bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen sulfide dilates rat mesenteric arteries by activating endothelial large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels and smooth muscle Ca2+ sparks
Authors: Jackson-Weaver Olan , Osmond Jessica M. , Riddle Melissa A. , Naik Jay S. , Bosc Laura V. Gonzalez , Walker Benjimen R. , Kanagy Nancy L.
Published: March 2013

We have previously shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) reduces myogenic tone and causes relaxation of phenylephrine (PE)-constricted mesenteric arteries. This effect of H2S to cause vasodilation and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperpolarization was mediated by large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels (BKCa). Ca2+ sparks are ryanodine receptor (RyR)-mediated Ca2+-release events that activate BKCa channels in VSMCs to cause membrane hyperpolarization and vasodilation. We hypothesized that H2S activates Ca2+ sparks in small mesenteric arteries. Ca2+ sparks were measured using confocal microscopy in rat mesenteric arteries loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fluo-4. VSMC membrane potential ( Em) was measured in isolated arteries using sharp microelectrodes. In PE-constricted arteries, the H2S donor NaHS caused vasodilation that was inhibited by ryanodine (RyR blocker), abluminal or luminal iberiotoxin (IbTx, BKCa blocker), endothelial cell (EC) disruption, and sulfaphenazole [cytochrome P-450 2C (Cyp2C) inhibitor]. The H2S donor NaHS (10 μmol/l) increased Ca2+ sparks but only in the presence of intact EC and this was blocked by sulfaphenazole or luminal IbTx. Inhibiting cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE)-derived H2S with β-cyano-l-alanine (BCA) also reduced VSMC Ca2+ spark frequency in mesenteric arteries, as did EC disruption. However, excess CSE substrate homocysteine did not affect spark activity. NaHS hyperpolarized VSMC Em in PE-depolarized mesenteric arteries with intact EC and also hyperpolarized EC E m in arteries cut open to expose the lumen. This hyperpolarization was prevented by ryanodine, sulfaphenazole, and abluminal or luminal IbTx. BCA reduced IbTx-sensitive K+ currents in freshly dispersed mesenteric ECs. These results suggest that H2S increases Ca2+ spark activity in mesenteric artery VSMC through activation of endothelial BKCa channels and Cyp2C, a novel vasodilatory pathway for this emerging signaling molecule.
The establishment of rotational polarity in the airway and ependymal cilia: analysis with a novel cilium motility mutant mouse
Authors: Matsuo Moe , Shimada Atsuko , Koshida Sumito , Saga Yumiko , Takeda Hiroyuki
Published: March 2013

The airway is covered by multicilia that beat in a metachronous manner toward the mouth to eliminate debris and infectious particles. Coordinated one-directional beating is an essential feature of multicilia in the airway to guarantee proper mucociliary clearance. Defects in ciliary motility lead to primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), with major symptoms including bronchitis and other chronic respiratory diseases. Recent work suggested that ciliary motility and planar polarity are required in the process of ciliary alignment that produces coordinated beating. However, the extent to which cilia motility is involved in this process in mammals has not yet been fully clarified. Here, to address the role of ciliary motility in the process of coordinated ciliary alignment, we analyzed Kintoun mice mutants ( Ktu−/−). Ktu−/− exhibited typical phenotypes of PCD with complete loss of ciliary motility in trachea and another ciliated tissue, the brain ependyma. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies against axonemal dynein confirmed the loss of multiple axonemal dynein components in mutant cilia. Observation of cilia orientation based on basal foot directions revealed that ciliary motility was not required in the alignment of airway cilia, whereas a strong requirement was observed in brain ependymal cells. Thus we conclude that the involvement of ciliary motility in the establishment of coordinated ciliary alignment varies among tissues.
Severe Penile Curvature following Otis Urethrotomy
Authors: Karaguzel Ersagun , Gur Metin , Tok Dogan S. , Kazaz İlke O. , Eren Huseyin , Kutlu Omer , Ozgur Guner K.
Published: March 2013

Urethral stricture is a common urological pathology with a high recurrence rate after treatment. Urethral manipulations are among its main causes. In this paper, urethral stricture developed secondary to urethral catheterization and was treated with cold-knife internal urethrotomy and the Otis urethrotomy procedure. During the follow-up period, severe ventral penile curvature preventing sexual intercourse developed due to fibrosis of the corpus spongiosum and tunica albuginea of the penis. This ventral penile curvature was corrected with a separate operation using a tunica vaginalis flap harvested from the left scrotum.
Observer-Based Robust Adaptive Fuzzy Control for MIMO Nonlinear Uncertain Systems with Delayed Output
Authors: Chiang Chiang Cheng
Published: March 2013

