bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Radiotherapy Planning and Treatment.
Authors: Smilowitz Jennifer
Published: March 2014

Pediatric Radiotherapy Planning and Treatment. Olch A. J., CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2013. Hardcover 374 pp. Price: $149.95. ISBN: 978‐1‐4200‐8509‐9.
Range-dependence of acoustic channel with traveling sinusoidal surface wave
Authors: Choo Youngmin , Seong Woojae , Lee Keunhwa
Published: March 2014

Range-dependence of time-varying acoustic channels caused by a traveling surface wave is investigated through water tank experiments and acoustic propagation analysis schemes. As the surface wave travels, surface reflected signals fluctuate and the fluctuation varies with source-receiver horizontal range. Amplitude fluctuations of surface reflected signals increase with increasing horizontal range whereas the opposite occurs in delay fluctuations. The scattered pressure field at a fixed time shows strong dependence on the receiver position because of caustics and shadow zones formed by the surface. The Doppler shifts of surface reflected signals also depend on the horizontal range. Comparison between measurement data and model results indicates the Doppler shift relies on the delay fluctuation under current experimental conditions.
Microbial Metabolic Potential for Carbon Degradation and Nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) Acquisition in an Ombrotrophic Peatland
Authors: Lin Xueju , Tfaily Malak M. , Green Stefan J. , Steinweg J. Megan , Chanton Patrick , Imvittaya Aopeau , Chanton Jeffrey P. , Cooper William , Schadt Christopher , Kostka Joel E.
Published: March 2014

This study integrated metagenomic and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic approaches to investigate microbial metabolic potential for organic matter decomposition and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition in soils of an ombrotrophic peatland in the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF), Minnesota, USA. This analysis revealed vertical stratification in key enzymatic pathways and taxa containing these pathways. Metagenomic analyses revealed that genes encoding laccases and dioxygenases, involved in aromatic compound degradation, declined in relative abundance with depth, while the relative abundance of genes encoding metabolism of amino sugars and all four saccharide groups increased with depth in parallel with a 50% reduction in carbohydrate content. Most Cu-oxidases were closely related to genes from
Proteobacteria
and
Acidobacteria
, and type 4 laccase-like Cu-oxidase genes were >8 times more abundant than type 3 genes, suggesting an important and overlooked role for type 4 Cu-oxidase in phenolic compound degradation. Genes associated with sulfate reduction and methanogenesis were the most abundant anaerobic respiration genes in these systems, with low levels of detection observed for genes of denitrification and Fe(III) reduction. Fermentation genes increased in relative abundance with depth and were largely affiliated with
Syntrophobacter
.
Methylocystaceae
-like small-subunit (SSU) rRNA genes,
pmoA
, and
mmoX
genes were more abundant among methanotrophs. Genes encoding N
2
fixation, P uptake, and P regulons were significantly enriched in the surface peat and in comparison to other ecosystems, indicating N and P limitation. Persistence of inorganic orthophosphate throughout the peat profile in this P-limiting environment indicates that P may be bound to recalcitrant organic compounds, thus limiting P bioavailability in the subsurface. Comparative metagenomic analysis revealed a high metabolic potential for P transport and starvation, N
2
fixation, and oligosaccharide degradation at MEF relative to other wetland and soil environments, consistent with the nutrient-poor and carbohydrate-rich conditions found in this
Sphagnum
-dominated boreal peatland.
Resilience of the Natural Phyllosphere Microbiota of the Grapevine to Chemical and Biological Pesticides
Authors: Perazzolli Michele , Antonielli Livio , Storari Michelangelo , Puopolo Gerardo , Pancher Michael , Giovannini Oscar , Pindo Massimo , Pertot Ilaria
Published: March 2014

The phyllosphere is colonized by complex microbial communities, which are adapted to the harsh habitat. Although the role and ecology of nonpathogenic microorganisms of the phyllosphere are only partially understood, leaf microbiota could have a beneficial role in plant growth and health. Pesticides and biocontrol agents are frequently applied to grapevines, but the impact on nontarget microorganisms of the phyllosphere has been marginally considered. In this study, we investigated the effect of a chemical fungicide (penconazole) and a biological control agent (
Lysobacter capsici
AZ78) on the leaf microbiota of the grapevine at three locations. Amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene and of the internal transcribed spacer were sequenced for bacterial and fungal identification, respectively. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that the richness and diversity of bacterial and fungal populations were only minimally affected by the chemical and biological treatments tested, and they mainly differed according to grapevine locations. Indigenous microbial communities of the phyllosphere are adapted to environmental and biotic factors in the areas where the grapevines are grown, and they are resilient to the treatments tested. The biocontrol properties of phyllosphere communities against downy mildew differed among grapevine locations and were not affected by treatments, suggesting that biocontrol communities could be improved with agronomic practices to enrich beneficial populations in vineyards.
Development of an Unmarked Gene Deletion System for the Filamentous Fungi Aspergillus niger and Talaromyces versatilis
Authors: Delmas Stéphane , Llanos Agustina , Parrou Jean-Luc , Kokolski Matthew , Pullan Steven T. , Shunburne Lee , Archer David B.
Published: March 2014

