bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Metal Ion-Dependent Adhesion Site Motif of the Enterococcus faecalis EbpA Pilin Mediates Pilus Function in Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Nielsen Hailyn V. , Guiton Pascale S. , Kline Kimberly A. , Port Gary C. , Pinkner Jerome S. , Neiers Fabrice , Normark Staffan , Henriques-Normark Birgitta , Caparon Michael G. , Hultgren Scott J.
Published: July 2012

Though the bacterial opportunist
Enterococcus faecalis
causes a myriad of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), including catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), little is known about the virulence mechanisms that it employs. However, the endocarditis- and biofilm-associated pilus (Ebp), a member of the sortase-assembled pilus family, was shown to play a role in a mouse model of
E. faecalis
ascending UTI. The Ebp pilus comprises the major EbpC shaft subunit and the EbpA and EbpB minor subunits. We investigated the biogenesis and function of Ebp pili in an experimental model of CAUTI using a panel of chromosomal pilin deletion mutants. A nonpiliated pilus knockout mutant (EbpABC
−
strain) was severely attenuated compared to its isogenic parent OG1RF in experimental CAUTI. In contrast, a nonpiliated
ebpC
deletion mutant (EbpC
−
strain) behaved similarly to OG1RF
in vivo
because it expressed EbpA and EbpB. Deletion of the minor pilin gene
ebpA
or
ebpB
perturbed pilus biogenesis and led to defects in experimental CAUTI. We discovered that the function of Ebp pili
in vivo
depended on a predicted metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) motif in EbpA’s von Willebrand factor A domain, a common protein domain among the tip subunits of sortase-assembled pili. Thus, this study identified the Ebp pilus as a virulence factor in
E. faecalis
CAUTI and also defined the molecular basis of this function, critical knowledge for the rational development of targeted therapeutics.

IMPORTANCE
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), one of the most common hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), present considerable treatment challenges for physicians. Inherently resistant to several classes of antibiotics and with a propensity to acquire vancomycin resistance, enterococci are particularly worrisome etiologic agents of CAUTI. A detailed understanding of the molecular basis of
Enterococcus faecalis
pathogenesis in CAUTI is necessary for the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies. Our results elucidated the importance of the
E. faecalis
Ebp pilus and its subunits for enterococcal virulence in a mouse model of CAUTI. We further showed that the metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) motif in EbpA is necessary for Ebp function
in vivo
. As this motif occurs in other sortase-assembled pili, our results have implications for the molecular basis of virulence not only in
E. faecalis
CAUTI but also in additional infections caused by enterococci and other Gram-positive pathogens.
A 14-year-old girl with tuberculous otitis media and brain abscess
Authors: Oberdorfer Peninnah , Kongthavonsakul Kritsana , Intachumpoo Jintana , Odell Shaun
Published: July 2012

Tuberculosis is a rare cause of chronic suppurative otitis media and mastoiditis. Intracranial complications are rare. The authors report a case of a 14-year-old girl with chronic otitis media of her right ear for 2 years. Her presentation was as follows: 10 days before admission she had a high fever, headache, alteration of consciousness and a generalised seizure. CT scanning of her brain showed right otomastoiditis with early brain abscess of the right cerebellum. She underwent right radical mastoidectomy and aspiration of the cerebellar abscess. The pus from the mastoid and cerebellar abscess was stained positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). The pus culture grewMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB). Her discharge diagnosis was tuberculous mastoiditis (TM) with cerebellar abscess. Long-term treatment plans included antituberculous drugs for 1 year.
Food or medicine: ethnic variations in perceptions of advanced cancer patients and their caregivers regarding artificial hydration during the last weeks of life: Table 1
Authors: Torres-Vigil Isabel , Cohen Marlene Z , de la Rosa Allison , Cárdenas-Turanzas Marylou , Burbach Beth E , Tarleton Kenneth W , Shen Whey-May , Bruera Eduardo
Published: July 2012

Purpose

To identify whether advanced cancer patients receiving home hospice care and their primary caregivers view artificial hydration (AH) as food or medicine, and the demographic and clinical factors influencing these perceptions.

Methods

Participants were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind controlled trial examining the efficacy of AH in cancer hospice patients. In-depth interviews at days 1 and 4 of study enrolment explored the meanings attributed to AH at the end of life. Responses to the question, ‘Are these fluids more like food or more like medicine?’ were categorised as ‘food’, ‘medicine’, ‘both’ or ‘other’. χ2analyses were conducted with data from 122 interviews (54 patients and 68 caregivers) to identify differences between patients and caregivers, and by gender, age, ethnicity and caregiver relationship. Predictors of perceptions were identified using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Overall, 47 participants (38%) understood the fluids to be more like food, 41 (34%) as medicine, 17 (14%) as both, and 17 (14%) as ‘other’. Ethnic minority participants (n=34, 66%) were significantly more likely than non-Hispanic European Americans (n=30, 42%) to view AH as food, or both as food and medicine (p=0.034). Ethnic differences persisted in the final regression model (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.7, p=0.010). No significant differences were detected between patients and caregivers, or across gender, age, caregivers' relationship to the patients, group assignment, disease severity or cancer type.

