bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The computational modelling of the kinetics of ascorbic acid palmitate hydrolysis by lipase considering diffusion
Authors: Dabulytė-Bagdonavičienė Jurgita , Ivanauskas Feliksas , Razumas Valdemaras
Published: June 2011

This paper presents mathematical and computational modelling of kinetics of a bioelectroanalytical system based on the interfacial action of hydrolytic enzyme. A system of non-linear differential equations with diffusion is used to describe the kinetics of Termomyces lanuginosa lipase (TLL) catalyzed hydrolysis of L-ascorbic acid palmitate (AAP). The system was solved numerically, and the kinetic prameters of AAP hydrolysis by the enzyme were determined. The experimental and modelling results show linear dependence of the rate of AAP hydrolysis on the TLL concentration. Complex dependence of the initial rate of bioelectrocatalytic current increase on the thickness of total diffusion layer (hydrodynamic diffusion layer plus thickness of dialysis membrane on the electrode surface) is also demonstrated and explained.
Metathesis transformations of unsaturated derivatives of β-diketones
Authors: Miętkiewski Miłosz , Powała Beata , Staniszewski Bartosz , Kubicki Maciej , Urbaniak Włodzimierz , Pietraszuk Cezary
Published: June 2011

Selected β-diketones bearing unsaturated derivatives have been demonstrated to undergo homo-metathesis and cross-metathesis with selected olefins in the presence of Grubbs catalysts. The reactions led to respective homo- and cross-metathesis products mainly with good yields and selectivities.
Voltammetric determination of some alkaloids and other compounds in pharmaceuticals and urine using an electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode
Authors: Câmpean Anuţa , Tertiş Mihaela , Săndulescu Robert
Published: June 2011

Electrochemical behaviour of some alkaloids, namely: caffeine, aminophylline, theophylline, codeine phosphate and papaverine hydrochloride, that are in solution in various combinations or in the presence of other compounds contained in pharmaceuticals or in real samples (urine) was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), square-wave voltammetry (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode.

The proposed electroanalytical methods were successfully applied in the simultaneous determination of these alkaloids in different combination or in the presence of other compounds. The great part of these combinations can be analyzed simultaneously because they practically do not interfere. The electrochemical test methods attempted to detect the presence of alkaloids in urine samples collected from subjects who consumed coffee (caffeine), and from a patient under treatment with Miofilin® (aminophylline). Urine samples were determined after filtration, without prior dilution and after dilutiion with acetate buffer at pH 4.5. Best results were obtained using DPV performed on electrochemically activated glassy carbon electrode. Thus in samples taken from subjects who drink coffee the caffeine concentration detected was 6.21×10−7 mol L−1 in the first sample and 7.77×10−7 mol L−1 in the second sample, while aminophylline concentration detected was 1.15×10−7 mol L−1.
Recognition of voice commands using adaptation of foreign language speech recognizer via selection of phonetic transcriptions
Authors: Maskeliunas Rytis , Rudzionis Vytautas
Published: June 2011

In recent years various commercial speech recognizers have become available. These recognizers provide the possibility to develop applications incorporating various speech recognition techniques easily and quickly. All of these commercial recognizers are typically targeted to widely spoken languages having large market potential; however, it may be possible to adapt available commercial recognizers for use in environments where less widely spoken languages are used. Since most commercial recognition engines are closed systems the single avenue for the adaptation is to try set ways for the selection of proper phonetic transcription methods between the two languages. This paper deals with the methods to find the phonetic transcriptions for Lithuanian voice commands to be recognized using English speech engines. The experimental evaluation showed that it is possible to find phonetic transcriptions that will enable the recognition of Lithuanian voice commands with recognition accuracy of over 90%.
Do Typical RCTs of Education Interventions Have Sufficient Statistical Power for Linking Impacts on Teacher Practice and Student Achievement Outcomes?
Authors: Schochet Peter Z.
Published: June 2011

For RCTs of education interventions, it is often of interest to estimate associations between student and mediating teacher practice outcomes, to examine the extent to which the study’s conceptual model is supported by the data, and to identify specific mediators that are most associated with student learning. This article develops statistical power formulas for such exploratory analyses under clustered school-based RCTs using ordinary least squares (OLS) and instrumental variable (IV) estimators and uses these formulas to conduct a simulated power analysis. The power analysis finds that for currently available mediators, the OLS approach will yield precise estimates of associations between teacher practice measures and student test score gains only if the sample contains about 150 to 200 study schools. The IV approach, which can adjust for potential omitted variable and simultaneity biases, has very little statistical power for mediator analyses. For typical RCT evaluations, these results may have design implications for the scope of the data collection effort for obtaining costly teacher practice mediators.
Solutions for Determining the Significance Region Using the Johnson-Neyman Type Procedure in Generalized Linear (Mixed) Models
Authors: Lazar Ann A. , Zerbe Gary O.
Published: June 2011