In this article, we present a method to delete genes in filamentous fungi that allows recycling of the selection marker and is efficient in a nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ)-proficient strain. We exemplify the approach by deletion of the gene encoding the transcriptional regulator XlnR in the fungus
Aspergillus niger
. To show the efficiency and advantages of the method, we deleted 8 other genes and constructed a double mutant in this species. Moreover, we showed that the same principle also functions in a different genus of filamentous fungus (
Talaromyces versatilis
, basionym
Penicillium funiculosum
). This technique will increase the versatility of the toolboxes for genome manipulation of model and industrially relevant fungi.
Nuclear Localization of Haa1, Which Is Linked to Its Phosphorylation Status, Mediates Lactic Acid Tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Sugiyama Minetaka , Akase Shin-Pei , Nakanishi Ryota , Horie Hitoshi , Kaneko Yoshinobu , Harashima Satoshi
Published: March 2014

Improvement of the lactic acid resistance of the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
is important for the application of the yeast in industrial production of lactic acid from renewable resources. However, we still do not know the precise mechanisms of the lactic acid adaptation response in yeast and, consequently, lack effective approaches for improving its lactic acid tolerance. To enhance our understanding of the adaptation response, we screened for
S. cerevisiae
genes that confer enhanced lactic acid resistance when present in multiple copies and identified the transcriptional factor Haa1 as conferring resistance to toxic levels of lactic acid when overexpressed. The enhanced tolerance probably results from increased expression of its target genes. When cells that expressed Haa1 only from the endogenous promoter were exposed to lactic acid stress, the main subcellular localization of Haa1 changed from the cytoplasm to the nucleus within 5 min. This nuclear accumulation induced upregulation of the Haa1 target genes
YGP1
,
GPG1
, and
SPI1
, while the degree of Haa1 phosphorylation observed under lactic acid-free conditions decreased. Disruption of the exportin gene
MSN5
led to accumulation of Haa1 in the nucleus even when no lactic acid was present. Since Msn5 was reported to interact with Haa1 and preferentially exports phosphorylated cargo proteins, our results suggest that regulation of the subcellular localization of Haa1, together with alteration of its phosphorylation status, mediates the adaptation to lactic acid stress in yeast.
Modeling the Transcriptional Regulatory Network That Controls the Early Hypoxic Response in Candida albicans
Authors: Sellam Adnane , van het Hoog Marco , Tebbji Faiza , Beaurepaire Cécile , Whiteway Malcolm , Nantel André
Published: March 2014

We determined the changes in transcriptional profiles that occur in the first hour following the transfer of
Candida albicans
to hypoxic growth conditions. The impressive speed of this response is not compatible with current models of fungal adaptation to hypoxia that depend on the depletion of sterol and heme. Functional analysis using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) identified the Sit4 phosphatase, Ccr4 mRNA deacetylase, and Sko1 transcription factor (TF) as potential regulators of the early hypoxic response. Cells mutated in these and other regulators exhibit a delay in their transcriptional responses to hypoxia. Promoter occupancy data for 29 TFs were combined with the transcriptional profiles of 3,111
in vivo
target genes in a Network Component Analysis (NCA) to produce a model of the dynamic and highly interconnected TF network that controls this process. With data from the TF network obtained from a variety of sources, we generated an edge and node model that was capable of separating many of the hypoxia-upregulated and -downregulated genes. Upregulated genes are centered on Tye7, Upc2, and Mrr1, which are associated with many of the gene promoters that exhibit the strongest activations. The connectivity of the model illustrates the high redundancy of this response system and the challenges that lie in determining the individual contributions of specific TFs. Finally, treating cells with an inhibitor of the oxidative phosphorylation chain mimics most of the early hypoxic profile, which suggests that this response may be initiated by a drop in ATP production.
Common Requirement for the Relaxosome of Plasmid R1 in Multiple Activities of the Conjugative Type IV Secretion System
Authors: Lang Silvia , Gruber Christian J. , Raffl Sandra , Reisner Andreas , Zechner Ellen L.
Published: March 2014

Macromolecular transport by bacterial type IV secretion systems involves regulated uptake of (nucleo)protein complexes by the cell envelope-spanning transport channel. A coupling protein receptor is believed to recognize the specific proteins destined for transfer, but the steps initiating their translocation remain unknown. Here, we investigate the contribution of a complex of transfer initiation proteins, the relaxosome, of plasmid R1 to translocation of competing transferable substrates from mobilizable plasmids ColE1 and CloDF13 or the bacteriophage R17. We found that not only does the R1 translocation machinery engage the R1 relaxosome during conjugative self-transfer and during infection by R17 phage but it is also activated by its cognate relaxosome to mediate the export of an alternative plasmid. Transporter activity was optimized by the R1 relaxosome even when this complex itself could not be transferred, i.e., when the N-terminal activation domain (amino acids 1 to 992 [N
1-992
]) of TraI was present without the C-terminal conjugative helicase domain. We propose that the functional dependence of the transfer machinery on the R1 relaxosome for initiating translocation ensures that dissemination of heterologous plasmids does not occur at the expense of self-transfer.
Streptococcus mutans NADH Oxidase Lies at the Intersection of Overlapping Regulons Controlled by Oxygen and NAD
+
Levels
Authors: Baker J. L. , Derr A. M. , Karuppaiah K. , MacGilvray M. E. , Kajfasz J. K. , Faustoferri R. C. , Rivera-Ramos I. , Bitoun J. P. , Lemos J. A. , Wen Z. T. , Quivey R. G.
Published: March 2014

