bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Speech performance and oral impairments with lingual and labial orthodontic appliances in the first stage of fixed treatment
Authors: Khattab Tarek Z. , Farah Hassan , Al-Sabbagh Rabab , Hajeer Mohammad Y. , Haj-Hamed Yaser
Published: October 2012

Objectives:

To compare (1) speech performance based on an auditive analysis and sonagraphy and (2) levels of oral impairment between fixed lingual and labial orthodontic appliances.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty-four patients with Class I division 1 malocclusion and moderate crowding of upper teeth were distributed randomly into two groups. Seventeen patients in group A (mean age: 20.6 years; standard deviation [SD]: 2.9 years) were treated with fixed lingual appliances (Stealth®, AO, Sheboygan, Wisc), whereas 17 patients in group B (mean age: 21.8 years; SD: 3.3 years) were treated with conventional fixed labial appliances. Speech performance was tested using spectrographic analysis of fricative /s/ sound before, immediately after (T1), 1 month after, and 3 months after bracket placement. The levels of oral impairment were assessed using standardized questionnaires.

Results:

A significant deterioration in articulation was recorded at all assessment times in group A but only at T1 in group B. Significant intergroup differences were recorded at all assessment times (P < .001). Speech difficulties were significantly higher in the lingual brackets group after 1 month of bracket placement (P < .001). Soft tissue irritation and chewing difficulty were significantly higher in the lingual appliance group after 24 hours of bracket placement (P < .001).

Conclusions:

The lingual appliance is more problematic than the labial one in terms of speech articulation. Although patients with both appliances suffered from different degrees of oral impairment, patients with lingual appliances had more untoward effects, particularly during the first month of treatment.
Long-Term Protective Effect of Lactation on the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Women With Recent Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ziegler Anette-G. , Wallner Maike , Kaiser Imme , Rossbauer Michaela , Harsunen Minna H. , Lachmann Lorenz , Maier Jörg , Winkler Christiane , Hummel Sandra
Published: October 2012

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a high risk of developing postpartum type 2 diabetes. Strategies to prevent postpartum type 2 diabetes are important to reduce the epidemic of diabetes and its societal impact. Breastfeeding was reported to improve early postpartum glucose tolerance and reduce the subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes. To investigate whether breastfeeding influences short- and long-term postpartum diabetes outcomes, women with GDM (n = 304) participating in the prospective German GDM study were followed from delivery for up to 19 years postpartum for diabetes development. All participants were recruited between 1989 and 1999. Postpartum diabetes developed in 147 women and was dependent on the treatment received during pregnancy (insulin vs. diet), BMI, and presence/absence of islet autoantibodies. Among islet autoantibody-negative women, breastfeeding was associated with median time to diabetes of 12.3 years compared with 2.3 years in women who did not breastfeed. The lowest postpartum diabetes risk was observed in women who breastfed for >3 months. On the basis of these results, we recommend that breastfeeding should be encouraged among these women because it offers a safe and feasible low-cost intervention to reduce the risk of subsequent diabetes in this high-risk population.
On the irreducibility of Hilbert scheme of surfaces of minimal degree
Authors: Bogomolov Fedor , Kulikov Viktor
Published: October 2012

The article contains a new proof that the Hilbert scheme of irreducible surfaces of degree m in ℙm+1 is irreducible except m = 4. In the case m = 4 the Hilbert scheme consists of two irreducible components explicitly described in the article. The main idea of our approach is to use the proof of Chisini conjecture [Kulikov Vik.S., On Chisini’s conjecture II, Izv. Math., 2008, 72(5), 901–913 (in Russian)] for coverings of projective plane branched in a special class of rational curves.
Isometry groups of non standard metric products
Authors: Oliynyk Bogdana
Published: October 2012

We consider isometry groups of a fairly general class of non standard products of metric spaces. We present sufficient conditions under which the isometry group of a non standard product of metric spaces splits as a permutation group into direct or wreath product of isometry groups of some metric spaces.
New results from fluctuation analysis in NA49 at the CERN SPS
Authors: Maćkowiak-Pawłowska Maja
Published: October 2012

The exploration of the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter, particularly the study of the phase transition from hadronic to partonic matter and the search for a hypothetical critical endpoint of the first order transition line, is one of the most challenging tasks in present heavy ion physics.

New results on chemical (particle ratio), transverse momentum, multiplicity and azimuthal angle fluctuations are presented. We also discuss their connection to the onset of deconfinement and to the critical endpoint.
Finite size scaling on the phase diagram of QCD
Authors: Gupta Sourendu
Published: October 2012

In the last few years there has been remarkable progress in the comparison of experimental data on the shape of event-by-event distributions of conserved quantities and lattice thermodynamic predictions based on the grand canonical ensemble. In this talk we discuss how the QCD crossover temperature and the freezeout curve are extracted from the analysis of fluctuations. We report that one can also go further and locate the QCD critical point at µ }~ 2T
c. We also list the systematics which must be brought under control in future.
Higher-order ratios of baryon number cumulants
Authors: Schaefer Bernd-Jochen , Wagner Mathias
Published: October 2012

