bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells by PDZRN3
Authors: Honda Takeshi , Ishii Aiko , Inui Makoto
Published: April 2013

PDZRN3, a member of the PDZRN (or LNX) family of proteins, is essential for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into myotubes, but it plays an inhibitory role in the differentiation of these cells into osteoblasts. Given that mesenchymal stem cells also differentiate into adipocytes, we examined the possible role of PDZRN3 in adipogenesis in mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The expression of PDZRN3 decreased at both the mRNA and protein levels during adipogenic differentiation. RNAi-mediated depletion of PDZRN3 enhanced the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes as assessed on the basis of lipid accumulation. The upregulation of aP2 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-β during adipocyte differentiation was also enhanced in the PDZRN3-depleted cells, as was the induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), an upstream regulator of aP2 and C/EBPα, at both the mRNA and protein levels. Among transcription factors that control the expression of PPARγ, we found that STAT5b, but not STAT5a, was upregulated in PDZRN3-depleted cells at both mRNA and protein levels. Tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5b, but not that of STAT5a, was also enhanced at an early stage of differentiation by PDZRN3 depletion. In addition, the expression of C/EBPβ during the induction of differentiation was enhanced at the mRNA and protein levels in PDZRN3-depleted cells. Our results thus suggest that PDZRN3 negatively regulates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells through downregulation of STAT5b and C/EBPβ and consequent suppression of PPARγ expression.
Favorable effects of carotid endarterectomy on baroreflex sensitivity and cardiovascular neural modulation: a 4-month follow-up
Authors: Dalla Vecchia Laura , Barbic Franca , Galli Andrea , Pisacreta Massimo , Gornati Rosella , Porretta Tiziano , Porta Alberto , Furlan Raffaello
Published: April 2013

Carotid surgery variably modifies carotid afferent innervation, thus affecting arterial baroreceptor sensitivity. Low arterial baroreflex sensitivity is a well-known independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the 4-mo effects of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) on arterial baroreceptor sensitivity and cardiovascular autonomic profile in patients with unilateral carotid stenosis. We enrolled 20 patients (72 ± 8 yr) with unilateral >70% carotid stenosis. ECG, beat-by-beat blood pressure, and respiration were continuously recorded before and 126 ± 9 days after CEA, at rest and during a 75° head-up tilt. Both pharmacological (modified Oxford technique, BRS) and spontaneous (index α, spectral analysis) arterial baroreflex sensitivity were assessed. Cardiovascular autonomic profile was evaluated by plasma catecholamines and spectral indexes of cardiac sympathovagal modulation [low-frequency R-R interval (LFRR), low frequency-to high frequency ratio (LF/HF), high-frequency R-R interval (HFRR)] and sympathetic vasomotor control [low-frequency systolic arterial pressure (LFSAP)] obtained from heart rate and SAP variability. After CEA, both the index α and BRS were higher ( P < 0.02) at rest. SAP variance decreased both at rest and during tilt ( P < 0.02). Before surgery, tilt did not modify the autonomic profile compared with baseline. After CEA, tilt increased LF/HF and LFSAP and reduced HFRR compared with rest ( P < 0.02). Four months after CEA was performed, arterial baroreflex sensitivity was enhanced. Accordingly, the patients' autonomic profile had shifted toward reduced cardiac and vascular sympathetic activation and enhanced cardiac vagal activity. The capability to increase cardiovascular sympathetic activation in response to orthostasis was restored. Baroreceptor sensitivity improvement might play an additional role in the more favorable outcome observed in patients after carotid surgery.
Phenotype of capillaries in skeletal muscle of nNOS-knockout mice
Authors: Baum Oliver , Vieregge Max , Koch Pascale , Gül Safak , Hahn Sabine , Huber-Abel Felicitas A. M. , Pries Axel R. , Hoppeler Hans
Published: April 2013

Because neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has a well-known impact on arteriolar blood flow in skeletal muscle, we compared the ultrastructure and the hemodynamics of/in the ensuing capillaries in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle of male nNOS-knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates. The capillary-to-fiber (C/F) ratio (−9.1%) was lower ( P ≤ 0.05) in the nNOS-KO mice than in the WT mice, whereas the mean cross-sectional fiber area (−7.8%) and the capillary density (−3.1%) varied only nonsignificantly ( P > 0.05). Morphometrical estimation of the area occupied by the capillaries as well as the volume and surface densities of the subcellular compartments differed nonsignificantly ( P > 0.05) between the two strains. Intravital microscopy revealed neither the capillary diameter (+3% in nNOS-KO mice vs. WT mice) nor the mean velocity of red blood cells in EDL muscle (+25% in nNOS-KO mice vs. WT mice) to significantly vary ( P > 0.05) between the two strains. The calculated shear stress in the capillaries was likewise nonsignificantly different (3.8 ± 2.2 dyn/cm2in nNOS-KO mice and 2.1 ± 2.2 dyn/cm2in WT mice; P > 0.05). The mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A were lower in the EDL muscle of nNOS-KO mice than in the WT littermates (−37%; P ≤ 0.05), whereas mRNA levels of VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) (−11%), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (+9%), fibroblast growth factor-2 (−14%), and thrombospondin-1 (−10%) differed nonsignificantly ( P > 0.05). Our findings support the contention that VEGF-A mRNA expression and C/F-ratio but not the ultrastructure or the hemodynamics of/in capillaries in skeletal muscle at basal conditions depend on the expression of nNOS.
Contribution of opioid and metabotropic glutamate receptor mechanisms to inhibition of bladder overactivity by tibial nerve stimulation
Authors: Matsuta Yosuke , Mally Abhijith D. , Zhang Fan , Shen Bing , Wang Jicheng , Roppolo James R. , de Groat William C. , Tai Changfeng
Published: April 2013

