bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial Activity of Selected Beta-Lactam and Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Against Cephalothin-Resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Lewis Robert P. , Meyer Richard D. , Kraus Linda L.
Published: June 2012

The in vitro antibacterial activity of four β-lactam antibiotics (cefatrizine [BL-S640], cefamandole, cefoxitin, and carbenicillin) and three aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin) was determined against 197 strains of cephalothin-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
. Eighty strains were found to be gentamicin-sensitive, and 117 were found to be gentamicin-resistant. Carbenicillin was the most active β-lactam antibiotic against gentamicin-sensitive
Serratia marcescens
and
Enterobacter
spp. Cefoxitin was the most active β-lactam antibiotic against the remaining gentamicin-sensitive and -resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
, including
Providencia stuartii
and indole-positive
Proteus
spp. Cefatrizine exhibited little activity against the organisms studied. Cefamandole was less active than cefoxitin and carbenicillin. Amikacin was the most effective agent in vitro. With the exception of
S. marcescens
, cefoxitin appeared to be the next most promising agent in vitro against gentamicin- and cephalothin-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
.
Comparison of Direct and Standardized Disk Diffusion Susceptibility Testing of Urine Cultures
Authors: Hollick Gary E. , Washington John A.
Published: June 2012

A comparison between direct and standardized disk diffusion tests was made on a total of 300 urine specimens containing ≥10
5
organisms/ml. Of these, 246 represented pure cultures and 54 represented mixed cultures. The number of major discrepancies per organism tested in pure culture was 18 (7.3%) and in mixed cultures it was 23 (42.6%). The percentage of major discrepancies per total number of antimicrobial drug comparisons made was 1.4%. Although this procedure may be of value in selected cases with pure cultures of organisms present in quantities ≥10
5
/ml, its use on a routine basis is not recommended.
Altered Ribosomes in Antibiotic-Resistant Mutants of
Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Yamada Takeshi , Masuda Kunitsugu , Mizuguchi Yasuo , Suga Kiyoko
Published: June 2012

Two alleles for viomycin-capreomycin resistance (
vic
) in
Mycobacterium smegmatis
affect ribosome structures. One (
vicA
) affects a component of 50
S
subunits and the other (
vicB
) affects a component of 30
S
subunits. The locus for neomycin-kanamycin resistance (
nek
), which is linked to
vicA
and
vicB
, affects a component of 30
S
subunits. Although the erythromycin resistance locus (
ery
) is linked to
vic
and
nek
, no ribosomal alterations could be detected. Mutations at the streptomycin locus (
str
) not linked to
vic
and
nek
caused alterations of 30
S
subunits.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cephalosporin C by an Extracellular Acetylhydrolase of
Cephalosporium acremonium
Authors: Hinnen A. , Nuesch J.
Published: June 2012

Extracellular hydrolases from
Cephalosporium acremonium
were analyzed according to their ability to deacetylate the β-lactam antibiotic cephalosporin C. One out of at least six hydrolases exhibits appreciable cephalosporin C acetylhydrolase (CAH) activity. This enzyme was separated from other hydrolases and purified 220-fold. The purified CAH has a relatively low affinity for cephalosporin C (

K
m

, 20 mM) and is strongly inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and less markedly affected by fluoride. Addition of glucose, maltose, and sucrose to the culture broth suppresses CAH production, whereas glycerol and succinate have no effect. Verrucarin A prevented the enzyme from appearing in the medium, which indicates the necessity of protein synthesis for CAH formation. When 1-thio-
d
-glucose was added to the culture medium, the results suggested that this glucose analogue is able to inhibit CAH synthesis. Our data provide evidence for a regulation of CAH synthesis similar to the catabolite repression system in bacteria.
Stable Antibiotic Sensitivity Disks
Authors: Pfeiffer Ralph R. , Engel Gary L. , Coleman Dennis
Published: June 2012

Two methods of preparing sensitivity disks were compared for their effect on disk stability at 25 and 37 C. One method consisted of applying a solution of the antibiotic to blank disks by the conventional procedure; the second method consisted of applying the antibiotic to the disks as a suspension of crystals. Of the four β-lactam antibiotics that were studied, disks made with suspended crystals were substantially more stable than corresponding disks made by the conventional method. The increased stability is related to the greater chemical stability of the antibiotics in the crystalline versus the amorphous state.
Activity of Cefamandole and Other Cephalosporins Against Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria
Authors: Ernst E. Chaim , Berger Stephen , Barza Michael , Jacobus Nilda V. , Tally Francis P.
Published: June 2012

The activity of cefamandole was comparable to that of cephalothin, cefazolin, and cephaloridine against
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes
, and
Diplococcus pneumoniae
. In contrast, cefamandole was considerably more active than cephalothin, cefazolin, or cephaloridine against gram-negative facultative bacilli, including
Haemophilus influenzae
, the most striking disparities being noted with indole-positive
Proteus
and
Enterobacter. Bacteroides fragilis
was more susceptible to cefoxitin than to cefamandole or cefazolin (median minimal inhibitory concentration, approximately 8, 32, and 32 μg/ml, respectively); cephalothin exhibited still less activity against this species. The majority of other anaerobes were inhibited by relatively low concentrations of all four cephalosporins. The results indicate a potentially valuable role for cefamandole against facultative gram-negative bacilli, including
H. influenzae
, but no exceptional activity against anaerobes.
In Vitro Evaluation of Cefoxitin and Cefamandole
Authors: Adams H. G. , Stilwell G. A. , Turck M.
Published: June 2012