NADH oxidase (Nox, encoded by
nox
) is a flavin-containing enzyme used by the oral pathogen
Streptococcus mutans
to reduce diatomic oxygen to water while oxidizing NADH to NAD
+
. The critical nature of Nox is 2-fold: it serves to regenerate NAD
+
, a carbon cycle metabolite, and to reduce intracellular oxygen, preventing formation of destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS). As oxygen and NAD
+
have been shown to modulate the activity of the global transcription factors Spx and Rex, respectively, Nox is potentially poised at a critical junction of two stress regulons. In this study, microarray data showed that either addition of oxygen or loss of
nox
resulted in altered expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and transport and the upregulation of genes encoding ROS-metabolizing enzymes. Loss of
nox
also resulted in upregulation of several genes encoding transcription factors and signaling molecules, including the redox-sensing regulator gene
rex
. Characterization of the
nox
promoter revealed that
nox
was regulated by oxygen, through SpxA, and by Rex. These data suggest a regulatory loop in which the roles of
nox
in reduction of oxygen and regeneration of NAD
+
affect the activity levels of Spx and Rex, respectively, and their regulons, which control several genes, including
nox
, crucial to growth of
S. mutans
under conditions of oxidative stress.
Turning the tide: national policy approaches to increasing physical activity in seven European countries
Authors: Bull Fiona , Milton Karen , Kahlmeier Sonja , Arlotti Alberto , Juričan Andrea Backović , Belander Olov , Martin Brian , Martin-Diener Eva , Marques Ana , Mota Jorge , Vasankari Tommi , Vlasveld Anita
Published: March 2014

Background

Physical inactivity is one of the four leading behavioural risk factors for non-communicable disease (NCD). Like tobacco control, increasing levels of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) will require a national policy framework providing direction and a clear set of actions. Despite frequent calls, there has been insufficient progress on policy development in the majority of countries around the world. This study sought and summarised national HEPA policy in seven European countries (Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Switzerland).

Methods

Data collection used a policy audit tool (PAT), a 27-item instrument structured into four sections.

Results

All countries reported some legislation or policy across the sectors of education, sport and health. Only some countries reported supportive policy in the transport and environment sectors. Five countries reported a stand-alone HEPA policy and six countries reported national recommendations. HEPA prevalence targets varied in magnitude and specificity and the presence of other relevant goals from different sectors highlighted the opportunity for joint action. Evaluation and the use of scientific evidence were endorsed but described as weak in practice. Only two countries reported a national multisector coordinating committee and most countries reported challenges with partnerships on different levels of policy implementation.

Conclusions

Bringing together the key components for success within a national HEPA policy framework is not simple. This in-depth policy audit and country comparison highlighted similarities and differences and revealed new opportunities for consideration by other countries. These examples can inform countries within and beyond Europe and guide the development of national HEPA policy within the NCD prevention agenda.
Pharmacy study of natural health product adverse reactions (SONAR): a cross-sectional study using active surveillance in community pharmacies to detect adverse events associated with natural health products and assess causality
Authors: Necyk Candace , Tsuyuki Ross T , Boon Heather , Foster Brian C , LeGatt Don , Cembrowski George , Murty Mano , Barnes Joanne , Charrois Theresa L , Arnason John T , Ware Mark A , Rosychuk Rhonda J , Vohra Sunita
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To investigate the rates and causality of adverse event(s) (AE) associated with natural health product (NHP) use, prescription drug use and concurrent NHP-drug use through active surveillance in community pharmacies.

Design

Cross-sectional study of screened patients.

Setting

10 community pharmacies across Alberta and British Columbia, Canada from 14 January to 30 July 2011.

Participants

The participating pharmacy staff screened consecutive patients, or agents of patients, who were dropping or picking up prescription medications.

Primary outcome measures

Patients were screened to determine the proportions of them using prescription drugs and/or NHPs, as well as their respective AE rates. All AEs reported by the screened patients who took a NHP, consented to, and were available for, a detailed telephone interview (14%) were adjudicated fully to assess for causality.

Results

Over a total of 105 pharmacy weeks and 1118 patients screened, 410 patients reported taking prescription drugs only (36.7%; 95% CI 33.9% to 39.5%), 37 reported taking NHPs only (3.3%; 95% CI 2.4% to 4.5%) and 657 reported taking prescription drugs and NHPs concurrently (58.8%; 95% CI 55.9% to 61.6%). In total, 54 patients reported an AE, representing 1.2% (95% CI 0.51% to 2.9%), 2.7% (95% CI 0.4% to 16.9%) and 7.3% (95% CI 5.6% to 9.6%) of each population, respectively. Compared with patients who reported using prescription drugs, the patients who reported using prescription drugs and NHPs concurrently were 6.4 times more likely to experience an AE (OR; 95% CI 2.52 to 16.17; p<0.001). Combined with data from Ontario, Canada, a national proportion was calculated, which found that 45.4% (95% CI 43.8% to 47.0%) of Canadians who visit community pharmacies take NHPs and prescription drugs concurrently, and of those, 7.4% (95% CI 6.3% to 8.8%) report an AE.

