bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decreased expression of glutathione S‐transferase pi correlates with poorly differentiated grade in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Ma Hai‐long , Yu Cong , Liu Ying , Tan Yi‐ran , Qiao Jin‐ke , Yang Xi , Wang Li‐zhen , Li Jiang , Chen Qiong , Chen Fu‐xiang , Zhang Zhi‐yuan , Zhong Lai‐ping
Published: July 2014

Background

Glutathione S transferase pi (GSTP1) is a member of phase II detoxification enzymes as a major regulator of cell signaling in response to stress, hypoxia, growth factors, and other stimuli. The clinical role of GSTP1 in cancer is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum GSTP1 level in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the GSTP1 expression in tissue samples from patients with OSCC and OSCC lines.

Methods

One hundred and sixty‐six patients with OSCC and 120 normal persons were used to screen potential serum peptide biomarkers using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). Serum GSTP1 concentration was detected in 18 patients with OSCC and 18 normal persons using ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect GSTP1 expression in tissue samples from twenty‐eight OSCC patients. Western blot and real‐time PCR were used to detect GSTP1 expression in nine OSCC lines.

Results

Decreased GSTP1 concentration was found in the patients with OSCC compared with the normal persons by MALDI‐TOF‐MS, which was then confirmed by ELISA (P = 0.019). Decreased GSTP1 mRNA level and protein expression were also found in the OSCC lines. Decreased GSTP1 expression was found correlating with pathological differentiation grade in the tissue samples from OSCC patients, a lower GSTP1 expression indicating a poorer pathological differentiation grade (P = 0.041).

Conclusions

These results suggest that decreased GSTP1 expression in patients with OSCC and a lower GSTP1 expression indicating a poorer pathological differentiation grade in OSCC tissue samples.
Toll‐like receptors ‐4 and ‐5 in oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Ahmed Haji Omar Abdirisak , Korvala Johanna , Haglund Caj , Virolainen Susanna , Häyry Valtteri , Atula Timo , Kontio Risto , Rihtniemi Jarmo , Pihakari Antti , Sorsa Timo , Hagström Jaana , Salo Tuula
Published: July 2014

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has a worse prognosis than cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Toll‐like receptor‐ 4 (TLR‐4) and TLR‐5 are transmembrane proteins that recognize endogenous and microbial agents. Their activation has been connected to cancer invasion.

Objective

The aim was to study the expression of TLR‐4 and TLR‐5 in OSCC and CSCC samples, and the effects of TLR‐5 ligand flagellin on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of different mucocutaneous cell lines in vitro.

Methods

Samples of early‐stage tumors (T1‐T2N0M0) from 63 patients with OSCC and CSCC were obtained, in addition to eight normal mucosa and skin tissues from healthy subjects. Oral‐cavity‐derived highly aggressive HSC‐3, less invasive SAS, and HPV‐transformed benign IHGK as well as C‐ha‐ras‐transformed (HaCat) skin carcinoma II‐4 and non‐invasive A5 cell lines were used. Flagellin‐induced mucocutaneous cell lines were compared by using BrdU‐proliferation, scratch migration, and myoma organotypic invasion assays.

Results

TLR‐4 expression was similar in OSCC and CSCC tumors. TLR‐5 was more abundant in OSCC than in CSCC samples. Flagellin induced the proliferation of SAS, II‐4 and A5, migration of IHGK, II‐4 and A5, and the invasion of II‐4 cells. It had no effect on HSC‐3 cells.

Conclusions

Flagellin, a TLR‐5 agonist, induced the migration and invasion of less aggressive mucocutaneous cell lines, but it had no effect on the most invasive oral carcinoma cells. The more aggressive clinical behavior of OSCC compared to CSCC may partially be related to the differences in the expression of TLR‐5 in these malignancies.
Hyperthermia inhibited the migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma through TWIST2
Authors: Tang Ya‐ling , Jiang Jian , Liu Jeffrey , Zheng Min , He Yong‐wen , Chen Wei , Fan Yun‐long , Chen Qian‐ming , Liao Chu‐hang , Liang Xin‐hua
Published: July 2014

Background

Hyperthermia has been shown promising in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the mechanism underlying hyperthermia reducing tumor metastasis is poorly elucidated. TWIST2, an important transcription factor of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), plays a critical role in the tumor progression and metastasis. The role of TWIST2 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and its association with hyperthermia still have not been reported.

Method

The correlations between TWIST2 expression and the clinical‐pathologic characteristics of 89 patients with TSCC were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. TSCC cell lines transfected with siRNA against TWIST2 were heated for 40 min at 42.5°C, and the migration capability of cells was examined by migration assay. Xenograft tumors in nude mice were treated by hyperthermia, and TWIST2 expression was measured.

Results

Our data showed that TWIST2 expression was associated with the metastasis of human TSCC. In Tca8113 and Cal‐27 cells, TWIST2‐siRNA treatment can reduce cell migration ability and has no effect on the cell proliferation and apoptosis. Hyperthermia can decrease the level of TWIST2 in TSCC and inhibit the migration of cells.

