bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coating of diamond particles for production of metal matrix composites
Authors: Grech D F , Abela S , Attard M , Sinagra E
Published: April 2013

In an effort to produce more cost effective diamond to metal interfaces, mono- and polycrystalline diamond powders were coated with nickel alloys using electroless chemical deposition techniques. Ni–P and Ni–B coatings were deposited using an acidic and an alkaline solution respectively. These deposition procedures were preceded by a thermal surface functionalisation step and a sensitisation step using a Pd–Sn colloidal solution. Imaging by SEM and chemical analyses show uniform coverage of the coating, independent of diamond's crystalline planes, and having thicknesses consistently <200 nm.
Sol–gel derived nanohydroxyapatite film on friction stir processed Ti–6Al–4V substrate
Authors: Abdi Bastami A , Farnoush H , Sadeghi A , Aghazadeh Mohandesi J
Published: April 2013

In the present study, friction stir processing (FSP) was successfully carried out on Ti–6Al–4V alloy and nanocalcium phosphate (CaP) particles were incorporated during process. Subsequently, nanohydroxyapatite (HAp) film was effectively synthesised on Ti–CaP nanocomposite interlayer by sol–gel method. The Ti–CaP nanocomposite interlayer and nano-HAp film were characterised by XRD, OM, SEM and EDS. The substrate topography was studied by AFM analysis. The CaP particle size in the nanocomposite interlayer was in the range of 40–100 nm and nano-HAp film obtained was 10–12 μm thickness. It was found that the Ca/P atomic ratio is 1·67 in the nano-HAp film which changes to 1·21 in the Ti–CaP nanocomposite interlayer. Finally, the potentiodynamic polarisation of as received and coated samples in simulated body fluid solution was studied.
Tribological behaviour of CrAlN coatings at 600°C
Authors: Yu C Y , Wang S B , Li T B , Zhang Z X
Published: April 2013

Chromium aluminium nitride (CrAlN) coatings were prepared by a modified ion beam enhanced magnetron sputtering system in this study. Friction and wear tests were carried out by a (pin on disc) tribometer with Si3N4 (at 600°C) balls as a counter material without lubricant. The results show that CrAlN coating deposited at −120 V has a higher Al content and is more resistant to high temperatures than that deposited at 0 V. During the wear test at 600°C, the friction coefficient of CrAlN coating deposited at −120 V is higher than that of CrAlN coating deposited at 0 V, but the increased hardness, fracture toughness and improved microstructure in CrAlN coating deposited at −120 V can be attributed to its increased wear resistance and its wear rate is nearly unchanged. The wear resistance of the CrAlN coated H13 steel specimen has been greatly improved compared to the uncoated reference H13 steel specimen.
Hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance of steels coated with PFDS film
Authors: Wang R G , Kaneko J
Published: April 2013

A simple evaporation method was applied to deposit films of hydrophobic organic compounds, either polyethylene (PE) or 1 H,1 H,2 H,2 H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDS), on various steel surfaces. The endurance of these films was evaluated after ultrasonic cleaning, ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation and heat treatment, and the corrosion behaviour of the PFDS coated steels was measured in NaCl solutions. The results show that in order to achieve high hydrophobicity on steel, the most suitable deposition conditions are exposure to saturated PE or PFDS vapours for a time of 1·8 ks at 393 K, in the case of PE, and 423 K, in the case of PFDS. The hydrophobicity of the PFDS coated surfaces was significantly more stable than that of the PE coated surfaces under ultrasonic cavitation, UV light irradiation and heating to 373 K. The deposition of a PFDS film on the surfaces of SUS304, SUS316 and SS400 steels improved their corrosion resistance in NaCl solution.
Alternating current field assisted pack boriding to Fe2B coating
Authors: Xie F , Sun L , Cheng J
Published: April 2013

An alternating current field (ACF) was employed in pack boriding at 800°C to produce a thick Fe2B coating on an AISI 1045 steel. The effect of ACF on the growth of the boride coating was studied, and the coating's structure and phases were characterised. The results showed that an ACF could greatly enhance pack boriding and lead to the formation of a single Fe2B phase coating, which is much thicker than a coating by corresponding conventional pack boriding (CPB). The ACF's enhancing effect increased almost proportionally with increasing ACF currents from 1 to 9 A. The growth rate of the coating versus boriding time showed the same parabolic character as CPB. The mechanism of the ACF's effect on the formation of the single phase Fe2B coating was associated with enhanced chemical reactions in the boriding media and enhanced diffusion both in the media and in the treated sample.
Electroplating of Ni–ZrO2 nanocomposite coatings on 40CrNiMo7 alloy
Authors: Huang J M , Li Y , Zhang G F , Hou X D , Deng D W
Published: April 2013

Ni–ZrO2 nanocomposite coatings were obtained by electroplating using Watts nickel baths with different concentrations of ZrO2 particles in suspension. The substrate was horizontally immersed in the bath to enhance the ZrO2 content in the Ni matrix. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the presence of ZrO2 leaded to the intensity of crystal face (311) sharply increasing, and, simultaneously, the crystal orientation of (220) was greatly decreased. Observation using scanning electron microscopy indicated that the incorporation of ZrO2 nanoparticles also caused changes in the morphology and size of Ni grains. Although agglomeration of ZrO2 nanoparticles occurs in the deposits, the nanocomposites exhibited a great improvement in wear resistance compared to those of unreinforced Ni coating.
Composite coating with ceramic matrix including nickel nanowires
Authors: Posmyk A
Published: April 2013

