bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MULTIRESOLUTION AND NONLINEAR DIFFUSION FILTERING OF HOMOGENEOUS ISOTROPIC TURBULENCE
Authors: ABDEL KAREEM WALEED , NABIL TAMER , IZAWA SEIICHERIO , FUKUNISHI YU
Published: July 2013

The multiresolution (Gabor and wavelet transforms) and nonlinear diffusion filtering (NDF) methods are investigated to extract the coherent and incoherent parts of a forced homogeneous isotropic turbulent field. The aim of this paper is to apply two different analyses to decompose the turbulent field into organized coherent and random incoherent parts. The first analysis filtering process (Gabor and wavelet transforms) is based on the frequency domain; however the second NDF filtering analysis is implemented in the spatial domain. The turbulent field is generated using the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with a resolution of 1283, and the Q-identification method is used to extract the elongated vortical structures. The three filtering methods are applied against the scalar Q-field rather than a vector field (velocity or vorticity fields). The Gabor transform and the orthogonal wavelet with approximately symmetric basis are applied to filter out incoherent noise. Filtering in the Gabor domain is done in the highest quarter frequency values, whereas filtering in the wavelet domain is done using sub-band dependent thresholding. The NDF method is based on explicit finite-difference discretization in the spatial domain. Results indicate that the three filtering methods smoothly identify the coherent and incoherent parts. Although the NDF method isolates the incoherent part more smoothly, the cross sections of the vortices in the coherent part are changed. Also, the Gabor filtering method can remove few incoherent points from the flow field, compared with the other two methods. The wavelet method tends to identify the coherent vortices and remove the incoherent noise without any change in the physical structure of the turbulent field.
A TWO-SCALE FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THE THERMO-ELASTIC EFFECTS IN COMPOSITES
Authors: FENG YONGPING , DENG MINGXIANG , CUI JUNZHI , GUAN XIAOFEI
Published: July 2013

In this paper, a two-scale coupled higher order finite element method of thermo-elastic effect in composites with small periodicity is presented. Some finite element approximate errors corresponding to higher order two-scale finite element method are analyzed, and one matched and improved higher order numerical approximate error [Formula: see text] is obtained.
THE DYNAMICS AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES OF A SEIS EPIDEMIC MODEL
Authors: MENG XINZHU , WU ZHITAO , ZHANG TONGQIAN
Published: July 2013

Based on an epidemic model which Manvendra and Vinay [Mathematical model to simulate infections disease, VSRD-TNTJ3(2) (2012) 60–68] have proposed, we consider the dynamics and therapeutic strategy of a SEIS epidemic model with latent patients and active patients. First, the basic reproduction number is established by applying the method of the next generation matrix. By means of appropriate Lyapunov functions, it is proven that while the basic reproduction number 0 < R0 < 1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable and the disease eliminates; and if the basic reproduction number R0 > 1, the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable and therefore the disease becomes endemic. Numerical investigations of their basin of attraction indicate that the locally stable equilibria are global attractors. Second, we consider the impact of treatment on epidemic disease and analytically determine the most effective therapeutic strategy. We conclude that the most effective therapeutic strategy consists of treating both the exposed and the infectious, while treating only the exposed is the least effective therapeutic strategy. Finally, numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.
Some near-surface desert features of significance in engineering geology evaluations
Authors: Fookes P. G. , Hart A. B. , Lee E. M.
Published: July 2013

In most hot deserts Quaternary environmental changes have left their imprint on ground conditions, creating a legacy of materials that often reflect past as well as contemporary processes, and can appear unusual to geologists trained in temperate environments. Attention is drawn in this article to three near-surface features (duricrusts, palaeolakes and sulphate-rich soils) that reflect changing environmental conditions and that are of potential significance to engineering investigation, design and construction.
Gender and Crime
Authors: Kruttschnitt Candace
Published: July 2013

Beginning with the last review of gender and crime that appeared in the Annual Review of Sociology (1996), I examine the developments in the more traditional approaches to this subject (the gender ratio problem and the problem of theoretical generalization), life course research, and feminist research (gendered pathways, gendered crime, and gendered lives). This review highlights important insights that have emerged in this work on gender and crime, and it considers how this work might be further enriched by drawing on sociological theories that can address how gendered lives shape the impetus and opportunities for offending. This includes work on the context of offending, the learning and expression of emotions, and identity theory.
Gender and International Migration: Contributions and Cross-Fertilizations
Authors: Herrera Gioconda
Published: July 2013

The focus in the gender and migration literature has moved from the recovery of women's experiences, to the mainstreaming of gender within migration studies, to intersectionality. Both mainstreaming and intersectionality have proven to be fertile grounds for cross-fertilization with other fields of social analysis beyond migration studies. This review examines three sites where this happens: migrant care work, transnational families, and gendered analysis of migration policies. First, I briefly cover the shift from a gender mainstreaming approach to an intersectionality approach. I then examine the literature on migrant care work and its contribution to the analysis of economic globalization. I continue with how analyses of transnational parenting may widen our perspective on gender and the family. Finally, I look at how work that integrates gender into its analysis of migration policies may provide new understandings of citizenship.
The Critical Sociology of Race and Sport: The First Fifty Years
Authors: Carrington Ben
Published: July 2013

