bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HER2 testing for breast carcinoma: recommendations for rapid diagnostic pathways in clinical practice
Authors: Shaaban A M , Purdie C A , Bartlett J M S , Stein R C , Lane S , Francis A , Thompson A M , Pinder S E ,   on behalf of the Translational Subgroup of the NCRI Breast Clinical Studies Group
Published: September 2013

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing is required for newly diagnosed breast cancer and advised for recurrent and metastatic breast cancer, to determine treatment planning using HER2-directed therapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant and advanced disease settings. Wide variation, nationally, in the turnaround time for HER2 testing may hinder equity of access for patients to both clinical trials and the timely implementation of HER2-directed therapy particularly in the neo-adjuvant setting. Process mapping from three recognised laboratories in the UK was applied to the logistics of HER2 testing in different geographic hub and spoke models. Consequently, recommendations for HER2 testing likely to facilitate access to clinical trials and timely patient care are presented.
Mid and long term outcomes of dural arteriovenous fistula endovascular management with Onyx. Experience of a single tertiary center
Authors: Rangel-Castilla Leonardo , Barber Sean M , Klucznik Richard , Diaz Orlando
Published: September 2013

Introduction

The natural history of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) with cortical venous drainage is unfavorable, and treatment is recommended in most cases. Early reports have documented excellent initial clinical and radiographic outcomes after Onyx embolization of DAVFs but little evidence is available regarding the long term durability of this technique.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed a database of 63 DAVFs in 53 consecutive patients who underwent Onyx embolization of a DAVF between 2001 and 2012 at our institution. Cognard types I and III were seen most commonly.

Results

A total of 72 Onyx embolization procedures were successfully completed during the study period, resulting in complete or near complete occlusion by the end of the study period in 58 (92.1%) DAVFs. For DAVFs in which complete or near complete obliteration was attained, stability of obliteration at 6, 12, 24, and 46 months was 100%, 95.4%, 93.8%, and 92.3%, respectively. DAVF recanalization/regrowth was discovered on delayed follow-up angiography in only five instances in which immediate post-embolization angiography revealed complete obliteration. Complications were seen in seven embolization procedures and included cranial nerve palsies (n=3), embolic infarcts (n=2), intraparenchymal hemorrhage (n=1), and unintentional stent deployment (n=1).

Conclusions

Early evidence has indicated that endovascular Onyx embolization is safe and effective at achieving an initial angiographic cure. Results of our series suggest that angiographic and clinical outcomes of Onyx embolization remain relatively stable at mid and long term follow-up.
The effect of priming exercise on O2 uptake kinetics, muscle O2 delivery and utilization, muscle activity, and exercise tolerance in boys
Authors: Barker Alan R. , Trebilcock Emily , Breese Brynmor , Jones Andrew M. , Armstrong Neil
Published: September 2013

This study used priming exercise in young boys to investigate (i) how muscle oxygen delivery and oxygen utilization, and muscle activity modulate oxygen uptake kinetics during exercise; and (ii) whether the accelerated oxygen uptake kinetics following priming exercise can improve exercise tolerance. Seven boys that were aged 11.3 ± 1.6 years completed either a single bout (bout 1) or repeated bouts with 6 min of recovery (bout 2) of very heavy-intensity cycling exercise. During the tests oxygen uptake, muscle oxygenation, muscle electrical activity and exercise tolerance were measured. Priming exercise most likely shortened the oxygen uptake mean response time (change, ±90% confidence limits; –8.0 s, ±3.0), possibly increased the phase II oxygen uptake amplitude (0.11 L·min−1, ±0.09) and very likely reduced the oxygen uptake slow component amplitude (–0.08 L·min−1, ±0.07). Priming resulted in a likely reduction in integrated electromyography (–24% baseline, ±21% and –25% baseline, ±19) and a very likely reduction in Δ deoxyhaemoglobin/Δoxygen uptake (–0.16, ±0.11 and –0.09, ±0.05) over the phase II and slow component portions of the oxygen uptake response, respectively. A correlation was present between the change in tissue oxygenation index during bout 2 and the change in the phase II (r = –0.72, likely negative) and slow component (r = 0.72, likely positive) oxygen uptake amplitudes following priming exercise, but not for muscle activity. Exercise tolerance was likely reduced (change –177 s, ±180) following priming exercise. The altered phase II and slow component oxygen uptake amplitudes in boys following priming exercise are linked to an improved localised matching of muscle oxygen delivery to oxygen uptake and not muscle electrical activity. Despite more rapid oxygen uptake kinetics following priming exercise, exercise tolerance was not enhanced.
A sensitive biosensing strategy for DNA detection based on graphene oxide and T7 exonuclease assisted target recycling amplification
Authors: Wang Hai-Bo , Ou Li-Juan , Huang Ke-Jing , Wen Xin-Ge , Wang Ling-Ling , Liu Yan-Ming
Published: September 2013