The relevance of higher order cumulants of net baryon number fluctuations for the analysis of freeze-out and critical conditions in heavy-ion collisions at LHC and RHIC is addressed. The sign structure of the higher order cumulants in the vicinity of the chiral crossover temperature might be a sensitive probe and may allow to elucidate their relation to the QCD phase transition. We calculate ratios of generalized quarknumber susceptibilities to high orders in three flavor QCD-like models and investigate their sign structure close to the chiral crossover line.
Understanding of radial and elliptic expansion with quark number scaling and blast wave model in 200 GeV Au+Au at RHIC-PHENIX
Authors: Ikeda Yoshimasa
Published: October 2012

Measurement of azimuthal anisotropy is one of the most important study because of its relation to the initial stage. Especially, the elliptical anisotropy which is measured as the second coefficient of Fourier expansion of particle azimuthal distribution is believed to carry the information about the initial geometrical anisotropy. It seems the identified hadron v
2 depends on the number of quark contents of the hadron. The experimental result of quark number scaling of v
2 suggests quark level collectivity in the hot dense matter and quark coalescence mechanism to form hadron from quark matter via quark-gluon phase transition. The measured v
2 and p
T spectra are analyzed with various assumptions based on the blast wave model in order to understand the freeze-out temperature and collective flow after the system expansion.
Directed flow from global symmetry and initial state Fluctuations
Authors: Csernai Laszlo , Skålvik Astrid , Wang D. , Strottman Daniel , Anderlik Csaba , Cheng Yun , Yan Yu , Sa Ben
Published: October 2012

Collective flow is studied in a 3+1D fluid dynamical model with globally symmetric, peripheral initial conditions, taking into account the shear flow. At $\sqrt {s_{NN} } $ = 2.76 TeV in semi-peripheral Pb+Pb collisions this leads to rotation, while at more peripheral collisions with high resolution and low numerical viscosity, the initial development of a Kelvin-Helmholz instability is observed. This effect provides a precision tool for studying the viscosity of Quark-Gluon Plasma.
Prognosis of elderly patients hospitalized in the cardiac ward
Authors: Cichocka-Radwan Anna , Pietka Inga , Lelonek Malgorzata
Published: October 2012

Introduction Cardiovascular diseases affect nearly 80% of the elderly, and they are the major cause of death in this population. The aim was to evaluate the clinical profile and prognostic factors for patients aged 80 years and more who have been hospitalized for cardiologic reasons. Material and Methods The study included 100 patients aged 80–91 years (46% men) referred to the Department of Cardiology. We analyzed the reasons and length of hospitalization, clinical factors, results of basic laboratory tests, echocardiography, angiography, comorbidities and number of deaths during the hospitalization and in one year of follow-up. Patients were divided and analyzed, depending on the total mortality rate.Results The most common causes of hospitalization were myocardial infarction (67%) and heart failure (10%). Coronary angiography was performed in 72% of patients and percutaneous coronary intervention in 81%. The most common cause of hospital deaths was myocardial infarction (67%). The proportion of deaths in hospital was 8%, and during a year of observation it was 26%. Deaths were found to be related to ventricular conduction blocks (OR=4.0; P=0.03) and atrial fibrillation (OR=11.15; P=0.04). Conclusions In the elderly hospitalized in cardiac wards, myocardial infarction was the most common cause of hospitalization and hospital death. The mortality rate was high and associated with ventricular conduction blocks and atrial fibrillation.
Compliance with DOTS among tuberculosis patients under community based DOTS strategy in Palpa District, Nepal
Authors: Nepal AK , Shiyalap K , Sermsri S , Keiwkarnka B
Published: October 2012

INTRODUCTION: Palpa is one of the rural districts of Nepal with high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) where Community Based Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy was being trailed to make TB services accessible at community level. In spite of this, it has high defaulter rate; every year more than 5% patients had defaulted from the treatment and death due to TB was around 6%. The study, therefore, aimed to assess the patients’ compliance to the treatment and its associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative crosssectional study was carried out using structured interview schedule. All registered TB patients (n=101) who were on treatment were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: TB patients of younger age group were found to be more compliant to the treatment (p=0.02). Side effect of the drugs was the major reason for the non compliance (36.00%). More than half of the TB patients had poor knowledge on TB and its treatment. Compliance was found to be significantly associated with knowledge (p=0.02) and perception (p=0.02) of the patients towards TB. Similarly, the study showed positive association between the compliance and service accessibility (distance: p=0.00), availability of treatment supervisor (p=0.01) and health education (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients’ compliance with the TB treatment was found to be associated with their knowledge and perception on TB and its treatment. Health education and proper counseling was deemed necessary for the patients. Service accessibility along with communication skills training to the providers including community health volunteers can increase compliance rate. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v1i1.6717Int J Infect Microbiol 2012;1(1):14-19
Ciprofloxacin susceptibility of Salmonella enteric serovar Typhi and Paratyphi A from blood samples of suspected enteric fever patients
Authors: Adhikari D , Acharya D , Shrestha P , Amatya R
Published: October 2012