Conclusions

AH was perceived as food/nutrition by many cancer patients and caregivers in the study, particularly among ethnic minorities. This perception may lead to greater distress if fluids are discontinued or withheld. Asking patients/caregivers about their AH perceptions may enhance patient/provider communication and culturally appropriate end-of-life care.
Forced suction thrombectomy after carotid stenting in patients with massive thrombus and acute extracranial internal carotid artery occlusion
Authors: Hwang Seoung Bae , Kwak Hyo Sung , Chung Gyung-Ho
Published: July 2012

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of emergency carotid stenting and recanalization using the modified Penumbra System (PS) technique for cases of acute extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and massive thrombus with acute ischemic stroke symptoms.

Methods

The clinical outcomes of patients with tandem occlusion of the ICA and middle cerebral artery (MCA) who underwent recanalization by a modified PS technique after carotid artery stenting during the period December 2009 to June 2011 were reviewed.

Results

Five patients with tandem occlusion of the ICA and MCA were enrolled. The mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission was 13 (range 9–18). The median time from symptom onset to arrival at hospital was 260 min. The median time lag between arrival at hospital and intra-arterial administration was 70 min. Recanalization by stenting of carotid artery occlusion was successfully performed in all patients. The mean number of recanalizations using the modified PS technique for distally migrated thrombus was 3. Complete recanalization of the MCA was observed in all patients. Symptomatic hemorrhage transformation did not occur during the hospital stay in any of the subjects. At discharge, the mean NIHSS score was 2.2 (range 1–6). At the 3-month follow-up the modified Rankin Scale was excellent in three of the five patients, good in one patient and poor in one patient.

Conclusions

The modified PS technique after carotid artery stenting is a safe and effective treatment for patients with a massive thrombus extending into the distal portion of the ICA and a tandem occlusion of the ICA and MCA.
Determination of small-strain stiffness of Shanghai clay on prismatic soil specimen
Authors: Li Q. , Ng C.W.W. , Liu G.B.
Published: July 2012

Although a large number of tunnels and deep excavations have been constructed in Shanghai, small-strain stiffness properties of natural Shanghai clay have rarely been reported in the literature. In this study, the degree of inherent stiffness anisotropy of natural Shanghai clay was investigated in a triaxial apparatus equipped with local strain transducers and a shear-wave velocity measurement system. Three sets of side-mounted bender elements, consisting of one transmitter and two receivers each, were installed on a prismatic specimen. Two series of triaxial tests on prismatic specimens of intact Shanghai clay were carried out under an isotropic stress state. Shear-wave velocities and hence elastic shear moduli in different planes were determined from bender element measurements. The cross-correlation method using two received signals gives rise to the most objective and repeatable results on shear-wave velocities in comparison with other commonly used methods. Intact Shanghai clay clearly exhibits inherent stiffness anisotropy in terms of its elastic shear modulus ratio (G0(hh)/G0(hv)) of about 1.2 for a mean effective stress varying from 50 to 400 kPa. The measured higher stiffness in the horizontal plane may be attributed to the stronger layering structure in the horizontal bedding plane. A unique relationship is found that relates the normalized shear moduli to the stress state in each plane by incorporating a void ratio function in the form of F(e) = e–2.6.
Hierarchically acting sterile neutrinos
Authors: Chen Chian-Shu , Takahashi Ryo
Published: July 2012

We propose that a hierarchical spectrum of sterile neutrinos (eV, keV, 1013–15 GeV) is considered as the explanation for MiniBooNE and LSND oscillation anomalies, dark matter, and baryon asymmetry of the universe (BAU), respectively. The scenario can also realize the smallness of active neutrino masses by the seesaw mechanism.
MAGNETIC VORTEX BEHAVIOR IN NANO-STRUCTURES
Authors: COSTA B. V. , ROCHA J. C. S. , COURA P. Z. , LEONEL S. A. , TOSCANO D. , DIAS R. A.
Published: July 2012

The existence of a vortex in the ground state of magnetic nano-disks has open a wide range of possibilities for constructing new ultra-compact devices. In this work we study the dynamical behavior of a vortex in a magnetic nano-particle. First, we introduce magnetic impurities in the system. It is observed that depending on the strength of the interaction the impurities can behave both as a pinning (attractive) or scattering (repulsive). By using the known values of the parameters for Permalloy-79 we have calculated the interaction energy of the vortex core with a single defect. We estimated the interaction range as approximately 10 nm. Both results agree quite well with experimental measurements. As a second point we discuss how the vortex dynamics in nano-disks can be used for building a nano-spin valve.
WANG–LANDAU SIMULATIONS OF ADSORBED AND CONFINED LATTICE PROTEINS
Authors: PATTANASIRI BUSARA , LI YING WAI , LANDAU DAVID P. , WÜST THOMAS
Published: July 2012

The hydrophobic-polar (HP) model has emerged as one of the standard approaches for simulating protein folding. In this work, we used this model together with Wang–Landau (WL) sampling and appropriate Monte Carlo trial moves to determine the density of states and thermodynamics for two cases: Protein adsorption and protein confinement, in the vicinity of attractive surfaces. The influence on the adsorption behavior of surface attractive strength in the adsorption case and volumetric spaces in the confinement case will be discussed.
OPERATIONAL GEOMETRY ON DE SITTER SPACETIME
Authors: AGUILAR P. , BONDER Y. , CHRYSSOMALAKOS C. , SUDARSKY D.
Published: July 2012

