bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analytical Solutions of a Space-Time Fractional Derivative of Groundwater Flow Equation
Authors: Atangana Abdon , Vermeulen P. D.
Published: January 2014

The classical Darcy law is generalized by regarding the water flow as a function of a noninteger order derivative of the piezometric head. This generalized law and the law of conservation of mass are then used to derive a new equation for groundwater flow. Two methods including Frobenius and Adomian decomposition method are used to obtain an asymptotic analytical solution to the generalized groundwater flow equation. The solution obtained via Frobenius method is valid in the vicinity of the borehole. This solution is in perfect agreement with the data observed from the pumping test performed by the institute for groundwater study on one of their boreholes settled on the test site of the University of the Free State. The test consisted of the pumping of the borehole at the constant discharge rateQand monitoring the piezometric head for 350 minutes. Numerical solutions obtained via Adomian method are compared with the Barker generalized radial flow model for which a fractal dimension for the flow is assumed. Proposition for uncertainties in groundwater studies was given.
Acetic Acid Bacteria and the Production and Quality of Wine Vinegar
Authors: Mas Albert , Torija María Jesús , García-Parrilla María del Carmen , Troncoso Ana María
Published: January 2014

The production of vinegar depends on an oxidation process that is mainly performed by acetic acid bacteria. Despite the different methods of vinegar production (more or less designated as either “fast” or “traditional”), the use of pure starter cultures remains far from being a reality. Uncontrolled mixed cultures are normally used, but this review proposes the use of controlled mixed cultures. The acetic acid bacteria species determine the quality of vinegar, although the final quality is a combined result of technological process, wood contact, and aging. This discussion centers on wine vinegar and evaluates the effects of these different processes on its chemical and sensory properties.
Prognostic Implication of Preoperative Behavior Changes in Patients with Primary High-Grade Meningiomas
Authors: Vranic Andrej , Gilbert Frederic
Published: January 2014

High-grade meningiomas are rare extra-axial tumors, frequently causing brain invasion and prominent brain edema. Patients harboring high-grade meningiomas occasionally present with behavior changes. Data about frequency and prognostic importance of preoperative behavior changes in patients with high-grade meningiomas is missing. 86 patients with primary high-grade meningiomas were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed to determine correlation of preoperative behavior changes with tumor location, preoperative brain edema, tumor cleavability, tumor grade, Ki67 proliferation index, and microscopic brain invasion. Survival analysis was performed. 30 (34.9%) patients presented with preoperative behavior changes. These changes were more frequent with male patients (P=0.066) and patients older than 55 years (P=0.018). They correlated with frontal location (P=0.013), tumor size (P=0.023), microscopic brain invasion (P=0.015), and brain edema (P=0.006). Preoperative behavior changes did not correlate with duration of symptoms, tumor cleavability, tumor malignancy grade, and Ki67 proliferation index. They were not significantly related to overall survival or recurrence-free survival of patients with primary high-grade meningiomas. Preoperative behavior changes are frequent in patients harboring primary high-grade meningiomas. They correlate with tumor size, microscopic brain invasion, and brain edema. Preoperative behavior changes do not predict prognosis in patients with primary high-grade meningiomas.
IVIVC from Long Acting Olanzapine Microspheres
Authors: D'Souza Susan , Faraj Jabar A. , Giovagnoli Stefano , DeLuca Patrick P.
Published: January 2014

In this study, four PLGA microsphere formulations of Olanzapine were characterized on the basis of theirin vitrobehavior at 37°C, using a dialysis based method, with the goal of obtaining an IVIVC.In vivoprofiles were determined by deconvolution (Nelson-Wagner method) and using fractional AUC. Thein vitroandin vivorelease profiles exhibited the same rank order of drug release. Further,in vivoprofiles obtained with both approaches were nearly superimposable, suggesting that fractional AUC could be used as an alternative to the Nelson-Wagner method. A comparison of drug release profiles for the four formulations revealed that thein vitroprofile lagged slightly behindin vivorelease, but the results were not statistically significant (P<0.0001). Using the four formulations that exhibited different release rates, a Level A IVIVC was established using the deconvolution and fractional AUC approaches. A nearly 1 : 1 correlation (R2>0.96) betweenin vitrorelease andin vivomeasurements confirmed the excellent relationship betweenin vitrodrug release and the amount of drug absorbedin vivo. The results of this study suggest that proper selection of anin vitromethod will greatly aid in establishing a Level A IVIVC for long acting injectables.
Effects of Ion-Releasing Tooth-Coating Material on Demineralization of Bovine Tooth Enamel
Authors: Kawasaki Koji , Kambara Masaki
Published: January 2014