INTRODUCTION: Enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A is the common clinical diagnosis among febrile patients presenting to hospital in Nepal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ciprofloxacin (CIP) and other antibiotics susceptibility patterns of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A from blood samples of suspected enteric fever patients visiting KIST Medical College, Kathmandu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines whereas MIC determination of ciprofloxacin was performed by agar dilution method. RESULTS: Altogether 64 presumptive Salmonella spp. were isolated from 840 blood samples of suspected enteric fever patients, of which 41 were S. Typhi and 23 were S. Paratyphi A. All Salmonella spp. isolates were sensitive to ceftriaxone and ofloxacin whereas 4 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. One isolates each of S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A were multidrug resistant. Fifty five isolates of Salmonella spp. were resistant to nalidixic acid (NA) with higher rate in S. Paratyphi A (91.3%) compared to S. Typhi (82.9%). MIC determination of ciprofloxacin revealed that majority of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 2 isolates were resistant with MIC value of 4 µg/ml and 8 µg/ml. Importantly, we found simultaneous presence of NA resistance and decreased susceptibility to CIP suggesting that resistance to NA is a reliable indicator of decreased CIP susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: Disc diffusion test failed to detect the reduced susceptibility of ciprofloxacin. Hence the MIC determination of ciprofloxacin against Salmonella spp. isolates would be important.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v1i1.6938Int J Infect Microbiol 2012;1(1):9-13
Epistaxis in Visceral Leishmaniasis: A hospital based study in Eastern Nepal
Authors: Sigdel B , Bhandary S , Karki P , Ghimire A
Published: October 2012

INTRODUCTION: Epistaxis is a common clinical manifestation in endemic areas of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). This study aims to see the prevalence of epistaxis in VL in Eastern Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective cross sectional hospital based study. Diagnosis was made by Rk-39 from peripheral smear & Leishmania donovani (LD) bodies from bone marrow. Before starting anti–kalaazar treatment, nasal examination findings were noted. RESULTS: Ninenteen out of 80 diagnosed case of VL patients had epistaxis (23.8%) with age group between 7-66 years. One patient had developed severe epistaxis and hemotoma and died. CONCLUSION: Epistaxis is a common ent finding in endemic area of VL, however this needs to be confirm with larger cohorts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v1i1.6942Int J Infect Microbiol 2012;1(1):38-40
Comparison Of Urinary Bladder Volume In Children Using Suprapubic Ultrasonic Bi-Planner Technique With Voided Urine Volume
Authors: Sadek S , Hossain M , Akther H , Sikdar A
Published: October 2012

Accurate determination of intravesical residual urine volume as well as bladder capacity is of significant importance in children. The ability to confirm these measurements non invasively in children avoids discomfort, urethral trauma and the introduction of urinary tract infection. Also, by avoiding the need for catheterization this technique permits more physiological assessment and allows for repeated examinations without fear and anxiety on the part of the patients. In this prospective study we assess the accuracy of the real time, hand held, ultrasonic device using suprapubic views and biplanar technique to determine intravesical volumes. Real time ultrasonography with suprapubic views and the described bi-planar technique to determine intravesical urine volume is simple, accurate and reproducible. It also is rapid and noninvasive, and can detect accurately an empty bladder in children. A strong correlation was found between the estimated bladder volume with our method and voided urine volume (0 ml, residual volume) .This study concluded that the modality used in this study has the potential to provide useful and reproducible information in the clinical evaluation of bladder function in children.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12199 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 4-7
Frequency of Tuberculosis in Patients with Enlarged Lymph Nodes and its cost-effective first line of Diagnosis in our Country
Authors: Parveen Kawser , Momen Afroza , Kobra Khodezatul
Published: October 2012

Tuberculosis is the commonest infectious disease in the developing world. Tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.Many diagnostic tests are devised for its detection including direct smear examination. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine the frequency of tuberculosis in lymphadenopathy of different sites and its rapid diagnosis by FNAC and ZN(Ziehl-Neelsen)staining of aspitation smears. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done on 100 cases of enlarged lymphnodes on different site at two private tertiary medical college hospital of Dhaka. After reporting granulomatous inflammation on papanicolaou staining (PAP stain) of aspirates obtained by FNAC, one unstained slide from each cases was subjected to special stain like ZN, to determine the AFB positivity. Cases positive for AFB on ZN stain were noted down along with their frequency and percentages. Cervical lymph nodes were the most commonly involved site (76%). Forty One cases (56%) of AFB positive smears were reported in granulomatous inflammation. Most cases of AFB-positive smears were associated with caseation necrosis (92%). Male were affected more (63%) than female. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a simple and rapid diagnostic technique, along with ZN staining, that increases the diagnostic accuracy of this technique. Because of early availability of results, simplicity, minimal trauma and complications, the aspiration cytology is now considered a valuable diagnostic aid and is part and parcel of a pathologist's repertoire. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12214 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 34-39
Prenatal Depression and Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A cross sectional study among women of Dhaka Community Medical College and Hospital
Authors: Parveen Shamima , Farah Shayela , Karim Mohoshina
Published: October 2012

