bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Differentially Expressed Serum Proteins in Infectious Purpura Fulminans
Authors: He Ting , Hu Jiong-yu , Han Jian , Zhang Dong-xia , Jiang Xu-pin , Chen Bing , Huang Yue-sheng
Published: February 2014

Purpura fulminans (PF) is a life-threatening hemorrhagic condition. Because of the rarity and randomness of the disease, no improvement in treatment has been made for a long time. In this study, we assessed the serum proteome response to PF by comparing serum proteins between healthy controls and PF patient. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach was used after depleting 6 abundant proteins of serum. In total, 262 proteins were confidently identified with 2 unique peptides, and 38 proteins were identified significantly up- (≥2) or downregulated (≤0.5) based on spectral counting ratios (SpCPF/N). In the 38 proteins with significant abundance changes, 11 proteins were previously known to be associated with burn or sepsis response, but 27 potentially novel proteins may be specifically associated with PF process. Two differentially expressed proteins, alpha-1-antitrypsin (SERPINA1) and alpha-2 antiplasmin (SERPINF2), were validated by Western blot. This is the first study where PF patient and healthy controls are compared in a proteomic study to elucidate proteins involved in the response to PF. This study provides an initial basis for future studies of PF, and the differentially expressed proteins might provide new therapeutic targets to decrease the mortality of PF.
Study on Strength and Ultrasonic Velocity of Air-Entrained Concrete and Plain Concrete in Cold Environment
Authors: Shang Huai-shuai , Yi Ting-hua , Guo Xing-xing
Published: February 2014

Nondestructive testing technology is essential in the quality inspection of repair, alteration, and renovation of the existing engineering, especially for concrete structure in severe environment. The objective of this work is to deal with the behavior of ultrasonic velocity and mechanical properties of plain concrete and air-entrained concrete subjected to freeze-thaw cycles (F-T-C). The ultrasonic velocity and mechanical properties (tensile strength, compressive strength, cubic compressive strength, and splitting strength) of C30 air-entrained concrete and plain concrete with different water-cement ratio (water-cement ratio was 0.55, 0.45, and 0.50, resp.) after F-T cycles were measured. The influences of F-T cycles on ultrasonic velocity and mechanical properties of C30 air-entrained concrete and plain concrete were analyzed. And the relationship between mechanical properties and ultrasonic velocity was established. The experimental results can be useful for the design of new concrete structure, maintenance and life prediction of existing concrete structure such as offshore platform and concrete dock wall.
Topical Antinociceptive Effect of Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker on Acute Corneal Pain in Mice
Authors: Inocêncio Leite Laura Hévila , Leite Gerlânia de Oliveira , Silva Coutinho Thales , de Sousa Severino Denício Gonçalves , Sampaio Renata Souza , da Costa José Galberto Martins , de Menezes Irwin Rose Alencar , Campos Adriana Rolim
Published: February 2014

This study aimed to assess the possible topical antinociceptive activity of Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker essential oil (EOVA) and to clarify the underlying mechanism, using the acute model of chemical (eye wiping) nociception in mice. EOVA (25 to 200 mg/kg; p.o. and topical) evidenced significant antinociception against chemogenic pain in the test model of formalin‐induced neuroinflammatory pain. Local application of 5 M NaCl solution on the corneal surface of the eye produced a significant nociceptive behavior, characterized by eye wiping. The number of eye wipes was counted during the first 30 s. EOVA (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg; p.o. and topical) significantly decreased the number of eye wipes. Naloxone, yohimbine, L‐NAME, theophylline, glibenclamide, and ruthenium red had no effect on the antinociceptive effect of EOVA. However, ondansetron, p‐chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (PCPA), capsazepine, prazosin, and atropine prevented the antinociception induced by EOVA. These results indicate the topical antinociceptive effect of EOVA and showed that 5‐HT, α1, TRPV1, and central muscarinic receptors might be involved in the antinociceptive effect of EOVA in the acute corneal model of pain in mice.
Optimized Injection Molding of Unfilled and Glass Filled PA6 Gears
Authors: Mehat Nik Mizamzul , Kamaruddin Shahrul , Othman Abdul Rahim
Published: February 2014

Shrinkage behavior is a crucial problem in manufacturing plastic molded gear. This is because it negatively affects the dimensional stability and accuracy of the involute profile, as well as the concentricity, roundness, tooth spacing uniformity, and size of the gear. By integrating the Taguchi robust design, Grey relational analysis, and principal component analysis, we investigated the dimensional stability related to the shrinkage of tooth thickness, addendum circle, and dedendum circle of molded gear via the optimization of processing parameters and glass fiber reinforcement. The results revealed that the optimal combination of the processing parameters of the molded gear to achieve minimum shrinkage is melt temperature of 260°C, packing pressure of 60%, packing time of 5 s, and cooling time of 30 s. The melt temperature showed the highest comparability sequence among the four key process parameters examined, followed by packing pressure, cooling time, and packing time. Meanwhile, the presence of glass fibers induced higher deviations of tooth thickness, addendum circle, and dedendum circle than those of the unfilled polyamide 6 gears.
Analysis of Excitation and Dead Vibration Modes of Quartz Resonators
Authors: Huang Zi-Gui , Chen Zheng-Yu
Published: February 2014