Conclusions

This demonstrated that hyperthermia might decrease the migration of Tca8113 and Cal‐27 cells by reducing TWIST2 expression. Altogether, these findings suggest an as yet undescribed link between TWIST2 and hyperthermia in TSCC.
Prepenetration and Penetration of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides into Guava Fruit (Psidium guajava L.): Effects of Temperature, Wetness Period and Fruit Age
Authors: Moraes Sylvia Raquel Gomes , Escanferla Maria Eugenia , Massola Nelson Sidnei
Published: July 2014

In this study, we determined the influences of temperature, wetness period and guava fruit age on infection caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Optimal temperatures in vitro for germination, appressoria formation and melanization were 22.7, 20.6 and 23°C, respectively. In vivo, the optimal temperatures for germination and appressoria formation were 22.5 and 23°C, respectively. Values for germination, appressoria formation and melanization were higher as the wetness period increased. There was no difference in conidial germination and appressorial formation on fruit of different ages. On the surface of 10‐, 35‐ and 60‐day‐old fruit, despite the high percentage of appressorial formation, there was no development of the penetration peg. Penetration pegs were only observed on the 85‐ and 110‐day‐old fruit. Thickness of the cuticle, size and architecture of epidermal and parenchymal cells, as well as the content of phenolic compounds changed as the fruit ripened.
A pilot randomised controlled trial of Problem‐Solving Treatment for Visual Impairment (POSITIVE): protocol paper
Authors: Riazi Afsane , Walters Kate , Rubin Gary , Ambler Gareth , Jichi Fatima , Mynors‐Wallis Laurence , O'Driscoll Miriam , Stephen Jacqueline , Aspden Trefor
Published: July 2014

Purpose

For visually impaired individuals, motivation to be mobile and the individual's emotional states are predetermining factors of functioning. In addition, loss of confidence at the time of diagnosis could inhibit the ability to make progress. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether Problem‐Solving Treatment, a brief, structured psychological intervention, leads to better psychological well‐being in people who have been recently diagnosed as blind or partially sighted.

Methods

A pilot randomised controlled trial: the trial aims to recruit 120 individuals who have either: (1) been diagnosed with severe, irreversible sight loss, or (2) registered as blind or partially sighted within the last 3 months. Individuals will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group with randomisation stratified by severity of vision loss. Those in the intervention arm will receive Problem‐Solving Treatment, an established intervention that addresses individual's confidence, motivation and psychological well‐being by undertaking specific tasks to help individuals work through their problems, and recognising steps to problem resolution. Both groups will continue to receive routine care, such as mobility training.

Study Outcomes

The primary outcome is psychological well‐being measured at 3, 6, and 9 months after recruitment and assignment to intervention or control group. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of distress, mobility and quality of life.
Setting as revisionism: Vasari's use of Dürer's Siege in the Palazzo Vecchio
Authors: Gregg Ryan E.
Published: July 2014

Giorgio Vasari's workshop decorated the Room of Clement VII in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence in circa 1556–62 with history paintings celebrating Pope Clement VII's achievements. The paintings present the Medici pope's family in a favourable light, even at the expense of historical fact, to legitimize their newly established ducal rule. The painting Cardinal Ippolito de'Medici Sent to Hungary as Papal Legate demonstrates Vasari's encomiastic charge. The background reproduces Albrecht Dürer's woodcut of an invented siege to illustrate the cardinal's participation in the 1532 siege of Vienna – a siege that never happened. The painting ignores Ippolito's misconduct to present the Medici as saviours of Emperor Charles V. The use of the Dürer woodcut aids in this revisionism by generalizing the setting while arguing for the emperor's weak defence through its fortification display. With the painting of Cardinal de’Medici, Vasari argued that Medici aid supported and justified the family's imperially decreed duchy, an argument that fits the general truthfulness of Vasari's theme by glossing over the specifics of the historical events.
Relationship between vertical jump and maximal power output of legs and arms: Effects of ethnicity and sport
Authors: Rouis M. , Attiogbé E. , Vandewalle H. , Jaafar H. , Noakes T. D. , Driss T.
Published: July 2014

The hypothesis that ethnicity and sport practice influence the relationship between maximal power in cycling (Pmax) and countermovement jump (CMJ) has been studied by relatingCMJandPmaxin two groups (volleyball players,VB, and physical education students,PES) including subjects withCaucasian (67C) orWestAfrican (39WA) origins. Maximal power of the arms (PmaxArms) was also measured. A two‐way analysis of variance (groups × ethnicity) showed significant effects of both factors uponCMJ, which was higher inWAandVB,P = 0.002 andP < 0.001, respectively. WithinWA,CMJwas significantly higher inVB(0.732 ± 0.057 m) than inPES(0.661 ± 0.082 m), although there was no difference inPmax(14.7 ± 1.7 vs 14.7 ± 1.9 W/kg).CMJwas significantly higher inWA(0.69 ± 0.08 vs 0.65 ± 0.09 m inC,P = 0.002) without significant interethnic difference inPmax(14.7 ± 1.8 inWA, and 14.8 ± 1.9 W/kg inC). TheCMJ–Pmaxrelationships were different inCandWA(P = 0.003). Therefore,CMJpredicted fromPmaxwould be underestimated inWA. The same difference was observed for the relationship betweenCMJandPmaxArms. These results were confirmed by the comparison with previousPmax–CMJrelationship in the literature, collected inCaucasian andAfrican subjects with the same protocols.
Outcome of conjunctival flap repair for corneal defects with and without an acellular submucosa implant in 73 canine eyes
Authors: Dorbandt Daniel M. , Moore Phillip A. , Myrna Kathern E.
Published: July 2014

Objective

To report and compare the success rate of a conjunctival pedicle flap (CPF) alone vs. a CPF with an underlying acellular submucosa implant for the repair of deep or perforating corneal wounds in dogs.

