bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered Dynamics of Candida albicans Phagocytosis by Macrophages and PMNs When Both Phagocyte Subsets Are Present
Authors: Rudkin Fiona M. , Bain Judith M. , Walls Catriona , Lewis Leanne E. , Gow Neil A. R. , Erwig Lars P.
Published: October 2013

An important first line of defense againstCandida albicansinfections is the killing of fungal cells by professional phagocytes of the innate immune system, such as polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and macrophages. In this study, we employed live-cell video microscopy coupled with dynamic image analysis tools to provide insights into the complexity ofC. albicansphagocytosis when macrophages and PMNs were incubated withC. albicansalone and when both phagocyte subsets were present. WhenC. albicanscells were incubated with only one phagocyte subtype, PMNs had a lower overall phagocytic capacity than macrophages, despite engulfing fungal cells at a higher rate once fungal cells were bound to the phagocyte surface. PMNs were more susceptible toC. albicans-mediated killing than macrophages, irrespective of the number ofC. albicanscells ingested. In contrast, when both phagocyte subsets were studied in coculture, the two cell types phagocytosed and clearedC. albicansat equal rates and were equally susceptible to killing by the fungus. The increase in macrophage susceptibility toC. albicans-mediated killing was a consequence of macrophages taking up a higher proportion of hyphal cells under these conditions. In the presence of both PMNs and macrophages,C. albicansyeast cells were predominantly cleared by PMNs, which migrated at a greater speed toward fungal cells and engulfed bound cells more rapidly. These observations demonstrate that the phagocytosis of fungal pathogens depends on, and is modified by, the specific phagocyte subsets present at the site of infection.

IMPORTANCEExtensive work investigating fungal cell phagocytosis by macrophages and PMNs of the innate immune system has been carried out. These studies have been informative but have examined this phenomenon only when one phagocyte subset is present. The current study employed live-cell video microscopy to break downC. albicansphagocytosis into its component parts and examine the effect of a single phagocyte subset, versus a mixed phagocyte population, on these individual stages. Through this approach, we identified that the rate of fungal cell engulfment and rate of phagocyte killing altered significantly when both macrophages and PMNs were incubated in coculture withC. albicanscompared to the rate of either phagocyte subset incubated alone with the fungus. This research highlights the significance of studying pathogen-host cell interactions with a combination of phagocytes in order to gain a greater understanding of the interactions that occur between cells of the host immune system in response to fungal invasion.
Development of a risk assessment tool for contact tracing people after contact with infectious patients while travelling by bus or other public ground transport: a Delphi consensus approach
Authors: Mohr Oliver , Hermes Julia , Schink Susanne B , Askar Mona , Menucci Daniel , Swaan Corien , Goetsch Udo , Monk Philip , Eckmanns Tim , Poggensee Gabriele , Krause Gérard
Published: October 2013

Background

Tracing persons who have been in contact with an infectious patient may be very effective in preventing the spread of communicable diseases. However, criteria to decide when to conduct contact tracing are not well established. We have investigated the available evidence for contact tracing with a focus on public ground transport aiming to give guidance in what situations contact tracing should be considered.

Methods

Relevant infectious diseases suitable for contact tracing in ground transport and a set of disease-specific epidemiological criteria were defined through literature search and structured multistep expert consultations. We developed continuous scales for each criterion to be rated for its relevance to contact tracing in ground transport. We used the Delphi method with an international expert panel to position the values of criteria on the respective scales.

Results

The study led to the development of the ‘Contact Tracing-Risk Assessment Profile’ (CT-RAP), a decision-making instrument, taking into account pathogen-specific as well as situation-specific criteria. This report describes the methodology of this instrument and presents two examples of ready-to-use CT-RAP for tuberculosis and for meningococcal disease in public ground transport.

Discussion

The systematic and transparent use of the CT-RAP for tuberculosis and meningococcal disease is likely to facilitate reasonable, efficient and user-friendly decisions with respect to contact tracing. New CT-RAPs for additional pathogens and different settings such as schools and kindergartens are being planned.
Cardiovascular health knowledge, attitude and practice/behaviour in an urbanising community of Nepal: a population-based cross-sectional study from Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site
Authors: Vaidya Abhinav , Aryal Umesh Raj , Krettek Alexandra
Published: October 2013

Objectives

This study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice/behaviour of cardiovascular health in residents of a semiurban community of Nepal.

Design

To increase the understanding of knowledge, attitude and practice/behaviour towards cardiovascular health, we conducted in-home interviews using a questionnaire based on the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance and other resources, scoring all responses. We also recorded blood pressure and took anthropometric measurements.

Setting

Our study was conducted as part of the Heart-Health-Associated Research and Dissemination in the Community project in the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site in two urbanising villages near Kathmandu.

Participants

The study population included 777 respondents from six randomly selected clusters in both villages.