The contribution of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) and opioid receptors to inhibition of bladder overactivity by tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) was investigated in cats under α-chloralose anesthesia using LY341495 (a group II mGluR antagonist) and naloxone (an opioid receptor antagonist). Slow infusion cystometry was used to measure the volume threshold (i.e., bladder capacity) for inducing a large bladder contraction. After measuring the bladder capacity during saline infusion, 0.25% acetic acid (AA) was infused to irritate the bladder, activate the nociceptive C-fiber bladder afferents, and induce bladder overactivity. AA significantly ( P < 0.0001) reduced bladder capacity to 26.6 ± 4.7% of saline control capacity. TNS (5 Hz, 0.2 ms) at 2 and 4 times the threshold (T) intensity for inducing an observable toe movement significantly increased bladder capacity to 62.2 ± 8.3% at 2T ( P < 0.01) and 80.8 ± 9.2% at 4T ( P = 0.0001) of saline control capacity. LY341495 (0.1–5 mg/kg iv) did not change bladder overactivity, but completely suppressed the inhibition induced by TNS at a low stimulus intensity (2T) and partially suppressed the inhibition at high intensity (4T). Following administration of LY341495, naloxone (0.01 mg/kg iv) completely eliminated the high-intensity TNS-induced inhibition. However, without LY341495 treatment a 10 times higher dose (0.1 mg/kg) of naloxone was required to completely block TNS inhibition. These results indicate that interactions between group II mGluR and opioid receptor mechanisms contribute to TNS inhibition of AA-induced bladder overactivity. Understanding neurotransmitter mechanisms underlying TNS inhibition of bladder overactivity is important for the development of new treatments for bladder disorders.
Chronic kidney disease accelerates endothelial barrier dysfunction in a mouse model of an arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Liang Anlin , Wang Yun , Han Guofeng , Truong Luan , Cheng Jizhong
Published: April 2013

Hemodialysis patients depend on arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) for vascular access. Unfortunately, their 2-yr primary patency rate is only 60% because of AVF clog due to intimal hyperplasia at the venous anastomosis. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can increase neointima formation by unknown mechanisms. A new AVF mouse model was created, and the mechanisms of CKD on neointima formation in AVFs were investigated. We created AVFs in mice by anastomosing the common carotid artery to the internal jugular vein. CKD was induced [BUN (blood urea nitrogen) in control and CKD mice, 33.3 ± 3.9 vs. 114.2 ± 12.1 mg/dl, P < 0.05]. After 1 day, there was endothelial cell loss and CD41-positive platelet aggregation, especially in the venous anastomosis. An invasion of macrophages and neutrophils peaked at 1 wk after surgery. Neointima formation (smooth muscle cell accumulation and extracellular matrix deposition) increased progressively over 4 wk. Mice with CKD had ∼45% ( P < 0.05) more neointima formation than control mice. CKD decreased vascular endothelial-cadherin expression in endothelial cells and delayed regeneration of the endothelium. CKD also increased inflammatory cells (Mac-2-positive or CD45-positive) in AVFs at 2 wk. Finally, AVFs were “leakier” (increased accumulation of Evans blue) in CKD mice at 7 and 14 days than control mice. We find that CKD increases neointima formation and endothelial barrier dysfunction. We have created a mouse model of AVF with characteristics similar to failed AVFs in patients. The model will allow testing of strategies directed at improving AVF function in CKD patients.
A role for the anterior piriform cortex in early odor preference learning: evidence for multiple olfactory learning structures in the rat pup
Authors: Morrison Gillian L. , Fontaine Christine J. , Harley Carolyn W. , Yuan Qi
Published: April 2013

cFos activation in the anterior piriform cortex (aPC) occurs in early odor preference learning in rat pups ( Roth and Sullivan 2005 ). Here we provide evidence that the pairing of odor as a conditioned stimulus and β-adrenergic activation in the aPC as an unconditioned stimulus generates early odor preference learning. β-Adrenergic blockade in the aPC prevents normal preference learning. Enhancement of aPC cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in trained hemispheres is consistent with a role for this cascade in early odor preference learning in the aPC. In vitro experiments suggested theta-burst-mediated long-term potentiation (LTP) at the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) to aPC synapse depends on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and can be significantly enhanced by β-adrenoceptor activation, which causes increased glutamate release from LOT synapses during LTP induction. NMDA receptors in aPC are also shown to be critical for the acquisition, but not expression, of odor preference learning, as would be predicted if they mediate initial β-adrenoceptor-promoted aPC plasticity. Ex vivo experiments 3 and 24 h after odor preference training reveal an enhanced LOT-aPC field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP). At 3 h both presynaptic and postsynaptic potentiations support EPSP enhancement while at 24 h only postsynaptic potentiation is seen. LOT-LTP in aPC is excluded by odor preference training. Taken together with earlier work on the role of the olfactory bulb in early odor preference learning, these outcomes suggest early odor preference learning is normally supported by and requires multiple plastic changes at least at two levels of olfactory circuitry.
Comparison of abstract decision encoding in the monkey prefrontal cortex, the presupplementary, and cingulate motor areas
Authors: Merten Katharina , Nieder Andreas
Published: April 2013

