bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A thin layer chromatographic comparison of raw and soluble starch hydrolysis patterns of some α-amylases from Bacillus sp. isolated in Serbia
Authors: Gligorijevic Nikola , Stevanovic Nikola , Loncar Nikola , Baosic Rada , Vujcic Zoran , Bozic Natasa
Published: December 2013

Several natural isolates of Bacillus strains namely 5B, 12B, 16B, 18 and 24B
were grown on two different temperatures in submerged fermentation for the
raw-starch-digesting a-amylases production. All strains except Bacillus sp.
18 produced more ?-amylase on 37?C. The hydrolysis of raw corn starch
followed same pattern. Efficient hydrolysis was obtained with ?-amylases from
Bacillus sp. 5B, 12B, 16B and 24B grown on 37?C and Bacillus sp. 18 grown on
50?C. Zymography after isoelectric focusing shown that ?-amylases were
produced in multiple forms, from 2 to 6, depending on the strain when they
were growing at 37 ?C, while growing at 50?C induced only 1 or 2 isoforms.
TLC analysis of hydrolysis products of raw corn and soluble starch by
?-amylases revealed production of various mixtures of oligosaccharides. In
most cases G3 was the most dominant product from soluble starch while G2, G3
and G5 were the main products of raw starch hydrolysis. This indicates that
obtained a-amylases can be used for starch liquefying or
short-chain-oligosaccharide forming, depending on what type of starch (raw or
soluble) was used for the hydrolysis.
Immobilization of β-glucosidase onto mesoporous silica support: Physical adsorption and covalent binding of enzyme
Authors: Ivetic Darjana , Srdic Vladimir , Antov Mirjana
Published: December 2013

This paper investigates ?-glucosidase immobilization onto mesoporous silica
support by physical adsorption and covalent binding. The immobilization was
carried out onto micro-size silica aggregates with the average pore size of
29 nm. During physical adsorption the highest yield of immobilized
?-glucosidase was obtained at initial protein concentration of 0.9 mg ml-1.
Addition of NaCl increased 1.7-fold, while Triton X-100 addition decreased
6-fold yield of adsorption in comparison to the one obtained without any
addition. Covalently bonded ?-glucosidase, via glutaraldehyde previously
bonded to silanized silica, had higher yield of immobilized enzyme as well as
higher activity and substrate affinity in comparison to the one physically
adsorbed. Covalent binding did not considerably changed pH and temperature
stability of obtained biocatalyst in range of values that are commonly used
in reactions in comparison to unbounded enzyme. Furthermore, covalent binding
provided biocatalyst which retained over 70% of its activity after 10 cycles
of reuse.
Hypermethylation of Sp1 Binding Site Suppresses Hypothalamic POMC in Neonates and May Contribute to Metabolic Disorders in Adults: Impact of Maternal Dietary CLAs
Authors: Zhang Xiaomei , Yang Ran , Jia Yan , Cai Demin , Zhou Bo , Qu Xiaoli , Han Huihua , Xu Liang , Wang Linfeng , Yao Yanan , Yang Guoqing
Published: December 2013

Epigenetic regulation of neuropeptide genes associated with central appetite control plays an important part in the development of nutritional programming. While proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is critical in appetite control, the molecular mechanism of methylation-related regulation of POMC remains unclear. Based on the report that the proximal specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding site in POMC promoter is crucial for the leptin-mediated activation of POMC, the methylation of this site was investigated in this study in both cultured cells and postnatal mice reared by the dams with dietary supplementation of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). The change of milk composition made the offspring undergo the increase of food intake, suppression of POMC, attenuation of Sp1–promoter interaction, and the hypermethylation of cytosine guanine (CpG) dinucleotides at −100 and −103 within the Sp1 binding site of POMC promoter, which may be associated with the decrease of hypothalamic Sp1 and/or plasma S-adenosylhomocystein. In cultured cells, the methylation of the −100 CpG dinucleotides of the POMC promoter blocked both the formation of Sp1–promoter complex and the leptin-induced activation of POMC. In addition, a catch-up growth and adult metabolic changes like adult hyperglycemia and insulin resistance were observed in these postnatal pups, suggesting that this CLA-mediated hypermethylation may contribute, at least in part, to the metabolic disorders.
Obesity-Induced Infertility and Hyperandrogenism Are Corrected by Deletion of the Insulin Receptor in the Ovarian Theca Cell
Authors: Wu Sheng , Divall Sara , Nwaopara Amanda , Radovick Sally , Wondisford Fredric , Ko CheMyong , Wolfe Andrew
Published: December 2013