This study uses the finite element method (FEM) to analyze the excitation and dead vibration modes of two-dimensional quartz plates. We first simplify three-dimensional quartz plates with plane strain simplification and then compare the modes of the simplified three-dimensional plates to those of two-dimensional plates. We then analyze quartz vibrating elements of AT-cut plates and SC-cut plates. To understand the regularity of the resonance frequency of plates that are excitable by voltage loading, we compare the natural vibrations of quartz plates with the excitation frequency generated after the plates are excited by voltage loading.
The Low Chamber Pancreatic Cancer Cells Had Stem-Like Characteristics in Modified Transwell System: Is It a Novel Method to Identify and Enrich Cancer Stem-Like Cells?
Authors: Wang Dongqing , Zhu Haitao , Liu Yanfang , Liu Qing , Xie Xiaodong , Zhou Yuepeng , Zhang Lirong , Zhu Yan , Zhang Zhijian , Su Zhaoliang
Published: February 2014

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer-initiating cells (CICs) play an important role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, chemoresistance, and recurrence. It is important to construct an effective method to identify and isolate CSCs for biotherapy of cancer. During the past years, many researchers had paid more attention to it; however, this method was still on seeking. Therefore, compared to the former methods that were used to isolate the cancer stem cell, in the present study, we tried to use modified transwell system to isolate and enrich CSCs from human pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc-1). Our results clearly showed that the lower chamber cells in modified transwell system were easily forming spheres; furthermore, these spheres expressed high levels of stem cell markers (CD133/CD44/CD24/Oct-4/ESA) and exhibited chemoresistance, underwent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and possessed the properties of self-renewalin vitroand tumorigenicityin vivo. Therefore, we speculated that modified transwell assay system, as a rapid and effective method, can be used to isolate and enrich CSCs.
Decompensation ofβ-Cells in Diabetes: When Pancreaticβ-Cells Are on ICE(R)
Authors: Salvi Roberto , Abderrahmani Amar
Published: February 2014

Insulin production and secretion are temporally regulated. Keeping insulin secretion at rest after a rise of glucose prevents exhaustion and ultimately failure ofβ-cells. Among the mechanisms that reduceβ-cell activity is the inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER). ICER is an immediate early gene, which is rapidly induced by the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling cascade. The seminal function of ICER is to negatively regulate the production and secretion of insulin by repressing the genes expression. This is part of adaptive response required for properβ-cells function in response to environmental factors. Inappropriate induction of ICER accounts for pancreaticβ-cells dysfunction and ultimately death elicited by chronic hyperglycemia, fatty acids, and oxidized LDL. This review underlines the importance of balancing the negative regulation achieved by ICER for preservingβ-cell function and survival in diabetes.
Immune Activation and Inflammation in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Are Associated with Higher Phenylalanine to Tyrosine Ratios: The Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study
Authors: Murr Christian , Grammer Tanja B. , Meinitzer Andreas , Kleber Marcus E. , März Winfried , Fuchs Dietmar
Published: February 2014

Higher serum neopterin is associated with increased mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Preferentially Th1-type cytokine interferon-γstimulates neopterin production by GTP cychlohydrolase I (GCH-I) in parallel in monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells. In other cells, activation of GCH-I leads to the formation of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), the necessary cofactor of amino acid hydroxylases like phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase (PAH). Serum concentrations of phenylalanine, tyrosine, neopterin, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured in 1196 patients derived from the LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study, a cohort study among patients referred for coronary angiography. The phenylalanine to tyrosine ratio (Phe/Tyr) served as an estimate of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme activity. Serum concentrations of phenylalanine and tyrosine and of Phe/Tyr did not differ between individuals with or without CAD (Welch'st-test:P= n.s.). Higher neopterin and hsCRP concentrations were observed in CAD patients compared to controls (P<0.0001) and they correlated with Phe/Tyr (Spearman's rank correlation for neopterin:rs= 0.216 and hsCRP:rs= 0.122; both ofP<0.0001) concentrations. In conclusion, immune activation is associated with higher Phe/Tyr in CAD patients. Data indicates subnormal PAH activity which might be involved in the precipitation of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients.
On the Degrees of Freedom of Interference Alignment for Multicell MIMO Interfering Broadcast Channels
Authors: Choi Hyun-Ho
Published: February 2014

The interference alignment (IA) is a promising technique to efficiently mitigate interference and to enhance capacity of a wireless network. This paper proposes an interference alignment scheme for a cellular network withLcells andKusers under a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Gaussian interfering broadcast channel (IFBC) scenario. The proposed IA scheme aligns intercell interferences (ICI) into a small dimensional subspace through a cooperative receive beamforming and cancels both the ICI and interuser interferences (IUI) simultaneously through a transmit beamforming. We characterize the feasibility condition for the proposed IA to achieve a total number of degrees of freedom (DoF) ofLKin terms of the numbers of transmit antennas and receive antennas. Then we derive the maximum number of DoF achieved by the proposed IA by finding an optimal dimension of ICI alignment subspace for a given antenna configuration. The numerical results show that the proposed IA scheme has a better DoF performance than the conventional schemes.
Thromboembolism Prevention via Transcatheter Left Atrial Appendage Closure with Transeosophageal Echocardiography Guidance
Authors: Palios John , Paraskevaidis Ioannis
Published: February 2014