Procedures

Records of 69 dogs (73 eyes) receiving a CPF with or without an acellular submucosa implant between 2004 and 2012 were reviewed. Successful outcome was defined as a comfortable eye with vision at the last post‐operative evaluation. Age, breed, underlying corneal disease, surgical time, lesion characteristics, topical therapies, and postoperative complications were investigated.

Results

Groups consisted of dogs that had a CPF alone (n = 37) and dogs that had a CPF plus an acellular submucosa implant (n = 36). Age, lesion size, surgical time, and time to discontinuation of topical anti‐proteolytic medications was not significant between groups. Topical antibiotic use was terminated 13 days sooner (P ≤ 0.01) in dogs with an acellular submucosa implant. The combined success rate of all corneal wounds was 93% with success rate of corneal perforations, descemetoceles, and deep stromal wounds being 89%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. There was no difference in overall success rate between groups. Increasing age was associated with a negative outcome (P ≤ 0.01). Lesion size, presence of a corneal perforation, and concurrent keratoconjunctivitis sicca was not associated with a negative outcome.

Conclusions

A comparable success rate is achieved for deep or perforating corneal wounds stabilized with a CPF alone vs. a CPF plus acellular submucosa. Glaucoma, persistent uveitis, and cataract formation were not reported as post‐operative complications in this study population.
Characterizing the reflectivity of handheld display devices
Authors: Liu Peter , Badano Aldo
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

With increased use of handheld and tablet display devices for viewing medical images, methods for consistently measuring reflectivity of the devices are needed. In this note, the authors report on the characterization of diffuse reflections for handheld display devices including mobile phones and tablets using methods recommended by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 18 (TG18).

Methods:

The authors modified the diffuse reflectance coefficient measurement method outlined in the TG18 report. The authors measured seven handheld display devices (two phones and five tablets) and three workstation displays. The device was attached to a black panel with Velcro. To study the effect of the back surface on the diffuse reflectance coefficient, the authors created Styrofoam masks with different size square openings and placed it in front of the device. Overall, for each display device, measurements of illuminance and reflected luminance on the display screen were taken. The authors measured with no mask, with masks of varying size, and with display‐size masks, and calculated the corresponding diffuse reflectance coefficient.

Results:

For all handhelds, the diffuse reflectance coefficient measured with no back panel were lower than measurements performed with a mask. The authors found an overall increase in reflectivity as the size of the mask decreases. For workstations displays, diffuse reflectance coefficients were higher when no back panel was used, and higher than with masks. In all cases, as luminance increased, illuminance increased, but not at the same rate.

Conclusions:

Since the size of handheld displays is smaller than that of workstation devices, the TG18 method suffers from a dependency on illumination condition. The authors show that the diffuse reflection coefficients can vary depending on the nature of the back surface of the illuminating box. The variability in the diffuse coefficient can be as large as 20% depending on the size of the mask. For all measurements, both luminance and illuminance increased as the size of the display window decreased. The TG18 method does not account for this variability. The authors conclude that the method requires a definitive description of the back panel used in the light source setup. The methods described in the TG18 document may need to be improved to provide consistent comparisons of desktop monitors, phones, and tablets.
Model‐based CT performance assessment and optimization for iodinated and noniodinated imaging tasks as a function of kVp and body size
Authors: Samei Ehsan , Richard Samuel , Lurwitz Lynne
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

The goal of this study was to assess the comparative performance of iterative reconstruction in space (IRIS) and filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction algorithms in terms of image quality and dose across kVps and phantom sizes.

Methods:

The ACR CT phantom (model 464) was supplemented with the addition of an iodinated spherical capsule (1.5 mm diameter, 3.4 mg iodine per ml) to simulate the contrast filled structures and with an additional circular attachment consisting of an array of 500 um brass beads for spatial resolution measurements. A larger sized phantom was also created by wrapping the original phantom with additional tissue equivalent material of 4 cm thickness. The phantoms were imaged on a 64 detector array multidetector computed tomography scanner (Somatom Definition, Siemens, Germany) using clinically applicable protocols (0.5 s rotation time; 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp; 64 to 640 mA; 220 to 250 mm field of view). Images were reconstructed using the FBP and the IRIS algorithms. Combining measurements of image noise and spatial resolution with a task function, a figure of merit (FOM) for image quality was generated taking into account the type of visualization required from the image for the detection of either large or small image features with and without iodine content. The FOM was further reported in terms of area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AZ) to predict the comparative diagnostic performance of the two algorithms at different dose levels.