Conclusions

A substantial proportion of community pharmacy patients use prescription drugs and NHPs concurrently; these patients are at a greater risk of experiencing an AE. Active surveillance provides a means of detecting such AEs and collecting high-quality data on which causality assessment can be based.
Association of polypharmacy with fall-related fractures in older Taiwanese people: age- and gender-specific analyses
Authors: Pan Hsueh-Hsing , Li Chung-Yi , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Su Tung-Ping , Wang Kwua-Yun
Published: March 2014

Objective

To elucidate the associations between polypharmacy and age- and gender-specific risks of admission for fall-related fractures.

Design

Nested case–control study.

Setting

This analysis was randomly selected from all elderly beneficiaries in 2007–2008, and represents some 30% of the whole older insurers using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database.

Participants

We identified 5933 cases newly admitted for fall-related fractures during 2007–2008, and 29 665 random controls free from fracture.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Polypharmacy was defined as the use of fall-related drugs of four or more categories of medications and prescribed related to fall within a 1-year period. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate the ORs and related 95% CIs. The interaction of polypharmacy with age and sex was assessed separately.

Results

Compared with those who consumed no category of medication, older people who consumed 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 categories of medications were all at significantly increased odds of developing fall-related fractures, with a significant dose–gradient pattern (β=0.7953; p for trend <0.0001). There were significant interactions between polypharmacy and age, but no significant interactions between polypharmacy and gender. The dose–gradient relationship between number of medications category and risk of fall-related fractures was more obvious in women than in men (β=0.1962 vs β=0.1873). Additionally, it was most evident in older people aged 75–84 years (β=0.2338).

Conclusions

This population-based study in Taiwan confirms the link between polypharmacy and increased risk of fall-related fractures in older people; and highlights that elderly women and older people aged 75–84 years will be the targeted participants for further prevention from fall-related fractures caused by polypharmacy.
The impact of funding deadlines on personal workloads, stress and family relationships: a qualitative study of Australian researchers
Authors: Herbert Danielle L , Coveney John , Clarke Philip , Graves Nicholas , Barnett Adrian G
Published: March 2014

Objective

To examine the impact of applying for funding on personal workloads, stress and family relationships.

Design

Qualitative study of researchers preparing grant proposals.

Setting

Web-based survey on applying for the annual National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant scheme.

Participants

Australian researchers (n=215).

Results

Almost all agreed that preparing their proposals always took top priority over other work (97%) and personal (87%) commitments. Almost all researchers agreed that they became stressed by the workload (93%) and restricted their holidays during the grant writing season (88%). Most researchers agreed that they submitted proposals because chance is involved in being successful (75%), due to performance requirements at their institution (60%) and pressure from their colleagues to submit proposals (53%). Almost all researchers supported changes to the current processes to submit proposals (95%) and peer review (90%). Most researchers (59%) provided extensive comments on the impact of writing proposals on their work life and home life. Six major work life themes were: (1) top priority; (2) career development; (3) stress at work; (4) benefits at work; (5) time spent at work and (6) pressure from colleagues. Six major home life themes were: (1) restricting family holidays; (2) time spent on work at home; (3) impact on children; (4) stress at home; (5) impact on family and friends and (6) impact on partner. Additional impacts on the mental health and well-being of researchers were identified.

Conclusions

The process of preparing grant proposals for a single annual deadline is stressful, time consuming and conflicts with family responsibilities. The timing of the funding cycle could be shifted to minimise applicant burden, give Australian researchers more time to work on actual research and to be with their families.
Family carer perspectives of acute hospital care following a diagnosis of motor neuron disease: a qualitative secondary analysis
Authors: O'Brien Mary R , Preston Harriet
Published: March 2014

Objectives

The multifaceted nature of the problems faced by someone with motor neuron disease requires a knowledgeable multidisciplinary team approach. Where available, generally, such services are only provided on an outpatient basis, meaning that hospitalised patients are frequently admitted to non-specialist wards where understanding of their needs is limited. Little is known regarding the inpatient care received by patients. Our objective was to address this by exploring the experience of hospitalisation following a diagnosis of motor neuron disease from the perspective of family carers of those diagnosed with the illness.

Method

This was a qualitative secondary analysis of pre-existing data from two previously published, separately conducted, qualitative studies. The study involved interview data from 18 bereaved carers and 3 current carers of family members diagnosed with motor neuron disease in Northwest England.

Results

The findings reveal dissatisfaction with the inpatient care received, which impacted negatively not only on patient and carer enthusiasm for future hospital admissions but also on carer bereavement.

Conclusions

Patients with motor neuron disease have specialist needs that are not always met during hospital admission, particularly to non-specialist units. The inpatient care provided for these patients must be improved as must the knowledge and understanding of the illness among healthcare professionals who treat them.
Has the economic crisis widened the intraurban socioeconomic inequalities in mortality? The case of Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Maynou Laia , Saez Marc , Lopez-Casasnovas Guillem
Published: March 2014

Background

There is considerable evidence demonstrating socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, some of which focuses on intraurban inequalities. However, all the studies assume that the spatial variation of inequalities is stable over the time. We challenge this assumption and propose two hypotheses: (i) have spatial variations in socioeconomic inequalities in mortality at an intraurban level changed over time? and (ii) as a result of the economic crisis, has the gap between such disparities widened? In this paper, our objective is to assess the effect of the economic recession on the spatio-temporal variation of socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain).