This review surveys the sociological work on race and sport over the past 50 years. It begins by outlining the importance of C.L.R. James's book Beyond a Boundary as a foundational text for the critical sociology of race and sport. Two paradigms of research on race and sport are sketched: the critical and the functionalist-evolutionary. The article then reviews the major contributions to the study of race and sport from three areas, namely mainstream American sociology, the sociology of race, and the sociology of sport, focusing primarily on the research published since 2000. The article concludes by looking at future directions of work in the field, suggesting that although sport remains marginal to mainstream American sociology and the insights of scholars such as James remain overlooked, the best work on race and sport will continue to emerge from the subfield of sport studies.
SLC4A11 is an EIPA-sensitive Na+ permeable pHi regulator
Authors: Ogando Diego G. , Jalimarada Supriya S. , Zhang Wenlin , Vithana Eranga N. , Bonanno Joseph A.
Published: July 2013

Slc4a11, a member of the solute linked cotransporter 4 family that is comprised predominantly of bicarbonate transporters, was described as an electrogenic 2Na+-B(OH)4− (borate) cotransporter and a Na+-2OH− cotransporter. The goal of the current study was to confirm and/or clarify the function of SLC4A11. In HEK293 cells transfected with SLC4A11 we tested if SLC4A11 is a: 1) Na+-HCO3− cotransporter, 2) Na+-OH−(H+) transporter, and/or 3) Na+-B(OH)4− cotransporter. CO2/HCO3− perfusion yielded no significant differences in rate or extent of pHi changes or Na+ flux in SLC4A11-transfected compared with control cells. Similarly, in CO2/HCO3−, acidification on removal of Na+ and alkalinization on Na+ add back were not significantly different between control and transfected indicating that SLC4A11 does not have Na+-HCO3− cotransport activity. In the absence of CO2/HCO3−, SLC4A11-transfected cells showed higher resting intracelllular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i; 25 vs. 17 mM), increased NH4+-induced acidification and increased acid recovery rate (160%) after an NH4 pulse. Na+ efflux and influx were faster (80%) following Na+ removal and add back, respectively, indicative of Na+-OH−(H+) transport by SLC4A11. The increased alkalinization recovery was confirmed in NHE-deficient PS120 cells demonstrating that SLC4A11 is a bonafide Na+-OH−(H+) transporter and not an activator of NHEs. SLC4A11-mediated H+ efflux is inhibited by 5-( N-ethyl- N-isopropyl) amiloride (EIPA; EC50: 0.1 μM). The presence of 10 mM borate did not alter dpHi/d t or ΔpH during a Na+-free pulse in SLC4A11-transfected cells. In summary our results show that SLC4A11 is not a bicarbonate or borate-linked transporter but has significant EIPA-sensitive Na+-OH−(H+) and NH4+ permeability.
Hydrogen sulfide-based therapeutics and gastrointestinal diseases: translating physiology to treatments
Authors: Chan Melissa V. , Wallace John L.
Published: July 2013

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous meditator that has various physiological and pathophysiological roles in the body. It has been shown to be an important mediator of gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal defense and contributes significantly to repair of damage and resolution of inflammation. Synthesis of H2S increases markedly after mucosal injury, and inhibition of H2S in such circumstances leads to delayed healing and exacerbated inflammation. The beneficial effects of H2S may be attributable to its ability to elevate mucosal blood flow, prevent leukocyte-endothelial adhesion, reduce oxidative stress, and stimulate angiogenesis. The use of H2S-donating agents and inhibitors of the key enzymes contributing to H2S synthesis have provided strong evidence for the importance of H2S in enhancing mucosal resistance to damage, as well as modulating inflammation and repair. In recent years, significant evidence has been generated to support the notion that these positive aspects of H2S can be exploited in drug design, particularly for arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer chemoprevention. Thus novel H2S-based therapies have been shown to be effective anti-inflammatories that can promote the resolution of inflammation and accelerate the healing of GI ulcers. Encouraging results have already been seen experimentally with a mesalamine derivative and with H2S-releasing derivatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Laxative treatment with polyethylene glycol decreases microbial primary bile salt dehydroxylation and lipid metabolism in the intestine of rats
Authors: van der Wulp Mariëtte Y. M. , Derrien Muriel , Stellaard Frans , Wolters Henk , Kleerebezem Michiel , Dekker Jan , Rings Edmond H. H. M. , Groen Albert K. , Verkade Henkjan J.
Published: July 2013