An observer-based robust adaptive fuzzy control scheme is presented to tackle the problem of the robust stability and the tracking control for a class of multiinput multioutput (MIMO) nonlinear uncertain systems with delayed output. Because the nonlinear system functions and the uncertainties of the controlled system including structural uncertainties are supposed to be unknown, fuzzy logic systems are utilized to approximate these nonlinear system functions and the upper bounded functions of the uncertainties. Moreover, the upper bound of uncertainties caused by these fuzzy modeling errors is also estimated. In addition, the state observer based on state variable filters is designed to estimate all states which are not available for measurement in the controlled system. By constructing an appropriate Lyapunov function and using strictly positive-real (SPR) stability theorem, the proposed robust adaptive fuzzy controller not only guarantees the robust stability of a class of multivariable nonlinear uncertain systems with delayed output but also maintains a good tracking performance. Finally, some simulation results are illustrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control approach.
Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions for a Class of Nonlinear Stochastic Differential Equations
Authors: Komashynska Iryna Volodymyrivna
Published: March 2013

By using successive approximation, we prove existence and uniqueness result for a class of nonlinear stochastic differential equations. Moreover, it is shown that the solution of such equations is a diffusion process and its diffusion coefficients are found.
Qualitative Analysis of a Diffusive Ratio-Dependent Holling-Tanner Predator-Prey Model with Smith Growth
Authors: Yue Zongmin , Wang Wenjuan
Published: March 2013

We investigated the dynamics of a diffusive ratio-dependent Holling-Tanner predator-prey model with Smith growth subject to zero-flux boundary condition. Some qualitative properties, including the dissipation, persistence, and local and global stability of positive constant solution, are discussed. Moreover, we give the refined a priori estimates of positive solutions and derive some results for the existence and nonexistence of nonconstant positive steady state.
Proportional Fair Power Allocation for Secondary Transmitters in the TV White Space
Authors: Koufos Konstantinos , Jäntti Riku
Published: March 2013

The key bottleneck for secondary spectrum usage is the aggregate interference to the primary system receivers due to simultaneous secondary transmissions. Existing power allocation algorithms for multiple secondary transmitters in the TV white space either fail to protect the TV service in all cases or they allocate extremely low power levels to some of the transmitters. In this paper, we propose a power allocation algorithm that favors equally the secondary transmitters and it is able to protect the TV service in all cases. When the number of secondary transmitters is high, the computational complexity of the proposed algorithm becomes high too. We show how the algorithm could be modified to reduce its computational complexity at the cost of negligible performance loss. The modified algorithm could permit a spectrum allocation database to allocate near optimal transmit power levels to tens of thousands of secondary transmitters in real time. In addition, we describe how the modified algorithm could be applied to allow decentralized power allocation for mobile secondary transmitters. In that case, the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing algorithms because it allows reducing the communication signalling overhead between mobile secondary transmitters and the spectrum allocation database.
Anonymous Cluster-Based MANETs with Threshold Signature
Authors: Park YoHan , Park YoungHo , Moon SangJae
Published: March 2013

Security supports are a significant factor in the design of security system in ad hoc networks. It is particularly important to protect the identities of individual nodes to avoid personal privacy concerns. In this paper, we propose a security system for ID-based anonymous cluster-based MANETs to protect the privacy of nodes. Moreover, we propose a threshold signature scheme without pairing computations, which diminishes the computation load on each node. To the best of our knowledge, our proposed security system is the first in which the pseudonym is combined with cluster-based mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) without a trusted entity. According to our protocol analysis, our proposal satisfies most properties for an anonymous security system and effectively copes with dynamic environments with greater efficiency by using secret sharing schemes. Therefore, it could be usefully applied to preserve privacy in dynamic MANETs without a trusted entity, such as military battlefields, emergency areas, mobile marketplaces, and vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs).
Acute Microvascular Changes after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Tso Michael K. , Macdonald R. Loch
Published: March 2013

Subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient global cerebral ischemia result in similar pathophysiological changes in the cerebral microcirculation. These changes include microvascular constriction, increased leukocyte-endothelial interactions, blood brain barrier disruption, and microthrombus formation. This paper will look at various animal and preclinical studies that investigate these various microvascular changes, perhaps providing insight in how these microvessels can be a therapeutic target in both subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient global cerebral ischemia.
Asymptotic Stability of Impulsive Cellular Neural Networks with Infinite Delays via Fixed Point Theory
Authors: Zhang Yutian , Guan Yuanhong
Published: March 2013

We employ the new method of fixed point theory to study the stability of a class of impulsive cellular neural networks with infinite delays. Some novel and concise sufficient conditions are presented ensuring the existence and uniqueness of solution and the asymptotic stability of trivial equilibrium at the same time. These conditions are easily checked and do not require the boundedness and differentiability of delays.
Robust Passivity and Feedback Design for Nonlinear Stochastic Systems with Structural Uncertainty
Authors: Lin Zhongwei , Liu Jizhen , Niu Yuguang
Published: March 2013

This paper discusses the robust passivity and global stabilization problems for a class of uncertain nonlinear stochastic systems with structural uncertainties. A robust version of stochastic Kalman-Yakubovitch-Popov (KYP) lemma is established, which sustains the robust passivity of the system. Moreover, a robust strongly minimum phase system is defined, based on which the uncertain nonlinear stochastic system can be feedback equivalent to a robust passive system. Following with the robust passivity theory, a global stabilizing control is designed, which guarantees that the closed-loop system is globally asymptotically stable in probability (GASP). A numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of our results.
The Extended Symmetry Lie Algebra and the Asymptotic Expansion of the Transversal Correlation Function for the Isotropic Turbulence
Authors: Grebenev V. N. , Grishkov A. N. , Oberlack M.
Published: March 2013