The paper presents the influence of the nickelising parameters on the structure and tribological properties of composite coatings AHC+Ni, including nickel nanowires, which have been obtained by nickelising of anodic hard coatings on aluminium alloys. The influence of nickelising parameters on the utility properties of the coatings is presented in the diagrams. The absorbability and roughness Ra of coatings have been chosen as the utility properties important from tribological point of view. Coatings with high absorbability and low roughness feature good tribological properties, for example, during cold start of piston machines. Nickel precipitates and nanowires enable sliding of cast iron against aluminium oxide. On the basis of the elaborated diagrams, the potential user can select nickelising parameters to produce coatings featuring the required properties.
Effect of solvent volume on properties of SnO2:Al films
Authors: Thirumurugan K , Ravichandran K , Mohan R , Snega S , Jothiramalingam S , Chandramohan R
Published: April 2013

Aluminium doped tin oxide films (ATO) were deposited from starting solutions having different solvent volumes (10, 20, …, 50 mL), using a simplified spray pyrolysis technique and the effect of solvent volume on the structural, optical and electrical properties was investigated. Structural studies revealed that Al3+ incorporation into the Sn4+ sites of the SnO2 lattice is gradually increased with increasing solvent volume. The variation in the preferential orientation factor f (110) as a function of solvent volume is discussed in detail. From electrical studies, it is found that the sheet resistance Rsh is minimum (3·98 kΩ sq−1) when the solvent volume is minimum, and Rsh increases as the volume of the solvent increases. The gradual decline in the intensity of the peak at 411 nm of the photoluminescence spectra indicated the decrease in the density of oxygen vacancies. The optical transmittance in the visible region is higher (85%) for higher solvent volume.
Effect of laser scanning speed on TiN/TiB–Ti based composite
Authors: Li M , Huang J , Zhu Y Y , Li Z G , Wu Y X
Published: April 2013

In situ synthesised TiN and TiB particulate reinforced metal matrix composite coating was formed on Ti–3Al–2V alloy by laser cladding with a Ti/h-BN powder mixture. The phase structure, microstructure, microhardness and wear performance of the clad layer were analysed by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness tester and wear testing machine. In situ TiN and TiB were synthesised in the forms of equiaxed crystal and needle platelet/whisker type microstructures in the clad layers. The scanning speed plays an important role on the microstructure of the TiN and TiB. The microhardness of laser clad layer was 850–1250 HV0·5, which was about five times of the substrate. The wear height loss of the substrate is almost two times of the clad layers.
Optical enhancement and selenisation models of CuInSe2 films by substrate choosing processes
Authors: Ji X , Wang L J , Teng J Y , Mi Y M , Zhang C M
Published: April 2013

In this research, substrate materials have been used for the production of the absorbed layer of salor cell–CuInSe2 films. The microstructures of CuInSe2 films have been studied through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Surface character and optical properties of CuInSe2 films have been investigated on the substrate materials [Si, Al, SnO2 doped F (SFO), Cu and steel]. The results show that CIS phase was changed from amorphous structure to single phase structure with the substrate changed from Si to Al, steel and Cu. It also found that only two-phase structures existed in the CIS films on SFO. Meanwhile, substrate processes were found to be a vital parameter in determining the selenisation mechanism and grain size of the CIS films. An inverse relation between the substrate materials and the optical properties of the CIS films was observed.
Fabrication of nanocrystalline nickel coatings by brush plating
Authors: Shang T , Zhang H Z , Jiang H , Dai L , Zhang G L , Liu X L
Published: April 2013

Nanocrystalline nickel coatings were fabricated on smooth steel substrates using electric brush plating technology. The coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as cationic surfactant is used to improve the surface morphologies of coatings. With the content of CTAB increasing in electrolyte, the size of microscale nodules consisting of nanoscale grains were reduced, (111) texture was formed, and the surface having totally single nanosized grains structure was prepared on the surface of brush plating coatings. The formation mechanisms of nickel coatings deposited were also analysed based on the process of deoxidisation, adsorbing and withdrawing.
The transcriptome of Leishmania majorin the axenic promastigote stage: transcript annotation and relative expression levels by RNA-seq
Authors: Rastrojo Alberto , Carrasco-Ramiro Fernando , Martín Diana , Crespillo Antonio , Reguera Rosa M , Aguado Begoña , Requena Jose M
Published: April 2013

Background

Although the genome sequence of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major was determined several years ago, the knowledge of its transcriptome was incomplete, both regarding the real number of genes and their primary structure.

Results

Here, we describe the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis of a parasite from the genus Leishmania. Using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), a total of 10285 transcripts were identified, of which 1884 were considered novel, as they did not match previously annotated genes. In addition, our data indicate that current annotations should be modified for many of the genes. The detailed analysis of the transcript processing sites revealed extensive heterogeneity in the spliced leader (SL) and polyadenylation addition sites. As a result, around 50% of the genes presented multiple transcripts differing in the length of the UTRs, sometimes in the order of hundreds of nucleotides. This transcript heterogeneity could provide an additional source for regulation as the different sizes of UTRs could modify RNA stability and/or influence the efficiency of RNA translation. In addition, for the first time for the Leishmania major promastigote stage, we are providing relative expression transcript levels.