Researchers often compare the relationship between an outcome and covariate for two or more groups by evaluating whether the fitted regression curves differ significantly. When they do, researchers need to determine the “significance region,” or the values of the covariate where the curves significantly differ. In analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the Johnson-Neyman procedure can be used to determine the significance region; for the hierarchical linear model (HLM), the Miyazaki and Maier (M-M) procedure has been suggested. However, neither procedure can assume nonnormally distributed data. Furthermore, the M-M procedure produces biased (downward) results because it uses the Wald test, does not control the inflated Type I error rate due to multiple testing, and requires implementing multiple software packages to determine the significance region. In this article, we address these limitations by proposing solutions for determining the significance region suitable for generalized linear (mixed) model (GLM or GLMM). These proposed solutions incorporate test statistics that resolve the biased results, control the Type I error rate using Scheffé’s method, and uses a single statistical software package to determine the significance region.
Simultaneous One-Sided Tests With Application to Education Evaluation Systems
Authors: Han Bing , Dalal Siddhartha R. , McCaffrey Daniel F.
Published: June 2011

There is widespread interest in using various statistical inference tools as a part of the evaluations for individual teachers and schools. Evaluation systems typically involve classifying hundreds or even thousands of teachers or schools according to their estimated performance. Many current evaluations are largely based on individual estimates and hypothesis tests, with little or no consideration of controlling simultaneous error rates and their potential effect on the whole educational evaluation system. In this article, we discuss controlling simultaneous errors in classification of teachers or schools by a decision-theoretic approach. We first develop a β-mixture model to estimate the local false discovery rate (local fdr) by the classic p-values from one-sided tests. We discuss a few decision rules based on standard loss functions. We also construct a controversy loss function to further accommodate the incoherence between effect size and local fdr. We apply the proposed approach to evaluate adequate yearly progress (AYP) in math proficiency of Pennsylvania schools.
Prophylactic antiepileptic drug therapy in patients undergoing supratentorial meningioma resection: a systematic analysis of efficacy
Authors: Komotar Ricardo J. , Raper Daniel M. S. , Starke Robert M. , Iorgulescu J. Bryan , Gutin Philip H.
Published: June 2011

Object

Meningiomas are one of the more common intracranial neoplasms. The risk of seizures and secondary aspiration, brain edema, and brain injury often leads practitioners to administer prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) perioperatively. The efficacy of this practice remains controversial, however, with prior investigations reaching conflicting results and recent studies focusing on AED side effects. The authors performed a systematic analysis of outcomes following supratentorial meningioma resection with and without prophylactic AED administration in the hope of clarifying the role of AEDs in the perioperative care of patients with these lesions.

Methods

A MEDLINE search of the literature (1979–2010) was performed. Comparisons were made for patient and tumor characteristics as well as success of repair, morbidity, and seizure outcome. Statistical analyses of categorical variables were undertaken using chi-square and Fisher exact tests.

Results

Nineteen studies, involving 698 patients, were included. There were no significant differences in the extent of resection, perioperative mortality, or recurrence between the AED and no-AED cohorts. Likewise, there were no significant differences in the incidence of early or late seizures between the cohorts.

Conclusions

The results of this systematic analysis supports the conclusion that the prophylactic administration of anticonvulsants during resection of supratentorial meningiomas provides no benefit in the prevention of either early or late postoperative seizures. Despite their traditional role in this patient population, the routine use of AEDs should be carefully reconsidered.
Late instrumentation failure after total en bloc spondylectomy
Authors: Matsumoto Morio , Watanabe Kota , Tsuji Takashi , Ishii Ken , Nakamura Masaya , Chiba Kazuhiro , Toyama Yoshiaki
Published: June 2011

Object

The object of this study was to investigate failures after spinal reconstruction following total en bloc spondylectomy (TES), related factors, and sequelae arising from such failures in patients with malignant spinal tumors.

Methods

Fifteen patients (12 males and 3 females, with a mean age of 46.5 years) with malignant spinal tumors who underwent TES and survived for more than 1 year were included in this analysis (mean follow-up 41.5 months). Seven patients had primary tumors, including giant cell tumors in 4 patients, chordoma in 2, and Ewing sarcoma in 1. Eight patients had metastatic tumors, including thyroid cancer in 6 and renal cell cancer and malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 1 patient each. Seven patients without prominent paravertebral extension of the tumor were treated using a posterior approach alone, and 8 patients who exhibited prominent anterior or anterolateral extension of the tumors into the thoracic or abdominal cavity were treated using a combined anterior and posterior approach. Spinal reconstruction after tumor resection was performed using a combination of anterior structural support and posterior instrumentation. The relationship between instrumentation failure and clinical and radiographic factors, including age, sex, history of previous surgery, preoperative radiotherapy, tumor histology, tumor level, surgical approach, number of resected vertebrae, rod diameter, number of instrumented vertebrae, and cage subsidence, was investigated.

Results

Six patients (40%) with spinal instrumentation failure were identified: rod breakage occurred in 3 patients, and breakage of both the rod and the cage, combined cage breakage and screw back-out, and endplate fracture arising from cage subsidence occurred in 1 patient each. All of these patients experienced acute or chronic back pain, but only 1 patient with a tumor recurrence experienced neurological deterioration upon instrumentation failure. Cage subsidence (≥ 5 mm), preoperative irradiation, and the number of instrumented vertebrae (≤ 4 vertebrae) were significantly related to late instrumentation failure.