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent risk factor for stroke. Anticoagulation therapy has a risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. The use of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) closure devices is an alternative to anticoagulation therapy. Echocardiography has a leading role in LAA closure procedure in patient selection, during the procedure and during followup. A comprehensive echocardiography study is necessary preprocedural in order to identify all the lobes of the LAA, evaluate the size of the LAA ostium, look for thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast, and evaluate atrial anatomy, including atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale. Echocardiography is used to identify potential cardiac sources of embolism, such as atrial septal aneurysm, mitral valve disease, and aortic debris. During the LAA occlusion procedure transeosophageal echocardiography provides guidance for the transeptal puncture and monitoring during the release of the closure device. Procedure-related complications can be evaluated and acceptable device release criteria such as proper position and seating of the occluder in the LAA, compression, and stability can be assessed. Postprocedural echocardiography is used for followup to assess the closure of the LAA ostium. This overview paper describes the emerging role of LAA occlusion procedure with transeosophageal echocardiography guidance as an alternative to anticoagulation therapy in patients with AF.
Interannual Differences for Sea Turtles Bycatch in Spanish Longliners from Western Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Báez José C. , Macías David , García-Barcelona Salvador , Real Raimundo
Published: February 2014

Recent studies showed that regional abundance of loggerhead and leatherback turtles could oscillate interannually according to oceanographic and climatic conditions. The Western Mediterranean is an important fishing area for the Spanish drifting longline fleet, which mainly targets swordfish, bluefin tuna, and albacore. Due to the spatial overlapping in fishing activity and turtle distribution, there is an increasing sea turtle conservation concern. The main goal of this study is to analyse the interannual bycatch of loggerhead and leatherback turtles by the Spanish Mediterranean longline fishery and to test the relationship between the total turtle by-catch of this fishery and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). During the 14 years covered in this study, the number of sea turtle bycatches was 3,940 loggerhead turtles and 8 leatherback turtles, 0.499 loggerhead turtles/1000 hooks and 0.001014 leatherback turtles/1000 hooks. In the case of the loggerhead turtle the positive phase of the NAO favours an increase of loggerhead turtles in the Western Mediterranean Sea. However, in the case of leatherback turtle the negative phase of the NAO favours the presence of leatherback turtle. This contraposition could be related to the different ecophysiological response of both species during their migration cycle.
Improved Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels after Iron Reduction Therapy in HCV Patients
Authors: Noritake Hidenao , Kobayashi Yoshimasa , Ooba Yukimasa , Kitsugi Kensuke , Shimoyama Shin , Yamazaki Satoru , Chida Takeshi , Watanabe Shinya , Kawata Kazuhito , Suda Takafumi
Published: February 2014

Background and Aims. To examine the changes in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels after iron reduction by therapeutic phlebotomy in chronic hepatitis C patients.Methods. This retrospective study included 26 chronic hepatitis C patients. The patients were developed iron depletion by repeated therapeutic phlebotomies.Results. Iron reduction therapy significantly reduced the median level of serum AFP from 13 to 7 ng/mL, ALT from 96 to 50 IU/L, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) from 55 to 28 IU/L, and ferritin from 191 to 10 ng/mL (P<0.001for each). The rate of decline in the AFP level correlated positively only with that in GGT(r=0.695, P=0.001), although a spurious correlation was observed between the rates of decline for AFP and ALT. The AFP level normalized (<10 ng/mL) posttreatment in eight (50%) of 16 patients who had elevated pretreatment AFP levels. Normalized post-treatment ALT and GGT levels were seen in 12% (3 of 26) and 39% (7 of 18) of the patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified a post-treatment GGT level of <30 IU/L as an independent factor associated with post-treatment AFP normalization (odds ratio, 21; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–293;P=0.024).Conclusions. Iron reduction by therapeutic phlebotomy can reduce serum AFP and GGT levels in chronic hepatitis C patients.
Multiple Chaos Synchronization System for Power Quality Classification in a Power System
Authors: Huang Cong-Hui , Lin Chia-Hung
Published: February 2014

This document proposes multiple chaos synchronization (CS) systems for power quality (PQ) disturbances classification in a power system. Chen-Lee based CS systems use multiple detectors to track the dynamic errors between the normal signal and the disturbance signal, including power harmonics, voltage fluctuation phenomena, and voltage interruptions. Multiple detectors are used to monitor the dynamic errors between the master system and the slave system and are used to construct the feature patterns from time-domain signals. The maximum likelihood method (MLM), as a classifier, performs a comparison of the patterns of the features in the database. The proposed method can adapt itself without the need for adjustment of parameters or iterative computation. For a sample power system, the test results showed accurate discrimination, good robustness, and faster processing time for the detection of PQ disturbances.
Urban-Rural Disparity of Generics Prescription in Taiwan: The Example of Dihydropyridine Derivatives
Authors: Hsu Chia-Chen , Chou Chia-Lin , Chiang Shu-Chiung , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Chou Li-Fang , Chou Yueh-Ching
Published: February 2014