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit elevated androgen levels, oligoanovulation, infertility, and insulin resistance in metabolic tissues. The aims of these studies were to determine the role of insulin signaling in the development and function of ovarian theca cells and the pathophysiologic effects of hyperinsulinism on ovarian function in obesity. We disrupted the insulin receptor (IR) gene specifically in the theca-interstitial (TI) cells of the ovaries (Cyp17IRKO). No changes in reproductive development or function were observed in lean Cyp17IRKO female mice, suggesting that insulin signaling in TI cell is not essential for reproduction. However, when females were fed a high-fat diet, diet-induced obesity (DIO) wild-type (DIO-WT) mice were infertile and experienced increased circulating testosterone levels, whereas DIO-Cyp17IRKO mice exhibited improved fertility and testosterone levels comparable to those found in lean mice. The levels of phosphorylated IRS1 and CYP17 protein were higher in the ovary of DIO-WT compared with DIO-Cyp17IRKO or lean mice. Ex vivo studies using a whole ovary culture model demonstrated that insulin acts independently or additively with human chorionic gonadotropin to enhance androstenedione secretion. These studies reveal the causal pathway linking hyperinsulinism with ovarian hyperandrogenism and the infertility of obesity.
Analysis of thiamine concentrations in commercial canned foods formulated for cats
Authors: Markovich Jessica E. , Freeman Lisa M. , Heinze Cailin R.
Published: December 2013

Objective—To measure thiamine concentrations in commercial canned foods formulated for cats as an initial assessment of the variation among canned foods and to determine the effects of flavor (fish vs nonfish) of the food, texture (paté vs nonpaté) of the food, country of manufacture, and size of the company on thiamine concentration.

Design—Prospective cross-sectional study.

Sample—90 canned, nontherapeutic diets formulated for cats (1 fish and 1 nonfish flavor for each of 45 brands).

Procedures—Each canned food was homogenized, and thiamine concentration was analyzed with a fluorometric method.

Results—Thiamine concentration was below the minimums of the Association of American Feed Control Officials in 12 of 90 (13.3%) foods and below the recommended allowance of the National Research Council in 14 of 90 (15.6%) foods. Paté foods had significantly lower thiamine concentrations than did nonpaté foods, and foods from smaller companies had significantly lower thiamine concentrations, compared with concentrations in foods from larger companies. Flavor of food and country of manufacture were not significantly associated with thiamine concentration.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—A wide range of thiamine concentrations was found in the foods evaluated. Thiamine concentration in a substantial percentage of commercially available canned foods was below the amount recommended for adult cats. Additional research on interlot and intralot variation in thiamine concentrations of foods formulated for cats is warranted. Companies should implement strict quality control and analysis practices regarding food products. Clinicians should consider thiamine deficiency as a differential diagnosis in a cat with acute neurologic dysfunction.
Evaluation of therapeutic phenobarbital concentrations and application of a classification system for seizures in cats: 30 cases (2004–2013)
Authors: Finnerty Katherine E. , Heller Heidi L. Barnes , Mercier Miyu N. , Giovanella Carley J. , Lau Vivian W. , Rylander Helena
Published: December 2013

Objective—To determine the percentage of cats with a phenobarbital (PB) concentration between 15 and 45 μg/mL that had a ≥ 50% reduction in the number of seizures and to investigate applicability of the 2011 International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification system in cats.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—30 cats with suspected or confirmed epilepsy.

Procedures—Medical records for 2004 to 2013 at 3 veterinary hospitals were searched. Information collected included signalment, duration of observation before treatment, frequency of seizures before PB administration, seizure phenotype, dose of PB, serum PB concentration, number of seizures after PB administration, duration of follow-up monitoring, and survival time. A modified 2011 ILAE classification system was applied to all cats.

Results—Seizure control was achieved in 28 of 30 (93%) cats with a serum PB concentration of 15 to 45 μg/mL. This comprised 10 of 11 cats with structural epilepsy, 14 of 15 cats with unknown epilepsy, and 4 of 4 cats with presumptive unknown epilepsy. Thirteen cats had no additional seizures after initiation of PB treatment.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Seizure control was achieved in most cats with a serum PB concentration between 15 and 45 μg/mL, regardless of the cause of the seizures. A modified 2011 ILAE classification was applied to cats with seizures and enabled classification of cats without specific genetic testing and without identified structural or inflammatory disease. This classification system should be incorporated into veterinary neurology nomenclature to standardize communication between veterinarians and improve comparisons among species.
Retrospective Cohort Study of Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Therapy for Preventing Upper Respiratory Infection-Induced Acute Asthma Exacerbations
Authors: Matsuse Hiroto , Tsuchida Tomoko , Fukahori Susumu , Kawano Tetsuya , Tomari Shinya , Matsuo Nobuko , Nishino Tomoya , Fukushima Chizu , Kohno Shigeru
Published: December 2013

Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) represent the most frequent cause of acute asthma exacerbations. It has yet to be determined whether leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) treatment prevents URI-induced acute asthma exacerbations in adults. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effects of LTRA treatment on URI-induced acute asthma exacerbations. The incidences of URI alone, acute asthma exacerbation without URI, and URI-induced acute asthma exacerbation were determined retrospectively by analyzing diary and medical records of 321 adult asthmatic patients (mean age, 56.3 ± 17.2 years; male/female ratio, 117:204) over 1 year. Results were compared between patients who had been taking an LTRA (n = 137) and those who had never taken any LTRA (n = 184) during the study periods. Significantly fewer URIs alone and acute asthma exacerbations without URI occurred in patients with than in those without prophylactic daily use of LTRA. LTRA treatment significantly reduced the durations of URIs alone and of total acute asthma exacerbations, as well as the incidence of mild exacerbations of asthma. In contrast, in patients with URI-induced acute asthma exacerbations, LTRA treatment failed to significantly reduce the interval between URI onset and acute asthma exacerbation, as well as the duration and severity of both URIs and acute asthma exacerbations. Use of an LTRA for adult asthmatic patients appears to reduce the incidences of URIs alone and acute asthma exacerbations without URI, but it failed to prevent URI-induced acute asthma exacerbations once a URI occurred.
Endoscopic Nonembolized Resection of an Extensive Sinonasal Cavernous Hemangioma: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Kovalerchik Olga , Husain Qasim , Mirani Neena M. , Liu James K. , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: December 2013

Sinonasal hemangiomas, although rare, must be considered in the evaluation of intranasal masses with profuse epistaxis. Although the availability of literature discussing cavernous hemangiomas in this location is limited, there have been no case reports of exclusively soft tissue sinonasal cavernous hemangiomas extending to the anterior skull base (ASB) that were resected purely endoscopically. Here, we describe the successful endoscopic resection of an extensive right sinonasal cavernous hemangioma extending to but not invading the ASB. Although highly vascular, in select cases, these tumors can be successfully resected endoscopically without embolization by experienced endoscopic sinus and skull base surgeons.
Practice Patterns regarding Noninvasive Rhinosinusitis in the Immunosuppressed Patient Population
Authors: Patel Zara M.
Published: December 2013

The number of immunosuppressed patients is growing remarkably. Currently, there is no guideline on how treatment of noninvasive sinusitis in these patients may differ from that of the general population, and practice patterns vary widely across the country. The purpose of this survey was to examine practice patterns and management for this patient population. A survey and literature review were performed. The survey was sent to the membership list serve of the American Rhinologic Society. Twelve questions were asked. Four demographic questions were asked about the physicians and their practices. Four questions were asked about the type of immunocompromised patients they saw. Two questions were asked about management in the setting of significant acute and chronic sinusitis. The responses were collected and analyzed using Pearson independent chi-square testing. Of 871 members on the list serve only 89 physicians responded. The majority of responders were sinus and skull base surgeons practicing in an academic setting. There was a large range of geographic location, years in practice, and patient population. Two significant findings related years in practice to management of chronic sinus immunocompromised patients (p = 0.012) and correlated the choice of management option in acute and chronic sinus immunocompromised patients (p = 0.006). There is no standardized method of treating the vulnerable patient population of immunocompromised patients with noninvasive acute and chronic sinusitis and this survey shows the wide range of practice. Clinical research is needed to standardize and optimize treatment for these patients.
Development of Two-Stage Hybrid Method to Solve High-Speed Rail Train Scheduling Problem
Authors: Jong Jyh-Cherng , Chang Sloan , Lai Yung-Cheng (Rex)
Published: December 2013

Train scheduling is one of the most important and complex elements in the planning process for railway operations. However, this task is still done manually at the Taiwan High Speed Rail Company. The plan to add four stations and more than 100 additional daily trains in the near future necessitates the improvement of the quality and efficiency of the company's train scheduling process. This research developed a novel two-stage hybrid method that efficiently automated and optimized the scheduling process for high-speed trains. The first stage applied a genetic algorithm to solve train sequencing problems. The resultant sequence was then sent to the second stage to determine the optimal timetable with linear programming techniques. Results from the linear programming model were sent as feedback to the first stage to determine the overall performance of the timetable by using the fitness function in the genetic algorithm. The timetable gradually evolved toward an optimal solution based on this iterative process. Experimental results demonstrated that this hybrid method not only improved the efficiency of the solution substantially but also provided better timetables compared with the current practice. The proposed method can help highspeed rail companies automate the scheduling process and improve the solution's performance with efficiency.
Midwest Guardrail System without Blockouts
Authors: Reid John D. , Bielenberg Robert W. , Faller Ronald K. , Lechtenberg Karla A.
Published: December 2013

The Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) has been shown to provide exceptional redirective capability in standard and special applications. However, the roadway width required to install a guardrail system with a blockout is not always available. In response, a nonproprietary non-blocked MGS was developed and successfully crash tested according to the testing standards established in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware. This study compared results from 1100C small car and 2270P pickup truck tests for the standard (blockout) and nonblocked versions of the MGS and concluded that the standard MGS performed better than the nonblocked MGS. As a result, it is recommended that the non-blocked MGS be used only in places where roadway width is a limiting parameter. If width is not restricted, use of a blockout as designated in the design drawings of the standard MGS is still recommended.
Test Level 2 Guardrail-to-Bridge Rail Transition Compatible with 31-in. Guardrail
Authors: Bligh R. P. , Arrington D. R. , Meza R.
Published: December 2013