Depression and Pre-term birth are the most important and serious health problem now a days. For decades, while infectious diseases have had the attention of the global health agenda, non-communicable diseases have received little attention. Preterm delivery, which occurs in approximately 5% to 10% of all births, is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. This cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim to determine the depression and spontaneous preterm birth among 275 women of Dhaka Community Medical College and Hospital during January to June 2011. Results show, 44.7% of the respondents are in the age group >20 years. Among others 32% and 23.3% of the respondents respectively are in the age group 20-25 years and <20 years. 70.5% of the respondents belong to Islam religion. At the most 45.5% of the respondents are illiterate and 59.3% of the respondents are housewife and rest of them service holder. Most of the respondents were live in extended family (60.4%). Out of 275 respondents, the number of depressed women was 67.3% where as non depressed women were 32.7%.Women categorized as depressed 56.2% had 1-2 children, vaginal bleeding in 3rd trimester were most commonly seen in 82.7% of them and were more frequently hospitalized during the third trimester. Gestational hypertension and Polyhydramnios were less prone to depressed women. There is a highly significant relationship of depression with parity of women (P=0.00), vaginal bleeding in 3rd trimester of pregnancy. (P=0.00). Also there is a significant relationship of depression with hospitalization of 2nd trimester of pregnancy (P=.038) hospitalization of 3rd trimester of pregnancy (P=0.020) among the women of Dhaka Community Medical College and Hospital. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12216 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 44-48
Development of a Ground Based Remote Sensing Approach for Direct Evaluation of Aerosol-Cloud Interaction
Authors: Madhavan Bomidi Lakshmi , He Yuzhe , Wu Yonghua , Gross Barry , Moshary Fred , Ahmed Samir
Published: October 2012

The possible interaction and modification of cloud properties due to aerosols is one of the most poorly understood mechanisms within climate studies, resulting in the most significant uncertainty as regards radiation budgeting. In this study, we explore direct ground based remote sensing methods to assess the Aerosol-Cloud Indirect Effect directly, as space-borne retrievals are not directly suitable for simultaneous aerosol/cloud retrievals. To illustrate some of these difficulties, a statistical assessment of existing multispectral imagers on geostationary (e.g., GOES)/Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite retrievals of the Cloud Droplet Effective Radius (Reff) showed significant biases especially at larger solar zenith angles, further motivating the use of ground based remote sensing approaches. In particular, we discuss the potential of using a combined Microwave Radiometer (MWR)—Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) system for real-time monitoring of Cloud Optical Depth (COD) and Cloud Droplet Effective Radius (Reff), which are combined with aerosol vertical properties from an aerosol lidar. An iterative approach combining the simultaneous observations from MFRSR and MWR are used to retrieve the COD and Reff for thick cloud cases and are extensively validated using the DoE Southern Great Plains (SGP) retrievals as well as regression based parameterized model retrievals. In addition, we account for uncertainties in background aerosol, surface albedo and the combined measurement uncertainties from the MWR and MFRSR in order to provide realistic uncertainty estimates, which is found to be ~10% for the parameter range of interest in Aerosol-Cloud Interactions. Finally, we analyze a particular case of possible aerosol-cloud interaction described in the literature at the SGP site and demonstrate that aerosol properties obtained at the surface can lead to inconclusive results in comparison to lidar-derived aerosol properties near the cloud base.
Subliminal Affect Valence Words Change Conscious Mood Potency but Not Valence: Is This Evidence for Unconscious Valence Affect?
Authors: Shevrin Howard , Panksepp Jaak , Brakel Linda A. W. , Snodgrass Michael
Published: October 2012

Whether or not affect can be unconscious remains controversial. Research claiming to demonstrate unconscious affect fails to establish clearly unconscious stimulus conditions. The few investigations that have established unconscious conditions fail to rule out conscious affect changes. We report two studies in which unconscious stimulus conditions were met and conscious mood changes measured. The subliminal stimuli were positive and negative affect words presented at the objective detection threshold; conscious mood changes were measured with standard manikin valence, potency, and arousal scales. We found and replicated that unconscious emotional stimuli produced conscious mood changes on the potency scale but not on the valence scale. Were positive and negative affects aroused unconsciously, but reflected consciously in potency changes? Or were the valence words unconscious cognitive causes of conscious mood changes being activated without unconscious affect? A thought experiment is offered as a way to resolve this dilemma.
Hydrogen Production from Semiconductor-based Photocatalysis via Water Splitting
Authors: Liao Chi-Hung , Huang Chao-Wei , Wu Jeffrey C. S.
Published: October 2012