The aim of the current study was to investigate the urban-rural disparity of prescribing generics, which were usually cheaper than branded drugs, within the universal health insurance system in Taiwan. Data sources were the cohort datasets of National Health Insurance Research Database with claims data in 2010. The generic prescribing ratios of dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives (the proportion of DHP prescribed as generics to all prescribed DHP) of medical facilities were examined against the urbanization levels of the clinic location. Among the total 21,606,914 defined daily doses of DHP, 35.7% belonged to generics. The aggregate generic prescribing ratio rose from 6.7% at academic medical centers to 15.3% at regional hospitals, 29.4% at community hospital, and 66.1% at physician clinics. Among physician clinics, the generic prescribing ratio in urban areas was 63.9 ± 41.0% (mean ± standard deviation), lower than that in suburban (69.6 ± 38.7%) and in rural (74.1% ± 35.3%). After adjusting the related factors in the linear regression model, generic prescribing ratios of suburban and rural clinics were significantly higher than those of urban clinics (β=0.043and 0.077;P=0.024and 0.008, resp.). The generic prescribing ratio of the most popular antihypertensive agents at a clinic was reversely associated with the urbanization level.
Development of a New Cascade Voltage-Doubler for Voltage Multiplication
Authors: Toudeshki Arash , Mariun Norman , Hizam Hashim , Abdul Wahab Noor Izzri
Published: February 2014

For more than eight decades, cascade voltage-doubler circuits are used as a method to produce DC output voltage higher than the input voltage. In this paper, the topological developments of cascade voltage-doublers are reviewed. A new circuit configuration for cascade voltage-doubler is presented. This circuit can produce a higher value of the DC output voltage and better output quality compared to the conventional cascade voltage-doubler circuits, with the same number of stages.
Primary Malignant Mixed Müllerian Mesodermal Tumor Mimicking a Rectosigmoid Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kapur Sakshi , Miles Levin
Published: February 2014

We report a case of a 53-year-old female who presented with chronic constipation and abdominal discomfort for six months. Her past surgical history was significant for a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy, performed eight years ago, for uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Workup revealed a mass measuring 5 × 4.5 × 2 cm in the rectosigmoid colon. Patient underwent a low anterior resection and a fungating, centrally ulcerated rectosigmoid mass with a positive mesorectal margin was removed. Histopathology revealed a heterologous mixed mesodermal tumor (chondroid and osteoid elements). The epithelial component was compatible with a grade 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical stains were supportive, with positive expression for CK7 and ER, negative for CK20, and only very focally and weakly positive for both CDX2 and p63. Chromogranin, synaptophysin, and TTF-1 were negative. Following surgery, she was treated with five cycles of carboplatin (AUC 6) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2), followed by irradiation. Twenty-six months later, patient continues to be asymptomatic and disease-free. Mixed müllerian mesodermal tumors mimicking colorectal cancer have been reported in the past. Our case highlights the rarity and the challenges encountered in diagnosing and treating these rare tumors.
Trapa bispinosaRoxb.: A Review on Nutritional and Pharmacological Aspects
Authors: Adkar Prafulla , Dongare Amita , Ambavade Shirishkumar , Bhaskar V. H.
Published: February 2014

Trapa bispinosaRoxb. which belongs to the family Trapaceae is a small herb well known for its medicinal properties and is widely used worldwide.Trapa bispinosaorTrapa natansis an important plant of Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine which is used in the problems of stomach, genitourinary system, liver, kidney, and spleen. It is bitter, astringent, stomachic, diuretic, febrifuge, and antiseptic. The whole plant is used in gonorrhea, menorrhagia, and other genital affections. It is useful in diarrhea, dysentery, ophthalmopathy, ulcers, and wounds. These are used in the validated conditions in pitta, burning sensation, dipsia, dyspepsia, hemorrhage, hemoptysis, diarrhea, dysentery, strangely, intermittent fever, leprosy, fatigue, inflammation, urethrorrhea, fractures, erysipelas, lumbago, pharyngitis, bronchitis and general debility, and suppressing stomach and heart burning. Maybe it is due to photochemical content ofTrapa bispinosahaving high quantity of minerals, ions, namely, Ca, K, Na, Zn, and vitamins; saponins, phenols, alkaloids, H-donation, flavonoids are reported in the plants. Nutritional and biochemical analyses of fruits ofTrapa bispinosain 100 g showed 22.30 and 71.55% carbohydrate, protein contents were 4.40% and 10.80%, a percentage of moisture, fiber, ash, and fat contents were 70.35 and 7.30, 2.05 and 6.35, 2.30 and 8.50, and 0.65 and 1.85, mineral contents of the seeds were 32 mg and 102.85 mg calcium, 1.4 and 3.8 mg Iron, and 121 and 325 mg phosphorus in 100 g, and seeds ofTrapa bispinosaproduced 115.52 and 354.85 Kcal of energy, in fresh and dry fruits, respectively. Chemical analysis of the fruit and fresh nuts having considerable water content citric acid and fresh fruit which substantiates its importance as dietary food also reported low crude lipid, and major mineral present with confirming good amount of minerals as an iron and manganese potassium were contained in the fruit. Crude fiber, total protein content of the water chestnut kernel,Trapa bispinosaare reported. In this paper, the recent reports on nutritional, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects ofTrapa bispinosaRoxb, as a medicinal and nutritional food, are reviewed.
A More Accurate Measure of Local Public Goods: Overlapping Government Combinations as Units of Analysis
Authors: Stone Samuel B.
Published: February 2014