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a frequently used osmotic laxative that accelerates gastrointestinal transit. It has remained unclear, however, whether PEG affects intestinal functions. We aimed to determine the effect of PEG treatment on intestinal sterol metabolism. Rats were treated with PEG in drinking water (7%) for 2 wk or left untreated (controls). We studied the enterohepatic circulation of the major bile salt (BS) cholate with a plasma stable isotope dilution technique and determined BS profiles and concentrations in bile, intestinal lumen contents, and feces. We determined the fecal excretion of cholesterol plus its intestinally formed metabolites. Finally, we determined the cytolytic activity of fecal water (a surrogate marker of colorectal cancer risk) and the amount and composition of fecal microbiota. Compared with control rats, PEG treatment increased the pool size (+51%; P < 0.01) and decreased the fractional turnover of cholate (−32%; P < 0.01). PEG did not affect the cholate synthesis rate, corresponding with an unaffected fecal primary BS excretion. PEG reduced fecal excretion of secondary BS and of cholesterol metabolites (each P < 0.01). PEG decreased the cytolytic activity of fecal water [54 (46–62) vs. 87 (85–92)% erythrocyte potassium release in PEG-treated and control rats, respectively; P < 0.01]. PEG treatment increased the contribution of Verrucomicrobia ( P < 0.01) and decreased that of Firmicutes ( P < 0.01) in fecal flora. We concluded that PEG treatment changes the intestinal bacterial composition, decreases the bacterial dehydroxylation of primary BS and the metabolism of cholesterol, and increases the pool size of the primary BS cholate in rats.
Advanced glycation end products promote hepatosteatosis by interfering with SCAP-SREBP pathway in fructose-drinking mice
Authors: Mastrocola Raffaella , Collino Massimo , Rogazzo Mara , Medana Claudio , Nigro Debora , Boccuzzi Giuseppe , Aragno Manuela
Published: July 2013

Clinical studies have linked the increased consumption of fructose to the development of obesity, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance, and a role in hepatosteatosis development is presumed. Fructose can undergo a nonenzymatic reaction from which advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are derived, leading to the formation of dysfunctional, fructosylated proteins; however, the in vivo formation of AGEs from fructose is still less known than that from glucose. In the present study C57Bl/6J mice received 15% (wt/vol) fructose (FRT) or 15% (wt/vol) glucose (GLC) in water to drink for 30 wk, resembling human habit to consume sugary drinks. At the end of the protocol both FRT- and GLC-drinking mice had increased fasting glycemia, glucose intolerance, altered plasma lipid profile, and marked hepatosteatosis. FRT mice had higher hepatic triglycerides deposition than GLC, paralleled by a greater increased expression and activity of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), the transcription factor responsible for the de novo lipogenesis, and of its activating protein SCAP. LC-MS analysis showed a different pattern of AGE production in liver tissue between FRT and GLC mice, with larger amount of carboxymethyl lysine (CML) generated by fructose. Double immunofluorescence and coimmunoprecipitation analysis revealed an interaction between CML and SCAP that could lead to prolonged activation of SREBP1. Overall, the high levels of CML and activation of SCAP/SREBP pathway associated to high fructose exposure here reported may suggest a key role of this signaling pathway in mediating fructose-induced lipogenesis.
Renalase regulates renal dopamine and phosphate metabolism
Authors: Sizova Daria , Velazquez Heino , Sampaio-Maia Benedita , Quelhas-Santos Janete , Pestana Manuel , Desir Gary V.
Published: July 2013

Renalase is a kidney-secreted catecholamines-degrading enzyme whose expression and activity are downregulated by increased dietary phosphate. A renalase knockout (KO) mouse model was used to explore the mechanisms mediating renalase's effect on phosphate excretion. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice maintained on a regular diet, KO mice show decreased serum PO4−(KO = 5.3 ± 0.2 vs. WT = 6.0 ± 0.1, n = 6; P < 0.04) and increased urinary PO4−excretion (urine PO4−/creatinine: KO = 7.7 ± 0.3 vs. WT = 6.1 ± 0.3, n = 6; P < 0.02). However, both WT and KO mice respond similarly to PO4−restriction by increasing renal COMT-1 activity and markedly decreasing PO4−excretion, which excludes an intrinsic renal defect in the KO. Renal sodium-phosphate cotransporter Npt2a, sodium proton exchanger NHE3 expression, and MAO-A and B activity did not differ between WT and KO. Only catechol- O-methyl transferase (COMT) expression and activity were significantly increased in KO mice. Despite that, urinary dopamine increased by twofold, whereas urinary l-DOPA excretion decreased by twofold in the KO mouse, indicating an upregulation of renal dopamine (DA) synthesis. These data indicate that renalase deficiency is associated with increased renal DA synthesis, stimulated PO4−excretion, and moderately severe hypophosphatemia. The signal to increase renal DA synthesis is strong since it overcomes a compensatory increase in COMT activity.
Intravenous adenosine activates diffuse nociceptive inhibitory controls in humans
Authors: Morélot-Panzini Capucine , Corvol Jean-Christophe , Demoule Alexandre , Raux Mathieu , Fiamma Marie-Noëlle , Willer Jean-Claude , Similowski Thomas
Published: July 2013