We compared the effect of a novel ion-releasing tooth-coating material that contained S-PRG (surface-reaction type prereacted glass-ionomer) filler to that of non-S-PRG filler and nail varnish on the demineralization of bovine enamel subsurface lesions. The demineralization process of bovine enamel was examined using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) measurement. Ion concentrations in demineralizing solution were measured using inductively coupled plasma atomic (ICP) emission spectrometry and an ion electrode. The nail varnish group and the non-S-PRG filler group showed linear demineralization. Although the nail varnish group and the non-S-PRG filler group showed linear demineralization, the S-PRG filler group did not. Further, plane-scanning by EPMA analysis in the S-PRG filler group showed no changes in Ca ion distribution, and F ions showed peak levels on the surface of enamel specimens. Most ions in the demineralizing solution were present at higher concentrations in the S-PRG filler group than in the other two groups. In conclusion, only the S-PRG filler-containing tooth-coating material released ions and inhibited demineralization around the coating.
Human Skeleton Model Based Dynamic Features for Walking Speed Invariant Gait Recognition
Authors: Kovač Jure , Peer Peter
Published: January 2014

Humans are able to recognize small number of people they know well by the way they walk. This ability represents basic motivation for using human gait as the means for biometric identification. Such biometrics can be captured at public places from a distance without subject′s collaboration, awareness, and even consent. Although current approaches give encouraging results, we are still far from effective use in real‐life applications. In general, methods set various constraints to circumvent the influence of covariate factors like changes of walking speed, view, clothing, footwear, and object carrying, that have negative impact on recognition performance. In this paper we propose a skeleton model based gait recognition system focusing on modelling gait dynamics and eliminating the influence of subjects appearance on recognition. Furthermore, we tackle the problem of walking speed variation and propose space transformation and feature fusion that mitigates its influence on recognition performance. With the evaluation on OU‐ISIR gait dataset, we demonstrate state of the art performance of proposed methods.
Overexpression of a Novel Component Induces HAK5 and Enhances Growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Adams Eri , Diaz Celine , Matsui Minami , Shin Ryoung
Published: January 2014

Plants have developed mechanisms to adapt to the potassium deficient conditions over the years. In Arabidopsis thaliana, expression of a potassium transporter HAK5 is induced in low potassium conditions as an adaptive response to nutrient deficiency. In order to understand the mechanism in which HAK5 is regulated, the full-length cDNA overexpressor gene hunting system was employed as a screening method. Of 40 genes recovered, At4g18280 was found to be dramatically induced in response to potassium-deficiency and salt stress. Plants overexpressing this gene showed higher HAK5 expression and enhanced growth. These plants were also less sensitive to potassium-deficiency in terms of primary root growth. Taken together, these data suggest that this novel component, At4g18280, contributes to regulation of HAK5 and, consequently, tolerance to potassium-deficiency in plants.
Prevalence and Diversity of Avian Haematozoan Parasites in Wetlands of Bangladesh
Authors: Elahi Rubayet , Islam Ausraful , Hossain Mohammad Sharif , Mohiuddin Khaja , Mikolon Andrea , Paul Suman Kumer , Hosseini Parviez Rana , Daszak Peter , Alam Mohammad Shafiul
Published: January 2014

The parasites of generaHaemoproteus, Plasmodium,andLeucocytozoonare well-known avian haematozoa and can cause declined productivity and high mortality in wild birds. The objective of the study was to record the prevalence of haematozoan parasites in a wide range of wetland birds in Bangladesh. Six species ofHaemoproteus, seven species ofPlasmodium, one unidentified species ofLeucocytozoon, and one unidentified microfilaria of the genusParonchocercawere found. Data on the morphology, size, hosts, prevalence, and infection intensity of the parasites are provided. The overall prevalence among the birds was 29.5% (95 out of 322 birds). Of those, 13.2% (42 of 319) of birds were infected withHaemoproteusspp., 15.1% withPlasmodiumspp. (48 of 319) and 0.6% withLeucocytozoonspp. (2 of 319). Two birds were positive for bothHaemoproteussp. andPlasmodiumsp. A single resident bird,Ardeola grayii, was found positive for an unidentified microfilaria. Prevalence of infection varied significantly among different bird families. Wild birds of Bangladesh carry several types of haematozoan parasites. Further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary to estimate more accurately the prevalence of haematozoan parasites among wild birds as well as domestic ducks for better understanding of the disease ecology.
SB-ATR FTIR Spectroscopic Monitoring of Free Fatty Acids in Commercially AvailableNigella sativa(Kalonji) Oil
Authors: Mahesar S. A. , Kandhro Aftab A. , Khaskheli Abdul Rauf , Talpur M. Y. , Sherazi S. T. H.
Published: January 2014

Free fatty acids (FFA) inNigella sativa(N. sativa) commercial and seed oil were determined using single-bounce attenuated total reflectance (SB-ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Gravimetrical mixing was done by adding 0.1–40% oleic acids in neutralizedN. sativaoil containing 0.1% FFA. FTIR spectroscopy technique and partial least square (PLS) calibration were used to detect the absorption region of carbonyl (C=O) which is in the range of 1690–1727 cm−1. The results of PLS calibration model and root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) are 0.999 and 0.449, respectively. Comparing the FFA obtained inN. sativaoil by using FTIR with the FFA obtained using AOCS titrimetric method shows a positive correlation and confirms that the described method is a useful procedure.
Brachyury: A Diagnostic Marker for the Differential Diagnosis of Chordoma and Hemangioblastoma versus Neoplastic Histological Mimickers
Authors: Barresi Valeria , Ieni Antonio , Branca Giovanni , Tuccari Giovanni
Published: January 2014