Cefoxitin and cefamandole were evaluated in vitro against 263 organisms. Studies were performed in Mueller-Hinton and nutrient broth and agar employing inoculum sizes of 10
6
and 10
8
organisms per ml. At obtainable serum levels both antibiotics were bactericidal for nearly all strains of
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis
, and
Staphylococcus aureus
but were inactive against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and enterococcus. In agar, cefamandole appeared to be active against most strains of
Enterobacter
and indole-positive
Proteus
, whereas cefoxitin was active against indole-positive
Proteus
but not
Enterobacter
. Moreover, in broth medium most strains of
Enterobacter
were not readily inhibited by either antibiotic and only 40 and 73% of indole-positive
Proteus
were inhibited by 10 μg of cefamandole per ml in Mueller-Hinton and nutrient broth, respectively. However, in both broth media, 10 μg of cefoxitin per ml continued to be inhibitory and bactericidal for most isolates of indole-positive
Proteus
. Cefoxitin also was bactericidal against four cephalothin-resistant strains of
E. coli
. These data suggest that cefoxitin broadens the spectrum of existing cephalosporins by enhancing the activity against indole-positive
Proteus
species as well as some other
Enterobacteriaceae
. On the other hand, with the exception of strains of
Enterobacter aerogenes
, the apparent increased in vitro activity of cefamandole was demonstrated in agar and not in broth.
Rapid Microbiological Assay for Chloramphenicol and Tetracyclines
Authors: Louie Thomas J. , Tally Francis P. , Bartlett John G. , Gorbach Sherwood L.
Published: June 2012

An agar diffusion assay for chloramphenicol and tetracyclines is described, using inhibition of hemolysis by
Clostridium perfringens
as a biological indicator of antimicrobial activity. Well-defined zones formed after a 1.5- to 2-h incubation in an anaerobic chamber or after 3 h using a GasPak system. Serum levels of chloramphenicol as low as 2.0 μg/ml could be reproducibly determined with this method. Concurrent presence of gentamicin did not influence the assay. Levels of penicillin G were also reproducibly determined with this method, although use of stable zones of growth inhibition which would form after overnight incubation were a more convenient end point for this bactericidal drug. The hemolytic assay with
C. perfringens
is a reproducible, accurate, and rapid method for determination of levels for chloramphenicol and tetracyclines.
Susceptibility of
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Staphylococcus epidermidis
to 65 Antibiotics
Authors: Sabath L. D. , Garner Carol , Wilcox Clare , Finland Maxwell
Published: June 2012

The susceptibilities of 36 recent isolates of
Staphylococcus aureus
and 35 recent isolates of
Staphylococcus epidermidis
were determined against each of 65 antimicrobial agents and against two of them in combination. Rifampin was the most active of all the agents tested against both
S. aureus
and
S. epidermidis
. Among the penicillins, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, and nafcillin were most active, although benzylpenicillin and phenoxymethyl penicillin were more active against susceptible strains. Cephaloridine was the most active of the cephalosporins, and sisomicin was the most active aminoglycoside. Minocycline was more active than the other tetracycline analogues tested. Among the macrolide-lincomycin compounds in clinical use, clindamycin was more active, and lincomycin was less active than erythromycin. The synergy of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was more striking against
S. aureus
than against
S. epidermidis
. The median minimal inhibitory concentrations of the penicillins, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides were lower against
S. aureus
, whereas the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the tetracyclines were lower against
S. epidermidis
.
Genome Sequence of Escherichia coli J53, a Reference Strain for Genetic Studies
Authors: Yi Hana , Cho Yong-Joon , Yong Dongeun , Chun Jongsik
Published: June 2012

Escherichia coli
J53 (F
−
met pro
Azi
r
) is a derivative of
E. coli
K-12 which is resistant to sodium azide. This strain has been widely used as a general recipient strain for various conjugation experiments. Here, we report the genome sequence of
E. coli
J53 (=KACC 16628).
Genome Sequence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli NCCP15658
Authors: Song Ju Yeon , Yoo Ran Hee , Jang Song Yee , Seong Won-Keun , Kim Seon-Young , Jeong Haeyoung , Kang Sung Gyun , Kim Byung Kwon , Kwon Soon-Kyeong , Lee Choong Hoon , Yu Dong Su , Park Mi-Sun , Cho Seung-Hak , Kim Jihyun F.
Published: June 2012

Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
causes severe food-borne disease in the guts of humans and animals. Here, we report the high-quality draft genome sequence of
E. coli
NCCP15658 isolated from a patient in the Republic of Korea. Its genome size was determined to be 5.46 Mb, and its genomic features, including genes encoding virulence factors, were analyzed.
Draft Genome Sequence of Serratia sp. Strain M24T3, Isolated from Pinewood Disease Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Authors: Proença Diogo Neves , Espírito Santo Christophe , Grass Gregor , Morais Paula V.
Published: June 2012

Here we report the draft genome sequence of
Serratia
sp. strain M24T3, which is associated with pinewood nematode
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
, the causative agent of pine wilt disease.
Serratia
sp. strain M24T3 has been identified as a bionematocide for
B. xylophilus in vitro
, and multiple genes potentially involved in virulence and nematotoxity were identified.
Marathon related cardiac arrest risk differences in men and women
Authors: Roberts William O , Roberts Dana M , Lunos Scott
Published: June 2012

Objective

To determine the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in men and women.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Two popular urban 42 km marathons.