The extended symmetry of the functional of length determined in an affine spaceK3of the correlation vectors for homogeneous isotropic turbulence is studied. The two-point velocity-correlation tensor field (parametrized by the time variablet) of the velocity fluctuations is used to equip this space by a family of the pseudo-Riemannian metricsdl2(t)(Grebenev and Oberlack (2011)). First, we observe the results obtained by Grebenev and Oberlack (2011) and Grebenev et al. (2012) about a geometry of the correlation spaceK3and expose the Lie algebra associated with the equivalence transformation of the above-mentioned functional for the quadratic formdlD22(t)generated bydl2(t)which is similar to the Lie algebra constructed by Grebenev et al. (2012). Then, using the properties of this Lie algebra, we show that there exists a nontrivial central extension wherein the central charge is defined by the same bilinear skew-symmetric formcas for the Witt algebra which measures the number of internal degrees of freedom of the system. For the applications in turbulence, as the main result, we establish the asymptotic expansion of the transversal correlation function for large correlation distances in the frame ofdlD22(t).
Efficient Prime Counting and the Chebyshev Primes
Authors: Planat Michel , Solé Patrick
Published: March 2013

The function where is the logarithm integral and the number of primes up to is well known to be positive up to the (very large) Skewes' number. Likewise, according to Robin's work, the functions and , where and are Chebyshev summatory functions, are positive if and only if Riemann hypothesis (RH) holds. One introduces the jump function at primes and one investigates , , and . In particular, , and for . Besides, for any odd , an infinite set of the so-called Chebyshev primes. In the context of RH, we introduce the so-called Riemann primes as champions of the function (or of the function ). Finally, we find a good prime counting function , that is found to be much better than the standard Riemann prime counting function.
Evaluation of a Model-Based Hemodynamic Monitoring Method in a Porcine Study of Septic Shock
Authors: Revie James A. , Stevenson David , Chase J. Geoffrey , Pretty Chris J. , Lambermont Bernard C. , Ghuysen Alexandre , Kolh Philippe , Shaw Geoffrey M. , Desaive Thomas
Published: March 2013

Introduction. The accuracy and clinical applicability of an improved model-based system for tracking hemodynamic changes is assessed in an animal study on septic shock.Methods. This study used cardiovascular measurements recorded during a porcine trial studying the efficacy of large-pore hemofiltration for treating septic shock. Four Pietrain pigs were instrumented and induced with septic shock. A subset of the measured data, representing clinically available measurements, was used to identify subject-specific cardiovascular models. These models were then validated against the remaining measurements.Results. The system accurately matched independent measures of left and right ventricle end diastolic volumes and maximum left and right ventricular pressures to percentage errors less than 20% (except for the 95th percentile error in maximum right ventricular pressure) and allR2>0.76. An average decrease of 42% in systemic resistance, a main cardiovascular consequence of septic shock, was observed 120 minutes after the infusion of the endotoxin, consistent with experimentally measured trends. Moreover, modelled temporal trends in right ventricular end systolic elastance and afterload tracked changes in corresponding experimentally derived metrics.Conclusions. These results demonstrate that this model-based method can monitor disease-dependent changes in preload, afterload, and contractility in porcine study of septic shock.
Calcium Transient and Sodium‐Calcium Exchange Current in Human versus Rabbit Sinoatrial Node Pacemaker Cells
Authors: Verkerk Arie O. , van Borren Marcel M. G. J. , Wilders Ronald
Published: March 2013

There is an ongoing debate on the mechanism underlying the pacemaker activity of sinoatrial node (SAN) cells, focusing on the relative importance of the “membrane clock” and the “Ca2+ clock” in the generation of the small net membrane current that depolarizes the cell towards the action potential threshold. Specifically, the debate centers around the question whether the membrane clock‐driven hyperpolarization‐activated current, If, which is also known as the “funny current” or “pacemaker current,” or the Ca2+ clock‐driven sodium‐calcium exchange current, INaCa, is the main contributor to diastolic depolarization. In our contribution to this journal’s “Special Issue on Cardiac Electrophysiology,” we present a numerical reconstruction of If and INaCa in isolated rabbit and human SAN pacemaker cells based on experimental data on action potentials, If, and intracellular calcium concentration () that we have acquired from these cells. The human SAN pacemaker cells have a smaller If, a weaker transient, and a smaller INaCa than the rabbit cells. However, when compared to the diastolic net membrane current, INaCa is of similar size in human and rabbit SAN pacemaker cells, whereas If is smaller in human than in rabbit cells.
CuO-CeO2 Nanocomposite: An Efficient Recyclable Catalyst for the Synthesis of Aryl-14H-dibenzo[a-j]xanthenes
Authors: Albadi Jalal , Razeghi Abdolhossein , Abbaszadeh Hossein , Mansournezhad Azam
Published: March 2013