Brachyury is a transcription factor which is required for posterior mesoderm formation and differentiation as well as for notochord development during embryogenesis. Due to its expression in the neoplastic cells of chordoma, a malignant tumour deriving from notochordal remnants, but not in tumors showing a similar histology, brachyury has been proposed as a diagnostic marker of this neoplasia. Though commonly considered a hallmark of chordoma, the expression of brachyury has been also documented in the stromal cells of hemangioblastoma (HBL), a slow growing tumor which may involve the central nervous system (CNS) and, rarely, the kidney. Herein we review the role of brachyury immunohistochemical detection in the identification and differential diagnosis of chordoma and HBL towards histological mimickers and suggest that brachyury is added to the panel of immunohistochemical markers for the recognition of HBL in routinary practice, principally in unusual sites.
Intermonsoon Variation of Physical Characteristics and Current Circulation along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Akhir Mohd Fadzil , Zakaria Nur Zurairah , Tangang Fredolin
Published: January 2014

Data from eight cruises spanning from 2002 to 2007 are used to investigate the seasonal changes in water characteristics and current circulation in southern South China Sea along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The surveys were made during two intermonsoon periods which are during March/April and September/October. In addition, monthly sea surface temperature from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is used to provide wider coverage of spatial and temporal for seasonality study. Overall, the area shares different physical properties between the two seasons. During September/October temperature is lower and salinity is higher compared to the data during Mac/April/May. The current along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia also shows seasonality, with dominant current flow southward during Mac/April and northward during September/October.
Seasonality Influence on Biochemical and Hematological Indicators of Stress and Growth of Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), an Amazonian Air-Breathing Fish
Authors: Bezerra Rosiely Felix , Soares Maria do Carmo Figueiredo , Santos Athiê Jorge Guerra , Maciel Carvalho Elba Verônica Matoso , Coelho Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso
Published: January 2014

Environmental factors such as seasonal cycles are the main chronic stress cause in fish increasing incidence of disease and mortality and affecting productive performance.Arapaima gigas(pirarucu) is an Amazonian air-breathing and largest freshwater fish with scales in the world. The captivity development of pirarucu is expanding since it can fatten up over 1 kg per month reaching 10 kg body mass in the first year of fattening. This work was conducted in three periods (April to July 2010, August to November 2010, and December 2010 to March 2011) defined according to rainfall and medium temperatures. Seasonality effect analysis was performed on biochemical (lectin activity, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities) and hematological (total count of red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and hematimetric Wintrobe indexes) stress indicators, as well as on growth and wellbeing degree expressed by pirarucu condition factor developed in captivity. All biochemical and hematological stress indicators showed seasonal variations. However, the fish growth was allometrically positive; condition factor high values indicated good state of healthiness in cultivation. These results reinforce the robust feature of pirarucu and represent a starting point for understanding stress physiology and environmental changes during cultivation enabling identification and prevention of fish adverse health conditions.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of a Novel Amphiphilic Polymer RGD-PEG-Chol for Target Drug Delivery System
Authors: Zeng Shi , Wu Fengbo , Li Bo , Song Xiangrong , Zheng Yu , He Gu , Peng Cheng , Huang Wei
Published: January 2014

An amphiphilic polymer RGD-PEG-Chol which can be produced in large scale at a very low cost has been synthesized successfully. The synthesized intermediates and final products were characterized and confirmed by1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR). The paclitaxel- (PTX-) loaded liposomes based on RGD-PEG-Chol were then prepared by film formation method. The liposomes had a size within 100 nm and significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel to B16F10 cell as demonstrated by MTT test (IC50= 0.079 μg/mL of RGD-modified PTX-loaded liposomes compared to 9.57 μg/mL of free PTX). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cellular uptake of coumarin encapsulated in the RGD-PEG-Chol modified liposome was increased for HUVEC cells. This work provides a reasonable, facile, and economic approach to prepare peptide-modified liposome materials with controllable performances and the obtained linear RGD-modified PTX-loaded liposomes might be attractive as a drug delivery system.
Some Results on Generalized Quasi-Einstein Manifolds
Authors: Prakasha D. G. , Venkatesha H.
Published: January 2014

This paper deals with generalized quasi-Einstein manifold satisfying certain conditions on conharmonic curvature tensor. Here we study some geometric properties of generalized quasi-Einstein manifold and obtain results which reveal the nature of its associated 1-forms.
Optical and Magnetic Studies on Cu2O/PANI Nanocomposite Prepared by Chemical Polymerization Method
Authors: Gopalakrishnan K. , Ramesh C. , Elango M. , Thamilselvan M.
Published: January 2014