Traditional geometry employs idealized concepts like that of a point or a curve, the operational definition of which relies on the availability of classical point particles as probes. Real, physical objects are quantum in nature though, leading us to consider the implications of using realistic probes in defining an effective spacetime geometry. As an example, we consider de Sitter spacetime and employ the centroid of various composite probes to obtain its effective sectional curvature, which is found to depend on the probe's internal energy, spatial extension, and spin. Possible refinements of our approach are pointed out and remarks are made on the relevance of our results to the quest for a quantum theory of gravity.
GRAPHENE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
Authors: SREEPRASAD T. S. , PRADEEP T.
Published: July 2012

The latest addition to the nanocarbon family, graphene, has been proclaimed to be the material of the century. Its peculiar band structure, extraordinary thermal and electronic conductance and room temperature quantum Hall effect have all been used for various applications in diverse fields ranging from catalysis to electronics. The difficulty to synthesize graphene in bulk quantities was a limiting factor of it being utilized in several fields. Advent of chemical processes and self-assembly approaches for the synthesis of graphene analogues have opened-up new avenues for graphene based materials. The high surface area and rich abundance of functional groups present make chemically synthesized graphene (generally known as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) or chemically converted graphene) an attracting candidate in biotechnology and environmental remediation. By functionalizing graphene with specific molecules, the properties of graphene can be tuned to suite applications such as sensing, drug delivery or cellular imaging. Graphene with its high surface area can act as a good adsorbent for pollutant removal. Graphene either alone or in combination with other materials can be used for the degradation or removal of a large variety of contaminants through several methods. In this review some of the relevant efforts undertaken to utilize graphene in biology, sensing and water purification are described. Most recent efforts have been given precedence over older works, although certain specific important examples of the past are also mentioned.
ANALYSIS OF NEUTRAL TRIPLET SPIN-1 MODE IN DOPED GRAPHENE
Authors: EBRAHIMKHAS M. , JAFARI S. A. , BASKARAN G.
Published: July 2012

Particle-hole continuum in Dirac sea of graphene has a unique window. It has been predicted to support a long lived neutral triplet gapless bosoinc mode that disperses over a wide energy range in entire Brillouin zone. In this work, using a repulsive Hubbard model, we study the fate of such collective mode at zero temperature, in a single layer of graphene doped with electrons or holes. Doping modifies the particle-hole continuum and creates additional windows for momenta around wave-vectors q+Qi, i = 1, 2 connecting various Dirac cones. We find that, overlap factors are crucial for doped graphene. These factors push the collective mode inside the intra-band part of the continuum for momenta around Qi = 0, q~0. For momenta larger than the scale of kF, the collective mode emerges below the whole continuum. For other values of q, Qi such as q = Kj, j= 1,…,6 this collective mode have linear dispersion near Ki point, related to inter valley scattering.
QUARK MATTER AND NUCLEAR COLLISIONS A BRIEF HISTORY OF STRONG INTERACTION THERMODYNAMICS
Authors: SATZ HELMUT
Published: July 2012

The past 50 years have seen the emergence of a new field of research in physics, the study of matter at extreme temperatures and densities. The theory of strong interactions, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), predicts that in this limit, matter will become a plasma of deconfined quarks and gluons — the medium which made up the early universe in the first 10 microseconds after the Big Bang. High energy nuclear collisions are expected to produce short-lived bubbles of such a medium in the laboratory. I survey the merger of statistical QCD and nuclear collision studies for the analysis of strongly interacting matter in theory and experiment.
A NEW STABILITY CRITERION FOR HUMAN SEATED TASKS WITH GIVEN POSTURES
Authors: HOWARD BRADLEY , YANG JINGZHOU
Published: July 2012

In digital human modeling (DHM), the analysis of postural stability has five main goals: to determine if a posture is stable or unstable through an explicit criterion; to quantify the level of stability or provide a margin of stability that accounts for the height of the center of mass (COM) above the support plane(s); to be valid in the presence of externally applied forces and moments; be able to assess stability when multiple noncoplanar support planes exist, as is the case with seated postures; and to give insight into the support reaction force (SRF) distribution. To date, there is not a method for analyzing stability that can effectively meet each goal. This paper presents a new stability criterion and stability analysis that accomplishes each intended goal. The stability analysis is derived from the calculation of joint torque using the recursive Lagrangian dynamic formulation. A 56-degree-of-freedom (DOF) articulated digital human model is used to model seated postures to demonstrate the proposed stability criterion. Different given postures with different external load cases are presented.
CURVED MOMENTUM SPACE AND RELATIVE LOCALITY
Authors: KOWALSKI-GLIKMAN JERZY
Published: July 2012

I briefly discuss the construction of the theory of particles with curved momentum space and its consequence, the principle of relative locality.
KAPPA-MINKOWSKI SPACETIME, KAPPA-POINCARÉ HOPF ALGEBRA AND REALIZATIONS
Authors: KOVAČEVIĆ DOMAGOJ , MELJANAC STJEPAN
Published: July 2012