Participants

1982 to 2009 finishers.

Assessment of risk factors

Race records were assessed for finishers, age distribution and cardiac events by sex.

Main outcome measures

The SCA/SCD incidence for all (total), male and female finishers.

Results

There were 548 092 finishers with women finishers increasing from 10% to 40% over the first 18 years and remaining near 40% for the last decade. There were 14 SCA events (1 woman, 13 men) with seven successful resuscitations yielding an all finishers SCA rate of 2.6 per 100 000 finishers. The SCA rates (per 100 000) for men and women were 3.4 (95% CI: 1.8 to 5.9) and 0.6 (95% CI: 0.0 to 3.3), respectively (p=0.079). The male SCA rate for the 2000–2009 decade was 4.6 per 100 000 finishers (95% CI: 1.8 to 9.5). Eleven of 13 men were >39 years old. The OR of a man experiencing SCA compared with woman was 5.7.

Conclusions

As the number of women participating in these two marathons has increased, the difference between the men's and total SCA and SCD incidence has increased for men, especially >39 years old, from coronary artery disease with men's incidence for SCA of 1 in 22 000 and SCD at 1 in 50 000 finishers over past decade.
Validity of a computerised five-level emergency triage system for patients with acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Sung Sheng-Feng , Huang Ying-Chieh , Ong Cheung-Ter , Chen Wei
Published: June 2012

Objectives

An ideal triage system used in the emergency department (ED) should identify patients who need urgent medical care. The purpose of this study was to validate the Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale (TTAS) for stratifying patients according to their severity, need for thrombolysis, resource utilisation, and outcome.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed all admitted patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke from January 2010 to September 2011. Presenting complaints, activation of code stroke protocol, eligibility of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment, time from ED arrival to treatment, and outcome at discharge were compared by the five-level triage system.

Results

Of 706 enrolled patients (level 1, 55; level 2, 455; level 3, 192; level 4, 4; level 5, 0), there were 412 (58.4%) men and 294 women (41.6%), with a mean age of 69.4 years. The initial stroke severity, time from onset to arrival, time from arrival to imaging, proportion of patients for whom code stroke protocol was activated, length of hospital stay, and good functional outcome at discharge correlated with TTAS levels. A total of 84 patients were thrombolysis candidates, and 98.8% of them were designated as either level 1 or level 2. For those treated with thrombolytic therapy (n=47), the time from arrival to thrombolysis was not significantly different between TTAS level 1 and 2.

Conclusion

Acuity measured by the computerised TTAS demonstrated good validity in facilitating acute care of stroke patients with special regard to thrombolytic therapy.
Dietary and animal‐related factors associated with the rate of urinary oxalate and calcium excretion in dogs and cats
Authors: Dijcker J. C. , Hagen‐Plantinga E. A. , Everts H. , Bosch G. , Kema I. P. , Hendriks W. H.
Published: June 2012

This paper reports the results of a cohort study and randomised clinical trial (RCT) in cross‐over design. In the cohort study, the range of urinary oxalate (Uox) and calcium (Uca) excretion was determined within a sample of the Dutch population of dogs and cats, and dietary and animal‐related factors associated with these urine parameters were identified. Spot urine samples were collected from privately owned dogs (n=141) and cats (n=50). The RCT determined the effect of a commercial raw meat diet versus a dry diet on Uox and Uca excretion rate in 23 dogs. In the cohort study, Uox excretion ranged from 21.1 to 170.6 mmol oxalate/mol creatinine in dogs and 27.5 to 161.6 in cats. Urinary calcium excretion ranged from 3.4 to 462.8 mmol calcium/mol creatinine in dogs and 10.1 to 128.0 in cats. In dogs, increased Uox and Uca excretion was associated with (1) the intake of a dry diet as the primary source of energy, (2) receiving no snacks and (3) breed. Increased Uox excretion was associated with males as well. In cats, urine collection in anaesthetised subjects was identified as a confounder. In the RCT, feeding the dry diet resulted in higher Uox (P<0.001) and Uca (P=0.021) excretion rates in dogs.
Viral protease inhibitors affect the production of virulence factors inCryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Sidrim J.J.C. , Perdigão-Neto L.V. , Cordeiro R.A. , Brilhante R.S.N. , Leite J.J.G. , Teixeira C.E.C. , Monteiro A.J , Freitas R.M.F. , Ribeiro J.F. , Mesquita J.R.L. , Gonçalves M.V.F. , Rocha M.F.G.
Published: June 2012