Results

Seventy per cent of all participants were women and 26.9% lacked formal education. The burden of cardiovascular risk factors was high; 20.1% were current smokers, 43.3% exhibited low physical activity and 21.6% were hypertensive. Participants showed only poor knowledge of heart disease causes; 29.7% identified hypertension and 11% identified overweight and physical activity as causes, whereas only 2.2% identified high blood sugar as causative. Around 60% of respondents did not know any heart attack symptoms compared with 20% who knew 2–4 symptoms. Median percentage scores for knowledge, attitude and practice/behaviour were 79.3, 74.3 and 48, respectively. Nearly 44% of respondents had insufficient knowledge and less than 20% had highly satisfactory knowledge. Among those with highly satisfactory knowledge, only 14.7% had a highly satisfactory attitude and 19.5% and 13.9% had satisfactory and highly satisfactory practices, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates a gap between cardiovascular health knowledge, attitude and practice/behaviour in a semiurban community in a low-income nation, even among those already affected by cardiovascular disease.
EGFR expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Relationship to tumour morphology and cell adhesion proteins
Authors: Handra-Luca Adriana , Hammel Pascal , Sauvanet Alain , Lesty Claude , Ruszniewski Philippe , Couvelard Anne
Published: October 2013

Aims

We aimed to study epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) by immunohistochemistry and their relationship to clinicopathological features, cell proliferation and cell adhesion protein expression.

Methods

A total of 99 PDACs were analysed on tissue microarrays for EGFR, E-cadherin and β-catenin expression patterns in tumour cells. The percentage of cells expressing the three proteins (membrane, cytoplasm or nuclear pattern) and of Ki67-positive tumour cells was assessed. Tumour protein expression was studied with regard to clinicomorphological features, Ki67 index and for postsurgical survival.

Results

Membrane tumour EGFR correlated with histological poor differentiation (dedifferentiation), increased number of mitoses and severe tumour cell atypia (pleiomorphism) as well as with aberrant adhesion protein expression such as nuclear β-catenin and cytoplasmic E-cadherin. Cytoplasmic tumour E-cadherin correlated with an increased Ki67-positive tumour cell component, whereas nuclear E-cadherin correlated with a shorter postsurgical overall survival, as well as with tumour necrosis and an abundant clear cell component.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the results of our study suggest a complex role for EGFR in PDAC carcinogenesis, tumour expression of this protein being associated with tumour dedifferentiation, mitotic activity or pleiomorphism, as well as with aberrant tumour cell adhesion protein expression.
Serum pepsinogen reference intervals in apparently healthy Chinese population with latex enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay
Authors: Huang Meng , Tang Ai-Guo , Mu Sa , Yang Jing-Jing , Xiang Zhong-Yuan , Liu Bo , Yang Jia-Jin
Published: October 2013

Aim

Serum pepsinogen (sPG) has been used to help in diagnosing atrophic corpus gastritis and in screening for gastric cancer non-invasively. There are as yet no reports on sPG reference intervals (RIs) with latex enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (LIA). In this study, we established the RIs for sPG in a healthy Chinese population using LIA.

Methods

Serum PGI and PGII levels in a healthy population (aged 17–80 years) were measured simultaneously using LIA. RIs were determined following Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute C28-A3 guidelines using a non-parametric method.

Results

95% RIs in men (ng/mL) were: ≤40 years old, 25.53–100.76 for PGI and ≤24.42 for PGII; 41–50 years old, 26.62–124.74 for PGI and ≤26.81 for PGII; and 51–80 years old, 30.40–153.25 for PGI and ≤32.62 for PGII. Corresponding RIs for women (ng/mL) were: ≤40 years old, 21.20–87.44 for PGI and ≤25.53 for PGII; and 41–80 years, 26.40–127.46 for PGI and ≤30.18 for PGII. 95% RI for PGI/PGII in both men and women at any age was ≥2.51.

Conclusions

We established the RIs for sPG using LIA in a healthy Chinese population, which can provide a reference for clinical and laboratory studies.
BOUNDEDNESS OF SEVERAL INTEGRAL OPERATORS WITH BOUNDED VARIABLE KERNELS ON HARDY AND WEAK HARDY SPACES
Authors: WANG HUA
Published: October 2013

In this paper, by using the atomic decomposition theory of Hardy space H1(ℝn) and weak Hardy space WH1(ℝn), we give the boundedness properties of some operators with variable kernels such as singular integral operators, fractional integrals and parametric Marcinkiewicz integrals on these spaces, under certain logarithmic type Lipschitz conditions assumed on the variable kernel Ω(x, z).
DESIGNING COMPLEX DYNAMICS IN CELLULAR AUTOMATA WITH MEMORY
Authors: MARTÍNEZ GENARO J. , ADAMATZKY ANDREW , ALONSO-SANZ RAMON
Published: October 2013

Since their inception at Macy conferences in later 1940s, complex systems have remained the most controversial topic of interdisciplinary sciences. The term "complex system" is the most vague and liberally used scientific term. Using elementary cellular automata (ECA), and exploiting the CA classification, we demonstrate elusiveness of "complexity" by shifting space-time dynamics of the automata from simple to complex by enriching cells with memory. This way, we can transform any ECA class to another ECA class — without changing skeleton of cell-state transition function — and vice versa by just selecting a right kind of memory. A systematic analysis displays that memory helps "discover" hidden information and behavior on trivial — uniform, periodic, and nontrivial — chaotic, complex — dynamical systems.
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF A MODEL FOR TURBULENT DIFFUSION
Authors: SOUSA ERCILIA
Published: October 2013

