bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Inverse Dynamics Accuracy in a Planar Walking Model Based on Stable Reference Point
Authors: Abdulrahman Alaa , Iqbal Kamran , White Gannon
Published: February 2014

Physiologically and biomechanically, the human body represents a complicated system with an abundance of degrees of freedom (DOF). When developing mathematical representations of the body, a researcher has to decide on how many of those DOF to include in the model. Though accuracy can be enhanced at the cost of complexity by including more DOF, their necessity must be rigorously examined. In this study a planar seven-segment human body walking model with single DOF joints was developed. A reference point was added to the model to track the body’s global position while moving. Due to the kinematic instability of the pelvis, the top of the head was selected as the reference point, which also assimilates the vestibular sensor position. Inverse dynamics methods were used to formulate and solve the equations of motion based on Newton-Euler formulae. The torques and ground reaction forces generated by the planar model during a regular gait cycle were compared with similar results from a more complex three-dimensional OpenSim model with muscles, which resulted in correlation errors in the range of 0.9–0.98. The close comparison between the two torque outputs supports the use of planar models in gait studies.
Synthesis of 6-(2-Methoxynaphthyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazine-3-thione as a New Reagent for Spectrophotometric Determination of Copper
Authors: Barazandeh Tehrani Maliheh , Ghanbari Hutan , Souri Effat , Shamsa Fazel , Amini Mohsen
Published: February 2014

A simple, sensitive, accurate, and green spectrophotometric method for the determination of Cu(II) using newly synthesized reagent, 6-(2-methoxynaphthyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazine-3-thione (MNDTT), has been developed. MNDTT was synthesized based on the acylation of methoxy naphthalene and reaction of the product with amyl nitrite, which upon reaction with thiosemicarbazide yielded 6-(2-meyhoxynaphthyl)-2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazine-3-thione. MNDTT produces a dark red complex with copper in methanol according to the 1 : 2 stoichiometry. Beer’s law was obeyed over the concentration range of 2.5–20 µg/mL withr2=0.992. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.33 and 1.10 µg/mL, respectively. Within-day and between-day precision values were less than 3.68%. Finally, the method has been applied to a dental alloy (110-plus) successfully and the results were compared with atomic absorption method. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two methods (P>0.05).
Mumps, Cervical Zoster, and Facial Paralysis: Coincidence or Association?
Authors: Kondo Kenji , Kanaya Kaori , Baba Shintaro , Yamasoba Tatsuya
Published: February 2014

The association of mumps with peripheral facial paralysis has been suggested, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. An 8-year-old girl simultaneously developed left peripheral facial paralysis, ipsilateral cervical herpes zoster, and bilateral mumps sialadenitis. Elevated anti-mumps and anti-varicella zoster virus IgM antibodies in serological testing indicated recent infection of mumps and reactivation of VZV. Molecular studies have provided mounting evidence that the mumps virus dysregulates the host’s immune system and enables the virus to proliferate in the infected host cells. This dysregulation of the immune system by mumps virus may have occurred in our patient, enabling the latent VZV infection to reactivate.
Anti-MDA5 Antibodies in a Large Mediterranean Population of Adults with Dermatomyositis
Authors: Labrador-Horrillo Moises , Martinez Maria Angeles , Selva-O'Callaghan Albert , Trallero-Araguas Ernesto , Balada Eva , Vilardell-Tarres Miquel , Juárez Cándido
Published: February 2014

A new myositis-specific autoantibody directed against melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) has been described in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). We report the clinical characteristics of patients with anti-MDA5 in a large Mediterranean cohort of DM patients from a single center, and analyze the feasibility of detecting this autoantibody in patient sera using new assays with commercially available recombinant MDA5. The study included 117 white adult patients with DM, 15 (13%) of them classified as clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM). Clinical manifestations were analyzed, with special focus on interstitial lung disease and its severity. Determination of anti-MDA5 antibodies was performed by a new ELISA and immunoblot technique. In sera, from 14 (12%) DM patients (8 CADM), MDA5 was recognized by ELISA, and confirmed by immunoblot. Eight of the 14 anti-MDA5-positive patients (57.14%) presented rapidly-progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) versus 3 of 103 anti-MDA5-negative patients (2.91%) (P<0.05; OR: 44.4, 95% CI 9.3–212). The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in anti-MDA5-positive patients than in the remainder of the series (P<0.05). Patients with anti-MDA5-associated ILD presented significantly lower 70-month cumulative survival than antisynthetase-associated ILD patients. Among the cutaneous manifestations, only panniculitis was significantly associated with the presence of anti-MDA5 antibodies (P<0.05; OR: 3.85, 95% CI 1.11–13.27). These findings support the reliability of using commercially available recombinant MDA5 for detecting anti-MDA5 antibodies and confirm the association of these antibodies with RP-ILD in a large series of Mediterranean patients with DM.
Anesthetic Techniques and Cancer Recurrence after Surgery
Authors: Fodale Vincenzo , D’Arrigo Maria G. , Triolo Stefania , Mondello Stefania , La Torre Domenico
Published: February 2014