Experimentally induced pain can be attenuated by concomitant heterotopic nociceptive stimuli (counterirritation). Animal data indicate that this stems from supraspinal “diffuse noxious inhibitory controls” (DNICs) triggered by C and Aδ fibers. In humans, only noxious stimuli induce counterirritation. This points at C fibers, but the effects of pharmacologically stimulating C fibers have not been studied. Intravenous adenosine activates pulmonary C fibers and induces dyspnea. This study tests the hypothesis that putative activation of pulmonary C fibers by adenosine would trigger DNICs in humans and induce counterirritation. Twelve healthy volunteers were included (with valid results available in 9) and studied according to a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design (intravenous adenosine, 140 μg·kg−1·min−1, during 5 min vs. placebo). We measured ventilatory variables and end-tidal CO2 tension, dyspnea intensity by visual analog scale, and the intensity of putative chest pain. The primary outcome was the amplitude of the RIII component of the nociceptive flexor reflex recorded by biceps femoris electromyogram in response to painful electrical sural nerve stimulation (RIII), taken as a substitute for pain perception. Placebo did not induce any significant effect. Adenosine induced dyspnea, hyperpnea, tachycardia, and significant RIII inhibition (24 ± 8% at the 4th min, P < 0.0001). The temporal dynamics of adenosine-induced dyspnea and RIII inhibition differed (immediate onset followed by a slow decrease for dyspnea, slower onset for RIII inhibition). Intravenous adenosine in normal humans induces counterirritation, fueling the notion that C-fiber stimulation trigger DNICs in humans. The temporal dissociation between adenosine-induced dyspnea and RIII inhibition suggests that C fibers other than pulmonary ones might be involved.
NSAID therapy effects on healing of bone, tendon, and the enthesis
Authors: Su Bailey , O'Connor J. Patrick
Published: July 2013

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for the treatment of skeletal injuries. The ability of NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation is well-established. However, the effects of NSAID therapy on healing of skeletal injuries is less defined. NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase activity to reduce synthesis of prostaglandins, which are proinflammatory, lipid-signaling molecules. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity can impact many physiological processes. The effects of NSAID therapy on healing of bone, tendon, and the tendon-to-bone junction (enthesis) have been studied in animal and cell culture models, but human studies are few. Use of different NSAIDs with different pharmacological properties, differences in dosing regimens, and differences in study models and outcome measures have complicated comparisons between studies. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which bone, tendon, and enthesis healing occurs, and describe the effects of NSAID therapy on each of these processes. Determining the impact of NSAID therapy on healing of skeletal tissues will enable clinicians to appropriately manage the patient's condition and improve healing outcomes.
Model-based causal closed-loop approach to the estimate of baroreflex sensitivity during propofol anesthesia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft
Authors: Porta Alberto , Bari Vlasta , Bassani Tito , Marchi Andrea , Pistuddi Valeria , Ranucci Marco
Published: July 2013

Cardiac baroreflex is a fundamental component of the cardiovascular control. The continuous assessment of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) from spontaneous heart period (HP) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variations during general anesthesia provides relevant information about cardiovascular regulation in physiological conditions. Unfortunately, several difficulties including unknown HP-SAP causal relations, negligible SAP changes, small BRS values, and confounding influences due to mechanical ventilation prevent BRS monitoring from HP and SAP variabilities during general anesthesia. We applied a model-based causal closed-loop approach aiming at BRS assessment during propofol anesthesia in 34 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We found the following: 1) traditional time and frequency domain approaches (i.e., baroreflex sequence, cross-correlation, spectral, and transfer function techniques) exhibited irremediable methodological limitations preventing the assessment of the BRS decrease during propofol anesthesia; 2) Granger causality approach proved that the methodological caveats were linked to the decreased presence of bidirectional closed-loop HP-SAP interactions and to the increased incidence of the HP-SAP uncoupling; 3) our model-based closed-loop approach detected the significant BRS decrease during propofol anesthesia as a likely result of accounting for the influences of mechanical ventilation and causal HP-SAP interactions; and 4) the model-based closed-loop approach found also a diminished gain of the relation from HP to SAP linked to vasodilatation and reduced ventricular contractility during propofol anesthesia. The proposed model-based causal closed-loop approach is more effective than traditional approaches in monitoring cardiovascular control during propofol anesthesia and indicates an overall depression of the HP-SAP closed-loop regulation.
Time course of gene expression during mouse skeletal muscle hypertrophy
Authors: Chaillou Thomas , Lee Jonah D. , England Jonathan H. , Esser Karyn A. , McCarthy John J.
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive transcriptome analysis during skeletal muscle hypertrophy to identify signaling pathways that are operative throughout the hypertrophic response. Global gene expression patterns were determined from microarray results on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 during plantaris muscle hypertrophy induced by synergist ablation in adult mice. Principal component analysis and the number of differentially expressed genes (cutoffs ≥2-fold increase or ≥50% decrease compared with control muscle) revealed three gene expression patterns during overload-induced hypertrophy: early (1 day), intermediate (3, 5, and 7 days), and late (10 and 14 days) patterns. Based on the robust changes in total RNA content and in the number of differentially expressed genes, we focused our attention on the intermediate gene expression pattern. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed a downregulation of genes encoding components of the branched-chain amino acid degradation pathway during hypertrophy. Among these genes, five were predicted by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis or previously shown to be regulated by the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor-15, which was also downregulated during hypertrophy. Moreover, the integrin-linked kinase signaling pathway was activated during hypertrophy, and the downregulation of muscle-specific micro-RNA-1 correlated with the upregulation of five predicted targets associated with the integrin-linked kinase pathway. In conclusion, we identified two novel pathways that may be involved in muscle hypertrophy, as well as two upstream regulators (Kruppel-like factor-15 and micro-RNA-1) that provide targets for future studies investigating the importance of these pathways in muscle hypertrophy.
Oral sapropterin augments reflex vasoconstriction in aged human skin through noradrenergic mechanisms
Authors: Stanhewicz Anna E. , Alexander Lacy M. , Kenney W. Larry
Published: July 2013