A model is considered for turbulent diffusion which consists of a Riesz space fractional derivative to describe the turbulent phenomenon and also includes advection and classical diffusion. We present a first order explicit numerical method and a second order implicit numerical method to solve our problem and prove convergence results for both methods, including the derivation of stability constraints needed for the explicit numerical method to converge. In the end, to give some insights into the phenomenon of turbulent diffusion described by the Riesz fractional derivative, we show the behavior of the solution when we consider a Gaussian initial condition.
TRAVELING WAVE SOLUTIONS FOR A CLASS OF NONLINEAR DIFFUSION–CONVECTION–REACTION MODELS
Authors: LI JIBIN , SHI JIANPING
Published: October 2013

For a class of nonlinear diffusion–convection–reaction equations, corresponding to two families of heteroclinic orbits connecting two nodes of the traveling wave system, the existence of uncountably infinite many global monotonic and nonmonotonic wavefront solutions is discussed. By using the method of planar dynamical systems, the dynamical behavior of the corresponding traveling wave system is studied. Under some parametric conditions, exact explicit parametric representations of the monotonic and nonmonotonic kink wave solutions are given.
A NEW CLASS OF ALMOST MEASURE PRESERVING MAPS ON FINITE SIMPLE GROUPS
Authors: NATH RAJAT KANTI
Published: October 2013

In this paper, we give a new class of almost equidistributed and almost measure preserving maps on finite simple groups as the order of the group tends to infinity. This answers an open problem posed by Shalev.
OPTIMAL RESPIRATORY CONTROL SIMULATION AND COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HYPERCAPNIC VENTILATORY RESPONSES TO EXTERNAL DEAD SPACE LOADING
Authors: LIN SHYAN-LUNG , GUO NAI-REN , CHEN TSUNG-CHI
Published: October 2013

There has been considerable research effort regarding ventilatory responses to breathing with an imposed external dead space, and inhalation of fixed levels of CO 2 by human subjects. A human respiratory control model incorporating the optimality hypothesis can successfully demonstrate ventilatory responses to both chemical stimuli and muscular exercise. In this study, to verify the model behavior of the optimal chemical–mechanical respiratory control model, we simulated the ventilatory control under dead space loading and CO 2 inhalation. The simulation was provided by a LabVIEW® based human respiratory control simulator and signal monitoring system. The dead space measurement was described with two distinct models, derived from Gray and Coon, and predicted behaviors with corresponding ventilatory responses were investigated and compared with experimental findings. While both dead space models produced satisfactory predictions on simulated optimal [Formula: see text] versus Pa CO 2, [Formula: see text] versus Pa CO 2, F versus PI CO 2, VT versus PI CO 2, VD-total versus VT, VD- total /VT versus VT, [Formula: see text] versus VT and [Formula: see text] versus VT relationships, Gray's model provided better correlation and more consistent results throughout most of the ventilatory responses. The study of relative behavior of respiratory signals and comparative relationship of the ventilator responses between dead space loading during rest and CO 2 inhalation will certainly provide valuable understanding of increases in central respiratory motor command output of human respiratory control, which is also associated with Dyspnea on exertion, and give potential clinical perspective to realize the impaired ability to excrete CO 2 in patients diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Analyzing and Comparing Shot Planning Strategies and Their Effects on the Performance of an Augment Reality Based Billiard Training System
Authors: Shih Chihhsiong
Published: October 2013

The shot planning of a cue after it collides with an object ball determines a player's success in a billiard game. This paper proposes three novel gaming strategies to investigate the effect of cue shots planning on gaming performance. The first algorithm considers the nearest pocket for every selected target object ball, seeking optimal post collision positions. The second algorithm considers all pocket and target object ball combinations during both the pre- and post-collision optimal shot selection processes. The third algorithm considers a multi-objective optimization process for optimal shot planning control. The simulations are conducted based on a collision model considering the restitution effects. An augmented reality training facility is devised to guide users in both aiming and cue repositioning control in a real-world billiard game. Experimental results not only prove the reliability of our training device in selecting a proper shot sequence using the all-pocket optimal shot planning algorithm, but it also proves the consistency with the restitution theory.
Time-dependent quantum dynamics calculations of product photofragment cross-sections
Authors: Daud Mohammad Noh
Published: October 2013

A time-dependent quantum dynamics theory has been presented to interpret product partial cross-sections of the photofragmentation of triatomic molecule by treating correctly the coupling of angular momenta and taking fully into account the vector properties of the transition dipole moment and electric field of the exciting radiation. A model system of [Formula: see text] has been used to study the nuclear motion of N 2 photofragments through the asymptotic dissociation channels which relies upon the transition dipole vector either lies parallel on the molecular plane (1A′→1A′) or perpendicular to the molecular plane (1A′→1A′′).
Ferroelectric properties in Mn-modified BiFeO3–BaTiO3 ceramics
Authors: Dai Zhonghua , Akishige Yukikuni
Published: October 2013