Deciding between alternatives is a critical element of flexible behavior. Perceptual decisions have been studied extensively in an action-based framework. Recently, we have shown that abstract perceptual decisions are encoded in prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons ( Merten and Nieder 2012 ). However, the role of other frontal cortex areas remained elusive. Here, we trained monkeys to perform a rule-based visual detection task that disentangled abstract perceptual decisions from motor preparation. We recorded the single-neuron activity in the presupplementary (preSMA) and the rostral part of the cingulate motor area (CMAr) and compared it to the results previously found in the PFC. Neurons in both areas traditionally identified with motor planning process the abstract decision independently of any motor preparatory activity by similar mechanisms as the PFC. A larger proportion of decision neurons and a higher strength of decision encoding was found in the preSMA than in the PFC. Neurons in both areas reliably predicted the monkeys' decisions. The fraction of CMAr decision neurons and their strength of the decision encoding were comparable to the PFC. Our findings highlight the role of both preSMA and CMAr in abstract cognitive processing and emphasize that both frontal areas encode decisions prior to the preparation of a motor output.
Cortical facilitation of proprioceptive inputs related to gravitational balance constraints during step preparation
Authors: Saradjian Anahid H. , Tremblay Luc , Perrier Joy , Blouin Jean , Mouchnino Laurence
Published: April 2013

Several studies have shown that the transmission of afferent inputs from the periphery to the somatosensory cortex is attenuated during the preparation of voluntary movements. In the present study, we tested whether sensory attenuation is also observed during the preparation of a voluntary step. It would appear dysfunctional to suppress somatosensory information, which is considered to be of the utmost importance for gait preparation. In this context, we predict that the somatosensory information is facilitated during gait preparation. To test this prediction, we recorded cortical somatosensory potentials (SEPs) evoked by bilateral lower limb vibration (i.e., proprioceptive inputs) during the preparation phase of a voluntary right-foot stepping movement (i.e., stepping condition). The subjects were also asked to remain still during and after the vibration as a control condition (i.e., static condition). The amplitude and timing of the early arrival of afferent inflow to the somatosensory cortices (i.e., P1-N1) were not significantly different between the static and stepping conditions. However, a large sustained negativity (i.e., late SEP) developed after the P1-N1 component, which was larger when subjects were preparing a step compared with standing. To determine whether this facilitation of proprioceptive inputs was related to gravitational equilibrium constraints, we performed the same experiment in microgravity. In the absence of equilibrium constraints, both the P1-N1 and late SEPs did not significantly differ between the static and stepping conditions. These observations provide neurophysiological evidence that the brain exerts a dynamic control over the transmission of the afferent signal according to their current relevance during movement preparation.
The strength of attentional biases reduces as visual short-term memory load increases
Authors: Shimi A. , Astle D. E.
Published: April 2013

Despite our visual system receiving irrelevant input that competes with task-relevant signals, we are able to pursue our perceptual goals. Attention enhances our visual processing by biasing the processing of the input that is relevant to the task at hand. The top-down signals enabling these biases are therefore important for regulating lower level sensory mechanisms. In three experiments, we examined whether we apply similar biases to successfully maintain information in visual short-term memory (VSTM). We presented participants with targets alongside distracters and we graded their perceptual similarity to vary the extent to which they competed. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the more items held in VSTM before the onset of the distracters, the more perceptually distinct the distracters needed to be for participants to retain the target accurately. Experiment 3 extended these behavioral findings by demonstrating that the perceptual similarity between target and distracters exerted a significantly greater effect on occipital alpha amplitudes, depending on the number of items already held in VSTM. The trade-off between VSTM load and target-distracter competition suggests that VSTM and perceptual competition share a partially overlapping mechanism, namely top-down inputs into sensory areas.
Using the Functional Reach Test for Probing the Static Stability of Bipedal Standing in Humanoid Robots Based on the Passive Motion Paradigm
Authors: Zenzeri Jacopo , De Santis Dalia , Mohan Vishwanathan , Casadio Maura , Morasso Pietro
Published: April 2013

The goal of this paper is to analyze the static stability of a computational architecture, based on the Passive Motion Paradigm, for coordinating the redundant degrees of freedom of a humanoid robot during whole-body reaching movements in bipedal standing. The analysis is based on a simulation study that implements the Functional Reach Test, originally developed for assessing the danger of falling in elderly people. The study is carried out in the YARP environment that allows realistic simulations with the iCub humanoid robot.
An Analysis and Research on the Transmission Ratio of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Photoelectrodes by Using Different Etching Process
Authors: Kuo Chin-Guo , Yang Cheng-Fu , Kao Mu-Jung , Weng Wen-Pin , Chang Chi-Cheng , Hwang Lih-Ren , Nil Jian-Lan
Published: April 2013