This study posits and tests the viability of a new unit of analysis for local public goods in metropolitan areas: overlapping government combinations (OGCs). Counties, municipalities, school districts, and other special districts operate simultaneously within the same space, each providing their own set of local public goods. Residents of the same city can live within the boundaries of different counties, school districts and other special districts and thus receive (and pay for) very different quantities and qualities of public goods. Though there is a great deal of literature devoted to the variation of local public goods in a fragmented metropolitan region, there is none that cumulates the different local government types into units that represent the true bundles of local public goods that are provided to citizens and property owners. This study tackles this problem through the application of geographic information systems (GIS) to stack counties, municipalities, and school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington CMSA into unique OGCs. The unique OGCs are compared to their underlying component governments with respect to property tax rates and school performance and are found to be statistically distinct.
Comparison of Total Antioxidant Capacity in Saliva of Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries and Caries-Free Children
Authors: Mahjoub S. , Ghasempour M. , Gharage A. , Bijani A. , Masrourroudsari J.
Published: February 2014

Oxidative stress may play an important role in the onset and development of oral inflammatory and dental decay diseases. The aim of this study was to compare total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in the unstimulated whole saliva of children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and caries-free children. In this case-control study, 80 children aged 3-5 years from nursery schools in Babol, northern Iran were the subjects of the study. The S-ECC group contained 40 children with dmfs ≥4 (age 3), ≥5 (age 4) or ≥6 (age 5) and the control group contained 40 caries-free children (dmfs = 0). Out of consideration for growth pattern and general health, the clinical examinations of the chosen children were conducted by a physician. These two groups were age and sex matched. TAC was measured by the FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) method and total protein in unstimulated whole saliva was evaluated spectrophotometrically. According to the normal distribution of data, statistical tests including the t test and Pearson's correlation test were used; p < 0.05 was considered significant in the difference between the two groups. TAC levels and salivary total protein increased in children with S-ECC compared with caries-free children (p = 0.025 and p = 0.033, respectively). Moreover, salivary TAC showed a significant positive correlation with total protein concentration and dmfs in the S-ECC group (p < 0.001, r = 0.685 and r = 0.902, respectively). The significant increment of salivary TAC in S-ECC may represent a compensatory mechanism against oxidative stress in S-ECC.
Simultaneous Thrombosis of the Mesenteric Artery and Vein as a Novel Clinical Manifestation of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Arima Hiroshi , Inoue Daichi , Tabata Sumie , Matsushita Akiko , Imai Yukihiro , Ishikawa Takayuki , Takahashi Takayuki
Published: February 2014

A 79-year-old man with a 2-month history of fever and weight loss was admitted to our hospital because of an acute abdomen. Abdominal CT scans showed marked sectional thickening and edema of the small intestine. On laparotomy, a 16-cm section of the small intestine was ischemic and necrotic; therefore, segmentectomy of the intestine was performed. A thrombus was noted at the stump of the mesenteric artery branch. Histopathological analysis of the resected intestine revealed fibrin thrombi in both mesenteric arteries and veins. Furthermore, a cluster of large, abnormal lymphoid cells bordering the intima of most branches of the mesenteric veins and small vessels was observed. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that these abnormal cells were positive for CD20, leading to a diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL). The patient was successfully treated with standard R-CHOP chemotherapy; however, the lymphoma recurred in the central nervous system 18 months after the initial diagnosis, and the patient died. Simultaneous thrombosis of the mesenteric artery and vein is unusual as a clinical manifestation of IVLBCL. However, IVLBCL should be taken into consideration when ischemic disorders of unknown cause, accompanied by fever of unknown origin, are encountered.
Neuropeptide Analysis of Oral Mucosa in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Kispélyi Barbara , Lohinai Zsolt , Altdorfer Károly , Fehér Erzsébet
Published: February 2014

Objective: Increasing evidence indicates that different neuropeptide-containing nerve elements are involved in the immune system and influence the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological localization and distribution of the different immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers and immunocompetent cells in the oral mucosa (e.g. tongue, gingiva) and compare the results with data received from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: The different nerve elements and immunocytes were detected by ABC immunohistochemistry. Results: The IR nerve fibers were found in the tunica propria of oral mucosa with different densities. These IR nerve fibers were mainly located beneath the epithelial lining, around the blood vessels and glands, and some of them were also located in the taste buds. After 2 weeks of STZ treatment the total number of IR nerve fibers, especially the SP and neuropeptide Y (NPY) IR ones, was significantly increased (p < 0.05), as was also the number of immunocytes (lymphocytes, plasma cells, mast cells). Some of these cells also showed immunoreactivity for substance P (SP) and NPY. In several cases the SP IR nerve fibers were found in close proximity to the immunocytes. Electron microscopic investigation also revealed the close association between the IR nerve fibers and immunocompetent cells where the gap was 1 µm or even less. Conclusions: The close anatomical associations suggest communication between nerve fibers and immune cells which can be crucial for maintaining mucosal homeostasis and for ensuring an appropriate response to injury.
Sequencing Analysis of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Wild Strains in Vaccinated Chicken Breeder Flocks
Authors: Khalifa Rabab , Eissa Sabry , El-Hariri Mahmoud , Refai Mohamed
Published: February 2014