Reflex vasoconstriction is attenuated in aged skin due to a functional loss of adrenergic vasoconstriction. Bioavailability of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for catecholamine synthesis, is reduced with aging. Locally administered BH4 increases vasoconstriction through adrenergic mechanisms in aged human skin. We hypothesized that oral sapropterin (Kuvan, a pharmaceutical BH4) would augment vasoconstriction elicited by whole-body cooling and tyramine perfusion in aged skin. Ten healthy subjects (age 75 ± 2 yr) ingested sapropterin (10 mg/kg) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. Venous blood samples were collected prior to, and 3 h following ingestion. Three intradermal microdialysis fibers were placed in the forearm skin for local delivery of 1) lactated Ringer, 2) 5 mM BH4, and 3) 5 mM yohimbine + 1 mM propranolol (Y+P; to inhibit adrenergic vasoconstriction). Red cell flux was measured at each site by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) as reflex vasoconstriction was induced by lowering and then clamping whole-body skin temperature ( T̄sk) using a water-perfused suit. Following whole-body cooling, subjects were rewarmed and 1 mM tyramine was perfused at each site to elicit endogenous norepinephrine release from the perivascular nerve terminal. Cutaneous vascular conductance was calculated as CVC = LDF/mean arterial pressure and expressed as change from baseline (ΔCVC). Plasma BH4 was elevated 3 h after ingestion of sapropterin (43.8 ± 3 vs. 19.1 ± 2 pmol/ml; P < 0.001). Sapropterin increased reflex vasoconstriction at the Ringer site at T̄sk ≤ 32.5°C ( P < 0.05). Local BH4 perfusion augmented reflex vasoconstriction at T̄sk ≤ 31.5°C with placebo treatment only ( P < 0.05). There was no treatment effect on reflex vasoconstriction at the BH4-perfused or Y+P-perfused sites. Sapropterin increased pharmacologically induced vasoconstriction at the Ringer site (−0.19 ± 0.03 vs. −0.08 ± 0.02 ΔCVC; P = 0.01). There was no difference in pharmacologically induced vasoconstriction between treatments at the BH4-perfused site (−0.16 ± 0.04 vs. −0.14 ± 0.03 ΔCVC; P = 0.60) or the Y+P-perfused site (−0.05 ± 0.02 vs.−0.06 ± 0.02 ΔCVC; P = 0.79). Sapropterin increases both reflex (cold-induced) and pharmacologically induced vasoconstriction through adrenergic mechanisms and may be a viable intervention to improve reflex vasoconstriction in aged humans.
Strategies to develop putative biomarkers to characterize the female phenotype with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Torres Elizabeth B. , Isenhower Robert W. , Yanovich Polina , Rehrig Gwendolyn , Stigler Kimberly , Nurnberger John , José Jorge V.
Published: July 2013

Current observational inventories used to diagnose autism spectrum disorders (ASD) apply similar criteria to females and males alike, despite developmental differences between the sexes. Recent work investigating the chronology of diagnosis in ASD has raised the concern that females run the risk of receiving a delayed diagnosis, potentially missing a window of opportunity for early intervention. Here, we retake this issue in the context of the objective measurements of natural behaviors that involve decision-making processes. Within this context, we quantified movement variability in typically developing (TD) individuals and those diagnosed with ASD across different ages. We extracted the latencies of the decision movements and velocity-dependent parameters as the hand movements unfolded for two movement segments within the reach: movements intended toward the target and withdrawing movements that spontaneously, without instruction, occurred incidentally. The stochastic signatures of the movement decision latencies and the percent of time to maximum speed differed between males and females with ASD. This feature was also observed in the empirically estimated probability distributions of the maximum speed values, independent of limb size. Females with ASD showed different dispersion than males with ASD. The distinctions found for females with ASD were better appreciated compared with those of TD females. In light of these results, behavioral assessment of autistic traits in females should be performed relative to TD females to increase the chance of detection.
Developmental improvements in dynamic control of fingertip forces last throughout childhood and into adolescence
Authors: Dayanidhi Sudarshan , Hedberg Åsa , Valero-Cuevas Francisco J. , Forssberg Hans
Published: July 2013

While it is clear that the development of dexterous manipulation in children exhibits dramatic improvements over an extended period, it is difficult to separate musculoskeletal from neural contributors to these important functional gains. This is in part due to the inability of current methods to disambiguate improvements in hand strength from gains in finger dexterity (i.e., the dynamic control of fingertip force vectors at low magnitudes). We adapted our novel instrumentation to evaluate finger dexterity in 130 typically developing children between the ages of 4 and 16 yr. We find that finger dexterity continues to develop well into late adolescence and musculoskeletal growth and strength are poorly correlated with the improvements in dexterity. Importantly, because these behavioral results seem to mirror the known timelines of neuroanatomical development up to adolescence, we speculate that they reflect the functional benefits of such continual neural maturation. This novel perspective now enables the systematic study of the functional roles of specific neuroanatomical structures and their connectivity, maturity, and plasticity. Moreover, the temporal dynamics of the fingertip force vectors shows improvements in stability that provide a novel way to look at the maturation of finger control. From a clinical perspective, our results provide a practical means to chart functional development of dexterous manipulation in typically developing children and could be adapted for clinical use and for use in children with developmental disorders.
Sniff rhythm-paced fast and slow gamma-oscillations in the olfactory bulb: relation to tufted and mitral cells and behavioral states
Authors: Manabe Hiroyuki , Mori Kensaku
Published: July 2013

