bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective effects of cutamesine, a ligand of the sigma‐1 receptor chaperone, against noise‐induced hearing loss
Authors: Yamashita Daisuke , Sun Guang‐wei , Cui Yong , Mita Shiro , Otsuki Naoki , Kanzaki Sho , Nibu Ken‐ichi , Ogawa Kaoru , Matsunaga Tatsuo
Published: January 2015

The sigma‐1 receptor, which is expressed throughout the brain, provides physiological benefits that include higher brain function. The sigma‐1 receptor functions as a chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum and may control cell death and regeneration within the central nervous system. Cutamesine (1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenethyl)−4‐(3‐phenylpropyl) piperazine dihydrochloride) is a ligand selective for this receptor and may mediate neuroprotective effects in the context of neurodegenerative disease. We therefore assessed whether cutamesine protects the inner ear from noise‐induced or aging‐associated hearing loss. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting revealed that the sigma‐1 receptor is present in adult cochlea. We treated mice with 0, 3, or 30 mg/kg cutamesine from 10 days before noise exposure until the end of the study. All subjects were exposed to a 120‐dB, 4‐kHz octave‐band noise for 2 hr. We assessed auditory thresholds by measuring the auditory‐evoked brainstem responses at 4, 8, and 16 kHz, prior to and 1 week, 1 month, or 3 months following noise exposure. For the aging study, measurements were made before treatment was initiated and after 3 or 9 months of cutamesine treatment. Damage to fibrocytes within the cochlear spiral limbus was assessed by quantitative histology. Cutamesine significantly reduced threshold shifts and cell death within the spiral limbus in response to intense noise. These effects were not dose or time dependent. Conversely, cutamesine did not prevent aging‐associated hearing loss. These results suggest that cutamesine reduces noise‐induced hearing loss and cochlear damage during the acute phase that follows exposure to an intense noise. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nutritional aspects of gluten‐free products
Authors: Pellegrini Nicoletta , Agostoni Carlo
Published: January 2015

In recent years, gluten‐free (GF) goods have become popular, fuelling a growing market, as they not only cater to individuals with medical needs but also to consumers who seek a GF diet. In their development, it is pivotal to pay attention to nutritional quality. This review aims to provide some insights on the nutritional quality of GF products, focusing on major concerns and the strategies to overcome them. In order to mimic the viscoelastic properties of gluten, a large number of flours and starches and other ingredients have been used. Therefore the different mixtures of these ingredients bring a wide difference in the nutritional composition of GF foods with respect to gluten‐containing counterparts. Several GF foodstuffs contain more fat, including saturated, and salt but fewer minerals and vitamins than their equivalents with gluten. The increased fibre content and improved technological processes have positively affected the glycaemic responses from these goods. However, in order to improve their nutritional quality, wholemeal GF cereals and pseudocereals with high nutritive value should replace the low‐nutritional GF flours and consequently the technological processes would be optimized. The improvement of the nutritional quality of GF products, and in turn that of the GF diet, should also be aimed at lowering the risk of later chronic degenerative disorders, especially for infants and young children. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Determination of thermodynamic pKa values of pharmaceuticals from five different groups using capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Zrnčić Mirta , Babić Sandra , Mutavdžić Pavlović Dragana
Published: January 2015

A determination of the thermodynamic acid dissociation constants (pKa) of 22 frequently used pharmaceuticals using capillary electrophoresis in aqueous media is presented in this work. The investigated pharmaceuticals belong to different pharmacological groups: macrolides, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, β‐lactams, tetracyclines, and other miscellaneous pharmaceuticals. The electrophoretic mobilities of the investigated analytes were monitored in a pH range from 2.00 to 10.82. The data were fitted with an appropriate mathematical model using a nonlinear regression analysis to obtain pKa values. Experimentally obtained data were well described by the mathematical model chosen for each analyte that was confirmed by r2 values higher than 0.99 for most of the investigated analytes. Extrapolations to zero ionic strength were used to determine the thermodynamic pKa values. Experimentally obtained acid dissociation constants were interpreted using structural formulae of investigated analytes and the moieties corresponding to specific pKa were identified.
Simultaneous quantification of 25 active constituents in the total flavonoids extract from Herba Desmodii Styracifolii by high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Guo Panpan , Yan Wenying , Han Qingjie , Wang Chunying , Zhang Zijian
Published: January 2015

A sensitive and selective high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 25 active constituents, including 21 flavonoids and four phenolic acids in the total flavonoids extract from Herba Desmodii Styracifolii for the first time. Among the 25 compounds, seven compounds including caffeic acid, acacetin, genistein, genistin, diosmetin, diosmin and hesperidin were identified and quantified for the first time in Herba Desmodii Styracifolii. Chromatographic separation was accomplished on a ZORBAX SB‐C18 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5.0 μm) column using gradient elution of methanol and 0.1‰ acetic acid v/v at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The identification and quantification of the analytes were achieved using negative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in multiple‐reaction monitoring mode. The method was fully validated in terms of limits of detection and quantification, linearity, precision and accuracy. The results indicated that the developed method is simple, rapid, specific and reliable. Furthermore, the developed method was successfully applied to quantify the 25 active components in six batches of total flavonoids extract from Herba Desmodii Styracifolii.
Biodegradable Micelles Capable of Mannose‐Mediated Targeted Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells
Authors: Yin Lichen , Chen Yongbing , Zhang Zhonghai , Yin Qian , Zheng Nan , Cheng Jianjun
Published: January 2015