Classical photoelectrodes for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) were fabricated by using the electrochemical method on the titanium (Ti) template, for that the fabrication process would influence the characteristics of the DSSCs. In this study, at first three different methods were used to etch Ti templates from 10 to 17 min, (1) polishing-chemical etching: Ti template was annealed at 450°C for 1 h, abraded using number 80 to 1500 SiC sheet, and then etched in a solution of 5% HF + 95% H2O; (2) electrochemical polishing-chemical etching: Ti template was annealed at 450°C for 1 h, electrolytic polishing with 42% CH3OH + 5% HClO4 + 53% HOCH2CH2OC4H9solution, and the chemical-etching in a solution of 5% HF + 95% H2O; (3) chemical etching: Ti template was etched in a solution of 5% HF + 95% H2O and annealed at 450°C for 1 h. When the etching time was changed from 10 to 17 min, the thicknesses of Ti templates decreased from 75.3 μm to 14.8 μm, depending on the etching method. After etching process, the TiO2nanotube arrays were fabricated as the photoelectrode of DSSCs by electrochemical process, in which the Ti as anode and platinum (Pt) as cathode. The electrolyte solution included C2H4(OH)2, NH4F, and deionized water. After annealing the grown TiO2nanotube arrays at 450°C for 3 h, we would show that the etching process had large effect on the structure and transmittance ratio of the TiO2nanotube arrays.
Judd‐Ofelt Calculations for Nd3+‐Doped Fluorozirconate‐Based Glasses and Glass Ceramics
Authors: Skrzypczak U. , Pfau C. , Bohley C. , Seifert G. , Schweizer S.
Published: April 2013

A Judd‐Ofelt analysis is performed to calculate the optical properties of Nd3+ ions embedded in a fluorozirconate glass matrix. The changes in the Judd‐Ofelt parameters were determined as a function of the size of BaCl2 nanocrystals grown inside the matrix. From these data, the radiative decay rates and the branching ratios of every transition in the energy range from 25.000 cm−1 to the ground state are calculated. This was accomplished for samples containing nanocrystals with average sizes ranging from 10 to 40 nm.
A New Application of the Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space Method to Solve MHD Jeffery-Hamel Flows Problem in Nonparallel Walls
Authors: Inc Mustafa , Akgül Ali , Kılıçman Adem
Published: April 2013

The present paper emphasizes Jeffery-Hamel flow: fluid flow between two rigid plane walls, where the angle between them is 2α. A new method called the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method (RKHSM) is briefly introduced. The validity of the reproducing kernel method is set by comparing our results with HAM, DTM, and HPM and numerical results for different values ofH,α, and Re. The results show up that the proposed reproducing kernel method can achieve good results in predicting the solutions of such problems. Comparison between obtained results showed thatRKHSMis more acceptable and accurate than other methods. This method is very useful and applicable for solving nonlinear problems.
Metastatic Pulmonary Calcification in Multiple Myeloma in a 45-Year-Old Man
Authors: Surani Salim R. , Surani Sara , Khimani Amina , Varon Joseph
Published: April 2013

Metastatic calcification has been associated with multiple-myeloma-induced hypercalcemia. Despite of a relatively high prevalence of metastatic pulmonary calcification in patients with multiple myeloma, only a few cases have been clinically and radiologically detected. A 45-year-old Hispanic male presented to the Emergency Department with complaint of worsening weakness and myalgia. Laboratory findings revealed renal insufficiency and hypercalcemia. CT scan of chest revealed calcified pleural and pulmonary nodule. Technetium (Tc) 99 bone scan revealed diffuse activity in the pulmonary parenchyma consistent with metastatic pulmonary calcification. Metastatic pulmonary calcification, despite its high prevalence, remains undetected. This is, in part, due to its radiographic characteristic properties that evade detection by routine imaging studies. We present a case of a metastatic pulmonary calcification in a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma and chronic kidney disease, as well as a brief literature review including clinical findings and treatment options.
wFReDoW: A Cloud-Based Web Environment to Handle Molecular Docking Simulations of a Fully Flexible Receptor Model
Authors: De Paris Renata , Frantz Fábio A. , Norberto de Souza Osmar , Ruiz Duncan D. A.
Published: April 2013

Molecular docking simulations of fully flexible protein receptor (FFR) models are coming of age. In our studies, an FFR model is represented by a series of different conformations derived from a molecular dynamic simulation trajectory of the receptor. For each conformation in the FFR model, a docking simulation is executed and analyzed. An important challenge is to perform virtual screening of millions of ligands using an FFR model in a sequential mode since it can become computationally very demanding. In this paper, we propose a cloud-based web environment, called web Flexible Receptor Docking Workflow (wFReDoW), which reduces the CPU time in the molecular docking simulations of FFR models to small molecules. It is based on the new workflow data pattern called self-adaptive multiple instances (P-SaMIs) and on a middleware built on Amazon EC2 instances. P-SaMI reduces the number of molecular docking simulations while the middleware speeds up the docking experiments using a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment on the cloud. The experimental results show a reduction in the total elapsed time of docking experiments and the quality of the new reduced receptor models produced by discarding the nonpromising conformations from an FFR model ruled by the P-SaMI data pattern.
Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Thyroid Gland with Synchronous Benign and Malignant Follicular Cell-Derived Neoplasms
Authors: Zamarrón Carlos , Abdulkader Ihab , Areses María C. , García-Paz Vanesa , León Luís , Cameselle-Teijeiro José
Published: April 2013

