bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative ELISAs for serum soluble LHCGR and hCG-LHCGR complex: potential diagnostics in first trimester pregnancy screening for stillbirth, Down’s syndrome, preterm delivery and preeclampsia
Authors: Chambers Anne E , Griffin Christopher , Naif Samantha A , Mills Ian , Mills Walter E , Syngelaki Argyro , Nicolaides Kypros H , Banerjee Subhasis
Published: December 2012

Background

Soluble LH/hCG receptor (sLHCGR) released from placental explants and transfected cells can be detected in sera from pregnant women. To determine whether sLHCGR has diagnostic potential, quantitative ELISAs were developed and tested to examine the correlation between pregnancy outcome and levels of serum sLHCGR and hCG-sLHCGR complex.

Methods

Anti-LHCGR poly- and monoclonal antibodies recognizing defined LHCGR epitopes, commerical anti-hCGbeta antibody, together with recombinant LHCGR and yoked hCGbeta-LHCGR standard calibrators were used to develop two ELISAs. These assays were employed to quantify serum sLHCGR and hCG-sLHCGR at first trimester human pregnancy.

Results

Two ELISAs were developed and validated. Unlike any known biomarker, sLHCGR and hCG-sLHCGR are unique because Down’s syndrome (DS), preeclampsia and preterm delivery are linked to both low (less than or equal to 5 pmol/mL), and high (equal to or greater than 170 pmol/mL) concentrations. At these cut-off values, serum hCG-sLHCGR together with PAPP-A detected additional DS pregnancies (21%) which were negative by free hCGbeta plus PAPP-A screening procedure. Therefore, sLHCGR/hCG-sLHCGR has an additive effect on the current primary biochemical screening of aneuploid pregnancies. More than 88% of pregnancies destined to end in fetal demise (stillbirth) exhibited very low serum hCG-sLHCGR(less than or equal to 5 pmol/mL) compared to controls (median 16.15 pmol/mL, n = 390). The frequency of high hCG-sLHCGR concentrations (equal to or greater than 170 pmol/mL) in pathological pregnancies was at least 3-6-fold higher than that of the control, suggesting possible modulation of the thyrotropic effect of hCG by sLHCGR.

Conclusions

Serum sLHCGR/hCG-sLHCGR together with PAPP-A, have significant potential as first trimester screening markers for predicting pathological outcomes in pregnancy.
Fabrication and centeracterization of ordered CuIn(1−x)Ga
x
Se2 nanopore films via template-based electrodeposition
Authors: Li Ming , Zheng Maojun , Zhou Tao , Li Changli , Ma Li , Shen Wenzhong
Published: December 2012

Ordered CuIn(1−x)Ga
x
Se2 (CIGS) nanopore films were prepared by one-step electrodeposition based on porous anodized aluminum oxide templates. The as-grown film shows a highly ordered morphology that reproduces the surface pattern of the substrate. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern show that CIGS nanopore films had ideal chalcopyrite crystallization. Energy dispersive spectroscopy reveals the Cu-Se phases firstly formed in initial stage of growth. Then, indium and gallium were incorporated in the nanopore films in succession. Cu-Se phase is most likely to act as a growth promoter in the growth progress of CIGS nanopore films. Due to the high surface area and porous structure, this kind of CIGS films could have potential application in light-trapping CIGS solar cells and photoelectrochemical water splitting.
Autophagy inhibition plays the synergetic killing roles with radiation in the multi-drug resistant SKVCR ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Liang Bing , Kong Dejuan , Liu Yang , Liang Nan , He Mengzi , Ma Shumei , Liu Xiaodong
Published: December 2012

Purpose

Autophagy has attracted attentions as a novel mechanism for tumor development. In this study Human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKOV3 and multidrug-resistant phenotype SKVCR cells were used and the roles of autophagy in radiation-induced cell death were analyzed.

Methods and materials

Cell viability was examined by colony formation and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 3MA and ZVAD were used to block autophagy and apoptosis, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA level and Western blot was used to detect protein expression, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and flow cytometery were used for autophagy, apoptosis and cell cycle dynamics, respectively.

Results

(1) The radiosensitivity exhibited differently in SKOV3 and SKVCR cells (SKOV3: D0=3.37, SKVCR: D0= 4.18); compared with SKOV3 the constitutive expression of MAPLC3 in SKVCR was higher, but no change of Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-3. (2) The ionizing radiation (IR)- induced apoptosis and autophagy were significant in both cells (P<0.05); inhibition of apoptosis with ZVAD showed no impact on survival of SKOV3 and SKVCR cells after radiation, while inhibition of autophagy significantly decreased viability in SKVCR cells, for SKVO3 cells only low level of radiation (2 Gy and 4 Gy) could decrease the viability(P<0.05). (3) ZVAD inhibited apoptosis and autophagy in both cells, 3MA inhibit apoptosis in SKOV3, and promote apoptosis in SKVCR, together with inhibition of autophagy. (4) G2/M arrest was induced by radiation in both cells; the accumulation of G2/M was more significant in SKOV3, 3MA attenuated the radiation-induced S phase delay in SKVCR.