Results:

For a given dose level, the predicted AZ for IRIS consistently outperformed that of FBP. At comparative AZ, depending on protocol and task, the dose requirement for the optimal technique (optimized kVp with IRIS) was 2‐3 times lower than that for standard technique (120 kVp with FBP). The potential for dose reduction was found to be higher when performing small feature detection tasks in comparison to larger feature detection tasks. The optimal kVp was from 80 to 100 kVp for the small phantom, 100 to 120 kVp for the larger phantom.

Conclusions:

Overall, greater dose reduction may be achieved with IRIS compared to FBP, with enhanced advantage at thinner slice reconstructions. The results highlight how IRIS may offer a superior balance between image quality and dose across a range of imaging tasks, thus enabling dose reduction at constant quality or image quality improvement at constant dose. The prediction of the investigation can be used toward effective design of subsequent clinical studies.
Effects of Protocol Step Length on Biomechanical Measures in Swimming
Authors: Barbosa Tiago M. , de Jesus Kelly , Abraldes J. Arturo , Ribeiro João , Figueiredo Pedro , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Fernandes Ricardo J.
Published: July 2014

Background:

The assessment of energetic and mechanical parameters in swimming often requires the use of an intermittent incremental protocol, whose step lengths are corner stones for the efficiency of the evaluation procedures.

Purpose:

To analyze changes in swimming kinematics and interlimb coordination behavior in 3 variants, with different step lengths, of an intermittent incremental protocol.

Methods:

Twenty-two male swimmers performed n × di variants of an intermittent and incremental protocol (n ≤ 7; d1 = 200 m, d2 = 300 m, and d3 = 400 m). Swimmers were videotaped in the sagittal plane for 2-dimensional kinematical analysis using a dualmedia setup. Video images were digitized with a motion-capture system. Parameters that were assessed included the stroke kinematics, the segmental and anatomical landmark kinematics, and interlimb coordination. Movement efficiency was also estimated.

Results:

There were no significant variations in any of the selected variables according to the step lengths. A high to very high relationship was observed between step lengths. The bias was much reduced and the 95%CI fairly tight.

Conclusions:

Since there were no meaningful differences between the 3 protocol variants, the 1 with shortest step length (ie, 200 m) should be adopted for logistical reasons.
Pantothenic Acid Biosynthesis in the Parasite Toxoplasma gondii: a Target for Chemotherapy
Authors: Mageed Sarmad N. , Cunningham Fraser , Hung Alvin Wei , Silvestre Hernani Leonardo , Wen Shijun , Blundell Tom L. , Abell Chris , McConkey Glenn A.
Published: July 2014

Toxoplasma gondii
is a major food pathogen and neglected parasitic infection that causes eye disease, birth defects, and fetal abortion and plays a role as an opportunistic infection in AIDS. In this study, we investigated pantothenic acid (vitamin B
5
) biosynthesis in
T. gondii
. Genes encoding the full repertoire of enzymes for pantothenate synthesis and subsequent metabolism to coenzyme A were identified and are expressed in
T. gondii
. A panel of inhibitors developed to target
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
pantothenate synthetase were tested and found to exhibit a range of values for inhibition of
T. gondii
growth. Two inhibitors exhibited lower effective concentrations than the currently used toxoplasmosis drug pyrimethamine. The inhibition was specific for the pantothenate pathway, as the effect of the pantothenate synthetase inhibitors was abrogated by supplementation with pantothenate. Hence,
T. gondii
encodes and expresses the enzymes for pantothenate synthesis, and this pathway is essential for parasite growth. These promising findings increase our understanding of growth and metabolism in this important parasite and highlight pantothenate synthetase as a new drug target.
The Phosphatidyl-
myo
-Inositol Mannosyltransferase PimA Is Essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth
In Vitro
and
In Vivo
Authors: Boldrin Francesca , Ventura Marcello , Degiacomi Giulia , Ravishankar Sudha , Sala Claudia , Svetlikova Zuzana , Ambady Anisha , Dhar Neeraj , Kordulakova Jana , Zhang Ming , Serafini Agnese , Vishwas V. G. , Kolly Gaëlle S. , Kumar Naveen , Palù Giorgio , Guerin Marcelo E. , Mikusova Katarina , Cole Stewart T. , Manganelli Riccardo
Published: July 2014