The κ-Minkowski spacetime and Lorentz algebra are unified in unique Lie algebra. Introducing commutative momenta, a family of κ-deformed Heisenberg algebras and κ-deformed Poincaré algebras are defined. They are determined by the matrix depending on momenta. Realizations and star product are defined and analyzed in general. The relation among the coproduct of momenta, realization and the star product is pointed out. Hopf algebra of the Poincaré algebra, related to the covariant realization, is presented in unified covariant form. Left–right dual realizations and dual algebra are introduced and considered. The generalized involution and the star inner product are defined and analyzed. Partial integration and deformed trace property are obtained in general. The translation invariance of the star product is pointed out.
HIGHER-ORDER EXTENSIONS OF THE POINCARÉ ALGEBRA
Authors: RAUSCH DE TRAUBENBERG M.
Published: July 2012

Cubic extensions of the Poincaré algebra can be constructed in consistency with physical assumptions, and provide new insights for the description of phenomena. In this paper we review some recent results associated to these structures: algebraic construction, construction of invariant Lagrangians and construction of their associated group.
ULTRAVIOLET INFINITIES AND COUNTERTERMS IN SUPERSYMMETRIC THEORIES
Authors: STELLE K. S.
Published: July 2012

An overview is given of the extraordinary resistence of maximal supergravity and maximal super-Yang–Mills theories to the onset of ultraviolet divergences, in various spacetime dimensions. The ultraviolet cancellations found to date can be understood by some rather subtle applications of supersymmetric nonrenormalization theorems.
DARKON FLUID — A MODEL FOR THE DARK SECTOR OF THE UNIVERSE?
Authors: STICHEL P. C. , ZAKRZEWSKI WOJTEK J.
Published: July 2012

We introduce darkons as fluid particles of a Galilean massless self-gravitating fluid. This fluid exhibits anisotropic scaling with [Formula: see text]. The minimal gravitational coupling dynamically generates a gravitational mass density of either sign. Hence such fluid may serve as a model for the dark sector of the Universe. Its cosmological solutions give a deceleration phase for the early Universe and an acceleration phase for the late Universe. Will the steady flow solutions lead to a confining potential and so a possible model for halos?
The World Ocean Silica Cycle
Authors: Tréguer Paul J. , De La Rocha Christina L.
Published: July 2012

Over the past few decades, we have realized that the silica cycle is strongly intertwined with other major biogeochemical cycles, like those of carbon and nitrogen, and as such is intimately related to marine primary production, the efficiency of carbon export to the deep sea, and the inventory of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For nearly 20 years, the marine silica budget compiled by Tréguer et al. (1995) , with its exploration of reservoirs, processes, sources, and sinks in the silica cycle, has provided context and information fundamental to study of the silica cycle. Today, the budget needs revisiting to incorporate advances that have notably changed estimates of river and groundwater inputs to the ocean of dissolved silicon and easily dissolvable amorphous silica, inputs from the dissolution of terrestrial lithogenic silica in ocean margin sediments, reverse weathering removal fluxes, and outputs of biogenic silica (especially on ocean margins and in the form of nondiatomaceous biogenic silica). The resulting budget recognizes significantly higher input and output fluxes and notes that the recycling of silicon occurs mostly at the sediment-water interface and not during the sinking of silica particles through deep waters.
Intercontinental Transport and Climatic Impact of Saharan and Sahelian Dust
Authors: Touré N'Datchoh Evelyne , Konaré Abdourahamane , Silué Siélé
Published: July 2012

The Sahara and Sahel regions of Africa are important sources of dust particles into the atmosphere. Dust particles from these regions are transported over the Atlantic Ocean to the Eastern American Coasts. This transportation shows temporal and spatial variability and often reaches its peak during the boreal summer (June-July-August). The regional climate model (RegCM 4.0), containing a module of dust emission, transport, and deposition processes, is used in this study. Saharan and Sahelian dusts emissions, transports, and climatic impact on precipitations during the spring (March-April-May) and summer (June-July-August) were studied using this model. The results showed that the simulation were coherent with observations made by the MISR satellite and the AERONET ground stations, within the domain of Africa (Banizoumba, Cinzana, and M’Bour) and Ragged-point (Barbados Islands). The transport of dust particles was predominantly from North-East to South-West over the studied period (2005–2010). The seasonality of dust plumes’ trajectories was influenced by the altitudes reached by dusts in the troposphere. The impact of dusts on climate consisted of a cooling effect both during the boreal summer and spring over West Africa (except Southern-Guinea and Northern-Liberia), Central Africa, South-America, and Caribbean where increased precipitations were observed.
Earthworms Dilong: Ancient, Inexpensive, Noncontroversial Models May Help Clarify Approaches to Integrated Medicine Emphasizing Neuroimmune Systems
Authors: Cooper Edwin L. , Balamurugan Mariappan , Huang Chih-Yang , Tsao Clara R. , Heredia Jesus , Tommaseo-Ponzetta Mila , Paoletti Maurizio G.
Published: July 2012