Conclusion

IR-induced autophagy provides a self-protective mechanism against radiotherapy in SKVCR cells, the use of autophagy inhibitor, 3MA, increases the killing effects of radiation by inhibiting autophagy and radiation- induced S phase delay, also by the increase of apoptosis, which suggests a better therapeutic strategy in drug- resistant SKVCR ovarian cancer cells.
Integrative pathway analysis of genome-wide association studies and gene expression data in prostate cancer
Authors: Jia Peilin , Liu Yang , Zhao Zhongming
Published: December 2012

Background

Pathway analysis of large-scale omics data assists us with the examination of the cumulative effects of multiple functionally related genes, which are difficult to detect using the traditional single gene/marker analysis. So far, most of the genomic studies have been conducted in a single domain, e.g., by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or microarray gene expression investigation. A combined analysis of disease susceptibility genes across multiple platforms at the pathway level is an urgent need because it can reveal more reliable and more biologically important information.

Results

We performed an integrative pathway analysis of a GWAS dataset and a microarray gene expression dataset in prostate cancer. We obtained a comprehensive pathway annotation set from knowledge-based public resources, including KEGG pathways and the prostate cancer candidate gene set, and gene sets specifically defined based on cross-platform information. By leveraging on this pathway collection, we first searched for significant pathways in the GWAS dataset using four methods, which represent two broad groups of pathway analysis approaches. The significant pathways identified by each method varied greatly, but the results were more consistent within each method group than between groups. Next, we conducted a gene set enrichment analysis of the microarray gene expression data and found 13 pathways with cross-platform evidence, including "Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis" (P
GWAS = 0.003, P
expr < 0.001, and P
combined = 6.18 × 10-8), "regulation of actin cytoskeleton" (P
GWAS = 0.003, P
expr = 0.009, and P
combined = 3.34 × 10-4), and "Jak-STAT signaling pathway" (P
GWAS = 0.001, P
expr = 0.084, and P
combined = 8.79 × 10-4).

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence at both the genetic variation and expression levels that several key pathways might have been involved in the pathological development of prostate cancer. Our framework that employs gene expression data to facilitate pathway analysis of GWAS data is not only feasible but also much needed in studying complex disease.
Genome-wide meta-analysis of genetic susceptible genes for Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Hale Paul J , López-Yunez Alfredo M , Chen Jake Y
Published: December 2012

Background

Many genetic studies, including single gene studies and Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), aim to identify risk alleles for genetic diseases such as Type II Diabetes (T2D). However, in T2D studies, there is a significant amount of the hereditary risk that cannot be simply explained by individual risk genes. There is a need for developing systems biology approaches to integrate comprehensive genetic information and provide new insight on T2D biology.

Methods

We performed comprehensive integrative analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP's) individually curated from T2D GWAS results and mapped them to T2D candidate risk genes. Using protein-protein interaction data, we constructed a T2D-specific molecular interaction network consisting of T2D genetic risk genes and their interacting gene partners. We then studied the relationship between these T2D genes and curated gene sets.

Results

We determined that T2D candidate risk genes are concentrated in certain parts of the genome, specifically in chromosome 20. Using the T2D genetic network, we identified highly-interconnected network "hub" genes. By incorporating T2D GWAS results, T2D pathways, and T2D genes' functional category information, we further ranked T2D risk genes, T2D-related pathways, and T2D-related functional categories. We found that highly-interconnected T2D disease network “hub” genes most highly associated to T2D genetic risks to be PI3KR1, ESR1, and ENPP1. The well-characterized TCF7L2, contractor to our expectation, was not among the highest-ranked T2D gene list. Many interacted pathways play a role in T2D genetic risks, which includes insulin signalling pathway, type II diabetes pathway, maturity onset diabetes of the young, adipocytokine signalling pathway, and pathways in cancer. We also observed significant crosstalk among T2D gene subnetworks which include insulin secretion, regulation of insulin secretion, response to peptide hormone stimulus, response to insulin stimulus, peptide secretion, glucose homeostasis, and hormone transport. Overview maps involving T2D genes, gene sets, pathways, and their interactions are all reported.

Conclusions

Large-scale systems biology meta-analyses of GWAS results can improve interpretations of genetic variations and genetic risk factors. T2D genetic risks can be attributable to the summative genetic effects of many genes involved in a broad range of signalling pathways and functional networks. The framework developed for T2D studies may serve as a guide for studying other complex diseases.
A cross-species analysis method to analyze animal models' similarity to human's disease state
Authors: Yu Shuhao , Zheng Lulu , Li Yun , Li Chunyan , Ma Chenchen , Li Yixue , Li Xuan , Hao Pei
Published: December 2012

Background

Animal models are indispensable tools in studying the cause of human diseases and searching for the treatments. The scientific value of an animal model depends on the accurate mimicry of human diseases. The primary goal of the current study was to develop a cross-species method by using the animal models' expression data to evaluate the similarity to human diseases' and assess drug molecules' efficiency in drug research. Therefore, we hoped to reveal that it is feasible and useful to compare gene expression profiles across species in the studies of pathology, toxicology, drug repositioning, and drug action mechanism.