The effects of the protease inhibitors saquinavir, darunavir, ritonavir, and indinavir on growth inhibition, protease and phospholipase activities, as well as capsule thickness of Cryptococcus neoformans were investigated. Viral protease inhibitors did not reduce fungal growth when tested in concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1.000 mg/L. A tendency toward increasing phospholipase activity was observed with the highest tested drug concentration in a strain-specific pattern. However, these drugs reduced protease activity as well as capsule production. Our results confirm a previous finding that antiretroviral drugs affect the production of important virulence factors of C. neoformans.
CASIMIR ENERGY, FERMION FRACTIONALIZATION AND STABILITY OF A FERMI FIELD IN AN ELECTRIC POTENTIAL IN (1+1) DIMENSIONS
Authors: DEHGHAN Z. , GOUSHEH S. S.
Published: June 2012

In this paper we compute and study the Casimir energy, vacuum polarization and the resulting fermion fractionalization, the phase shifts and the stability of the bound states of a Dirac field, all due to its interaction with an electric potential in (1+1) dimension. We also explore the inter-relation between these effects. All of these effects are different manifestations of one single source, which is the distortion of the fermionic spectrum and appears as spectral deficiencies in the continua and bound states. We compute and display the spatial densities of these deficiencies and those of the bound states, along with their associated energy densities. We find that in both cases the total spatial densities of states with E > 0 and E < 0 are exact mirror images of each other. Therefore these densities for the complete spectrum are unchanged as compared to the free case, and in particular they remain uniform. The densities of states with E < 0 are precisely the vacuum polarization density and the Casimir energy density, respectively. We find that the vacuum polarization is in general noninteger. We then compute and display the energy densities of the spectral deficiencies in the momentum space, and show that levels exiting or entering the continua leave their distinctive marks on these energy densities. We also use the phase shifts to calculate the Casimir energy and obtain the same result as in the direct calculation. In this problem the Casimir energy is always positive and is on the average an increasing function of the depth and width of the potential. It has a cusp whenever an energy level crosses E = 0. These cusps are local maxima in the extreme relativistic limits. Finally we show that the taking the Casimir energy into account, the total energy will be stable under small fluctuations in the parameters of the potential. However only the first two bound states are absolutely stable in the sense that their total energy is smaller than the mass.
ANOMALOUS ELASTIC BEHAVIOR AND ITS CORRELATION WITH SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN IRON-BASED SUPERCONDUCTOR Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2
Authors: YOSHIZAWA MASAHITO , SIMAYI SHALAMUJIANG
Published: June 2012

Elastic properties of iron-based superconductor Ba ( Fe 1-x Co x)2 As 2 with various Co concentrations x were reviewed. Among all elastic constants, C66 shows remarkable softening associated with the structural transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic. The amount of anomaly in C66 is 90% for the underdoped samples of x < 0.07 For the overdoped samples, the anomalies in C66 gradually disappear with the increasing of Co concentration. The elastic compliance S66 (= 1/C66) shows a quantum critical behavior, which behaves just like the magnetic susceptibility of unconventional superconductors. There exists a clear correlation between the superconducting transition temperature and the amount of anomaly in S66. It was suggested that the structural fluctuation, which is measured by S66, plays an important role in the emergence of superconductivity. The elastic anomaly of Ba ( Fe 1-x Co x)2 As 2 is characterized by a strong electron–lattice coupling, which would be originated from the 3d orbitals of iron. This might be a universal phenomenon not only in iron-based superconductors but also d-electron based superconductors. The results on Ba ( Fe 1-x Co x)2 As 2 would reveal relevant roles of the structural fluctuations due to the orbitals, which should be taken into account for the understanding of a whole picture of the superconductivity in iron-based superconductors and related materials.
STOCHASTIC STABILITY AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF TWO NOVEL ALGORITHMS OF THE PSO FAMILY: PP-GPSO AND RR-GPSO
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ-MARTÍNEZ JUAN LUIS , GARCÍA-GONZALO ESPERANZA
Published: June 2012

The PSO algorithm can be physically interpreted as a stochastic damped mass-spring system: the so-called PSO continuous model. Furthermore, PSO corresponds to a particular discretization of the PSO continuous model. Based on this mechanical analogy we derived in the past a family of PSO-like versions, where the acceleration is discretized using a centered scheme and the velocity of the particles can be regressive (GPSO), progressive (CP-GPSO) or centered (CC-GPSO). Although the first and second order trajectories of these algorithms are isomorphic, CC-GPSO and CP-GPSO are very different from GPSO. In this paper we present two other PSO-like methods: PP-GPSO and RR-GPSO. These algorithms correspond respectively to progressive and regressive discretizations in acceleration and velocity. PP-PSO has the same velocity update than GPSO, but the velocities used to update the trajectories are delayed one iteration, thus, PP-PSO acts as a Jacobi system updating positions and velocities at the same time. RR-GPSO is similar to a GPSO with stochastic constriction factor. Both versions have a very different behavior from GPSO and the other family members introduced in the past: CC-PSO and CP-PSO. RR-PSO seems to have the greatest convergence rate and its good parameter sets can be calculated analytically since they are along a straight line located in the first order stability region. Conversely PP-PSO seems to be a more explorative version, although the behavior of these algorithms can be partly problem dependent. Both exhibit a very peculiar behavior, very different from other family members, and thus they can be called distant PSO relatives. RR-PSO have the greatest convergence rate of all family members for a wide range of benchmark functions with different numerical complexity in 10, 30 and 50 dimensions. These algorithms have been succesfully applied for protein secondary structure prediction and in oil and gas reservoir optimization.
Accounting Quality, Earnings Management and Cross-Listings: Evidence from China
Authors: Eng Li Li , Lin Ying Chou
Published: June 2012