Earthworms have provided ancient cultures with food and sources of medicinal cures. Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and practices in Japan, Vietnam, and Korea have focused first on earthworms as sources of food. Gradually fostering an approach to potential beneficial healing properties, there are renewed efforts through bioprospecting and evidence-based research to understand by means of rigorous investigations the mechanisms of action whether earthworms are used as food and/or as sources of potential medicinal products. Focusing on earthworms grew by serendipity from an extensive analysis of the earthworm’s innate immune system. Their immune systems are replete with leukocytes and humoral products that exert credible health benefits. Their emerging functions with respect to evolution of innate immunity have long been superseded by their well-known ecological role in soil conservation. Earthworms as inexpensive, noncontroversial animal models (without ethical concerns) are not vectors of disease do not harbor parasites that threaten humans nor are they annoying pests. By recognizing their numerous ecological, environmental, and biomedical roles, substantiated by inexpensive and more comprehensive investigations, we will become more aware of their undiscovered beneficial properties.
Resource Management in Satellite Communication Systems: Heuristic Schemes and Algorithms
Authors: Wayer Shahaf I. , Reichman Arie
Published: July 2012

The high cost of frequency bandwidth in satellite communication emphasizes the need for good algorithms to cope with the resource allocation problem. In systems using DVB‐S2 links, the optimization of resource allocation may be related to the classical multi‐knapsack problem. Resource management should be carried out according to the requests of subscribers, their priority levels, and assured bandwidths. A satisfaction measure is defined to estimate the allocation processes. Heuristic algorithms together with some innovative scaling schemes are presented and compared using Monte Carlo simulation based on a traffic model introduced here.
Novel Identities for -Genocchi Numbers and Polynomials
Authors: Araci Serkan
Published: July 2012

The essential aim of this paper is to introduce novel identities forq-Genocchi numbers and polynomials by using the method by T. Kim et al. (article in press). We show that these polynomials are related top-adic analogue of Bernstein polynomials. Also, we derive relations betweenq-Genocchi andq-Bernoulli numbers.
Multiple Positive Solutions for Singular Semipositone Periodic Boundary Value Problems with Derivative Dependence
Authors: Lu Huiqin
Published: July 2012

By constructing a special cone in C1[0, 2π]
and the fixed point theorem, this paper investigates second‐order singular semipositone periodic boundary value problems with dependence on the first‐order derivative and obtains the existence of multiple positive solutions. Further, an example is given to demonstrate the applications of our main results.
Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Diabetic and Hypertensive Women during Labor
Authors: Al-Shebly Mashael M. , Mansour Mahmoud A.
Published: July 2012

Pregnancy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is associated with a greater incidence of fetal abnormality. Animal studies suggested that increased free-radical production and antioxidant depletion may contribute to this risk. The objective of this work was to evaluate oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in hypertensive, diabetics, and healthy control women during labor. Simultaneous determination of antioxidant enzymes activities, namely glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-red), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant, and lipid peroxides measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels, were carried out in maternal plasma during labor. Plasma GSH-Px activity was found to be significantly increased as it doubled in hypertensive, and diabetic women when compared with healthy control women (P<0.05). In contrast, plasma SOD activity was significantly decreased in both groups when compared to the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were detected in GSH-Red activity between diabetic, hypertensive and control groups. Alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities were accompanied by a significant increase in the levels of plasma lipid peroxides in hypertensive and diabetic women during labor. Plasma levels of total antioxidants were significantly increased in diabetic women as compared with the control group. Based on our results, it may be concluded that enhanced generation of oxidative stress causes alteration of antioxidant capacity in diabetic and hypertensive women during labor. Alterations in antioxidant and prooxidant components may result in various complications including peroxidation of vital body molecules which may be regarded as an increased risk factor for pregnant women as well as the fetus.
On the Practical Stability of Impulsive Differential Equations with Infinite Delay in Terms of Two Measures
Authors: Wu Bo , Han Jing , Cai Xiushan
Published: July 2012

We consider the practical stability of impulsive differential equations with infinite delay in terms of two measures. New stability criteria are established by employing Lyapunov functions and Razumikhin technique. Moreover, an example is given to illustrate the advantage of the obtained result.
Reflexology versus Swedish Massage to Reduce Physiologic Stress and Pain and Improve Mood in Nursing Home Residents with Cancer: A Pilot Trial
Authors: Hodgson Nancy A. , Lafferty Doreen
Published: July 2012

Objective. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate and compare the effects of reflexology and Swedish massage therapy on physiologic stress, pain, and mood in older cancer survivors residing in nursing homes.Methods. An experimental, repeated-measures, crossover design study of 18 nursing home residents aged 75 or over and diagnosed with solid tumor in the past 5 years and following completion of cancer treatments. The intervention tested was 20 minutes of Swedish Massage Therapy to the lower extremities, versus 20 minute Reflexology, using highly specified protocols. Pre- and post-intervention levels of salivary cortisol, observed affect, and pain were compared in the Swedish Massage Therapy and Reflexology conditions.Results. Both Reflexology and Swedish Massage resulted in significant declines in salivary cortisol and pain and improvements in mood.Conclusions. Preliminary data suggest that studies of Swedish Massage Therapy and Reflexology are feasible in this population of cancer survivors typically excluded from trials. Both interventions were well tolerated and produced measurable improvements in outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the potential benefits of these CAM modalities in this patient population.
Shifting Up Cutoff Value of D-Dimer in the Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism: A Viable Option? Possible Risks and Benefits
Authors: Raviv Bennidor , Israelit Shlomo H.
Published: July 2012