Results

We developed a cross-species analysis method to analyze animal models' similarity to human diseases and effectiveness in drug research by utilizing the existing animal gene expression data in the public database, and mined some meaningful information to help drug research, such as potential drug candidates, possible drug repositioning, side effects and analysis in pharmacology. New animal models could be evaluated by our method before they are used in drug discovery.

We applied the method to several cases of known animal model expression profiles and obtained some useful information to help drug research. We found that trichostatin A and some other HDACs could have very similar response across cell lines and species at gene expression level. Mouse hypoxia model could accurately mimic the human hypoxia, while mouse diabetes drug model might have some limitation. The transgenic mouse of Alzheimer was a useful model and we deeply analyzed the biological mechanisms of some drugs in this case. In addition, all the cases could provide some ideas for drug discovery and drug repositioning.

Conclusions

We developed a new cross-species gene expression module comparison method to use animal models' expression data to analyse the effectiveness of animal models in drug research. Moreover, through data integration, our method could be applied for drug research, such as potential drug candidates, possible drug repositioning, side effects and information about pharmacology.
Complex partial non-convulsive status epilepticus masquerading as hepatic encephalopathy: a case report
Authors: Badshah Maaz B , Riaz Haris , Aslam Sana , Badshah Moaviz B , Korsten Mark A , Munir Muhammad Bilal
Published: December 2012

Introduction

Hepatic encephalopathy is usually suspected in patients who are cirrhotic with neuropsychiatric manifestations. We present a case of suspected hepatic encephalopathy that did not respond to standard empiric therapy and was eventually diagnosed as non-convulsive status epilepticus of complex partial type. Our patient responded dramatically to anti-convulsive therapy.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 45-year-old African-American man with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis and human immunodeficiency virus who presented to our facility with a one-day history of confusion and a variable mental status. Our patient’s vital signs were stable and all his electrolytes were within normal range. A clinical diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy was made and our patient was started on empiric therapy with lactulose and rifaximin. Our patient did not respond to therapy. After five days of treatment, alternative diagnoses were sought and a neurology consult was requested. An electroencephalogram was eventually performed which showed seizure activity in the right parietal lobe. A diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus was made and our patient was started on oral levetiracetam. On day two of therapy, our patient was alert and oriented. He continues to do well on follow-up approximately one year after discharge.

Conclusions

Non-convulsive status epilepticus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with suspected hepatic encephalopathy who do not respond to empirical treatment. Further studies are needed to investigate the incidence of this entity in patients with persistent hepatic encephalopathy.
Prevalence of macroprolactinaemia in regularly menstruating women with non-toxic goitre or autoimmune thyroid disease
Authors: Lewandowski Krzysztof C , Gąsior-Perczak Danuta , Kowalska Aldona , Lewiński Andrzej
Published: December 2012

Background

The so called “big-big” prolactin (Prl), also known as macroprolactin is formed by Prl-immunoglobulin (Prl-IgG) complexes and may cause elevation of serum Prl concentrations measured by standard assays, potentially leading to unnecessary investigations and/or treatment. In our study, we have endeavoured to assess the prevalence of macroprolactinaemia in euthyroid, regularly menstruating women with thyroid disease, as well as to assess whether autoimmune thyroid disease may result in an increased prevalence of macroprolactinaemia.

Material and methods

We measured serum Prl in 182 regularly menstruating women aged 32.7 ± 7.5 years (mean ± SD, range 17–46 years) who attended endocrine clinic either for investigation of non-toxic goitre (n = 86, age 33.2 ± 7.8 years) or with autoimmune thyroid disease (n = 96, age 32.3 ± 7.2 years). Autoimmune thyroid disease was defined as raised titre of at least one anti-thyroid antibody [anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) and/or anti-TSH-receptor (anti-TSH-R) antibodies]. All women were clinically and biochemically euthyroid, either without or on treatment with L-thyroxine. In those with raised Prl (i.e., above 530 mIU/l) we ruled out the presence of macroprolactinaemia by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method.

Results

There was no significant age difference between women with and without autoimmune thyroid disease (p = 0.84). Raised Prl concentrations were found in 10 women with thyroid disease (5.5%), and of those a significant macroprolactinaemia (i.e., reduction of Prl concentrations of more than 60% after PEG precipitation) was found in 9 subjects (4.94%). There were no differences in the prevalence of macroprolactinaemia between women with autoimmune thyroid disease (4 out of 96), and without autoimmune thyroid disease (5 out of 86, p = 0.75).

Conclusions

Approximately one out of twenty women with regular menses is likely to have raised serum Prl that is usually caused by the presence of macroprolactinaemia. Though structure of macroprolactin involves Prl-IgG complexes, there is no evidence that autoimmune thyroid disease is associated with raised prevalence of macroprolactinaemia.
Should a hospitalized child receive empiric treatment with acyclovir?
Authors: Kulik Dina M , Mekky Magda , Yang Ming , Bitnun Ari , Parkin Patricia C
Published: December 2012

Background

Herpes simplex encephalitis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and may be related to timely diagnosis and treatment. While awaiting the results of testing, hospitalization and empiric treatment with acyclovir is recommended, though the direct and indirect costs associated with this management are substantial. We sought to examine children hospitalized for possible herpes simplex encephalitis, following clinical and laboratory assessment in the emergency department, and empiric treatment with acyclovir, in order to describe the proportion receiving a complete course of treatment; and to identify the clinical variables which are associated with receiving a complete course, as compared with an incomplete course of acyclovir.