Many of the most common anesthetics are used in surgical oncology, yet effects on cancer cells are still not known. Anesthesia technique could differentially affect cancer recurrence in oncologic patients undergoing surgery, due to immunosuppression, stimulation of angiogenesis, and dissemination of residual cancer cells. Data support the use of intravenous anesthetics, such as propofol anesthesia, thanks to antitumoral protective effects inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2 and prostaglandins E2 in cancer cells, and stimulation of immunity response; a restriction in the use of volatile anesthetics; restriction in the use of opioids as they suppress humoral and cellular immunity, and their chronic use favors angiogenesis and development of metastases; use of locoregional anesthesia compared with general anesthesia, as locoregional appears to reduce cancer recurrence after surgery. However, these findings must be interpreted cautiously as there is no evidence that simple changes in the practice of anesthesia can have a positive impact on postsurgical survival of cancer patients.
High Level Aminoglycoside Resistance and Distribution of Aminoglycoside Resistant Genes among Clinical Isolates ofEnterococcusSpecies in Chennai, India
Authors: Padmasini Elango , Padmaraj R. , Ramesh S. Srivani
Published: February 2014

Enterococci are nosocomial pathogen with multiple-drug resistance by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Aminoglycosides along with cell wall inhibitors are given clinically for treating enterococcal infections. 178 enterococcal isolates were analyzed in this study.E. faecalisis identified to be the predominantEnterococcusspecies, along withE. faecium,E. avium,E. hirae,E. durans,E. disparandE. gallinarum. High level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) by MIC for gentamicin (GM), streptomycin (SM) and both (GM + SM) antibiotics was found to be 42.7%, 29.8%, and 21.9%, respectively. Detection of aminoglycoside modifying enzyme encoding genes (AME) in enterococci was identified by multiplex PCR foraac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′′)-Ia;aph(2′′)-Ib;aph(2′′)-Ic;aph(2′′)-Idandaph(3′)-IIIagenes. 38.2% isolates carriedaac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′′)-Iagene and 40.4% isolates carriedaph(3′)-IIIagene.aph(2′′)-Ib; aph(2′′)-Ic; aph(2′′)-Idwere not detected among our study isolates.aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′′)-Iaandaph(3′)-IIIagenes were also observed in HLARE. durans,E. avium,E. hirae, andE. gallinarumisolates. This indicates that high level aminoglycoside resistance genes are widely disseminated among isolates of enterococci from Chennai.
Numerical Performance of Higher-Order Semicompact Scheme for Arbitrary Triangular Cavity Flow
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Shi Dongyang
Published: February 2014

An efficient fourth-order semicompact finite difference scheme has been
developed to solve steady incompressible Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations in stream function and vorticity formulation in a triangular cavity of arbitrary geometry. The governing equations are transformed into curvilinear coordinates by a simple linear transformation to handle the nonregular geometry of the problem. The main feature of the new higher-order semicompact scheme is that it can calculate a triangle flow with arbitrary shape for high Reynolds numbers. It is found that the solutions obtained with the present scheme are in good agreement with the analytical results or with the existing results depending on the availability.
Consenting Operative Orthopaedic Trauma Patients: Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Kheiran Amin , Banerjee Purnajyoti , Stott Philip
Published: February 2014

Guidelines exist to obtain informed consent before any operative procedure. We completed an audit cycle starting with retrospective review of 50 orthopaedic trauma procedures (Phase 1 over three months to determine the quality of consenting documentation). The results were conveyed and adequate training of the staff was arranged according to guidelines from BOA, DoH, and GMC. Compliance in filling consent forms was then prospectively assessed on 50 consecutive trauma surgeries over further three months (Phase 2). Use of abbreviations was significantly reduced (P=0.03) in Phase 2 (none) compared to 10 (20%) in Phase 1 with odds ratio of 0.04. Initially, allocation of patient’s copy was dispensed in three (6% in Phase 1) cases compared to 100% in Phase 2, when appropriate. Senior doctors (registrars or consultant) filled most consent forms. However, 7 (14%) consent forms in Phase 1 and eleven (22%) in Phase 2 were signed by Core Surgical Trainees year 2, which reflects the difference in seniority amongst junior doctors. The requirement for blood transfusion was addressed in 40% of cases where relevant and 100% cases in Phase 2. Consenting patients for trauma surgery improved in Phase 2. Regular audit is essential to maintain expected national standards.
Complex Cepstrum Based Voice Conversion Using Radial Basis Function
Authors: Nirmal Jagannath , Patnaik Suprava , Zaveri Mukesh , Kachare Pramod
Published: February 2014

The complex cepstrum vocoder is used to modify the speaker specific characteristics of the source speaker speech to that of the target speaker speech. The low time and high time liftering are used to split the calculated cepstrum into the vocal tract and the source excitation parameters. The obtained mixed phase vocal tract and source excitation parameters with finite impulse response preserve the phase properties of the resynthesized speech frame. The radial basis function is explored to capture the nonlinear mapping function for modifying the complex cepstrum based real and imaginary components of the vocal tract and source excitation of the speech signal. The state-of-the-art Mel cepstrum envelope and the fundamental frequency (F0) are considered to represent the vocal tract and the source excitation of the speech frame, respectively. Radial basis function is used to capture and formulate the nonlinear relations between the Mel cepstrum envelope of the source and target speakers. Mean and standard deviation approach is employed to modify the fundamental frequency (F0). The Mel log spectral approximation filter is used to reconstruct the speech signal from the modified Mel cepstrum envelope and fundamental frequency. A comparison of the proposed complex cepstrum based model has been made with the state-of-the-art Mel Cepstrum Envelope based voice conversion model with objective and subjective evaluations. The evaluation measures reveal that the proposed complex cepstrum based voice conversion system approximate the converted speech signal with better accuracy than the model based on the Mel cepstrum envelope based voice conversion.
Hybrid Extragradient Method with Regularization for Convex Minimization, Generalized Mixed Equilibrium, Variational Inequality and Fixed Point Problems
Authors: Ceng Lu-Chuan , Ho Juei-Ling
Published: February 2014