Objectives.To evaluate the viability of the possibility to use a higher D-dimer value than the one used today in the clinical algorithms evaluating patients suspected to have pulmonary embolism.Methods.A retrospective analysis of 300 serial patients for whom D-dimer values were taken during a 10 month period in the emergency room of a tertiary medical center.Results.Our analysis showed that it may be safe and cost effective to use a D-dimer value of 900 ng/ml rather than the value of 500 ng/ml accepted today, with sensitivity of 94.4%. In younger patients [under 40 years] the sensitivity reached was even higher—100%.Conclusions.Raising cutoff values of D-dimer in screening for pulmonary embolism seems a viable option. There may be a place for “tailoring” cutoff values according individual patient characteristics, such as according age groups. More studies of the subject are warranted.
Mathematical Model and Cluster Synchronization for a Complex Dynamical Network with Two Types of Chaotic Oscillators
Authors: Jia Zhen , Deng Guangming
Published: July 2012

We propose a mathematical model of a complex dynamical network consisting of two types of chaotic oscillators and investigate the schemes and corresponding criteria for cluster synchronization. The global asymptotically stable criteria for the linearly or adaptively coupled network are derived to ensure that each group of oscillators is synchronized to the same behavior. The cluster synchronization can be guaranteed by increasing the inner coupling strength in each cluster or enhancing the external excitation. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation results show that the external excitation is more conducive to the cluster synchronization. All of the results are proved rigorously. Finally, a network with a scale‐free subnetwork and a small‐world subnetwork is illustrated, and the corresponding numerical simulations verify the theoretical analysis.
Acute Submandibular Sialadenitis—A Case Report
Authors: Chandak Rakhi , Degwekar Shirish , Chandak Manoj , Rawlani Shivlal
Published: July 2012

Many conditions affect the salivary glands. Acute sialadenitis is infectious or inflammatory disorders of the salivary glands. The exact frequency of submandibular sialadenitis is unclear. The acute conditions more typically involve the parotid and submandibular glands. During an acute inflammatory process, there is swelling of the affected gland, overlying pain, gland tenderness, fever, and on occasion difficulty in opening the mouth. Initial treatment should include rehydration oral antistaphylococcal antibiotic should be started while awaiting culture results. Hygiene and repeated massaging of the gland when tenderness had subsided. The present report describes a case of acute submandibular sialadenitis in a 70-year-old female.
A Note on Directional Wavelet Transform: Distributional Boundary Values and Analytic Wavefront Sets
Authors: Apolonio Felipe A. , Franco Daniel H. T. , Fagundes Fábio N.
Published: July 2012

By using a particular class of directional wavelets (namely, the conical wavelets, which are wavelets strictly supported in a proper convex cone in thek-space of frequencies), in this paper, it is shown that a tempered distribution is obtained as a finite sum of boundary values of analytic functions arising from the complexification of the translational parameter of the wavelet transform. Moreover, we show that for a given distributionf∈𝒮′(ℝn), the continuous wavelet transform offwith respect to a conical wavelet is defined in such a way that the directional wavelet transform offyields a function on phase space whose high-frequency singularities are precisely the elements in the analytic wavefront set off.
The Effect of Captopril on Impaired Wound Healing in Experimental Diabetes
Authors: Zandifar Ehsan , Sohrabi Beheshti Sajedeh , Zandifar Alireza , Haghjooy Javanmard Shaghayegh
Published: July 2012

We aimed to investigate whether oral administration of captopril modulate wound healing, nitric oxide (NO), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in wound fluid of diabetic rats. 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in four groups (n=12). The 36 rats were rendered diabetic by streptozotocin. The animals of the first and second groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg/day captopril, respectively, (DM-cap25 and DM-cap50). The animals of the third group were treated by distilled water (DM-control). Control rats had no intervention. The wound fluid level of NO and VEGF were measured. Wound specimens were investigated histopathologically. At the 5th day, there was significantly moreNOxin wound fluid of DM-cap25 compared to other groups. At the 7th day, both captopril-treated groups had moreNOxin wound fluid compared to other groups. At the 11th day, both captopril-treated groups had moreNOxin wound fluid compared to DM-control group. VEGF concentration was significantly higher in both captopril-treated groups versus DM-control group (P<.05). There were significant higher wound healing scores in captopril-treated groups compared with DM-control group (P<.05). These results suggest that captopril might be useful in diabetic wound healing.
Algorithms for Solving the Variational Inequality Problem over the Triple Hierarchical Problem
Authors: Jitpeera Thanyarat , Kumam Poom
Published: July 2012