Polyaniline embedded green copper oxide (Cu2O/PANI) nanocomposite has been synthesized through in situ chemical polymerization method in acidic medium at room temperature. The structural, optical, and magnetic properties of Cu2O/PANI nanocomposite were investigated through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis absorption spectra (UV-Vis spectra), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence spectra (PL), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of Cu2O/PANI composite through the shifting of vibrational peaks of PANI and green Cu2O nanoparticles at 825, 1142, 1299, 1499, 1573 cm−1and 695 cm−1respectively. SEM analysis revealed that many aggregations of well-separated irregular shape of Cu2O nanoparticles with diameter about 15–40 nm exist in the composite matrix. Optical absorbance studies further confirmed the formation of composite through the blue shift of absorption peaks of PANI and diminishing intensity peak of Cu2O. Cu2O/PANI nanocomposite demonstrates semiconducting as well as diamagnetic behavior like PANI and Cu2O nanoparticles. The nanocomposite exhibits high relative photoluminescence intensity in blue as well as green-yellow region of visible spectrum. The optical band gap value from absorption coefficient data is found to be 3.23 eV.
Effects of Zoledronic Acid on Physiologic Bone Remodeling of Condylar Part of TMJ: A Radiologic and Histomorphometric Examination in Rabbits
Authors: Tatli Ufuk , Üstün Yakup , Kürkçü Mehmet , Benlidayı Mehmet Emre
Published: January 2014

Objective. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effects of systemically administered zoledronic acid (ZA) on the physiological bone remodeling and the microarchitectural parameters of the condylar part of TMJ in a rabbit model.Study Design. Thirty skeletally mature male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was administered an intravenous, single dose of 0.1 mg/kg ZA diluted with 15 mL of saline in a 15-minute perfusion with an infusion pump. The control group was administered only saline infusion for 15 minutes. All rabbits were sacrificed on the 21st postoperative day. Radiodensitometric and histomorphometric examinations were performed on the harvested mandibular condyles. The data were analyzed statistically.Results. Radiodensitometric findings showed that ZA treatment resulted in a significant increase in the mineralization of mandibular condyle. This result was supported by the histomorphometric findings.Conclusion. The present study has revealed that a temporary delay in the physiological bone remodeling using single dose of ZA increases bone mineral content and makes the microarchitecture of the mandibular condyle more compact. These effects may be regarded as base data and considered in numerous clinical situations including TMJ.
Multilinear Commutators of Calderón-Zygmund Operator on Generalized Weighted Morrey Spaces
Authors: Guliyev Vagif S. , Alizadeh Farida Ch.
Published: January 2014

The boundedness of multilinear commutators of Calderón-Zygmund operatorTb→on generalized weighted Morrey spacesMp,φ(w)with the weight functionwbelonging to Muckenhoupt's classApis studied. When1<p<∞andb→=(b1,…,bm),bi∈BMO,i=1,…,m, the sufficient conditions on the pair(φ1,φ2)which ensure the boundedness of the operatorTb→fromMp,φ1(w)toMp,φ2(w)are found. In all cases the conditions for the boundedness ofTb→are given in terms of Zygmund-type integral inequalities on(φ1,φ2), which do not assume any assumption on monotonicity ofφ1(x,r),  φ2(x,r)inr.
Participation of 5-HT and AT1Receptors within the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla in the Maintenance of Hypertension in the Goldblatt 1 Kidney-1 Clip Model
Authors: Bergamaschi Cássia T. , Silva Nyam F. , Pires Jose G. , Campos Ruy R. , Neto Henrique A. Futuro
Published: January 2014

The hypothesis that changes in neurotransmission within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are important to maintain the high blood pressure (BP) was tested in Goldblatt one kidney-one clip hypertension model (1K-1C). Male Wistar rats were anesthetized (urethane 1.2 g/kg, i.v.), and the effects of bilateral microinjections into the RVLM of the following drugs were measured in 1K-1C or control groups: glutamate (0.1 mol/L, 100 nL) and its antagonist kynurenic acid (0.02 mol/L, 100 nL), the angiotensin AT1receptor antagonist candesartan (0.01 mol/L, 100 nL), and the nonselective 5-HT receptor antagonist methiothepin (0.06 mol/L, 100 nL). Experiments in 1K-1C rats were performed 6 weeks after surgery. In anesthetized rats glutamate response was larger in hypertensive than in normotensive rats (H:Δ67±6.5; N:Δ43±3.54 mmHg). In contrast, kynurenic acid microinjection into the RVLM did not cause any change in BP in either group. The blockade of either AT1or 5-HT receptors within the RVLM decreased BP only in 1K-1C rats. A largest depressor response was caused by 5-HT receptor blockade. The data suggest that 5-HT and AT1receptors act tonically to drive RVLM in 1K-1C rats, and these actions within RVLM contribute to the pathogenesis of this model of hypertension.
Duration of Antimicrobial Therapy in Community Acquired Pneumonia: Less Is More
Authors: Pinzone Marilia Rita , Cacopardo Bruno , Abbo Lilian , Nunnari Giuseppe
Published: January 2014