A fluorescence biosensing strategy based on graphene oxide (GO) was reported for simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective DNA detection by T7 exonuclease assisted target recycling amplification. Due to the super fluorescence quenching efficiency of GO, the fluorescein amiditelabeled signal probe was firstly adsorbed onto the surface of GO and the fluorescence was quenched. Owing to its excellent selectivity for double-stranded DNA, T7 exonuclease was chosen as a signal-amplifying biocatalyst to improve the detection sensitivity. In the presence of target DNA, the signal probe could bind with target DNA and form a DNA duplex structure to trigger the digestion of the signal probe by T7 exonuclease, leading to the recycling of target DNA and the increasing of fluorescence intensity. Upon the recycling use of target DNA, this method achieved a high sensitivity towards target DNA with a detection limit of 0.3 pmol/L, which was lower than previously reported for GO-based DNA biosensors. Moreover, it does not require complex modifications of the molecular beacon and time-consuming thermal cycling procedures. Thus, the simple strategy provides a universal biosensing platform for DNA detection and it could find wide applications in DNA damage analysis and diagnostics.
Known and emerging factors modulating estrogenic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Authors: Zhang Wanglong , Luo Yu , Zhang Li , Cai Qian , Pan Xuejun
Published: September 2013

A variety of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have estrogenic effects and are termed xenoestrogens (XEs). The genomic pathway mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs) has been considered the major explanation for the estrogenic effects elicited by XEs. Presently, nongenomic pathways have achieved considerably more attention because the genomic pathways cannot fully elucidate many biological and physiological responses. Genomic and nongenomic pathways act either separately or cooperatively. XEs activate a variety of signaling pathways and downstream kinases, which in turn alter the posttranslational modification and activation of ERs. Classical ERs and their splice variants reside at the membrane and mediate rapid effects cooperatively with G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER), G protein, and many other signaling molecules. GPER seems more effective in mediating the synthetic chemical-induced effects. There are also feedback and feedforward mechanisms between both pathways. Numerous factors may affect both pathways. Recently, some new layers of regulation on the estrogenic effects were identified. In this review, we summarize these multiple regulation layers and discuss the newly identified factors.
SPECIAL DETERMINANTS IN HIGHER-RANK BRILL–NOETHER THEORY
Authors: OSSERMAN BRIAN
Published: September 2013

Extending our previous study of modified expected dimensions for rank-2 Brill–Noether loci with prescribed special determinants, we introduce a general framework which applies a priori for arbitrary rank, and use it to prove modified expected dimension bounds in several new cases, applying both to rank 2 and to higher rank. The main tool is the introduction of generalized alternating Grassmannians, which are the loci inside Grassmannians corresponding to subspaces which are simultaneously isotropic for a family of multilinear alternating forms on the ambient vector space. In the case of rank 2 with two-dimensional spaces of sections, we adapt arguments due to Teixidor i Bigas to show that our new modified expected dimensions are in fact sharp.
EFFECTS OF SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURE ON THE DOPING CHARACTERISTICS OF Li-W CO-DOPED ZnO FILMS
Authors: HU YUEHUI , CHEN YICHUAN , ZHANG XIAOHUA , MA DEFU , WANG JUNXIANG , CHEN JUN , CHEN XINHUA
Published: September 2013

Li - W co-doped ZnO (LWZO) thin films were deposited on quartz glass substrates by RF magnetron sputtering technology. The properties of LWZO films deposited with varied substrate temperatures were investigated. When the substrate temperature was lower than 120°C — according to X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, films keep hexagonal wurtzite structure with the (002) plane as preferred orientation — the optical transmittance was higher than 85%. When the substrate temperature was higher than 120°C, the results of XPS and XRD show that W 6+ will work as donors, and the (101) peak appeared; the optical transmittance decreased slightly but still higher than 82%. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and its two-dimensional Fourier transform images showed that films had smooth surface and columnar particles structure when the substrate temperature was lower than 120°C. The film surface became rougher and flaky-shaped particles structure could be observed when the substrate temperature was higher than 120°C. In addition, the lowest electrical resistivity of sample was 3.6 × 10-3 Ω ⋅ cm which was obtained at substrate temperature 240°C.
FROM CLASSICAL TO EPISTEMIC GAME THEORY
Authors: PEREA ANDRÉS
Published: September 2013

In this paper, we give a historical overview of the transition from classical game theory to epistemic game theory. To that purpose we will discuss how important notions such as reasoning about the opponents, belief hierarchies, common belief, and the concept of common belief in rationality arose, and gradually entered the game theoretic picture, thereby giving birth to the field of epistemic game theory. We will also address the question why it took game theory so long before it finally incorporated the natural aspect of "reasoning" into its analysis. To answer the latter question we will have a close look at the earliest results in game theory, and see how they shaped our approach to game theory for many years to come.
ON THE COMPLETENESS OF THE UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE–BELIEF SPACE: A TECHNICAL NOTE
Authors: PINTÉR MIKLÓS
Published: September 2013

Meier [Games Econ. Behav.62, 53–66] shows that the universal knowledge–belief space exists. However, besides the universality there is an other important property might be imposed on knowledge–belief spaces, inherited also from type spaces, the completeness. In this paper, we introduce the notion of complete knowledge–belief space, and demonstrate that the universal knowledge–belief space is not complete, that is, some subjective beliefs (probability measures) on the universal knowledge–belief space are not knowledge–belief types.
CYCLIC EXTENSIONS OF MOUFANG LOOPS INDUCED BY SEMI-AUTOMORPHISMS
Authors: GAGOLA STEPHEN M.
Published: September 2013