Conclusions

Late instrumentation failure was a frequent complication after TES. Although patients with instrumentation failure experienced back pain, the neurological sequelae were not catastrophic. For prevention, meticulous preparation of the graft site and a longer posterior fixation should be considered.
Cell Death Pathways in Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer
Authors: Mroz Pawel , Yaroslavsky Anastasia , Kharkwal Gitika B , Hamblin Michael R.
Published: June 2011

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging cancer therapy that uses the combination of non-toxic dyes or photosensitizers (PS) and harmless visible light to produce reactive oxygen species and destroy tumors. The PS can be localized in various organelles such as mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and plasma membranes and this sub-cellular location governs much of the signaling that occurs after PDT. There is an acute stress response that leads to changes in calcium and lipid metabolism and causes the production of cytokines and stress response mediators. Enzymes (particularly protein kinases) are activated and transcription factors are expressed. Many of the cellular responses center on mitochondria and frequently lead to induction of apoptosis by the mitochondrial pathway involving caspase activation and release of cytochrome c. Certain specific proteins (such as Bcl-2) are damaged by PDT-induced oxidation thereby increasing apoptosis, and a build-up of oxidized proteins leads to an ER-stress response that may be increased by proteasome inhibition. Autophagy plays a role in either inhibiting or enhancing cell death after PDT.
Evolving Web-Based Test Automation into Agile Business Specifications
Authors: Mugridge Rick , Utting Mark , Streader David
Published: June 2011

Usually, test automation scripts for a web application directly mirror the actions that the tester carries out in the browser, but they tend to be verbose and repetitive, making them expensive to maintain and ineffective in an agile setting. Our research has focussed on providing tool-support for business-level, example-based specifications that are mapped to the browser level for automatic verification. We provide refactoring support for the evolution of existing browser-level tests into business-level specifications. As resulting business rule tables may be incomplete, redundant or contradictory, our tool provides feedback on coverage.
Processing Conditions, Rice Properties, Health and Environment
Authors: Roy Poritosh , Orikasa Takahiro , Okadome Hiroshi , Nakamura Nobutaka , Shiina Takeo
Published: June 2011

Rice is the staple food for nearly two-thirds of the world’s population. Food components and environmental load of rice depends on the rice form that is resulted by different processing conditions. Brown rice (BR), germinated brown rice (GBR) and partially-milled rice (PMR) contains more health beneficial food components compared to the well milled rice (WMR). Although the arsenic concentration in cooked rice depends on the cooking methods, parboiled rice (PBR) seems to be relatively prone to arsenic contamination compared to that of untreated rice, if contaminated water is used for parboiling and cooking. A change in consumption patterns from PBR to untreated rice (non-parboiled), and WMR to PMR or BR may conserve about 43–54 million tons of rice and reduce the risk from arsenic contamination in the arsenic prone area. This study also reveals that a change in rice consumption patterns not only supply more food components but also reduces environmental loads. A switch in production and consumption patterns would improve food security where food grains are scarce, and provide more health beneficial food components, may prevent some diseases and ease the burden on the Earth. However, motivation and awareness of the environment and health, and even a nominal incentive may require for a method switching which may help in building a sustainable society.
Urinary Arsenic Metabolites of Subjects Exposed to Elevated Arsenic Present in Coal in Shaanxi Province, China
Authors: Gao Jianwei , Yu Jiangping , Yang Linsheng
Published: June 2011

In contrast to arsenic (As) poisoning caused by naturally occurring inorganic arsenic-contaminated water consumption, coal arsenic poisoning (CAP) induced by elevated arsenic exposure from coal combustion has rarely been reported. In this study, the concentrations and distributions of urinary arsenic metabolites in 57 volunteers (36 subjects with skin lesions and 21 subjects without skin lesions), who had been exposed to elevated levels of arsenic present in coal in Changshapu village in the south of Shaanxi Province (China), were reported. The urinary arsenic species, including inorganic arsenic (iAs) [arsenite (iAsIII) and arsenate (iAsV)], monomethylarsonic acid (MMAV) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV), were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The relative distributions of arsenic species, the primary methylation index (PMI = MMAV/iAs) and the secondary methylation index (SMI = DMAV/MMAV) were calculated to assess the metabolism of arsenic. Subjects with skin lesions had a higher concentration of urinary arsenic and a lower arsenic methylation capability than subjects without skin lesions. Women had a significantly higher methylation capability of arsenic than men, as defined by a higher percent DMAV and SMI in urine among women, which was the one possible interpretation of women with a higher concentration of urinary arsenic but lower susceptibility to skin lesions. The findings suggested that not only the dose of arsenic exposure but also the arsenic methylation capability have an impact on the individual susceptibility to skin lesions induced by coal arsenic exposure.
Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Swedish Sterilant Workers Exposed to Ethylene Oxide: Updated Cohort Study Findings 1972–2006
Authors: Mikoczy Zoli , Tinnerberg Håkan , Björk Jonas , Albin Maria
Published: June 2011