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) represents the most common cause of infection-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Appropriate treatment of CAP is challenging and sometimes limited by the availability to obtain rapid and timely identification of the etiologic agent in order to initiate or deescalate the correct antimicrobial therapy. As a consequence, prescribers frequently select empiric antimicrobial therapy using clinical judgment, local patterns of antimicrobial resistance, and, sometimes, individual patient expectations. These issues may contribute to prolonged courses of inappropriate therapy. In this review, we discuss the evidence and recommendations from international guidelines for the management of CAP and the clinical trials that specifically addressed duration of antimicrobial therapy for CAP in adults. In randomized controlled trials comparing the clinical efficacy of a short-course antimicrobial regimen versus an extended-course regimen, no differences in terms of clinical success, bacterial eradication, adverse events, and mortality were observed. The use of biomarkers, such as procalcitonin, to guide the initiation and duration of antimicrobial therapy may reduce total antibiotic exposure and treatment duration, healthcare costs, and the risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. In clinical practice, antimicrobial stewardship interventions may improve the management of CAP and may help in reducing treatment duration. Sometimes “less is more” in CAP.
Nonlinear Analysis and Intelligent Control of Integrated Vehicle Dynamics
Authors: Huang C. , Chen L. , Jiang H. B. , Yuan C. C. , Xia T.
Published: January 2014

With increasing and more stringent requirements for advanced vehicle integration, including vehicle dynamics and control, traditional control and optimization strategies may not qualify for many applications. This is because, among other factors, they do not consider the nonlinear characteristics of practical systems. Moreover, the vehicle wheel model has some inadequacies regarding the sideslip angle, road adhesion coefficient, vertical load, and velocity. In this paper, an adaptive neural wheel network is introduced, and the interaction between the lateral and vertical dynamics of the vehicle is analyzed. By means of nonlinear analyses such as the use of a bifurcation diagram and the Lyapunov exponent, the vehicle is shown to exhibit complicated motions with increasing forward speed. Furthermore, electric power steering (EPS) and active suspension system (ASS), which are based on intelligent control, are used to reduce the nonlinear effect, and a negotiation algorithm is designed to manage the interdependences and conflicts among handling stability, driving smoothness, and safety. Further, a rapid control prototype was built using the hardware‐in‐the‐loop simulation platform dSPACE and used to conduct a real vehicle test. The results of the test were consistent with those of the simulation, thereby validating the proposed control.
Angular Dependence ofϕMeson Production for Different Photon Beam Energies
Authors: Kang Jun-Hui , Wang Ya-Zhou , Li Bao-Chun
Published: January 2014

The dependence ofϕ-meson photoproduction on the polar angle is investigated in the framework of a multisource thermal model. We present a detailed comparison between our results and experimental data of the neutral decay mode in the reactionγp→pϕ(KSKL). The results are in good agreement with the experimental data. It is found that the movement factorbzincreases linearly with the photon beam energies.
The Evolving Concepts of Cancer Stem Cells in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Shah Amit , Patel Shilpa , Pathak Jigna , Swain Niharika , Kumar Shwetha
Published: January 2014

There is increasing evidence that the growth and spread of cancers is driven by a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs)—the only cells that are capable of long-term self-renewal and generation of the phenotypically diverse tumor cell population. CSCs have been identified and isolated in a variety of human cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The concept of cancer stem cells may have profound implications for our understanding of tumor biology and for the design of novel treatments targeted toward these cells. The present review is an attempt to conceptualize the role of CSCs in HNSCC—its implication in tumorigenesis and the possible additional approach in current treatment strategies.
Surgical Treatment of Osteopetrosis-Related Femoral Fractures: Two Case Reports and Literature Review
Authors: Aslan Ahmet , Baykal Yakup Barbaros , Uysal Emin , Atay Tolga , Kirdemir Vecihi , Baydar Metin Lütfi , Aydoğan Nevres Hürriyet
Published: January 2014

Osteopetrosis is a rare hereditary disease which is characterized by increased bone density. Bone resorption is insufficient or fails due to the osteoclast defect in osteopetrosis. Half of the patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally or based on the presence of fracture. Adult onset osteopetrosis usually presents with hip and proximal femoral fractures. Internal fixation can be performed; however, technical challenges may be experienced due to increased bone density. As in other fractures, nonunion or varus malunion of these fractures may occur. Although rare, osteopetrosis may complicate treatment of fractures in such patients. In this study, we aimed to present two new cases of ADO type II with an osteopetrotic femoral fracture along with the clinical and radiological findings in the light of a comprehensive literature review. Orthopaedics surgeons should be aware of intraoperative technical difficulties and possible postoperative complications during the follow-up period. Investigation would be beneficial for the diagnosis of osteopetrosis such the patient with fractures who has minor trauma history and increased bone density in radiography.
Clinical Feature of Intrahepatic B-Lymphocytes in Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Mohamadkhani Ashraf , Naderi Elnaz , Sotoudeh Masoud , Katoonizadeh Aezam , Montazeri Ghodratollah , Poustchi Hossein
Published: January 2014

Humoral immunity constitutes major defense mechanism against viral infections. However, the association of hepatic injury and B-cells population in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers has not been studied well. In this study, fifty seven hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and HBeAg negative patients were studied to determine the expression of CD20, a cell surface marker expressed on B-cells, in liver biopsy sections using immunohistochemistry. The patients’ clinical data at the time of liver biopsy were acquired from their medical records. There was a significant association between log HBV DNA and both ALT (r=0.36,P=0.006) and histologic activity index (HAI) total score (r=0.3,P=0.02), respectively. The CD20 was expressed in all 57 liver biopsy samples with a submembranous and membranous staining pattern and its expression was significantly associated with HAI total score (r=0.32,P=0.01) and stage of fibrosis (r=0.31,P=0.02). The susceptible B lymphocytes to hepatitis B virus might be implicated in the development of immune mediated inflammation of HBV-induced hepatic injury. The present data also support that the liver is potentially one of the secondary lymphoid organs.
Executive Functions and Adaptive Behaviour in Autism Spectrum Disorders with and without Intellectual Disability
Authors: Panerai Simonetta , Tasca Domenica , Ferri Raffaele , Genitori D’Arrigo Valentina , Elia Maurizio
Published: January 2014