A targeted micellar drug delivery system is developed from a biocompatible and biodegradable amphiphilic polyester, poly(Lac‐OCA)‐b‐(poly(Tyr(alkynyl)‐OCA)‐g‐mannose) (PLA‐b‐(PTA‐g‐mannose), that is synthesized via controlled ring‐opening polymerization of O‐carboxyanhydride (OCA) and highly efficient “Click” chemistry. Doxorubicin (DOX), a model lipophilic anticancer drug, can be effectively encapsulated into the micelles, and the mannose moiety allows active targeting of the micelles to cancer cells that specifically express mannose receptors, which thereafter enhances the anticancer efficiency of the drug. Comprised entirely of biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters, this micellar system demonstrates promising potentials for targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy.

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Structural and Optical Properties of Electrodeposited Porous SnO2 Films: Effect of Applied Potential and Post Deposition Annealing Treatment
Authors: Arote Sandeep A. , Tabhane Vilas , Gunjal Shashikant D. , Mohite Kakasaheb C. , Pathan Habib
Published: January 2015

Nanocrystalline SnO2 film was prepared by cathodic electrodeposition method and its structure and optical properties were studied by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. The effects of applied potential and post deposition annealing on the structural and optical properties of the SnO2 were studied. It was observed from XRD that, the SnO2 film synthesized at 3 V and annealed at 250 °C showed orthorhombic phase with crystallite size of about 10 nm. The morphological study revealed that the samples having porous nature with the network of spherical shape particles. From UV–visible absorption, the band gap of sample was observed of about 3.9 eV. The water contact angle measurements were studied to see the effect of annealing temperature on the hydrophilicity/ Wettability of the film. The SnO2 surface was hydrophilic, but its hydrophilicity decreased considerably after post deposition annealing. Further the samples were used for dye sensitized solar cell applications and the results were discussed.
Semi‐analytical description of the S = 9/2 quadrupole nutation NMR experiment: multinuclear application to 113In and 115In in indium phosphide
Authors: Kempgens Pierre
Published: January 2015

The density matrix of a spin S = 9/2 excited by a radiofrequency pulse is calculated. The interaction involved during the excitation of the spin system is first‐order quadrupolar. Consequently, the results are valid for any ratio of the quadrupolar coupling ωQ to the pulse amplitude ω1. The behavior of the central transition intensities versus the pulse length is discussed. The 115In and 113In nuclei in a powdered sample of indium phosphide (InP) are used to illustrate the results. It is found that the ratio of the quadrupolar coupling constants determined in this work is in excellent agreement with the ratio of the quadrupole moments of the two nuclei. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Health Consequences of European Contact in the Great Plains: A Comparison of Systemic Stress Levels in Pre‐ and Post‐Contact Arikara Populations
Authors: Offenbecker A. M. , Case D. T.
Published: January 2015

The biocultural effects of European contact varied considerably throughout the Americas. Some populations were decimated by colonialism, while others benefited from trade relationships and access to new technologies. It has been suggested that initial contact with European fur traders and explorers was economically favourable for Plains village populations, thereby facilitating a period of cultural florescence. In this study, we evaluate the hypothesis that Plains groups were better off than their predecessors during the initial contact period by comparing frequencies of enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, and porotic hyperostosis in pre‐ and post‐contact Arikara skeletal assemblages. We included both juveniles and adults in our sample to capture variation in the stress experience of different segments of the population. Our analysis revealed similarly low frequencies of cribra orbitalia in the pre‐ and post‐contact groups and no observed cases of porotic hyperostosis. Enamel hypoplasia, however, was significantly more prevalent among post‐contact Arikara villagers when compared to their pre‐contact counterparts, which suggests that stress levels were higher after European contact. Additionally, enamel hypoplasia was most common among post‐contact juveniles. The elevated frequency of enamel hypoplasia in the post‐contact sample combined with the low frequencies of cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis suggests that disease stress, rather than nutritional deficiencies, was likely responsible for the decline in overall health following European contact. These results also suggest that juveniles are sensitive indicators of systemic stress within a population and should be included in bioarchaeological analyses of prehistoric health when available. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Formation and dichroism of poly(vinyl alcohol)–iodine complex in photocurable film
Authors: Takahara Shigeru , Iwamura Naoki , Ema Yusuke , Sato Yusuke , Mizukoshi Masanori , Nagano Tomoki , Ichikuni Nobuyuki
Published: January 2015