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is still of continuing economic concern in commercial broiler breeder chicken flocks in Egypt. MG infection continues to emerge despite the application of vaccination programs in breeder flocks. This prompted flock surveillance including MG isolation and molecular characterization of the circulating MG strains. The present study was concerned with 15 broiler breeder flocks of different ages (5-51 weeks). Three flocks were apparently healthy and 12 flocks were diseased. The aim of the study was to characterize the MG strains recovered from tracheal swabs. Four positive MG DNA extracts identified by rt-PCR and confirmed by isolation were subjected to sequencing of the mgc2 gene and intergenic spacer region (IGSR). The current molecular study demonstrated the presence of 3 different wild-type MG strains (RabE1-08, RabE2-09 and RabE3-09) in vaccinated diseased flocks, while the fourth strain (RabE4-08), which was isolated from a nonvaccinated apparently healthy breeder flock, scored 100% of homology and similarity to the F-strain vaccine by the sequence analysis of mgc2 and IGSR. It can be assumed that the vaccine F strain, which is supposed to replace field strains not only failed to do that, but also infected nonvaccinated flocks. Accordingly, there is a need to revise the control program including vaccine strategy in parallel with biosecurity measures.
Effect of a Single Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection on Contrast Sensitivity and Macular Thickness in Eyes with Macular Edema from Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Prospective, Nonrandomized, Three-Month Follow-Up Study
Authors: Preti Rony C. , Ramirez Lisa M.V. , Pimentel Sergio L.G. , Nakashima Yoshitaka , Machado Cleide G. , Pelayes David E. , Monteiro Mario L.R. , Takahashi Walter Y.
Published: February 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the results of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection on contrast sensitivity (CS), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal thickness (FT) and macular volume (MV) as measured by optical coherence tomography in patients with macular edema (ME) from central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: Sixteen consecutive eyes from 16 patients with ME from unilateral CRVO were treated with a single IVB injection. The CS, BCVA, FT and MV measurements were obtained before the treatment and 1 and 3 months after the injection. Results: CS demonstrated significant improvement at all spatial frequencies - 1.5, 3, 6, 12 and 18 cycles per degree (cpd) - 1 month after the injection and at 6 cpd at the 3-month follow-up. The mean BCVA measurements in log of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units improved from 1.03 at baseline to 0.83 logMAR 1 month after the injection, but worsened to 0.97 logMAR at 3 months. The mean baseline FT ± standard deviation (SD; 620.06 ± 177.60 µm) was reduced significantly 1 month (270.93 ± 74.17 µm) and 3 months (535.56 ± 222.33 µm) after the treatment. The mean baseline MV ± SD (12,765.56 ± 3,769.70 mm3) was reduced significantly at the 1-month (8,324.93 ± 932.04 mm3) and 3-month (11,319.44 ± 3,044.74 mm3) follow-up visits. Conclusions: IVB improved CS, BCVA, FT and MV within a short time period (1 month). Although VA was not improved at 3 months, improvements were observed for CS, FT and MV, which indicates that, despite ME recurrence, there still was some benefit to visual function.
Lumbosacral Parasitic Twin Associated with Lipomeningomyelocele: A Rare Occurrence
Authors: Pandey Anand , Singh Shailendra P. , Pandey Jigyasa , Gupta Vipin , Verma Rajesh
Published: February 2014

Lumbosacral parasitic twin is an extremely rare entity. About 200 cases have been reported in the literature. It may be associated with neural tube defects. We encountered a 3-day-old female child with this presentation, who was successfully operated on at the age of about 2 months. Being an uncommon entity, it is presented here.
Lacunar Infarction Associated with Anabolic Steroids and Polycythemia: A Case Report
Authors: Harston George W.J. , Batt Farzana , Fan Lampson , Okell Thomas W. , Sheerin Fintan , Littlewood Timothy , Kennedy James
Published: February 2014

Lacunar infarction is traditionally ascribed to lipohyalinosis or microatheroma. We report the case of 40-year-old man, without traditional risk factors for ischemic stroke, who presented to the Emergency Department with recurrent episodes of transient right-sided weakness and paresthesia. Lacunar infarction was confirmed on diffusion-weighted MRI and blood tests showed a marked polycythemia. Quantitative magnetic resonance perfusion imaging demonstrated dramatically abnormal perfusion throughout both cerebral hemispheres, and transcranial Doppler revealed reduced cerebral artery velocities, both consistent with the proposed mechanism of hyperviscosity. His symptoms settled with treatment of the polycythemia and workup did not find another cause of ischemic stroke. We propose that hyperviscosity secondary to steroid-induced polycythemia caused ischemia in this case and not lipohyalinosis or microatheroma, to which lacunar disease is commonly attributed.
Towards Effective and Safe Thrombolysis and Thromboprophylaxis
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Palasubramaniam Jathushan , Gkanatsas Yannik , Hohmann Jan David , Westein Erik , Kanojia Ruchi , Alt Karen , Huang Dexing , Jia Fu , Ahrens Ingo , Medcalf Robert L. , Peter Karlheinz , Hagemeyer Christoph E.
Published: February 2014

Rationale:

Fibrinolysis is a valuable alternative for the treatment of myocardial infarction when percutaneous coronary intervention is not available in a timely fashion. For acute ischemic stroke, fibrinolysis is the only treatment option with a very narrow therapeutic window. Clinically approved thrombolytics have significant drawbacks, including bleeding complications. Thus their use is highly restricted, leaving many patients untreated.