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is the most common origin for metastasis in the thyroid. A 51-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for a subcarinal lesion. Ten years before, the patient had undergone a nephrectomy for CCRCC. Whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography revealed elevated values in the thyroid gland, while the mediastinum was normal. An endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the mediastinal mass was consistent with CCRCC, and this was confirmed after resection. The thyroidectomy specimen also revealed lymphocytic thyroiditis, nodular hyperplasia, one follicular adenoma, two papillary microcarcinomas, and six foci of metastatic CCRCC involving both thyroid lobes. Curiously two of the six metastatic foci were located inside two adenomatoid nodules (tumor-in-tumor). The metastatic cells were positive for cytokeratins, CD10, epidermal growth factor receptor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. NoBRAFgene mutations were found in any of the primary and metastatic lesions. The patient was treated with sunitinib and finally died due to CCRCC distant metastases 6 years after the thyroidectomy. In CCRCC patients, a particularly prolonged survival rate may be achieved with the appropriate therapy, in contrast to the ominous prognosis typically found in patients with thyroid metastases from other origins.
Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Subtotal Occlusion of the Inferior Vena Cava and a Right Atrial Mass
Authors: Steinberg Christian , Boudreau Suzanne , Leveille Felix , Lamothe Marc , Chagnon Patrick , Boulais Isabelle
Published: April 2013

Hepatocellular carcinoma usually metastasizes to regional lymph nodes, lung, and bones but can rarely invade the inferior vena cava with intravascular extension to the right atrium. We present the case of a 75-year-old man who was admitted for generalized oedema and was found to have advanced HCC with invasion of the inferior vena cava and endovascular extension to the right atrium. In contrast to the great majority of hepatocellular carcinoma, which usually develops on the basis of liver cirrhosis due to identifiable risk factors, none of those factors were present in our patient.
Identification of T- and B-Cell Subsets That Expand in the Central and Peripheral Lymphoid Organs during the Establishment of Nut Allergy in an Adjuvant-Free Mouse Model
Authors: Gonipeta Babu , Duriancik David , Kim EunJung , Gardner Elizabeth , Gangur Venu
Published: April 2013

Nut allergies are potentially fatal and rarely outgrown for reasons that are not well understood. Phenotype of T- and B-cell subsets that expand during the early stages of nut allergy is largely unknown. Here we studied this problem using a novel mouse model of nut allergy. Mice were rendered hazelnut allergic by a transdermal sensitization/oral elicitation protocol. Using flow cytometry, the T- and B-cell phenotype in the bone marrow (BM), spleen, and the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) of allergic and control mice was analyzed. Nut allergic mice exhibited an expansion of CD4+ CD62L− T cells in BM and spleen; a similar trend was noted in the MLN. There was expansion of CD80+ B cells in BM and spleen and MLN and CD62L− cells in BM and spleen. Interestingly, among CD80+ B cells, significant proportion was CD73− particularly in the MLN. These data demonstrate that during the early establishment of hazelnut allergy there is (i) expansion of CD4+CD62L− T-cell subsets in both the BM and the periphery, (ii) expansion of CD80+ and CD62L− B-cell subsets in BM and the periphery, and (iii) a significant downregulation of CD73 on a subset of B cells in MLN.
Efficient Basis Change for Sparse-Grid Interpolating Polynomials with Application to T-Cell Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Buzzard Gregery T.
Published: April 2013

Sparse-grid interpolation provides good approximations to smooth functions in high dimensions based on relatively few function evaluations, but in standard form it is expressed in Lagrange polynomials. Here, we give a block-diagonal factorization of the basis-change matrix to give an efficient conversion of a sparse-grid interpolant to a tensored orthogonal polynomial (or gPC) representation. We describe how to use this representation to give an efficient method for estimating Sobol' sensitivity coefficients and apply this method to analyze and efficiently approximate a complex model of T-cell signaling events.
Comparisons of LES and RANS Computations with PIV Experiments on a Cylindrical Cavity Flow
Authors: Su Wen-Tao , Li Xiao-Bin , Li Feng-Chen , Wei Xian-Zhu , Zheng Zhi-Ying , Zhang Xin
Published: April 2013

A comparison study on the numerical computations by large eddy simulation (LES) and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methods with experiment on a cylindrical cavity flow was conducted in this paper. Numerical simulations and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement were performed for two Reynolds numbers of the flow at a constant aspect ratio of H/R = 2.4 ( R is the radius of the cylindrical cavity, and H is liquid level). The three components of velocity were extracted from 100 sequential PIV measured velocity frames with averaging, in order to illustrate the axial jet flow evolution and circulation distribution in the radial direction. The results show that LES can reproduce well the fine structure inside the swirling motions in both the meridional and the horizontal planes, as well as the distributions of velocity components and the circulation, in good agreement with experimental results, while the RANS method only provided a rough trend of inside vortex structure. Based on the analysis of velocity profiles at various locations, it indicates that LES is more suitable for predicting the complex flow characteristics inside complicated three-dimensional geometries.
Size of Metastatic Lymph Nodes
Authors: Uriev L. , Maslovsky I. , Barak F. , Ben-Dor D.
Published: April 2013