Hydrogen is the ideal fuel for the future because it is clean, energy efficient, and abundant in nature. While various technologies can be used to generate hydrogen, only some of them can be considered environmentally friendly. Recently, solar hydrogen generated via photocatalytic water splitting has attracted tremendous attention and has been extensively studied because of its great potential for low-cost and clean hydrogen production. This paper gives a comprehensive review of the development of photocatalytic water splitting for generating hydrogen, particularly under visible-light irradiation. The topics covered include an introduction of hydrogen production technologies, a review of photocatalytic water splitting over titania and non-titania based photocatalysts, a discussion of the types of photocatalytic water-splitting approaches, and a conclusion for the current challenges and future prospects of photocatalytic water splitting. Based on the literatures reported here, the development of highly stable visible–light-active photocatalytic materials, and the design of efficient, low-cost photoreactor systems are the key for the advancement of solar-hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting in the future.
Trophic Actions of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Muscle Repair/Regeneration
Authors: Sassoli Chiara , Zecchi-Orlandini Sandra , Formigli Lucia
Published: October 2012

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) represent the leading candidate cell in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. These cells can be easily isolated, expanded in vitro and are capable of providing significant functional benefits after implantation in the damaged muscle tissues. Despite their plasticity, the participation of BM-MSCs to new muscle fiber formation is controversial; in fact, emerging evidence indicates that their therapeutic effects occur without signs of long-term tissue engraftment and involve the paracrine secretion of cytokines and growth factors with multiple effects on the injured tissue, including modulation of inflammation and immune reaction, positive extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis and protection from apoptosis. Recently, a new role for BM-MSCs in the stimulation of muscle progenitor cells proliferation has been demonstrated, suggesting the potential ability of these cells to influence the fate of local stem cells and augment the endogenous mechanisms of repair/regeneration in the damaged tissues.
Plausible Description Logic Programs for Stream Reasoning
Authors: Groza Adrian , Letia Ioan Alfred
Published: October 2012

Sensor networks are estimated to drive the formation of the future Internet, with stream reasoning responsible for analysing sensor data. Stream reasoning is defined as real time logical reasoning on large, noisy, heterogeneous data streams, aiming to support the decision process of large numbers of concurrent querying agents. In this research we exploited non-monotonic rule-based systems for handling inconsistent or incomplete information and also ontologies to deal with heterogeneity. Data is aggregated from distributed streams in real time and plausible rules fire when new data is available. The advantages of lazy evaluation on data streams were investigated in this study, with the help of a prototype developed in Haskell.
Human Actions Illustrated in Zen’s Ox-Herding Pictures
Authors: Zhi Yong
Published: October 2012

The enlightenment from Zen’s perspective is the experiences of action that reveal a horizon of new consciousness. This event of enlightenment is the process of action rather than the outcome of action. Therefore, actions are not just the means to enlightenment but the very core of it. The actions of enlightenment from Zen’s perspective cannot be adequately described and explained in logical terms. Unlike most other Buddhist schools, Zen does not engage in extensive philosophical discourses; its classical literatures are mostly artistic in nature, consisting of collections of koans, poetry, and paintings, etc. The ten ox-herding pictures of Zen Buddhism are recognized as the classical illustration of Zen’s spiritual journey, as it vividly depicts the practice of Zen in a poetic and metaphorical way. They present a visual parable of the path to enlightenment in a narrative sequence of a boy’s searching, seeing, wrestling, riding, and transcending of the ox.
Improved Production of Cyclodextrins by Alkalophilic Bacilli Immobilized on Synthetic or Loofa Sponges
Authors: Delani Tieles Carina de Oliveira , Pazzetto Rúbia , Mangolim Camila Sampaio , Carvalho Fenelon Vanderson , Moriwaki Cristiane , Matioli Graciette
Published: October 2012

This study aimed to improve the production of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) by microbial cells immobilized on synthetic or loofa sponges both with and without the use of alginate or chitosan. The most suitable matrix for the immobilization of Bacillus firmus strain 7B was synthetic sponge and for Bacillus sphaericus strain 41 was loofa sponge. After 330 days of storage, the β-CD production by Bacillus firmus and Bacillus sphaericus remained at around 41% and 49%, respectively, of initial levels. After 24 days of immobilization on loofa sponge, Bacillus sphaericus strain 41 achieved an improved operational stability, reaching 86.6 mM β-CD after 20 days of production, compared to only 32.8 mM of β-CD produced by free Bacillus sphaericus strain 41 cells. The expected increase in β-CD production by immobilized cells of Bacillus firmus strain 7B on synthetic sponge for 4 days was not statistically different to that for cells immobilized for 24 days. The application of this process on an industrial scale using loofa sponge, an inexpensive and renewable matrix, will allow the stable production of β-CD.
ABO Blood Group System and Gastric Cancer: A Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Liu Lei , Ji Jun , Zhang Jianian , Yan Min , Zhang Jun , Liu Bingya , Zhu Zhenggang , Yu Yingyan
Published: October 2012