Conclusions

This study provides a concise view of the global transcriptome of the L. major promastigote stage, providing the basis for future comparative analysis with other development stages or other Leishmania species.
Identification of microRNA-mRNA functional interactions in UVB-induced senescence of human diploid fibroblasts
Authors: Greussing Ruth , Hackl Matthias , Charoentong Pornpimol , Pauck Alexander , Monteforte Rossella , Cavinato Maria , Hofer Edith , Scheideler Marcel , Neuhaus Michael , Micutkova Lucia , Mueck Christoph , Trajanoski Zlatko , Grillari Johannes , Jansen-Dürr Pidder
Published: April 2013

Background

Cellular senescence can be induced by a variety of extrinsic stimuli, and sustained exposure to sunlight is a key factor in photoaging of the skin. Accordingly, irradiation of skin fibroblasts by UVB light triggers cellular senescence, which is thought to contribute to extrinsic skin aging, although molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, we addressed molecular mechanisms underlying UVB induced senescence of human diploid fibroblasts.

Results

We observed a parallel activation of the p53/p21WAF1and p16INK4a/pRb pathways. Using genome-wide transcriptome analysis, we identified a transcriptional signature of UVB-induced senescence that was conserved in three independent strains of human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) from skin. In parallel, a comprehensive screen for microRNAs regulated during UVB-induced senescence was performed which identified five microRNAs that are significantly regulated during the process. Bioinformatic analysis of miRNA-mRNA networks was performed to identify new functional mRNA targets with high confidence for miR-15a, miR-20a, miR-20b, miR-93, and miR-101. Already known targets of these miRNAs were identified in each case, validating the approach. Several new targets were identified for all of these miRNAs, with the potential to provide new insight in the process of UVB-induced senescence at a genome-wide level. Subsequent analysis was focused on miR-101 and its putative target gene Ezh2. We confirmed that Ezh2 is regulated by miR-101 in human fibroblasts, and found that both overexpression of miR-101 and downregulation of Ezh2 independently induce senescence in the absence of UVB irradiation. However, the downregulation of miR-101 was not sufficient to block the phenotype of UVB-induced senescence, suggesting that other UVB-induced processes induce the senescence response in a pathway redundant with upregulation of miR-101.

Conclusion

We performed a comprehensive screen for UVB-regulated microRNAs in human diploid fibroblasts, and identified a network of miRNA-mRNA interactions mediating UVB-induced senescence. In addition, miR-101 and Ezh2 were identified as key players in UVB-induced senescence of HDF.
Consumers’ intention to use health recommendation systems to receive personalized nutrition advice
Authors: Wendel Sonja , Dellaert Benedict GC , Ronteltap Amber , van Trijp Hans CM
Published: April 2013

Background

Sophisticated recommendation systems are used more and more in the health sector to assist consumers in healthy decision making. In this study we investigate consumers' evaluation of hypothetical health recommendation systems that provide personalized nutrition advice. We examine consumers' intention to use such a health recommendation system as a function of options related to the underlying system (e.g. the type of company that generates the advice) as well as intermediaries (e.g. general practitioner) that might assist in using the system. We further explore if the effect of both the system and intermediaries on intention to use a health recommendation system are mediated by consumers' perceived effort, privacy risk, usefulness and enjoyment.

Methods

204 respondents from a consumer panel in the Netherlands participated. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire. Each respondent evaluated three hypothetical health recommendation systems on validated multi-scale measures of effort, privacy risk, usefulness, enjoyment and intention to use the system. To test the hypothesized relationships we used regression analyses.

Results

We find evidence that the options related to the underlying system as well as the intermediaries involved influence consumers' intention to use such a health recommendation system and that these effects are mediated by perceptions of effort, privacy risk, usefulness and enjoyment. Also, we find that consumers value usefulness of a system more and enjoyment less when a general practitioner advices them to use a health recommendation system than if they use it out of their own curiosity.

Conclusions

We developed and tested a model of consumers' intention to use a health recommendation system. We found that intermediaries play an important role in how consumers evaluate such a system over and above options of the underlying system that is used to generate the recommendation. Also, health-related information services seem to rely on endorsement by the medical sector. This has considerable implications for the distribution as well as the communication channels of health recommendation systems which may be quite difficult to put into practice outside traditional health service channels.
1H-NMR based metabonomic profiling of human esophageal cancer tissue
Authors: Wang Liang , Chen Jie , Chen Longqi , Deng Pengchi , bu Qian , Xiang Pu , Li Manli , Lu Wenjie , Xu Youzhi , Lin Hongjun , Wu Tianming , Wang Huijuan , Hu Jing , Shao Xiaoni , Cen Xiaobo , Zhao Ying-Lan
Published: April 2013

Background

The biomarker identification of human esophageal cancer is critical for its early diagnosis and therapeutic approaches that will significantly improve patient survival. Specially, those that involves in progression of disease would be helpful to mechanism research.