Executive functions (EF) in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been often investigated, although results seem to be rather inconsistent. The first aim of this study was to detect which EF components are common to the ASD continuum (from high- to low-functioning ASD) and identify a possible EF profile for ASD people. Planning, mental flexibility, inhibition of response, generativity, and ecologic EF were investigated. This study was extended not only to high-functioning ASD, but also to ASD with intellectual disability (ID). The second aim was to find EF aspects correlating with adaptive skills in ASD. A total of 61 children participated in the study (27 ASD with and without ID and 34 controls). Results highlight an executive profile characterised by impaired flexibility and deficient planning; these deficits are associated with decreased adaptive ability, particularly socialization, and a deficient shifting in ecologic conditions. These features are present in all ASD subgroups with and without ID; for this reason, they might be assumed as being specific features in ASD.
How to Develop Renewable Power in China? A Cost-Effective Perspective
Authors: Cong Rong-Gang , Shen Shaochuan
Published: January 2014

To address the problems of climate change and energy security, Chinese government strived to develop renewable power as an important alternative of conventional electricity. In this paper, the learning curve model is employed to describe the decreasing unit investment cost due to accumulated installed capacity; the technology diffusion model is used to analyze the potential of renewable power. Combined with the investment cost, the technology potential, and scenario analysis of China social development in the future, we develop the Renewable Power Optimization Model (RPOM) to analyze the optimal development paths of three sources of renewable power from 2009 to 2020 in a cost-effective way. Results show that (1) the optimal accumulated installed capacities of wind power, solar power, and biomass power will reach 169000, 20000, and 30000 MW in 2020; (2) the developments of renewable power show the intermittent feature; (3) the unit investment costs of wind power, solar power, and biomass power will be 4500, 11500, and 5700 Yuan/KW in 2020; (4) the discounting effect dominates the learning curve effect for solar and biomass powers; (5) the rise of on-grid ratio of renewable power will first promote the development of wind power and then solar power and biomass power.
Heterogeneous Downregulation of Angiotensin II AT1-A and AT1-B Receptors in Arterioles in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rat Kidneys
Authors: Razga Zsolt , Kovacs Gabor , Bódi Nikolett , Talapka Petra , Nyengaard Jens Randel
Published: January 2014

Introduction.The renin granulation of kidney arterioles is enhanced in diabetes despite the fact that the level of angiotensin II in the diabetic kidney is elevated. Therefore, the number of angiotensin II AT1-A and AT1-B receptors in afferent and efferent arteriole’s renin-positive and renin-negative smooth muscle cells (SMC) was estimated.Method.Immunohistochemistry at the electron microscopic level was combined with 3D stereological sampling techniques.Results.In diabetes the enhanced downregulation of AT1-B receptors in the renin-positive than in the renin-negative SMCs in both arterioles was resulted: the significant difference in the number of AT1 (AT1-A + AT1-B) receptors between the two types of SMCs in the normal rats was further increased in diabetes and in contrast with the significant difference observed between the afferent and efferent arterioles in the normal animals, there was no such difference in diabetes.Conclusions. The enhanced downregulation of the AT1-B receptors in the renin-negative SMCs in the efferent arterioles demonstrates that the regulation of the glomerular filtration rate by the pre- and postglomerular arterioles is changed in diabetes. The enhanced downregulation of the AT1-B receptors in the renin-positive SMCs in the arterioles may result in an enhanced level of renin granulation in the arterioles.
Rapid Mass Spectrometric Analysis of a Novel Fucoidan, Extracted from the Brown AlgaCoccophora langsdorfii
Authors: Anastyuk Stanislav D. , Imbs Tatyana I. , Dmitrenok Pavel S. , Zvyagintseva Tatyana N.
Published: January 2014