We present a case and review of the literature of well-differentiated sigmoid adenocarcinoma with numerous metastases into pericolic lymph nodes. All positive lymph nodes were small. The authors concluded that there is no clear correlation between nodal size and the likelihood of metastasis in the lymph node, and the status of small lymph nodes must receive special attention by clinicians and pathologists.
Pediatric Plastic Bronchitis: Case Report and Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Epidemiology and Pathology
Authors: Kunder Rebecca , Kunder Christian , Sun Heather Y. , Berry Gerald , Messner Anna , Frankovich Jennifer , Roth Stephen , Mark John
Published: April 2013

Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a pathologic condition in which airway casts develop in the tracheobronchial tree causing airway obstruction. There is no standard treatment strategy for this uncommon condition. We report an index patient treated using an emerging multimodal strategy of directly instilled and inhaled tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) as well as 13 other cases of PB at our institution between 2000 and 2012. The majority of cases (n=8) occurred in patients with congenital heart disease. Clinical presentations, treatments used, histopathology of the casts, and patient outcomes are reviewed. Further discussion is focused on the epidemiology of plastic bronchitis and a systematic approach to the histologic classification of casts. Comorbid conditions identified in this study included congenital heart disease (8), pneumonia (3), and asthma (2). Our institutional prevalence rate was 6.8 per 100,000 patients, and our case fatality rate was 7%.
Cell Proliferation (KI-67) Expression Is Associated with Poorer Prognosis in Nigerian Compared to British Breast Cancer Women
Authors: Agboola Ayodeji O. J. , Banjo Adekumbiola A. F. , Anunobi Charles C. , Salami Babatunde , Agboola Mopelola Deji , Musa Adewale A. , Nolan Christopher C. , Rakha Emad A. , Ellis Ian O. , Green Andrew R.
Published: April 2013

Background. Black women with breast cancer (BC) in Nigeria have higher mortality rate compared with British women. This study investigated prognostic features of cell proliferation biomarker (Ki-67) in Nigerian breast cancer women. Materials and Methods. The protein expression of Ki-67 was investigated in series of 308 Nigerian women, prepared as a tissue microarray (TMA), using immunohistochemistry. Clinic-pathological parameters, biomarkers, and patient outcome of tumours expressing Ki-67 in Nigerian women were correlated with UK grade-matched series. Results. A significantly larger proportion of breast tumours from Nigerian women showed high Ki-67 expression. Those tumours were significantly correlated with negative expression of the steroid hormone receptors (ER and PgR), p21, p27, E-cadherin, BRCA-1, and Bcl-2 (all ), but positively associated with EGFR (), p53, basal cytokeratins: CK56, CK14, triple negative, and basal phenotype using Nielsen’s classification (all ) compared to UK women. Multivariate analyses showed that race was also associated with BCSS independent of tumour size, lymph node status, and ER status. Conclusion. Ki-67 expression was observed to have contributed to the difference in the BCSS in Nigerian compared with British BC women. Therefore, targeting Ki-67 in the indigenous black women with BC might improve the patient outcome in the black women with BC.
Effects of Fiber Orientation and Material Isotropy on the Analytical Elastic Solution of a Stiffened Orthotropic Panel Subjected to a Combined Loading
Authors: Deb Nath S. K.
Published: April 2013

Using the displacement potential approach of orthotropic composite materials for the plane stress conditions, an orthotropic panel subjected to a combined loading at its right lateral edge is solved. Effects of fiber orientations and material isotropy on the elastic field of an orthotropic panel subjected to a combined loading are discussed. The analytical elastic solutions at different sections of the panel with fiber orientationθ=90° are compared with those of finite element predictions to ensure the reliability of our present solutions.
Global Stability of an SEIS Epidemic Model with General Saturation Incidence
Authors: Zhang Hui , Yingqi Li , Xu Wenxiong
Published: April 2013

We present an SEIS epidemic model with infective force in both latent period and infected period, which has different general saturation incidence rates. It is shown that the global dynamics are completely determined by the basic reproductive number R0. If R0≤1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable in T by LaSalle’s Invariance Principle, and the disease dies out. Moreover, using the method of autonomous convergence theorem, we obtain that the unique epidemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable in T0, and the disease spreads to be endemic.
Does Semi-Rigid Instrumentation Using Both Flexion and Extension Dampening Spacers Truly Provide an Intermediate Level of Stabilization?
Authors: Sengupta Dilip , Bucklen Brandon , Ingalhalikar Aditya , Muzumdar Aditya , Khalil Saif
Published: April 2013

Conventional posterior dynamic stabilization devices demonstrated a tendency towards highly rigid stabilization approximating that of titanium rods in flexion. In extension, they excessively offload the index segment, making the device as the sole load-bearing structure, with concerns of device failure. The goal of this study was to compare the kinematics and intradiscal pressure of monosegmental stabilization utilizing a new device that incorporates both a flexion and extension dampening spacer to that of rigid internal fixation and a conventional posterior dynamic stabilization device. The hypothesis was the new device would minimize the overloading of adjacent levels compared to rigid and conventional devices which can only bend but not stretch. The biomechanics were compared following injury in a human cadaveric lumbosacral spine under simulated physiological loading conditions. The stabilization with the new posterior dynamic stabilization device significantly reduced motion uniformly in all loading directions, but less so than rigid fixation. The evaluation of adjacent level motion and pressure showed some benefit of the new device when compared to rigid fixation. Posterior dynamic stabilization designs which both bend and stretch showed improved kinematic and load-sharing properties when compared to rigid fixation and when indirectly compared to existing conventional devices without a bumper.
Paprika Pigments Attenuate Obesity-Induced Inflammation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Maeda Hayato , Saito Shuuichi , Nakamura Nozomi , Maoka Takashi
Published: April 2013