Objective:

We developed a novel targeted fibrinolytic drug that is directed against activated platelets.

Methods and Results:

We fused single-chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) to a small recombinant antibody (scFv
SCE5
), which targets the activated form of the platelet–integrin glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. Antibody binding and scuPA activity of this recombinant fusion protein were on par with the parent molecules. Prophylactic in vivo administration of scFv
SCE5
–scuPA (75 U/g body weight) prevented carotid artery occlusion after ferric chloride injury in a plasminogen-dependent process compared with saline (
P
<0.001), and blood flow recovery was similar to high-dose nontargeted urokinase (500 U/g body weight). Tail bleeding time was significantly prolonged with this high dose of nontargeted urokinase, but not with equally effective targeted scFv
SCE5
–scuPA at 75 U/g body weight. Real-time in vivo molecular ultrasound imaging demonstrates significant therapeutic reduction of thrombus size after administration of 75 U/g body weight scFv
SCE5
–scuPA as compared with the same dose of a mutated, nontargeting scFv–scuPA or vehicle. The ability of scFv
SCE5
–scuPA to lyse thrombi was lost in plasminogen-deficient mice, but could be restored by intravenous injection of plasminogen.

Conclusions:

Targeting of scuPA to activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa allows effective thrombolysis and the potential novel use as a fibrinolytic agent for thromboprophylaxis without bleeding complications.
A Lingering Lusotopia: Thinking the Planetary from Angola
Authors: Gray Ros
Published: February 2014

The article considers two art works made in recent years in Angola: the exhibition Lion & Ox, which featured art works by António Ole and Art Orienté objet, and the installation Icarus 13 by Kiluanji Kia Henda. Both draw on twentieth century utopias still present in Angola and refer to Agostinho Neto, the poet who became Angola's first Marxist-Leninist president. While Lion & Ox explores Angolan nature structured through colonial taxonomies, Icarus 13 tells sci-fi narrative of an Angolan space mission to the Sun, suggesting a shift to a planetary imaginary. What does it mean, in the present conjuncture, to think the planetary from Angola?
Chronicles from Majnun until Layla
Authors: Feizabadi Azin
Published: February 2014

Chronicles from Majnun until Layla is a film project structured in three stages: 1.) The Museum of Modern Iranian History (2011–2013), 2.) Layla and Majnun (in preparation), and 3.) The Film (in preparation). Each stage bears its own approach, format, and mode of presentation. The first two stages are conceived as preparation for the third and final stage: the merging moment, which will be in the form of a feature-length, hybrid fiction/documentary film. The film depicts a couple, lovers, visiting a virtual museum of modern Iranian history. The lovers appear both as themselves and as “Layla and Majnun,” characters adapted from a classical Middle Eastern love tale. As they walk the museum, the couple engages in dialogue about their individual and collective stories, memories, dreams, rages, and desires. The lovers' affairs and conversations interact with the representations of the major historical moments of Iran being documented in the museum. In Stage 1, through the museum's architectural design and references to an official Iranian narrative taken from a high-school textbook, the various historical periods of Iran get transformed into Kairos (the Now), contradicting Chronos and scientific and analytical historiography.
Towards Dual or Multiple Attribution
Authors: Lopez Maria Canto
Published: February 2014

The Strasbourg Court is dealing with situations arising out of the military conduct of Contracting Parties abroad. Some of this conduct arises from European troops acting within the framework of international multinational forces under the UN’s auspices. While the Strasbourg Court in the Behrami and Saramati case started by attributing exclusive liability to the UN — in an attempt to stay clear of interfering with the UN’s universal peace and security mission —, its latest case-law has moved away from that path. In the Al-Jedda case, the Strasbourg Court admits the possibility of dual or multiple attribution, which means that the same conduct can be attributed both to the UN and to one or more Contracting Parties. Through dual or multiple attribution, the Strasbourg Court has opened a way to avoid confrontations with the UN’s universal mission, and has returned to supervising the conduct of the individual Contracting Parties that send troops to be part of the UN multinational forces, improving the protection offered to victims of those Contracting Parties in foreign lands.
Beyond Unbridled Optimism and Fear: Indigenous Peoples, Intellectual Property, Human Rights and the Globalisation of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore: Part II
Authors: Picart Caroline Joan S. , Fox Marlowe
Published: February 2014