Methods

In the present study, we investigated the distinguishing metabolites in human esophageal cancer tissues (n = 89) and normal esophageal mucosae (n = 26) using a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) based assay, which is a highly sensitive and non-destructive method for biomarker identification in biological systems. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant anlaysis (OPLS-DA) were applied to analyse 1H-NMR profiling data to identify potential biomarkers.

Results

The constructed OPLS-DA model achieved an excellent separation of the esophageal cancer tissues and normal mucosae. Excellent separation was obtained between the different stages of esophageal cancer tissues (stage II = 28; stage III = 45 and stage IV = 16) and normal mucosae. A total of 45 metabolites were identified, and 12 of them were closely correlated with the stage of esophageal cancer. The downregulation of glucose, AMP and NAD, upregulation of formate indicated the large energy requirement due to accelerated cell proliferation in esophageal cancer. The increases in acetate, short-chain fatty acid and GABA in esophageal cancer tissue revealed the activation of fatty acids metabolism, which could satisfy the need for cellular membrane formation. Other modified metabolites were involved in choline metabolic pathway, including creatinine, creatine, DMG, DMA and TMA. These 12 metabolites, which are involved in energy, fatty acids and choline metabolism, may be associated with the progression of human esophageal cancer.

Conclusion

Our findings firstly identify the distinguishing metabolites in different stages of esophageal cancer tissues, indicating the attribution of metabolites disturbance to the progression of esophageal cancer. The potential biomarkers provide a promising molecular diagnostic approach for clinical diagnosis of human esophageal cancer and a new direction for the mechanism study.
Engineering of papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) nanoparticles with a CTL epitope derived from influenza NP
Authors: Babin Cindy , Majeau Nathalie , Leclerc Denis
Published: April 2013

Background

The ever-present threat of infectious disease, e.g. influenza pandemics, and the increasing need for new and effective treatments in immunotherapy are the driving forces that motivate research into new and innovative vaccine platforms. Ideally, such platforms should trigger an efficient CTL response, be safe, and easy to manufacture. We recently developed a novel nanoparticle adjuvant comprised of papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) coat protein (CP) assembled around an RNA. The PapMV nanoparticle is an efficient vaccine platform in which the peptide antigen is fused to the C-terminus of the PapMV CP, leading to nanoparticles presenting surface-exposed epitope. The fusion stabilizes the epitope and improves its immunogenicity. We found recently that C-terminal fusions are not always efficient, depending on the nature of the peptide fused to the platform.

Results

We chose a CTL epitope derived from the nucleocapsid (NP) of influenza virus (NP147-155) for this proof-of-concept demonstration. Recombinant nanoparticles harbouring a fusion at the N-terminus were more efficient in triggering a CTL response. Efficacy appeared to be linked to the stability of the nanoparticles at 37°C. We also showed that discs—smaller than nanoparticles—made of 20 subunits of PapMV CP are less efficient for induction of a CTL response in mice, revealing that assembly of the recombinant PapMV CP into nanoparticles is crucial to triggering an efficient CTL response.

Conclusion

The point of fusion on the PapMV vaccine platform is critical to triggering an efficient CTL response. Efficacy is linked to nanoparticle stability; nanoparticles must be stable at 37°C but remain susceptible to cellular proteases to ensure efficient processing of the CTL epitope by cells of the immune system. The results of this study improve our understanding of the PapMV vaccine platform, which will facilitate the design of efficient vaccines to various infectious threats.
High EGFR copy number predicts benefits from tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment for non-small cell lung cancer patients with wild-type EGFR
Authors: Wang Fang , Fu Sha , Shao Qiong , Zhou Yan-Bin , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Xu , Xue Cong , Lin Jian-Guang , Huang Li-Xia , Zhang Li , Zhang Wei-Min , Shao Jian-Yong
Published: April 2013

Background

This study was designed to determine whether advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with high copy number of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can benefit from treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Methods

EGFR gene copy number was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and EGFR mutations was tested using Luminex xTAG technology in 502 TKI-treated NSCLC patients. The association between both biomarkers and clinical benefit from EGFR-TKI were analyzed.

Results

EGFR FISH + and EGFR mutations were significantly associated with higher response rates (37.2% and 43.7%, respectively), superior progression-free survival (PFS) (FISH+, 11.2 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.51; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.62; p < 0.001; mutation+, 11.7 months; HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.45; p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (FISH+, 30.2 months; HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.65; p < 0.001; mutation+, 30.2 months; HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.58; p < 0.001). In patients with wild-type EGFR, EGFR FISH + correlated with longer PFS than EGFR FISH- status (4.4 months vs. 2.0 months; HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.75; p < 0.001), so did amplification (5.0 months vs. 2.0 months; HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.76; p = 0.003). However, FISH + had no association with improved PFS in EGFR-mutated patients (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.03; p = 0.076).