CuO-CeO2 nanocomposite is reported as a highly efficient recyclable catalyst that is applied for the synthesis of Aryl-14H-dibenzo[a-j]xanthenes under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst was synthesized by coprecipitation method and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), BET specific surface area, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The copper nanoparticles are dispersed as fine and amorphous phases on the surface of ceria and made nanoclusters with average size of about 33 nm. This catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and recycled up to 8 consecutive runs without any losing of its efficiency. This procedure provides several advantages such as simple workup, mild reaction conditions, short reaction times, and high yields of the products.
Plant Domestication and Resistance to Herbivory
Authors: Chaudhary Bhupendra
Published: March 2013

Transformation of wild species into elite cultivars through “domestication” entails evolutionary responses in which plant populations adapt to selection. Domestication is a process characterized by the occurrence of key mutations in morphological, phenological, or utility genes, which leads to the increased adaptation and use of the plant; however, this process followed by modern plant breeding practices has presumably narrowed the genetic diversity in crop plants. The reduction of genetic diversity could result in “broad susceptibility” to newly emerging herbivores and pathogens, thereby threatening long-term crop retention. Different QTLs influencing herbivore resistance have also been identified, which overlap with other genes of small effect regulating resistance indicating the presence of pleiotropism or linkage between such genes. However, this reduction in genetic variability could be remunerated by introgression of novel traits from wild perhaps with antifeedant and antinutritional toxic components. Thus it is strongly believed that transgenic technologies may provide a radical and promising solution to combat herbivory as these avoid linkage drag and also the antifeedant angle. Here, important questions related to the temporal dynamics of resistance to herbivory and intricate genetic phenomenon with their impact on crop evolution are addressed and at times hypothesized for future validation.
New Perspectives on How to Discover Drugs from Herbal Medicines: CAM's Outstanding Contribution to Modern Therapeutics
Authors: Pan Si-Yuan , Zhou Shu-Feng , Gao Si-Hua , Yu Zhi-Ling , Zhang Shuo-Feng , Tang Min-Ke , Sun Jian-Ning , Ma Dik-Lung , Han Yi-Fan , Fong Wang-Fun , Ko Kam-Ming
Published: March 2013

With tens of thousands of plant species on earth, we are endowed with an enormous wealth of medicinal remedies from Mother Nature. Natural products and their derivatives represent more than 50% of all the drugs in modern therapeutics. Because of the low success rate and huge capital investment need, the research and development of conventional drugs are very costly and difficult. Over the past few decades, researchers have focused on drug discovery from herbal medicines or botanical sources, an important group of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy. With a long history of herbal usage for the clinical management of a variety of diseases in indigenous cultures, the success rate of developing a new drug from herbal medicinal preparations should, in theory, be higher than that from chemical synthesis. While the endeavor for drug discovery from herbal medicines is “experience driven,” the search for a therapeutically useful synthetic drug, like “looking for a needle in a haystack,” is a daunting task. In this paper, we first illustrated various approaches of drug discovery from herbal medicines. Typical examples of successful drug discovery from botanical sources were given. In addition, problems in drug discovery from herbal medicines were described and possible solutions were proposed. The prospect of drug discovery from herbal medicines in the postgenomic era was made with the provision of future directions in this area of drug development.
Optimal Consumption in a Stochastic Ramsey Model with Cobb-Douglas Production Function
Authors: Baten Md. Azizul , Kamil Anton Abdulbasah
Published: March 2013

A stochastic Ramsey model is studied with the Cobb-Douglas production function maximizing the expected discounted utility of consumption. We transformed the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation associated with the stochastic Ramsey model so as to transform the dimension of the state space by changing the variables. By the viscosity solution method, we established the existence of viscosity solution of the transformed Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation associated with this model. Finally, the optimal consumption policy is derived from the optimality conditions in the HJB equation.
Biologic Complexity in Sickle Cell Disease: Implications for Developing Targeted Therapeutics
Authors: Gee Beatrice E.
Published: March 2013

Current therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) is limited to supportive treatment of complications, red blood cell transfusions, hydroxyurea, and stem cell transplantation. Difficulty in the translation of mechanistically based therapies may be the result of a reductionist approach focused on individual pathways, without having demonstrated their relative contribution to SCD complications. Many pathophysiologic processes in SCD are likely to interact simultaneously to contribute to acute vaso‐occlusion or chronic vasculopathy. Applying concepts of systems biology and network medicine, models were developed to show relationships between the primary defect of sickle hemoglobin (Hb S) polymerization and the outcomes of acute pain and chronic vasculopathy. Pathophysiologic processes such as inflammation and oxidative stress are downstream by‐products of Hb S polymerization, transduced through secondary pathways of hemolysis and vaso‐occlusion. Pain, a common clinical trials endpoint, is also complex and may be influenced by factors outside of sickle cell polymerization and vascular occlusion. Future sickle cell research needs to better address the biologic complexity of both sickle cell disease and pain. The relevance of individual pathways to important sickle cell outcomes needs to be demonstrated in vivo before investing in expensive and labor‐intensive clinical trials.
Blood Level Omega-3 Fatty Acids as Risk Determinant Molecular Biomarker for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Sorongon-Legaspi Mishell Kris , Chua Michael , Sio Maria Christina , Morales Marcelino
Published: March 2013