It is well-known that if a group G factorizes as G = NH where H ≤ G and N ⊴ G then the group structure of G is determined by the subgroups H and N, the intersection N∩H and how H acts on N with a homomorphism φ : H → Aut (N). Here, we generalize the idea by creating extensions using the semi-automorphism group of N. We show that if G = NH is a Moufang loop, N is a normal subloop, and H = 〈u〉 is a finite cyclic group of order coprime to three then the binary operation of G depends only on the binary operation of N, the intersection N ∩ H, and how u permutes the elements of N as a semi-automorphism of N.
A NOTE ON SOLUBLE GROUPS WITH THE MINIMAL CONDITION ON NORMAL SUBGROUPS
Authors: DE FALCO M. , DE GIOVANNI F. , MUSELLA C.
Published: September 2013

It is known that there exist soluble groups of infinite rank which satisfy the minimal condition on normal subgroups. We prove here that if G is any soluble group satisfying the minimal condition on normal subgroups of infinite rank, then either G has finite rank or it satisfies the minimal condition on normal subgroups.
ON n-ENGEL PAIR SATISFYING CERTAIN CONDITIONS
Authors: QUEK S. G. , WONG K. B. , WONG P. C.
Published: September 2013

Let G be a group and h, g ∈ G. The 2-tuple (h, g) is said to be an n-Engel pair, n ≥ 2, if h = [h,n g], g = [g,n h] and h ≠ 1. In this paper, we prove that if (h, g) is an n-Engel pair, hgh-2gh = ghg and ghg-2hg = hgh, then n = 2k where k = 4 or k ≥ 6. Furthermore, the subgroup generated by {h, g} is determined for k = 4, 6, 7 and 8.
ON THE EXISTENCE OF A DERIVED EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN A KOSZUL ALGEBRA AND ITS YONEDA ALGEBRA
Authors: AQUINO R. M. , MARCOS E. N. , TREPODE S.
Published: September 2013

In this paper, we study the derived categories of a Koszul algebra and its Yoneda algebra to determine when those categories are triangularly equivalent. We prove that the simply connected Koszul algebras are derived equivalent to their Yoneda algebras. We have considered discrete Koszul algebras and we gave necessary and sufficient conditions for those Koszul algebras to be derived equivalent to their Yoneda algebras. We also study the class of Koszul algebras which are derived equivalent to hereditary algebras. For the case where the hereditary algebra is tame, we characterized the derived equivalence between those Koszul algebras and their Yoneda algebras.
$\mathcal{A}_t$-GROUPS SATISFYING A CHAIN CONDITION
Authors: ZHANG LIHUA , QU HAIPENG
Published: September 2013

For a positive integer t, a finite p-group G is an [Formula: see text]-group if all subgroups of index pt in G are abelian, and at least one subgroup of index pt-1 in G is not abelian. An [Formula: see text]-group G satisfies a chain condition if every [Formula: see text]-subgroup of G is contained in an [Formula: see text]-subgroup for all i ∈ {0, 1, 2, …, t - 1}, where [Formula: see text]-subgroups denote abelian subgroups. We prove that if t ≥ 2, then, except for some p-groups of small order, the following conditions for a group G of order pn are equivalent: (1) G is an [Formula: see text]-group satisfying a chain condition; (2) every subgroup of order pn-k in G is an [Formula: see text]-subgroup for 0 ≤ k ≤ t; (3) G is an ordinary metacyclic group.
REPERTOIRE OF PROTEIN KINASES ENCODED IN THE GENOME OF ZEBRAFISH SHOWS REMARKABLY LARGE POPULATION OF PIM KINASES
Authors: RAKSHAMBIKAI R. , SRINIVASAN N. , GADKARI RUPALI A.
Published: September 2013

In recent times, zebrafish has garnered lot of popularity as model organism to study human cancers. Despite high evolutionary divergence from humans, zebrafish develops almost all types of human tumors when induced. However, mechanistic details of tumor formation have remained largely unknown. Present study is aimed at analysis of repertoire of kinases in zebrafish proteome to provide insights into various cellular components. Annotation using highly sensitive remote homology detection methods revealed "substantial expansion" of Ser/Thr/Tyr kinase family in zebrafish compared to humans, constituting over 3% of proteome. Subsequent classification of kinases into subfamilies revealed presence of large number of CAMK group of kinases, with massive representation of PIM kinases, important for cell cycle regulation and growth. Extensive sequence comparison between human and zebrafish PIM kinases revealed high conservation of functionally important residues with a few organism specific variations. There are about 300 PIM kinases in zebrafish kinome, while human genome codes for only about 500 kinases altogether. PIM kinases have been implicated in various human cancers and are currently being targeted to explore their therapeutic potentials. Hence, in depth analysis of PIM kinases in zebrafish has opened up new avenues of research to verify the model organism status of zebrafish.
Decoherence in a Fermion Environment: Non-Markovianity and Orthogonality Catastrophe
Authors: Plastina F. , Sindona A. , Goold J. , Lo Gullo N. , Lorenzo S.
Published: September 2013

We analyze the non-Markovian character of the dynamics of an open two-level atom interacting with a gas of ultra-cold fermions. In particular, we discuss the connection between the phenomena of orthogonality catastrophe and Fermi edge singularity occurring in such a kind of environment and the memory-keeping effects which are displayed in the time evolution of the open system.
USING PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION TO EVOLVE COOPERATION IN MULTIPLE CHOICES ITERATED PRISONER'S DILEMMA GAME
Authors: WANG XIAOYANG , YI YANG , CHANG HUIYOU , LIN YIBIN
Published: September 2013