Odor signals are conveyed from the olfactory bulb (OB) to the olfactory cortex by two types of projection neurons, tufted cells and mitral cells, which differ in signal timing and firing frequency in response to odor inhalation. Whereas tufted cells respond with early-onset high-frequency burst discharges starting at the middle of the inhalation phase of sniff, mitral cells show odor responses with later-onset lower-frequency burst discharges. Since odor inhalation induces prominent gamma-oscillations of local field potentials (LFPs) in the OB during the transition period from inhalation to exhalation that accompany synchronized spike discharges of tufted cells and mitral cells, we addressed the question of whether the odor-induced gamma-oscillations encompass two distinct gamma-oscillatory sources, tufted cell and mitral cell subsystems, by simultaneously recording the sniff rhythms and LFPs in the OB of freely behaving rats. We observed that individual sniffs induced nested gamma-oscillations with two distinct parts during the inhalation-exhalation transition period: early-onset fast gamma-oscillations followed by later-onset slow gamma-oscillations. These results suggest that tufted cells carry odor signals with early-onset fast gamma-synchronization at the early phase of sniff, whereas mitral cells send them with later-onset slow gamma-synchronization. We also observed that each sniff typically induced both fast and slow gamma-oscillations during awake, whereas respiration during slow-wave sleep and rapid-eye-movement sleep failed to induce these oscillations. These results suggest that behavioral states regulate the generation of sniff rhythm-paced fast and slow gamma-oscillations in the OB.
Multichannel brain recordings in behavingDrosophilareveal oscillatory activity and local coherence in response to sensory stimulation and circuit activation
Authors: Paulk Angelique C. , Zhou Yanqiong , Stratton Peter , Liu Li , van Swinderen Bruno
Published: July 2013

Neural networks in vertebrates exhibit endogenous oscillations that have been associated with functions ranging from sensory processing to locomotion. It remains unclear whether oscillations may play a similar role in the insect brain. We describe a novel “whole brain” readout for Drosophila melanogaster using a simple multichannel recording preparation to study electrical activity across the brain of flies exposed to different sensory stimuli. We recorded local field potential (LFP) activity from >2,000 registered recording sites across the fly brain in >200 wild-type and transgenic animals to uncover specific LFP frequency bands that correlate with: 1) brain region; 2) sensory modality (olfactory, visual, or mechanosensory); and 3) activity in specific neural circuits. We found endogenous and stimulus-specific oscillations throughout the fly brain. Central (higher-order) brain regions exhibited sensory modality-specific increases in power within narrow frequency bands. Conversely, in sensory brain regions such as the optic or antennal lobes, LFP coherence, rather than power, best defined sensory responses across modalities. By transiently activating specific circuits via expression of TrpA1, we found that several circuits in the fly brain modulate LFP power and coherence across brain regions and frequency domains. However, activation of a neuromodulatory octopaminergic circuit specifically increased neuronal coherence in the optic lobes during visual stimulation while decreasing coherence in central brain regions. Our multichannel recording and brain registration approach provides an effective way to track activity simultaneously across the fly brain in vivo, allowing investigation of functional roles for oscillations in processing sensory stimuli and modulating behavior.
Value of freedom to choose encoded by the human brain
Authors: Fujiwara Juri , Usui Nobuo , Park Soyoung Q. , Williams Tony , Iijima Toshio , Taira Masato , Tsutsui Ken-Ichiro , Tobler Philippe N.
Published: July 2013

Humans and animals value the opportunity to choose by preferring alternatives that offer more rather than fewer choices. This preference for choice may arise not only from an increased probability of obtaining preferred outcomes but also from the freedom it provides. We used human neuroimaging to investigate the neural basis of the preference for choice as well as for the items that could be chosen. In each trial, participants chose between two options, a monetary amount option and a “choice option.” The latter consisted of a number that corresponded to the number of everyday items participants would subsequently be able to choose from. We found that the opportunity to choose from a larger number of items was equivalent to greater amounts of money, indicating that participants valued having more choice; moreover, participants varied in the degree to which they valued having the opportunity to choose, with some valuing it more than the increased probability of obtaining preferred items. Neural activations in the mid striatum increased with the value of the opportunity to choose. The same region also coded the value of the items. Conversely, activation in the dorsolateral striatum was not related to the value of the items but was elevated when participants were offered more choices, particularly in those participants who overvalued the opportunity to choose. These data suggest a functional dissociation of value representations within the striatum, with general representations in mid striatum and specific representations of the value of freedom provided by the opportunity to choose in dorsolateral striatum.
Clinical Benefits of an Adherence Monitoring Program in the Management of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism with Cinacalcet: Results of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Forni Ogna Valentina , Pruijm Menno , Zweiacker Carole , Wuerzner Grégoire , Tousset Eric , Burnier Michel
Published: July 2013