This paper discusses the monotone variational inequality over the solution set of the variational
inequality problem and the fixed point set of a nonexpansive mapping. The strong convergence
theorem for the proposed algorithm to the solution is guaranteed under some suitable assumptions.
Dolphin-Assisted Therapy: Claims versus Evidence
Authors: Fiksdal Britta L. , Houlihan Daniel , Barnes Aaron C.
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this paper is to review and critique studies that have been conducted on dolphin-assisted therapy for children with various disorders. Studies have been released claiming swimming with dolphins is therapeutic and beneficial for children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, physical disabilities, and other psychological disorders. The majority of the studies conducted supporting the effectiveness of dolphin-assisted therapy have been found to have major methodological concerns making it impossible to draw valid conclusions. Readers will be informed of the history of, theory behind, and variations of dolphin-assisted therapy along with a review and critique of studies published which purportedly support its use.
The Impact of Non–Drug-Related Toxicities on the Estimation of the Maximum Tolerated Dose in Phase I Trials
Authors: Iasonos Alexia , Gounder Mrinal , Spriggs David R. , Gerecitano John F. , Hyman David M. , Zohar Sarah , O'Quigley John
Published: July 2012

The rate of observed dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) determines the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in phase I trials. There are cases in which non–drug-related toxicities or other-cause toxicities (OCT) are flagged as DLTs, or vice versa, due to attribution errors. We aim to assess the impact of such errors on the final estimate of MTD. We compared the impact of attribution errors using 2 trial designs—the “3+3” dose-escalation scheme and the continual reassessment method (CRM). Two attribution errors are considered: when a DLT is classified as an OCT (type A error) and when an OCT is misclassified as a DLT (type B error). The impact of these errors on accuracy, patient safety, sample size, and study duration was evaluated by varying the probability of occurrence of each error through simulated trials. Under no errors, CRM is on average 35% more accurate than 3+3 in finding the true MTD. This improved accuracy is maintained in the presence of errors. At a 15% type B error rate, CRM recommends a dose within 2 levels of the true MTD 68% of the time, compared with 17% of the time using the 3+3 method. A DLT must be attributed as an OCT 30% of the time to increase the accuracy of 3+3; otherwise the method recommends a wrong dose approximately 75% of the time. CRM is more robust to toxicity attribution errors compared with the 3+3 as it uses information from all treated patients, leading to a more accurate MTD estimation at the frequency of attribution errors anticipated in phase I clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res; 18(19); 5179–87. ©2012 AACR.
Targeting the IKKβ/mTOR/VEGF Signaling Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Obesity-Related Breast Cancer
Authors: Chen Chun-Te , Du Yi , Yamaguchi Hirohito , Hsu Jung-Mao , Kuo Hsu-Ping , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Hung Mien-Chie
Published: July 2012

Clinical correlation studies have clearly shown that obesity is associated with breast cancer risk and patient survival. Although several potential mechanisms linking obesity and cancers have been proposed, the detailed molecular mechanism of obesity-mediated breast tumorigenesis has not yet been critically evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of obesity on mammary tumor initiation and progression using mice with genetic and diet-induced obesity bearing mammary tumor xenografts and mouse mammary tumor virus-neu transgenic mice that were fed a high-fat diet. We show that obesity promoted mammary tumor growth and development in these animal models. Moreover, the expressions of TNFα, VEGF, IKKβ, and mTOR are upregulated in mammary tumors of obese mice, suggesting that the IKKβ/mTOR/VEGF signaling pathway is activated by TNFα in the tumors of obese mice. More importantly, inhibitors (rapamycin, bevacizumab, and aspirin) that target members of the pathway suppressed tumorigenesis and prolonged survival more effectively in obese mice than in nonobese mice. Here, we not only identified a specific signaling pathway that contributes to mammary tumorigenesis in obese mice but also a strategy for treating obesity-mediated breast cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(10); 2212–21. ©2012 AACR.
Vasohibin-2 Expressed in Human Serous Ovarian Adenocarcinoma Accelerates Tumor Growth by Promoting Angiogenesis
Authors: Takahashi Yoshifumi , Koyanagi Takahiro , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Saga Yasushi , Kanomata Naoki , Moriya Takuya , Suzuki Mitsuaki , Sato Yasufumi
Published: July 2012

Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is a VEGF-inducible endothelium-derived angiogenesis inhibitor and VASH2 is its homolog. Our previous analysis revealed that VASH1 is expressed in endothelial cells to terminate angiogenesis, whereas VASH2 is expressed in infiltrating mononuclear cells mobilized from bone marrow to promote angiogenesis in a mouse model of hypoxia-induced subcutaneous angiogenesis. To test the possible involvement of VASH2 in the tumor, we examined human ovarian cancer cells for the presence of VASH2. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that VASH2 protein was preferentially detected in cancer cells of serous ovarian adenocarcinoma. We then used SKOV-3 and DISS, two representative human serous adenocarcinoma cell lines, and examined the role of VASH2 in the tumor. The knockdown of VASH2 showed little effect on the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro but notably inhibited tumor growth, peritoneal dissemination, and tumor angiogenesis in a murine xenograft model. Next, we stably transfected the human VASH2 gene into two types of murine tumor cells, EL-4 and MLTC-1, in which endogenous VASH2 was absent. When either EL-4 or MLTC-1 cells were inoculated into VASH2 (−/−) mice, the VASH2 transfectants formed bigger tumors when compared with the controls, and the tumor microvessel density was significantly increased. VASH2 stimulated the migration of endothelial cells, and its increased expression in cancer cells is related to the decrease of mir-200b. These results indicate that VASH2 expressed in serous ovarian carcinoma cells promoted tumor growth and peritoneal dissemination by promoting angiogenesis. Mol Cancer Res; 10(9); 1135–46. ©2012 AACR.
Efficacy of Fibrin Sealant in Reducing Hemorrhage after a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure
Authors: Kim Kidong , Park Sang-Il , Kim Beob-Jong , Kim Moon-Hong , Choi Seok-Cheol , Ryu Sang-Young , Lee Eui-Don
Published: July 2012

