bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of patient preference on dialysis modality and hemodialysis vascular access
Authors: Keating Patrick T , Walsh Michael , Ribic Christine M , Brimble Kenneth Scott
Published: February 2014

Background

Home-based dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD), is associated with improved health related quality of life and reduced health resource costs. It is uncertain to what extent initial preferences for dialysis modality influence the first dialysis therapy actually utilized. We examined the relationship between initial dialysis modality choice and first dialysis therapy used.

Methods

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from a single centre who started dialysis after receiving modality education were included in this study. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess the independent association of patient characteristics and initial dialysis modality choice with actual dialysis therapy used and starting hemodialysis (HD) with a central venous catheter (CVC).

Results

Of 299 eligible patients, 175 (58.5%) initially chose a home-based therapy and 102 (58.3%) of these patients’ first actual dialysis was a home-based therapy. Of the 89 patients that initially chose facility-based HD, 84 (94.4%) first actual dialysis was facility-based HD. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for first actual dialysis as a home-based therapy was 29.0 for patients intending to perform PD (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.7-78.8; p < 0.001) and 12.4 for patients intending to perform HHD (95% CI 3.29-46.6; p < 0.001). Amongst patients whose first actual dialysis was HD, an initial choice of PD or not choosing a modality was associated with an increased risk of starting dialysis with a CVC (adjusted OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.51-9.21; p = 0.004 and 4.58, 95% CI 1.53-13.7; p = 0.007, respectively).

Conclusions

Although initially choosing a home-based therapy substantially increases the probability of the first actual dialysis being home-based, many patients who initially prefer a home-based therapy start with facility-based HD. Programs that continually re-evaluate patient preferences and reinforce the values of home based therapies that led to the initial preference may improve home-based therapy uptake and improve preparedness for starting HD.
Is the relationship between the built environment and physical activity moderated by perceptions of crime and safety?
Authors: Bracy Nicole L , Millstein Rachel A , Carlson Jordan A , Conway Terry L , Sallis James F , Saelens Brian E , Kerr Jacqueline , Cain Kelli L , Frank Lawrence D , King Abby C
Published: February 2014

Background

Direct relationships between safety concerns and physical activity have been inconsistently patterned in the literature. To tease out these relationships, crime, pedestrian, and traffic safety were examined as moderators of built environment associations with physical activity.

Methods

Exploratory analyses used two cross-sectional studies of 2068 adults ages 20–65 and 718 seniors ages 66+ with similar designs and measures. The studies were conducted in the Baltimore, Maryland-Washington, DC and Seattle-King County, Washington regions during 2001–2005 (adults) and 2005–2008 (seniors). Participants were recruited from areas selected to sample high- and low- income and walkability. Independent variables perceived crime, traffic, and pedestrian safety were measured using scales from validated instruments. A GIS-based walkability index was calculated for a street-network buffer around each participant’s home address. Outcomes were total physical activity measured using accelerometers and transportation and leisure walking measured with validated self-reports (IPAQ-long). Mixed effects regression models were conducted separately for each sample.

Results

Of 36 interactions evaluated across both studies, only 5 were significant (p < .05). Significant interactions did not consistently support a pattern of highest physical activity when safety was rated high and environments were favorable. There was not consistent evidence that safety concerns reduced the beneficial effects of favorable environments on physical activity. Only pedestrian safety showed evidence of a consistent main effect with physical activity outcomes, possibly because pedestrian safety items (e.g., crosswalks, sidewalks) were not as subjective as those on the crime and traffic safety scales.

Conclusions

Clear relationships between crime, pedestrian, and traffic safety with physical activity levels remain elusive. The development of more precise safety variables and the use of neighborhood-specific physical activity outcomes may help to elucidate these relationships.
Incomplete recovery of mechanical and endocrine left atrial functions one month after electrical cardioversion for persistent atrial fibrillation: a pilot study
Authors: Bernard-Brunet Anne , Saint Etienne Christophe , Piver Eric , Zannad Noura , Pagés Jean-Christophe , Fauchier Laurent , Babuty Dominique
Published: February 2014

Background

Restoration of the mechanical and endocrine functions of the left atrium remains controversial after electrical cardioversion treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation. The objective of the prospective study was to describe the recovery of the endocrine and mechanical functions of the left atrium.

Methods

Evaluation of left atrium recovery after electrical cardioversion by the new speckle-tracking echocardiography technique and proANP measurement.

Results

Twenty patients suffering from persistent atrial fibrillation with no alteration of left ventricular ejection fraction were prospectively evaluated at baseline and then one month later by echocardiography, measuring left atrial volume and left atrial deformation (MPALS), as well as the proANP and BNP concentrations. One month after cardioversion 10 patients remained in sinus rhythm and 10 showed recurrent atrial fibrillation. No significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical, echocardiographic and endocrine parameters were observed at baseline evaluation. We observed a significant reduction of left atrial volume only in the sinus group, whereas restoration of the left atrial deformation was only partial (18%) in that group. By contrast, we registered no significant changes in ANP concentration at one month in either the sinus or the atrial fibrillation groups.