Obesity is related to various diseases, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Adipocytokine, which is released from adipocyte cells, affects insulin resistance and blood lipid level disorders. Further, adipocytokine is related to chronic inflammation in obesity condition adipocyte cells. Paprika pigments (PPs) contain large amounts of capsanthin and capsorubin. These carotenoids affect the liver and improve lipid disorders of the blood. However, how these carotenoids affect adipocyte cells remains unknown. Present study examined the effects of PP on adipocytokine secretion, which is related to improvement of metabolic syndrome. In addition, suppressive effects of PP on chronic inflammation in adipocyte cells were analyzed using 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells and macrophage cell coculture experiments. PP promoted 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells differentiation upregulated adiponectin mRNA expression and secretion. Further, coculture of adipocyte and macrophage cells treated with PP showed suppressed interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and resistin mRNA expression, similarly to treatment with troglitazone, which is a PPARγ ligand medicine. Conclusion. These results suggest that PP ameliorates chronic inflammation in adipocytes caused by obesity. PP adjusts adipocytokine secretion and might, therefore, affect antimetabolic syndrome diseases.
Knowledge of and Adherence to Hygiene Guidelines among Medical Students in Austria
Authors: Herbert Verena G. , Schlumm Paul , Kessler Harald H. , Frings Andreas
Published: April 2013

Background. Adherence to hygiene guidelines is of utmost importance for healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge on and the adherence to hygiene guidelines among medical students in Austria. Additionally, a possible difference between female and male students was investigated.Methods. An open paper-based survey among third-year medical students at the Medical University of Graz was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of 20 single-choice questions covering compliance with basic hygiene standards, self-rated knowledge of hygiene guidelines, and satisfaction with current hygiene education, equipment, and quality standards.Results. Of 192 medical students, 70% judged their knowledge of hygiene standards as “excellent” or “good”; however, only 49% reported adherence to hygiene guidelines and only 43% performed hygienic hand disinfection according to WHO guidelines. Of the respondents, 79% voted for a mandatory course on hygiene standards in medical education. No significant gender differences were observed.Conclusion. While the knowledge on hygiene guidelines appears to be good among medical students, adherence is limited and requires improvement. The need for an optimum education in hygiene is high.
Investigation of Energy Storage Systems, Its Advantage and Requirement in Various Locations in Australia
Authors: Arif Mohammad Taufiqul , Oo Amanullah M. T. , Ali A. B. M. Shawkat
Published: April 2013

Storage minimizes the intermittent nature of renewable sources. Solar and wind are the two fostered source of renewable energy. However, the availability of useful solar radiation and wind speed varies with geographical locations, and also the duration of this energy sources varies with seasonal variation. With the available vast open land and geographical position, Australia has great potential for both solar and wind energies. However, both these sources require energy buffering to support load demand to ensure required power quality. Electricity demand is increasing gradually, and also Australia has target to achieve 20% electricity from renewable sources by 2020. For effective utilization of solar and wind energy potential location of these sources needs to be identified, and effective size of storage needs to be estimated for best utilization according to the load demand. Therefore this paper investigated wind speed and solar radiation data of 210 locations in Australia, identified the potential locations, and estimated required storage in various potential locations to support residential load demand. Advantages of storage were analyzed in terms of loading on distribution transformer and storage support during energy fluctuation from renewable energy. Further analysis showed that storage greatly reduces greenhouse gas emission and reduces overall cost of energy by maximizing the use of solar and wind energies.
A Novel Triple-Mode Bandpass Filter Based on a Dual-Mode Defected Ground Structure Resonator and a Microstrip Resonator
Authors: Guan Xuehui , Yuan Ye , Song Lan , Wang Xiaoyan , Lei Jiuhuai , Zhu Lei , Cai Peng
Published: April 2013

A novel triple-mode bandpass filter (BPF) using a dual-mode defected ground structure (DGS) resonator and a microstrip resonator is proposed in this paper. The dual-mode characteristic is achieved by loading a defected T-shaped stub to a uniform impedance DGS resonator. A uniform impedance microstrip resonator is designed on the top layer of the DGS resonator and a compact bandpass filter with three resonant modes in the passband can be achieved. A coupling scheme for the structure is given and the coupling matrix is synthesized. Based on the structure, a triple-mode BPF with central frequency of 2.57 GHz and equal ripple bandwidth of 15% is designed for the Wireless Local Area Network. Three transmission zeros are achieved at 1.48 GHz, 2.17 GHz, and 4.18 GHz, respectively, which improve the stopband characteristics of the filter. The proposed filter is fabricated and measured. Good agreements between measured results and simulated results verify the proposed structure well.
On the Transient Response and the Frequency Analysis of Transmission Line Towers
Authors: Saied Mohamed M.
Published: April 2013