This paper examines the quality of financial reporting of Chinese firms cross-listed in the United States, Hong Kong and noncross-listed Chinese firms. We examine quality of financial reporting based on measures of earnings management, timely loss recognition and price-earnings association. We find that both cross-listings and noncross-listings show significant earnings smoothing and use accruals to manage earnings, and are not timely in loss recognition. We surmise that cross-listing in the United States or Hong Kong has not changed the accounting choices of Chinese cross-listing firms. However, our findings show that the market considers earnings and book value data of cross-listing firms to be more informative than those of noncross-listing firms in the event of good news. Our contribution is to show that in contrast to previous literature, firms from China do not have better reporting quality when they cross-list in the United States. There are still significant accounting deficiencies in many Chinese firms cross-listed in the United States (Financial Times, 2011).
DISTRIBUTIONAL AND LOCAL LIMIT LAWS FOR A CLASS OF ITERATED MAPS THAT CONTRACT ON AVERAGE
Authors: SANTOS SARA I. , WALKDEN CHARLES
Published: June 2012

We consider iterated function schemes that contract on average with place-dependent probabilities. We are interested in generalisations of the central limit theorem, particularly to observations with infinite variance. By studying the spectral properties of an associated one-parameter family of transfer operators acting on an appropriate function space, we prove both a distributional and local limit law with convergence to a stable distribution.
Low-Power Architecture for Epileptic Seizure Detection Based on Reduced Complexity DWT
Authors: Sharad Mrigank , Gupta Sumeet K. , Raghunathan Shriram , Irazoqui Pedro P. , Roy Kaushik
Published: June 2012

In this article, we present a low-power, user-programmable architecture for discrete wavelet transform (DWT) based epileptic seizure detection algorithm. A simplified, low-pass filter (LPF)-only-DWT technique is employed in which energy contents of different frequency bands are obtained by subtracting quasi-averaged, consecutive LPF outputs. Training phase is used to identify the range of critical DWT coefficients that are in turn used to set patient-specific system level parameters for minimizing power consumption. The proposed optimizations allow the design to work at significantly lower power in the normal operation mode. The system has been tested on neural data obtained from kainate-treated rats. The design was implemented in TSMC-65nm technology and consumes less than 550-nW power at 250-mV supply.
Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic approach uncovers molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in a temperate flesh fly
Authors: Teets Nicholas M. , Peyton Justin T. , Ragland Gregory J. , Colinet Herve , Renault David , Hahn Daniel A. , Denlinger David L.
Published: June 2012

The ability to respond rapidly to changes in temperature is critical for insects and other ectotherms living in variable environments. In a physiological process termed rapid cold-hardening (RCH), exposure to nonlethal low temperature allows many insects to significantly increase their cold tolerance in a matter of minutes to hours. Additionally, there are rapid changes in gene expression and cell physiology during recovery from cold injury, and we hypothesize that RCH may modulate some of these processes during recovery. In this study, we used a combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics to examine the molecular mechanisms of RCH and cold shock recovery in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata. Surprisingly, out of ∼15,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) measured, no transcripts were upregulated during RCH, and likewise RCH had a minimal effect on the transcript signature during recovery from cold shock. However, during recovery from cold shock, we observed differential expression of ∼1,400 ESTs, including a number of heat shock proteins, cytoskeletal components, and genes from several cell signaling pathways. In the metabolome, RCH had a slight yet significant effect on several metabolic pathways, while cold shock resulted in dramatic increases in gluconeogenesis, amino acid synthesis, and cryoprotective polyol synthesis. Several biochemical pathways showed congruence at both the transcript and metabolite levels, indicating that coordinated changes in gene expression and metabolism contribute to recovery from cold shock. Thus, while RCH had very minor effects on gene expression, recovery from cold shock elicits sweeping changes in gene expression and metabolism along numerous cell signaling and biochemical pathways.
Stabilization of Time‐Varying System by Controllers with Internal Loop
Authors: Lu Yufeng , Shi Chengkai
Published: June 2012

We study the concept of stabilization with internal loop for infinite‐dimensional discrete time‐varying systems in the framework of nest algebra. We originally give a parametrization of all stabilizing controllers with internal loop, and it covers the parametrization of canonical or dual canonical controllers with internal loop obtained before. We show that, in practical application, the controller with internal loop overcomes the awkwardness brought by the extra invertibility condition in the parametrization of the conventional controllers. We also prove that the strong stabilization problem can be completely solved in the closed‐loop system with internal loop. Thus the advantage of the controller with internal loop is addressed in the framework of nest algebra.
On Subclass of k‐Uniformly Convex Functions of Complex Order Involving Multiplier Transformations
Authors: Atshan Waggas Galib , Abada Ali Hamza
Published: June 2012

We introduce a subclass of k‐uniformly convex functions of order α with negative coefficients by using the multiplier transformations in the open unit disk U = {z ∈ ℂ : |z| < 1}. We obtain coefficient estimates, radii of convexity and close‐to‐convexity, extreme points, and integral means inequalities for the function f that belongs to the class .
Ataxia, Ophthalmoplegia, and Areflexia: What Would You Think?
Authors: Karsan N. , Fletcher P. , Bodi I. , MacDonald B. K.
Published: June 2012