Methods

Hospitalized children prescribed acyclovir were included in this case control study. Clinical, laboratory and diagnostic variables were abstracted for children prescribed a complete (≥ 14 days) or an incomplete course (<14 days) of acyclovir. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

289 children met eligibility criteria, 30 (10%) received a complete course and 259 (90%) received an incomplete course. A history of mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection (p < 0.01), Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 13 (p = 0.02), focal neurologic findings (p = 0.001) and elevated cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count (p = 0.05) were associated with a complete course of acyclovir.

Conclusions

Many children did not complete a full course of therapy. Unnecessary testing and treatment is burdensome to families and the health care system. Possible predictive variables include abnormal Glascow Coma Scale, focal neurologic findings and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Drying of a plasmid containing formulation: chitosan as a protecting agent
Authors: Mohajel Nasir , Najafabadi Abdolhossein R , Azadmanesh Kayhan , Vatanara Alireza , Amini Mohsen , Moazeni Esmail , Rahimi Amirabbas , Gilani Kambiz
Published: December 2012

Background

The purpose of the study. Along with research on development of more efficient gene delivery systems, it is necessary to search on stabilization processes to extend their active life span. Chitosan is a nontoxic, biocompatible and available gene delivery carrier. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of this polymer to preserve transfection efficiency during spray-drying and a modified freeze-drying process in the presence of commonly used excipients.

Method

Molecular weight of chitosan was reduced by a chemical reaction and achieved low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) was complexed with pDNA. Obtained nanocomplex suspensions were diluted by solutions of lactose and leucine, and these formulations were spray dried or freeze dried using a modified technique. Size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, intensity of supercoiled DNA band on gel electrophoresis, and transfection efficiency of reconstituted nanocomplexes were compared with freshly prepared ones.

Results and major conclusion

Size distribution profiles of both freeze dried, and 13 out of 16 spray-dried nanocomplexes remained identical to freshly prepared ones. LMWC protected up to 100% of supercoiled structure of pDNA in both processes, although DNA degradation was higher in spray-drying of the nanocomplexes prepared with low N/P ratios. Both techniques preserved transfection efficiency similarly even in lower N/P ratios, where supercoiled DNA content of spray dried formulations was lower than freeze-dried ones. Leucine did not show a significant effect on properties of the processed nanocomplexes. It can be concluded that LMWC can protect DNA structure and transfection efficiency in both processes even in the presence of leucine.
Calcium oxide from Pomacea sp. shell as a catalyst for biodiesel production
Authors: Margaretha Yosephine Yulia , Prastyo Henry Sanaga , Ayucitra Aning , Ismadji Suryadi
Published: December 2012

Heterogeneous catalysts are promising catalyst for the transesterification reaction of vegetable oils to produce biodiesel. In this study, the Pomacea sp. shell was used as the raw material for CaO catalyst. The calcination of Pomacea sp. shell was conducted at 900°C for 2 h. The raw material and the resulting CaO catalyst were characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescense spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. From the experimental results, it was found that the maximum yield of fatty acid methyl esters was 95.61% at the following reaction conditions: reaction temperature of 60°C, a reaction period of 4 h, a ratio of methanol-oil at 7:1, and amount of catalyst at 4% w/w. The physical and chemical properties of biodiesel were determined based on ASTM standard, and the values obtained were confirmed with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI-04-7182-2006) and (B100)-ASTM D6751-07b.
A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled phase III trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin in Japanese patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Ohta Hiroyoshi , Oka Hiroshi , Usui Chie , Ohkura Masayuki , Suzuki Makoto , Nishioka Kusuki
Published: December 2012

Introduction

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain and tenderness. Prior trials have demonstrated the efficacy of pregabalin for the relief of fibromyalgia symptoms, and it is approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia in the United States. However, prior to this study, there has not been a large-scale efficacy trial in patients with fibromyalgia in Japan.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 44 centers in Japan to assess the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for the symptomatic relief of pain in fibromyalgia patients. Patients aged ≥18 years who had met the criteria for fibromyalgia were randomized to receive either pregabalin, starting at 150 mg/day and increasing to a maintenance dose of 300 or 450 mg/day, or placebo, for 15 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was mean pain score at final assessment. Secondary endpoints included Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) together with measures of sleep, physical functioning and quality of life.

Results

A total of 498 patients (89% female) were randomized to receive either pregabalin (n = 250) or placebo (n = 248). Pregabalin significantly reduced mean pain score at final assessment (difference in mean change from baseline, compared with placebo -0.44; P = 0.0046) and at every week during the study (P <0.025). Key secondary endpoints were also significantly improved with pregabalin treatment compared with placebo, including PGIC (percentage reporting symptoms "very much improved" or "much improved", 38.6% vs 26.7% with placebo; P = 0.0078); pain visual analog scale (difference in mean change from baseline, compared with placebo -6.19; P = 0.0013); Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score (-3.33; P = 0.0144); and quality of sleep score (-0.73; P <0.0001). Treatment was generally well tolerated, with somnolence and dizziness the most frequently reported adverse events.