Objectives: To assess whether cancer incidence, mainly from lymphohaematopoietic tumours and breast cancer, and mortality were increased in a cohort of Swedish sterilant workers exposed to low levels of ethylene oxide (EtO), updated with 16 more years of follow up. Methods: The mortality and cancer incidence 1972–2006 experienced by a cohort of 2,171 male and female workers employed for at least one year in two plants producing medical equipment sterilised with EtO were investigated. Individual cumulative exposure to EtO was assessed by occupational hygienists. Cause-specific standardized rate ratios were calculated using the regional general population as a comparison for mortality (SMR) and cancer incidence (SIR). Internal Poisson-regression analyses were performed for selected causes. Results: The median cumulative exposure to EtO was 0.13 ppm-years. The overall cancer incidence was close to unity (SIR 0.94, 95% CI 0.82–1.08). Eighteen cases of lymphohaematopoietic cancer were observed (SIR 1.25, 95% CI 0.74–1.98). A healthy worker effect was indicated from a significantly decreased overall mortality and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Internal analyses found significantly increased rate ratios for breast cancer for the two upper quartiles of cumulative exposure as compared to the lowest 50% of the cohort (IRR 2.76, 95% CI 1.20–6.33 and IRR 3.55, 95% CI 1.58–7.93). Conclusions: The findings from this updated study indicate limited or low risks for human cancer due to occupational exposure from ethylene oxide at the low cumulative exposure levels in this cohort. However a positive exposure-response relation with breast cancer was observed though.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of High-Resolution Injection Technique for Capillary Electrophoresis Microchip
Authors: Chang Chin-Lung , Leong Jik-Chang , Hong Ting-Fu , Wang Yao-Nan , Fu Lung-Ming
Published: June 2011

This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation on the use of high-resolution injection techniques to deliver sample plugs within a capillary electrophoresis (CE) microchip. The CE microfluidic device was integrated into a U-shaped injection system and an expansion chamber located at the inlet of the separation channel, which can miniize the sample leakage effect and deliver a high-quality sample plug into the separation channel so that the detection performance of the device is enhanced. The proposed 45° U-shaped injection system was investigated using a sample of Rhodamine B dye. Meanwhile, the analysis of the current CE microfluidic chip was studied by considering the separation of Hae III digested φx-174 DNA samples. The experimental and numerical results indicate that the included 45° U-shaped injector completely eliminates the sample leakage and an expansion separation channel with an expansion ratio of 2.5 delivers a sample plug with a perfect detection shape and highest concentration intensity, hence enabling an optimal injection and separation performance.
Optimization of Liquid DiElectroPhoresis (LDEP) Digital Microfluidic Transduction for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Renaudot Raphaël , Agache Vincent , Daunay Bruno , Lambert Pierre , Kumemura Momoko , Fouillet Yves , Collard Dominique , Fujita Hiroyuki
Published: June 2011

Digital microfluidic has recently been under intensive study, as an effective method to carry out liquid manipulation in Lab-On-a-Chip (LOC) systems. Among droplet actuation forces, ElectroWetting on Dielectric (EWOD) and Liquid DiElectroPhoresis (LDEP) are powerful tools, used in many LOC platforms. Such digital microfluidic transductions do not require integration of complex mechanical components such as pumps and valves to perform the fluidic operations. However, although LDEP has been proved to be efficient to carry and manipulate biological components in insulating liquids, this microfluidic transduction requires several hundreds of volts at relatively high frequencies (kHz to MHz). With the purpose to develop integrated microsystems µ-TAS (Micro Total Analysis System) or Point of Care systems, the goal here is to reduce such high actuation voltage, the power consumption, though using standard dielectric materials. This paper gives key rules to determine the best tradeoff between liquid manipulation efficiency, low-power consumption and robustness of microsystems using LDEP actuation. This study leans on an electromechanical model to describe liquid manipulation that is applied to an experimental setup, and provides precise quantification of both actuation voltage Vth and frequency fc thresholds between EWOD and LDEP regimes. In particular, several parameters will be investigated to quantify Vth and fc, such as the influence of the chip materials, the electrodes size and the device configurations. Compared to current studies in the field, significant reduction of both Vth and fc is achieved by optimization of the aforementioned parameters.
Fluorescent Probes Detecting the Phagocytic Phase of Apoptosis: Enzyme-Substrate Complexes of Topoisomerase and DNA
Authors: Minchew Candace L. , Didenko Vladimir V.
Published: June 2011