Background/Aims. One of the causes of uncontrolled secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is patient’s poor drug adherence. We evaluated the clinical benefits of an integrated care approach on the control of sHPT by cinacalcet.Methods. Prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter, open-label study. Fifty hemodialysis patients on a stable dose of cinacalcet were randomized to an integrated care approach (IC) or usual care approach (UC). In the IC group, cinacalcet adherence was monitored using an electronic system. Results were discussed with the patients in motivational interviews, and drug prescription adapted accordingly. In the UC group, drug adherence was monitored, but results were not available.Results.At six months, 84% of patients in the IC group achieved recommended iPTH targets versus 55% in the UC group (). The mean cinacalcet taking adherence improved by 10.8% in the IC group and declined by 5.3% in the UC group (). Concomitantly, the mean dose of cinacalcet was reduced by 7.2 mg/day in the IC group and increased by 6.4 mg/day in the UC group ().Conclusions.The use of a drug adherence monitoring program in the management of sHPT in hemodialysis patients receiving cinacalcet improves drug adherence and iPTH control and allows a reduction in the dose of cinacalcet.
The RSU Access Problem Based on Evolutionary Game Theory for VANET
Authors: Wu Di , Ling Yan , Zhu Hongsong , Liang Jie
Published: July 2013

We identify some challenges in RSU access problem. There are two main problems in V2R communication. (1) It is difficult to maintain the end-to-end connection between vehicles and RSU due to the high mobility of vehicles. (2) The limited RSU bandwidth resources lead to the vehicles' disorderly competition behavior, which will give rise to multiple RSUs having overlap area environment where RSU access becomes crucial for increasing vehicles' throughput. Focusing on the problems mentioned above, the RSU access question in the paper is formulated as a dynamic evolutionary game for studying the competition of vehicles in the single community and among multiple communities to share the limited bandwidth in the available RSUs, and the evolutionary equilibrium evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) is considered to be the solution to this game. Simulation results based on a realistic vehicular traffic model demonstrate the evolution process of the game and how the ESS can affect the network performance.
Secretion of Biologically Active Heterologous Oxalate Decarboxylase (OxdC) inLactobacillus plantarumWCFS1 Using Homologous Signal Peptides
Authors: Sasikumar Ponnusamy , Gomathi Sivasamy , Anbazhagan Kolandaswamy , Selvam Govindan Sadasivam
Published: July 2013

Current treatment options for patients with hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate stone diseases are limited and do not always lead to sufficient reduction in urinary oxalate excretion. Oxalate degrading bacteria have been suggested for degrading intestinal oxalate for the prevention of calcium oxalate stone. Here, we reported a recombinantLactobacillus plantarumWCFS1 (L. plantarum) secreting heterologous oxalate decarboxylase (OxdC) that may provide possible therapeutic approach by degrading intestinal oxalate. The results showed secretion and functional expression of OxdC protein inL. plantarumdriven by signal peptides Lp_0373 and Lp_3050. Supernatant of the recombinant strain containing pLp_0373sOxdC and pLp_3050sOxdC showed OxdC activity of 0.05 U/mg and 0.02 U/mg protein, while the purified OxdC from the supernatant showed specific activity of 18.3 U/mg and 17.5 U/mg protein, respectively. The concentration of OxdC protein in the supernatant was 8–12 μg/mL. The recombinant strain showed up to 50% oxalate reduction in medium containing 10 mM oxalate. In conclusion, the recombinantL. plantarumharboring pLp_0373sOxdC and pLp_3050sOxdC can express and secrete functional OxdC and degrade oxalate up to 50% and 30%, respectively.
Robust Synchronization of Incommensurate Fractional-Order Chaotic Systems via Second-Order Sliding Mode Technique
Authors: Chen Hua , Chen Wen , Zhang Binwu , Cao Haitao
Published: July 2013

A second-order sliding mode (SOSM) controller is proposed to synchronize a class of incommensurate fractional-order chaotic systems with model uncertainties and external disturbances. Based on the chattering free SOSM control scheme, it can be rigorously proved that the dynamics of the synchronization error is globally asymptotically stable by using the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller design approach.
Environment, Leptin Sensitivity, and Hypothalamic Plasticity
Authors: Mainardi Marco , Pizzorusso Tommaso , Maffei Margherita
Published: July 2013

Regulation of feeding behavior has been a crucial step in the interplay between leptin and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC). On one hand, the basic mechanisms regulating central and peripheral action of leptin are becoming increasingly clear. On the other hand, knowledge on how brain sensitivity to leptin can be modulated is only beginning to accumulate. This point is of paramount importance if one considers that pathologically obese subjects have high levels of plasmatic leptin. A possible strategy for exploring neural plasticity in the ARC is to act on environmental stimuli. This can be achieved with various protocols, namely, physical exercise, high-fat diet, caloric restriction, and environmental enrichment. Use of these protocols can, in turn, be exploited to isolate key molecules with translational potential. In the present review, we summarize present knowledge about the mechanisms of plasticity induced by the environment in the ARC. In addition, we also address the role of leptin in extrahypothalamic plasticity, in order to propose an integrated view of how a single diffusible factor can regulate diverse brain functions.
On the Higher Moments of Particle Multiplicity, Chemical Freeze-Out, and QCD Critical Endpoint
Authors: Tawfik A.
Published: July 2013