The formation of polyiodine complexes was investigated in a photocurable poly(vinyl alcohol) modified N‐methyl‐4(4′‐formylstyryl)pyridinium methosulfate acetal (PVA‐SbQ), which is a photofunctional group that causes photodimerization. PVA‐SbQ films with polyiodine complexes were prepared to be photocured, iodinated and soaked in a boric acid solution. The formation of PVA–polyiodine complexes was studied during iodinating and while in the boric acid treatment through UV–vis absorption spectrometry, resonance Raman spectrometry and IR absorption spectrometry. As a result, polyiodines were formed in the photocurable PVA‐SbQ films, and the formation of PVA–polyiodine complexes was enhanced by boric acid treatment. It was found that the SbQ‐ratio of PVA‐SbQ affects the formation of PVA–polyiodine complexes. The photocrosslinking by the dimerization of SbQ groups helps to form the PVA–I5− complex during the boric acid treatment. Based on this effect, we demonstrated a unique recording method by the PVA–polyiodine complex formation. The PVA‐SbQ film cured by the irradiation of the liner polarized light showed that dichroism of the PVA–polyiodine complexes formed after iodination. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermo‐physical, thermal degradation, and flexural properties of betel nut husk fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites
Authors: Yusriah L. , Sapuan S.M. , Zainudin E.S. , Mariatti M. , Jawaid M.
Published: January 2015

This study aims to investigate the thermo‐physical, mechanical, and thermal degradation properties of betel nut husk (BNH) fiber reinforced vinyl ester (VE) composites. These properties were evaluated as a function of fiber maturity, fiber content, and fiber orientation. Thermo‐physical properties were analyzed experimentally using a hot disk TPS method. The introduction of BNH was found to reduce the thermal conductivity of neat VE. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of BNH reinforced VE composites decreased with the increase in fiber content. Short fiber BNH reinforced VE composites showed the lowest thermal conductivity as compared to the unidirectional and random nonwoven composites. The TGA analysis shows lower resin transition peak for the BNH reinforced VE composites than the peak of neat VE. Fiber maturity had a notable effect on the flexural modulus of the BNH fiber reinforced VE composites. Incorporation of 10 wt% BNH fibers into the composite has increased the composites' flexural modulus by 46.37%. However, further increases in the fiber content reduced both flexural strength and modulus of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2008–2017, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
ELISA in the multiplex era: Potentials and pitfalls
Authors: Tighe Patrick J. , Ryder Richard R. , Todd Ian , Fairclough Lucy C.
Published: January 2015

Multiplex immunoassays confer several advantages over widely adopted singleplex immunoassays including increased efficiency at a reduced expense, greater output per sample volume ratios and higher throughput predicating more resolute, detailed diagnostics and facilitating personalised medicine. Nonetheless, to date, relatively few protein multiplex immunoassays have been validated for in vitro diagnostics in clinical/point‐of‐care settings. This review article will outline the challenges, which must be ameliorated prior to the widespread integration of multiplex immunoassays in clinical settings: (i) biomarker validation; (ii) standardisation of immunoassay design and quality control (calibration and quantification); (iii) availability, stability, specificity and cross‐reactivity of reagents; (iv) assay automation and the use of validated algorithms for transformation of raw data into diagnostic results. A compendium of multiplex immunoassays applicable to in vitro diagnostics and a summary of the diagnostic products currently available commercially are included, along with an analysis of the relative states of development for each format (namely planar slide based, suspension and planar/microtitre plate based) with respect to the aforementioned issues.
Conserved residues of the Pro103–Arg115 loop are involved in triggering the allosteric response of the Escherichia coli ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase
Authors: Hill Benjamin L. , Wong Jennifer , May Brian M. , Huerta Fidel B. , Manley Tara E. , Sullivan Peter R.F. , Olsen Kenneth W. , Ballicora Miguel A.
Published: January 2015

The synthesis of glycogen in bacteria and starch in plants is allosterically controlled by the production of ADP‐glucose by ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase. Using computational studies, site‐directed mutagenesis, and kinetic characterization, we found a critical region for transmitting the allosteric signal in the Escherichia coli ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase. Molecular dynamics simulations and structural comparisons with other ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylases provided information to hypothesize that a Pro103–Arg115 loop is part of an activation path. It had strongly correlated movements with regions of the enzyme associated with regulation and ATP binding, and a network analysis showed that the optimal network pathways linking ATP and the activator binding Lys39 mainly involved residues of this loop. This hypothesis was biochemically tested by mutagenesis. We found that several alanine mutants of the Pro103–Arg115 loop had altered activation profiles for fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate. Mutants P103A, Q106A, R107A, W113A, Y114A, and R115A had the most altered kinetic profiles, primarily characterized by a lack of response to fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate. This loop is a distinct insertional element present only in allosterically regulated sugar nucleotide pyrophosphorylases that could have been acquired to build a triggering mechanism to link proto‐allosteric and catalytic sites.
Time‐resolved photoluminescence characterization of 2 eV band in AlN
Authors: Aleksandrov Ivan A. , Mansurov Vladimir G. , Plyusnin Victor F. , Zhuravlev Konstantin S.
Published: January 2015