Conclusions

A combined analysis of EGFR FISH and mutation is an effective predictor of EGFR-TKI therapy. Specifically, a high EGFR copy number may predict benefit from TKIs treatment for NSCLC patients with wild-type EGFR.
A concurrent access MAC protocol for cognitive radio ad hoc networks without common control channel
Authors: Timalsina Sunil K , Moh Sangman , Chung Ilyong , Kang Moonsoo
Published: April 2013

Cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs) consist of autonomous nodes that operate in ad hoc mode and aim at efficient utilization of spectrum resources. Usually, the cognitive nodes in a CRAHN exploit a number of available channels, but these channels are not necessarily common to all nodes. Such a network environment poses the problem of establishing a common control channel (CCC) as there might be no channel common to all the network members at all. In designing protocols, therefore, it is highly desirable to consider the network environment with no CCC. In this article, we propose a MAC protocol called concurrent access MAC (CA-MAC) that operates in the network environment with no CCC. The two devices in a communication pair can communicate with each other even if they have only one common channel available. Therefore, the problems with CCC (such as channel saturation and denial of service attacks) can also be resolved. In CA-MAC, channel accesses are distributed over communication pairs, resulting in increased network connectivity. In addition, CA-MAC allows different communication pairs to access multiple channels concurrently. According to our performance study, CA-MAC provides higher network connectivity with shorter channel access delay compared to SYN-MAC, which is the conventional key MAC protocol for the network environment with no CCC, resulting in better network throughput.
Anti-ribosomal P protein IgG autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnostic performance and clinical profile
Authors: Carmona-Fernandes Diana , Santos Maria José , Canhão Helena , Fonseca João Eurico
Published: April 2013

Background

This study was devised to assess the performance of anti-ribosomal P (anti-Rib-P) antibodies in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the association of these antibodies with the clinical features of SLE.

Methods

We used a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay to determine anti-Rib-P levels in an SLE group, a rheumatic disease control (RDC) group (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis), and a healthy control (HC) group. We also determined anti-Smith antigen (anti-Sm) and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and the best cut-off points for positivity were determined. Using regression analysis, the relationship between clinical variables and autoantibody levels was analyzed.

Results

In total, 127 patients with SLE, 256 controls with other rheumatic diseases, and 100 HCs were studied. Anti-Rib-P autoantibodies were positive in 18 (14.2%) of the patients with SLE (mean concentration of 30.6 ± 46.9 U/ml) and in 2 patients with RA (0.8% of the RDC group). In addition, 12 patients with SLE (9.4%) were positive for anti-Sm (31.1 ± 40.8 U/ml) and 63 (49.6%) were positive for anti-dsDNA autoantibodies (88.4 ± 88.5 U/ml). When we assessed the 18 patients with SLE who had tested positive for anti-Rib-P, we found that 4 of these were positive for anti-Rib-P only, whereas 12 were positive for anti-Rib-P plus anti-dsDNA, and 2 were positive for all three antibodies. There were no samples positive for anti-Rib-P plus anti-Sm. The specificity, sensitivity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of anti-Rib-P for SLE diagnosis were 99.4%, 14.2%, 23.7%, and 0.86%, respectively.

Caucasian ethnicity was associated with lower anti-Rib-P antibody levels. No relation was found between anti-Rib-P levels and neuropsychiatric or other clinical features.

Conclusions

Anti-Rib-P autoantibodies have high specificity for SLE, and measurement of these might improve the accuracy of SLE diagnosis. In this study, we found that Caucasian ethnicity was associated with lower anti-Rib-P antibody levels.
Exposure of silver-nanoparticles and silver-ions to lung cells in vitro at the air-liquid interface
Authors: Herzog Fabian , Clift Martin JD , Piccapietra Flavio , Behra Renata , Schmid Otmar , Petri-Fink Alke , Rothen-Rutishauser Barbara
Published: April 2013

Background

Due to its antibacterial properties, silver (Ag) has been used in more consumer products than any other nanomaterial so far. Despite the promising advantages posed by using Ag-nanoparticles (NPs), their interaction with mammalian systems is currently not fully understood. An exposure route via inhalation is of primary concern for humans in an occupational setting. Aim of this study was therefore to investigate the potential adverse effects of aerosolised Ag-NPs using a human epithelial airway barrier model composed of A549, monocyte derived macrophage and dendritic cells cultured in vitro at the air-liquid interface. Cell cultures were exposed to 20 nm citrate-coated Ag-NPs with a deposition of 30 and 278 ng/cm2 respectively and incubated for 4 h and 24 h. To elucidate whether any effects of Ag-NPs are due to ionic effects, Ag-Nitrate (AgNO3) solutions were aerosolised at the same molecular mass concentrations.

Results

Agglomerates of Ag-NPs were detected at 24 h post exposure in vesicular structures inside cells but the cellular integrity was not impaired upon Ag-NP exposures. Minimal cytotoxicity, by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase, could only be detected following a higher concentrated AgNO3-solution. A release of pro-inflammatory markers TNF-α and IL-8 was neither observed upon Ag-NP and AgNO3 exposures as well as was not affected when cells were pre-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Also, an induction of mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-8, could only be observed for the highest AgNO3 concentration alone or even significantly increased when pre-stimulated with LPS after 4 h. However, this effect disappeared after 24 h. Furthermore, oxidative stress markers (HMOX-1, SOD-1) were expressed after 4 h in a concentration dependent manner following AgNO3 exposures only.