Many state departments of transportation are in the process of updating their guardrail standards to comply with the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) and guidance issued by FHWA on guardrail height. A key feature of the new systems is an increase in rail mounting height from 27 in. to 31 in. A common application of guardrails is shielding motorists from hazards at bridge approaches, including the end of the bridge rail. When a flexible-approach guardrail is attached to a rigid bridge rail, a transition section is needed to transition the stiffness properly from one system to another. A nested thrie beam transition system has been successfully tested to MASH guidelines and is compatible with a 31-in.-approach guardrail. However, it is cost-prohibitive to use this high-speed, Test Level 3 transition on all roadways. A low-cost transition was successfully evaluated under NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 2 (TL-2) impact conditions for use on lower-speed roadways. However, this TL-2 W-beam transition is 27 in. tall and is not compatible with the new 31-in. guardrail systems. This paper describes a new low-cost guardrail-to-bridge rail transition that was successfully developed and tested under MASH TL-2 conditions. The transition is compatible with new 31-in. guardrails and can connect to rigid concrete bridge rails. The transition is considered suitable for implementation on roadways that have traffic conditions appropriate for the use of TL-2 safety hardware. Use of this system would provide significant savings in both material and installation costs compared with high-speed transition systems.
Development of a Guide for Replacement of Roadway Lighting with New Lighting Technologies
Authors: Bullough John D.
Published: December 2013

The development of a simple guide for approaches to roadway lighting replacement in New York State is described. These approaches use new light source technologies that maintain visibility for safety while reducing energy use. Several roadway types were evaluated in the development of the guide, including parkways, residential streets, and rural intersections. A review of published literature and a survey of transportation engineers in New York State were also conducted. On the basis of this information and data on new light source technologies, recommendations for replacing roadway lighting systems were developed. Analyses of the visual efficacy produced by different lighting systems under nighttime conditions and of the performance characteristics of light-emitting diode and induction fluorescent lighting systems resulted in recommendations for replacement of high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting systems. Several new light sources that produce whiter light than the incumbent HPS technology used on most roadways have been developed and significantly improved in the past decade. In combination with recent information about driver and pedestrian vision under nighttime conditions, using these sources could result in energy savings ranging from about 7% to 50% for different roadway types. Energy savings for isolated rural intersections could depend on the level of pedestrian traffic expected.
The Roles of Overgrazing, Climate Change and Policy as Drivers of Degradation of China's Grasslands
Authors: Cao Jianjun , Yeh Emily T. , Holden Nicholas M. , Qin Yanyan , Ren Zhengwei
Published: December 2013

Climate change and overgrazing are believed by policy makers to have been the drivers of grassland degradation in China over the past thirty years. However, recent work has suggested that policies that have led to privatization of use rights and household enclosures are more important drivers of degradation. An analysis of available evidence from scientific publications and national survey data relating to climate change, livestock numbers, and management policy was undertaken to evaluate the case for each of these possible drivers of degradation. The analysis suggests that, to date, policy measures imposed to avoid the 'tragedy of the commons' have been more important than either climate change or overgrazing as a driver of degradation. The resulting fragmentation of the pastoral landscape has caused localized grazing pressure and spatial and temporal mismatches between grassland production and livestock access to forage. Grazing rights negotiated and allocated at a multiple household level would allow greater productivity, better rangeland condition, possible advantages of scale and pooling of herder resources, and better potential to adapt to future climate change.
Macroscopic Quantum-Type Potentials in Theoretical Systems Biology
Authors: Nottale Laurent
Published: December 2013

We review in this paper the use of the theory of scale relativity and fractal space-time as a tool particularly well adapted to the possible development of a future genuine systems theoretical biology. We emphasize in particular the concept of quantum-type potentials, since, in many situations, the effect of the fractality of space—or of the underlying medium—can be reduced to the addition of such a potential energy to the classical equations of motion. Various equivalent representations—geodesic, quantum-like, fluid mechanical, stochastic—of these equations are given, as well as several forms of generalized quantum potentials. Examples of their possible intervention in high critical temperature superconductivity and in turbulence are also described, since some biological processes may be similar in some aspects to these physical phenomena. These potential extra energy contributions could have emerged in biology from the very fractal nature of the medium, or from an evolutive advantage, since they involve spontaneous properties of self-organization, morphogenesis, structuration and multi-scale integration. Finally, some examples of applications of the theory to actual biological-like processes and functions are also provided.
How China’s Options Will Determine Global Warming
Authors: Singer Clifford , Milligan Timothy , Rethinaraj T.S.
Published: December 2013

Carbon dioxide emissions, global average temperature, atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and surface ocean mixed layer acidity are extrapolated using analyses calibrated against extensive time series data for nine global regions. Extrapolation of historical trends without policy-driven limitations has China responsible for about half of global CO2 emissions by the middle of the twenty-first century. Results are presented for three possible actions taken by China to limit global average temperature increase to levels it considers to be to its advantage: (1) Help develop low-carbon energy technology broadly competitive with unbridled carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels; (2) Entice other countries to join in limiting use of what would otherwise be economically competitive fossil fuels; (3) Apply geo-engineering techniques such as stratospheric sulfur injection to limit global average temperature increase, without a major global reduction in carbon emissions. Taking into account China’s expected influence and approach to limiting the impact of anthropogenic climate change allows for a narrower range of possible outcomes than for a set of scenarios that are not constrained by analysis of likely policy-driven limitations. While China could hold back on implementing geoengineering given a remarkable amount of international cooperation on limiting fossil carbon burning, an outcome where geoengineering is used to delay the perceived need to limit the atmospheric CO2 concentration may be difficult to avoid.
A Novel Approach to Extracting Casing Status Features Using Data Mining
Authors: Chen Jikai , Li Haoyu , Wang Yanjun , Xie Ronghua , Liu Xingbin
Published: December 2013