We report time‐resolved and temperature‐dependent photoluminescence investigations of 2 eV photoluminescence band in AlN with below bandgap excitation. Series of the samples grown by molecular beam epitaxy on sapphire substrates with varying growth conditions have been studied. Intensity of the 2 eV photoluminescence band has been found to increase with increasing III/V flux ratio. The 2 eV photoluminescence band has been described in one‐dimensional configuration coordinate model. A possible origin of this orange emission has been discussed. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analysis of the information theoretically secret key agreement by public discussion
Authors: Wang Qiuhua , Wang Xiaojun , Lv Qiuyun , Ye Xueyi , Luo Yi , You Lin
Published: January 2015

Generally, the information theoretically secret key agreement by public discussion consists of three phases, namely, advantage distillation, information reconciliation, and privacy amplification. In the existing literatures, these three phases are studied separately, and no comprehensive consideration has been given. In this paper, we analyze the restrictive relationship among these three phases from an overall point of view. For the satellite scenario, we analyze in detail the Winnow protocol for the first time. We also present the mutual restrictive relationship between the parameters of the advantage distillation phase and the information reconciliation phase. We further address how to set the parameters of the advantage distillation and the information reconciliation to maximize the total secret key agreement efficiency. Moreover, we determine the required length range of the initial random key string to guarantee the validation of the secret key agreement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A formal analysis of Trusted Platform Module 2.0 hash‐based message authentication code authorization under digital rights management scenario
Authors: Yu Fajiang , Zhang Huanguo , Zhao Bo , Wang Juan , Zhang Liqiang , Yan Fei , Chen Zhenlin
Published: January 2015

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is the “root of trust” of the whole trusted computing platform. The TPM's own security assurance is very important. This paper describes the TPM 2.0 hash‐based message authentication code (HMAC) authorization scheme as a security protocol and makes a detail comparison of the TPM 2.0 authorization to the TPM 1.2 “Object‐Independent Authorization Protocol” and the “Object‐Specific Authorization Protocol.” Then the authors use the typed pi calculus to describe the TPM 2.0 HMAC authorization and its security properties under the Digital Rights Management (DRM) scenario and use ProVerify to reason that the key handle manipulation attack for TPM 1.2 does not exist any more in TPM 2.0, because the access entity unique name has been linked to the HMAC value, but the vulnerability of key blob substitution still exists in TPM 2.0. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New efficient batch verification for an identity‐based signature scheme
Authors: Hwang Jung Yeon , Choi Doo Ho , Cho Hyunsook , Song Boyeon
Published: January 2015

Batch verification is a method to verify multiple digital signatures at a batch in time less than total individual verification time. Batch verification for an identity‐based signature scheme (IBS) is attractive because a short public identity such as an e‐mail address can be used as a verification key.

In this paper, we first review the recent IBS scheme proposed by Shim and its batch verifier to show that the batch verifier is vulnerable to a forgery attack. In order to resist to the attack, we propose a new efficient batch verifier for the IBS scheme. The proposed batch verifier can deal with arbitrary number of signatures as a batch. We prove formally that the proposed batch verifier is secure. Then, we analyze the computation cost of the proposed batch verifier using concrete parameters and compare it with well‐known batch verifiers. The comparison shows that our batch verifier can significantly outperform the existing batch verifiers in computation.

We finally present a one‐round three‐party identity‐based key agreement protocol as an application of our batch verifier, which requires only three pairing operations in verification. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐Time Analysis of Magnetic Hyperthermia Experiments on Living Cells under a Confocal Microscope
Authors: Connord Vincent , Clerc Pascal , Hallali Nicolas , El Hajj Diab Darine , Fourmy Daniel , Gigoux Véronique , Carrey Julian
Published: January 2015

Combining high‐frequency alternating magnetic fields (AMF) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is an efficient way to induce biological responses through several approaches: magnetic hyperthermia, drug release, controls of gene expression and neurons, or activation of chemical reactions. So far, these experiments cannot be analyzed in real‐time during the AMF application. A miniaturized electromagnet fitting under a confocal microscope is built, which produces an AMF of frequency and amplitude similar to the ones used in magnetic hyperthermia. AMF application induces massive damages to tumoral cells having incorporated nanoparticles into their lysosomes without affecting the others. Using this setup, real‐time analyses of molecular events occurring during AMF application are performed. Lysosome membrane permeabilization and reactive oxygen species production are detected after only 30 min of AMF application, demonstrating they occur at an early stage in the cascade of events leading eventually to cell death. Additionally, lysosomes self‐assembling into needle‐shaped organization under the influence of AMF is observed in real‐time. This experimental approach will permit to get a deeper insight into the physical, molecular, and biological process occurring in several innovative techniques used in nanomedecine based on the combined use of MNPs and high‐frequency magnetic fields.
When Whining Is Wanted
Authors: Marshall JeanaLe Ann
Published: January 2015

View From the Chalkboard essays share readers' reflections on teaching experiences, advice for new teachers, and perspectives on current issues.
Emergence of neuronal diversity from patterning of telencephalic progenitors
Authors: Azzarelli Roberta , Hardwick Laura J. A. , Philpott Anna
Published: January 2015