Previous researches involving dietary methods have shown conflicting findings. Authors sought to assess the association of prostate cancer risk with blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) through a meta-analysis of human epidemiological studies in available online databases (July, 2012). After critical appraisal by two independent reviewers, Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOQAS) was used to grade the studies. Six case control and six nested case control studies were included. Results showed nonsignificant association of overall effect estimates with total or advanced prostate cancer or high-grade tumor. High blood level of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) had nonsignificant positive association with total prostate cancer risk. High blood level of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) had significant negative association with total prostate cancer risk. Specific n-3 PUFA in fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) had positive association with high-grade prostate tumor risk only after adjustment of interstudy variability. There is evidence that high blood level of DPA that is linked with reduced total prostate cancer risk and elevated blood levels of fish oils, EPA, and DHA is associated with high-grade prostate tumor, but careful interpretation is needed due to intricate details involved in prostate carcinogenesis and N-3 PUFA metabolism.
Robe's Restricted Three-Body Problem with Variable Masses and Perturbing Forces
Authors: Singh Jagadish , Leke Oni
Published: March 2013

The linear stability of equilibrium points of a test particle of infinitesimal mass in the framework of Robe's circular restricted three-body problem, as in Hallan and Rana, together with effect of variation in masses of the primaries with time according to the combined Meshcherskii law, is investigated. It is seen that, due to a small perturbation in the centrifugal force and an arbitrary constant of a particular integral of the Gylden-Meshcherskii problem, every point on the line joining the centers of the primaries is an equilibrium point provided they lie within the shell. Further, a number of pairs of equilibrium points lying on the -plane and forming triangles with the centers of the shell and the second primary exist, for some values of . The points collinear with the center of the shell are found to be stable under some conditions and the range of stability depends on the small perturbations and , while the triangular points are unstable. Illustrative numerical exploration is given to indicate significant improvement of the problem in Hallan and Rana.
Can Power Laws Help Us Understand Gene and Proteome Information?
Authors: Tenreiro Machado J. A. , Costa António C. , Quelhas Maria Dulce
Published: March 2013

Proteins are biochemical entities consisting of one or more blocks typically folded in a 3D pattern. Each block (a polypeptide) is a single linear sequence of amino acids that are biochemically bonded together. The amino acid sequence in a protein is defined by the sequence of a gene or several genes encoded in the DNA-based genetic code. This genetic code typically uses twenty amino acids, but in certain organisms the genetic code can also include two other amino acids. After linking the amino acids during protein synthesis, each amino acid becomes a residue in a protein, which is then chemically modified, ultimately changing and defining the protein function. In this study, the authors analyze the amino acid sequence using alignment-free methods, aiming to identify structural patterns in sets of proteins and in the proteome, without any other previous assumptions. The paper starts by analyzing amino acid sequence data by means of histograms using fixed length amino acid words (tuples). After creating the initial relative frequency histograms, they are transformed and processed in order to generate quantitative results for information extraction and graphical visualization. Selected samples from two reference datasets are used, and results reveal that the proposed method is able to generate relevant outputs in accordance with current scientific knowledge in domains like protein sequence/proteome analysis.
The Associated Ion between the VDR Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Hepatocellular Carcinoma and the Clinicopathological Features in Subjects Infected with HBV
Authors: Yao Xing , Zeng Huazong , Zhang Guolei , Zhou Weimin , Yan Qiang , Dai Licheng , Wang Xiang
Published: March 2013

Aim. To evaluate the possible association between the vitamin D receptor (VDR), single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.Method. 968 chronic HBV infection patients were enrolled, of which 436 patients were diagnosed HCC patients, and 532 were non-HCC patients. The clinicopathological characteristics of HCC were evaluated. The genotypes of VDR gene at FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI were determined.Results. The genotype frequencies of VDR FokI C>T polymorphism were significantly different between HCC and non-HCC groups. HCC patients had a higher prevalence of FokI TT genotype than non-HCC subjects. With FokI CC as reference, the TT carriage had a significantly higher risk for development of HCC after adjustments with age, sex, HBV infection time,α-fetoprotein, smoking status, and alcohol intake. In addition, we also found that the TT genotype carriage of FokI polymorphisms were associated with advanced tumor stage, presence of cirrhosis, and lymph node metastasis. The SNP at BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI did not show positive association with the risk and clinicopathological features of HCC.Conclusion. The FokI C>T polymorphisms may be used as a molecular marker to predict the risk and to evaluate the disease severity of HCC in those infected with HBV.
Terminal Myelocystocele: A Series of 30 Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Tandon Vivek , Garg Kanwaljeet , Mahapatra Ashok Kumar
Published: March 2013