Conclusion

These results suggest that restoration of left atrium mechanical function is only partial one month after treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation by electrical cardioversion, whereas a significant reduction of left atrial volume was noted, explaining the remaining high level of ANP in the sinus group.
Circulating MMP11 and specific antibody immune response in breast and prostate cancer patients
Authors: Roscilli Giuseppe , Cappelletti Manuela , De Vitis Claudia , Ciliberto Gennaro , Di Napoli Arianna , Ruco Luigi , Mancini Rita , Aurisicchio Luigi
Published: February 2014

Background

Tumor Associated Antigens are characterized by spontaneous immune response in cancer patients as a consequence of overexpression and epitope-presentation on MHC class I/II machinery. Matrix Metalloprotease 11 (MMP11) expression has been associated with poor prognosis for several cancer types, including breast and prostate cancer.

Methods

MMP11 expression was determined by immunoistochemistry in breast and prostate cancer samples. Circulating MMP11 protein as well as the spontaneous immune responses against MMP11 were analyzed in a set of breast and prostate cancer patients.

Results

In plasma samples MMP11 protein was present in 5/13 breast cancer patients and in 1/12 prostate cancer patients. An antibody response was observed in 7/13 breast cancer patients and in 3/12 prostate cancer patients.

Conclusions

These findings further suggest MMP11 as a promising biomarker for these tumor types and a suitable target for cancer immunotherapy strategies.
Structure fragmentation in Fe-based alloys by means of cyclic martensitic transformations of different types
Authors: Bondar Volodimir I , Danilchenko Vitalij Ie , Dzevin Ievgenij M
Published: February 2014

The effect of martensite transformations of different types on the misorientation of austenite crystalline lattice, which characterizes the degree of structure fragmentation, was investigated for Fe-Ni and Fe-Mn alloys. As a result of multiple face-centered cubic (f.c.c.)-body-centered cubic (b.c.c.)-f.c.c. transformations, an austenite single-crystalline specimen is transformed in a polycrystalline one due to progressive fragmentation. It was shown that the degree of fragmentation depends on the magnitude of volume change and the density of dislocations generated on martensitic transformations.
TiO2 micro-flowers composed of nanotubes and their application to dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Kim Woong-Rae , Park Hun , Choi Won-Youl
Published: February 2014

TiO2 micro-flowers were made to bloom on Ti foil by the anodic oxidation of Ti-protruding dots with a cylindrical shape. Arrays of the Ti-protruding dots were prepared by photolithography, which consisted of coating the photoresists, attaching a patterned mask, illuminating with UV light, etching the Ti surface by reactive ion etching (RIE), and stripping the photoresist on the Ti foil. The procedure for the blooming of the TiO2 micro-flowers was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) as the anodizing time was increased. Photoelectrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) were fabricated using TiO2 micro-flowers. Bare TiO2 nanotube arrays were used for reference samples. The short-circuit current (J
sc) and the power conversion efficiency of the DSCs based on the TiO2 micro-flowers were 4.340 mA/cm2 and 1.517%, respectively. These values of DSCs based on TiO2 micro-flowers were higher than those of bare samples. The TiO2 micro-flowers had a larger surface area for dye adsorption compared to bare TiO2 nanotube arrays, resulting in improved J
sc characteristics. The structure of the TiO2 micro-flowers allowed it to adsorb dyes very effectively, also demonstrating the potential to achieve higher power conversion efficiency levels for DSCs compared to a bare TiO2 nanotube array structure and the conventional TiO2 nanoparticle structure.
Commercialization of biopharmaceutical knowledge in Iran; challenges and solutions
Authors: Nassiri-Koopaei Nasser , Majdzadeh Reza , Kebriaeezadeh Abbas , Rashidian Arash , Yazdi Mojtaba Tabatabai , Nedjat Saharnaz , Nikfar Shekoufeh
Published: February 2014

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate the application of the university research findings or commercialization of the biopharmaceutical knowledge in Iran and determine the challenges and propose some solutions.

Results

A qualitative study including 19 in-depth interviews with experts was performed in 2011 and early 2012. National Innovation System (NIS) model was employed as the study design. Thematic method was applied for the analysis. The results demonstrate that policy making, regulations and management development are considered as fundamental reasons for current commercialization practice pattern. It is suggested to establish foundation for higher level documents that would involve relating bodies and provide them operational guidelines for the implementation of commercialization incentives.

Conclusions

Policy, regulations and management as the most influential issue should be considered for successful commercialization. The present study, for the first time, attempts to disclose the importance of evidence input for measures in order to facilitate the commercialization process by the authorities in Iran. Overall, the NIS model should be considered and utilized as one of the effective solutions for commercialization.
Evaluating the immune responses of mice to subcutaneous immunization with Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit
Authors: Sun Peng , Wang Jia-Qi , Zhang Yu-Tao , Zhao Sheng-Guo
Published: February 2014

Background

Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that expresses a strong urease activity, is associated with the development of gastroduodenal disease. Urease B subunit, one of the two structural subunits of urease, was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit on the immune responses in mice by subcutaneous immunization.