During central nervous system (CNS) development, hundreds of distinct neuronal subtypes are generated from a single layer of multipotent neuroepithelial progenitor cells. Within the rostral CNS, initial regionalization of the telencephalon marks the territories where the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia originate. Subsequent refinement of the primary structures determines the formation of domains of differential gene expression, where distinct fate‐restricted progenitors are located. To understand how diversification of neural progenitors and neurons is achieved in the telencephalon, it is important to address early and late patterning events in this context. In particular, important questions include: How does the telencephalon become specified and regionalized along the major spatial axes? Within each region, are the differences in neuronal subtypes established at the progenitor level or at the postmitotic stage? If distinct progenitors exist that are committed to subtype‐specific neuronal lineages, how does the diversification emerge? What is the contribution of positional and temporal cues and how is this information integrated into the intrinsic programs of cell identity? WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:197–214. doi: 10.1002/wdev.174

This article is categorized under:

Establishment of Spatial and Temporal Patterns > Repeating Patterns and Lateral Inhibition

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation

Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: Regional Development
Chemical and physical properties in layers and interfaces of nanolayered Si(100)/Ni/BCxNy stacks
Authors: Hoffmann P. , Kosinova M. , Flege S. , Brötz J. , Trunova V. , Dietz C. , Ensinger W.
Published: January 2015

Layered stacks of the structure Si(100)/Ni/BCxNy were produced by physical (Ni) and chemical (BCN) vapor deposition. The BCN layers were deposited at temperatures of 200, 300, 400, and 500 °C. The resulting samples were characterized by ellipsometry, X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and X‐ray reflectometry. The formed structures of the samples synthesized at 200 and 500 °C, respectively, were determined. For the synthesis temperature of 200 °C, compounds with Ni–C bonds were found at the interface Ni/BCxNy. For the sample produced at 500 °C, compounds with Ni–Si bonds were identified, dispersed as particles or droplets in the corresponding interface. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐Term Comparison of Boomerang‐Shaped Jejunal Interposition and Billroth‐I Reconstruction After Distal Gastrectomy
Authors: Sasaki Kinro , Miyachi Kazuhito , Yoda Norihito , Onodera Shinichi , Satomura Hitoshi , Otsuka Kichiro , Nakajima Masanobu , Yamaguchi Satoru , Sunagawa Masakatsu , Kato Hiroyuki
Published: January 2015

Background

Billroth‐I (BI) is a simple, physiological method of reconstruction following distal gastrectomy. In actuality, postoperative QOL is by no means favorable due to the high incidence of post‐gastrectomy syndrome. The aim of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of boomerang‐shaped jejunal interposition (BJI) after distal gastrectomy.

Methods

Sixty‐six patients with early gastric cancer underwent the BI procedure (n = 33) or BJI (n = 33) after distal gastrectomy, following which they were compared for 5 years. Tumor characteristics, operative details, postoperative complications and complaints, number of meals, and body weight were analyzed. Patients were followed up by endoscopy every 12 months.

Results

There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications. The incidence of heartburn (30 vs. 0 %, P = 0.0009) and oral bitterness (33 vs. 6 %, P = 0.0112) were significantly lower in the BJI cases. Endoscopic findings revealed significantly lower incidences of reflux esophagitis (24 vs. 0 %, P = 0.0051) and remnant gastritis (70 vs. 3 %, P < 0.0001) in the BJI group. The incidence of food stasis was low in both groups (12 vs. 15 %). In the BJI group, 30 patients (90 %) were eating 3 meals/day within 12 months, whereas in the BI group, 16 patients (48 %) were still eating 5 meals/day at 12 months or later.

Conclusions

BJI is as safe as BI, but is better in terms of improvement in bile reflux and food intake without stasis. This procedure, therefore, appears to be a useful method for reconstruction after distal gastrectomy.
Schistosoma Prevalence in Appendicitis
Authors: Botes S. N. , Ibirogba S. B. , McCallum A. D. , Kahn D.
Published: January 2015

Background

Schistosomiasis is a waterborne trematode with numerous subtypes affecting different areas of the body. Rob Ferreira Hospital is located in an endemic area for schistosomiasis in the Lowveld region of South Africa. We set out to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma in appendicitis.

Methods

From 2009 to 2013, all appendix samples removed in theatre were reviewed. A total of 304 cases were retrieved. Viable ova, calcified ova, or schistosomal granulomas was considered proof of exposure.

Results

Thirty‐one out of the 304 cases revealed evidence of schistosomal exposure, equating to 10.2 %.

Conclusion

A prevalence of more than 10 % is truly significant seeing as how a delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications, or how a misdiagnosis can result in unnecessary and often protracted treatment with harmful drugs.
Decreased production of higher alcohols by Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Chinese rice wine fermentation by deletion of Bat aminotransferases
Authors: Zhang Cui-Ying , Qi Ya-Nan , Ma Hong-Xia , Li Wei , Dai Long-Hai , Xiao Dong-Guang
Published: January 2015