We introduce two iterative algorithms by the hybrid extragradient method with regularization for finding a common element of the set of solutions of the minimization problem for a convex and continuously Fréchet differentiable functional, the set of solutions of finite generalized mixed equilibrium problems, the set of solutions of finite variational inequalities for inverse strong monotone mappings and the set of fixed points of an asymptoticallyκ-strict pseudocontractive mapping in the intermediate sense in a real Hilbert space. We prove some strong and weak convergence theorems for the proposed iterative algorithms under mild conditions.
Improved Quantization Error Compensation Method for Fixed-Width Booth Multipliers
Authors: Ma Xiaolong , Xu Jiangtao , Chen Guican
Published: February 2014

A novel quantization error (QE) compensation method is proposed in design of high accuracy fixed-width radix-4 Booth multipliers, which will effectively reduce the QE and save the area of multipliers when they are employed in cognitive radio (CR) detector and digital signal processor (DSP). The truncated partial-products of the proposed multipliers are finely divided into three sections: reserved section, adaptive compensation section, and constant compensation section. The QE compensation carries of the multipliers are generated by applying probability estimation based on a shrunken minor truncated section which is a combination of the constant compensation and adaptive compensation. The proposed compensation method not only reduces the QE of the fixed-width Booth multipliers, but also avoids the exhaustive computing resources (time and memory) during getting the compensation carries by statistical simulation. The proposed method can achieve higher accuracy than the existing works under the same area and power budgets. Simulation and experiment results show that the improved compensation method has the minimum power-delay products compared with the existing methods under the same area and can save up to 30% area for realization of full-width radix-4 Booth multipliers.
Comparison of the Synoptic Environments Conducive to Eastward versus Southeastward Transport of Asian Dust Events
Authors: Tsai Fujung , Chen Wei-Nai
Published: February 2014

Asian dust events that travel eastward and southeastward in the lower troposphere affect different areas near the coastal East Asia. To understand the synoptic differences between the two types of dust events, four dust events from 2006 to 2009 are selected for each type and the synoptic environment is compared. Surface measurements, trajectory analyses, and a regional dust model are also applied to further analyze each type. Results show that the strength of the low-level trough and the surface anticyclonic system are important in determining the transport route of dust event. A deep 700–850 hPa trough extending far south beyond 30°N associated with an intense surface anticyclone with maximum pressure greater than 1020 hPa over coastal East Asia favors southeastward movement of dust event. The prevailing northwesterlies or northerlies behind the deep trough and ahead of the intense surface anticyclone promote the southeastward movement of dust event. Since intense surface anticyclones often associated with strong dust events, severe dust activities tend to move southeastward. In contrast, a shallow trough accompanied by a weak surface high locating north of 30°N over the coastal East Asia favors an eastward transport route.
Patient Attitudes towards Physician Nonverbal Behaviors during Consultancy: Result from a Developing Country
Authors: Khan Fahad Hanif , Hanif Raheela , Tabassum Rumina , Qidwai Waris , Nanji Kashmira
Published: February 2014

Background. Nonverbal behaviors have a significant impact on patients during consultations. This study was undertaken to find out the attitudes and preferences of the patients regarding nonverbal communication during consultations with physicians, in a tertiary care hospital. Methods. A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, during the months of January to March 2012. All patients (>18 years of age) coming for consultancy in the family medicine clinics were approached; out of 133, 120 agreed to participate. The subjects were asked questions regarding physician’s comforting touch and eye contact and their responses were noted. The data were analyzed using SPSS and chi-square test was used to identify corelations. Results. Overall, 120 patients were enrolled. About 58.3% were men and 41.7% were women with a mean age of 34.9±10.9 years. 95.8% were Muslims and 57.6% had more than 12 years of education. Among females 74% wanted supportive touch from doctors, used to comfort the patient (45%) or to show respect (27.5%) or as healing (30%). 86.1% of the respondents believe that establishing eye contact with the patient shows that the doctor is attentive towards his/her patient. The eye contact should be brief but regular (54.1%) and prolonged staring (36.7%) makes them uncomfortable. Conclusion. Nonverbal communication helps to strengthen the doctor-patient relation as patients do appreciate positive touch and eye contact from their physicians.
Retinopathy of Prematurity in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Adio Adedayo O. , Ugwu Rosemary O. , Nwokocha Chidi G. , Eneh Augusta U.
Published: February 2014