This study focuses on the association between the ABO blood group system and the risk of gastric cancer or Helicobacter pylori infection. The data for the ABO blood group was collected from 1045 cases of gastric cancer, whereby the patient underwent a gastrectomy in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai. The information on the ABO blood group from 53,026 healthy blood donors was enrolled as control. We searched the Pubmed database on the relationship between ABO blood groups and gastric cancer risk for meta-analysis. In our case-control study, the risk of gastric cancer in blood group A was significantly higher than that in non-A groups (O, B and AB) (odd ratio, OR1.34; 95% confidential interval, CI 1.25–1.44). Compared with non-O groups (A, B and AB), individuals with blood group O demonstrated a reduced risk of gastric cancer (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.72–0.88). The proportion of H. pylori infection in blood group A individuals was significantly higher than that in non-A blood groups (OR = 1.42; 95% CI 1.05–1.93). We further combined our data with the published data of others, and crossreferenced the risk of gastric cancer with the blood type, finding consistent evidence that gastric cancer risk in the blood A group was higher than that in the non-A groups (OR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.07–1.15), and that blood type O individuals were consistently shown gastric cancer risk reduction (OR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.89–0.94). Our study concluded that there was a slightly increased risk of gastric cancer in blood group A individuals, and people with blood type A are more prone to be infected by H. pylori than other ABO blood type individuals, whereas, a slightly decreased risk of gastric cancer was identified in blood type O individuals.
Histone Displacement during Nucleotide Excision Repair
Authors: Dinant Christoffel , Bartek Jiri , Bekker-Jensen Simon
Published: October 2012

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is an important DNA repair mechanism required for cellular resistance against UV light and toxic chemicals such as those found in tobacco smoke. In living cells, NER efficiently detects and removes DNA lesions within the large nuclear macromolecular complex called chromatin. The condensed nature of chromatin inhibits many DNA metabolizing activities, including NER. In order to promote efficient repair, detection of a lesion not only has to activate the NER pathway but also chromatin remodeling. In general, such remodeling is thought on the one hand to precede NER, thus allowing repair proteins to efficiently access DNA. On the other hand, after completion of the repair, the chromatin must be returned to its previous undamaged state. Chromatin remodeling can refer to three separate but interconnected processes, histone post-translational modifications, insertion of histone variants and histone displacement (including nucleosome sliding). Here we review current knowledge, and speculate about current unknowns, regarding those chromatin remodeling activities that physically displace histones before, during and after NER.
Information Physics—Towards a New Conception of Physical Reality
Authors: Goyal Philip
Published: October 2012

The concept of information plays a fundamental role in our everyday experience, but is conspicuously absent in framework of classical physics. Over the last century, quantum theory and a series of other developments in physics and related subjects have brought the concept of information and the interface between an agent and the physical world into increasing prominence. As a result, over the last few decades, there has arisen a growing belief amongst many physicists that the concept of information may have a critical role to play in our understanding of the workings of the physical world, both in more deeply understanding existing physical theories and in formulating of new theories. In this paper, I describe the origin of the informational view of physics, illustrate some of the work inspired by this view, and give some indication of its implications for the development of a new conception of physical reality.
RETRACTED: Nair et al. UV-Induced Radical Photo-Polymerization: A Smart Tool for Preparing Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Energy Storage Devices. Membranes 2012, 2, 307–324
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: October 2012

It has been brought to the corresponding author’s attention by the administration office that some of the authors present in this paper [1] are contradicting with the rules and regulation of some of the confidential industrial projects which have been signed with strict regulations. Now it has aroused as a big trouble and, consequently, to solve this problem all the authors have determined that it should be retracted. This decision has been taken purely for bureaucratic aspect. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Synthesis and Herbicidal Activity of Substituted Pyrazole Isothiocyanates
Authors: Wu Hua , Feng Jun-Tao , Lin Kai-Chun , Zhang Xing
Published: October 2012

Isothiocyanates and substituted pyrazoles were combined to form a series of novel isothiocyanates with highly effective herbicidal activity. The target compounds were analyzed by elemental analysis, 1H-NMR, EI-MS and IR spectroscopy. The synthesized compounds, particularly compounds 3-1 and 3-7, exhibited good herbicidal activities against four weeds. The EC50 values of compound 3-1 against Echinochloa crusgalli L., Cyperus iria L., Dactylis glomerata L., and Trifolium repens L. were 64.32, 65.83, 62.42, and 67.72 µg/mL, respectively. The EC50 values of compound 3-7 against E. crusgalli L., C. iria L., D. glomerata L., T. repens L. were 65.33, 64.90, 59.41 and 67.41 µg/mL, respectively. Compounds 3-1 and 3-7 may be further optimized as lead compounds for new herbicides.
Bioactive Oleanane, Lupane and Ursane Triterpene Acid Derivatives
Authors: Silva Maria de L. e , David Juceni P. , Silva Lidércia C. R. C. , Santos Rauldenis A. F. , David Jorge M. , Lima Luciano S. , Reis Pedro S. , Fontana Renato
Published: October 2012

Betulinic, ursolic and oleanolic acids isolated from the aerial parts of Eriope blanchetii (Lamiaceae) were subjected to different esterification reactions, yielding 12 C-3 position ester derivatives. All compounds were identified using spectroscopic techniques, such as IR, 1H-NMR and MS. The derivatives were further investigated for their antioxidant level, Artemia salina lethality and antimicrobial activity.
Comparative Theology and Religious Studies in a Non-religious Environment
Authors: Scheuer Jacques
Published: October 2012