Methods

The mice were immunized and boosted with Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit antigen subcutaneously three times with 2-wk intervals between the immunizations and boosters. The mice in the control group were immunized with PBS. The adjuvant group received PBS containing complete/incomplete freund’s adjuvant identical to antigen group without Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit antigen. Four weeks after the final booster, all the mice were sacrificed. Blood was collected on d 0, 14, 28 and 56 before immunization, booster and sacrifice, respectively. Immediately after sacrifice, gastric liquid and spleen were collected for antibody and cytokine analyses.

Results

Urease B subunit increased the concentrations of serum and gastric anti-urease B antigen specific IgG, and the levels of interleukin-4 and interferon-γ in splenocytes of the mice (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that recombinant urease B subunit can induce systemic and local immune responses in mice by subcutaneous immunization, which might be used as the effective component of vaccine against Helicobacter pylori.
Th17 cells and Tregs: unlikely allies
Authors: Chen Xin , Oppenheim Joost J
Published: February 2014

Identification of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and Th17 modified the historical Th1–Th2 paradigm. Currently, the Th17–Tregs dichotomy provides a dominant conceptual framework for the comprehension of immunity/inflammation and tolerance/immunosuppression in an increasing number of diseases. Targeting proinflammatory Th17 cells or immunosuppressive Tregs has been widely considered as a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of major human diseases, including autoimmunity and cancer. The efficacy and safety of such therapy rely on a thorough understanding of immunobiology and interaction of these two subsets of Th cells. In this article, we review recent progress concerning complicated interplay of Th17 cells and Tregs. There is compelling evidence that Tregs potently inhibit Th1 and Th2 responses; however, the inhibitory effect of Tregs on Th17 responses is a controversial subject. There is increasing evidence showing that Tregs actually promote the differentiation of Th17 cells in vitro and in vivo and consequently, enhanced the functional consequences of Th17 cells, including the protective effect in host defense, as well as detrimental effect in inflammation and in the support of tumor growth. On the other hand, Th17 cells were also the most potent Th subset in the stimulation and support of expansion and phenotypic stability of Tregs in vivo. These results indicate that these two subsets of Th cells reciprocally stimulate each other. This bidirectional crosstalk is largely dependent on the TNF–TNFR2 pathway. These mutual stimulatory effects should be considered in devising future Th17 cell- and Treg-targeting therapy.
Assessment of the Metabolic Pathways Associated With Glucose-Stimulated Biphasic Insulin Secretion
Authors: Huang Mei , Joseph Jamie W.
Published: February 2014

Biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion involves a rapid first phase followed by a prolonged second phase of insulin secretion. The biochemical pathways that control these 2 phases of insulin secretion are poorly defined. In this study, we used a gas chromatography mass spectroscopy-based metabolomics approach to perform a global analysis of cellular metabolism during biphasic insulin secretion. A time course metabolomic analysis of the clonal β-cell line 832/13 cells showed that glycolytic, tricarboxylic acid, pentose phosphate pathway, and several amino acids were strongly correlated to biphasic insulin secretion. Interestingly, first-phase insulin secretion was negatively associated with l-valine, trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline, trans-3-hydroxy-l-proline, dl-3-aminoisobutyric acid, l-glutamine, sarcosine, l-lysine, and thymine and positively with l-glutamic acid, flavin adenine dinucleotide, caprylic acid, uridine 5′-monophosphate, phosphoglycerate, myristic acid, capric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitoleic acid. Tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, and succinate were positively associated with second-phase insulin secretion. Other metabolites such as myo-inositol, cholesterol, dl-3-aminobutyric acid, and l-norleucine were negatively associated metabolites with the second-phase of insulin secretion. These studies provide a detailed analysis of key metabolites that are either negatively or positively associated with biphasic insulin secretion. The insights provided by these data set create a framework for planning future studies in the assessment of the metabolic regulation of biphasic insulin secretion.
Intraperitoneal CCK and Fourth-Intraventricular Apo AIV Require Both Peripheral and NTS CCK1R to Reduce Food Intake in Male Rats
Authors: Lo Chunmin C. , Sean Davidson W. , Hibbard Stephanie K. , Georgievsky Maria , Lee Alexander , Tso Patrick , Woods Stephen C.
Published: February 2014

Apolipoprotein AIV (Apo AIV) and cholecystokinin (CCK) are secreted in response to fat consumption, and both cause satiation via CCK 1 receptor (CCK-1R)-containing vagal afferent nerves to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), where Apo AIV is also synthesized. Fasted male Long-Evans rats received ip CCK-8 or fourth-ventricular (i4vt) Apo AIV alone or in combination. Food intake and c-Fos proteins (a product of the c-Fos immediate-early gene) were assessed. i4vt Apo AIV and/or ip CCK at effective doses reduced food intake and activated c-Fos proteins in the NTS and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and paraventricular nucleus. Blockade of the CCK-1R by i4vt lorglumide adjacent to the NTS attenuated the satiating and c-Fos-stimulating effects of CCK and Apo AIV, alone or in combination. Maintenance on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks resulted in weight gain and attenuation of both the behavioral and c-Fos responses to a greater extent than occurred in low-fat diet-fed and pair-fed HFD animals. These observations suggest that NTS Apo AIV or/and peripheral CCK requires vagal CCK-1R signaling to elicit satiation and that maintenance on a HFD reduces the satiating capacity of these 2 signals.
The Asymptotic Value in Finite Stochastic Games
Authors: Oliu-Barton Miquel
Published: February 2014