Background/Aims: We examined the association of fibrin sealant use with post-operative hemorrhage in patients who underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Methods: We retrospectively collected clinicopathologic data of 344 patients who underwent LEEP at our institute between 2007 and 2009. We defined hemorrhage which occurred between 1 and 30 days after LEEP and required electrocautery to achieve hemostasis as severe secondary hemorrhage (SSH). We determined whether or not the use of fibrin sealant during LEEP was associated with a decreased occurrence of SSH. In addition, we examined the associations of other clinicopathologic variables with SSH and fibrin sealant use. Results: SSH occurred in 6 of 200 patients (3%) with fibrin sealant and in 12 of 144 patients (8%) without fibrin sealant. Based on univariate analysis, the use of fibrin sealant was associated with SSH (p = 0.028). However, age, surgeons and pathologic diagnosis were not associated with SSH. Based on multivariate analysis, the use of fibrin sealant was associated with less SSH (p = 0.033, OR = 0.328, 95% CI 0.117–0.917). Conclusion: Fibrin sealant use reduces the incidence of severe post-operative hemorrhage after LEEP.
A Study on the Estrogen Receptor α Gene Polymorphism and Its Expression in Thin Endometrium of Unknown Etiology
Authors: Yuan Rui , Le Ai-Wen
Published: July 2012

Background/Aims: To study the relationship between the estrogen receptor α (ERa) gene polymorphism and expression in thin endometrium. Methods: We chose 120 unknown thin endometrium patients as the case group and another 112 normal endometrium women as the control group. Methods in molecular biology were used to analyze restriction fragment length polymorphism of PvuII and XbaI in the ERa gene. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to investigate the expressions of the ERa at mRNA and protein levels. Results: P genotypic frequency was 47.1% in the case group and 30.0% in the control group; the OR was 2.076. X genotypic frequency in the case group was 20.8%, and 30.4% in the control group; the OR was 0.602. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of PvuII and XbaI in the two groups were distributed with polymorphisms. The mRNA and protein expressions of ERa decreased compared with that in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: ERa gene polymorphism is related to unknown thin endometrium, in which P allele may be the risk and X allele may be its guard factor. The expression of ERa decreases in thin endometrium compared with normal endometrium, and ERa may be related to the unknown etiological thin endometrium.
Do Patients Prefer a Pessary or Surgery as Primary Treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Authors: Thys S.D. , Roovers J.P. , Geomini P.M. , Bongers M.Y.
Published: July 2012

Background/Aims: To assess whether patients prefer surgery or a pessary as treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: A structured interview was performed among treated and untreated women with POP. We conducted fictive scenarios of potential disadvantages of surgery and pessary use. Our main outcome was the willingness to alter treatment preference (by increasing percentages of defined disadvantages) and determine conditions at which treatment preference changes to alternative treatment. Results: Three groups of 25 patients were interviewed: (1) untreated patients, (2) patients who underwent surgery, and (3) patients treated with a pessary. In the treatment-naive group, 48% preferred surgery, 36% a pessary and 16% had no preferable treatment. Patients switched preference from surgery to a pessary at a median risk of stress urinary incontinence of 22% and of recurrent prolapse of 43%. Patients switched preference from pessary to surgery at a median risk of vaginal irritation of 32%, of placing problems of 32% and of incomplete symptom relief of 17%. Conclusions: Patients tend to prefer surgery for POP. When realistic assumptions for (dis)advantages are made, most women consider the disadvantages following both treatment options to be acceptable as they do not exceed the risks described in the literature.
Osteocalcin, Cortisol Levels, and Bone Mineral Density in Prepubertal Children with Asthma Treated with Long-Term Fluticasone Propionate
Authors: Ozkaya Emin , Nursoy Mustafa A. , Uzuner Selcuk , Erenberk Ufuk , Çakır Erkan
Published: July 2012

Aims: The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the long-term treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate on osteocalcin, cortisol levels, and bone mineral status in children with asthma. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 230 prepubertal children with asthma (aged 6–11) who had intermittently used inhaled fluticasone propionate for at least 5 years at a mean daily dose of 200 µg (range: 200–350 µg). Serum osteocalcin, cortisol, and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine were obtained from each participant. The control group consisted of gender- and age-matched children (n = 170) who were newly diagnosed with asthma and who were not being treated with corticosteroid. Results: The average age (±SEM) was 8.9 ± 0.7 years, their mean (±SEM) daily steroid dose was 180.3 ± 55.0 µg, with 236.5 ± 17.2 g total steroid use during treatment. Between the study and the control groups, no significant differences were observed in cortisol, osteocalcin levels, and BMD (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Long-term treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate (100 µg twice daily) revealed no negative effects on serum osteocalcin, cortisol levels, and BMD in children with asthma.