The cell envelope of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
contains glycans and lipids of peculiar structure that play prominent roles in the biology and pathogenesis of tuberculosis. Consequently, the chemical structure and biosynthesis of the cell wall have been intensively investigated in order to identify novel drug targets. Here, we validate that the function of phosphatidyl-
myo
-inositol mannosyltransferase PimA is vital for
M. tuberculosis
in vitro
and
in vivo
. PimA initiates the biosynthesis of phosphatidyl-
myo
-inositol mannosides by transferring a mannosyl residue from GDP-Man to phosphatidyl-
myo
-inositol on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. To prove the essential nature of
pimA
in
M. tuberculosis
, we constructed a
pimA
conditional mutant by using the TetR-Pip off system and showed that downregulation of PimA expression causes bactericidality in batch cultures. Consistent with the biochemical reaction catalyzed by PimA, this phenotype was associated with markedly reduced levels of phosphatidyl-
myo
-inositol dimannosides, essential structural components of the mycobacterial cell envelope. In addition, the requirement of PimA for viability was clearly demonstrated during macrophage infection and in two different mouse models of infection, where a dramatic decrease in viable counts was observed upon silencing of the gene. Notably, depletion of PimA resulted in complete clearance of the mouse lungs during both the acute and chronic phases of infection. Altogether, the experimental data highlight the importance of the phosphatidyl-
myo
-inositol mannoside biosynthetic pathway for
M. tuberculosis
and confirm that PimA is a novel target for future drug discovery programs.
Subcellular Localization and Clues for the Function of the HetN Factor Influencing Heterocyst Distribution in Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120
Authors: Corrales-Guerrero Laura , Mariscal Vicente , Nürnberg Dennis J. , Elhai Jeff , Mullineaux Conrad W. , Flores Enrique , Herrero Antonia
Published: July 2014

In the filamentous cyanobacterium
Anabaena
sp. strain PCC 7120, heterocysts are formed in the absence of combined nitrogen, following a specific distribution pattern along the filament. The PatS and HetN factors contribute to the heterocyst pattern by inhibiting the formation of consecutive heterocysts. Thus, inactivation of any of these factors produces the multiple contiguous heterocyst (Mch) phenotype. Upon N stepdown, a HetN protein with its C terminus fused to a superfolder version of green fluorescent protein (sf-GFP) or to GFP-mut2 was observed, localized first throughout the whole area of differentiating cells and later specifically on the peripheries and in the polar regions of mature heterocysts, coinciding with the location of the thylakoids. Polar localization required an N-terminal stretch comprising residues 2 to 27 that may represent an unconventional signal peptide.
Anabaena
strains expressing a version of HetN lacking this fragment from a mutant gene placed at the native
hetN
locus exhibited a mild Mch phenotype. In agreement with previous results, deletion of an internal ERGSGR sequence, which is identical to the C-terminal sequence of PatS, also led to the Mch phenotype. The subcellular localization in heterocysts of fluorescence resulting from the fusion of GFP to the C terminus of HetN suggests that a full HetN protein is present in these cells. Furthermore, the full HetN protein is more conserved among cyanobacteria than the internal ERGSGR sequence. These observations suggest that HetN anchored to thylakoid membranes in heterocysts may serve a function besides that of generating a regulatory (ERGSGR) peptide.
Crystal Structure of PhnF, a GntR-Family Transcriptional Regulator of Phosphate Transport in Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Gebhard Susanne , Busby Jason N. , Fritz Georg , Moreland Nicole J. , Cook Gregory M. , Lott J. Shaun , Baker Edward N. , Money Victoria A.
Published: July 2014

Bacterial uptake of phosphate is usually accomplished via high-affinity transporters that are commonly regulated by two-component systems, which are activated when the concentration of phosphate is low.
Mycobacterium smegmatis
possesses two such transporters, the widely distributed PstSCAB system and PhnDCE, a transporter that in other bacteria mediates the uptake of alternative phosphorus sources. We previously reported that the transcriptional regulator PhnF controls the production of the Phn system, acting as a repressor under high-phosphate conditions. Here we show that the
phnDCE
genes are common among environmental mycobacteria, where they are often associated with
phnF
-like genes. In contrast, pathogenic mycobacteria were not found to encode Phn-like systems but instead were found to possess multiple copies of the
pst
genes. A detailed biochemical analysis of PhnF binding to its identified binding sites in the
phnD-phnF
intergenic region of
M. smegmatis
has allowed us to propose a quantitative model for repressor binding, which shows that a PhnF dimer binds independently to each site. We present the crystal structure of
M. smegmatis
PhnF at 1.8-Å resolution, showing a homodimer with a helix-turn-helix N-terminal domain and a C-terminal domain with a UbiC transcription regulator-associated fold. The C-terminal domain crystallized with a bound sulfate ion instead of the so far unidentified physiological ligand, allowing the identification of residues involved in effector binding. Comparison of the positioning of the DNA binding domains in PhnF with that in homologous proteins suggests that its DNA binding activity is regulated via a conformational change in the linker region, triggering a movement of the N-terminal domains.
Phenytoin-induced severe gingival overgrowth in a child
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Singh Rajeev Kumar , Verma Nidhi , Verma Umesh Pratap
Published: July 2014

Gingival enlargement or overgrowth (GO) is a common complication of the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin (PHT). GO is evident in almost half of the patients receiving PHT therapy. PHT-induced gingival overgrowth (PGO) is more common in children than in adults and affects both males and females equally. PGO may vary from mild to severe and does not seem to be dose dependant. It is supposed that PHT and its metabolites cause a direct effect on the periodontal tissues; however, poor oral hygiene may contribute to the severity of gingival inflammation in patients with PGO. Management of PGO includes meticulous oral hygiene practice to reduce inflammation and surgical excision of the overgrown tissue, known as gingivectomy. We present a case of PHT-induced severe GO in a 10-year-old boy and discuss the clinical features, aetiology, pathogenesis and management of PGO.
Treatment of complex infantile haemangioma in a resource-poor setting
Authors: Natawidjaja Ronald , Wang Ewen
Published: July 2014