Mechanisms of promoting the evolution of cooperation in two-player, two-strategy evolutionary games have been discussed in great detail over the past decades. Understanding the effects of repeated interactions in n-player with n-choice is a formidable challenge. This paper presents and investigates the application of co-evolutionary training techniques based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) to evolve cooperation for the iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD) game with multiple choices. Several issues will be addressed, which include the evolution of cooperation and the evolutionary stability in the presence of multiple choices and noise. First is using PSO approach to evolve cooperation. The second is the consideration of real-dilemma between social cohesion and individual profit. Experimental results show that the PSO approach evolves the cooperation. Agents with stronger social cognition choose higher levels of cooperation. Finally the impact of noise on the evolution of cooperation is examined. Experiments show the noise has a negative impact on the evolution of cooperation.
EXACT p-ADIC ORDERS FOR DIFFERENCES OF MOTZKIN NUMBERS
Authors: LENGYEL TAMÁS
Published: September 2013

For any prime p, we establish congruences modulo pn+1 for the difference of the pn+1 th and pn th Motzkin numbers and determine the p-adic order of the difference. The results confirm recent conjectures on the order. The applied techniques involve the use of congruences for the differences of certain Catalan numbers and binomial coefficients, congruential identities for sums of Catalan numbers, central binomial and trinomial coefficients, infinite incongruent disjoint covering systems and the solution of congruential recurrences.
A PROOF OF KEITH'S CONJECTURE FOR 9-REGULAR PARTITIONS MODULO 3
Authors: XIA ERNEST X. W. , YAO OLIVIA X. M.
Published: September 2013

Let bt(n) denote the number of t-regular partitions of n. Recently, Keith discovered some congruences modulo 3 for 9-regular partitions. He also conjectured that [Formula: see text] In this note, we confirm this conjecture by employing some identities given by Ramanujan and Hirschhorn.
THE GROWTH OF THE SELMER GROUP OF AN ELLIPTIC CURVE WITH SPLIT MULTIPLICATIVE REDUCTION
Authors: LIM MENG FAI , MURTY V. KUMAR
Published: September 2013

Let p be a fixed prime. Let E be an elliptic curve that has split multiplicative reduction at some prime with the corresponding Tamagawa factor being divisible by p. We study the variation of the p-ranks of the Selmer groups of E in pro-p algebraic extensions.
CHARACTER ANALOGUES OF CERTAIN HARDY–BERNDT SUMS
Authors: CAN MÜMÜN , KURT VELI
Published: September 2013

In this paper we consider transformation formulas for [Formula: see text] We derive reciprocity theorems for the sums arising in these transformation formulas and investigate certain properties of them. With the help of the character analogues of the Euler–Maclaurin summation formula we establish integral representations for Hardy–Berndt character sums s3,p(d, c : χ) and s4,p(d, c : χ).
FINDING SINGULAR MODULI ON A COMPLEX LINE
Authors: BAJOLET AURELIEN
Published: September 2013

Let (α, β, γ) be three non-zero coprime integers. Using Baker's method and classical technique of reduction, we describe an algorithm which computes every point (x1, x2) on the ℂ-line αX + βY + γ = 0 such that x1 and x2 are both singular moduli. We illustrate our algorithm by writing down some examples, in particular we prove that there are non-complex multiplication points on a line such that |α|, |β| and |γ| are less than 10.
GRAPH COMPONENTS AND DYNAMICS OVER FINITE FIELDS
Authors: FLYNN RYAN , GARTON DEREK
Published: September 2013

For polynomials and rational maps of fixed degree over a finite field, we bound both the average number of components of their functional graphs as well as the average number of periodic points of their associated dynamical systems.
Properties of a three-dimensionally ordered macro-mesoporous carbon-doped TiO2 composite catalyst
Authors: Sui Wubin , Zheng Jingtang , Pittman Charles U. , Bensalah Nasr , Wu Mingbo , Zhao Yucui
Published: September 2013

This study aimed to develop an effective, environmentally benign composite catalyst composed of carbon materials and titanium dioxide ( TiO 2). Carbon-doped titanium dioxide ( C – TiO 2) was prepared by coating TiO 2 onto macro-mesoporous carbon (MMC). The structure, morphology and surface chemistry states of the C – TiO 2 were characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, UV-vis and FTIR. The photocatalytic activity of C – TiO 2 was evaluated based on the decomposition of an aqueous methyl orange solution in visible light. C – TiO 2 significantly improved photocatalytic activity. A possible mechanism for the improvement of the photocatalytic activity of C – TiO 2 in visible light was proposed. The results of the analysis suggested that MMC played key roles as the support, absorbent, location of photo-generated electron transfer, and carbon-doping source during methyl orange photodegradation.
EFFECTS OF POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLE SURFACE PROPERTIES ON INTERACTION WITH BRAIN TUMOR ENVIRONMENT
Authors: MATTIX BRANDON , MOORE THOMAS , UVAROV OLGA , POLLARD SAMUEL , O'DONNELL LAUREN , PARK KATELYN , HORNE DEVANTE , DHULEKAR JHILMIL , REESE LAURA , NGUYEN DUONG , KRAVEKA JACQUELINE , BURG KAREN , ALEXIS FRANK
Published: September 2013