Methods

We used a spatio-temporal ecological design to analyse mortality inequalities at small area level in Barcelona. Mortality data and socioeconomic indicators correspond to the years 2005 and 2008–2011. We specified spatio-temporal ecological mixed regressions for both men and women using two indicators, neighbourhood and year. We allowed the coefficients of the socioeconomic variables to differ according to the levels and explicitly took into account spatio-temporal adjustment.

Results

For men and women both absolute and, above all, relative risks for mortality have increased since 2009. In relative terms, this means that the risk of dying has increased much more in the most economically deprived neighbourhoods than in the more affluent ones.

Conclusions

Although the geographical pattern in relative risks for mortality in neighbourhoods in Barcelona remained very stable between 2005 and 2011, socioeconomic inequalities in mortality at an intraurban level have surged since 2009.
Long-term cardiovascular consequences of Rose angina at age 20–54 years: 29-years’ follow-up of the Tromsø Study
Authors: Graff-Iversen Sidsel , Wilsgaard Tom , Mathiesen Ellisiv B , Njølstad Inger , Løchen Maja-Lisa
Published: April 2014

Background

The Rose Angina Questionnaire (RAQ) was constructed in the 1960s for assessing the population burden of angina. Studies have found that screening positivity by RAQ conferred an elevated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). It is, however, not clear to what extent Rose angina represents early CHD in relatively young adults who are free of known CHD. If representing CHD, Rose angina is expected to carry prognostic information in addition to the risk conferred by other risk factors.

Methods

The Tromsø Study is a population-based cohort study in Northern Norway. All men aged 20–54 years (n=8238) and women aged 20–49 years (n=8001), free of known cardiovascular disease (CVD), who participated in a survey 1979–1980, were followed throughout 2010 for incident myocardial infarction (MI), and for incident MI or stroke used as proxy for incident CVD. HRs were estimated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model.

Results

In age-adjusted analyses, Rose angina predicted MI and CVD in both sexes. The excess risk was substantially accounted for by CVD risk factors, leaving no significantly elevated MI risk above the risk explained by these factors (adjusted HR 1.31; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.80 in men, HR 1.20; 95% CI 0.69 to 2.10 in women). A similar pattern was seen for CVD (adjusted HR 1.16; 95% CI 0.87 to 1.55 in men and 1.30; 95% CI 0.82 to 2.06 in women).

Conclusions

Rose angina predicted MI and CVD in a 29-years’ follow-up of a relatively young population. Established CVD risk factors were important mediators.
Ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistula with unusual drainage route treated by transarterial embolization
Authors: Inoue Akihiro , Tagawa Masahiko , Kumon Yoshiaki , Watanabe Hideaki , Shoda Daisuke , Sugiu Kenji , Ohnishi Takanori
Published: March 2014

Ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are rare intracranial lesions associated with a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage. In particular, this entity with reflux drainage directly into the ophthalmic vein is extremely rare. We report a case of ethmoidal dural AVF with direct drainage of the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) and inferior ophthalmic vein (IOV), successfully treated by endovascular surgery. A 58-year-old man presented with progressive diplopia. Angiography and contrast-enhanced CT showed an ethmoidal dural AVF supplied via the bilateral anterior ethmoidal arteries and venous drainage through the left SOV and IOV. A transarterial approach through the bilateral anterior ethmoidal arteries was used to place the microcatheter close to the fistula site. After intra-arterial embolization with 20% N-butyl cyanoacrylate, the dural AVF was completely occluded. In patients with good vascular access, endovascular transarterial embolization may be an effective and less invasive treatment strategy for ethmoidal dural AVF.
Accurate spectroscopic calculations on the X2Σ +, A2Π, and 22Σ + electronic states of the BeAr+ cation including spin-orbit coupling
Authors: Niu Xiang Hong , Shan Wen Wen , Wang Shuai , Shi De Heng
Published: March 2014

The complete active space self-consistent field/internally contracted multireference configuration interaction calculations with the correlation-consistent basis sets have been made to characterize all of the states of BeAr+ cation, which are attributed to the first two dissociation channels. The effect on the potential energy curves by Davidson correction, core-valence correlation, and scalar relativistic corrections is included. The spin-orbit coupling effect is taken into account by the state interaction method with the Breit–Pauli Hamiltonian. Our calculations can provide some useful guidelines for the future experimental work of band system 22[Formula: see text]+1/2-X2[Formula: see text]+1/2. For the first time, the transition properties including Franck−Condon factors and transition dipole moments have been derived for all of the Ω states. Some transition probabilities and radiative lifetimes have been estimated.
Transition probabilities of neutral scandium
Authors: Öztürk İ.K. , Çelik G. , Gökçe Y. , Atalay B. , Güzelçimen F. , Er A. , Başar G. , Kröger S.
Published: March 2014