Casing coupling location signals provided by the magnetic localizer in retractors are typically used to ascertain the position of casing couplings in horizontal wells. However, the casing coupling location signal is usually submerged in noise, which will result in the failure of casing coupling detection under the harsh logging environment conditions. The limitation of Shannon wavelet time entropy, in the feature extraction of casing status, is presented by analyzing its application mechanism, and a corresponding improved algorithm is subsequently proposed. On the basis of wavelet transform, two derivative algorithms, singular values decomposition and Tsallis entropy theory, are proposed and their physics meanings are researched. Meanwhile, a novel data mining approach to extract casing status features with Tsallis wavelet singularity entropy is put forward in this paper. The theoretical analysis and experiment results indicate that the proposed approach can not only extract the casing coupling features accurately, but also identify the characteristics of perforation and local corrosion in casings. The innovation of the paper is in the use of simple wavelet entropy algorithms to extract the complex nonlinear logging signal features of a horizontal well tractor.
Three-Dimensional CFD Modeling of Transport Phenomena in a Cross-Flow Anode-Supported Planar SOFC
Authors: Zhang Zhonggang , Chen Jingfeng , Yue Danting , Yang Guogang , Ye Shuang , He Changrong , Wang Weiguo , Yuan Jinliang , Huang Naibao
Published: December 2013

In this study, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed for an anode-supported planar SOFC from the Chinese Academy of Science Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering (NIMTE). The simulation results of the developed model are in good agreement with the experimental data obtained under the same conditions. With the simulation results, the distribution of temperature, flow velocity and the gas concentrations through the cell components and gas channels is presented and discussed. Potential and current density distributions in the cell and overall fuel utilization are also presented. It is also found that the temperature gradients exist along the length of the cell, and the maximum value of the temperature for the cross-flow is at the outlet region of the cell. The distribution of the current density is uneven, and the maximum current density is located at the interfaces between the channels, ribs and the electrodes, the maximum current density result in a large over-potential and heat source in the electrodes, which is harmful to the overall performance and working lifespan of the fuel cells. A new type of flow structure should be developed to make the current flow be more evenly distributed and promote most of the TPB areas to take part in the electrochemical reactions.
Optimization of Multistage Extraction of Olive Leaves for Recovery of Phenolic Compounds at Moderated Temperatures and Short Extraction Times
Authors: Stamatopoulos Konstantinos , Chatzilazarou Archontoula , Katsoyannos Evangelos
Published: December 2013

The aim of the present study was to improve the recovery of polyphenols from olive leaves (OL) by optimizing a multistage extraction scheme; provided that the olive leaves have been previously steam blanched. The maximum total phenol content expressed in ppm caffeic acid equivalents was obtained at pH 2, particle size 0.315 mm, solid-liquid ratio 1:7 and aqueous ethanol concentration 70% (v/v). The optimum duration time of each extraction stage and the operation temperature, were chosen based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of oleuropein (OLE), verbascoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and apigenin-7-O-glucoside performed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The optimum conditions for multistage extraction were 30 min total extraction time (10 min × 3 stages) at 85 °C. The 80% of the total yield of polyphenols was obtained at the 1st stage of the extraction. The total extraction yield of oleuropein was found 23 times higher (103.1 mg OLE/g dry weight (d.w.) OL) compared to the yield (4.6 mg OLE/g d.w. OL) obtained by the conventional extraction method (40 °C, 48 h). However, from an energetic and hence from an economical point of view it is preferable to work at 40 °C, since the total extraction yield of polyphenolic compounds was only 17% higher for a double increase in the operating temperature (i.e., 85 °C).
Tobacco Use and Smoking Cessation Practices among Physicians in Developing Countries: A Literature Review (1987–2010)
Authors: Abdullah Abu , Stillman Frances , Yang Li , Luo Hongye , Zhang Zhiyong , Samet Jonathan
Published: December 2013