Current chemotherapy treatments are limited by poor drug solubility, rapid drug clearance and systemic side effects. Additionally, drug penetration into solid tumors is limited by physical diffusion barriers [e.g., extracellular matrix (ECM)]. Nanoparticle (NP) blood circulation half-life, biodistribution and ability to cross extracellular and cellular barriers will be dictated by NP composition, size, shape and surface functionality. Here, we investigated the effect of surface charge of poly(lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) NPs on mediating cellular interaction. Polymeric NPs of equal sizes were used that had two different surface functionalities: negatively charged carboxyl ( COOH ) and neutral charged methoxy ( OCH 3). Cellular uptake studies showed significantly higher uptake in human brain cancer cells compared to noncancerous human brain cells, and negatively charged COOH NPs were uptaken more than neutral OCH 3 NPs in 2D culture. NPs were also able to load and control the release of paclitaxel (PTX) over 19 days. Toxicity studies in U-87 glioblastoma cells showed that PTX-loaded NPs were effective drug delivery vehicles. Effect of surface charge on NP interaction with the ECM was investigated using collagen in a 3D cellular uptake model, as collagen content varies with the type of cancer and the stage of the disease compared to normal tissues. Results demonstrated that NPs can effectively diffuse across an ECM barrier and into cells, but NP mobility is dictated by surface charge. In vivo biodistribution of OCH 3 NPs in intracranial tumor xenografts showed that NPs more easily accumulated in tumors with less collagen. These results indicate that a robust understanding of NP interaction with various tumor environments can lead to more effective patient-tailored therapies.
A Method to Solve the Limitations in Drawing External Rays of the Mandelbrot Set
Authors: Romera M. , Pastor G. , Orue A. B. , Martin A. , Danca M.-F. , Montoya F.
Published: September 2013

The external rays of the Mandelbrot set are a valuable graphic tool in order to study this set. They are drawn using computer programs starting from the Böttcher coordinate. However, the drawing of an external ray cannot be completed because it reaches a point from which the drawing tool cannot continue drawing. This point is influenced by the resolution of the standard for floating-point computation used by the drawing program. The IEEE 754 Standard for Floating-Point Arithmetic is the most widely used standard for floating-point computation, and we analyze the possibilities of the quadruple 128 bits format of the current IEEE 754-2008 Standard in order to draw external rays. When the drawing is not possible, due to a lack of resolution of this standard, we introduce a method to draw external rays based on the escape lines and Bézier curves.
Hermite-Hadamard-Type Inequalities forr-Preinvex Functions
Authors: Ul-Haq Wasim , Iqbal Javed
Published: September 2013

We aim to find Hermite-Hadamard inequality forr-preinvex functions. Also, it is investigated for the product of anr-preinvex function ands-preinvex function.
Influence of Surface Treatment on Strength Distribution of Vita VMK 68 Dental Porcelains
Authors: Nohut Serkan , Tasdemir Ahmet , Korkmaz Suleyman Aykut
Published: September 2013

Weibull distribution function is the most commonly used statistical model for the investigation of mechanical properties of dental ceramics and design process with dental ceramics. However, it is still unclear whether the Weibull distribution function is the most appropriate function for fitting the strength data of dental ceramics with different surface treatments. In this paper, three-point bending test results of feldspathic body porcelain (Vita VMK 68) specimens with four different surface treatments are analysed. According to goodness-of-fit tests (Anderson-Darling test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and Akaike information criterion), it is shown that the type of surface treatment has an important influence on deviation of strength distribution from perfect Weibull statistics. It is concluded that estimation of the most suitable statistical model for Vita VMK 68 is not only a material-dependent but also a process-dependent (machining of the specimens) procedure.
RobustH∞Control for Discrete-Time Stochastic Interval System with Time Delay
Authors: Yu Shengchun , Chen Guici , Shen Yi
Published: September 2013

The robustH∞control problem for discrete-time stochastic interval system (DTSIS) with time delay is investigated in this paper. The stochastic interval system is equivalently transformed into a kind of stochastic uncertain time-delay system firstly. By constructing the appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, the sufficient conditions for the existence of the robustH∞controller for DTSIS are obtained in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI) form, and the robustH∞controller is designed. Finally, a numerical example with simulation is given to show the effectiveness and correctness of the designed robustH∞controller.
Prevention of Atherosclerosis Progression by 9-cis-β-Carotene Rich AlgaDunaliellain apoE-Deficient Mice
Authors: Harari Ayelet , Abecassis Revital , Relevi Noa , Levi Zohar , Ben-Amotz Ami , Kamari Yehuda , Harats Dror , Shaish Aviv
Published: September 2013