An appropriate level of higher alcohols produced by yeast during the fermentation is one of the most important factors influencing Chinese rice wine quality. In this study, BAT1 and BAT2 single- and double-gene-deletion mutant strains were constructed from an industrial yeast strain RY1 to decrease higher alcohols during Chinese rice wine fermentation. The results showed that the BAT2 single-gene-deletion mutant strain produced best improvement in the production of higher alcohols while remaining showed normal growth and fermentation characteristics. Furthermore, a BAT2 single-gene-deletion diploid engineered strain RY1-Δbat2 was constructed and produced low levels of isobutanol and isoamylol (isoamyl alcohol and active amyl alcohol) in simulated fermentation of Chinese rice wine, 92.40 and 303.31 mg/L, respectively, which were 33.00 and 14.20 % lower than those of the parental strain RY1. The differences in fermentation performance between RY1-Δbat2 and RY1 were minor. Therefore, construction of this yeast strain is important in future development in Chinese wine industry and provides insights on generating yeast strains for other fermented alcoholic beverages.
Effects of Fuel Impingement-Cooling on the Combustion Flow in a Small Bipropellant Liquid Rocket Thruster
Authors: Lee Y.-W. , Jiang T.-L.
Published: January 2015

In the present study, a three-dimensional computer code, based on the computer software KIVA-3, was developed for the combustion-flow simulation of a bipropellant liquid rocket thruster. A jets-impingement model is proposed for the unlike-doublet jet impingement issue. The computer code is employed to simulate a small bipropellant liquid rocket engine installed with three unlike-doublet injectors of NTO and MMH as well as six fuel injectors injecting MMH toward the combustor wall for cooling. Effects of the fuel-injection cooling on the combustion flow, combustion efficiency, and wall temperature were investigated. The results obtained from the present study show that under the present injector configuration and a constant total fuel-flow rate, higher cooling-fuel ratios make the atomized mixing flow of NTO and MMH shift toward the combustor wall, resulting in lower combustion efficiency and chamber pressure; however, low cooling-fuel ratios are unable to keep the wall-temperature sufficiently low. To overcome this issue, the proposed three-dimensional computer code calculates/locates the optimal cooling-fuel ratio that bears high combustion efficiency for a bipropellant liquid rocket combustor while keeping the chamber wall sufficiently cool.
DSMC Study of Pressure-Driven Slip Flow through Microchannel at Non-Uniform Wall Temperature
Authors: Tai C.-C. , Tzeng P.-Y. , Soong C.-Y.
Published: January 2015

The present study is to investigate the pressure-driven gas flow in microchannel at no-uniform wall temperature. DSMC is employed to generate the flow field details which are then used in analysis of the slip flow characteristics. The major concern is the influences of thermal creep effect on the pressure-driven slip flow. Thermal creep is resulted from tangential wall temperature gradient. In this work, two kinds of thermal boundary condition are considered. One is the linearly varied temperature (LVT) applied to both walls, the other is that has the bottom wall at a thermal condition combined LVT and adiabatic (AD) wall, i.e. LVT-AD-LVT condition. The present DSMC results reveal that the fluid slip is weakened (enhanced) in the case with a negative (positive) wall temperature gradient. Relatively, thermal creep effect on fluid slip over the adiabatic wall is more pronounced in the presence of negative wall temperature gradient. The mass flowrate is a strong function of the wall temperature gradient. However, there is only little difference between the mass flowrates predicted under the two kinds of thermal conditions studied in the present work.
Effect of a high-fat diet on the hepatic expression of nuclear receptors and their target genes: relevance to drug disposition
Authors: Ghoneim Ragia H. , Ngo Sock Emilienne T. , Lavoie Jean-Marc , Piquette-Miller Micheline
Published: January 2015

More than 1·4 billion individuals are overweight or obese worldwide. While complications often require therapeutic intervention, data regarding the impact of obesity on drug disposition are scarce. As the influence of diet-induced obesity on drug transport and metabolic pathways is currently unclear, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of high fat feeding for 13 weeks in female Sprague–Dawley rats on the hepatic expression of the nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), liver X receptor (LXR) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and several of their target genes. We hypothesised that high fat feeding would alter the gene expression of major hepatic transporters through a dysregulation of the expression of the nuclear receptors. The results demonstrated that, along with a significant increase in body fat and weight, a high-fat diet (HFD) induced a significant 2-fold increase in the expression of PXR as well as a 2-, 5- and 2·5-fold increase in the hepatic expression of the PXR target genes Abcc2, Abcb1a and Cyp3a2, respectively (P< 0·05). The expression levels of FXR were significantly increased in rats fed a HFD in addition to the increase in the expression levels of FXR target genes Abcb11 and Abcb4. The expression levels of both LXRα and LXRβ were slightly but significantly increased in rats fed a HFD, and the expression levels of their target genes Abca1 and Abcg5, but not Abcg8, were significantly increased. The expression of the nuclear receptor CAR was not significantly altered between the groups. This suggests that a HFD may induce changes in the hepatobiliary transport and metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds.
Cloning and characterization ofifitm1andifitm3expression during early zebrafish development
Authors: Xue Wei-Wei , Wang Huan-Nan , Wang Zhi-Meng , Qiu Meng-Xi , Che Jing , Deng Feng-Jiao , Liu Jiang-Dong
Published: January 2015