Purpose. With many preterm babies now surviving as a result of improvement in neonatal care in Nigeria, the incidence of visual impairment/blindness as a result of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may rise. We describe our findings after screening starts for the first time in a 15-year-old special care baby unit so as to establish the incidence and risk factors for developing ROP.Methods. A prospective study carried out at the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and Pediatric Outpatient Clinics of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 1 and October 31, 2012. Fifty-three preterm babies (of 550 neonates admitted within the study period) delivered before 32 completed weeks and weighing less than 1500 g were included in the study following informed consent and the main outcome measure was the development of any stage of ROP.Results. Mean gestational age at birth was28.98±1.38weeks. Mean birth weight was1411±128 g. Out of 550 babies admitted at SCBU, 87 of 100 preterms survived with 53 included in study. Twenty-five (47.2%) had different degrees of ROP with prevalence found to be 47.2%. Prevalence was higher (75%) in babies weighing<1300 g and those delivered before 30-week gestation (58%). Twenty-one (84%) had stage 1 no plus disease and 3 (12%) had stage 2 no plus disease. Only 1 (4%) had threshold disease in Zone 1. None had disease at stage 4 or 5 or AP-ROP. Receiving supplemental oxygen (χ2=6.17;P=0.01), presence of sepsis (χ2=7.47;P=0.006), multiple blood transfusions (χ2=5.11;P=0.02), and delivery by caesarian section (χ2=4.22;P=0.04) were significantly associated with development of ROP. There were no significant differences with gender, apneic spells, jaundice, or phototherapy.Conclusions and Relevance. All live infants with ROP were noted to regress spontaneously in this study. Though it may not be cost effective to acquire treatment facilities at the moment (the only child with treatable disease died), facilities for screening preterm infants displaying high risk features may be essential as smaller babies are saved.
Point of Care Perioperative Coagulation Management in Liver Transplantation and Complete Portal Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Piangatelli Cristiano , Faloia Lucia , Cristiani Claudia , Valentini Ilaria , Vivarelli Marco
Published: February 2014

Liver transplantation (LT) is a serious hemostatic challenge in patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Advances in monitoring systems have improved surgery in this setting. We report the successful application of a point-of-care (POC) rotational viscoelastic thromboelastometry-guided (TEM) testing system (ROTEM) which allowed management of coagulation during LT in a 64-year-old cirrhotic patient with a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score of 16. Perioperatively, the patient showed complete PVT, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, recanalization of the umbilical vein, and portosystemic shunt. Macroscopic liver and spleen adherences with collateral circulation were evident. Coagulation factors and fibrinolysis were assessed preoperatively and at graft reperfusion to evaluate the need of hemostatic therapy. Based on ROTEM findings, the patient received 16 g of human fibrinogen concentrate, half preoperatively (with prothrombin complex concentrate 2000 IU, tranexamic acid 1 g, and platelets 2 IU), and two doses of 4 g before and after graft reperfusion; we achieved normalization of all monitored parameters. No ischemia-reperfusion syndrome was present. Postoperatively portal vein flux at Color-Doppler ultrasonography was normal. After a 3-day ICU stay, the patient was moved to the Department of Surgery and discharged on day 14. The postoperative course was uneventful and did not require any further haemostatic therapy.
The Impact of Autophagy on Cell Death Modalities
Authors: Ryter Stefan W. , Mizumura Kenji , Choi Augustine M. K.
Published: February 2014

Autophagy represents a homeostatic cellular mechanism for the turnover of organelles and proteins, through a lysosome-dependent degradation pathway. During starvation, autophagy facilitates cell survival through the recycling of metabolic precursors. Additionally, autophagy can modulate other vital processes such as programmed cell death (e.g., apoptosis), inflammation, and adaptive immune mechanisms and thereby influence disease pathogenesis. Selective pathways can target distinct cargoes (e.g., mitochondria and proteins) for autophagic degradation. At present, the causal relationship between autophagy and various forms of regulated or nonregulated cell death remains unclear. Autophagy can occur in association with necrosis-like cell death triggered by caspase inhibition. Autophagy and apoptosis have been shown to be coincident or antagonistic, depending on experimental context, and share cross-talk between signal transduction elements. Autophagy may modulate the outcome of other regulated forms of cell death such as necroptosis. Recent advances suggest that autophagy can dampen inflammatory responses, including inflammasome-dependent caspase-1 activation and maturation of proinflammatory cytokines. Autophagy may also act as regulator of caspase-1 dependent cell death (pyroptosis). Strategies aimed at modulating autophagy may lead to therapeutic interventions for diseases in which apoptosis or other forms of regulated cell death may play a cardinal role.
Normal Values of Metatarsal Parabola Arch in Male and Female Feet
Authors: Domínguez-Maldonado Gabriel , Munuera-Martinez Pedro V. , Castillo-López José Manuel , Ramos-Ortega Javier , Albornoz-Cabello Manuel
Published: February 2014

There is not any method to measure metatarsal protrusion in the whole metatarsal. The aim of this research is to know the normal metatarsal parabola in male and female feet. The system of measurement devised by Hardy and Clapham to evaluate the protrusion between metatarsals I and II was adapted to study the whole metatarsal parabola and applied to the five metatarsals of 169 normal feet, 72 female feet and 97 male feet. Authors measured all metatarsal protrusion relative to metatarsal II. The results obtained show a female metatarsal protrusion relative to metatarsal II of+1.27%for metatarsal I,-3.36%for metatarsal III,-8.34%for metatarsal IV, and-15.54%for metatarsal V. Data obtained for male metatarsal parabola were+0.5%for metatarsal I,-3.77for metatarsal III,-9.57for metatarsal IV, and-17.05for metatarsal V. Differences between both metatarsal parabola were significant.
Minicraniotomy for Standard Temporal Lobectomy: A Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach
Authors: Al-Otaibi Faisal , Albloushi Monirah , Baeesa Saleh
Published: February 2014