Introduction.β-Carotene-rich diet has been shown to be inversely associated with the risk of coronary heart disease. However, clinical trials using synthetic all-trans-β-carotene failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect. We therefore sought to study the effect of natural source ofβ-carotene, the algaDunaliella, containing both all-trans and 9-cis-β-carotene on atherosclerosis. In a previous study we showed that 9-cis-β-carotene-rich powder of the algaDunaliellainhibits early atherogenesis in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice.Aims. The aims of the current work were to study whether diet enriched withDunaliellapowder would inhibit the progression of established atherosclerosis in old male apoE-deficient mice and to compare the effect ofDunaliellaon lipid profile and atherosclerosis in a low-versus high-fat diet fed mice.Methods. In the first experiment, young mice (12 weeks old) were allocated into 3 groups: (1) low-fat diet; (2) low-fat diet + Dunaliellapowder (8%); (3) low-fat diet + β-carotene-deficientDunaliella. In the second experiment, old mice (7 months old) with established atherosclerotic lesions were allocated into 4 groups: (1) low-fat diet; (2) low-fat diet + Dunaliella; (3) high fat-diet; (4) high-fat diet + Dunaliella.Results. In young mice fed a low-fat diet, a trend toward lower atherosclerotic lesion area in the aortic sinus was found in theDunaliellagroup compared with the control group. In old mice with established atherosclerotic lesion,Dunaliellainhibited significantly plasma cholesterol elevation and atherosclerosis progression in mice fed a high-fat diet.Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that a diet containing natural carotenoids, rich in 9-cis-β-carotene, has the potential to inhibit atherosclerosis progression, particularly in high-fat diet regime.
Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer with Complex Chemoradio-Hyperthermia
Authors: Pesti L. , Dankovics Zs. , Lorencz P. , Csejtei A.
Published: September 2013

This single arm, retrospective, single institution study investigated intention to treat patients () with advanced cancer of cervix of uterus. The study was performed in 2001–2010, providing 331 sessions. All patients had radiotherapies as fractional radiotherapy and intracavital brachytherapy. Some patients () received chemotherapy (Cisplatin 40 mg/m2/week; concomitantly with tele-radiotherapy) as well. Complementary to the teleradiotherapy, oncothermia was used two times a week, targeting the pelvis. Applied energy dose was 45 W, 60 min. Oncothermia was applied immediately after the infusion, when chemotherapy was also administered. Complete and partial remission were achieved in trimodal therapies for 73.5% of the patients, while we could stabilize the disease for 14.7% of the patients.
Targeted Antiepidermal Growth Factor Receptor (Cetuximab) Immunoliposomes Enhance Cellular Uptake In Vitro and Exhibit Increased Accumulation in an Intracranial Model of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Mortensen Joachim Høg , Jeppesen Maria , Pilgaard Linda , Agger Ralf , Duroux Meg , Zachar Vladimir , Moos Torben
Published: September 2013

Therapeutic advances do not circumvent the devastating fact that the survival rate in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is less than 5%. Nanoparticles consisting of liposome-based therapeutics are provided against a variety of cancer types including GBM, but available liposomal formulations are provided without targeting moieties, which increases the dosing demands to reach therapeutic concentrations with risks of side effects. We prepared PEGylated immunoliposomes (ILs) conjugated with anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies Cetuximab (α-hEGFR-ILs). The affinity of the α-hEGFR-ILs for the EGF receptor was evaluated in vitro using U87 mg and U251 mg cells and in vivo using an intracranial U87 mg xenograft model. The xenograft model was additionally analyzed with respect to permeability to endogenous albumin, tumor size, and vascularization. The in vitro studies revealed significantly higher binding of α-hEGFR-ILs when compared with liposomes conjugated with isotypic nonimmune immunoglobulin. The uptake and internalization of the α-hEGFR-ILs by U87 mg cells were further confirmed by 3D deconvolution analyses. In vivo, the α-hEGFR-ILs accumulated to a higher extent inside the tumor when compared to nonimmune liposomes. The data show that α-hEGFR-ILs significantly enhance the uptake and accumulation of liposomes in this experimental model of GBM suggestive of improved specific nanoparticle-based delivery.
Multiscale Cross-Approximate Entropy Analysis as a Measurement of Complexity between ECG R-R Interval and PPG Pulse Amplitude Series among the Normal and Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Wu Hsien-Tsai , Lee Chih-Yuan , Liu Cyuan-Cin , Liu An-Bang
Published: September 2013

Physiological signals often show complex fluctuation (CF) under the dual influence of temporal and spatial scales, and CF can be used to assess the health of physiologic systems in the human body. This study applied multiscale cross-approximate entropy (MC-ApEn) to quantify the complex fluctuation between R-R intervals series and photoplethysmography amplitude series. All subjects were then divided into the following two groups: healthy upper middle-aged subjects (Group 1, age range: 41–80 years,n=27) and upper middle-aged subjects with type 2 diabetes (Group 2, age range: 41–80 years,n=24). There are significant differences of heart rate variability, LHR, between Groups 1 and 2 (1.94±1.21versus1.32±1.00,P=0.031). Results demonstrated differences in sum of large scale MC-ApEn (MC-ApEnLS) (5.32±0.50versus4.74±0.78,P=0.003). This parameter has a good agreement with pulse-pulse interval and pulse amplitude ratio (PAR), a simplified assessment for baroreflex activity. In conclusion, this study employed the MC-ApEn method, integrating multiple temporal and spatial scales, to quantify the complex interaction between the two physical signals. The MC-ApEnLSparameter could accurately reflect disease process in diabetics and might be another way for assessing the autonomic nerve function.
Age-Related Differences in the Effect of Psychological Distress on Mortality: Type D Personality in Younger versus Older Patients with Cardiac Arrhythmias
Authors: Denollet Johan , Tekle Fetene B. , van der Voort Pepijn H. , Alings Marco , van den Broek Krista C.
Published: September 2013