Bewley and Kohlberg [Bewley T, Kohlberg E (1976) The asymptotic theory of stochastic games. Math. Oper. Res. 1:197–208] proved that the discounted values of finite zero-sum stochastic games have a limit, as the discount factor tends to zero, using the Tarski-Seidenberg elimination theorem from real algebraic geometry. This was a fundamental step in the development of the theory of stochastic games. The current paper provides a new and direct proof for this result, relying on the explicit description of asymptotically optimal strategies. Moreover, we prove that our approach can also be used to obtain the existence of the uniform value, as in Mertens and Neyman [Mertens J-F, Neyman A (1981) Stochastic games. Internat. J. Game Theory 10:53–66].
Phase I and II Cannabinoid Disposition in Blood and Plasma of Occasional and Frequent Smokers Following Controlled Smoked Cannabis
Authors: Desrosiers Nathalie A , Himes Sarah K , Scheidweiler Karl B , Concheiro-Guisan Marta , Gorelick David A , Huestis Marilyn A
Published: February 2014

BACKGROUND

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) have been reported in blood from frequent cannabis smokers for an extended time during abstinence. We compared THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, cannabidiol, cannabinol, THC-glucuronide, and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC-glucuronide (THCCOO-glucuronide) blood and plasma disposition in frequent and occasional cannabis smokers.

METHODS

Frequent and occasional smokers resided on a closed research unit and smoked one 6.8% THC cannabis cigarette ad libitum. Blood and plasma cannabinoids were quantified on admission (approximately 19 h before), 1 h before, and up to 15 times (0.5–30 h) after smoking.

RESULTS

Cannabinoid blood and plasma concentrations were significantly higher in frequent smokers compared with occasional smokers at most time points for THC and 11-OH-THC and at all time points for THCCOOH and THCCOO-glucuronide. Cannabidiol, cannabinol, and THC-glucuronide were not significantly different at any time point. Overall blood and plasma cannabinoid concentrations were significantly higher in frequent smokers for THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, and THCCOO-glucuronide, with and without accounting for baseline concentrations. For blood THC >5 μg/L, median (range) time of last detection was 3.5 h (1.1–>30 h) in frequent smokers and 1.0 h (0–2.1 h) in 11 occasional smokers; 2 individuals had no samples with THC >5 μg/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Cannabis smoking history plays a major role in cannabinoid detection. These differences may impact clinical and impaired driving drug detection. The presence of cannabidiol, cannabinol, or THC-glucuronide indicates recent use, but their absence does not exclude it.
A White Killer Whale in the Central Aleutians
Authors: Renner Martin , Bell Kevin
Published: February 2014

We observed a white adult male killer whale (Orcinus orca) on 7 August 2000 off the north side of Adak Island, Aleutians. An open saddle and a rounded dorsal fin tip suggest that this whale belongs to the fish-eating (“resident”) ecotype. A circular scar matching a cookie-cutter shark (Isistius sp.) bite mark suggested that the animal originated in warmer waters. Photographs and description provided here should enable individual identification should this animal be seen again.
The Annual Migration Cycle of Emperor Geese in Western Alaska
Authors: Hupp Jerry W. , Schmutz Joel A. , Ely Craig R.
Published: February 2014

Most emperor geese (Chen canagica) nest in a narrow coastal region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) in western Alaska, but their winter distribution extends more than 3000 km from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to the Commander Islands, Russia. We marked 53 adult female emperor geese with satellite transmitters on the YKD in 1999, 2002, and 2003 to examine whether chronology of migration or use of seasonal habitats differed among birds that wintered in different regions. Females that migrated relatively short distances (650–1010 km) between the YKD and winter sites on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula bypassed autumn staging areas on the Bering Sea coast of the Alaska Peninsula or used them for shorter periods (mean = 57 days) than birds that made longer migrations (1600–2640 km) to the western Aleutian Islands (mean = 97 days). Alaska Peninsula migrants spent more days at winter sites (mean = 172 days, 95% CI: 129–214 days) than western Aleutian Island migrants (mean = 91 days, 95% CI: 83–99 days). Birds that migrated 930–1610 km to the eastern Aleutian Islands spent intermediate intervals at fall staging (mean = 77 days) and wintering areas (mean = 108 days, 95% CI: 95–119 days). Return dates to the YKD did not differ among birds that wintered in different regions. Coastal staging areas on the Alaska Peninsula may be especially important in autumn to prepare Aleutian migrants physiologically for long-distance migration to winter sites, and in spring to enable emperor geese that migrate different distances to reach comparable levels of condition before nesting.
Range Selection by Semi-Domesticated Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Relation to Infrastructure and Human Activity in the Boreal Forest Environment, Northern Finland
Authors: Anttonen Marja , Kumpula Jouko , Colpaert Alfred
Published: February 2014