Physicians have a key role to play in combating tobacco use and reducing the tobacco induced harm to health. However, there is a paucity of information about tobacco-use and cessation among physicians in developing countries. To assess the need for and nature of smoking cessation services among physicians in developing countries, a detailed literature review of studies published in English, between 1987 and 2010 was carried out. The electronic databases Medline and Pub Med were searched for published studies. The findings show that there are regional variations in the current smoking prevalence, quitting intentions, and cessation services among physicians. Smoking prevalence (median) was highest in Central/Eastern Europe (37%), followed by Africa (29%), Central and South America (25%) and Asia (17.5%). There were significant gender differences in smoking prevalence across studies, with higher prevalence among males than females. Smoking at work or in front of patients was commonly practiced by physicians in some countries. Asking about smoking status or advising patients to quit smoking was not common practice among the physicians, especially among smoker physicians. Organized smoking cessation programs for physicians did not exist in all of these regions. This review suggests that while smoking of physicians varies across different developing regions; prevalence rates tend to be higher than among physicians in developed countries. Quitting rates were low among the physicians, and the delivery of advice on quitting smoking was not common across the studies. To promote tobacco control and increase cessation in populations, there is a need to build physicians’ capacity so that they can engage in tobacco use prevention and cessation activities.
Traffic-Related Trace Element Accumulation in Roadside Soils and Wild Grasses in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Wang Guanxing , Yan Xuedong , Zhang Fan , Zeng Chen , Gao Dan
Published: December 2013

This research examines traffic-source trace elements accumulations and distributions in roadside soils and wild grasses in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A total of 100 soil samples and 100 grass samples including Achnatherum splendens, Anaphalis nepalensis, Artemisia sphaerocephala, Carex moorcroftii, Iris lacteal, Kobresia myosuroides, Oreosolen wattii, Oxytropis ochrocephala and Stellera chamaejasme were collected at 100 sites from different road segments. The contents of metals and metalloids, including Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni and As, in the soil and grass samples were analyzed using ICP-MS. The total mean concentrations of the eight trace elements in soils are Cu (22.84 mg/kg), Zn (100.56 mg/kg), Cd (0.28 mg/kg), Pb (28.75 mg/kg), Cr (36.82 mg/kg), Co (10.24 mg/kg), Ni (32.44 mg/kg) and As (21.43 mg/kg), while in grasses are Cu (9.85 mg/kg), Zn (31.47 mg/kg), Cd (0.05 mg/kg), Pb (2.06 mg/kg), Cr (14.16 mg/kg), Co (0.55 mg/kg), Ni (4.03 mg/kg) and As (1.33 mg/kg). The metal and metalloid concentrations in the nine grass species were all below the critical values of hyperaccumulators. The mean values and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) results indicate that: (1) the concentrations of the trace elements in the soils are higher than those in the grasses, (2) the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb in the soils decrease as the roadside distance increases, (3) the concentrations of trace elements in the grasses are the highest at 10 m from the road edge, (4) the higher the traffic volume, the higher the concentrations of the trace elements in the roadside soils and grasses, and (5) when the land cover is meadow, the lower the sand content in the soil, the lower the trace element concentrations. With a trace element's bioavailability represented by its transfer factor (TF) from the soil to the grass, the TFs of the eight trace elements are not in the same orders for different grass species.
Evaluation of the Preservation Value and Location of Farm Ponds in Yunlin County, Taiwan
Authors: Chou Wen-Wen , Lee Soen-Han , Wu Chen-Fa
Published: December 2013

Farm ponds in Yunlin County first appeared in 1,622 and have played roles in habitation, production, the ecology, culture, and disaster reduction. Farm ponds largely disappeared with the development of urban areas and the industrial sector; thus, effective preservation of the remaining ponds is critical. The criteria to evaluate the preservation value of farm ponds is established by expert questionnaires which follow the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), and GIS, which are integrated into a spatial analysis of the remaining 481 farm ponds in Yunlin County. The results show that 28 ponds should be preserved to continue the cultural interaction between farm ponds and settlements; 36 ponds should preserved to connect coasts and streams, which are important habitats for birds; 30 ponds should be preserved to increase storage capacity, recharge groundwater, and reduce land subsidence; four ponds should be preserved as Feng-Shui ponds in front of temples in settlements or as recreation areas for local citizens; and four farms should be preserved (high priority) in agricultural production areas to support irrigation. In short, FAHP and GIS are integrated to evaluate the number and locations of farm ponds that provide water for habitation, production, the ecology, culture, and disaster reduction and maintain the overall preservation value in Yunlin County. The results could inform governmental departments when considering conservation policies.
Adolescent Bariatric Surgery — Thoughts and Perspectives from the UK
Authors: Penna Marta , Markar Sheraz , Hewes James , Fiennes Alberic , Jones Niall , Hashemi Majid
Published: December 2013

Opinions of healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom regarding bariatric surgery in adolescents are largely unknown. This study aims to explore the perspectives of medical professionals regarding adolescent bariatric surgery. Members of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society and groups of primary care practitioners based in London were contacted by electronic mail and invited to complete an anonymous online survey consisting of 21 questions. Ninety-four out of 324 questionnaires were completed. 66% of professionals felt that adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) >40 or BMI >35 with significant co-morbidities can be offered surgery. Amongst pre-requisites, parental psychological counseling was chosen most frequently. 58% stated 12 months as an appropriate period for weight management programs, with 24% regarding 6 months as sufficient. Most participants believed bariatric surgery should only be offered ≥16 years of age. However, 17% of bariatric surgeons marked no minimum age limit. Over 80% of the healthcare professionals surveyed consider bariatric surgery in adolescents to be acceptable practice. Most healthcare professionals surveyed feel that adolescent bariatric surgery is an acceptable therapeutic option for adolescent obesity. These views can guide towards a consensus opinion and further development of selection criteria and care pathways.
Evaluation of Epirubicin in Thermogelling and Bioadhesive Liquid and Solid Suppository Formulations for Rectal Administration
Authors: Lo Yu-Li , Lin Yijun , Lin Hong-Ru
Published: December 2013