Background.Mixed findings in biobehavioral research on heart disease may partly be attributed to age-related differences in the prognostic value of psychological distress. This study sought to test the hypothesis that Type D (distressed) personality contributes to an increased mortality risk following implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) treatment in younger patients but not in older patients.Methods.The Type D Scale (DS14) was used to assess general psychological distress in 455 younger (≤70 y,. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but not Type D personality, was associated with increased mortality in older patients. Among younger patients, however, Type D personality was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio = 1.91 (95% CI 1.09–3.34) and 2.26 (95% CI 1.16–4.41) for all-cause and cardiac mortality; other predictors were increasing age, CRT, appropriate shocks, ACE-inhibitors, and smoking.Conclusion.Type D personality was independently associated with all-cause and cardiac mortality in younger ICD patients but not in older patients. Cardiovascular research needs to further explore age-related differences in psychosocial risk.
New Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Living Donor versus Deceased Donor Liver Transplant Recipients: Analysis of the UNOS/OPTN Database
Authors: Yadav Anitha D. , Chang Yu-Hui , Aqel Bashar A. , Byrne Thomas J. , Chakkera Harini A. , Douglas David D. , Mulligan David C. , Rakela Jorge , Vargas Hugo E. , Carey Elizabeth J.
Published: September 2013

New onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) occurs less frequently in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients than in deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT) recipients. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence and predictive factors for NODAT in LDLT versus DDLT recipients. The Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database was reviewed from 2004 to 2010, and 902 LDLT and 19,582 DDLT nondiabetic recipients were included. The overall incidence of NODAT was 12.2% at 1 year after liver transplantation. At 1, 3, and 5 years after transplant, the incidence of NODAT in LDLT recipients was 7.4, 2.1, and 2.6%, respectively, compared to 12.5, 3.4, and 1.9%, respectively, in DDLT recipients. LDLT recipients have a lower risk of NODAT compared to DDLT recipients (hazard ratio = 0.63 (0.52–0.75),P<0.001). Predictors for NODAT in LDLT recipients were hepatitis C (HCV) and treated acute cellular rejection (ACR). Risk factors in DDLT recipients were recipient male gender, recipient age, body mass index, donor age, donor diabetes, HCV, and treated ACR. LDLT recipients have a lower incidence and fewer risk factors for NODAT compared to DDLT recipients. Early identification of risk factors will assist timely clinical interventions to prevent NODAT complications.
Operative Treatment of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts: A Single Center Experience in Israel, a Nonendemic Country
Authors: Maoz Daniel , Greif Franklin , Chen Jacob
Published: September 2013

Background. Hydatid cyst disease is a zoonosis caused by Echinococcus genera. The disease is endemic to certain rural areas in the world. Operative treatment is the main component in curing hydatid cysts of the liver. Objective. Describing the unique characteristics of the hydatid cyst patients in Israel, a nonendemic country. Methods. Data was collected form 29 patients treated operatively in Rabin Medical Center from 1994 to 2007. Results. The study included 18 females and 11 males with an average age of 54.9 years. Fifty-two% of the patients immigrated as children from Arab countries to Israel, 21% were Arab-Israelis leaving in the north and center of Israel, and 24% immigrated from the former Communist Bloc. Pericystectomy was performed in 20/29, and cyst unroofing was performed in 9/29. Hydatid cysts average size was 10.7 cm, and the cysts were located in the right or left or involved both lobes in 62%, 28%, and 10% of the lesions, respectively. Postoperative mortality occurred in one case, and severe morbidity occurred in 4 patients. Conclusions. Hydatid cyst disease in Israel is uncommon and is mostly seen in distinct 3 demographic groups. Despite the relatively low patient volume, good results in terms of morbidity, mortality, and recurrence were achieved.
An Image Registration Method for Colposcopic Images
Authors: Mezura-Montes Efrén , Acosta-Mesa Héctor-Gabriel , Ramírez-Garcés Darío-del-Sinaí , Cruz-Ramírez Nicandro , Hernández-Jiménez Rodolfo
Published: September 2013

A nonrigid body image registration method for spatiotemporal alignment of image sequences obtained from colposcopy examinations to detect precancerous lesions of the cervix is proposed in this paper. The approach is based on time series calculation for those pixels in the first image of the sequence and a division of such image into small windows. A search process is then carried out to find the window with the highest affinity in each image of the sequence and replace it with the window in the reference image. The affinity value is based on polynomial approximation of the time series computed and the search is bounded by a search radius which defines the neighborhood of each window. The proposed approach is tested in ten 310-frame real cases in two experiments: the first one to determine the best values for the window size and the search radius and the second one to compare the best obtained results with respect to four registration methods found in the specialized literature. The obtained results show a robust and competitive performance of the proposed approach with a significant lower time with respect to the compared methods.
Extraction of Belief Knowledge from a Relational Database for Quantitative Bayesian Network Inference
Authors: Wang LiMin
Published: September 2013

The problem of extracting knowledge from a relational database for probabilistic reasoning is still unsolved. On the basis of a three-phase learning framework, we propose the integration of a Bayesian network (BN) with the functional dependency (FD) discovery technique. Association rule analysis is employed to discover FDs and expert knowledge encoded within a BN; that is, key relationships between attributes are emphasized. Moreover, the BN can be updated by using an expert-driven annotation process wherein redundant nodes and edges are removed. Experimental results show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach.
Interaction of Local Anesthetics with Biomembranes Consisting of Phospholipids and Cholesterol: Mechanistic and Clinical Implications for Anesthetic and Cardiotoxic Effects
Authors: Tsuchiya Hironori , Mizogami Maki
Published: September 2013