Conclusions

This trial demonstrated that pregabalin, at doses of up to 450 mg/day, was effective for the symptomatic relief of pain in Japanese patients with fibromyalgia. Pregabalin also improved measures of sleep and functioning and was well tolerated. These data indicate that pregabalin is an effective treatment option for the relief of pain and sleep problems in Japanese patients with fibromyalgia.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00830167
“The Fish Trusts the Water, and It Is in the Water That It Is Cooked”
Authors: Lipman Jana K.
Published: December 2012

This article analyzes the origins of the Krome detention center, an immigration prison that has its genesis in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the 1980 Mariel boatlift. I argue that the history of Krome maps the transformation of a single site from a Cold War nuclear launching pad to an ad hoc refugee camp to an institutionalized immigration detention center, or more precisely a jail. This site's transformation underscores a Cold War shift from fear of a Caribbean-based nuclear attack to fear of an invasion of undocumented and undesirable Caribbean migrants. In addition, this paper explores the forgotten experiment of removing and detaining Haitian refugees on an isolated military base in Puerto Rico, as an alternate location to Krome. In this vein, Krome's history maps military and migratory circuits between the United States and the Caribbean, and it underscores a longue durée of US militarism and colonialism in the Caribbean.
Jean Anil Louis-Juste, Prezan!
Authors: Losier Toussaint
Published: December 2012

On January 12, 2010, several hours before a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, gunmen shot and killed Sociology Professor Jean Anil Louis-Juste as he was leaving the grounds of his department at the State University of Haiti. A tireless revolutionary and engaged academic, Louis-Juste had recently received multiple death threats for his role in organizing a series of university student demonstrations that sparked wildcat strikes at one of Port-au-Prince's largest textile assembly plants. By reflecting on Louis-Juste's political and intellectual development, this article seeks to draw attention to the ways in which those on the Haitian left have sought to contend with the political repression and economic marginalization that have hindered the promise of the 1986 popular uprising against Haitian President-for-Life Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier.
A Little Flexibility Is All You Need: On the Asymptotic Value of Flexible Capacity in Parallel Queuing Systems
Authors: Bassamboo Achal , Randhawa Ramandeep S. , Mieghem Jan A. Van
Published: December 2012

We analytically study optimal capacity and flexible technology selection in parallel queuing systems. We consider N stochastic arrival streams that may wait in N queues before being processed by one of many resources (technologies) that differ in their flexibility. A resource's ability to process k different arrival types or classes is referred to as level-k flexibility. We determine the capacity portfolio (consisting of all resources at all levels of flexibility) that minimizes linear capacity and linear holding costs in high-volume systems where the arrival rate λ → ∞. We prove that “a little flexibility is all you need”: the optimal portfolio invests O(λ) in specialized resources and only O(√λ) in flexible resources and these optimal capacity choices bring the system into heavy traffic. Further, considering symmetric systems (with type-independent parameters), a novel “folding” methodology allows the specification of the asymptotic queue count process for any capacity portfolio under longest-queue scheduling in closed form that is amenable to optimization. This allows us to sharpen “a little flexibility is all you need”: the asymptotically optimal flexibility configuration for symmetric systems with mild economies of scope invests a lot in specialized resources but only a little in flexible resources and only in level-2 flexibility, but effectively nothing (o(√λ)) in level-k > 2 flexibility. We characterize “tailored pairing” as the theoretical benchmark configuration that maximizes the value of flexibility when demand and service uncertainty are the main concerns.
Call for Papers—Special Issue of Operations Research: Information and Decisions in Social and Economic Networks
Authors: Anderson Eddie , Gamarnik David , Kleywegt Anton , Ozdaglar Asuman
Published: December 2012

Networks have become increasingly pervasive in our lives: social networks not only have a defining impact on consumer choice but are also central in social and political decisions, ranging from political discourse in the blogosphere to the organization and coordination of protests in the Arab Spring. Economic and financial transactions also increasingly occur over large, complex, dynamically changing networks, not only contributing to the efficient allocation of resources, but also occasionally creating large, systemic, and poorly understood risks. Similarly, network effects are now seen as major elements in healthcare, smart power grids, urban transportation, and more.

We invite high-quality submissions in social and economic networks, construed broadly to include any system in which human action and control play a major role. We welcome contributions based on rigorous mathematical models, as well as empirical and simulation studies, that contribute to the understanding of network formation, cascades, reliability, information and action propagation, decision making, inference, measurement, and efficient optimization algorithms over networks. We seek papers that apply tools from operations research, statistics, computer science, applied mathematics, and physics to offer novel insights, build new models, and possibly provide recommendations to policy makers.

To submit your paper, go to the Operations Research ScholarOne Manuscripts site at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/opre.manuscriptcentral.com/opre and follow the instructions provided.