During past decades, the amounts of infrastructure and human activity have increased in northern latitudes. Although the effects of human development on wild reindeer and caribou have been widely examined, its effects on semidomesticated reindeer and the reindeer herding environment are still poorly understood. We studied how seven different human activities (population centres, buildings, main roads, forest roads, snowmobile tracks, skiing trails, and gold digging areas) affect the range selection by semi-domesticated reindeer in northern Finnish Lapland using GPS tracking data on 29 female reindeer. Data were analyzed using compositional analysis on two spatial scales (home range selection and within-home-range selection) and in three seasonal periods (early winter, late winter, and summer-autumn). Results showed that during winter, reindeer strongly avoided almost all studied human activities when selecting home range areas (for forest roads, the direction of the effect was unclear), but in summer and autumn, only some of those activities were important. Within the selected home range areas, pasture use by reindeer appears to be less sensitive to infrastructure and human activity, probably because reindeer were able to avoid these anthropogenic disturbances at the upper level of habitat selection. The size of the potential cumulative area affected by infrastructure varied seasonally between 27.5% and 39.0% of the study area when calculated on the basis of home range selection, and between 7.2% and 20.3% when calculated from within-home-range selection. The strongest avoidance of infrastructure was found in late winter on both scales of range selection, but weakest avoidance was in early winter for home range selection and in summer for within-home-range selection. Cumulative impacts of different human activities on the usability value of reindeer ranges should be taken into account when planning new land-use operations in the areas important for the reindeer herding. 
Bone Weathering in a Periglacial Environment: The Tayara Site (KbFk-7), Qikirtaq Island, Nunavik (Canada)
Authors: Todisco Dominique , Monchot Hervé
Published: February 2014

Bone weathering analysis of the Palaeoeskimo Tayara site (Qikirtaq Island, Nunavik, Canada) documents site taphonomy in the Arctic periglacial environment. Like a majority of sites in the eastern Canadian Arctic, Tayara has a faunal assemblage dominated by marine mammals (seal, walrus, and beluga whale) and some terrestrial mammals (caribou, fox, and bear). Statistical and spatial analyses of five weathering stages reveal that large mammal bone preservation is generally good and does not seem to be influenced by taxonomic and skeletal differences. The good preservation of the faunal assemblage seems to have been favored by the burial of bones and their incorporation into the active layer, which suggests only limited mechanical deterioration (i.e., freeze-thaw or wet-dry cycles, or both) before or at the time of burial. Burial depth partly explains the degree of bone weathering. Indeed, the well-preserved bones are found mainly where burial is associated with thicker overlying sediments. This implies rapid bone burial with a low degree of exposure to temperature changes and atmospheric processes. However, analysis also shows the presence of highly weathered bones where burial is associated with thicker overlying sediments. Consequently, differential bone depth probably does not explain all bone-weathering variability within the site. These results show the importance of examining bone weathering before any archaeozoological and paleoethnographic interpretations.
Variance and covariance heterogeneity analysis for detection of metabolites associated with cadmium exposure
Authors: Salamanca Beatriz Valcarcel , Ebbels Timothy M.D. , Iorio Maria De
Published: February 2014

In this study, we propose a novel statistical framework for detecting progressive changes in molecular traits as response to a pathogenic stimulus. In particular, we propose to employ Bayesian hierarchical models to analyse changes in mean level, variance and correlation of metabolic traits in relation to covariates. To illustrate our approach we investigate changes in urinary metabolic traits in response to cadmium exposure, a toxic environmental pollutant. With the application of the proposed approach, previously unreported variations in the metabolism of urinary metabolites in relation to urinary cadmium were identified. Our analysis highlights the potential effect of urinary cadmium on the variance and correlation of a number of metabolites involved in the metabolism of choline as well as changes in urinary alanine. The results illustrate the potential of the proposed approach to investigate the gradual effect of pathogenic stimulus in molecular traits.
The pseudo-inversion symmetry of 9,90′ (1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyldi(1,1′-biphenyl)-2′,4- diyl)bis[9H-carbazole] in the light of OD theory
Authors: Stöger Berthold , Zobetz Erich , Kautny Paul , Lumpi Daniel , Fröhlich Johannes
Published: February 2014

The crystal structure of 9,9′-(1,3,4-oxadiazole- 2,5-diyldi(1,1′-biphenyl)-2′,4-diyl)bis[9H-carbazole] [Pna21, Z = 4, a = 17.9874 (4) Å, b = 9.2989 (8) Å, c = 21.5822 (9) Å, Robs = 0.0395, 9239 F data, 496 parameters] features a pseudo-centre of inversion strictly valid only for isolated layers of the structure. It is an order-disorder (OD) structure made up of one kind of non-polar layers composed of (I) molecules connected to polar layer pairs. The major polytype is of a maximum degree of order. The magnitude of the intrinsic translation vectors of the glides and screws relating adjacent layers is a convenient quantification of the deviation from perfect centrosymmetry.
Wavelength Dependence of Water Microdroplet Shattering with Dual IR Lasers and Dye Sensitization
Authors: Sugiyama Akinori , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: February 2014