We present here a case of carcinomatous meningitis presenting as Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS). There are four further cases described in the literature with evidence of tumour invasion within the central nervous system (CNS) shown either in cerebrospinal fluid examination or on histology. There are further five cases described in which an association between cancer and a Miller Fisher phenotype has been shown. Some of these have identified antiganglioside antibodies in the serum and, in one case, also showed antibodies deposited within the primary tumour itself. This raises a question as to whether there is a paraneoplastic form. It would be informative when further cases present in this way to histologically examine for malignant CNS invasion, and the presence of antiganglioside antibodies in both the malignant primary and areas of nervous system thought to be affected by MFS.
Rate Adaptive Selective Segment Assignment for Reliable Wireless Video Transmission
Authors: Nazir Sajid , Vukobratović Dejan , Stanković Vladimir , Andonović Ivan
Published: June 2012

A reliable video communication system is proposed based on data partitioning feature of H.264/AVC, used to create a layered stream, and LT codes for erasure protection. The proposed scheme termed rate adaptive selective segment assignment (RASSA) is an adaptive low-complexity solution to varying channel conditions. The comparison of the results of the proposed scheme is also provided for slice-partitioned H.264/AVC data. Simulation results show competitiveness of the proposed scheme compared to optimized unequal and equal error protection solutions. The simulation results also demonstrate that a high visual quality video transmission can be maintained despite the adverse effect of varying channel conditions and the number of decoding failures can be reduced.
Combination Mode of Internal Waves Generated by Surface Wave Propagating over Two Muddy Sea Beds
Authors: Yang Ray-Yeng , Hwung Hwung Hweng
Published: June 2012

When surface wave propagating over the two layer system usually induces internal wave in three different modes: they are external, internal and combination. In the present study, the nonlinear response of an initially flat sea bed, with two muddy sections, to a monochromatic surface progressive wave was investigated. From this theoretical result, it shows that a surface water wave progressing over two different muddy sections, the surface wave will excite two opposite-traveling short interfacial waves, forming a nearly standing wave at the interface of the fresh water and the muddy layer. Meanwhile, two opposite-outgoing “mud” waves each with very long wavelength will be simultaneously induced at the interface of two muddy sections. As a result, the amplitudes of the two short internal waves are found to grow exponentially in time. Furthermore, it will be much difficult to excite the internal waves when surface water wave progressing over two muddy sections with the large density gap.
The Effect of Nanoclay on Dust Generation during Drilling of PA6 Nanocomposites
Authors: Sachse Sophia , Silva Francesco , Zhu Huijun , Irfan Adeel , Leszczyńska Agnieszka , Pielichowski Krzysztof , Ermini Valentina , Blazquez Maria , Kuzmenko Oleksandr , Njuguna James
Published: June 2012

During the past decade, polymer nanocomposites have emerged as a novel and rapidly developing class of materials and attracted considerable investment in research and development worldwide. However, there is currently a lack of information available in the literature on the nano and ultrafine particle emission rates from these materials. In this paper, influence of nanoclay on mechanical drilling of PA6 composites, in terms of dust generation, has been reported. With the help of real‐time characterization, submicrometer‐sized particles (5.6–512 nm), size distribution, and number concentration emitted from polyamide 6/nanoclay composites during mechanical drilling are studied. Total particle concentration for the PA6/nanoclay composites was 20,000 cm−3, while unreinforced panel measured a total concentration of approximately 400,000 cm−3. While the airborne particle concentration for the PA6/nanoclay composites was 20 times lower than for the PA6 matrix, the concentration of deposited nanoparticles doubled for the nanocomposite. The results clearly show that more particles in the size range between 175 and 350 nm are generated, during drilling of the nanocomposites, and these particles deposit in a shorter time. It is likely that the presence of nanoclay in some way retains the formation of high quantity of airborne particles and promotes particle deposition.
Four-Rooted Mandibular First Molar with an Unusual Developmental Root Fusion Line: A Case Report
Authors: Kottoor Jojo , Albuquerque Denzil Valerian , Velmurugan Natanasabapathy , Sumitha Mylswamy
Published: June 2012

The paper describes the anatomical variation of four roots in a mandibular permanent first molar diagnosed using multiple angulated preoperative radiographs and its successful nonsurgical endodontic management. Careful observation and exploration of the pulpal floor using a dental operating microscope revealed a peculiar developmental root fusion line on the pulp chamber floor. Based on the above observation, a correlation between this unusual line and the existence of additional roots has been proposed and discussed.
Efficient Fatigue Analysis of Helix Elements in Umbilicals and Flexible Risers: Theory and Applications
Authors: Skeie Geir , Sødahl Nils , Steinkjer Oddrun
Published: June 2012