The electric dipole transition probabilities and the oscillator strengths of neutral scandium have been calculated using the quantum defect orbital theory and the Cowan code for the 3d4s2–3d4s4p, 3d24s–3d24p, and 3d4s2–4s24p transitions. In addition, a parametric analysis of the fine structure for the 3d4s2 configuration of even parity is performed using Cowan code. The transition probabilities and the oscillator strengths obtained in this work are mostly in agreement with the data obtained from different theoretical works given in the literature. Moreover, transition probabilities for 24 levels of neutral scandium are given for the first time.
Hydrodynamics of a rotating charged black hole in (2+1) dimensions with a scalar charge
Authors: Naji J.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, we consider a rotating charged black hole in three dimensions with a scalar charge and study some hydrodynamical quantities, such as diffusion constant, shear viscosity, and conductivity. We study the effect of black hole parameters on the hydrodynamical quantities. We confirmed the lower bound of shear viscosity to entropy ratio.
Small unmanned aircraft: precise and convenient new tools for surveying wetlands
Authors: Chabot Dominique , Bird David M.
Published: April 2014

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) could be of benefit for surveying wetlands, which often have spatially complex habitats that are challenging to navigate and assess at ground level. We used a small UAS to acquire aerial imagery and characterize land cover in a 128 ha wetland impoundment as part of a conservation study of the least bittern (Ixobrychus exilis). The method was successful in gathering sub-decimetre georeferenced imagery that clearly revealed the fine-scale water–vegetation interface and in which several types of vegetation could be distinguished and classified using spectral image analysis software. Simplified three-category land cover classifications obtained in this manner showed strong agreement with manual classification of random points in the imagery, as evidenced by a kappa coefficient of 87.19% (n = 600). Compared to cover estimates made during concurrent ground-based surveys in 30 sampling plots, UAS data yielded overall similar water–vegetation ratios, but proved more effectual for detecting small amounts of highly interspersed water. Significant differences (p = 0.004) in cover estimates of the dominant vegetation, cattail, were likely primarily due to limitations of ground-based surveys. Given the effective and convenient application of a UAS in this study, we recommend their further use in wetland-related research and management.
A survey of computational intelligence approaches for software reliability prediction
Authors: Bhuyan Manmath Kumar , Mohapatra Durga Prasad , Sethi Srinivas
Published: April 2014

Computational Intelligence has been known to be very useful in predicting software reliability. In this paper, two kinds of investigations are performed. First, we provide a systematic review of Software Reliability Prediction studies with consideration of various metrics, methods and CI techniques (including fuzzy logic, neural networks, genetic algorithms). Second, reliability prediction and data collection with the help of various available tools are discussed. The overall idea of this paper is to present, analyze, investigate, compare and discuss software reliability prediction with various CI techniques and tools and their advantages and disadvantages.
The Behavioral Economics of Substance Use Disorders: Reinforcement Pathologies and Their Repair
Authors: Bickel Warren K. , Johnson Matthew W. , Koffarnus Mikhail N. , MacKillop James , Murphy James G.
Published: March 2014

The field of behavioral economics has made important inroads into the understanding of substance use disorders through the concept of reinforcer pathology. Reinforcer pathology refers to the joint effects of (a) the persistently high valuation of a reinforcer, broadly defined to include tangible commodities and experiences, and/or (b) the excessive preference for the immediate acquisition or consumption of a commodity despite long-term negative outcomes. From this perspective, reinforcer pathology results from the recursive interactions of endogenous person-level variables and exogenous environment-level factors. The current review describes the basic principles of behavioral economics that are central to reinforcer pathology, the processes that engender reinforcer pathology, and the approaches and procedures that can repair reinforcement pathologies. The overall goal of this review is to present a new understanding of substance use disorders as viewed by recent advances in behavioral economics.
Effect of aging on carotid baroreflex control of blood pressure and leg vascular conductance in women
Authors: Credeur Daniel P. , Holwerda Seth W. , Boyle Leryn J. , Vianna Lauro C. , Jensen Areum K. , Fadel Paul J.
Published: March 2014

Recent work suggests that β-adrenergic vasodilation offsets α-adrenergic vasoconstriction in young women, but this effect is lost after menopause. Given these age-related vascular changes, we tested the hypothesis that older women would exhibit a greater change in vascular conductance following baroreflex perturbation compared with young women. In 10 young (21 ± 1 yr) and 10 older (62 ± 2 yr) women, mean arterial pressure (MAP; Finometer), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO; Modelflow), total vascular conductance (TVC), and leg vascular conductance (LVC, duplex-Doppler ultrasound) were continuously measured in response to 5-s pulses of neck suction (NS; −60 Torr) and neck pressure (NP; +40 Torr) to simulate carotid hypertension and hypotension, respectively. Following NS, decreases in MAP were similar between groups; however, MAP peak response latency was slower in older women ( P < 0.05). Moreover, at the time of peak MAP, increases in LVC (young, −11.5 ± 3.9%LVC vs. older, +19.1 ± 7.0%LVC; P < 0.05) and TVC were greater in older women, whereas young women exhibited larger decreases in HR and CO (young, −10 ± 3% CO vs. older, +0.8 ± 2% CO; P < 0.05). Following NP, increases in MAP were blunted (young, +14 ± 1 mmHg vs. older, +8 ± 1 mmHg; P < 0.05) in older women, whereas MAP response latencies were similar. Interestingly, decreases in LVC and TVC were similar between groups, but HR and CO (young, +7.0 ± 2% CO vs. older, −4.0 ± 2% CO; P < 0.05) responses were attenuated in older women. These findings suggest that older women have greater reliance on vascular conductance to modulate MAP via carotid baroreflex, whereas young women rely more on cardiac responsiveness. Furthermore, older women demonstrate a blunted ability to increase MAP to hypotensive stimuli.
Tempol improves cutaneous thermal hyperemia through increasing nitric oxide bioavailability in young smokers
Authors: Fujii Naoto , Brunt Vienna E. , Minson Christopher T.
Published: March 2014