Abstract

In Part I of this two-part article, we explained why western assumptions built into intellectual property law make this area of law a problematic tool, as a way of protecting traditional knowledge (tk) and expressions of folklore (EoF) or traditional cultural expressions (tce) of indigenous peoples. Part II of this article aims to: 1) provide a brief review of the Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd) and the Nagoya Protocol, and examine the evolution of the intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples from the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (trips Agreement) to the cbd to the Nagoya Protocol; and 2) examine possible core principles, inducted (rather than deduced) from actual practices already in place in the areas of patents, copyrights, and trademarks in relation to protecting tk and EoF. These explorations could allow for discussions regarding indigenous peoples, human rights and international trade law to become less adversarial.
Self-determination and Secession: Human Rights-based Conflict Resolution
Authors: Velasco Zoilo A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Throughout its development as an international law principle, there prevailed an assumption that self-determination gives rise to secession. This assumption, which has fuelled the most violent ethno-national conflicts in modern history, is however misleading. Self-determination does not lead to secession. Self-determination is conceptually and legally separate and independent from secession. Its association with secession actually makes self-determination a legal anomaly. Whether a “nation” can secede is not a function of self-determination but is dictated by an entirely different variable – effective power or authority in international politics. There is a need to break the link between self-determination and secession, and instead recognise self-determination as a human right per se rather than a principle that justifies, confuses, and exacerbates ethno-national conflicts. The result is a change in our way of understanding, and hopefully resolving, existing secessionist struggles and ethno-national conflicts worldwide.
Revisiting the Emancipatory Potential of Digital Media in Asia – Introduction to the Inaugural Issue of Asiascape: Digital Asia
Authors: Schneider Florian , Goto-Jones Chris
Published: February 2014

Abstract

This introduction to the inaugural issue ofAsiascape: Digital Asiareviews the debates about the impact that digital media have on culture, society, economics, and politics. The ubiquity of digital technology in various parts of the world has prompted questions about whether the ability to connect on a near-global scale with potentially billions of users has an emancipatory or even democratizing effect. In other words: are personal computers, smartphones, tablet computers, mobile gaming devices, and the digital infrastructure of the Internet ‘liberation technologies’? This introduction examines arguments by both optimists and pessimists, and argues that in order to overcome simple dichotomies in the study of digital media, we need to study such media in the diverse social and historical contexts in which they are situated. The review further showcases the five research papers that comprise this special issue ofAsiascape: Digital Asia, each of which provides an insightful study of the diverse ways in whichicthave been deployed by citizens in different Asian contexts to profoundly shaped social, cultural, and political processes. What the discussion shows, is the need for academics to rethink how they can fruitfully explore the challenges and opportunities that digital media present in various contexts, and how they can contribute innovative theories, useful approaches, and much needed ‘reality checks’ to ongoing public discourse.
Piriqueta crenata, a new species of Turneraceae (Passifloraceae s.l.) from the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Rocha Lamarck , Arbo Maria Mercedes , Souza Isys Mascarenhas , Rapini Alessandro
Published: February 2014

In this study, we describe and illustrate Piriqueta crenata, a new species from the Chapada Diamantina region, Bahia, Brazil. It is similar to and was initially identified as P. flammea from which it can be distinguished by the cuneate leaf blade bases (vs. rounded), slightly discoloured leaves (vs. strongly discoloured), inflorescences of fewer flowers (1–3 vs. 3–6), olive-green calyx when dry (vs. blackened), and yellow corolla (vs. orange red). Piriqueta crenata is only known from a single small savanna nested in the semiarid Chapada Diamantina region, close to areas under anthropogenic influence. Therefore, we evaluate the species as Critically Endangered.
Nomenclatural novelties in Astraea (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: Caruzo Maria Beatriz Rossi , Da Silva Otávio Luis Marques , Berry Paul E. , Cordeiro Inês
Published: February 2014

Astraea Klotzsch (1841: 194) was considered a synonym of Croton Linnaeus (1753: 1004) by many authors (Baillon 1858, Müller 1866, Pax & Hoffmann 1931, Webster 1994, Radcliffe-Smith 2001), but based on a molecular phylogenetic study of Croton and related groups, Berry et al. (2005a) justified recognizing Astraea again as a valid genus. De-Paula et al. (2011) showed morphological differences in the flowers of these two genera, corroborating the findings of Berry et al. (2005a). Riina et al. (2014) discussed additional morphological characters separating Astraea from both Croton and its sister genus Brasiliocroton Berry & Cordeiro in Berry et al. (2005b: 357). Some species that were originally described under Croton have already been transferred to Astraea (Berry et al. 2005a, Caruzo & Cordeiro 2007, Zuloaga et al. 2007, Van Ee 2011), and Van Ee (2011) accounted for numerous names of Astraea invalidly published by Klotzsch (1841). However, there are still several species of Croton that should be transferred to Astraea. As part of an ongoing taxonomic revision of the genus Astraea, we herein propose the necessary remaining transfers. Astraea has an estimated 13 species, most of them distributed in South America, especially in Brazil. Astraea lobata (Linnaeus 1753: 1005) Klotzsch (1841: 194) is the only species occurring throughout the Neotropical region and is also found, introduced, in Africa and Yemen.
Typifications in Stephaniella and Stephaniellidium (Marchantiophyta: Stephaniellaceae)
Authors: Juárez-Martínez Catalina
Published: February 2014

In a review of the literature, including a recent taxonomic revision of Stephaniella and Stephaniellidium, previous authors did not designate the nomenclatural types for three species of Stephaniella so that these names require lectotypification.