July/August 2015: Expected issue publication date.
Complexation of rhenium with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid: studies of technetium analogue using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Corkhill C.L. , Chapman P.M. , Romero-González M.E.
Published: December 2012

The complexation of rhenium, to the polyamino-polycarboxylate EDTA was investigated using Raman spectroscopy. Complexation occurred when ReVIIO4
- was placed in the presence of a Sn(II) reducing agent and EDTA. Rhenium complexation was confirmed by the Raman and UV/Vis spectra of the solution samples. Binding modes were assigned using the Raman spectra of a solid-phase sample. Three complexes are proposed, a six-coordinate dimer H4[Re2(μO)2(EDTA)2], a seven-coordinate monomer H2[ReO(EDTA)(OH2)2] and a mono-oxorhenium [ReO(EDTA)]
2-
. The solubility of Re(IV)-EDTA complexes is greater than that of ReO4. If this behaviour is analogous to Tc, it is proposed that complexation to EDTA by Tc(IV) may increase the solubility and enhance the environmental transport of 99Tc from geological repositories.
Thymidine kinase enzyme selective imaging radiopharmaceutical: 99mTc(CO)3-Ganciclovir
Authors: Gedik Buket , Teksöz Serap , İçhedef Çigdem , Kilçar Ayfer Yurt , Medine E. İlker , Uçar Eser
Published: December 2012

The aim of this study is to radiolabel ganciclovir, known as having selective antiviral properties against thymidine kinase, with technetium tricarbonylcore (99mTc(CO)3
+) and to investigate the biological behavior of this complex in vitro and in vivo. Commercially provided Ganciclovir (GCV) was radiolabeled with 99mTc(CO)3
+. Initially, optimum radiolabeling conditions were determined by analyzing factors such as temperature, pH and time. Quality control of the radiolabeled compound was performed. The radiolabeling yield was found to be 97%. The 99mTc(CO)3-GCV complex also displayed good in vitro stability during the 24 h period. In vitro cell uptake studies showed that the 99mTc(CO)3-GCV complex is highly uptaken in A-549, PC-3, HeLa cell lines according to the control group 99mTc(I)-tricarbonyl core. The knowledge gained from in vivo and in vitro studies of 99mTc(CO)3-GCV could contribute to the development of a new HSV1-tk gene imaging agent.
Stability studies ofN,N,N´,N´-tetra-(2-ethylhexyl) dithiodiglycolamide (DTDGA)
Authors: Ruhela R. , Tomar B. S. , Singh K. K. , Sharma J. N. , Kumar M. , Bajaj P. N. , Adya V. C. , Seshagiri T. K. , Hubli R. C. , Suri A. K.
Published: December 2012

DTDGA solvent system was evaluated for hydrolytic and radiolytic stabilities to ascertain its application in separation and recovery of palladium from High Level Liquid Waste (HLW) solutions. Hydrolysis of DTDGA solvent system was not observed when it was kept in contact with 3.0 M nitric acid solution for two weeks. Moreover, contrary to other ‘S’ donor extractants used for the said purpose, the oxidation of thioetheric sulphur to sulphoxide or sulphones was also not observed. On the other hand, radiolysis of DTDGA solvent system was notably observed, which was found to increase with increase in absorbed dose. At gamma radiation dose of 0.2 MGy, no significant loss of DTDGA was observed. Aliphatic diluent namelyn-dodecane was found to have sensitization effect on degradation of DTDGA. The degradation products were identified by GC-MS, the major ones were found to be formed by cleavage of thioetheric and amidic bonds of DTDGA molecule. The liquid–liquid extraction studies of palladium with irradiated solvent indicate that there was no significant change inDPdup to an absorbed dose of 0.2 MGy above which it decreases gradually. Further, the radiolysis does not affect the stripping behavior of palladium. Extraction studies of Simulated High Level Liquid Waste (SHLW) elements with irradiated solvent system showed that, except palladium, any other element is hardly extracted thus retaining its remarkable selectivity.
Vershina, a Polish village in Siberia, as a language (dialect) island
Authors: Głuszkowski Michał
Published: December 2012

The problems of language island situation have been present in humanities for over 160 years. However, in spite of the changing world, this question remains valid. The Polish community near Irkutsk – the village of Vershina is a 100-year-old language island. With the flow of time its social, economic, political and language situation has been evolving. The article is an attempt to analyse changes in Vershina’s dialect against the criteria of language island description. The present analysis is based on the results of research so far as well as on the material gathered during field research.
Ein Adliger als Revolutionär. Alexander Herzens frühe Prosa im literarischen und kulturellen Kontext der „natural’naja škola“
Authors: Peters Jochen-Ulrich
Published: December 2012

The article shows, how Alexander Herzen, following Heine’s “Reisebilder”, develops a new poetic and journalistic style of writing, which specifically corresponds to the literary and cultural norms of the “Natural School”. At the same time, his early prose works demonstrate the difficulties which a young noble and radical intellectual had in reconciling his revolutionary mind-set with his convictions about the individual’s right to liberty and material independence. Herzen defended these convictions above all, not only against the Czarist autocracy and Western Europe’s civil society, but also against the peasants’ communal organization in a future socialist Russia.
Glorious Sounds for a Holy Warrior: New Light on Codex Turin J.II.9
Authors: Kügle Karl
Published: December 2012