We recently found that young cigarette smokers display cutaneous vascular dysfunction relative to nonsmokers, which is partially due to reduced nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)-dependent vasodilation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that reducing oxidative stress improves NO bioavailability, enhancing cutaneous vascular function in young smokers. Ten healthy young male smokers, who had smoked for 6.3 ± 0.7 yr with an average daily consumption of 9.1 ± 0.7 cigarettes, were tested. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) during local heating to 42°C at a rate of 0.1°C/s was evaluated as laser-Doppler flux divided by mean arterial blood pressure and normalized to maximal CVC, induced by local heating to 44°C plus sodium nitroprusside administration. We evaluated plateau CVC during local heating, which is known to be highly dependent on NO, at four intradermal microdialysis sites with 1) Ringer solution (control); 2) 10 μM 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (tempol), a superoxide dismutase mimetic; 3) 10 mM Nω-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA), a nonspecific NOS inhibitor; and 4) a combination of 10 μM tempol and 10 mM l-NNA. Tempol increased plateau CVC compared with the Ringer solution site (90.0 ± 2.3 vs. 77.6 ± 3.9%maximum, P = 0.028). Plateau CVC at the combination site (56.8 ± 4.5%maximum) was lower than the Ringer solution site ( P < 0.001) and was not different from the l-NNA site (55.1 ± 4.6%maximum, P = 0.978), indicating the tempol effect was exclusively NO dependent. These data suggest that in young smokers, reducing oxidative stress improves cutaneous thermal hyperemia to local heating by enhancing NO production.
Joseph Black, carbon dioxide, latent heat, and the beginnings of the discovery of the respiratory gases
Authors: West John B.
Published: March 2014

The discovery of carbon dioxide by Joseph Black (1728–1799) marked a new era of research on the respiratory gases. His initial interest was in alkalis such as limewater that were thought to be useful in the treatment of renal stone. When he studied magnesium carbonate, he found that when this was heated or exposed to acid, a gas was evolved that he called “fixed air” because it had been combined with a solid material. He showed that the new gas extinguished a flame, that it could not support life, and that it was present in gas exhaled from the lung. Within a few years of his discovery, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen were also isolated. Thus arguably Black's work started the avalanche of research on the respiratory gases carried out by Priestley, Scheele, Lavoisier, and Cavendish. Black then turned his attention to heat and he was the first person to describe latent heat, that is the heat added or lost when a liquid changes its state, for example when water changes to ice or steam. Latent heat is a key concept in thermal physiology because of the heat lost when sweat evaporates. Black was a friend of the young James Watt (1736–1819) who was responsible for the development of early steam engines. Watt was puzzled why so much cooling was necessary to condense steam into water, and Black realized that the answer was the latent heat. The resulting improvements in steam engines ushered in the Industrial Revolution.
Chronic ethanol exposure alters the lung proteome and leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in alveolar type 2 cells
Authors: Alli Abdel A. , Brewer Elizabeth M. , Montgomery Darrice S. , Ghant Marcus S. , Eaton Douglas C. , Brown Lou Ann , Helms My N.
Published: March 2014

The lungs can undergo irreversible damage from chronic alcohol consumption. Herein, we developed an animal model predisposed for edematous lung injury following chronic ingestion of alcohol to better understand the etiology of alcohol-related disorders. Using animal modeling, alongside high-throughput proteomic and microarray assays, we identified changes in lung protein and transcript in mice and rats, respectively, following chronic alcohol ingestion or a caloric control diet. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified several mitochondrial-related proteins in which the expression was upregulated following long-term alcohol ingestion in mice. Consistent with these observations, rat gene chip microarray analysis of alveolar cells obtained from animals maintained on a Lieber-DeCarli liquid alcohol diet confirmed significant changes in mitochondrial-related transcripts in the alcohol lung. Transmission electron microscopy revealed significant changes in the mitochondrial architecture in alcohol mice, particularly following lipopolysaccharide exposure. Chronic alcohol ingestion was also shown to worsen mitochondrial respiration, mitochondrial membrane polarization, and NAD+-to-NADH ratios in alveolar type 2 cells. In summary, our studies show causal connection between chronic alcohol ingestion and mitochondrial dysfunction, albeit the specific role of each of the mitochondrial-related proteins and transcripts identified in our study requires additional study.
Cardiac Potassium Channel Subtypes: New Roles in Repolarization and Arrhythmia
Authors: Schmitt Nicole , Grunnet Morten , Olesen Søren-Peter
Published: April 2014