The novel highly sulfated (35%) fucoidan fractionCf2, which contained, along with fucose, galactose and traces of xylose and uronic acids was purified from the brown algaCoccophora langsdorfii. Its structural features were predominantly determined (in comparison with fragments of known structure) by a rapid mass spectrometric investigation of the low-molecular-weight fragments, obtained by “mild” (5 mg/mL) and “exhaustive” (maximal concentration) autohydrolysis. Tandem matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectra (MALDI-TOF/TOFMS) of fucooligosaccharides with even degree of polymerization (DP), obtained by “mild” autohydrolysis, were the same as that observed for fucoidan fromFucus evanescens, which have a backbone of alternating (1 → 3)- and (1 → 4) linked sulfated at C-2 and sometimes at C-4 of 3-linkedα-L-Fucpresidues. Fragmentation patterns of oligosaccharides with odd DP indicated sulfation at C-2 and at C-4 of (1 → 3) linkedα-L-Fucpresidues on the reducing terminus. Minor sulfation at C-3 was also suggested. The “exhaustive” autohydrolysis allowed us to observe the “mixed” oligosaccharides, built up of fucose/xylose and fucose/galactose. Xylose residues were found to occupy both the reducing and nonreducing termini of FucXyl disaccharides. Nonreducing galactose residues as part of GalFuc disaccharides were found to be linked, possibly, by 2-type of linkage to fucose residues and were found to be sulfated, most likely, at position C-2.
Novel Bispecific Antibodies Increase γδ T-Cell Cytotoxicity against Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Oberg Hans-Heinrich , Peipp Matthias , Kellner Christian , Sebens Susanne , Krause Sarah , Petrick Domantas , Adam-Klages Sabine , Röcken Christoph , Becker Thomas , Vogel Ilka , Weisner Dietrich , Freitag-Wolf Sandra , Gramatzki Martin , Kabelitz Dieter , Wesch Daniela
Published: January 2014

The ability of human γδ T cells from healthy donors to kill pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in vitro and in vivo in immunocompromised mice requires the addition of γδ T-cell–stimulating antigens. In this study, we demonstrate that γδ T cells isolated from patients with PDAC tumor infiltrates lyse pancreatic tumor cells after selective stimulation with phosphorylated antigens. We determined the absolute numbers of γδ T-cell subsets in patient whole blood and applied a real-time cell analyzer to measure their cytotoxic effector function over prolonged time periods. Because phosphorylated antigens did not optimally enhance γδ T-cell cytotoxicity, we designed bispecific antibodies that bind CD3 or Vγ9 on γδ T cells and Her2/neu (ERBB2) expressed by pancreatic tumor cells. Both antibodies enhanced γδ T-cell cytotoxicity with the Her2/Vγ9 antibody also selectively enhancing release of granzyme B and perforin. Supporting these observations, adoptive transfer of γδ T cells with the Her2/Vγ9 antibody reduced growth of pancreatic tumors grafted into SCID-Beige immunocompromised mice. Taken together, our results show how bispecific antibodies that selectively recruit γδ T cells to tumor antigens expressed by cancer cells illustrate the tractable use of endogenous γδ T cells for immunotherapy. Cancer Res; 74(5); 1349–60. ©2014 AACR.
Universal Marker and Detection Tool for Human Sarcoma Circulating Tumor Cells
Authors: Satelli Arun , Mitra Abhisek , Cutrera Jeffry J. , Devarie Marcos , Xia Xueqing , Ingram Davis R. , Dibra Denada , Somaiah Neeta , Torres Keila E. , Ravi Vinod , Ludwig Joseph A. , Kleinerman Eugenie S. , Li Shulin
Published: January 2014

To date, no specific marker exists for the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) from different types of sarcomas, though tools are available for detection of CTCs in peripheral blood of patients with cancer for epithelial cancers. Here, we report cell-surface vimentin (CSV) as an exclusive marker on sarcoma CTC regardless of the tissue origin of the sarcoma as detected by a novel monoclonal antibody. Utilizing CSV as a probe, we isolated and enumerated sarcoma CTCs with high sensitivity and specificity from the blood of patients bearing different types of sarcoma, validating their phenotype by single cell genomic amplification, mutation detection, and FISH. Our results establish the first universal and specific CTC marker described for enumerating CTCs from different types of sarcoma, thereby providing a key prognosis tool to monitor cancer metastasis and relapse. Cancer Res; 74(6); 1645–50. ©2014 AACR.
Neuroplastic Changes Occur Early in the Development of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Stopczynski Rachelle E. , Normolle Daniel P. , Hartman Douglas J. , Ying Haoqiang , DeBerry Jennifer J. , Bielefeldt Klaus , Rhim Andrew D. , DePinho Ronald A. , Albers Kathryn M. , Davis Brian M.
Published: January 2014

Perineural tumor invasion of intrapancreatic nerves, neurogenic inflammation, and tumor metastases along extrapancreatic nerves are key features of pancreatic malignancies. Animal studies show that chronic pancreatic inflammation produces hypertrophy and hypersensitivity of pancreatic afferents and that sensory fibers may themselves drive inflammation via neurogenic mechanisms. Although genetic mutations are required for cancer development, inflammation has been shown to be a precipitating event that can accelerate the transition of precancerous lesions to cancer. These observations led us to hypothesize that inflammation that accompanies early phases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) would produce pathologic changes in pancreatic neurons and innervation. Using a lineage-labeled genetically engineered mouse model of PDAC, we found that pancreatic neurotrophic factor mRNA expression and sensory innervation increased dramatically when only pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia were apparent. These changes correlated with pain-related decreases in exploratory behavior and increased expression of nociceptive genes in sensory ganglia. At later stages, cells of pancreatic origin could be found in the celiac and sensory ganglia along with metastases to the spinal cord. These results demonstrate that the nervous system participates in all stages of PDAC, including those that precede the appearance of cancer. Cancer Res; 74(6); 1718–27. ©2014 AACR.
PP2A Inhibition Is a Common Event in Colorectal Cancer and Its Restoration Using FTY720 Shows Promising Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Cristóbal Ion , Manso Rebeca , Rincón Raúl , Caramés Cristina , Senin Clara , Borrero Aurea , Martínez-Useros Javier , Rodriguez María , Zazo Sandra , Aguilera Oscar , Madoz-Gúrpide Juan , Rojo Federico , García-Foncillas Jesús
Published: January 2014