Infantile haemangiomas affect approximately 5% of the population and usually do not require treatment. However, complex cutaneous haemangiomas can cause disabling disfigurement, while haemangiomas in the brain, airway or gastrointestinal tract can cause life-threatening complications. Although children with infantile haemangiomas are often first brought to general practitioners and paediatricians by parents for care, they are thought of as a surgical problem and usually referred to specialty care. We present a case of an infant from a resource-poor setting in rural Indonesia with disfiguring facial haemangiomas, as well as a probable airway haemangioma causing stridor at rest. The infant was treated with oral propranolol with marked involution of the cutaneous haemangioma, resolution of stridor and increase in weight.
Effects of root tensile force and diameter distribution variability on root reinforcement in the Swiss and Italian Alps
Authors: Vergani C. , Schwarz M. , Cohen D. , Thormann J.J. , Bischetti G.B.
Published: July 2014

Root reinforcement is considered to be one of the most important factors contributing to the stability of vegetated hillslopes; however, its estimation is still challenging because of the spatial variability of root distribution and root mechanical properties. This work uses the root bundle model to assess the sensitivity of root-reinforcement estimation to the variability in both root mechanical properties and root distribution. We used a large data set of root tensile tests and root distributions of an important alpine species, Picea abies (L.) Karst., collected in a wide range of altitudinal and climatic ranges on both north and south sides of the alpine mountain range. The results demonstrate that the site-specific characterization of mechanical properties and root distribution is fundamental for the quantification of root reinforcement at the stand scale. Root diameter distribution plays a dominant role in influencing the root-reinforcement model’s output; however, in contrast with results from other works, differences in root diameter–force functions are significant and cannot be ignored. Model results also show that coarse roots contribute significantly more to the reinforcement of soil than fine roots, underlying the need of additional data for roots with diameters larger than 5 mm.
Symmetries of almost complex structures and pseudoholomorphic foliations
Authors: Kruglikov Boris
Published: July 2014

Contrary to complex structures, a generic almost complex structure J has no local symmetries. We give a criterion for finite-dimensionality of the pseudogroup G of local symmetries for a given almost complex structure J. It will be indicated that a large symmetry pseudogroup (infinite-dimensional) is a signature of some integrable structure, like a pseudoholomorphic foliation. We classify the sub-maximal (from the viewpoint of the size of G) symmetric structures J. Almost complex structures in dimensions 4 and 6 are discussed in greater details in this paper.
Polyelectrolytes polarization in nonuniform electric fields
Authors: Farahpour Farnoush , Ejtehadi Mohammad Reza , Varnik Fathollah
Published: July 2014

Stretching dynamics of polymers in microfluidics is of particular interest for polymer scientists. As a charged polymer, a polyelectrolyte (PE) can be deformed from its coiled equilibrium configuration to an extended chain by applying uniform or nonuniform electric fields. By means of hybrid lattice Boltzmann (LB)-molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we investigate how the condensed counterions (CIs) around the PE contribute to the polymer stretching in inhomogeneous fields. As an application, we discuss the translocation phenomena and entropic traps, when the driving force is an applied external electric field.
Lattice Boltzmann models based on Gauss quadratures
Authors: Ambruş Victor E. , Sofonea Victor
Published: July 2014

The Gauss–Laguerre quadrature method is used to construct three-dimensional thermal Lattice Boltzmann models that exactly recover integrals of the equilibrium distribution function over Cartesian octants of the momentum space. We illustrate the capability of these models to exactly implement the diffuse reflection boundary conditions by considering the Couette flow at various values of the Knudsen number.
Size-dependent melting temperature of nanoparticles based on cohesive energy
Authors: Huo Kai-Tuo , Chen Xiao-Ming
Published: July 2014

Size-dependent melting temperature of metallic nanoparticles is studied theoretically based on cohesive energy. Three factors are introduced in the present model. The k factor, i.e. efficiency of space filling of crystal lattice is defined as the ratio between the volume of the atoms in a crystal cell and that of the crystal cell. The β factor is defined as the ratio between the cohesive energy of surface atom and interior atom of a crystal. The qs factor represents the packing fraction on a surface crystalline plane. Considering the β, qs and k factors, the relationship between melting temperature and nanoparticle size is discussed. The obtained model is compared with the reported experimental data and the other models.
Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling modulating pumps driven by triple potentials
Authors: Xiao Yun-Chang , Wang Ri-Xing , Yang Ru-Shu
Published: July 2014

In this paper, Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling (SOC) modulating quantum pumps driven by triple time-dependent potentials are investigated, where the pump center are semiconductors connected to two normal leads. In detail, the parametric influence to the quantum pump current is studied by using the Floquet scattering technology, and mainly via the modulations of the potentials position, the SOC strength and component, the tunable currents pumped from the system are discussed.
Arc index via the alternating tangle decomposition
Authors: Bae Yongju
Published: July 2014