We have used time-resolved imaging to examine the effect of incident
radiation wavelength in the range 2.75–3.75 μm on
the shattering of water microdroplets by single and dual lasers. Dye
sensitization of microdroplets was induced by using the water-soluble
dye sulforhodamine G; this enabled us to observe both the forward and
backward components of fragmented droplets and splashes. Compared with
employing a single IR laser, simultaneous illumination by two IR
lasers can effectively compress the spatial distribution of small
fragments around the absorption maximum for the OH-stretching
vibration of liquid water
(λ = 2.75–3.25 μm). Scattering and
compression of the fragmented microdroplets after single and dual IR
laser irradiation can be explained by conservation of momentum.
The heart as an endocrine organ
Authors: Ogawa Tsuneo , de Bold Adolfo J
Published: February 2014

The concept of the heart as an endocrine organ arises from the observation that the atrial cardiomyocytes in the mammalian heart display a phenotype that is partly that of endocrine cells. Investigations carried out between 1971 and 1983 characterised, by virtue of its natriuretic properties, a polypeptide referred to atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). Another polypeptide isolated from brain in 1988, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), was subsequently characterised as a second hormone produced by the mammalian heart atria. These peptides were associated with the maintenance of extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure. Later work demonstrated a plethora of other properties for ANF and BNP, now designated cardiac natriuretic peptides (cNPs). In addition to the cNPs, other polypeptide hormones are expressed in the heart that likely act upon the myocardium in a paracrine or autocrine fashion. These include the C-type natriuretic peptide, adrenomedullin, proadrenomedullin N-terminal peptide and endothelin-1. Expression and secretion of ANF and BNP are increased in various cardiovascular pathologies and their levels in blood are used in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. In addition, therapeutic uses for these peptides or related substances have been found. In all, the discovery of the endocrine heart provided a shift from the classical functional paradigm of the heart that regarded this organ solely as a blood pump to one that regards this organ as self-regulating its workload humorally and that also influences the function of several other organs that control cardiovascular function.
Robust Forward Simulations of Recurrent Hitchhiking
Authors: Uricchio Lawrence H , Hernandez Ryan D
Published: February 2014

Evolutionary forces shape patterns of genetic diversity within populations and contribute to phenotypic variation. In particular, recurrent positive selection has attracted significant interest in both theoretical and empirical studies. However, most existing theoretical models of recurrent positive selection cannot easily incorporate realistic confounding effects such as interference between selected sites, arbitrary selection schemes, and complicated demographic processes. It is possible to quantify the effects of arbitrarily complex evolutionary models by performing forward population genetic simulations, but forward simulations can be computationally prohibitive for large population sizes (>105). A common approach for overcoming these computational limitations is rescaling of the most computationally expensive parameters, especially population size. Here, we show that ad hoc approaches to parameter rescaling under the recurrent hitchhiking model do not always provide sufficiently accurate dynamics, potentially skewing patterns of diversity in simulated DNA sequences. We derive an extension of the recurrent hitchhiking model that is appropriate for strong selection in small population sizes and use it to develop a method for parameter rescaling that provides the best possible computational performance for a given error tolerance. We perform a detailed theoretical analysis of the robustness of rescaling across the parameter space. Finally, we apply our rescaling algorithms to parameters that were previously inferred for Drosophila and discuss practical considerations such as interference between selected sites.
Residual Stress Assessment and its Effect on SCC of Pipelines Steel in Acidic Soil Environment
Authors: Contreras A. , Quej-Ake L.M. , Galvan-Martinez R. , Vega O.
Published: February 2014

Effect of residual stresses of multiple welding repairs on API 5L X52 pipeline steel on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in a simulated acidic soil solution was studied. Four conditions of repairs of the girth weld were evaluated. The residual stresses were measured through X-ray diffraction (XRD) on the internal side of the pipe in longitudinal and circumferential direction. The circumferential and longitudinal residual stresses values are compressive on the inner surface of the welding joints. The highest residual stresses were measured in the hoop direction reaching values of about 98% of the yielding strength (360 MPa). It was observed that its magnitude increases as move away from weld center line. The effect of residuals stresses in the SCC susceptibility of X52 pipeline steel was evaluated through slow strain rate tests (SSRT) in a simulated acidic soil solution. Relation between mechanical properties obtained from SSRT and residual stresses on the SCC susceptibility was analyzed. Results of SCC index taking account the ratios obtained from the mechanical properties of the welding joints evaluate, showed good SCC resistance in acidic soil solution at low pH. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showed that the region with high residual stresses prior to generate cracks in the steel due to the combination of soil solution and the strain exerted, should favor pitting formation and not cracking.
Effect of the Heat Input in the Mechanical and Metallurgical Properties of Welds on AHSS Transformed Induced Plasticity Steel Joined with GMAW Processes in the Automotive Industry
Authors: Lopez Victor , Reyes Arturo , Zambrano Patricia
Published: February 2014