Introduction. The common surgical approach for standard temporal lobectomy is a question-mark skin incision and a frontotemporal craniotomy. Herein, we describe minicraniotomy approach through a linear skin incision for standard temporal lobectomy. Methods. A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted for a group of consecutive 21 adult patients (group I) who underwent minicraniotomy for standard temporal lobectomy utilizing a linear skin incision. This group was compared to a consecutive 17 adult patients (group II) who previously underwent a reverse question-mark skin incision and standard frontotemporal craniotomy. Results. The mean age was 29 and 23 for groups I and II, respectively. The mean estimated blood loss was 190 mL and 280 mL in groups I and II, respectively (P=0.019). Three patients in group II developed chronic postcraniotomy headache compared to none in group I. Cosmetic outcome was excellent in group I while 4 patients in group II developed disfiguring depression at lateral sphenoid wing and anterior temple. In group I 17 out of 21 became seizure-free at one-year followup. Conclusion. Minicraniotomy through a linear skin incision is a sufficient surgical approach for effective standard temporal lobectomy and it has an excellent cosmetic outcome.
The Effect of Alendronate on Proteome of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Ilyas Amber , Hashim Zehra , Naeem Nadia , Haneef Kanwal , Zarina Shamshad
Published: February 2014

Cancer is a life threatening disorder effecting 11 million people worldwide annually. Among various types of cancers, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a higher rate of mortality and is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths around the world. Many chemotherapeutic drugs have been used for the treatment of HCC with many side effects. These drugs are inhibitors of different cell regulatory pathways. Mevalonate (MVA) pathway is an important cellular cascade vital for cell growth. A variety of inhibitors of MVA pathway have been reported for their anticancerous activity. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are members of a family involved in the treatment of skeletal complications. In recent years, their anticancer potential has been highlighted. Current study focuses on exploring the effects of alendronate (ALN), a nitrogen containing BP, on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line using genomic and proteomics approach. Our results identified ten differentially expressed proteins, of which five were up regulated and five were down regulated in ALN treated cells. Furthermore, we also performed gene expression analysis in treated and control cell lines. The study may help in understanding the molecular mechanism involved in antitumor activity of ALN, identification of possible novel drug targets, and designing new therapeutic strategies for HCC.
Formulation and Evaluation of Guggul Lipid Nanovesicles for Transdermal Delivery of Aceclofenac
Authors: Gaur Praveen Kumar , Mishra Shikha , Aeri Vidhu
Published: February 2014

Context. Most new drugs have low water solubility and liposome is an important formulation to administer such drugs; however, it is quite unstable and has negligible systemic absorption.Objective. Aceclofenac nanovesicles were made using guggul lipid for formulating stable transdermal formulation.Materials and Methods. Guggul lipid was formulated into vesicles along with cholesterol and dicetyl phosphate using film hydration method. The formulations were analyzed for physicochemical properties and stability. Then its skin permeation and anti-inflammatory activity were determined.Results. Both categories of vesicles (PC and GL) showed optimum physicochemical properties; however, accelerated stability study showed considerable differences. GL-1 was appreciably stable for over 6 months at 4°C. Corresponding gels (PCG-1 and GLG-1) showedCmaxvalues at 4.98 and 7.32 μg/mL along with theTmaxvalues at 4 and 8 hours, respectively. GLG-1 inhibited edema production by 90.81% in 6 hours.Discussion. PC liposomes are unstable at higher temperature and upon longer storage. The formulation with higher lipid content (GL-1) showed good drug retention after 24 hours and appreciable stability both at higher temperature and for longer duration. Guggul lipid being a planar molecule might be stacked in vesicle wall with cholesterol.Conclusion. The composition of the nanovesicle played an important role in stability and drug permeation. Guggul lipid is suitable for producing stable vesicles.
Noisy Reverberation Suppression Using AdaBoost Based EMD in Underwater Scenario
Authors: Cheepurupalli Kusma Kumari , Konduri Raja Rajeswari
Published: February 2014

Reverberation suppression is a crucial problem in sonar communications. If the acoustic signal is radiated in the water as medium then the degradation is caused due to the reflection coming from surface, bottom, and volume of water. This paper presents a novel signal processing scheme that offers an improved solution in reducing the effect of interference caused due to reverberation. It is based on the combination of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) techniques. AdaBoost based EMD filtering technique is used for reverberation corrupted chirp signal to decrease the noisy components present in the received signal. An improvement in the probability of detection is achieved using the proposed algorithm. The simulation results are obtained for various reverberation times at various SNR levels.
Apparent Homozygosity of p.Phe508del inCFTRdue to a Large Gene Deletion of Exons 4–11
Authors: Neocleous Vassos , Yiallouros Panayiotis K. , Tanteles George A. , Costi Constantina , Moutafi Maria , Ioannou Phivos , Patsalis Philippos C. , Sismani Carolina , Phylactou Leonidas A.
Published: February 2014