We introduce the alternating tangle decomposition of a diagram of a link L and improve the upper bound of arc index α(L) by using information of the alternating tangle decomposition. Also we get the exact arc index of a class of links by combining the upper bound with Morton and Beltrami's lower bound of the arc index.
INFLUENCE OF PARTICLE SIZE ON DENSITY, ULTRASONIC VELOCITY AND VISCOSITY OF MAGNETITE NANOFLUIDS AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES
Authors: YOUSAF AMMAR BIN , KHAN MAJID , IMRAN MUHAMMAD , USMAN MUHAMMAD , JAMAL MUHAMMAD ASGHAR
Published: July 2014

The influence of particle size on density, ultrasonic velocity and viscosity of magnetite nanofluids have been determined at (298.15 K, 303.15 K, 308.15 K and 313.15 K). Two different sized nanoparticles (commercially procured D = 20–30 nm and synthesized D = 9 ± 3 nm in the laboratory by co-precipitation method) were dispersed in a citric acid base fluid. The desired parameters have been experimentally determined by loading different concentrations of nanoparticles. It has been found that the influence of particle size and temperature on measured physical parameters (density, ultrasonic velocity and viscosity) is not negligible and can also be taken into account in any practical application. The analyzed physical parameters can describe qualitatively and quantitatively the particle size distribution of nanofluids at a specific temperature. Results are interpreted in terms of particle–particle and particle–fluid interactions.
Small-sized Trochammina assemblages in deep-water Eocene flysch deposits (Outer Carpathians, Poland) and their palaeoecological implications
Authors: Waśkowska Anna
Published: July 2014

Abstract. The global climate change in the early Eocene contributed significantly to the turnover of benthic foraminifera. A major extinction within agglutinated and calcareous forms and the occurrence of opportunistic assemblages resulted. The Trochammina material described here belongs to these post-crisis assemblages. Foraminiferal assemblages with numerous Trochammina species are identified within deep-water Eocene deposits of the Polish part of the Outer Carpathians. Trochammina reach up to 80% of the assemblages, the remainder consists of cosmopolitan agglutinated foraminifera, mainly Bathysiphon, Recurvoides, Paratrochamminoides and Trochamminoides. The low biodiversity (average number of species 24, of genera 15) and the presence of dwarf forms are the main characteristics of the assemblages. These assemblages occur predominantly in shales with numerous organic traces (lower Hieroglyphic beds), deposited in the Silesian Basin (Outer Carpathians) which was on the northern margin of the western Tethys Ocean during the early Eocene (Ypresian, c. 50 Ma). The Trochammina biofacies developed in the Silesian Basin after the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum crisis, and is dominated by opportunistic forms, mainly represented by mobile epifauna and shallow-water infauna, interpreted as a recolonizing assemblage in a low energy environment.
Virtual Ways: Low-Cost Coherence for Instruction Set Extensions with Architecturally Visible Storage
Authors: Kluter Theo , Burri Samuel , Brisk Philip , Charbon Edoardo , Ienne Paolo
Published: July 2014

Instruction set extensions (ISEs) improve the performance and energy consumption of application-specific processors. ISEs can use architecturally visible storage (AVS), localized compiler-controlled memories, to provide higher I/O bandwidth than reading data from the processor pipeline. AVS creates coherence and consistence problems with the data cache. Although a hardware coherence protocol could solve the problem, this approach is costly for a single-processor system. As a low-cost alternative, we introduce Virtual Ways, which ensures coherence through a reduced form of inclusion between the data cache and AVS. Virtual Ways achieve higher performance and lower energy consumption than using a hardware coherence protocol.
Factored axis-aligned filtering for rendering multiple distribution effects
Authors: Mehta Soham Uday , Yao JiaXian , Ramamoorthi Ravi , Durand Fredo
Published: July 2014

Monte Carlo (MC) ray-tracing for photo-realistic rendering often requires hours to render a single image due to the large sampling rates needed for convergence. Previous methods have attempted to filter sparsely sampled MC renders but these methods have high reconstruction overheads. Recent work has shown fast performance for individual effects, like soft shadows and indirect illumination, using axis-aligned filtering. While some components of light transport such as indirect or area illumination are smooth, they are often multiplied by high-frequency components such as texture, which prevents their sparse sampling and reconstruction.

We propose an approach to adaptively sample and filter for simultaneously rendering primary (defocus blur) and secondary (soft shadows and indirect illumination) distribution effects, based on a multi-dimensional frequency analysis of the direct and indirect illumination light fields. We describe a novel approach of factoring texture and irradiance in the presence of defocus blur, which allows for pre-filtering noisy irradiance when the texture is not noisy. Our approach naturally allows for different sampling rates for primary and secondary effects, further reducing the overall ray count. While the theory considers only Lambertian surfaces, we obtain promising results for moderately glossy surfaces. We demonstrate 30x sampling rate reduction compared to equal quality noise-free MC. Combined with a GPU implementation and low filtering over-head, we can render scenes with complex geometry and diffuse and glossy BRDFs in a few seconds.
Cascaded displays
Authors: Heide Felix , Lanman Douglas , Reddy Dikpal , Kautz Jan , Pulli Kari , Luebke David
Published: July 2014