The effect of the heat input on the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the welds has been investigated in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of welds joined with gas metal arc welding (GMAW), using normal production welding parameters. The thermal effect in the HAZ of the welds is important for the optimization of the welding parameters used when weld transformed induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, because this will have a great influence in the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the weld. In this work 3 samples was welded a high, average and low heat input, with the variation of welding parameters to obtain different thermal affectation to investigate the variations in different parts of weld joint: weld, HAZ and base metal, due the heat applied for the welding process used. Mechanical properties were evaluated by tension test, microhardness and fatigue testing and metallurgical evaluation with optical metallograpy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fractograpy and X-Ray diffraction (XRD).The results obtained shows that the mechanical properties of the tension test decrease when the heat input increase and the microhardness exhibit a softening zone in the HAZ with lower hardness and the fatigue life were similar for all heat inputs for the high stress levels, but only in low stress there is a difference. For metallurgical properties the metallographic evaluation shows ferrite, bainite - martensite and retained austenite, and the fractography analysis exhibit a ductile fracture in all cases and the content in volume fraction of retained austenite increases in the HAZ of welds when increasing heat input in to the base metal due the thermal effect.
Microstructural Characterization of Dissimilar Joint: SAE1008-2340 Welded by GMAW Process
Authors: Rodríguez López L. L. , Perez-Medina G.Y. , Carrasco González L.A. , Praga Alejo R.J. , Reyes-Valdés F.A.
Published: February 2014

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of a sub-frame automotive industry was studied, applying a design of experiment (DOE) in Minitab and Matlab software. Voltages, welding speed and wire feed speed was defined as input variables; legs and throats of welding were output variables in millimeters dimension. The requirement for GMAW process was to achieve complete penetration, minimum values acceptable of legs and throat indicated in AWS D8.8M:2007 “Specification for automotive weld quality-arc welding” without any discontinuity, like undercutting or porosity. The required of quality were difficult to achieve due to the materials have microstructural and mechanical properties different, the SAE 1008 has 279MPa for ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and the microstructure consist of ferrite matrix with some small areas of cementite, while SAE 2340 has 456MPa of UTS with a combination of perlite and ferrite. It was possible obtain good quality welds with proper geometry and defect free with help to design of experiment. The conditions needed were a combination of parameters to not obtained significant change microestructural characterized by optical microscopy, stereoscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Reconstruction of Space Distribution of Characteristics in Compound Structures by General Ray Method
Authors: Grebennikov Alexandre
Published: February 2014

Recognition of material structures, particularly, identification of electrical properties of materials by Electrical Tomography is very important in different applied problems. In a plane case Electrical Tomography can be mathematically described as a coefficient inverse problem for the Laplace type equation, written in the divergent form. The General Ray (GR) Principle, proposed by the author, reduces the Laplace type equation to the family of ordinary differential equations with respect the traces of the potential function and the permittivity function on the lines, which intersect the plane domain. General Ray Principle was realized as General Ray method and fast algorithm for the plane domains. In presented investigation we apply the plane scheme of GR-method for some space domains to identify distribution of structure characteristics inside it. For this we consider the space domain as assemblage of plane slices. Reconstructing desired distribution in each plane slice we obtain then the space internal distribution of electrical characteristics by 3D spline approximation. We consider here specific variant of the measurement scheme for the 3D Electrical Tomography (ET), based on the variant, proposed by the author for the plane domain. Proposed approach gives, in principle, the possibility to use a large number of electrodes, obtain more values of the input data and reconstruct the desired space structure more perfectly. Computer simulation of this 3D scheme is realized as MATLAB software and justified by numerical experiments on simulated examples.
Histopatologia do gânglio estrelado na tuberculose pulmonar
Authors: Fernandez José
Published: February 2014

Foram estudados os gânglios estrelados de 8 pacientes que faleceram no curso de tuberculose pulmonar grave, com a finalidade de observar o grau e o tipo de reação ganglionar. Verificou-se que as alterações eram essencialmente do tipo proliferativo e representadas principalmente por hiper- plasia e hipertrofia dos dendritos, sendo descritos fenômenos em bolas argênticas. Não só os neurônios se encontravam lesados, como também as fibras ganglionares se apresentavam alteradas, mostrando maior avidez pelos sais de prata, tortuosidades e nodosidades, terminando, às vêzes, por botões patológicos. Estas fibras que terminam, freqüentemente, em neurônios patológicos, formam, com os dendritos destes, conexões grosseiras e fortemente impregnadas. As alterações se observam isoladamente ou em grupos, nos neurônios de tamanho e tipo morfológico semelhantes (grupos isodinâmicos), sendo este dado de importância por indicar reações neuronals em células que se reúnem, possivelmente, para realizar idênticas funções. O mesênquima se apresenta lesado, principalmente por alterações de tipo inflamatório: vasos com paredes espessadas, dilatados e com estase sanguínea, células endoteliais tumefatas e, às vêzes, com granulações no citoplasma.
Epidermóide intra-raqueano
Authors: Lefèvre Antonio B. , Tenuto Rolando A. , Vasconcelos Amelia T. M.
Published: February 2014

Caso de tumor epidermóides intra-raqueano, extra-medular ao nível de T12, diagnosticado e tratado cirùrgicamente, em um menino de 9 anos. Os autores chamam a atenção para a dificuldade diagnostica deste caso, cujo quadro clínico lembrava o de uma radiculopatia compressiva por hérnia de disco intervertebral. A evolução foi favorável, com recuperação total, sem seqüelas. Lembram os autores a necessidade de ser precizada a designação dêsses tumores, que são muitas vêzes confundidos com os cistos dermóides e outros tumores congênitos.
Distribuição do contraste em angiografias cerebrais: I - Angiografias carotídeas com enchimento do tronco basilar
Authors: Zaclis José , Longo Pedro Henrique , França L. C. Mattosinho
Published: February 2014