In apoptosis, the initial self-driven suicide phase generates cellular corpses which are digested in the phagolysosomes of professional and amateur phagocytes during the subsequent waste-management phase. This ensures the complete elimination of the genetic material which often contains pathological, viral or cancerous DNA sequences. Although the phagocytic phase is critical for the efficient execution of apoptosis, there are currently few methods specifically adapted for its detailed visualization in the fixed tissue section format. To resolve this we developed new fluorescent probes for in situ research. The probes selectively visualize active phagocytic cells of any lineage (professional, amateur phagocytes or surrounding tissue cells) which engulf and digest apoptotic cell DNA. These fluorescent probes are the covalently-bound enzyme-DNA intermediates produced in a topoisomerase reaction with specific “starting” oligonucleotides. They detect a specific marker of DNase II cleavage activity, which occurs exclusively in phagolysosomes of the cells that engulfed apoptotic nuclei. The probes provide snap-shot images of the digestion process occurring in cellular organelles responsible for the actual execution of phagocytic degradation of apoptotic cell corpses. We applied the probes for visualization of the phagocytic reaction in tissue sections of normal thymus and in several human lymphomas. We also discuss the nature, stability and properties of DNase II-type breaks as a marker of phagocytic activity. This development provides a useful fluorescent tool for studies of pathologies where clearance of dying cells is essential, such as cancers, inflammation, infection and auto-immune disorders.
A High Molar Extinction Coefficient Mono-Anthracenyl Bipyridyl Heteroleptic Ruthenium(II) Complex: Synthesis, Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Adeloye Adewale O. , Ajibade Peter A.
Published: June 2011

In our quest to develop good materials as photosensitizers for photovoltaic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), cis-dithiocyanato-4-(2,3-dimethylacrylic acid)-2,2'-bipyridyl-4-(9-anthracenyl-(2,3-dimethylacrylic)-2,2'-bipyridyl ruthenium(II) complex, a high molar extinction coefficient charge transfer sensitizer, was designed, synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. Earlier studies on heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex analogues containing functionalized oligo-anthracenyl phenanthroline ligands have been reported and documented. Based on a general linear correlation between increase in the length of π-conjugation bond and the molar extinction coefficients, herein, we report the photophysical and electrochemical properties of a Ru(II) bipyridyl complex analogue with a single functionalized anthracenyl unit. Interestingly, the complex shows better broad and intense metal-to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band absorption with higher molar extinction coefficient (λmax = 518 nm, e = 44900 M−1cm−1), and appreciable photoluminescence spanning the visible region than those containing higher anthracenyl units. It was shown that molar absorption coefficient of the complexes may not be solely depended on the extended π-conjugation but are reduced by molecular aggregation in the molecules.
Synthesis and Antifungal Evaluation of 1-Aryl-2-dimethyl-aminomethyl-2-propen-1-one Hydrochlorides
Authors: Mete Ebru , Gul Halise Inci , Bilginer Sinan , Algul Oztekin , Topaloglu Mehmet Emin , Gulluce Medine , Kazaz Cavit
Published: June 2011

The development of resistance to current antifungal therapeutics drives the search for new effective agents. The fact that several acetophenone-derived Mannich bases had shown remarkable antifungal activities in our previous studies led us to design and synthesize some acetophenone-derived Mannich bases, 1-8 and 2-acetylthiophene-derived Mannich base 9, 1-aryl-2-dimethylaminomethyl-2-propen-1-one hydrochloride, to evaluate their antifungal activities. The designed chemical structures have α,β-unsaturated ketone moieties, which are responsible for the bioactivities of the Mannich bases. The aryl part was C6H5 (1); 4-CH3C6H4 (2); 4-CH3OC6H4 (3); 4-ClC6H4 (4); 4-FC6H4 (5); 4-BrC6H4 (6); 4-HOC6H4 (7); 4-NO2C6H4 (8); and C4H3S(2-yl) (9). In this study the designed compounds were synthesized by the conventional heating method and also by the microwave irradiation method to compare these methods in terms of reaction times and yields to find an optimum synthetic method, which can be applied for the synthesis of Mannich bases in further studies. Since there are limited number of studies reporting the synthesis of Mannich bases by microwave irradiation, this study may also contribute to the general literature on Mannich bases. Compound 7 was reported for the first time. Antifungal activities of all compounds and synthesis of the compounds by microwave irradiation were also reported for the first time by this study. Fungi (15 species) were used for antifungal activity test. Amphotericin B was tested as an antifungal reference compound. In conclusion, compounds 1-6, and 9, which had more potent (2–16 times) antifungal activity than the reference compound amphotericin B against some fungi, can be model compounds for further studies to develop new antifungal agents. In addition, microwave irradiation can be considered to reduce reaction period, while the conventional method can still be considered to obtain compounds with higher reaction yields in the synthesis of new Mannich bases.
Gut Microbiota and Inflammation
Authors: Hakansson Asa , Molin Goran
Published: June 2011

Systemic and local inflammation in relation to the resident microbiota of the human gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and administration of probiotics are the main themes of the present review. The dominating taxa of the human GI tract and their potential for aggravating or suppressing inflammation are described. The review focuses on human trials with probiotics and does not include in vitro studies and animal experimental models. The applications of probiotics considered are systemic immune-modulation, the metabolic syndrome, liver injury, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and radiation-induced enteritis. When the major genomic differences between different types of probiotics are taken into account, it is to be expected that the human body can respond differently to the different species and strains of probiotics. This fact is often neglected in discussions of the outcome of clinical trials with probiotics.
Application of Composite Dictionary Multi-Atom Matching in Gear Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Cui Lingli , Kang Chenhui , Wang Huaqing , Chen Peng
Published: June 2011