The family of interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) plays a crucial role in inhibiting proliferation, promoting homotypic cell adhesion and mediating germ cell development. In the present study, the full-length cDNAs of zebrafishifitm1(744 bp) andifitm3(702 bp) were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed thatifitm1mRNA was expressed in the ovary, testis, brain, muscle, liver and kidney, whileifitm3mRNA was only detected in the ovary. Based onin situhybridization,ifitm1mRNA was found to be strongly expressed in the ooplasm from stage I to stage II andifitm3mRNA was also strongly expressed in the ooplasm from stage I to stage II, furthermoreifitm3expression ultimately localized to the cortex region beneath the plasma membrane of stage IV oocytes. During development,ifitm1expression was initially detected in the enveloping layer cells and deep layer cells of shield stage embryos. Then, throughout the segmentation phase (10.25–24 hours post-fertilization (hpf)),ifitm1expression was mainly detected in the head, trunk and tail regions. Unlikeifitm1,ifitm3expression was initially detected in sphere stage embryos and was then broadly expressed throughout the embryo from the 70% epiboly stage to 24 hpf. Interestingly,ifitm3was also expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs) from the bud stage to 24 hpf. This expression analysis indicates that zebrafishifitm1may play a critical role in early organogenesis and may perform immune or hematopoietic functions andifitm3might be necessary for PGC migration and the formation of female germ cells.
Physics of rotation: problems and challenges
Authors: Maeder Andre , Meynet Georges
Published: January 2015

We examine some debated points in current discussions about rotating stars: the shape, the gravity darkening, the critical velocities, the mass loss rates, the hydrodynamical instabilities, the internal mixing and N–enrichments. The study of rotational mixing requires high quality data and careful analysis. From recent studies where such conditions are fulfilled, rotational mixing is well confirmed. Magnetic coupling with stellar winds may produce an apparent contradiction, i.e. stars with a low rotation and a high N–enrichment. We point out that it rather confirms the large role of shears in differentially rotating stars for the transport processes. New models of interacting binaries also show how shears and mixing may be enhanced in close binaries which are either spun up or down by tidal interactions.
Combining observational techniques to constrain convection in evolved massive star models
Authors: Georgy C. , Saio H. , Meynet G.
Published: January 2015

Recent stellar evolution computations indicate that massive stars in the range ~ 20-30 M⊙ are located in the blue supergiant (BSG) region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram at two different stages of their life: immediately after the main sequence (MS, group 1) and during a blueward evolution after the red supergiant phase (group 2). From the observation of the pulsationnal properties of a subgroup of variable BSGs (α Cyg variables), one can deduce that these stars belongs to group 2. It is however difficult to simultaneously fit the observed surface abundances and gravity for these stars, and this allows to constrain the physical processes of chemical species transport in massive stars. We will show here that the surface abundances are extremely sensitive to the physics of convection, particularly the location of the intermediate convective shell that appears at the ignition of the hydrogen shell burning after the MS. Our results show that the use of the Ledoux criterion to determine the convective regions in the stellar models leads to a better fit of the surface abundances for α Cyg variables than the Schwarzschild one.
Massive stars near the Eddington-limit, pulsations & mass-loss
Authors: Gräfener G.
Published: January 2015

Very massive stars (in excess of ~ 100 M⊙) and massive stars in pre-SN phases at the end of their evolution are continuously approaching the Eddington limit. According to our theoretical predictions their high Eddington factors lead to a peculiar sub-photospheric structure and enhanced mass-loss. Their proximity to the Eddington limit is thus likely the reason why these objects appear as LBVs and WR stars. Here we discuss how our predictions relate to the characteristics of strange-mode pulsations, and how rotating massive stars at low metallicities can produce spectroscopic signatures that have recently been observed in a sample of star-forming galaxies at redshifts z ≈ 2 – 4.
Stellar Yields of Rotating First Stars: Yields of Weak Supernovae and Abundances of Carbon-enhanced Hyper Metal Poor Stars
Authors: Takahashi Koh , Umeda Hideyuki , Yoshida Takashi
Published: January 2015

The three most iron-poor stars known until now are also known to have peculiar enhancements of intermediate mass elements. Under the assumption that these iron-deficient stars reveal the nucleosynthesis result of Pop III stars, we show that a weak supernova model successfully reproduces the observed abundance patterns. Moreover, we show that the initial parameters of the progenitor, such as the initial masses and the rotational property, can be constrained by the model, since the stellar yields result from the nucleosynthesis in the outer region of the star, which is significantly affected by the initial parameters. The initial parameter of Pop III stars is of prime importance for the theoretical study of the early universe. Future observation will increase the number of such carbon enhanced iron-deficient stars, and the same analysis on the stars may give valuable information for the Pop III stars that existed in our universe.
Non-LTE Abundances in OB stars: Preliminary Results for 5 Stars in the Outer Galactic Disk
Authors: Bragançca G. A. , Lanz T. , Daflon S. , Cunha K. , Garmany C. D. , Glaspey J. W. , Borges Fernandes M. , Oey M. S. , Bensby T. , Hubeny I.
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study is to analyse and determine elemental abundances for a large sample of distant B stars in the outer Galactic disk in order to constrain the chemical distribution of the Galactic disk and models of chemical evolution of the Galaxy. Here, we present preliminary results on a few stars along with the adopted methodology based on securing simultaneous O and Si ionization equilibria with consistent NLTE model atmospheres.
Evolution of the rotational properties and nitrogen surface abundances of B-Type stellar populations
Authors: Granada A. , Meynet G. , Ekström S. , Georgy C. , Haemmerlé L.
Published: January 2015