Temperature sensitive Pluronic (Plu) and pH-sensitive polyacrylic acid (PAA) were successfully mixed in different ratios to form in situ gelling formulations for colon cancer therapy. The major formulations were prepared as the liquid and solid suppository dosage forms. Epirubicin (Epi) was chosen as a model anticancer drug. In vitro characterization and in vivo pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of Epi in six Plu/PAA formulations were evaluated. Our in vitro data indicate that Epi in Plu 14%/PAA 0.75% of both solid and liquid suppositories possess significant cytotoxicity, strong bioadhesive force, long-term appropriate suppository base, sustained release, and high accumulation of Epi in rat rectums. These solid and liquid suppositories were retained in the upper rectum of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for at least 12 h. An in vivo pharmacokinetic study using SD rats showed that after rectal administration of solid and liquid suppositories, Epi had greater area under the curve and higher relative bioavailability than in a rectal solution. These solid and liquid suppositories exhibited remarkable inhibition on the tumor growth of CT26 bearing Balb/c mice in vivo. Our findings suggest that in situ thermogelling and mucoadhesive suppositories demonstrate a great potential as colon anticancer delivery systems for protracted release of chemotherapeutic agents.
Death Row Confessions and the Last Meal Test of Innocence
Authors: Kniffin Kevin , Wansink Brian
Published: December 2013

Post hoc analyses of Rector v. Arkansas have regularly highlighted that the defendant requested that part of his last meal be saved so that he could it eat later. While the observation is typically raised as part of arguments that Rector was incompetent and unfit for execution, the more basic fact is that commentators have drawn important inferences about Rector’s mental state from how he treated his last meal. In this essay, we draw upon multiple disciplines in order to apply the same inferential logic to a much broader sample and explore the question of whether traditionally customized last meals might offer signals of defendants’ guilt or innocence. To investigate this, the content of last-meal requests and last words reported for people executed in the United States during a recent five-year period were examined. Consistent with the idea that declination of the last meal is equivalent to a signal of (self-perceived) innocence, those who denied guilt were 2.7 times as likely to decline a last meal than people who admitted guilt (29% versus 8%). Consistent with the complementary theory that people who admit guilt are relatively more “at peace” with their sentence, these individuals requested 34% more calories of food than the rest of the sample (2786 versus 2085 calories). A third finding is that those who denied guilt also tended to eat significantly fewer brand-name food items. Previous discussions of last meals have often lacked quantitative measurements; however, this systematic analysis shows that last meal requests offer windows into self-perceived or self-proclaimed innocence. Knowing one’s last meal request and one’s last words can provide valuable new variables for retrospectively assessing the processes that led to past executions.
Exploring Bioactive Properties of Marine Cyanobacteria Isolated from the Portuguese Coast: High Potential as a Source of Anticancer Compounds
Authors: Costa Margarida , Garcia Mónica , Costa-Rodrigues João , Costa Maria , Ribeiro Maria , Fernandes Maria , Barros Piedade , Barreiro Aldo , Vasconcelos Vitor , Martins Rosário
Published: December 2013

The oceans remain a major source of natural compounds with potential in pharmacology. In particular, during the last few decades, marine cyanobacteria have been in focus as producers of interesting bioactive compounds, especially for the treatment of cancer. In this study, the anticancer potential of extracts from twenty eight marine cyanobacteria strains, belonging to the underexplored picoplanktonic genera, Cyanobium, Synechocystis and Synechococcus, and the filamentous genera, Nodosilinea, Leptolyngbya, Pseudanabaena and Romeria, were assessed in eight human tumor cell lines. First, a crude extract was obtained by dichloromethane:methanol extraction, and from it, three fractions were separated in a Si column chromatography. The crude extract and fractions were tested in eight human cancer cell lines for cell viability/toxicity, accessed with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactic dehydrogenase release (LDH) assays. Eight point nine percent of the strains revealed strong cytotoxicity; 17.8% showed moderate cytotoxicity, and 14.3% assays showed low toxicity. The results obtained revealed that the studied genera of marine cyanobacteria are a promising source of novel compounds with potential anticancer activity and highlight the interest in also exploring the smaller filamentous and picoplanktonic genera of cyanobacteria.
Regulation Systems of Bacteria such as Escherichia coli in Response to Nutrient Limitation and Environmental Stresses
Authors: Shimizu Kazuyuki
Published: December 2013