The origins of codex Turin, Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria J.II.9 are contested territory. While there can be little dispute that the repertory, a monumental collection of plainchant, polyphonic Mass settings, motets, and songs, is linked to the (Bourbon-)Lusignan court of Cyprus, this articles argues the north Italian origins of the manuscript. The key to solving the puzzle is the coat of arms prominently displayed on fol. 1r of the codex. Once its Brescian provenance is recognized and the relevant family's cultural, political, and religious history and patronage elucidated, the “Avogadro codex” emerges as part of a complex of “ars subtilior” sources including Chantilly, ModA, and Oxford 213, all now believed to have originated in Lombardy, Veneto, Romagna, perhaps Tuscany, or Rome, and either copied or still in use in the 1420–30s. The symbolic make-up of the manuscript reveals connections not only to the Avogadro but also to the cult of the Holy Cross in Brescia. Historical and paleographic evidence points to the possible involvement of Jean Hanelle, chapel master to the King of Cyprus, in the genesis of the manuscript around 1435. Hanelle may also have been responsible for taking the codex from Brescia to Savoy as early as 1436.
The Relationship Between Cow’s Milk and Stores of Vitamin D and Iron in Early Childhood
Authors: Maguire Jonathon L. , Lebovic Gerald , Kandasamy Sharmilaa , Khovratovich Marina , Mamdani Muhammad , Birken Catherine S. , Parkin Patricia C. ,   on behalf of the TARGet Kids!,   Collaboration
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the association between cow’s milk intake on both vitamin D and iron stores in healthy urban preschoolers.

METHODS:

Healthy children 2 to 5 years of age were recruited from December 2008 through December 2010 through the TARGet Kids! practice-based research network. Cow’s milk intake was measured by parental report. Vitamin D and iron stores were measured by using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and ferritin. Bivariate multivariable linear regression was used to examine the effect of cow’s milk intake simultaneously on 25-hydroxyvitamin D and serum ferritin. Analyses were stratified by important clinical variables including skin pigmentation, bottle feeding, vitamin D supplementation, and season.

RESULTS:

Among 1311 children, increasing cow’s milk consumption was associated with decreasing serum ferritin (P < .0001) and increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D (P ≤ .0001). Two cups (500 mL) of cow’s milk per day maintained 25-hydroxyvitamin D >75 nmol/L with minimal negative effect on serum ferritin for most children. Children with darker skin pigmentation not receiving vitamin D supplementation during the winter required 3 to 4 cups of cow’s milk per day to maintain 25-hydroxyvitamin D >75 nmol/L. Cow’s milk intake among children using a bottle did not increase 25-hydroxyvitamin D and resulted in more dramatic decreases in serum ferritin.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is a trade-off between increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D and decreasing serum ferritin with increasing milk intake. Two cups of cow’s milk per day appears sufficient to maintain healthy vitamin D and iron stores for most children. Wintertime vitamin D supplementation was particularly important among children with darker skin pigmentation.
Doses de fósforo no estabelecimento de capim-xaraés e estilosantes Mineirão em consórcio
Authors: Lopes Jalison , Evangelista Antônio Ricardo , Pinto José Cardoso , Queiroz Domingos Sávio , Muniz Joel Augusto
Published: December 2012

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da aplicação de fósforo na implantação de estilosantes Mineirão em consórcio com capim-xaraés. O experimento foi instalado em uma área de 8.000 m², dividida em 24 parcelas experimentais de 333,3 m². As doses de fósforo utilizadas no estabelecimento da pastagem foram 25, 50, 100 e 200 kg/ha de P2O5. As avaliações foram feitas aos 65 dias após a semeadura. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com três repetições e duas repetições do tratamento dentro de cada bloco. As maiores taxas de aumento no comprimento da lâmina foliar e perfilhamento do capim-xaraés, comprimento de folíolo, largura de folíolo e altura do estilosantes Mineirão foram observadas com a aplicação de 25 a 50 kg/ha de P2O5. As maiores taxas de aumento na largura da lâmina foliar e altura de perfilho do capim-xaraés foram obtidas com aplicação de 25 a 100 kg/ha de P2O5. O número de plantas de estilosantes Mineirão foi maior com a aplicação de 44 kg/ha de P2O5 e reduziu de forma acentuada com o aumento da adubação fosfatada. A adubação fosfatada de estabelecimento de 44 kg/ha de P2O5 garante maior população inicial de plantas de estilosantes Mineirão em consórcio com o capim-xaraés. Todavia, mais estudos são necessários para se verificar o grau de compatibilidade entre as duas espécies e a viabilidade da consorciação. A aplicação de doses crescentes de fósforo em consórcio proporciona aumento nas taxas de acúmulo de matéria seca do capim-xaraés e de acúmulo de matéria seca total durante o primeiro período seco pós-estabelecimento da pastagem.
Hydrogeomorphology explains acidification‐driven variation in aquatic biological communities in the Neversink Basin, USA
Authors: Harpold Adrian A. , Burns Douglas A. , Walter M. T. , Steenhuis Tammo S.
Published: December 2012