Conclusions

With an experimental setup reflecting physiological exposure conditions in the human lung more realistic, the present study indicates that Ag-NPs do not cause adverse effects and cells were only sensitive to high Ag-ion concentrations. Chronic exposure scenarios however, are needed to reveal further insight into the fate of Ag-NPs after deposition and cell interactions.
Skewed X-chromosome inactivation in patients with esophageal carcinoma
Authors: Li Gang , Jin Tianbo , Liang Hongjuan , Tu Yanyang , Zhang Wei , Gong Li , Su Qin , Gao Guodong
Published: April 2013

Skewed X-chromosome inactivation (SXCI) was found in some apparently healthy females mainly from Western countries. It has been linked to development of ovarian, breast and pulmonary carcinomas. The present study aimed to observe the SXCI frequencies in apparently healthy Chinese females and patients with esophageal carcinoma. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood cells from 401 Chinese females without a detectable tumor and 143 female patients with esophageal carcinoma. Exon 1 of androgen receptor (AR) gene was amplified, and the products of different CAG alleles were resolved on denaturing polyacrylamide gels and visualized after silver staining. The corrected ratios (CR) of the products before and after Hpa II digestion were calculated. As to the healthy females, when CR ≥ 3 was used as a criterion, SXCI was found in two (4.3%) of the 46 neonates, 13 (7.8%) of the 166 younger adults (16–50 years) and 37 (25.7%) of the 144 elderly females (51–96 years), with the frequency higher in the elderly subjects than in the two former groups (P < 0.05). When a more stringent criterion (CR ≥ 10) was used, SXCI was found in one (2.2%), two (1.2%) and 16 (11.1%) of the subjects in the three age groups, respectively, itsfrequency being higher in the elderly than in the younger age groups (P < 0.05). Occurrence of SXCI was detected in both the patients and controls at similar frequencies. However, the phenomenon, as defined as CR ≥ 3, was more frequent in the patients aging <40 years (35.7%) compared to the corresponding reference group (7.6%, P = 0.006). When CR ≥ 10 was adopted, the frequencies were 7.1% and 1.2%, respectively. Their difference did not attain statistical significance (P = 0. 217). SXCI also occurs in apparently healthy Chinese females, and is associated with age. It may be considered as a predisposing factor for the early development of esophageal carcinoma.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1542364337927656
Efficacy of iloprost and montelukast combination on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model
Authors: Lafci Gokhan , Gedik Hikmet Selcuk , Korkmaz Kemal , Erdem Havva , Cicek Omer Faruk , Nacar Osman Arikan , Yildirim Levent , Kaya Ertugrul , Ankarali Handan
Published: April 2013

Background

The thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery may cause spinal cord ischemia because of aortic cross-clamping and may result in severe postoperative complications caused by spinal cord injury. Ischemia/reperfusion injury may directly or indirectly be responsible for these complications. In this study we sought to determine whether combination of iloprost and montelukast can reduce the ischemia/reperfusion injury of spinal cord in a rat model.

Methods

Medulla spinalis tissue concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) were determined in 3 groups of Spraque Dawley rats: control group (operation with cross clamping and intraperitoneal administration of 0.9% saline, n = 7), sham group (operation without cross clamping, n = 7), and study group (operation with cross-clamping and intraperitoneal administration of iloprost (25 ng/kg) and montelukast (1 mg/kg), n = 7). The abdominal aorta was clamped for 45 minutes, with a proximal (just below the left renal artery) and a distal (just above the aortic bifurcation) clip in control and study groups. Hindlimb motor functions were evaluated at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours using the Motor Deficit Index score. All rats were sacrificed 48 hours after the procedure and spinal cord tissue levels of myeloperoxidase, interleukin-6, and heat shock protein (HSP-70) were evaluated as markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Histopathological analyses of spinal cord were also performed.

Results

The tissue level of HSP-70 was found to be similar among the 3 groups, however, MPO was highest and IL-6 receptor level was lowest in the control group (p = 0.007 and p = 0.005; respectively). In histopathological examination, there was no significant difference among the groups with respect to the neuronal cell degeneration, edema, or inflammation, but vascular congestion was found to be significantly more prominent in the control group than in the sham or in the study group (p = 0.05). Motor deficit index scores at 24 and 48 hours after ischemia were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group.

Conclusion

This study suggests that combined use of iloprost and montelukast may reduce ischemic damage in transient spinal cord ischemia and may provide better neurological outcome.
Fixed point theorems for mappings with common limit range property satisfying generalized (ψ,φ)-weak contractive conditions
Authors: Imdad Mohammad , Chauhan Sunny , Kadelburg Zoran
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we prove some common fixed point theorems for weakly compatible mappings in metric spaces satisfying generalized (ψ,φ)-contractive conditions under the common limit range property. We present a fixed point theorem for four finite families of self-mappings which can be utilized to derive common fixed point theorems involving any number of finite mappings. Our results improve and extend the corresponding results of Radenović et al. (Bull. Iranian Math. Soc. 38(3):625–645, 2012). We also furnish some illustrative examples to support our main results.
Clinical outcomes of patients requiring ventilatory support in Brazilian intensive care units: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study
Authors: Azevedo Luciano CP , Park Marcelo , Salluh Jorge IF , Rea-Neto Alvaro , Souza-Dantas Vicente C , Varaschin Pedro , Oliveira Mirella C , Tierno Paulo Fernando GMM , dal-Pizzol Felipe , Silva Ulysses VA , Knibel Marcos , Nassar Antonio P , Alves Rossine A , Ferreira Juliana C , Teixeira Cassiano , Rezende Valeria , Martinez Amadeu , Luciano Paula M , Schettino Guilherme , Soares Marcio ,   The ERICC (Epidemiology of Respiratory Insufficiency in Critical Care) investigators
Published: April 2013