Stellar evolution models predict that rotation induces the mixing of chemical species, with the subsequent surface abundance anomalies relative to single non-rotating models, even during the main sequence (MS) evolution. The lack of measurable nitrogen surface enrichment in MS rotating stars, such as Be stars, has been interpreted as being in conflict with evolutionary models (e.g. Lennon et al. 2005; Hunter et al. 2008). In order to have an insight on the kind of ambient we do or we do not expect to find enriched rotating stars, we use our new population synthesis code, to produce synthetic intermediate-mass stellar populations fully accounting for stellar rotation effects, and study their evolution in time.
Study of environment and photosphere of 51 Oph
Authors: Jamialahmadi N. , Berio Ph. , Lopez B. , Meilland A. , Stee Ph.
Published: January 2015

The main objective of this work is to improve our understanding of young fast-rotating stars evolving from the Herbig Ae/Be class to the Vega-like one. We observed with the VEGA instrument on CHARA one object so-called 51 Oph that is probably in such an evolutionary phase, allowing us to measure a mean stellar radius for the first time for this star and to show that the Hα emission was produced in a Keplerian rotating disc. However, additional observations are needed to improve our (u,v) plan coverage in order to measure the flattening of this close-to-critically rotating star and to probe the inner region of its circumstellar gaseous disc. These studies will help to disentangle the gas and dust emission around this late young star and will finally improve our understanding of the planet formation conditions in the inner regions of protoplanetary discs.
The mass discrepancy problem in O stars of solar metallicity. Does it still exist?
Authors: Markova N. , Puls J.
Published: January 2015

Using own and literature data for a large sample of O stars in the Milky Way, we investigate the correspondence between their spectroscopic and evolutionary masses, and try to put constraints on various parameters that might influence the estimates of these two quantities.
A Search for Hot Subdwarf Companions to Rapidly-Rotating Early B Stars
Authors: Peters Geraldine J. , Gies Douglas R. , Wang Luqian , Grundstrom Erika D.
Published: January 2015

We continue to search for O-type subdwarf companions in binary systems containing Be primaries. We were not able to confirm an sdO object in π Aqr and HR 2142, even though optical and UV observations suggest their presence. Some possible reasons are enumerated.
An empirical pipeline for determining the viscosity parameter for Be star disks
Authors: Rímulo Leandro R. , Carciofi Alex C. , Rivinius Thomas , Haubois Xavier
Published: January 2015

Be star phenomenology is strongly associated with their viscous circumstellar disks. Recently, models became available for the temporal evolution of these disks when subject to variable mass ejection rates. In this contribution we will discuss how these dynamical disk models, modeled with the radiative transfer code HDUST, can be used for constraining fundamental disk parameters, such as the α viscosity parameter, and we will report on an ongoing effort to model light curves of a large number of stars.
NGC 3293 revisited by the Gaia-ESO Survey
Authors: Semaan Thierry , Morel Thierry , Gosset Eric , Zorec Juan , Frémat Yves , Blomme Ronny , Lobel Alex
Published: January 2015

In the framework of the Gaia-ESO survey we have determined the fundamental parameters of a large number of B-type stars in the Galactic, young open cluster NGC 3293. The determination of the stellar parameters is based on medium-resolution spectra obtained with FLAMES/GIRAFFE at ESO-VLT. As a second step, we adopted the accurate parameters to determine the chemical abundances of these hot stars. We present a comparison of our results with those obtained by the 'VLT-FLAMES survey of massive stars' (Evans et al. 2005). Our study increases the number of objects analysed and provides an extended view of this cluster.
Wolf-Rayet stars from Very Massive Stars
Authors: Yusof Norhasliza
Published: January 2015

Many studies focused on very massive stars (VMS) within the framework of Pop. III stars, because this is where they were thought to be abundant. In this work, we focus on the evolution of VMS in the local universe following the discovery of VMS in the R136 cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We computed grids of VMS evolutionary tracks in the range 120–500 M⊙ with solar, LMC and Small Magellanic Cloud metallicities. All models end their lives as Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars of the WC (or WO) type. We discuss the evolution and fate of VMS around solar metallicity with particular focus on the WR phase. For example, we show that a distinctive feature that may be used to disentangle Wolf-Rayet stars originating from VMS from those originating from lower initial masses is the enhanced abundances of Ne and Mg at the surface of WC stars.
Asteroseismology of OB stars with hundreds of single snapshot spectra (and a few time-series of selected targets)
Authors: Simón-Díaz S.
Published: January 2015

Imagine we could do asteroseismology of large samples of OB-type stars by using just one spectrum per target. That would be great! But this is probably a crazy and stupid idea. Or maybe not. Maybe we have the possibility to open a new window to investigate stellar oscillations in massive stars that has been in front of us for many years, but has not attracted very much our attention: the characterization and understanding of the so-called macroturbulent broadening in OB-type stars.