The intellectual landscape of Europe bears the marks of a long history of cultural perceptions of, and scientific approaches to, religions. The sciences of religions had to establish their autonomy from churches and theologies. However, the cultural context and the institutional set-up of ‘laïcité’ did not foster the development of comparative religion, much less comparative theology. However, this situation may have an advantage: it should discourage the exercise of comparative theology as a sectarian endeavour apart from broader anthropological perspectives and concerns. Comparative theology should not become the last refuge for religious nostalgia. In Europe, interreligious relationships (and hence comparative theologies) should not be isolated from simple or more sophisticated forms of indifference, agnosticism, or atheism. The active presence of a non-religious environment as well as the growing interest in Buddhism, are challenges to comparative theology: its contents, its approach, its intended audience.
A Hybrid Sensing Approach for Pure and Adulterated Honey Classification
Authors: Subari Norazian , Mohamad Saleh Junita , Md Shakaff Ali Yeon , Zakaria Ammar
Published: October 2012

This paper presents a comparison between data from single modality and fusion methods to classify Tualang honey as pure or adulterated using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) statistical classification approaches. Ten different brands of certified pure Tualang honey were obtained throughout peninsular Malaysia and Sumatera, Indonesia. Various concentrations of two types of sugar solution (beet and cane sugar) were used in this investigation to create honey samples of 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% adulteration concentrations. Honey data extracted from an electronic nose (e-nose) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were gathered, analyzed and compared based on fusion methods. Visual observation of classification plots revealed that the PCA approach able to distinct pure and adulterated honey samples better than the LDA technique. Overall, the validated classification results based on FTIR data (88.0%) gave higher classification accuracy than e-nose data (76.5%) using the LDA technique. Honey classification based on normalized low-level and intermediate-level FTIR and e-nose fusion data scored classification accuracies of 92.2% and 88.7%, respectively using the Stepwise LDA method. The results suggested that pure and adulterated honey samples were better classified using FTIR and e-nose fusion data than single modality data.
Envelope Glycoprotein of Arenaviruses
Authors: Burri Dominique J. , Palma Joel Ramos da , Kunz Stefan , Pasquato Antonella
Published: October 2012

Arenaviruses include lethal human pathogens which pose serious public health threats. So far, no FDA approved vaccines are available against arenavirus infections, and therapeutic options are limited, making the identification of novel drug targets for the development of efficacious therapeutics an urgent need. Arenaviruses are comprised of two RNA genome segments and four proteins, the polymerase L, the envelope glycoprotein GP, the matrix protein Z, and the nucleoprotein NP. A crucial step in the arenavirus life-cycle is the biosynthesis and maturation of the GP precursor (GPC) by cellular signal peptidases and the cellular enzyme Subtilisin Kexin Isozyme-1 (SKI-1)/Site-1 Protease (S1P) yielding a tripartite mature GP complex formed by GP1/GP2 and a stable signal peptide (SSP). GPC cleavage by SKI-1/S1P is crucial for fusion competence and incorporation of mature GP into nascent budding virion particles. In a first part of our review, we cover basic aspects and newer developments in the biosynthesis of arenavirus GP and its molecular interaction with SKI-1/S1P. A second part will then highlight the potential of SKI-1/S1P-mediated processing of arenavirus GPC as a novel target for therapeutic intervention to combat human pathogenic arenaviruses.
Virus-Induced Aggregates in Infected Cells
Authors: Moshe Adi , Gorovits Rena
Published: October 2012

During infection, many viruses induce cellular remodeling, resulting in the formation of insoluble aggregates/inclusions, usually containing viral structural proteins. Identification of aggregates has become a useful diagnostic tool for certain viral infections. There is wide variety of viral aggregates, which differ by their location, size, content and putative function. The role of aggregation in the context of a specific virus is often poorly understood, especially in the case of plant viruses. The aggregates are utilized by viruses to house a large complex of proteins of both viral and host origin to promote virus replication, translation, intra- and intercellular transportation. Aggregated structures may protect viral functional complexes from the cellular degradation machinery. Alternatively, the activation of host defense mechanisms may involve sequestration of virus components in aggregates, followed by their neutralization as toxic for the host cell. The diversity of virus-induced aggregates in mammalian and plant cells is the subject of this review.
Influence of the diameter of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles on the optoelectronic performance of dry-deposited thin films
Authors: Mustonen Kimmo , Susi Toma , Kaskela Antti , Laiho Patrik , Tian Ying , Nasibulin Albert G , Kauppinen Esko I
Published: October 2012

The optoelectronic performance of thin films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was studied with respect to the properties of both individual nanotubes and their bundles. The SWCNTs were synthesized in a hot wire generator aerosol reactor, collected by gas filtration and dry-transferred onto various substrates. By thus completely avoiding liquid dispersion steps, we were able to avoid any artifacts from residual surfactants or sonication. We found that bundle lengths determined the thin-film performance, as would be expected for highly resistive bundle–bundle junctions. However, we found no evidence that contact resistances were affected by the bundle diameters, although they did play a secondary role by simply affecting the absorption. The individual SWCNT diameters and their graphitization level as gauged by the Raman D band intensity did not show any clear correlation with the overall performance.
Asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-diols by C2-symmetric chiral 4-pyrrolidinopyridines
Authors: Schedel Hartmut , Kan Keizo , Ueda Yoshihiro , Mishiro Kenji , Yoshida Keisuke , Furuta Takumi , Kawabata Takeo
Published: October 2012

