the polymeric environment. Basing on Arrhenius plot of the rate constant ascribed to the photochemical reaction, the activation energy was determined, which was 66.1 and 84.7 kJ/mole for poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) matrix, respectively.
Multiple Positive Solutions for First‐Order Impulsive Integrodifferential Equations on the Half Line in Banach Spaces
Authors: Guo Dajun
Published: August 2011

The author discusses the multiple positive solutions for an infinite boundary value problem of first‐order impulsive superlinear integrodifferential equations on the half line in a Banach space by means of the fixed point theorem of cone expansion and compression with norm type.
Common Fixed Point Theorems for a Pair of Weakly Compatible Mappings in Fuzzy Metric Spaces
Authors: Sintunavarat Wutiphol , Kumam Poom
Published: August 2011

We prove some common fixed point theorems for a pair of weakly compatible mappings in fuzzy metric spaces both in the sense of Kramosil and Michalek and in the sense of George and Veeramani by using the new property and give some examples. Our results improve and generalize the main results of Mihet in (Mihet, 2010) and many fixed point theorems in fuzzy metric spaces.
Massive Uterine Leiomyoma in a Patient with Friedreich's Ataxia: Is There a Possible Association?
Authors: Misiakos Evangelos P. , Siama Elli , Schizas Dimitrios , Petropoulos Constantinos , Zavras Nikos , Economopoulos Nikos , Charalabopoulos Alexandros , Macheras Anastasios
Published: August 2011

A possible association between Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and neoplastic development has been recognized. FA patients have low frataxin levels and insufficient response to oxidative stress. In these patients fibroblasts are characterized by a high rate of mutations. Herein, a case of a 39-year-old woman with FA tetraplegia, who was admitted in our department with intestinal obstruction due to a huge uterine tumor, is described. An abdominal CT revealed a huge intra-abdominal mass originating from the right cornu of the uterus. Tumor excision and adhesionlysis were performed. The histological examination of the tumor revealed a leiomyoma. FA patients seem to present with a variety of neoplasms uncommon for their young age. This is the first report of a leiomyoma originating from the genital system in a female patient with FA tetraplegia. Therefore it is important to identify neoplasms at an early stage in patients with FA and start immediate therapy.
Autism, Context/Noncontext Information Processing, and Atypical Development
Authors: Skoyles John R.
Published: August 2011

Autism has been attributed to a deficit in contextual information processing. Attempts to understand autism in terms of such a defect, however, do not include more recent computational work upon context. This work has identified that context information processing depends upon the extraction and use of the information hidden in higher-order (or indirect) associations. Higher-order associations underlie the cognition of context rather than that of situations. This paper starts by examining the differences between higher-order and first-order (or direct) associations. Higher-order associations link entities not directly (as with first-order ones) but indirectly through all the connections they have via other entities. Extracting this information requires the processing of past episodes as a totality. As a result, this extraction depends upon specialised extraction processes separate from cognition. This information is then consolidated. Due to this difference, the extraction/consolidation of higher-order information can be impaired whilst cognition remains intact. Although not directly impaired, cognition will be indirectly impaired by knock on effects such as cognition compensating for absent higher-order information with information extracted from first-order associations. This paper discusses the implications of this for the inflexible, literal/immediate, and inappropriate information processing of autistic individuals.
The CSS and The Two‐Staged Methods for Parameter Estimation in SARFIMA Models
Authors: Egrioglu Erol , Aladag Cagdas Hakan , Kadilar Cem
Published: August 2011

Seasonal Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (SARFIMA) models are used in the analysis of seasonal long memory‐dependent time series. Two methods, which are conditional sum of squares (CSS) and two‐staged methods introduced by Hosking (1984), are proposed to estimate the parameters of SARFIMA models. However, no simulation study has been conducted in the literature. Therefore, it is not known how these methods behave under different parameter settings and sample sizes in SARFIMA models. The aim of this study is to show the behavior of these methods by a simulation study. According to results of the simulation, advantages and disadvantages of both methods under different parameter settings and sample sizes are discussed by comparing the root mean square error (RMSE) obtained by the CSS and two‐staged methods. As a result of the comparison, it is seen that CSS method produces better results than those obtained from the two‐staged method.
Enteromorpha compressa Exhibits Potent Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Shanab Sanaa M. M. , Shalaby Emad A. , El-Fayoumy Eman A.
Published: August 2011

The green macroalgae, Enteromorpha compressa (Linnaeus) Nees, Ulva lactuca, and E. linza, were seasonally collected from Abu Qir bay at Alexandria (Mediterranean Sea) This work aimed to investigate the seasonal environmental conditions, controlling the green algal growth, predominance, or disappearance and determining antioxidant activity. The freshly collected selected alga (E. compressa) was subjected to pigment analysis (chlorophyll and carotenoids) essential oil and antioxidant enzyme determination (ascorbate oxidase and catalase). The air‐dried ground alga was extracted with ethanol (crude extract) then sequentially fractionated by organic solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water). Antioxidant activity of all extracts was assayed using different methods (total antioxidant, DPPH [2, 2 diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl], ABTS [2, 2 azino‐bis ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid], and reducing power, and β‐carotene linoleic acid bleaching methods). The results indicated that the antioxidant activity was concentration and time dependent. Ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated higher antioxidant activity against DPPH method (82.80%) compared to the synthetic standard butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT, 88.5%). However, the crude ethanolic extract, pet ether, chloroform fractions recorded lower to moderate antioxidant activities (49.0, 66.0, and 78.0%, resp.). Using chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses, an active compound was separated and identified from the promising ethyl acetate fraction.
Preparation and Characterization of Self-Assembled Manganese Dioxide Thin Films
Authors: Pang Suh Cem , Chin Suk Fun , Ling Chian Ye
Published: August 2011

Thin films of manganese dioxide (MnO2) were prepared by self-assembly of MnO2nanoparticles directly unto nickel-coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) flexible films using the newly developed horizontal submersion process. The thickness of deposited thin films was controllable by the deposition duration. This horizontal submersion deposition process for thin-film deposition is relatively easy, simple, and cost effective. Effects of deposition duration and calcination temperatures on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of self-assembled MnO2thin films were investigated. Optimized MnO2thin films exhibited high charge capacity, good cycling reversibility, and stability in a mild aqueous electrolyte and are thus promising electrode materials for the fabrication of thin-film electrochemical capacitors.
The Existence of Positive Solutions for Singular Impulse Periodic Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Hao Zhaocai , Chen Tanggui
Published: August 2011

We obtain new result of the existence of positive solutions of a class of singular impulse periodic boundary value problem via a nonlinear alternative principle of Leray‐Schauder. We do not require the monotonicity of functions in paper (Zhang and Wang, 2003). An example is also
given to illustrate our result.