This paper proposes an approach to the study of the transient response and the frequency characteristics of power lines' towers, when subjected to lightening strikes. It starts with dividing the nonuniform line representing the tower into a number of sections. From the usually known dependence of the tower's characteristic impedance on the vertical coordinate and the application of a recursive circuit reduction technique, an s-domain expression for the tower input impedance can be obtained. This expression, followed by the numerical Laplace inversion, is utilized for the determination of the tower's transient response. The impedance expression can be also used to determine the tower's resonance frequencies. This was used to demonstrate some potentially critical situations in which the tower is hit by lightning strikes comprising multiple current pulses. The validity of the proposed technique is demonstrated by comparing the achieved results with those already available in the literature for the same case studies.
Investigation of Rock Failure Pattern in Creep by Digital Speckle Correlation Method
Authors: Tan Yunliang , Yin Yanchun , Zhao Tongbin
Published: April 2013

In order to study the mechanical characteristics from creep deformation to failure of rock, the tests of uniaxial compression and pushing steel-plate anchored in rock were performed, by using RLJW-2000 servo test synchronizing with Digital Speckle Correlation Method (DSCM). The investigations showed that for a uniaxial compressive specimen, when load arrived at 0.5σc, displacement clusters orderly formed, which was ahead of the macrocreep strain occurring in a slight jump mode when load arrived at 0.7σc. When the load level arrived at 0.8σc, displacement clusters gathered to be a narrow band. After that, the specimen abruptly fractured in a shear mode. In the creep pushing steel-plate test, when pushing force arrived at 25 kN, crack began to occur, the horizontal displacement field as well as shear strain field concentrated continuously along the interface between steel-plate and rock, and a new narrow concentrating band gathered in the upper layer. When pushing force arrived at 27.5 kN, another new narrow shear deformation band formed in the lower layer. Then, the steel-plate was pushed out quickly accompanying strong creep deformation.
Retinal Image Graph-Cut Segmentation Algorithm Using Multiscale Hessian-Enhancement-Based Nonlocal Mean Filter
Authors: Zheng Jian , Lu Pei-Rong , Xiang Dehui , Dai Ya-Kang , Liu Zhao-Bang , Kuai Duo-Jie , Xue Hui , Yang Yue-Tao
Published: April 2013

We propose a new method to enhance and extract the retinal vessels. First, we employ a multiscale Hessian-based filter to compute the maximum response of vessel likeness function for each pixel. By this step, blood vessels of different widths are significantly enhanced. Then, we adopt a nonlocal mean filter to suppress the noise of enhanced image and maintain the vessel information at the same time. After that, a radial gradient symmetry transformation is adopted to suppress the nonvessel structures. Finally, an accurate graph-cut segmentation step is performed using the result of previous symmetry transformation as an initial. We test the proposed approach on the publicly available databases: DRIVE. The experimental results show that our method is quite effective.
Therapy-Related Late Adverse Events in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Authors: Gotti Manuel , Fiaccadori Valeria , Bono Elisa , Landini Benedetta , Varettoni Marzia , Arcaini Luca , Bonfichi Maurizio
Published: April 2013

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is one of the most curable hematologic diseases with an overall response rate over 80%. However, despite this therapeutic efficacy, HL survivors show a higher morbidity and mortality than other people of the same age because of long-term therapy-related events. In the last decades, many efforts have been made to reduce these effects through the reduction of chemotherapy dose, the use of less toxic chemotherapeutic agents, and the introduction of new radiation techniques. In this paper, we will describe the main long-term effects related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for HL, the efforts to reduce toxicity made in the last years, and the clinical aspects which have to be taken into consideration in the followup of these patients.
DOG1 Regulates Growth and IGFBP5 in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Simon Susanne , Grabellus Florian , Ferrera Loretta , Galietta Luis , Schwindenhammer Benjamin , Mühlenberg Thomas , Taeger Georg , Eilers Grant , Treckmann Juergen , Breitenbuecher Frank , Schuler Martin , Taguchi Takahiro , Fletcher Jonathan A. , Bauer Sebastian
Published: April 2013

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are characterized by activating mutations of KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α(PDGFRA), which can be therapeutically targeted by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) such as imatinib. Despite long-lasting responses, most patients eventually progress after TKI therapy. The calcium-dependent chloride channel DOG1 (ANO1/TMEM16A), which is strongly and specifically expressed in GIST, is used as a diagnostic marker to differentiate GIST from other sarcomas. Here, we report that loss of DOG1 expression occurs together with loss of KIT expression in a subset of GIST resistant to KIT inhibitors, and we illustrate the functional role of DOG1 in tumor growth, KIT expression, and imatinib response. Although DOG1 is a crucial regulator of chloride balance in GIST cells, we found that RNAi-mediated silencing or pharmacologic inhibition of DOG1 did not alter cell growth or KIT signaling in vitro. In contrast, DOG1 silencing delayed the growth of GIST xenografts in vivo. Expression profiling of explanted tumors after DOG1 blockade revealed a strong upregulation in the expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5 (IGFBP5), a potent antiangiogenic factor implicated in tumor suppression. Similar results were obtained after selection of imatinib-resistant DOG1- and KIT-negative cells derived from parental DOG1 and KIT-positive GIST cells, where a 5,000-fold increase in IGFBP5 mRNA transcripts were documented. In summary, our findings establish the oncogenic activity of DOG1 in GIST involving modulation of IGF/IGF receptor signaling in the tumor microenvironment through the antiangiogenic factor IGFBP5. Cancer Res; 73(12); 3661–70. ©2013 AACR.