Objective: Terminal myelocystocele is a rare form of spinal dysraphism. We report on the clinical and radiological features, surgical procedures and outcome of myelocystocele. Methods: Thirty patients, with an age range of 1 month to 15 years, which included 16 (53.3%) male children, had undergone surgery for terminal myelocystocele between 2000 and 2010. We had retrospectively analyzed their data. All patients had a swelling in the lumbosacral region which had a healthy skin cover. Twenty (66.7%) patients had presented with weakness, while 10 (33.7%) patients had no deficits at all. Bladder bowel involvement was evident in 12 (40%) cases. All patients had undergone excision of the meningocele sacs, the tethering bands were lysed, and filum was detethered. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was done in 3 (10%) patients. Complications like pseudomeningocele were seen in 6 (20%) patients, cerebrospinal fluid leak in 4 (13.3%) patients, and meningitis and surgical site infection in 1 (3.3%) patient each. The mean follow-up period was 15.2 (1-60) months. The status of all patients with no preoperative deficits remained unchanged. Out of 20 patients with motor weakness, 12 (60%) had improvement; worsening was observed in 1 patient. Conclusions: Though rare, the possibility of myelocystocele should be kept in mind when treating lumbosacral region masses as they have a better prognosis when compared with other masses in the region due to spinal dysraphism. We recommend early surgery in all diagnosed cases.
Promoting International Environmental Cooperation Through Unilateral Action: When Can Trade Sanctions Help?
Authors: Urpelainen Johannes
Published: March 2013

International environmental cooperation is difficult because states disagree on burden sharing and have incentives to free ride. However, interested countries can promote future cooperation through unilateral action that induces technological change in and, thereby, shapes the preferences of foreign countries. How can the effectiveness of such unilateral action be improved? This article offers a game-theoretic analysis of the value of combining unilateral action with trade sanctions, or policies that force foreign exporters to comply with domestic environmental regulations. Trade sanctions can significantly improve the effectiveness of unilateral action, but only when (1) they induce clean technology adoption by exporters in targeted countries and (2) this reduces the cost of clean technology elsewhere in the economy through intersectoral technology spillovers.
The Policy Context of Biofuels: A Case of Non-Governance at the Global Level?
Authors: Lima Mairon G. Bastos , Gupta Joyeeta
Published: March 2013

The large-scale production of crop-based biofuels has been one of the fastest and most controversial global changes of recent years. Global biofuel outputs increased six-fold between 2000 and 2010, and a growing number of countries are adopting biofuel promotion policies. Meanwhile, multilateral bodies have been created, and a patchwork of biofuel policies is emerging. This article investigates the global biofuel policy context and analyzes its nature, its institutional architecture, and issues of access and allocation. Our assessment reveals a density of national policies but a paucity of international consensus on norms and rules. We argue that the global biofuel context remains a non-regime and that it has overlooked serious issues of access even as a risky North-South allocation pattern is created. Although biofuel governance is not completely absent, existing international institutions do not take account of the different voices in the debate and leave a large vacuum of unaddressed social and environmental issues.
Iran, the Caucasus and Europe
Authors: Rossi Adriano V.
Published: March 2013

The paper is an updated version of the Keynote speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on the “Autochtonous Peoples of the Caucasian-Caspian Region” (Yerevan State University, 5 October 2012), and emphasises the role of the Caucasus cultures as a whole since pre-Achaemenid times to modern times, conceived as a bridge between the Iranian world and Europe.
Observations sur les hydronymes caspiens
Authors: Kirakosian Hasmik
Published: March 2013

The paper presents a study of several hydronyms and place-names (derived from rivernames) in the southwestern zone of the Caspian Sea, in Gilan and adjoining areas in the province of Ardabil in Iran. The analysis reveals lexical units of highly archaic nature in the geographic nomenclature of the mentioned region, especially among river-names. This concerns not only the forms of Iranian origin, but also those bearing obvious traits of a pre-Iranian linguistic substrate. Particularly, the author postulates such origin for a widespread hydro-toponymic lexeme meaning, as she thinks, “reed” (or “cane”), a characteristic attribute of the local landscape.
On the Origin of the Surface Air Temperature Difference between the Hemispheres in Earth's Present-Day Climate
Authors: Feulner Georg , Rahmstorf Stefan , Levermann Anders , Volkwardt Silvia
Published: March 2013

In today's climate, the annually averaged surface air temperature in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) is 1°–2°C higher than in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). Historically, this interhemispheric temperature difference has been attributed to a number of factors, including seasonal differences in insolation, the larger area of (tropical) land in the NH, the particularities of the Antarctic in terms of albedo and temperature, and northward heat transport by ocean circulation. A detailed investigation of these factors and their contribution to the temperature difference, however, has to the authors' knowledge not been performed so far. Here the origin of the interhemispheric temperature difference is traced using an assessment of climatological data and the observed energy budget of Earth as well as model simulations. It is found that for the preindustrial climate the temperature difference is predominantly due to meridional heat transport in the oceans, with an additional contribution from the albedo differences between the polar regions. The combination of these factors (that are to some extent coupled) governs the evolution of the temperature difference over the past millennium. Since the beginning of industrialization the interhemispheric temperature difference has increased due to melting of sea ice and snow in the NH. Furthermore, the predicted higher rate of warming over land as compared to the oceans contributes to this increase. Simulations for the twenty-first century show that the interhemispheric temperature difference continues to grow for the highest greenhouse gas emission scenarios due to the land–ocean warming contrast and the strong loss of Arctic sea ice, whereas the decrease in overturning strength dominates for the more moderate scenarios.
Common SNPs of AmelogeninX (AMELX) and Dental Caries Susceptibility
Authors: Gasse B. , Grabar S. , Lafont A.G. , Quinquis L. , Opsahl Vital S. , Davit-Béal T. , Moulis E. , Chabadel O. , Hennequin M. , Courson F. , Droz D. , Vaysse F. , Laboux O. , Tassery H. , Al-Hashimi N. , Boillot A. , Carel J.C. , Treluyer J.M. , Jeanpierre M. , Beldjord C. , Sire J.Y. , Chaussain C.
Published: March 2013