A propósito da passagem de contraste, nas angiografias por via carotídea, para vasos não pertencentes ao território de distribuição da artéria na qual o contraste foi injetado, foi feita uma revisão de 700 angiografias. O segmento pós-comunicante da artéria cerebral posterior ipsilateral foi encontrado em 42,5% dos casos; o segmento pós-comunicante da artéria cerebral anterior contralateral apareceu em 49,4%; maior ou menor extensão do segmento pré-comunicante da artéria cerebral anterior do lado oposto foi encontrada em 9,85%; a artéria cerebral média bem como o segmento pré-comunicante da cerebral anterior do lado oposto foram encontrados em 4,85% dos casos. A freqüência da visibilização de outras artérias não pertencentes ao território do vaso no qual o contraste foi injetado pode ser fàcilmente verificada no quadro 1. O motivo principal desta publicação foi dado por um grupo de 22 angiografias, nas quais o contraste, injetado por via carotídea, penetrou também no sistema vértebro-basilar. O fato verificado nestas 22 angiografias cerebrais tem sido relatado raramente. Da discussão do mecanismo pelo qual o contraste penetra no tronco basilar, chegando mesmo, por vêzes, até às artérias vertebrais, resultou uma hipótese segundo a qual o fenômeno seria condicionado por hipotensão arterial, acentuada, mas passageira, produzida por um reflexo hiperativo do seio carotídeo provocado pela própria injeção do contraste. Se fôr comprovada esta hipótese, a demonstração angiográfica de todo o sistema arterial encefálico com uma só injeção de contraste por via carotídea poderá ser viável, deliberadamente, empregando hipotensão induzida e controlada.
A eletrencefalografia no diagnóstico e prognóstico dos abscessos cerebrais
Authors: Pupo Paulo Pinto , Pimenta Aloysio Mattos , Barini Orestes
Published: February 2014

Os autores, que vêm fazendo exames eletrencefalográficos sistematizadamente em casos de abscessos cerebrais desde 1951, relatam sua experiência, ressaltando os elementos que o EEG proporciona para o diagnóstico e prognóstico desses processos. O material que apresentam é de 22 casos (20 com EEG pré-operatório, 17 dos quais com seguimento eletrencefalográfico pós-operatório, e 2 nos quais só foi feito EEG pós-operatório) com diagnóstico confirmado pela ar-teriografia e pela intervenção cirúrgica. Todos foram submetidos a trata- mento cirúrgico e antibiótico, sendo o seguimento clínico-eletrencefalográfico a partir do 30º dia após a intervenção cirúrgica. No grupo dos pacientes com EEG pré-operatório foram encontradas alterações difusas do traçado em 20 casos (100%) e alterações focais consistentes em ondas delta 0,5 a 3 c/s, potencial de 400 a 500 mV (19 casos), depressão focal do ritmo de base (11 casos), foco epileptógeno (2 casos). As ondas delta bastante lentas e a depressão focal do ritmo de base constituem elemento de valor para o diagnóstico, particularmente quando interpretados em consonância com a clínica. No grupo de pacientes seguidos com exames clínicos e eletrencefalográficos sistemáticos, por um período que variou de 1 a 60 meses, foram encontrados sinais de foco convulsiógeno ativo em 10 dos 17 pacientes observados. Na opinião dos autores êste índice anormalmente elevado está em consonância com a freqüência de epilepsia pós-abscesso cerebral. O tempo que decorreu entre a operação e o aparecimento do foco ativo variou de 1 até 25 meses. Dêsses 10 pacientes com foco ativo e com epilepsia clìnicamente comprovada, sòmente 2 tinham foco anteriormente ao processo de "cura" do abscesso. Os autores discutem êsse problema e pensam ser os processos de cicatrização - processos crônicos -- os responsáveis por tais manifestações clínico-eletrencefalográficas. Ainda neste grupo chamam atenção para o fato de que em sòmente 4 pacientes o EEG continuou a se manter normal durante todo período de observação, sendo que 2 outros tiveram EEG normal por 5 e 15 meses, respectivamente, e, mais tarde apresentaram foco ativo. Ao lado dêstes focos epileptógenos, em 3 pacientes havia também sinais de sofrimento do parênquima nervoso (ondas delta) 1 a 3 meses depois da intervenção cirúrgica (casos com convulsões reiteradas ou ainda com sinais do abscesso em evolução). Em 6 casos havia certa depressão focai pós-operatória no EEG; em 4 havia alterações frustras do ritmo de base, alterações estas de tipo cicatricial e sem correlação clínica correspondente. Concluem os autores que o EEG constitui excelente método auxiliar no diagnóstico de abscessos cerebrais e, principalmente, elemento muito útil no prognóstico dos casos tratados, quer evidenciando desaparecimento dos sinais agudos de comprometimento cerebral, quer fornecendo precocemente sinais da formação de foco convulsiógeno ativo, possibilitando a instituição precoce de terapêutica anticonvulsiva.