About 10 distinct potassium channels in the heart are involved in shaping the action potential. Some of the K+channels are primarily responsible for early repolarization, whereas others drive late repolarization and still others are open throughout the cardiac cycle. Three main K+channels drive the late repolarization of the ventricle with some redundancy, and in atria this repolarization reserve is supplemented by the fairly atrial-specific KV1.5, Kir3, KCa, and K2Pchannels. The role of the latter two subtypes in atria is currently being clarified, and several findings indicate that they could constitute targets for new pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation. The interplay between the different K+channel subtypes in both atria and ventricle is dynamic, and a significant up- and downregulation occurs in disease states such as atrial fibrillation or heart failure. The underlying posttranscriptional and posttranslational remodeling of the individual K+channels changes their activity and significance relative to each other, and they must be viewed together to understand their role in keeping a stable heart rhythm, also under menacing conditions like attacks of reentry arrhythmia.
Oxidative Stress: An Essential Factor in the Pathogenesis of Gastrointestinal Mucosal Diseases
Authors: Bhattacharyya Asima , Chattopadhyay Ranajoy , Mitra Sankar , Crowe Sheila E.
Published: April 2014

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as by-products of normal cellular metabolic activities. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase are the enzymes involved in protecting cells from the damaging effects of ROS. ROS are produced in response to ultraviolet radiation, cigarette smoking, alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ischemia-reperfusion injury, chronic infections, and inflammatory disorders. Disruption of normal cellular homeostasis by redox signaling may result in cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. ROS are produced within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but their roles in pathophysiology and disease pathogenesis have not been well studied. Despite the protective barrier provided by the mucosa, ingested materials and microbial pathogens can induce oxidative injury and GI inflammatory responses involving the epithelium and immune/inflammatory cells. The pathogenesis of various GI diseases including peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal cancers, and inflammatory bowel disease is in part due to oxidative stress. Unraveling the signaling events initiated at the cellular level by oxidative free radicals as well as the physiological responses to such stress is important to better understand disease pathogenesis and to develop new therapies to manage a variety of conditions for which current therapies are not always sufficient.
Fusion-Expressed CTB Improves Both Systemic and Mucosal T-Cell Responses Elicited by an Intranasal DNA Priming/Intramuscular Recombinant Vaccinia Boosting Regimen
Authors: Qiu Sugan , Ren Xiaonan , Ben Yinyin , Ren Yanqin , Wang Jing , Zhang Xiaoyan , Wan Yanmin , Xu Jianqing
Published: April 2014

Previous study showed that CTB (Cholera toxin subunit B) can be used as a genetic adjuvant to enhance the systemic immune responses. To further investigate whether it can also be used as a genetic adjuvant to improve mucosal immune responses, we constructed DNA and recombinant Tiantan vaccinia (rTTV) vaccines expressing OVA-CTB fusion antigen. Female C57BL/6 mice were immunized with an intranasal DNA priming/intramuscular rTTV boosting regimen. OVA specific T-cell responses were measured by IFN-γELISPOT and specific antibody responses were determined by ELISA. Compared to the nonadjuvant group (pSV-OVA intranasal priming/rTTV-OVA intramuscular boosting), pSV-OVA-CTB intranasal priming/rTTV-OVA-CTB intramuscular boosting group significantly improved the magnitudes of T-cell responses at spleen (1562±567SFCs/106splenocytes versus330±182SFCs/106splenocytes,P<0.01), mesenteric LN (96±83SFCs/106lymphocytes versus1±2SFCs/106lymphocytes,P<0.05), draining LNs of respiratory tract (109±60SFCs/106lymphocytes versus2±2SFCs/106lymphocytes,P<0.01) and female genital tract (89±48SFCs/106lymphocytes versus23±21SFCs/106lymphocytes,P<0.01). These results collectively demonstrated that fusion-expressed CTB could act as a potent adjuvant to improve both systemic and mucosal T-cell responses.
Primary Stability Recognition of the Newly Designed Cementless Femoral Stem Using Digital Signal Processing
Authors: Baharuddin Mohd Yusof , Salleh Sh-Hussain , Hamedi Mahyar , Zulkifly Ahmad Hafiz , Lee Muhammad Hisyam , Mohd Noor Alias , Harris Arief Ruhullah A. , Abdul Majid Norazman
Published: April 2014

Stress shielding and micromotion are two major issues which determine the success of newly designed cementless femoral stems. The correlation of experimental validation with finite element analysis (FEA) is commonly used to evaluate the stress distribution and fixation stability of the stem within the femoral canal. This paper focused on the applications of feature extraction and pattern recognition using support vector machine (SVM) to determine the primary stability of the implant. We measured strain with triaxial rosette at the metaphyseal region and micromotion with linear variable direct transducer proximally and distally using composite femora. The root mean squares technique is used to feed the classifier which provides maximum likelihood estimation of amplitude, and radial basis function is used as the kernel parameter which mapped the datasets into separable hyperplanes. The results showed 100% pattern recognition accuracy using SVM for both strain and micromotion. This indicates that DSP could be applied in determining the femoral stem primary stability with high pattern recognition accuracy in biomechanical testing.