We report a classic cystic fibrosis (CF) boy with a large deletion of exons 4–11 in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene on one allele and p.Phe508del in exon 10 on the second allele. Both parents of Georgian and Ukrainian background had no personal or family history of the disease. The initial molecular diagnostic investigation identified the patient as homozygous for the p.Phe508del and not compatible with his parent’s genetic status. The possibility of nonpaternity or uniparental disomy (UPD7) was investigated and excluded using microsatellite analysis of highly polymorphic markers on chromosome 7. Array-CGH was also performed on the patient and revealed a male profile with a subtle deletion within theCFTRgene on the long arm (q-arm) of chromosome 7 (7q31.2). The deletion was confirmed by MLPA extending from probe L02380 to probe L14978 (28.7 kb) and that was inherited from his father, while p.PheF508del was inherited from his mother. These data highlight the need for additional testing for large deletions in patients with apparent homozygosity for a mutatedCFTRallele that do not match the carrier status of the parents. Not testing can lead to misdiagnosis and misinterpretation of mutation carrier status and the expected penetrance of the disorder.
The Enigmatic Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Case Report and Review
Authors: Tariq Hassan , Gaduputi Vinaya , Rafiq Arsalan , Shenoy Roopalekha
Published: February 2014

We report this case of a 33-year-old African American woman who presented to the clinic with preauricular and submandibular masses that she had noticed 6 weeks earlier. She gave a remote history of noticing bilateral cervical masses 3 years prior to this presentation that had not been investigated at the time and resolved spontaneously. Excisional biopsies of the cervical lymph nodes showed morphologic and immunophenotypic findings suggestive of Kikuchi Fujimoto disease (KFD). KFD is an uncommon, self-limited, and perhaps an underdiagnosed entity with an excellent prognosis. It mimics malignant lymphoma in presentation and therefore an accurate clinicopathological differentiation is crucial.
An Unusual Case of Cirrhosis
Authors: Alkaddour Ahmad , Vega Kenneth J. , Shujaat Adil
Published: February 2014

49-year-old white female with remote h/o sarcoidosis was referred to GI when her liver was noted to be nodular. Physical examination revealed normal vital signs and no icterus, spider nevi, clubbing, ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, or ankle edema. LFTs, hepatitis serologies, ANA, AMA, ASMA, Ferritin, Ceruloplasmin, andα1-AT, level were unremarkable. Liver biopsy showed cirrhosis. She developed worsening of baseline SOB and was hospitalized. She was eventually diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis. A diagnosis of cardiac cirrhosis was made.
Effect of Caloric Restriction on Hepatic Sinusoidal System and Stellate Cells in Mice
Authors: Chen Jian , King Kara , Zhang Jian X.
Published: February 2014

Aging associated changes in liver include reduced hepatic blood flow, increased number of stellate cells, and collagen deposits in perisinusoidal space. We tested the possibility of mitigating these changes with caloric restriction. Two-month-old mice were subjected to 30 percent caloric restriction for 12 months and then examined for the effect of caloric restriction on the sinusoidal network, collagen deposition, and the number of stellate cells. Using intravital fluorescence microscopy, assessments were made on sinusoidal diameter, density, volumetric flow, perfusion index, and autofluorescence of vitamin A that was primarily stored with lipid droplets in stellate cells. A significant effect was observed in the vitamin A autofluorescence of stellate cells; stellate cell associated fluorescence was diminished in terms of number and size of fluorescent spots. Caloric restriction reduced collagen deposits in liver sections and lowered the gene expression ofα1-(I) collagen but notα-smooth muscle actin. No differences were detected in sinusoidal dimension measurements. Our results showed that caloric restriction was effective in ameliorating the increase in stellate cells and the mild fibrosis in old mice. However, caloric restriction had no impact on stellate cell activity level as indicated by the unaffectedα-smooth muscle actin expression.
An Unusual Fat-Containing Presacral Tumor in an Elderly Patient
Authors: Leite Maria Inês , Gonçalves Afonso , Ferreira Ana Cristina , Ortiz Santiago , Esteves Rui , Távora Isabel
Published: February 2014

The authors present a case of a presacral myelolipoma diagnosed in an 84-year-old male patient with longstanding pelvic pain and past medical history of bladder cancer. Pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed a well-encapsulated and lobulated presacral mass, with mixed fat and soft-tissue attenuation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provided further confirmation of macroscopic intralesional fat and excluded either adjacent bone invasion or bladder cancer recurrence. A presacral myelolipoma was suspected based on imaging findings, with liposarcoma and teratoma having also been considered for the differential diagnosis. The histological confirmation of the tumor was only attained postoperatively. This case report alerts to the possible presacral location of myelolipomas, which should be considered for every fat-containing lesion detected in this region. The main clinical, imaging, and differential diagnoses of this entity are reviewed in this paper.
Preparation and Application of Mesoporous Nanotitania Photocatalysts Using Different Templates and pH Media
Authors: Abdel-Azim S. M. , Aboul-Gheit A. K. , Ahmed S. M. , El-Desouki D. S. , Abdel-Mottaleb M. S. A.
Published: February 2014