The sparse decomposition based on matching pursuit is an adaptive sparse expression method for signals. This paper proposes an idea concerning a composite dictionary multi-atom matching decomposition and reconstruction algorithm, and the introduction of threshold de-noising in the reconstruction algorithm. Based on the structural characteristics of gear fault signals, a composite dictionary combining the impulse time-frequency dictionary and the Fourier dictionary was constituted, and a genetic algorithm was applied to search for the best matching atom. The analysis results of gear fault simulation signals indicated the effectiveness of the hard threshold, and the impulse or harmonic characteristic components could be separately extracted. Meanwhile, the robustness of the composite dictionary multi-atom matching algorithm at different noise levels was investigated. Aiming at the effects of data lengths on the calculation efficiency of the algorithm, an improved segmented decomposition and reconstruction algorithm was proposed, and the calculation efficiency of the decomposition algorithm was significantly enhanced. In addition it is shown that the multi-atom matching algorithm was superior to the single-atom matching algorithm in both calculation efficiency and algorithm robustness. Finally, the above algorithm was applied to gear fault engineering signals, and achieved good results.
A General Analysis of the Impact of Digitization in Microwave Correlation Radiometers
Authors: Bosch-Lluis Xavier , Ramos-Perez Isaac , Camps Adriano , Rodriguez-Alvarez Nereida , Valencia Enric , Park Hyuk
Published: June 2011

This study provides a general framework to analyze the effects on correlation radiometers of a generic quantization scheme and sampling process. It reviews, unifies and expands several previous works that focused on these effects separately. In addition, it provides a general theoretical background that allows analyzing any digitization scheme including any number of quantization levels, irregular quantization steps, gain compression, clipping, jitter and skew effects of the sampling period.
Enriching the Symmetry of Maxwell Equations through Unprecedented Magnetic Responses of Artificial Metamaterials and Their Revolutionary Applications
Authors: Lai Yueh-Chun , Chen Cheng-Kuang , Huang Tsung-Yu , Un Ieng-Wai , Yang Yu-Hang , Yen Ta-Jen
Published: June 2011

The major issue regarding magnetic response in nature—“negative values for the permeability μ of material parameters, especially in terahertz or optical region” makes the electromagnetic properties of natural materials asymmetric. Recently, research in metamaterials has grown in significance because these artificial materials can demonstrate special and, indeed, extraordinary electromagnetic phenomena such as the inverse of Snell’s law and novel applications. A critical topic in metamaterials is the artificial negative magnetic response, which can be designed in the higher frequency regime (from microwave to optical range). Artificial magnetism illustrates new physics and new applications, which have been demonstrated over the past few years. In this review, we present recent developments in research on artificial magnetic metamaterials including split-ring resonator structures, sandwich structures, and high permittivity-based dielectric composites. Engineering applications such as invisibility cloaking, negative refractive index medium, and slowing light fall into this category. We also discuss the possibility that metamaterials can be suitable for realizing new and exotic electromagnetic properties.
Gammaretroviral Vectors: Biology, Technology and Application
Authors: Maetzig Tobias , Galla Melanie , Baum Christopher , Schambach Axel
Published: June 2011

Retroviruses are evolutionary optimized gene carriers that have naturally adapted to their hosts to efficiently deliver their nucleic acids into the target cell chromatin, thereby overcoming natural cellular barriers. Here we will review—starting with a deeper look into retroviral biology—how Murine Leukemia Virus (MLV), a simple gammaretrovirus, can be converted into an efficient vehicle of genetic therapeutics. Furthermore, we will describe how more rational vector backbones can be designed and how these so-called self-inactivating vectors can be pseudotyped and produced. Finally, we will provide an overview on existing clinical trials and how biosafety can be improved.
Tailored Watershed Assessment and Integrated Management (TWAIM): A Systems Thinking Approach
Authors: Magner Joe
Published: June 2011

Control of non-point source (NPS) water pollution remains elusive in the United States (US). Many US water-bodies which have been primarily impacted by NPS pollution have not achieved water quality goals set by Clean Water Act. Technological advances have been made since 1972, yet many water resources fail to meet water quality standards. Common Pool Resources Theory is considered to understand the human dimension of NPS pollution by exploring anthropogenic activities superimposed upon dynamic ecosystems. In the final analysis, priority management zones (PMZs) for best management practice (BMP) implementation must have buy-in from land managers. TWAIM is an iterative systems thinking approach to planning, collecting landscape and land use information and communicating systems understanding to stakeholders. Hydrologic pathways that link the physical, chemical and biological characteristics influence processes occurring in a watershed which drive stream health and ecological function. With better systems understanding and application by technical specialists, there is potential for improved stakeholder interaction and dialogue which could then enable better land use decisions. Issues of pollutant origin, transport, storage and hydraulic residence must be defined and communicated effectively to land managers within a watershed context to observe trends in water quality change. The TWAIM concept provides a logical framework for locally-led assessment and a means to communicate ecohydrologic systems understanding over time to the key land managers such that PMZs can be defined for BMP implementation.
Evaluating Hydrologic Response of an Agricultural Watershed for Watershed Analysis
Authors: Jha Manoj Kumar
Published: June 2011