Fatigue analysis of structural components such as helix tensile armors and steel tubes is a critical design issue for dynamic umbilicals and flexible pipes. The basis for assessment of fatigue damage of such elements is the long‐term stress cycle distribution at critical locations on the helix elements caused by long‐term environmental loading on the system. The long‐term stress cycle distribution will hence require global dynamic time domain analysis followed by a detailed cross‐sectional analysis in a large number of irregular sea states. An overall computational consistent and efficient fatigue analysis scheme is outlined with due regard of the cross‐sectional analysis technique required for fatigue stress calculation with particular attention to the helix elements. The global cross‐section is exposed to pure bending, tensile, torsion, and pressure loading. The state of the different cross‐section elements is based on the global response. Special emphasis is placed on assessment of friction stresses caused by the stick‐slip behavior of helix elements in bending that are of special importance for fatigue life assessments. The described cross‐sectional analysis techniques are based on an extensive literature survey and are hence considered to represent industry consensus. The performance of the described calculation scheme is illustrated by case studies.
Kamenev‐Type Oscillation Criteria for the Second‐Order Nonlinear Dynamic Equations with Damping on Time Scales
Authors: Şenel M. Tamer
Published: June 2012

The oscillation of solutions of the second‐order nonlinear dynamic equation (r(t)(xΔ(t)) γ) Δ + p(t)(xΔ(t)) γ + f(t, x(g(t))) = 0, with damping on an arbitrary time scale 𝕋, is investigated. The generalized Riccati transformation is applied for the study of the Kamenev‐type oscillation criteria for this nonlinear dynamic equation. Several new sufficient conditions for oscillatory solutions of this equation are obtained.
Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
Authors: Fielding Diane , Cubbage Frederick , Peterson M. Nils , Hazel Dennis , Gugelmann Brunell , Moorman Christopher
Published: June 2012

Woody biomass has been identified as an important renewable energy source capable of offsetting fossil fuel use. The potential environmental impacts associated with using woody biomass for energy have spurred development of biomass harvesting guidelines (BHGs) in some states and proposals for BHGs in others. We examined stakeholder opinions about BHGs through 60 semistructured interviews with key participants in the North Carolina, USA, forest business sector—forest managers, loggers, and forest landowners. Respondents generally opposed requirements for new BHGs because guidelines added to best management practices (BMPs). Most respondents believed North Carolina’s current BMPs have been successful and sufficient in protecting forest health; biomass harvesting is only an additional component to harvesting with little or no modification to conventional harvesting operations; and scientific research does not support claims that biomass harvesting negatively impacts soil, water quality, timber productivity, or wildlife habitat. Some respondents recognized possible benefits from the implementation of BHGs, which included reduced site preparation costs and increases in proactive forest management, soil quality, and wildlife habitat. Some scientific literature suggests that biomass harvests may have adverse site impacts that require amelioration. The results suggest BHGs will need to be better justified for practitioners based on the scientific literature or linked to demand from new profitable uses or subsidies to offset stakeholder perceptions that they create unnecessary costs.
Weighted Measurement Fusion White Noise Deconvolution Filter with Correlated Noise for Multisensor Stochastic Systems
Authors: Wang Xin , Sun Shu-Li , Ding Kai-Hui , Xue Jing-Yan
Published: June 2012

For the multisensor linear discrete time‐invariant stochastic control systems with different measurement matrices and correlated noises, the centralized measurement fusion white noise estimators are presented by the linear minimum variance criterion under the condition that noise input matrix is full column rank. They have the expensive computing burden due to the high‐dimension extended measurement matrix. To reduce the computing burden, the weighted measurement fusion white noise estimators are presented. It is proved that weighted measurement fusion white noise estimators have the same accuracy as the centralized measurement fusion white noise estimators, so it has global optimality. It can be applied to signal processing in oil seismic exploration. A simulation example for Bernoulli‐Gaussian white noise deconvolution filter verifies the effectiveness.
Maladaptive Plasticity for Motor Recovery after Stroke: Mechanisms and Approaches
Authors: Takeuchi Naoyuki , Izumi Shin-Ichi
Published: June 2012

Many studies in human and animal models have shown that neural plasticity compensates for the loss of motor function after stroke. However, neural plasticity concerning compensatory movement, activated ipsilateral motor projections and competitive interaction after stroke contributes to maladaptive plasticity, which negatively affects motor recovery. Compensatory movement on the less-affected side helps to perform self-sustaining activity but also creates an inappropriate movement pattern and ultimately limits the normal motor pattern. The activated ipsilateral motor projections after stroke are unable to sufficiently support the disruption of the corticospinal motor projections and induce the abnormal movement linked to poor motor ability. The competitive interaction between both hemispheres induces abnormal interhemispheric inhibition that weakens motor function in stroke patients. Moreover, widespread disinhibition increases the risk of competitive interaction between the hand and the proximal arm, which results in an incomplete motor recovery. To minimize this maladaptive plasticity, rehabilitation programs should be selected according to the motor impairment of stroke patients. Noninvasive brain stimulation might also be useful for correcting maladaptive plasticity after stroke. Here, we review the underlying mechanisms of maladaptive plasticity after stroke and propose rehabilitation approaches for appropriate cortical reorganization.
An Lp‐Estimate for Weak Solutions of Elliptic Equations
Authors: Monsurrò Sara , Transirico Maria
Published: June 2012