We demonstrate that layered spatial light modulators (SLMs), subject to fixed lateral displacements and refreshed at staggered intervals, can synthesize images with greater spatiotemporal resolution than that afforded by any single SLM used in their construction. Dubbed
cascaded displays
, such architectures enable superresolution flat panel displays (e.g., using thin stacks of liquid crystal displays (LCDs)) and digital projectors (e.g., relaying the image of one SLM onto another). We introduce a comprehensive optimization framework, leveraging non-negative matrix and tensor factorization, that decomposes target images and videos into multi-layered, time-multiplexed attenuation patterns---offering a flexible trade-off between apparent image brightness, spatial resolution, and refresh rate. Through this analysis, we develop a real-time dual-layer factorization method that quadruples spatial resolution and doubles refresh rate. Compared to prior superresolution displays, cascaded displays place fewer restrictions on the hardware, offering thin designs without moving parts or the necessity of temporal multiplexing. Furthermore, cascaded displays are the first use of multi-layer displays to increase apparent temporal resolution. We validate these concepts using two custom-built prototypes: a dual-layer LCD and a dual-modulation liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) projector, with the former emphasizing head-mounted display (HMD) applications.
Provably good planar mappings
Authors: Poranne Roi , Lipman Yaron
Published: July 2014

The problem of planar mapping and deformation is central in computer graphics. This paper presents a framework for adapting general, smooth, function bases for building provably good planar mappings. The term "good" in this context means the map has no fold-overs (injective), is smooth, and has low isometric or conformal distortion.

Existing methods that use mesh-based schemes are able to achieve injectivity and/or control distortion, but fail to create smooth mappings, unless they use a prohibitively large number of elements, which slows them down. Meshless methods are usually smooth by construction, yet they are not able to avoid fold-overs and/or control distortion.

Our approach constrains the linear deformation spaces induced by popular smooth basis functions, such as B-Splines, Gaussian and Thin-Plate Splines, at a set of collocation points, using specially tailored convex constraints that prevent fold-overs and high distortion at these points. Our analysis then provides the required density of collocation points and/or constraint type, which guarantees that the map is injective and meets the distortion constraints over the
entire
domain of interest.

We demonstrate that our method is interactive at reasonably complicated settings and compares favorably to other state-of-the-art mesh and meshless planar deformation methods.
A reflectance display
Authors: Glasner Daniel , Zickler Todd , Levin Anat
Published: July 2014

We present a
reflectance display:
a dynamic digital display capable of showing images and videos with spatially-varying, user-defined reflectance functions. Our display is passive: it operates by phase-modulation of reflected light. As such, it does not rely on any illumination recording sensors, nor does it require expensive on-the-fly rendering. It reacts to lighting changes instantaneously and consumes only a minimal amount of energy. Our work builds on the wave optics approach to BRDF fabrication of Levin et al. shortciteLevinBRDFFab13. We replace their expensive one-time hardware fabrication with a programable liquid crystal spatial light modulator, retaining high resolution of approximately 160 dpi. Our approach enables the display of a much wider family of angular reflectances, and it allows the display of dynamic content with time varying reflectance properties---"reflectance videos". To facilitate these new capabilities we develop novel reflectance design algorithms with improved resolution tradeoffs. We demonstrate the utility of our display with a diverse set of experiments including display of custom reflectance images and videos, interactive reflectance editing, display of 3D content reproducing lighting and depth variation, and simultaneous display of two independent channels on one screen.
Controlling singular values with semidefinite programming
Authors: Kovalsky Shahar Z. , Aigerman Noam , Basri Ronen , Lipman Yaron
Published: July 2014

Controlling the singular values of
n
-dimensional matrices is often required in geometric algorithms in graphics and engineering. This paper introduces a convex framework for problems that involve singular values. Specifically, it enables the optimization of functionals and constraints expressed in terms of the extremal singular values of matrices.

Towards this end, we introduce a family of convex sets of matrices whose singular values are bounded. These sets are formulated using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI), allowing optimization with standard convex Semidefinite Programming (SDP) solvers. We further show that these sets are optimal, in the sense that there exist no larger convex sets that bound singular values.

A number of geometry processing problems are naturally described in terms of singular values. We employ the proposed framework to optimize and improve upon standard approaches. We experiment with this new framework in several applications: volumetric mesh deformations, extremal quasi-conformal mappings in three dimensions, non-rigid shape registration and averaging of rotations. We show that in all applications the proposed approach leads to algorithms that compare favorably to state-of-art algorithms.
Simulating and compensating changes in appearance between day and night vision
Authors: Wanat Robert , Mantiuk Rafał K.
Published: July 2014

The same physical scene seen in bright sunlight and in dusky conditions does not appear identical to the human eye. Similarly, images shown on an 8000 cd/m
2
high-dynamic-range (HDR) display and in a 50 cd/m
2
peak luminance cinema screen also differ significantly in their appearance. We propose a luminance retargeting method that alters the perceived contrast and colors of an image to match the appearance under different luminance levels. The method relies on psychophysical models of matching contrast, models of rod-contribution to vision, and our own measurements. The retargeting involves finding an optimal tone-curve, spatial contrast processing, and modeling of hue and saturation shifts. This lets us reliably simulate night vision in bright conditions, or compensate for a bright image shown on a darker display so that it reveals details and colors that would otherwise be invisible.