This paper describes the hydrological assessment of an agricultural watershed in the Midwestern United States through the use of a watershed scale hydrologic model. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to the Maquoketa River watershed, located in northeast Iowa, draining an agriculture intensive area of about 5,000 km2. The inputs to the model were obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency’s geographic information/database system called Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS). Meteorological input, including precipitation and temperature from six weather stations located in and around the watershed, and measured streamflow data at the watershed outlet, were used in the simulation. A sensitivity analysis was performed using an influence coefficient method to evaluate surface runoff and baseflow variations in response to changes in model input hydrologic parameters. The curve number, evaporation compensation factor, and soil available water capacity were found to be the most sensitive parameters among eight selected parameters. Model calibration, facilitated by the sensitivity analysis, was performed for the period 1988 through 1993, and validation was performed for 1982 through 1987. The model was found to explain at least 86% and 69% of the variability in the measured streamflow data for calibration and validation periods, respectively. This initial hydrologic assessment will facilitate future modeling applications using SWAT to the Maquoketa River watershed for various watershed analyses, including watershed assessment for water quality management, such as total maximum daily loads, impacts of land use and climate change, and impacts of alternate management practices.
Pregnancy Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with and without Previous Nephritis
Authors: BRAMHAM KATE , HUNT BEVERLEY J. , BEWLEY SUSAN , GERMAIN SARAH , CALATAYUD IRENE , KHAMASHTA MUNTHER A. , NELSON-PIERCY CATHERINE
Published: June 2011

Objective.

To compare rates and predictors of pregnancy complications in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without previous nephritis (PN).

Methods.

Retrospective analysis of 107 pregnancies in 83 women with SLE diagnosed prepregnancy.

Results.

Mothers with PN had higher rates of preterm delivery (< 37/40, 30% vs 11%, p = 0.029) than those without PN. Women with PN had earlier onset of preeclampsia [median 34.5 weeks (IQR 32–37) vs 37.5 weeks (IQR 35–38, p = 0.047)] that was more frequently complicated by preterm delivery (p = 0.02). Risk factors for preeclampsia in women with PN include 10–13 weeks’ gestation diastolic blood pressure > 80 mmHg and proteinuria, and prepregnancy estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2. In women with PN, midtrimester uterine-artery-Doppler notching had low negative predictive value (47%). After 39 months followup, eGFR was stable in women with or without PN.

Conclusion.

In SLE, preterm deliveries are more frequent and preeclampsia occurs earlier in women with PN, but longterm eGFR is preserved.
Serum MMP-3 Level as a Biomarker for Monitoring and Predicting Response to Etanercept Treatment in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: ARENDS SUZANNE , van der VEER EVELINE , GROEN HENK , HOUTMAN PIETERNELLA M. , JANSEN TIM L.T.A. , LEIJSMA MARTHA K. , BIJZET JOHAN , LIMBURG PIETER C. , KALLENBERG CEES G.M. , SPOORENBERG ANNEKE , BROUWER ELISABETH
Published: June 2011

Objective.

To investigate whether level of serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) can serve as a biomarker for monitoring and predicting response to etanercept treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in daily clinical practice.

Methods.

Ninety-two consecutive AS outpatients with active disease who started etanercept treatment were included in this longitudinal observational study. Clinical data were collected prospectively at baseline and after 3 and 12 months of treatment. At the same timepoints, serum MMP-3 levels were measured retrospectively by ELISA.

Results.

Since baseline serum MMP-3 levels were significantly higher in male compared to female patients with AS, data analysis was split for gender. Changes in serum MMP-3 levels after etanercept treatment correlated positively with changes in clinical assessments of disease activity and physical function in both male and female patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis in male patients showed that baseline serum MMP-3 levels had poor accuracy (AUC < 0.7) to discriminate between Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis 20 (ASAS20) or ASAS40 responders and nonresponders after 3 or 12 months of treatment. The accuracy of change in serum MMP-3 levels from baseline to 3 months in predicting response after 3 or 12 months of treatment was poor for ASAS40 (AUC < 0.7) or moderate for ASAS20 (AUC = 0.752 and 0.744, respectively), and was not superior to the accuracy of change in the currently used objective biomarkers, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.

Conclusion.

Although significant changes in serum MMP-3 levels were found after etanercept treatment, data analysis indicates that serum MMP-3 levels are not very useful for monitoring and predicting response to etanercept treatment in patients with AS in daily clinical practice.
Smoking and Outcomes After Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review
Authors: SINGH JASVINDER A.
Published: June 2011

Objective.

Studies have suggested higher rates of perioperative and postoperative complications in smokers compared to nonsmokers. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the association of smoking and postoperative outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods.