An overview was made to understand the regulation system of a bacterial cell such as Escherichia coli in response to nutrient limitation such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, sulfur, ion sources, and environmental stresses such as oxidative stress, acid shock, heat shock, and solvent stresses. It is quite important to understand how the cell detects environmental signals, integrate such information, and how the cell system is regulated. As for catabolite regulation, F1,6B P (FDP), PEP, and PYR play important roles in enzyme level regulation together with transcriptional regulation by such transcription factors as Cra, Fis, CsrA, and cAMP-Crp. αKG plays an important role in the coordinated control between carbon (C)- and nitrogen (N)-limitations, where αKG inhibits enzyme I (EI) of phosphotransferase system (PTS), thus regulating the glucose uptake rate in accordance with N level. As such, multiple regulation systems are co-ordinated for the cell synthesis and energy generation against nutrient limitations and environmental stresses. As for oxidative stress, the TCA cycle both generates and scavenges the reactive oxygen species (ROSs), where NADPH produced at ICDH and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathways play an important role in coping with oxidative stress. Solvent resistant mechanism was also considered for the stresses caused by biofuels and biochemicals production in the cell.
Cellulose Digestion and Metabolism Induced Biocatalytic Transitions in Anaerobic Microbial Ecosystems
Authors: Yamazawa Akira , Iikura Tomohiro , Morioka Yusuke , Shino Amiu , Ogata Yoshiyuki , Date Yasuhiro , Kikuchi Jun
Published: December 2013

Anaerobic digestion of highly polymerized biomass by microbial communities present in diverse microbial ecosystems is an indispensable metabolic process for biogeochemical cycling in nature and for industrial activities required to maintain a sustainable society. Therefore, the evaluation of the complicated microbial metabolomics presents a significant challenge. We here describe a comprehensive strategy for characterizing the degradation of highly crystallized bacterial cellulose (BC) that is accompanied by metabolite production for identifying the responsible biocatalysts, including microorganisms and their metabolic functions. To this end, we employed two-dimensional solid- and one-dimensional solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiling combined with a metagenomic approach using stable isotope labeling. The key components of biocatalytic reactions determined using a metagenomic approach were correlated with cellulose degradation and metabolic products. The results indicate that BC degradation was mediated by cellulases that contain carbohydrate-binding modules and that belong to structural type A. The degradation reactions induced the metabolic dynamics of the microbial community and produced organic compounds, such as acetic acid and propionic acid, mainly metabolized by clostridial species. This combinatorial, functional and structural metagenomic approach is useful for the comprehensive characterization of biomass degradation, metabolic dynamics and their key components in diverse ecosystems.
Antioxidant Properties and Hyphenated HPLC-PDA-MS Profiling of Chilean Pica Mango Fruits (Mangifera indica L. Cv. piqueño)
Authors: Ramirez Javier , Zambrano Ricardo , Sepúlveda Beatriz , Simirgiotis Mario
Published: December 2013

Antioxidant capacities and polyphenolic contents of two mango cultivars from northern Chile, one of them endemic of an oasis in the Atacama Desert, were compared for the first time. Twenty one phenolic compounds were detected in peel and pulp of mango fruits varieties Pica and Tommy Atkins by HPLC-PDA-MS and tentatively characterized. Eighteen compounds were present in Pica pulp (ppu), 13 in Pica peel (ppe) 11 in Tommy Atkins pulp (tpu) and 12 in Tommy Atkins peel (tpe). Three procyanidin dimers (peaks 6, 9 and 10), seven acid derivatives (peaks 1–4, 11, 20 and 21) and four xanthones were identified, mainly mangiferin (peak 12) and mangiferin gallate, (peak 7), which were present in both peel and pulp of the two studied species from northern Chile. Homomangiferin (peak 13) was also present in both fruit pulps and dimethylmangiferin (peak 14) was present only in Tommy pulp. Pica fruits showed better antioxidant capacities and higher polyphenolic content (73.76/32.23 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 32.49/72.01 mg GAE/100 g fresh material in the TPC assay, for edible pulp and peel, respectively) than Tommy Atkins fruits (127.22/46.39 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 25.03/72.01 mg GAE/100 g fresh material in the TPC assay for pulp and peel, respectively). The peel of Pica mangoes showed also the highest content of phenolics (66.02 mg/100 g FW) measured by HPLC-PDA. The HPLC generated fingerprint can be used to authenticate Pica mango fruits and Pica mango food products.
Robots in Health and Social Care: A Complementary Technology to Home Care and Telehealthcare?
Authors: Dahl Torbjørn , Boulos Maged
Published: December 2013

This article offers a brief overview of most current and potential uses and applications of robotics in health/care and social care, whether commercially ready and available on the market or still at the various stages of research and prototyping. We provide carefully hand-picked examples and pointers to on-going research for each set of identified robotics applications and then discuss the main ingredients for the success of these applications, as well as the main issues surrounding their adoption for everyday use, including sustainability in non-technical environments, patient/user safety and acceptance, ethical considerations such as patient/user privacy, and cost effectiveness. We examine how robotics could (partially) fill in some of the identified gaps in current telehealthcare and home care/self-care provisions. The article concludes with a brief glimpse at a couple of emerging developments and promising applications in the field (soft robots and robots for disaster response) that are expected to play important roles in the future.