Multiferroic 0.4 mol%- MnO 2-doped 0.78 BiFeO 3–0.22 BaTiO 3 ceramics were prepared by a traditional ceramic process. The effects of doping and annealing on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties were intensively investigated. Dielectric dispersion like relaxor ferroelectrics was observed in the oxygen annealed sample, but disappeared in the vacuum annealed sample. Modification of the BiFeO 3– BaTiO 3 with MnO 2 and annealing in vacuum improved DC resistivity obviously. The spontaneous polarization, remnant polarization, and coercive field are 65.2 μC/cm2, 59.5 μC/cm2 and 21.9 kV/cm, respectively under an applied field of 35 kV/cm.
THE DIAMETER VARIABILITY OF THE CARTESIAN PRODUCT OF GRAPHS
Authors: CHITHRA M. R. , VIJAYAKUMAR A.
Published: October 2013

The diameter of a graph can be affected by the addition or deletion of edges. In this paper, we examine the Cartesian product of graphs whose diameter increases (decreases) by the deletion (addition) of a single edge. The problems of minimality and maximality of the Cartesian product of graphs with respect to its diameter are also solved. These problems are motivated by the fact that most of the interconnection networks are graph products and a good network must be hard to disrupt and the transmissions must remain connected even if some vertices or edges fail.
STUDY OF LEIDENFROST MECHANISM IN DROPLET IMPACTING ON HYDROPHILIC AND HYDROPHOBIC SURFACES
Authors: KIM SEOL HA , KANG JUN YOUNG , AHN HO SEON , JO HANG JIN , KIM MOO HWAN
Published: October 2013

Water droplets, 2 mm in diameter, were allowed to fall freely onto hydrophobic and hydrophilic heated surfaces, and their impacts were imaged using high-speed cameras to investigate the droplet dynamics and heat transfer. As the heating power increased, the water droplets evaporated faster, eventually hovering over the surface due to the formation of a boiling film when the Leidenfrost point (LFP) was reached. The heat transfer from the surface into the droplet was evaluated, and LFP transition phenomena were investigated using time-resolved imaging of both side and bottom views. The hydrophilic surface showed a higher heat transfer rate and a higher LFP than the hydrophobic surface did. Furthermore, the droplet dynamics revealed very different shapes depending on the surface wettability; vigorous bubble nucleation and growth was observable for the hydrophilic surface, but not the hydrophobic surface. The rebound behavior of the droplets was analyzed based on the droplet free energy, including kinetic, potential, and surface energy terms.
Development of Rotary Wing Mini UAS for Civilian Applications
Authors: Kumar K. Senthil , Rasheed A. Mohamed
Published: October 2013

This research paper is about team Dhaksha's accomplishment in designing, developing and testing a slew of Rotary Wing Mini Unmanned Aerial Systems for entry into various international aerial robotics/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) competitions and civilian applications. Dhaksha, the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), developed by the team at Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) campus of Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, with its stable design presented stiff competition to other contestants during the May 2012 technology demonstration called UAVForge organized by Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), Department of Defense, USA. Team Dhaksha on behalf of national defense research agency deployed their system as a test bed for Acoustic field testing and analysis. The team also deployed their UAS, for state police, in a religious festival, over a crowd of 20 lakh pilgrims during November 2012, to avail instant aerial images. UAS Dhaksha was deployed for investigation of structural strength of the India's tallest structure, a 300 m high Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) tower. Recently during the flash floods in the Himalayan river Mandakini at an altitude of 4200 m above mean sea level, Dhaksha assisted the forces in the relief and rescue operations by providing instant thermal/video images of the scene of disaster.
Improved Production of Tryptophan in Genetically EngineeredEscherichia coliwith TktA and PpsA Overexpression
Authors: Shen Tong , Liu Qing , Xie Xixian , Xu Qingyang , Chen Ning
Published: October 2013

Intracellular precursor supply is a critical factor for amino acid productivity. In the present study,ppsAandtktAgenes were overexpressed in genetically engineeredEscherichia colito enhance the availability of two precursor substrates, phosphoenolpyruvate and erythrose-4-phosphate. The engineered strain, TRTH0709 carrying pSV709, produced 35.9 g/L tryptophan from glucose after 40 h in fed-batch cultivation. The two genes were inserted, independently or together, into a low-copy-number expression vector (pSTV28) and transferred to TRTH0709. Fed-batch fermentations at high cell densities of the recombination strains revealed that overexpression of theppsAgene alone does not significantly increase tryptophan yield. On the other hand, overexpression of thetktAgene, alone or with theppsAgene, could further improve tryptophan yield to a final tryptophan titer of 37.9 and 40.2 g/L, respectively. These results represent a 5.6% and 11.9% enhancement over the titer achieved by TRTH0709. No evident genetic modifications leading to growth impairment were observed.
Reduced Complexity Iterative Decoding of 3D‐Product Block Codes Based on Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Ahmadi Abdeslam , El Bouanani Faissal , Ben-Azza Hussain , Benghabrit Youssef
Published: October 2013