A search of 6 databases (The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Proquest Dissertation abstracts, CINAHL, Ovid Medline, and Embase) was performed by a Cochrane librarian. All titles and abstracts were screened by 2 independent reviewers with expertise in performing systematic reviews. Studies were included if they were fully published reports that included smoking and any perioperative or postoperative clinical outcome in patients with TKA or THA.

Results.

A total of 21 studies were included for the review, of which 6 provided multivariable-adjusted analyses, 14 univariate analyses, and one statistical modeling. For most outcomes, results from 1–2 studies could be pooled. Current smokers were significantly more likely to have any postoperative complication (risk ratio 1.24, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.54) and death (risk ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.51) compared to nonsmokers. Former smokers were significantly more likely to have any post-operative complication (risk ratio 1.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.66) and death (risk ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.64) compared to nonsmokers.

Conclusion.

This systematic review found that smoking is associated with significantly higher risk of postoperative complication and mortality following TKA or THA. Studies examining longterm consequences of smoking on implant survival and complications are needed. Smoking cessation may improve outcomes after THA or TKA.
Bosentan in Clinical Practice for Treating Digital and Other Ischemic Ulcers in Spanish Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: IBER-DU Cohort Study
Authors: ROMAN IVORRA JOSÉ ANDRÉS , SIMEON CARMEN PILAR , ALEGRE SANCHO JUAN JOSÉ , EGURBIDE MARIA VICTORIA , CASTILLO MARIA JESÚS , LLORIA XAVIER , FONOLLOSA VICENT
Published: June 2011

Objective.

To describe treatment outcomes and safety experience with bosentan in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and digital ulcers (DU), in a clinical setting in Spain.

Methods.

This was a multicenter, noninterventional retrospective cohort study. Data were collected retrospectively from patients with DU, with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), who were initiating bosentan therapy in 2003 (n = 26) or 2004 (n = 41) and followed until May 2005. Data were obtained from centers prescribing bosentan. Relevant measures included number of DU, occurrence of new DU, overall DU clinical status (improved, stabilized, worsened), and bosentan-associated adverse events.

Results.

Sixty-seven patients with SSc and DU or other ulcers were included. PAH was also present in 12 patients (18%). At the start of bosentan treatment, the median number of DU per patient was 3.0. The median change in number of DU was −3.6 and −5.0 at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Sixty-eight percent of the patients did not develop any new DU at 12 months. DU clinical status was reported at 12 months for 22 patients: 18 patients (81.8%) improved and 4 (18.2%) stabilized. The median treatment duration was 13.0 months. The main adverse event was increase of aminotransferase, observed in 5 patients (7%), leading to discontinuation of treatment in 3 patients (4.4%).

Conclusion.

Previously reported results of bosentan efficacy in DU management are reproducible in clinical practice. This efficacy is maintained in the longterm followup. Bosentan treatment was well tolerated and adverse events were comparable with those observed in previous reports.
Health Literacy Among Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Zamora Herlinda , Clingerman Evelyn M.
Published: June 2011

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to describe the empirical findings on health literacy in adults 65 and older. A systematic search for research studies from 1999 to early 2010 was conducted in MEDLINE and CINAHL databases. Articles were analyzed using the following foci: skills and health knowledge, functional health literacy, and health behaviors and health outcomes. Findings indicated that advancing age resulted in a significant increase in prevalence of inadequate health literacy. Further research is needed to develop evidence-based, culturally congruent interventions to improve health literacy among older adults.
Fracture Load for Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures in Cemented Versus Uncemented Hip Stems: An Experimental in Vitro Study
Authors: Thomsen Marc N. , Jakubowitz Eike , Seeger Joern B. , Lee Christoph , Kretzer Jan P. , Clarius Michael
Published: June 2011

This cadaveric study examined fracture loads in cemented and uncemented hip stems. Additionally, individual data and bone quality were analyzed and correlated to fracture patterns and fracture load. Cemented or uncemented hip stems were implanted in a randomized fashion in 10 matched paired fresh-frozen femora (donor median age, 78 years, and donor median weight, 74.2 kg). Bone density was measured before the femurs were fractured under load (maximum load of 10,000 N), and fracture patterns were analyzed according to the Vancouver and Johansson classification systems. In the uncemented group, all of the femurs fractured with a median load of 2625 N (range, 1725–7647 N). In the cemented group, 5 femurs fractured with a median maximum load of 9127 N (range, 2845–10,000 N) and 5 femurs did not fracture with a maximum load of 10,000N. Fracture load corresponded to 4 times and 8.8 times body weight in the uncemented and cemented groups, respectively. Fracture patterns corresponded to Vancouver type A fractures in uncemented stems and Vancouver type C fractures in cemented hip stems. Analysis showed a significant correlation between fracture load and bone density in the uncemented group, whereas there was no correlation in the cemented group. Patients with poor bone quality treated with an uncemented hip stem are at higher risk for periprosthetic fractures; therefore, we recommend cemented stems in this group of patients. Cementation appears to protect against periprosthetic fractures, probably from internal stiffening of the femoral cavity.