We calculate the first six nonnormalized moments of particle multiplicity within the framework of the hadron resonance gas model. In terms of the lower order moments and corresponding correlation functions, general expressions of higher order moments are derived. Thermal evolution of the first four normalized moments and their products (ratios) are studied at different chemical potentials, so that it is possible to evaluate them at chemical freeze-out curve. It is found that a nonmonotonic behaviour reflecting the dynamical fluctuation and strong correlation of particles starts to appear from the normalized third order moment. We introduce novel conditions for describing the chemical freeze-out curve. Although the hadron resonance gas model does not contain any information on the criticality related to the chiral dynamics and singularity in the physical observables, we are able to find out the location of the QCD critical endpoint atμ~350 MeV and temperatureT~162 MeV.
Hemophagocytic Syndrome Associated withMycoplasma pneumoniaePneumonia
Authors: Koike Yuji , Aoki Nao
Published: July 2013

Mycoplasma pneumoniae(Mp) sometimes causes immunological complications in children. We present a rare case of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) caused by Mp in a previously healthy 7-year-old Japanese girl. A chest radiograph obtained to evaluate the source of her fever showed infiltration in the lower right lung with mild splenomegaly. We could diagnose the patient with HPS on the basis of the hemophagocytic-lymphohistiocytosis- (HLH) 2004 criteria. She met the criteria for fever, splenomegaly, neutrophil count (<1,000/μL), platelet count (<10.0 × 104/μL), fasting triglyceride level (>265 mg/dL), and ferritin level (>500 ng/mL). Furthermore, a peripheral blood smear showed an increased number of monocytes/macrophages with erythrophagocytosis. Treatment with clarithromycin and prednisolone, which was initiated soon after the diagnosis, was successful. Mp infection might partly progress to HPS in certain conditions. Clinicians should be aware of HPS caused by Mp and start appropriate treatment as soon as possible if the disease is suspected.
Antigenic Peptides Capable of Inducing Specific Antibodies for Detection of the Major Alterations Found in Type 2B Von Willebrand Disease
Authors: Paro Marina de Oliveira , Ferreira Cyntia Silva , Vieira Fernanda Silva , de Santana Marcos Aurélio , Castro-Borges William , Namen-Lopes Maria Sueli Silva , Leclercq Sophie Yvette , Velloso-Rodrigues Cibele , Guerra de Andrade Milton Hércules
Published: July 2013

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited hemorrhagic disorder promoted by either quantitative or qualitative defects of the von Willebrand factor (VWF). The disease represents the most common human coagulopathy afflicting 1.3% of the population. Qualitative defects are subdivided into four subtypes and classified according to the molecular dysfunction of the VWF. The differential diagnosis of the VWD is a difficult task, relying on a panel of tests aimed to assess the plasma levels and function of the VWF. Here, we propose biochemical approaches for the identification of structural variants of the VWF. A bioinformatic analysis was conducted to design seven peptides among which three were representatives of specific amino acid sequences belonging to normal VWF and four encompassed sequences found in the most common VWD subtype 2B. These peptides were used to immunize mice, after which, peptide-specific immunoglobulins were purified. This resulted in four Ig preparations capable of detecting alterations in the subtype 2B VWD plus additional three antibody fractions targeting the normal VWF. The panel of antibodies could serve many applications among them (1) assessment of VWF: antigen interaction, (2) VWF multimer analysis, and (3) production of monoclonal antibodies against VWF for therapeutic purposes as in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation Combined with Volume Guarantee in a Neonatal Animal Model of Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Sánchez Luna Manuel , Santos González Martín , Tendillo Cortijo Francisco
Published: July 2013

Objective. To assess volume guarantee (VG) ventilation combined with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) strategy on PaCO2regulation in an experimental model of neonatal distress syndrome.Methods. Six 2-day-old piglets weighing  kg were used for this interventional experimental study. Animals were ventilated during physiologic lung conditions and after depletion of lung surfactant by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The effect of HFOV combined with VG on PaCO2was evaluated at different high-frequency expired tidal volume (VThf) at constant frequency () and mean airway pressure (mPaw). Fluctuations of the pressure (ΔPhf) around the mPaw and PaCO2were analyzed before and after lung surfactant depletion.Results. PaCO2levels were inversely proportional to VThf. In the physiological lung condition, an increase in VThf caused a significant decrease in PaCO2and an increase in ΔPhf. After BAL, PaCO2did not change as compared with pre-BAL situation as the VThf remained constant by the ventilator.Conclusions. In this animal model, using HFOV combined with VG, changes in the VThf settings induced significant modifications in PaCO2. After changing the lung condition by depletion of surfactant, PaCO2remained unchanged, as the VThf setting was maintained constant by modifications in the ΔPhf done by the ventilator.