Introduction

Contemporary information on mechanical ventilation (MV) use in emerging countries is limited. Moreover, most epidemiological studies on ventilatory support were carried out before significant developments, such as lung protective ventilation or broader application of non-invasive ventilation (NIV). We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for hospital mortality and failure of NIV in patients requiring ventilatory support in Brazilian intensive care units (ICU).

Methods

In a multicenter, prospective, cohort study, a total of 773 adult patients admitted to 45 ICUs over a two-month period requiring invasive ventilation or NIV for more than 24 hours were evaluated. Causes of ventilatory support, prior chronic health status and physiological data were assessed. Multivariate analysis was used to identifiy variables associated with hospital mortality and NIV failure.

Results

Invasive MV and NIV were used as initial ventilatory support in 622 (80%) and 151 (20%) patients. Failure with subsequent intubation occurred in 54% of NIV patients. The main reasons for ventilatory support were pneumonia (27%), neurologic disorders (19%) and non-pulmonary sepsis (12%). ICU and hospital mortality rates were 34% and 42%. Using the Berlin definition, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was diagnosed in 31% of the patients with a hospital mortality of 52%. In the multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 1.03), comorbidities (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.28 to 3.17), associated organ failures (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.20), moderate (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.35) to severe ARDS (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.01 to 4.41), cumulative fluid balance over the first 72 h of ICU (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.39 to 4.28), higher lactate (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.50), invasive MV (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.32 to 5.39) and NIV failure (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.74 to 8.99) were independently associated with hospital mortality. The predictors of NIV failure were the severity of associated organ dysfunctions (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.34), ARDS (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.10 to 4.82) and positive fluid balance (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.02 to 4.30).

Conclusions

Current mortality of ventilated patients in Brazil is elevated. Implementation of judicious fluid therapy and a watchful use and monitoring of NIV patients are potential targets to improve outcomes in this setting.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01268410.
Core–Shell Catalyst CuO–ZnO–Al2O3@Al2O3 for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis from Syngas
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Wenli , Chen Yuexian , Ma Jinghong , Zheng Jiajun , Li Ruifeng
Published: April 2013

Core–shell structure catalyst CuO–ZnO–Al2O3@Al2O3 was prepared using glucose as template. This novel preparation procedure and the specific core–shell structure contributed to excellent performance for dimethyl ether (DME) direct synthesis from syngas. This catalyst showed higher CO conversion and DME selectivity compared with the physically mixed catalyst.
Microscope Measurements of Lateral Diffusion of Fluorescent Rhodamine B at Toluene/Water Interface by Total Internal Reflection–Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching
Authors: Shinomori Naoki , Tsukahara Satoshi
Published: April 2013

Measurements of total internal reflection–fluorescence recovery after photobleaching were carried out for rhodamine B at the toluene/water interface. The experimental apparatus was optimized for measuring the fast diffusion of small molecules such as rhodamine B. The obtained diffusion coefficient was (4.5 ± 0.9) × 10−10 m2 s−1, which almost agreed with the value calculated with the Stokes–Einstein equation.
Facile Syntheses of Conjugated Polyaminoanthracenes by Chemical Oxidation Polymerization for Sensitive Fluorometric Detection of Heavy Metal Ions
Authors: Wang Kun , Tagaya Motohiro , Zheng Shijun , Kobayashi Takaomi
Published: April 2013

Conjugated polymers containing anthracene backbone structures were synthesized through facile chemical oxidative polymerization and showed detection capacity toward several heavy metal ions for sensitive fluorometric detection.
Delirium: Ramelton
Authors: Generali Joyce A. , Cada Dennis J.
Published: April 2013

This Hospital Pharmacy feature is extracted from Off-Label Drug Facts, a publication available from Wolters Kluwer Health. Off-Label Drug Facts is a practitioner-oriented resource for information about specific drug uses that are unapproved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This new guide to the literature enables the health care professional or clinician to quickly identify published studies on off-label uses and determine if a specific use is rational in a patient care scenario. References direct the reader to the full literature for more comprehensive information before patient care decisions are made. Direct questions or comments regarding Off-Label Drug Uses to jgeneral@kumc.edu .
Comparison of Hospitalwide and Custom Antibiograms for Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bosso John A. , Sieg Adam , Mauldin Patrick D.
Published: April 2013

Background

Hospital antibiograms, which are commonly used to determine empiric antibiotic therapy and as a tool in stewardship in a given institution, are open to bias when combining susceptibility results from various sources, hospital locations, and patient groups.