Two iterative decoding algorithms of 3D‐product block codes (3D-PBC) based on genetic algorithms (GAs) are presented. The first algorithm uses the Chase‐Pyndiah SISO, and the second one uses the list‐based SISO decoding algorithm (LBDA) based on order‐i reprocessing. We applied these algorithms over AWGN channel to symmetric 3D-PBC constructed from BCH codes. The simulation results show that the first algorithm outperforms the Chase‐Pyndiah one and is only 1.38 dB away from the Shannon capacity limit at BER of 10−5 for BCH (31, 21, 5)3 and 1.4 dB for BCH (16, 11, 4)3. The simulations of the LBDA‐based GA on the BCH (16, 11, 4)3 show that its performances outperform the first algorithm and is about 1.33 dB from the Shannon limit. Furthermore, these algorithms can be applied to any arbitrary 3D binary product block codes, without the need of a hard‐in hard‐out decoder. We show also that the two proposed decoders are less complex than both Chase‐Pyndiah algorithm for codes with large correction capacity and LBDA for large i parameter. Those features make the decoders based on genetic algorithms efficient and attractive.
A Design of a Terahertz Microstrip Bandstop Filter with Defected Ground Structure
Authors: Kumar Arjun , Kartikeyan M. V.
Published: October 2013

A planar microstrip terahertz (THz) bandstop filter has been proposed with defected ground structure with high insertion loss (S21) in a stopband of −25.8 dB at 1.436 THz. The parameters of the circuit model have been extracted from the EM simulation results. A dielectric substrate of Benzocyclobutene (BCB) is used to realize a compact bandstop filter using modified hexagonal dumbbell-shape defected ground structure (DB-DGS). In this paper, a defected ground structure topology is used in aλ/4, 50 Ω microstrip line at THz frequency range for compactness. No article has been reported on the microstrip line at terahertz frequency regime using DGS topology. The proposed filter can be used for sensing and detection in biomedical instruments in DNA testing. All the simulations/cosimulations are carried out using a full-wave EM simulator CST V.9 Microwave Studio, HFSS V.10, and Agilent Design Suite (ADS).
Periodic Oscillation Analysis for a Coupled FHN Network Model with Delays
Authors: Lin Yuanhua
Published: October 2013

The existence of periodic oscillation for a coupled FHN neural system with delays is investigated. Some criteria to determine the oscillations are given. Simple and practical criteria for selecting the parameters in this network are provided. Some examples are also presented to illustrate the result.
Heat Transfer Analysis on the Hiemenz Flow of a Non-Newtonian Fluid: A Homotopy Method Solution
Authors: Khan Yasir , Šmarda Zdeněk
Published: October 2013

The mathematical model for the incompressible two-dimensional/axisymmetric non-Newtonian fluid flows and heat transfer analysis in the region of stagnation point over a stretching/shrinking sheet and axisymmetric shrinking sheet is presented. The governing equations are transformed into dimensionless nonlinear ordinary differential equations by similarity transformation. Analytical technique, namely, the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) with general form of linear operator is used to solve dimensionless nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The series solution is obtained without using the diagonal Padé approximants to handle the boundary condition at infinity which can be considered as a clear advantage of homotopy perturbation technique over the decomposition method. The effects of the pertinent parameters on the velocity and temperature field are discussed through graphs. To the best of authors’ knowledge, HPM solution with general form of linear operator for two-dimensional/axisymmetric non-Newtonian fluid flows and heat transfer analysis in the region of stagnation point is presented for the first time in the literature.
Correlation between the Frequency of Th17 Cell and the Expression of MicroRNA-206 in Patients with Dermatomyositis
Authors: Tang Xinyi , Tian Xinyu , Zhang Yue , Wu Wei , Tian Jie , Rui Ke , Tong Jia , Lu Liwei , Xu Huaxi , Wang Shengjun
Published: October 2013

It was reported that IL-17 had been detected in the inflammatory infiltrates of patients with DM (dermatomyositis). In this study, we investigated the frequency of Th17 cells and the expression of microRNA-206 (miR-206) in DM patients. Firstly, we observed that the frequency of Th17 cells and the expression of transcription factors were increased significantly in the PBMCs of DM patients. Secondly, we found that there was a positive correlation between the percentages of Th17 cells and serum level of CK in DM patients. And the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β, and IL-23, the important cytokines of Th17 differentiation, were increased in DM patients. It was predicted that Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is one of the multiple targets of miR-206. We detected the expression of miR-206 in DM patients, and it was decreased in the serum and PBMCs of DM patients. The augmented expression of KLF is accompanied by the attenuated expression of miR-206. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the percentages of Th17 cells and the expression of miR-206 in DM patients has been found. Taken together, these findings suggest the attenuated expression of miR-206, and the augmented frequency of Th17 cells in DM patients.
Risk Perception and Risk Communication for Training Women Apprentice Welders: A Challenge for Public Health Nursing
Authors: Bonow Clarice Alves , Cezar-Vaz Marta Regina , Almeida Marlise Capa Verde de , Rocha Laurelize Pereira , Borges Anelise Miritz , Piexak Diéssica Roggia , Vaz Joana Cezar
Published: October 2013