Genetic approaches have shown that several genes could modify caries susceptibility; AmelogeninX ( AMELX) has been repeatedly designated. Here, we hypothesized that AMELX mutations resulting in discrete changes of enamel microstructure may be found in children with a severe caries phenotype. In parallel, possible AMELX mutations that could explain resistance to caries may be found in caries-free patients. In this study, coding exons of AMELX and exon-intron boundaries were sequenced in 399 individuals with extensive caries (250) or caries-free (149) individuals from nine French hospital groups. No mutation responsible for a direct change of amelogenin function was identified. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found, 3 presenting a high allele frequency, and 1 being detected for the first time. Three SNPs were located in coding regions, 2 of them being non-synonymous. Both evolutionary and statistical analyses showed that none of these SNPs was associated with caries susceptibility, suggesting that AMELX is not a gene candidate in our studied population.
A Public Praise with Neither Purse Nor Scrip: Old Elizabeth and Womanist Theological Ways
Authors: Pierce Yolanda
Published: March 2013

Using Scripture to contest eighteenth- and nineteenth-century societal norms, Elizabeth’s memoir of her life in slavery contests the legal and cultural structures that rendered her as secondary, inferior, and subhuman. In answering the call to public ministry, Elizabeth embodies womanist ethics by being outrageous, audacious, and courageous in spite of the vocal opposition to her ministerial vocation.
Creating Modern Chinese Metaphysics
Authors: Lin Xiaoqing Diana
Published: March 2013

Feng Youlan (1895–1990), a preeminent philosopher of twentieth-century China, tried to build a modern Chinese metaphysics that was at once universal and based on a structure of traditional Chinese concepts such as li/principles and qi/vital energy. His intellectual borrowings included New Realism, an early twentieth-century school of philosophy that attempted to provide a scientific basis for metaphysics. New Realism’s affirmation of the objectivity of a priori logical relationships in the universe enabled Feng to construct a metaphysical structure of philosophy in China without becoming bogged down in the debate of the priority of practice over principle in Chinese history. While most published work has treated Feng’s famous “negative method” as the “more Chinese” part of his work in contrast to his writings influenced by New Realism, this article argues that Feng’s logical/metaphysical construct of philosophy in China sought to build a metaphysical discourse of experience by employing both a logical/analytical and a “negative” nonverbal method resembling Chan Buddhist practices.
Esophageal Motility Changes after Thyroidectomy; Possible Associations with Postoperative Voice and Swallowing Disorders: Preliminary Results
Authors: Scerrino Gregorio , Inviati Angela , Di Giovanni Silvia , Paladino Nunzia Cinzia , Di Paola Valentina , Lo Re Giuseppe , Almasio Piero Luigi , Cupido Francesco , Gulotta Gaspare , Bonventre Sebastiano
Published: March 2013

Objective

Swallowing and voice impairment are common after thyroidectomy. We evaluated short‐term functional changes in esophageal motility in a series of patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy. Several studies have investigated these symptoms by means of interviews or questionnaires.

Study Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Academic research.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐six consenting patients were prospectively recruited. Eligibility criteria were thyroid volume ≤60 mL, benign disease, and age between 18 and 65 years. Exclusion criteria were previous neck surgery, severe thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and pre‐ or postoperative vocal cord palsy. Voice impairment score, swallowing impairment score, lower esophageal sphincter pressure, esophageal motility, upper esophageal pressure, and coordination were evaluated preoperatively and 30 to 45 days after surgery.

Results

Postoperative swallowing impairment (appearance or worsening of dysphagia) was found in 20% of patients and voice impairment in more than 30%. Both preoperative and postoperative esophageal motility were similar. All patients showed an average decrease of 25% in upper esophageal pressure, although the pressure was within normal range. Swallowing alterations were associated with upper esophageal incoordination (P <. 03), and proximal acid reflux was significantly associated with voice impairment (P <. 02).