Describing the distribution of aquatic habitats and the health of biological communities can be costly and time‐consuming; therefore, simple, inexpensive methods to scale observations of aquatic biota to watersheds that lack data would be useful. In this study, we explored the potential of a simple “hydrogeomorphic” model to predict the effects of acid deposition on macroinvertebrate, fish, and diatom communities in 28 sub‐watersheds of the 176‐km2 Neversink River basin in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. The empirical model was originally developed to predict stream‐water acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) using the watershed slope and drainage density. Because ANC is known to be strongly related to aquatic biological communities in the Neversink, we speculated that the model might correlate well with biotic indicators of ANC response. The hydrogeomorphic model was strongly correlated to several measures of macroinvertebrate and fish community richness and density, but less strongly correlated to diatom acid tolerance. The model was also strongly correlated to biological communities in 18 sub‐watersheds independent of the model development, with the linear correlation capturing the strongly acidic nature of small upland watersheds (<1 km2). Overall, we demonstrated the applicability of geospatial data sets and a simple hydrogeomorphic model for estimating aquatic biological communities in areas with stream‐water acidification, allowing estimates where no direct field observations are available. Similar modeling approaches have the potential to complement or refine expensive and time‐consuming measurements of aquatic biota populations and to aid in regional assessments of aquatic health.
Extractive efficacy of microwave synthesized zeolitic material for acephate: Equilibrium and kinetics
Authors: Shah Bhavna , Shah Ajay , Jadav Piyush
Published: December 2012

Present investigation deals with the utilization of Bagasse fly ash (BFA) a
sugar industry waste and Zeolitic material (MZBFA), synthesized from BFA by
combined conventional and microwave reflux method as adsorbents for the
extraction of Acephate (ACP), an organophosphorus pesticide from aqueous
solution. The synthesized adsorbents were characterized using various
techniques such as FTIR, PXRD and SEM. The effect of various experimental
parameters has been investigated using a batch adsorption technique for the
extraction of ACP. The extent of removal is increased with decrease in
initial ACP concentration and particle size of the adsorbent. Adsorption was
fast and the equilibrium was established within 90 min. Pseudo-first-order,
Pseudo-second-order, Bangham and intra-particle particle diffusion models
were used to fit the experimental data. Pseudo-second-order rate equation was
able to provide realistic description of adsorption kinetics. Equilibrium
isotherms were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich and
Tempkin isotherm equations. Langmuir equation was found to best represent the
equilibrium data. The thermodynamic study showed that adsorption of ACP on
MZBFA is higher than that on BFA. The results indicate that such Zeolitic
material could be employed as low cost alternatives to Bagasse fly ash in
wastewater treatment for the removal of pesticides.
Capacity Bounds and Mapping Design for Binary Symmetric Relay Channels
Authors: Khormuji Majid , Skoglund Mikael
Published: December 2012

Capacity bounds for a three-node binary symmetric relay channel with orthogonal components at the destination are studied. The cut-set upper bound and the rates achievable using decode-and-forward (DF), partial DF and compress-and-forward (CF) relaying are first evaluated. Then relaying strategies with finite memory-length are considered. An efficient algorithm for optimizing the relay functions is presented. The Boolean Fourier transform is then employed to unveil the structure of the optimized mappings. Interestingly, the optimized relay functions exhibit a simple structure. Numerical results illustrate that the rates achieved using the optimized low-dimensional functions are either comparable to those achieved by CF or superior to those achieved by DF relaying. In particular, the optimized low-dimensional relaying scheme can improve on DF relaying when the quality of the source-relay link is worse than or comparable to that of other links.
Establishing an Integration-Energy-Practice Model for Improving Energy Performance Indicators in ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems
Authors: Chiu Tsung-Yung , Lo Shang-Lien , Tsai Yung-Yin
Published: December 2012

Global energy sources are gradually becoming scarce and prices are continually rising. Governments and businesses in various countries are actively developing technologies for energy management and developing new sources of energy. On 15 June 2011, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced the ISO 50001 standard for energy management systems. Organizations and enterprises are confronted with challenges associated with enhancing energy performance indicators, continuing to improve energy consumption efficiency, and managing third-party international certifications. This study conducted cases studies of businesses that have introduced an ISO 50001 energy management system by using an integration-energy-practice model to improve energy performance indicators and to complete the international auditing and certification procedures for ISO 50001 energy management systems. Based on case study results, the achievement rates for annual energy performance indicators increased, thereby enhancing the energy intensity efficiency. Establishing an integration-energy-practice model for introducing an ISO 50001 energy management system can efficiently meet demands for energy performance indicators and pass the international certification for ISO 50001 energy management systems. The proposed model efficiently provides enterprises with methods for developing sustainable energy management. It integrates internal and external technical resources to establish energy technology think tanks, for promoting successful technology and experiences to various sectors, thereby allowing enterprises to integrate energy management, increase energy efficiency, and meet the ISO 50001 international standard for energy management systems.