Mesoporous nanotitania photocatalysts were prepared by sol-gel method in acidic or basic media. Three types of surfactants, namely, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and nonylphenol ethoxylate, were used as templating agents. The effects of surfactant type and pH on the morphology, particle size, surface area, pore-size distribution, UV-Vis absorbance, and TiO2phase transformation were traced by SEM, TEM, BET, and XRD. In absence of surfactants, XRD revealed 54.5% anatase at pH 3-4 and 97.0% at pH 7–9. In presence of surfactant, phase transformation of anatase has been significantly inhibited such that anatase amounts to 82–100% in acidic media. In basic media, the brookite phase appeared in low concentrations (8–15%) while rutile totally disappeared. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized catalysts was tested via naphthalene degradation, which exhibited high activity in visible irradiation (>400 nm). The data obtained indicate that the surface area and pore volume of the current catalysts are the most effective factors for photocatalytic performance. Nevertheless, at the low pH (acidic) range, the CTAB templated catalyst gave the highest surface area (86.7 cm3/g), which is mainly assigned to acquiring the highest photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene (97% after 4 h irradiation time).
Strategic Use of English to Study Science: A Perspective from Communities of Practice
Authors: Hayes Aneta , Al-Amri Nazia
Published: February 2014

This research is underpinned by the sociocultural perspective of communities of practice which situates learning and students’ use of strategic actions to achieve the desired goals in the practices of their communities. Strategic use of the English language is the focus of this study and the aim of this research was to establish whether differences in the strategic use of writing skills in English exist between students of various educational backgrounds. A self-reporting questionnaire on the writing strategy use was distributed among 94 students enrolled in the Foundation Year in one university. The questionnaire items were classified into subgroups, including cognitive, metacognitive, social, affective, compensation, memory, and negative strategies. The results showed that no differences exist among students in all groups in terms of the overall strategy use and in each questionnaire subgroup. Data was analysed using the Mann-WhitneyUtest and the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. All results were statistically insignificant. The findings from this study have implications for the theory of communities of practice, suggesting that sources of student choices regarding the use of English skills to study science might be related more to their individual agency rather than specific communities of practice.
Performance of Different Herbicides in Dry-Seeded Rice in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Sharif , Chauhan Bhagirath Singh
Published: February 2014

A field study was conducted in the boro season of 2011-12 and aman season of 2012 at Jessore, Bangladesh, to evaluate the performance of sequential applications of preemergence herbicides (oxadiargyl 80 g ai ha−1, pendimethalin 850 g ai ha−1, acetachlor + bensulfuranmethyl 240 g ai ha−1, and pyrazosulfuron 15 g ai ha−1) followed by a postemergence herbicide (ethoxysulfuron 18 g ai ha−1) in dry-seeded rice. All evaluated herbicides reduced weed density and biomass by a significant amount. Among herbicides, pendimethalin, oxadiargyl, and acetachlor + bensulfuranmethyl performed very well against grasses; pyrazosulfuron, on the other hand, was not effective. The best herbicide for broadleaf weed control was oxadiargyl (65–85% control); pendimethalin and acetachlor + bensulfuraonmethyl were not effective for this purpose. The best combination for weed control was oxadiargyl followed by ethoxysulfuron in the boro season and oxadiargyl followed by a one-time hand weeding in the aman season. Compared with the partial weedy plots (hand weeded once), oxadiargyl followed by ethoxysulfuron (4.13 t ha−1) provided a 62% higher yield in the boro season while oxadiargyl followed by a one-time hand weeding (4.08 t ha−1) provided a 37% higher yield in the aman season.
A Recurrent Increase of Synchronization in the EEG Continues from Waking throughout NREM and REM Sleep
Authors: Landwehr Ralf , Volpert Andreas , Jowaed Ahmad
Published: February 2014

Pointwise transinformation (PTI) provides a quantitative nonlinear approach to spatiotemporal synchronization patterns of the rhythms of coupled cortical oscillators. We applied PTI to the waking and sleep EEGs of 21 healthy sleepers; we calculated the mean levels and distances of synchronized episodes and estimated the dominant frequency shift from unsynchronized to synchronized EEG segments by spectral analysis. Recurrent EEG synchronization appeared and ceased abruptly in the anterior, central, and temporal derivations; in the posterior derivations it appeared more fluctuating. This temporal dynamics of synchronization remained stable throughout all states of vigilance, while the dominant frequencies of synchronized phases changed markedly. Mean synchronization had high frontal and occipital levels and low central and midtemporal levels. Thus, a fundamental coupling pattern with recurrent increases of synchronization in the EEG (“RISE”) seems to exist during the brain’s resting state. The generators of RISE could be coupled corticocortical neuronal assemblies which might be modulated by subcortical structures. RISE designates the recurrence of transiently synchronized cortical microstates that are independent of specific EEG waves, the spectral content of the EEG, and especially the current state of vigilance. Therefore, it might be suited for EEG analysis in clinical situations without stable vigilance.
Comparison of Reverse Transcription Quantitative Real-Time PCR, Flow Cytometry, and Immunohistochemistry for Detection of Monoclonality in Lymphomas
Authors: Ståhlberg Anders , Åman Pierre , Strömbom Linda , Zoric Neven , Diez Alfredo , Nilsson Olle , Kubista Mikael , Ridell Börje
Published: February 2014