This research has aimed to identify the perceptions of women apprentice welders about physical, chemical, biological, and physiological risk factors to which they are exposed and evaluate the identification of health disorders self-reported for women apprentice welders before and after implementation of a nursing socioenvironmental intervention. A quantitative study was performed with 27 women apprentice welders (first phase) and before and after an intervention with 18 women (second phase) in Southern Brazil in 2011. The data were analysed using SPSS 19.0. The participants identified the following risk types: physical (96.2%), chemical (96.2%), physiological (88.8%), and biological (62.9%). The results show a significant difference of the pre- and posttest averages for the musculoskeletal system and a posttest average increase for the integumentary, respiratory, and auditory system. A correlation of the women apprentices’ ages and the identification of health disorders were made. It was understood that the perception of women apprentices regarding a particular set of occupational risks is essential for public health nursing to develop an effective risk communication as a positive tool for teaching and learning.
Coordinated Target Tracking by Distributed Unscented Information Filter in Sensor Networks with Measurement Constraints
Authors: Wang Yintao , Li Junbing , Sun Qi
Published: October 2013

Tracking a target in a cluttered environment is a representative application of sensor networks. In this paper, we develop a distributed approach to estimate the motion states of a target using noisy measurements. Our method consists of two parts. In first phase, using the unscented sigma-point transformation techniques and information filter framework, a class of algorithms denoted as unscented information filters was developed to estimate the states of a target to be tracked. These techniques exhibit robustness and accuracy of sigma-point filters for nonlinear dynamic inference while being as easily fused as the information filters. In the second phase, we proposed a novel consensus protocol which allows each sensor node to find a consistent estimate of the value of the target. Under this protocol, the final estimate of the value of the target at each time step is iteratively updated only by fusing the neighbors’ measurements when one sensor node is out of the measurement scope of the target. Performance of the distributed unscented information filter is demonstrated and discussed on a target tracking task.
Microglial Ion Channels as Potential Targets for Neuroprotection in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Richardson Jason R. , Hossain Muhammad M.
Published: October 2013

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that is estimated to affect at least 1 million individuals in the USA and over 10 million worldwide. It is thought that the loss of neurons and development of inclusion bodies occur gradually over decades until they progress to the point where ~60% of the dopamine neurons are lost and patients present with motor dysfunction. At present, it is not clear what causes this progression, and there are no current therapies that have been successful in preventing PD progression. Although there are many hypotheses regarding the mechanism of PD progression, neuroinflammation may be a major contributor to PD pathogenesis. Indeed, activated microglia and subsequent neuroinflammation have been consistently associated with the pathogenesis of PD. Thus, interference with this process could provide a means of neuroprotection in PD. This review will discuss the potential of targeting microglia to reduce neuroinflammation in PD. Further, we discuss the potential of microglial ion channels to serve as novel targets for neuroprotection in PD.
Optimal Grasping Manipulation for Multifingered Robots Using Semismooth Newton Method
Authors: Ko Chun-Hsu , Chen Jein-Shan
Published: October 2013

Multifingered robots play an important role in manipulation applications. They can grasp various shaped objects to perform point-to-point movement. It is important to plan the motion path of the object and appropriately control the grasping forces for multifingered robot manipulation. In this paper, we perform the optimal grasping control to find both optimal motion path of the object and minimum grasping forces in the manipulation. The rigid body dynamics of the object and the grasping forces subjected to the second-order cone (SOC) constraints are considered in optimal control problem. The minimum principle is applied to obtain the system equalities and the SOC complementarity problems. The SOC complementarity problems are further recast as the equations with the Fischer-Burmeister (FB) function. Since the FB function is semismooth, the semismooth Newton method with the generalized Jacobian of FB function is used to solve the nonlinear equations. The 2D and 3D simulations of grasping manipulation are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Investigation of and Components of the Magnetic Flux Leakage in Ferromagnetic Laminated Sample
Authors: Göktepe Mustafa
Published: October 2013

The magnetic flux leakage (MFL) technique is most commonly used for crack detection from iron bars, laminated sheets, and steel tubes of ferromagnetic nature. Magnetic flux leakage system induces a magnetic field and detects magnetic flux lines that “leak” or change because of a discontinuity in the magnetized area. An inductive coil sensor or a Hall effect sensor detects the leakage. Magnetic methods of nondestructive testing (NDT) depend on detecting this magnetic flux leakage field. The ferromagnetic specimen is magnetized by suitable methods, and flaws which break the surface or just the subsurface distort the magnetic field, causing local flux leakage fields. It is very important for industrial applications to detect cracks and flaws in metal parts of the steel bridges, power stations, military tools and structures, and so forth. In this study, the inspection of cracks in laminated sheets under longitudinal magnetization will be discussed in detail.
AXL Is a Key Regulator of Inherent and Chemotherapy-Induced Invasion and Predicts a Poor Clinical Outcome in Early-Stage Colon Cancer
Authors: Dunne Philip D. , McArt Darragh G. , Blayney Jaine K. , Kalimutho Murugan , Greer Samanda , Wang Tingting , Srivastava Supriya , Ong Chee Wee , Arthur Ken , Loughrey Maurice , Redmond Keara , Longley Daniel B. , Salto-Tellez Manuel , Johnston Patrick G. , Van Schaeybroeck Sandra
Published: October 2013

Purpose: Despite the use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)–based adjuvant treatments, a large proportion of patients with high-risk stage II/III colorectal cancer will relapse. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies are needed for early-stage colorectal cancer. Residual micrometastatic disease from the primary tumor is a major cause of patient relapse.