Conclusion

After uncomplicated thyroidectomy, decreased upper esophageal pressure may explain both pharyngeal (dysphagia) and laryngeal (vocal impairment) exposure to acid. In the future, proton pump inhibitor therapy protocols should be evaluated.
Decision Making in the Choice of Surgical Management for Preauricular Sinuses with Different Severities
Authors: Huang Wan‐Ju , Chu Chia‐Huei , Wang Mao‐Che , Kuo Chin‐Lung , Shiao An‐Suey
Published: March 2013

Objectives

The preauricular sinus is a common congenital abnormality of the preauricular soft tissues. Here, we demonstrate the decision making in the choice of surgical management of preauricular sinuses based on disease severity. In addition, a method termed figure 8 incision with extended fistulectomy is introduced.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Subjects

Between January 2003 and February 2010, a total of 90 patients (109 ears) underwent surgery for preauricular sinuses in our hospital.

Methods

After controlling the infection, the patients received definite surgery. They were classified into 3 groups according to the operative methods. We recorded the clinical conditions and any recurrences during the follow‐up period.

Results

Group I patients (48 ears) had a trace inflammatory condition and underwent a simple sinusectomy. The recurrence rate was 2.08%. Group II (31 ears) and group III (30 ears) patients had more highly inflamed tissue and underwent a local wide excision and a figure 8 incision with extended fistulectomy, respectively. The recurrence rate in group II was 22.58%. Meanwhile, none of the group III cases showed a recurrence. In our study, there were 8 recurrent cases in 109 ears, yielding a recurrence rate of 7.34%.

Conclusion

Simple sinusectomy is an adequate surgical technique for preauricular sinuses with a mild inflammatory condition. For more severe cases, the figure 8 incision with extended fistulectomy can achieve adequate wound exposure for radical excision of the inflamed tissue and a satisfactory surgical outcome.
Effect of Adding a Sleep Dimension to the EQ-5D Descriptive System
Authors: Yang Yaling , Brazier John , Tsuchiya Aki
Published: March 2013

Background and Objective. The generic preference-based measures (GPBMs) of health have been widely used to obtain health utility scores for calculating quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for economic evaluations. It has been recognized that GPBMs may miss relevant or important dimensions of health for some specific medical conditions. The objective of this study is to explore the effect of extending the current EQ-5D descriptive system by adding a sleep dimension. Methods. A new instrument, EQ-5D+Sleep, is proposed by adding a sleep dimension to the EQ-5D. Based on an orthogonal design, 18 EQ-5D+Sleep states and EQ-5D states were selected and a valuation study was undertaken whereby 160 members of the generic public in South Yorkshire, UK, were interviewed using time tradeoff (TTO). Econometric models have been fitted to the data. Two null hypotheses were tested: 1) the coefficient for the sleep dimension is not significant; and 2) the inclusion of the sleep dimension has no impact on the way people value the original dimensions of EQ-5D. Results and Conclusions. The results support these two null hypotheses. There seems to be no benefit to adding a sleep dimension to the EQ-5D. Research is required to explore the method of adding dimensions to existing descriptive systems of health.
Toward a Phenomenology of Forensic Psychotherapy
Authors: Aanstoos Christopher M.
Published: March 2013

This piece is a commentary on the article by Polizzi and Draper (2013), elaborating a phenomenological hermeneutic of clinical forensics. First, it analyzes their depiction of the concepts of reduction, the given and the manifest, and the event. Second, it discusses their application of these ideas to clinical forensics, particularly with respect to issues of the openness/closedness of the client and therapist and their context.
Libraries supporting national development goals in Namibia
Authors: Namhila Ellen Ndeshi , Niskala Ritva
Published: March 2013

The paper describes the strategy of the Namibia Library and Archives Service (NLAS) to transform the public/community library network. The opportunity to transform the library network emerged when the Namibian education sector received major funding to develop its strategic framework for the implementation of education sector requirements for Vision 2030, Namibia’s development strategy. In 2002 the Ministry of Education invited the World Bank to assist in developing strategies that will overcome the challenges in the performance of the education sector. Although the library network is part of the mandate of the Ministry of Education, the World Bank team did not identify libraries as a critical area to be developed but recommended leaving the countrywide library network out of the education sector reform. The paper describes the strategy that NLAS applied to get the library sector accepted into the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP) and to secure funding for a countrywide library sector turn-around strategy, changing the focus of public/community libraries from recreational reading to institutions supporting education, research, economic empowerment and everyday information needs.
Compatibility and mechanical properties of maleicanhydride modified the wood plastic composite
Authors: Lou Ching-Wen , Lin Ching-Wen , Huang Chen-Hung , Hsieh Cheng-Tien , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: March 2013

Wood plastic composite, known as green composite, combines natural vegetable fibers and plastic and thus acquires the properties of both. In this study, coir was subject to alkali treatment to eliminate pectin, hemicelluloses, fat and impurities. Alkali treatment reduces the weight of coir and the greater the concentration and longer the alkali treatment time, the greater is the loss of coir fibers. This study uses coir fibers and polypropylene to make wood plastic composite. Alkali treatment can increase the mechanical property of the resulting wood plastic composite. In particular, the optimum parameters of the treatment are 17.5 wt% for 1 h. As is demonstrated by scanning electron microscope images, methylmaleic anhydride-graft-polypropylene improves the interface binding force between the coir and polypropylene.