In healthy humans, 60–70% of the B lymphocytes produce kappa light chains, while the remaining cells produce lambda light chains. Malignant transformation and clonal expansion of B lymphocytes lead to an altered kappa : lambda expression ratio, which is an important diagnostic criteria of lymphomas. Here, we compared three methods for clonality determination of suspected B cell lymphomas. Tumor biopsies from 55 patients with B cell malignancies, 5 B-lymphoid tumor cell lines, and 20 biopsies from patients with lymphadenitis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. Clonality was determined by immunohistochemistry in 52/53 cases, flow cytometry in 30/39 cases, and reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR in 33/55 cases. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry was superior to flow cytometry and reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR for clonality identification. Flow cytometry and reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR analysis has complementary values. In a considerable number of cases tumor cells produced both kappa and lambda light chain transcripts, but only one type of light chain peptide was produced.
Inhalation of Nebulized Diesel Particulate Matter: A Safety Trial in Healthy Humans
Authors: Dorman Sandra C. , Sutcliffe Kaylyn M. , Abourbih Jacques , Ritz Stacey A.
Published: February 2014

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) has adverse health effects. Examining the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms would be facilitated by the introduction of an exposure method that is safe, portable, and cost-effective. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel method to study DPM exposure via nebulization and an inhalation dose that was safe, yet capable of eliciting an inflammatory response. Ten participants enrolled in this nonblinded, nonrandomized study. Subjects inhaled nebulized 0.9% saline and increasing doses of DPM suspended in 0.9% saline (75, 150, and 300 μg) in a sequential manner. FEV1was measured repeatedly during the first 2 h after exposure and blood, oximetry, sputum, and heart rate were taken before, 2 h, and 24 h after inhalation challenge. DPM inhalation was well-tolerated at all doses. A decrease in FEV1was observed after each inhalation challenge (including saline). Inhalation of 300 μg DPM produced a significantly different FEV1response curve. An increase in particle inclusion-positive sputum macrophages for all DPM doses confirmed that the nebulized particles were reaching the lower airways. Serum GM-CSF was elevated after exposures to 150 and 300 μg DPM. No other inflammatory changes were detected. DPM inhalation via nebulizer is a safe method of delivering low doses of DPMs in healthy people.
A Case of False Negative NIPT for Down Syndrome-Lessons Learned
Authors: Smith Meagan , Lewis Kimberly M. , Holmes Alexandrea , Visootsak Jeannie
Published: February 2014

Down syndrome or trisomy 21 is the most common cause of prenatal chromosome abnormalities with approximately 50% of all reported chromosome conditions. With the successful introduction of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down syndrome into routine prenatal care, it is important to understand the risks, benefits, and limitations in order to guide patients in making an informed decision. Herein, we describe the first published case report of a patient whose fetus tested “negative” for Trisomy 21 by NIPT but was diagnosed postnatally with trisomy 21. We present the importance of proper pretest and posttest genetic counseling to ensure prenatal patients are able to make informed decisions and are educated appropriately about NIPT.
Weighted Measurement Fusion Quantized Filtering with Bandwidth Constraints and Missing Measurements in Sensor Networks
Authors: Ding Jian , Ma Jing , Sun Shuli
Published: February 2014

This paper is concerned with the estimation problem of a dynamic stochastic variable in a sensor network, where the quantization of scalar measurement, the optimization of the bandwidth scheduling, and the characteristic of transmission channels are considered. For the imperfect channels with missing measurements in sensor networks, two weighted measurement fusion (WMF) quantized Kalman filters based on the quantized measurements arriving at the fusion center are presented. One is dependent on the known message of whether a measurement is received. The other is dependent on the probability of missing measurements. They have the reduced computational cost and same accuracy as the corresponding centralized fusion filter. The approximate solution for the optimal bandwidth‐scheduling problem is given under a limited bandwidth constraint. Furthermore, the vector measurement case is also discussed. The simulation research shows the effectiveness.
Identification of QTLs for Resistance toSclerotinia sclerotiorumin Carioca Common Bean by theMoving AwayMethod
Authors: Lara Letícia A. de C. , Santos João B. dos , Veloso Juliana S. , Balestre Marcio , Alves Filipe C. , Leite Monik E.
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to use multiple DNA markers for detection of QTLs related to resistance to white mold in an F2population of common bean evaluated by the straw test method. The DNA from 186 F2plants and from the parents was extracted for genotypic evaluation using SSR, AFLP, and SRAP markers. For phenotypic analysis, 186 F2:4progenies and ten lines were evaluated, in a 14 × 14 triple lattice experimental design. The adjusted mean values of the F2:4progenies were used for identification of QTLs by Bayesian shrinkage analysis. Significant differences were observed among the progenies for reaction to white mold. In identification of QTLs, 17 markers identified QTLs for resistance—13 SSRs and 4 AFLPs. Themoving awaymethod under the Bayesian approach proved to be efficient in the identification of QTLs when a genetic map is not used due to the low density of markers. The ME1 and BM211 markers are near the QTLs, with the effect of increasing resistance to white mold, and they have high heritability. They are thus promising for marker-assisted selection.