Experimental Design: To model colorectal cancer tumor cell invasion/metastasis, we have generated invasive (KRASMT/KRASWT/+chr3/p53-null) colorectal cancer cell subpopulations. Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) screens were used to identify novel proteins that underpin the migratory/invasive phenotype. Migration/invasion was assessed using the XCELLigence system. Tumors from patients with early-stage colorectal cancer (N = 336) were examined for AXL expression.

Results: Invasive colorectal cancer cell subpopulations showed a transition from an epithelial-to-mesenchymal like phenotype with significant increases in migration, invasion, colony-forming ability, and an attenuation of EGF receptor (EGFR)/HER2 autocrine signaling. RTK arrays showed significant increases in AXL levels in all invasive sublines. Importantly, 5-FU treatment resulted in significantly increased migration and invasion, and targeting AXL using pharmacologic inhibition or RNA interference (RNAi) approaches suppressed basal and 5-FU–induced migration and invasion. Significantly, high AXL mRNA and protein expression were found to be associated with poor overall survival in early-stage colorectal cancer tissues.

Conclusions: We have identified AXL as a poor prognostic marker and important mediator of cell migration/invasiveness in colorectal cancer. These findings provide support for the further investigation of AXL as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer, in particular in the adjuvant disease in which EGFR/VEGF–targeted therapies have failed. Clin Cancer Res; 20(1); 164–75. ©2013 AACR.
Modeling RAS Phenotype in Colorectal Cancer Uncovers Novel Molecular Traits of RAS Dependency and Improves Prediction of Response to Targeted Agents in Patients
Authors: Guinney Justin , Ferté Charles , Dry Jonathan , McEwen Robert , Manceau Gilles , Kao KJ , Chang Kai-Ming , Bendtsen Claus , Hudson Kevin , Huang Erich , Dougherty Brian , Ducreux Michel , Soria Jean-Charles , Friend Stephen , Derry Jonathan , Laurent-Puig Pierre
Published: October 2013

Purpose: KRAS wild-type status is an imperfect predictor of sensitivity to anti-EGF receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies in colorectal cancer, motivating efforts to identify novel molecular aberrations driving RAS. This study aimed to build a quantitative readout of RAS pathway activity to (i) uncover molecular surrogates of RAS activity specific to colorectal cancer, (ii) improve the prediction of cetuximab response in patients, and (iii) suggest new treatment strategies.

Experimental Design: A model of RAS pathway activity was trained in a large colorectal cancer dataset and validated in three independent colorectal cancer patient datasets. Novel molecular traits were inferred from The Cancer Genome Atlas colorectal cancer data. The ability of the RAS model to predict resistance to cetuximab was tested in mouse xenografts and three independent patient cohorts. Drug sensitivity correlations between our model and large cell line compendiums were performed.

Results: The performance of the RAS model was remarkably robust across three validation datasets. (i) Our model confirmed the heterogeneity of the RAS phenotype in KRAS wild-type patients, and suggests novel molecular traits driving its phenotype (e.g., MED12 loss, FBXW7 mutation, MAP2K4 mutation). (ii) It improved the prediction of response and progression-free survival (HR, 2.0; P < 0.01) to cetuximab compared with KRAS mutation (xenograft and patient cohorts). (iii) Our model consistently predicted sensitivity to MAP–ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitors (P < 0.01) in two cell panel screens.

Conclusions: Modeling the RAS phenotype in colorectal cancer allows for the robust interrogation of RAS pathway activity across cell lines, xenografts, and patient cohorts. It demonstrates clinical utility in predicting response to anti-EGFR agents and MEK inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res; 20(1); 265–72. ©2013 AACR.
Off-Target Effects of c-MET Inhibitors on Thyroid Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhou Yan , Zhao Conghui , Gery Sigal , Braunstein Glenn D. , Okamoto Ryoko , Alvarez Rocio , Miles Steven A. , Doan Ngan B. , Said Jonathan W. , Gu Jiang , Phillip Koeffler H.
Published: October 2013

Aberrantly activated c-MET signaling occurs in several cancers, promoting the development of c-MET inhibitors. In this study, we found that eight of eight thyroid cancer cell lines (including six anaplastic thyroid cell lines) have prominent expression of c-MET protein. Fifty percent of the thyroid cancer cell lines (four of eight) were growth inhibited by two small molecule c-MET inhibitors (tivantinib and crizotinib) associated with apoptosis and G2–M cell-cycle arrest. However, crizotinib did not inhibit 50% proliferation of thyroid cancer cells (SW1736 and TL3) at a concentration at which the drug completely inhibited ligand-stimulated c-MET phosphorylation. However, tivantinib was less potent than crizotinib at inhibiting c-MET phosphorylation, but was more potent than crizotinib at decreasing cell growth. Suppressing c-MET protein expression and phosphorylation using siRNA targeting c-MET did not induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Taken together, tivantinib and crizotinib have off-target(s) activity, contributing to their antitumor activity. In vivo study showed that crizotinib markedly inhibited the growth of thyroid cancer cells (SW1736) in immunodeficient mice. In summary, c-MET inhibitors (tivantinib and crizotinib) suppress the growth of aggressive thyroid cancer cells, and this potential therapeutic benefit results from their non–MET-targeting effects. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(1); 134–43. ©2013 AACR.
Sorafenib Suppresses JNK-Dependent Apoptosis through Inhibition of ZAK
Authors: Vin Harina , Ching Grace , Ojeda Sandra S. , Adelmann Charles H. , Chitsazzadeh Vida , Dwyer David W. , Ma Haiching , Ehrenreiter Karin , Baccarini Manuela , Ruggieri Rosamaria , Curry Jonathan L. , Ciurea Ana M. , Duvic Madeleine , Busaidy Naifa L. , Tannir Nizar M. , Tsai Kenneth Y.
Published: October 2013