We prove an Lp‐a priori bound, p > 2, for solutions of second order linear elliptic partial differential equations in divergence form with discontinuous coefficients in unbounded domains.
Localizing True Brain Interactions from EEG and MEG Data with Subspace Methods and Modified Beamformers
Authors: Shahbazi Avarvand Forooz , Ewald Arne , Nolte Guido
Published: June 2012

To address the problem of mixing in EEG or MEG connectivity analysis we exploit that noninteracting brain sources do not contribute systematically to the imaginary part of the cross-spectrum. Firstly, we propose to apply the existing subspace method “RAP-MUSIC” to the subspace found from the dominant singular vectors of the imaginary part of the cross-spectrum rather than to the conventionally used covariance matrix. Secondly, to estimate the specific sources interacting with each other, we use a modified LCMV-beamformer approach in which the source direction for each voxel was determined by maximizing the imaginary coherence with respect to a given reference. These two methods are applicable in this form only if the number of interacting sources is even, because odd-dimensional subspaces collapse to even-dimensional ones. Simulations show that (a) RAP-MUSIC based on the imaginary part of the cross-spectrum accurately finds the correct source locations, that (b) conventional RAP-MUSIC fails to do so since it is highly influenced by noninteracting sources, and that (c) the second method correctly identifies those sources which are interacting with the reference. The methods are also applied to real data for a motor paradigm, resulting in the localization of four interacting sources presumably in sensory-motor areas.
Diabetes Mellitus in Pancreatic Cancer Patients in the Czech Republic: Sex Differences
Authors: Trna Jan , Dítĕ Petr , Adamcová Arona , Crawford Brianna J. , Hermanová Markéta
Published: June 2012

Aims. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in pancreatic cancer patients and control subjects was compared.Methods. Retrospective evaluation of 182 pancreatic cancer patients and 135 controls. The presence of diabetes was evaluated and the time period between the diagnosis of diabetes and pancreatic cancer was assessed. A subanalysis based on patient sex was conducted.Results. Diabetes mellitus was present in 64 patients (35.2%) in pancreatic cancer group and in 27 patients (20.0%) in control group (χ2=8.709;P=0.003). In 18 patients (28.1% of diabetic pancreatic cancer patients) diabetes was new-onset. Diabetes was new-onset in 23.3% of females compared to 38.1% of males (χ2=1.537;P=0.215). The overall prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher among female pancreatic cancer patients (25% versus 43.9%;χ2=7.070,P=0.008), while diabetes prevalence was equally represented in the control group patients (22.1% versus 17.2%;χ2=0.484,P=0.487).Conclusion. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in study group of pancreatic cancer patients was significantly higher when compared to control group. Pancreatic cancer patients with diabetes were predominantly females, while diabetes was equally prevalent among sexes in the control group. Therefore, patient sex may play important role in the risk stratification.
Late Solitary Pancreatic Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report
Authors: Katsourakis Anastasios , Noussios George , Hadjis Iosif , Alatsakis Michael , Chatzitheoklitos Efthimios
Published: June 2012

We report a case of a 70-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma and metastasis to the pancreas. Symptomatic patients usually present with obstructive jaundice, abdominal pain, or GI bleeding. The diagnosis usually occurs in asymptomatic patients during followup for renal cell carcinoma. It usually befalls slowly from 2 to 18 years after the onset of the primary tumor of the kidney. A 70-year-old man presented in our department with weight loss, anorexia, and elevated blood glucose, having a large tumor on the head of the pancreas treated successfully by pancreatoduodenectomy. Three years after his treatment, the patient is doing well and without recurrence of the tumor. In conclusion, metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas is a rare neoplasm accounting for 0.25–3% of all pancreatic tumors.
Vaginal Impact of the Oral Administration of Total Freeze-Dried Culture of LCR 35 in Healthy Women
Authors: Bohbot J. M. , Cardot J. M.
Published: June 2012

The use of probiotics in the prevention or treatment of some vaginal infections has been the subject of numerous studies. To assess the presence ofLactobacillus casei rhamnosus(LCR35) in the vagina after an oral administration, an open randomised pilot study was conducted on 20 healthy women of child-bearing age.Materials and Methods. 2 groups of 10 women were given a 28-day oral course, that is, at least 108 CFU/day (group 1) or2×108 CFU/day (group 2) of LCR35. Nugent score and vaginal screening for LCR35 were undertaken before and after 28 days of treatment.Results. The mean Nugent score decreased in group 1 (−0,2) as well as in group 2 (−0,3). 10% of women in group 1 versus 40% of women in group 2 were carrying LCR35 at the end of the trial.Conclusion. LCR35, at the minimal dose of 2 × 108 CFU/day, can return the Nugent score to normal in healthy women of child-bearing age, by means of a well-tolerated vaginal temporary presence. Phase III clinical trials will specify the preventive or curative impact of this orally administered strain on a range of vaginal disorders such as bacterial vaginosis or vulvovaginal candidiasis.
An Iteration to a Common Point of Solution of Variational Inequality and Fixed Point‐Problems in Banach Spaces
Authors: Zegeye H. , Shahzad N.
Published: June 2012

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to a common point of solution of variational inequality problem for a monotone mapping and fixed point of uniformly Lipschitzian relatively asymptotically nonexpansive mapping in Banach spaces. As a consequence, we provide a scheme that converges strongly to a common zero of finite family of monotone mappings under suitable conditions. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear operators.