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a tumor suppressor that regulates many signaling pathways crucial for cell transformation. In fact, decreased activity of PP2A has been reported as a recurrent alteration in many types of cancer. Here, we show that PP2A is frequently inactivated in patients with colorectal cancer, indicating that PP2A represents a potential therapeutic target for this disease. We identified overexpression of the endogenous PP2A inhibitors SET and CIP2A, and downregulation of regulatory PP2A such as PPP2R2A and PPP2R5E, as contributing mechanisms to PP2A inhibition in colorectal cancer. Moreover, we observed that its restoration using FTY720 impairs proliferation and clonogenic potential of colorectal cancer cells, induces caspase-dependent apoptosis, and affects AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 activation status. Interestingly, treatment with FTY720 showed an additive effect with 5-fluorouracil, SN-38, and oxaliplatin, drugs used in standard chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer. These results suggest that PP2A activity is commonly decreased in colorectal cancer cells, and that the use of PP2A activators, such as FTY720, might represent a potential novel therapeutic strategy in colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(4); 938–47. ©2014 AACR.
Rationale and Preclinical Efficacy of a Novel Anti-EMP2 Antibody for the Treatment of Invasive Breast Cancer
Authors: Fu Maoyong , Maresh Erin L. , Helguera Gustavo F. , Kiyohara Meagan , Qin Yu , Ashki Negin , Daniels-Wells Tracy R. , Aziz Najib , Gordon Lynn K. , Braun Jonathan , Elshimali Yahya , Soslow Robert A. , Penichet Manuel L. , Goodglick Lee , Wadehra Madhuri
Published: January 2014

Despite significant advances in biology and medicine, the incidence and mortality due to breast cancer worldwide is still unacceptably high. Thus, there is an urgent need to discover new molecular targets. In this article, we show evidence for a novel target in human breast cancer, the tetraspan protein epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2). Using tissue tumor arrays, protein expression of EMP2 was measured and found to be minimal in normal mammary tissue, but it was upregulated in 63% of invasive breast cancer tumors and in 73% of triple-negative tumors tested. To test the hypothesis that EMP2 may be a suitable target for therapy, we constructed a fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody specific for a conserved domain of human and murine EMP2. Treatment of breast cancer cells with the anti-EMP2 IgG1 significantly inhibited EMP2-mediated signaling, blocked FAK/Src signaling, inhibited invasion, and promoted apoptosis in vitro. In both human xenograft and syngeneic metastatic tumor monotherapy models, anti-EMP2 IgG1 retarded tumor growth without detectable systemic toxicity. This antitumor effect was, in part, attributable to a potent antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity response as well as direct cytotoxicity induced by the monoclonal antibody. Together, these results identify EMP2 as a novel therapeutic target for invasive breast cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(4); 902–15. ©2014 AACR.
Decreased miR-340 Expression in Bone Marrow Is Associated with Liver Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Takeyama Hiroshi , Yamamoto Hirofumi , Yamashita Shinya , Wu Xin , Takahashi Hidekazu , Nishimura Junichi , Haraguchi Naotsugu , Miyake Yasuhiro , Suzuki Rei , Murata Kohei , Ohue Masayuki , Kato Takeshi , Takemasa Ichiro , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Ishii Hideshi , Mimori Koshi , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki
Published: January 2014

Studies have shown the prognostic significance of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow of patients with colorectal cancer. However, the molecular characteristics of DTCs, including their miRNA expression profiles, remain mostly unknown. In this study, we analyzed the miRNA expression of DTCs in bone marrow. EpCAM+ bone marrow cells were collected using immunomagnetic beads after exclusion of CD14+ and CD45+ cells, then subjected to miRNA microarray analysis. Cluster analysis (7 colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis and 12 colorectal cancer patients without liver metastasis) indicated that miR-340 and miR-542-3p expressions were significantly decreased in EpCAM+ bone marrow cells of patients with liver metastasis (P = 0.019 and 0.037, respectively). We demonstrated that pre-miR-340 administration inhibited growth of colon cancer cells and suppressed c-Met expression in vitro. In clinical samples of colorectal cancer, miR-340 was expressed at significantly lower levels in tumor tissues compared with normal mucosa. Survival analysis in 136 patients with colorectal cancer indicated that low miR-340 expression was correlated with shorter 5-year disease-free survival (P = 0.023) and poor 5-year overall survival (P = 0.046). It was of note that the colorectal cancer group with low miR-340 and high c-Met expression had the worst prognosis. We further demonstrated that systemic pre-miR-340 administration suppressed growth of pre-established HCT116 tumors in animal therapeutic models. These findings indicate that miR-340 may be useful as a novel prognostic factor and as a therapeutic tool against colorectal cancer. Our data suggest that miR-340 in bone marrow may play an important role in regulating the metastasis cascade of colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(4); 976–85. ©2014 AACR.