In this work we developed C2-symmetric chiral nucleophilic catalysts which possess a pyrrolidinopyridine framework as a catalytic site. Some of these organocatalysts effectively promoted asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-diols via enantioselective acylation.
Contralateral Suppression of Transient Otoacoustic Emissions and Sentence Recognition in Noise in Young Adults
Authors: Stuart Andrew , Butler Alyson K.
Published: October 2012

Background:One purported role of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent system is to reduce the effects of masking noise. MOC system functioning can be evaluated noninvasively in humans through contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions. It has been suggested that the
strength of the MOC efferent activity should be positively associated with listening performance in noise.Purpose:The objective of the study was to further explore this notion by examining contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and sentence recognition
in two noises with normal hearing young adults.Research Design:A repeated measures multivariate quasi-experimental design was employed.Study Sample:Thirty-two normal hearing young adult females participated.Data Collection and Analysis:Reception thresholds for sentences
(RTSs) were determined monaurally and binaurally in quiet and in competing continuous and interrupted noises. Both noises had an identical power spectrum and differed only in their temporal continuity. “Release from masking” was computed by subtracting RTS signal-to-noise ratios
in interrupted from continuous noise. TEOAEs were evoked with 80 dB peSPL click stimuli. To examine contralateral suppression, TEOAEs were evaluated with 60 dB peSPL click stimuli with and without a contralateral 65 dB SPL white noise suppressor.Results:A binaural advantage was observed
for RTSs in quiet and noise (p < .0001) while there was no difference between ears (p >.05). In noise, performance was superior in the interrupted noise (i.e., RTSs were lower vs. continuous noise; p < .0001). There were no statistically significant differences
in TEOAE levels between ears (p >.05). There was also no significant difference in the amount of suppression between ears (p = .41). There were no significant correlations or predictive linear relations between the amount of TEOAE suppression and any indices of sentence recognition
in noise (i.e., RTS signal-to-noise ratios and release from masking; p > .05).Conclusions:The findings are not consistent with the notion that increased medial olivocochlear efferent feedback, as assessed via contralateral suppression of TEOAEs, is associated with improved
speech perception in continuous and interrupted noise.
Cochlear Implant Combined with a Linear Frequency Transposing Hearing Aid
Authors: Hua Håkan , Johansson Björn , Jönsson Radi , Magnusson Lennart
Published: October 2012

Background:Adults with cochlear implants (CIs) are usually implanted unilaterally. To preserve binaural advantages, a noninvasive method involves maintaining the hearing aid (HA) on the contralateral ear; the choice of HA for this purpose is therefore crucial. In recent years,
the use of frequency transposition has gained a renewed interest in clinical practice. This type of processing records information from the high-frequency region and conveys it to a low-frequency region where there is still some residual hearing.Purpose:To conduct an investigation and
examine whether adults with unilateral CI derive benefits from a HA utilizing linear frequency transposition (LFT) on the contralateral ear.Research Design:A two-period, single-blind, repeated-measures crossover design was conducted to examine the combination of LFT in conjunction with
a CI. Speech recognition tests were performed in quiet and in noise with LFT either activated or deactivated. The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Questionnaire (SSQ) was used to measure subjective benefit.Study Sample:The participants were nine frequent bimodal users, five
males and four females, with a moderate to profound high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in the nonimplanted ear.Intervention:The current study was conducted using the Widex Mind440 power (m4-19) behind-the-ear HA. The participants acted as their own control in a total of seven
conditions: (1) bimodal with own HA, (2) CI only, (3) own HA alone, (4) bimodal new HA LFT-off, (5) new HA LFT-off, (6) bimodal new HA LFT-on, and (7) new HA LFT-on.Data Collection and Analysis:Monosyllabic words in quiet and the Swedish version of Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) were
used as speech test materials. Stimuli were presented in sound field at a speech level of 65 dB sound pressure level (SPL) via a loudspeaker at a distance of 1 m from the participant in a sound-treated room. The SSQ was administered in each session evaluating the three bimodal conditions.
SPSS software was used for statistical analyses. General linear model (GLM) analysis of variance for repeated measures was performed and followed with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc pairwise comparisons.Results:Participants performed better with CI only than with HA alone, and the bimodal
conditions were superior to the CI alone. No significant differences (p > .05) were observed when comparing the LFT-on with LFT-off regardless of whether the use of CI was included in the different listening conditions in objective and subjective measurements.Conclusions:The
results suggest an advantage for CI patients with a HA in the opposite ear, and that the LFT neither degraded nor enhanced speech performance in conjunction with a CI in quiet or in noise in comparison to when it was deactivated.