Methods

We assessed such differences, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a test case, with susceptibility data from 2008 through 2010 in our institution. Each year's data were analyzed separately. A variety of specific or subcategorical antibiograms were compared with each other as well as with versions including all tested isolates and those with results from inpatients and outpatients only. Statistical significance was determined at the .01 level using either chi-square or Fisher exact test, and clinical significance was defined as ≥10 percentage points.

Results

A variety of clinically significant differences were found that illustrated important differences within the intensive care unit environment and based on population, specifically adult versus pediatric. Concordance between statistically significant and clinically significant differences was poor.

Conclusion

These results corroborate and extend previous similar observations and point to the potential importance of subanalyses in preparing the annual hospital antibiogram.
Effective synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides
catalyzed by KI/cucurbit[6]uril
Authors: Shi Jinghua , Song Jinliang , Ma Jun , Zhang Zhaofu , Fan Honglei , Han Buxing
Published: April 2013

The development of efficient, inexpensive, and nontoxic catalysts for
cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides to produce five-membered cyclic
carbonates is a very interesting topic. In this work, cycloaddition of
CO2 with propylene oxide (PO) to produce propylene carbonate (PC)
catalyzed by potassium halides (KCl, KBr, and KI) in the presence of
cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) was studied at various conditions. It was discovered
that the potassium halides and CB[6] had excellent synergetic effect in
promoting the reaction, and the KI/CB[6] catalytic system was the most efficient
among them. The decrease of the activity and selectivity of KI/CB[6] was
negligible after the catalytic system was reused five times. Further study
indicated that the KI/CB[6] catalytic system was also very active and selective
for the cycloaddition of CO2 with other epoxides, such as glycidyl
phenyl ether, epichlorohydrin, and styrene oxide. The mechanism for the
synergetic effect of KI and CB[6] was also discussed.
Mechanisms in Endocrinology: Notch signaling in skeletal health and disease
Authors: Zanotti Stefano , Canalis Ernesto
Published: April 2013

Notch receptors are single-pass transmembrane proteins that determine cell fate. Upon Notch ligand interactions, proteolytic cleavages release the Notch intracellular domain, which translocates to the nucleus to regulate the transcription of target genes, including Hairy enhancer of split (Hes) and Hes related to YRPW motif (Hey). Notch is critical for skeletal development and activity of skeletal cells, and dysregulation of Notch signaling is associated with human diseases affecting the skeleton. Inherited or sporadic mutations in components of the Notch signaling pathway are associated with spondylocostal dysostosis, spondylothoracic dysostosis and recessive brachydactyly, diseases characterized by skeletal patterning defects. Inactivating mutations of the Notch ligandJAG1or ofNOTCH2are associated with Alagille syndrome, and activating mutations inNOTCH2are associated with Hajdu–Cheney syndrome (HCS). Individuals affected by HCS exhibit osteolysis in distal phalanges and osteoporosis. NOTCH is activated in selected tumors, such as osteosarcoma, and in breast cancer cells that form osteolytic bone metastases. In conclusion, Notch regulates skeletal development and bone remodeling, and gain- or loss-of-function mutations of Notch signaling result in important skeletal diseases.
Insights from Cognitive and Ritual Studies
Authors: Uro Risto
Published: April 2013

Since the 1990s, scholarly debates and discussions in Gnostic or Nag Hammadi studies have largely revolved around the issues of whether the category of “Gnosticism” is helpful or detrimental in the analysis of ancient texts and how to classify the texts that were traditionally labeled “gnostic” as well as the groups that produced them. The debate about the category of “Gnosticism” in particular has brought up important issues concerning the ideological commitments of the scholars working on the Nag Hammadi texts and helped to analyze the identity formation process that shaped the history of the variety of early Christian groups during the first three centuries, but the debate has also somewhat exhausted itself. There is certainly room for new approaches and research questions. The panel on religious experience organized by the SBL Nag Hammadi and Gnosticism section and the two papers by Michael Kaler and Philip Tite presented in the panel and published in BSOR can be seen as welcome moves towards something new. Both papers share an interest in what might be called religious experience studies and therefore engage themselves in cross-disciplinary theoretical reflection and cross-fertilization between recent trends in religious studies and gnostic studies. This paper provides a critical response to these two papers with a particular emphasis on ritual and cognitive studies.
O ensino do esporte para crianças e jovens: considerações sobre uma fase do processo de desenvolvimento motor esquecida
Authors: Tani Go , Basso Luciano , Corrêa Umberto Cesar
Published: April 2013

O processo ensino-aprendizagem pode ser visto como um sistema constituído pela interação de três componentes - professor, aluno e matéria - que tem por meta promover mudanças efetivas nos comportamentos, capacidades e competências do aluno. Como numa visão sistêmica do processo ensino-aprendizagem, a função de um determinado componente implica sempre o estabelecimento de relação entre os dois componentes que restam, o papel principal do professor é estabelecer relação entre o aluno e a matéria. Neste contexto, a questão central é saber em que se basear para estabelecer essa relação. O presente ensaio parte da assunção de que o conhecimento sobre o desenvolvimento motor constitui um elemento fundamental quando a matéria de ensino é o esporte, discute uma fase desse processo que tem sido sistematicamente esquecida procurando identificar as suas possíveis causas e consequências e apresenta algumas sugestões para trabalhar com essa fase.