Despite a long history in medical and dental application, the molecular mechanism and precise site of action are still arguable for local anesthetics. Their effects are considered to be induced by acting on functional proteins, on membrane lipids, or on both. Local anesthetics primarily interact with sodium channels embedded in cell membranes to reduce the excitability of nerve cells and cardiomyocytes or produce a malfunction of the cardiovascular system. However, the membrane protein-interacting theory cannot explain all of the pharmacological and toxicological features of local anesthetics. The administered drug molecules must diffuse through the lipid barriers of nerve sheaths and penetrate into or across the lipid bilayers of cell membranes to reach the acting site on transmembrane proteins. Amphiphilic local anesthetics interact hydrophobically and electrostatically with lipid bilayers and modify their physicochemical property, with the direct inhibition of membrane functions, and with the resultant alteration of the membrane lipid environments surrounding transmembrane proteins and the subsequent protein conformational change, leading to the inhibition of channel functions. We review recent studies on the interaction of local anesthetics with biomembranes consisting of phospholipids and cholesterol. Understanding the membrane interactivity of local anesthetics would provide novel insights into their anesthetic and cardiotoxic effects.
Verrucous Papillary Lesions: Dilemmas in Diagnosis and Terminology
Authors: Kallarakkal Thomas George , Ramanathan Anand , Zain Rosnah Binti
Published: September 2013

Verrucous papillary lesions (VPLs) of oral cavity are diagnostically challenging as they include a spectrum of benign, potentially malignant, and frankly malignant lesions. A majority of the benign VPLs have viral aetiology and include commonly occurring squamous papilloma along with verruca vulgaris, focal epithelial hyperplasia, and condyloma. Current understanding of potentially malignant VPLs is perplexing and is primarily attributed to the use of confusing and unsatisfactory terminology. Clinically and histologically oral verrucous hyperplasia, a potentially malignant disorder, resembles oral verrucous carcinoma and may be indistinguishable from one another. The most reliable way to separate these entities on routine haematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections is to recognize the exophytic growth patterns of oral verrucous hyperplasia from the combined exophytic and endophytic growth patterns associated with verrucous carcinoma. A review of the literature showed that there is a lot of confusion regarding the current clinical and histopathological guidelines to diagnose this potentially malignant entity. The criteria elaborated by different authors in establishing the diagnosis of oral verrucous hyperplasia are discussed in detail. A brief overview of the treatment modalities adopted is also discussed. The need for establishing a clear understanding of this potentially malignant entity is stressed as it may have far reaching implications on its management.
Analysis and Testing of MR Shear Transmission Driven by SMA Spring
Authors: Huang Jin , Chen Xu , Zhong Lirong
Published: September 2013

A transmission method of magnetorheological (MR) fluid in cylindrical-type driven by shape memory alloy (SMA) spring with the thermal effect was proposed. The torque can change rapidly with temperature. Based on the thermal effect of SMA, the expression for displacement of SMA spring was established. The rheological property of MR fluid under the magnetic fields was described by Bingham model. Based on momentum equation, the shear flow of MR fluid between two cylinders was analyzed and the expressions of flow velocity and torque have been obtained. The experimental results show the output displacement of SMA spring and the transmit torque of MR fluid is directly proportional to the temperature and the applied magnetic field, respectively.
HPM-Based Dynamic Wavelet Transform and Its Application in Image Denoising
Authors: Mei Shu-Li
Published: September 2013

Wavelet-based multiscale interpolation operator is often employed to construct the adaptive numerical method for PDEs, in which the computational complexity of the wavelet transform is one of the main factors affecting the algorithm efficiency. As the wavelet transform just acts as the detector of the characteristic points in the interpolation operator, the multiscale wavelet interpolation operator can be viewed as a nonlinear problem. Based on this assumption, we construct an approximate dynamic interpolation operator with the homotopy perturbation method (HPM), which decreases the computational complexity of the wavelet transform appearing in the wavelet interpolation operator fromO((1/3)42J−1)toO(4J), whereJis the amount of the wavelet scales. Then an adaptive algorithm solving the Perona-Malik model on image denoising is constructed with the HPM-based interpolation operator. Last, the quasi-Shannon wavelet is employed to design the experiments on the medical image and some artificial images denoising. The experiment results show that the simplified wavelet interpolation operator based on HPM possesses the adaptability and nonsensitivity to the time step, which is helpful to improve the algorithm efficiency. This illustrates that the HPM-based wavelet interpolation operator is an effective tool to solve the problems in image processing.
Minimum Redundancy MIMO Array Synthesis by means of Cyclic Difference Sets
Authors: Dong Jian , Shi Ronghua , Lei Wentai , Guo Ying
Published: September 2013

Antenna array synthesis is an important issue in MIMO radars. By judiciously designing antenna positions, one can create a very long virtual array steering vector with a small number of antennas and therefore achieve very high spatial resolution at a small cost. This paper presents a combinatorial methodology based on cyclic difference sets (CDSs) for minimum redundancy (MR) MIMO array synthesis which seeks to maximize the virtual array aperture for a given number of antennas. First, the key features of CDSs and the CDS-based MR-MIMO layouts are described. Then, the analytical expression of the maximum contiguous virtual array aperture is derived. Further, based on this expression, an enumerative shifting procedure is developed for identifying the optimal CDS-based MR-MIMO layout. Selected examples are analyzed to point out the computational effectiveness of the CDS-based MR-MIMO array synthesis.