Sorafenib is U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration–approved for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma and has been combined with numerous other targeted therapies and chemotherapies in the treatment of many cancers. Unfortunately, as with other RAF inhibitors, patients treated with sorafenib have a 5% to 10% rate of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)/keratoacanthomas. Paradoxical activation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) in BRAF wild-type cells has been implicated in RAF inhibitor–induced cSCC. Here, we report that sorafenib suppresses UV-induced apoptosis specifically by inhibiting c-jun–NH2–kinase (JNK) activation through the off-target inhibition of leucine zipper and sterile alpha motif–containing kinase (ZAK). Our results implicate suppression of JNK signaling, independent of the ERK pathway, as an additional mechanism of adverse effects of sorafenib. This has broad implications for combination therapies using sorafenib with other modalities that induce apoptosis. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(1); 221–9. ©2013 AACR.
Plastin Polymorphisms Predict Gender- and Stage-Specific Colon Cancer Recurrence after Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Ning Yan , Gerger Armin , Zhang Wu , Hanna Diana L. , Yang Dongyun , Winder Thomas , Wakatsuki Takeru , Labonte Melissa J. , Stintzing Sebastian , Volz Nico , Sunakawa Yu , Stremitzer Stefan , El-Khoueiry Rita , Lenz Heinz-Josef
Published: October 2013

Tumor recurrence after curative resection remains a major problem in patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Genetic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) may serve as useful molecular markers to predict clinical outcomes in these patients and identify targets for future drug development. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the plastin genes PLS3 and LCP1 are overexpressed in colon cancer cells and play an important role in tumor cell invasion, adhesion, and migration. Hence, we hypothesized that functional genetic variations of plastin may have direct effects on the progression and prognosis of locally advanced colorectal cancer. We tested whether functional tagging polymorphisms of PLS3 and LCP1 predict time to tumor recurrence (TTR) in 732 patients (training set, 234; validation set, 498) with stage II/III colorectal cancer. The PLS3 rs11342 and LCP1 rs4941543 polymorphisms were associated with a significantly increased risk for recurrence in the training set. PLS3 rs6643869 showed a consistent association with TTR in the training and validation set, when stratified by gender and tumor location. Female patients with the PLS3 rs6643869 AA genotype had the shortest median TTR compared with those with any G allele in the training set [1.7 vs. 9.4 years; HR, 2.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32–6.1; P = 0.005] and validation set (3.3 vs. 13.7 years; HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.09–3.91; P = 0.021). Our findings suggest that several SNPs of the PLS3 and LCP1 genes could serve as gender- and/or stage-specific molecular predictors of tumor recurrence in stage II/III patients with colorectal cancer as well as potential therapeutic targets. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(2); 528–39. ©2013 AACR.
Giant Bilateral Renal Angiomyolipomas: A Case Report
Authors: Cavicchioli Francesca Maria , D'Elia Carolina , Cerruto Maria Angela , Artibani Walter
Published: October 2013

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a mesenchymal renal tumor composed of variable proportions of adipose tissue as well as vascular and smooth muscle elements. It can cause important, potentially life-threatening complications. The aim of this case report is to show a conservative treatment modality of this disease. A 50-year-old man underwent ultrasonography and then computed tomography showing the presence of bilateral renal masses of 27.5 × 19.5 × 21 cm on the left kidney and 28.5 × 19.6 × 27.5 cm on the right, respectively. Serum creatinine was normal; an ultrasonography-guided biopsy of the left kidney did not allow a diagnosis with absolute certainty, but was suggestive of AML. The patient also underwent total body magnetic resonance imaging, which was negative for pathological findings. He underwent a strict regime of surveillance with magnetic resonance imaging every 4-5 months, and at the last follow-up he was asymptomatic and serum creatinine was still normal. The management of giant AML is a complex and multifactorial decision. Patients can knowingly choose an active surveillance program, even in case of giant AMLs.
Sustained Alzheimer's Amyloid Pathology in Myeloid Differentiation Protein-88-Deficient APPswe/PS1 Mice
Authors: Goll Y. , Bekenstein U. , Barbash S. , Greenberg D.S. , Zangen R. , Shoham S. , Soreq H.
Published: October 2013

Background: Most Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases arise sporadically and may involve innate immune activation of microglial expressed Toll-like receptors regulated through the myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88) pathway. Objective: It was the aim of this study to test the innate immune involvement in AD pathology. Methods: We mated APPsw/PS1ΔE9 mice with MyD88-deficient mice. Results: Progeny mice had similar levels of soluble amyloid-β peptides, amyloid plaque density and neuroimmune staining patterns. However, double-transgenic mice did show a significantly reduced life expectancy. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that impaired innate immune responses may play a role in AD pathology.