bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme reduces readmission following a hospitalization for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Revitt Olivia , Sewell Louise , Morgan Michael D.L. , Steiner Michael , Singh Sally
Published: June 2013

Background and objective

The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) are now firmly established. However, less is known about the provision and efficacy of PR immediately after an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a short outpatient PR programme and the impact upon readmission rates.

Methods

One hundred sixty (87 males) patients, mean (SD) age 70.35 (8.59) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s 0.99 (0.44) litres were assessed for a 7‐week PR programme following a hospital admission for an acute exacerbation of COPD. Patients were assessed and commenced PR within 4 weeks of discharge from hospital. Outcome measures included: Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT), Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ESWT), Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire Self‐Reported (CRQ‐SR). Patients were assessed at baseline and at 7 weeks (after the 4‐week supervised and 3‐week unsupervised components). Readmission data were collected retrospectively for the 12 months pre and post admission (n = 155).

Results

Statistically significant improvements were found in the ISWT, ESWT and CRQ‐SR at discharge (P < 0.05). The number of admission was significantly less in the 12‐month post‐pulmonary rehabilitation compared to the previous 12 months.

Conclusions

A short course of PR showed improvements in exercise capacity and health status in patients who have had an acute exacerbation of COPD. The number of readmissions was also significantly lower in the year following PR.
Talking Rocks in the Irkutsk Museum: Networks of Science in Late Imperial Siberia
Authors: FEIN JULIA
Published: June 2013

This article critically examines the intervention of a collection of geological specimens into local politics in Irkutsk in imperial Russia's constitutional period. Gathered for research on the Circumbaikal (Krugobaikal'skaia) Railroad in 1904, these rocks were donated to the museum of the East Siberian Section of the Imperial Russian Geographic Society in Irkutsk; but were subsequently removed from the storage tower, taken to European Russia by train, and pulverized in a laboratory in order to test their weight‐bearing potential and open them up to chemical examination under a microscope. The ensuing conflict in Irkutsk over their removal divided local men of science into factions, both of which called on the rocks to “talk” for them in different ways. The culmination of the conflict was the publication in a local newspaper of a traditionally formatted “grievance” voiced by those rocks that remained in storage in the museum. This grievance played on assumptions by Siberian elites about the superior moral authenticity of the local over abstract central authority. I argue, however, that while this was a savvy political move by the defenders of the rocks as museum property, this conflict was not actually a case of resistance to central crushing of local agency, nor should it be understood as a linear ascendency of professionals over amateurs. Rather, it was a conflict between overlapping and competing scientific networks, both of which had ties to the region around Irkutsk as well as to agencies in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and both of which depended on the circulation of things, people, and values to make the local meaningful. Both sides depended on the possession of objects for the legitimacy of their science, and appealed to the concreteness of rocks to make a case for the objective correctness of their points of view. Thinking about rocks as participants in an assemblage of human actors; tectonic (and political) instability; indigenous markers of place; museum storage rooms; railroads; newspapers; and laboratory instruments enables us to conceive of late Imperial Russian culture and politics as embodied, vibrant, and in constant motion.
Impact of oral diseases and disorders on oral‐health‐related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Abanto Jenny , Ortega Adriana Oliveira , Raggio Daniela Prócida , Bönecker Marcelo , Mendes Fausto Medeiros , Ciamponi Ana Lídia
Published: June 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of oral diseases and disorders on the oral‐health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with CP, adjusting this impact by socioeconomic factors. Data were collected from 60 pairs of parents–children with CP. Parents answered the child oral health quality of life questionnaire (parental‐caregivers perception questionnaire and family impact scale) and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Dental caries experience, traumatic dental injuries, malocclusions, bruxism, and dental fluorosis were also evaluated. The multivariate adjusted model showed that dental caries experience (p < 0.001) and the presence of bruxism had a negative impact (p = 0.046) on the OHRQoL. A greater family income had a positive impact on it (p < 0.001). Dental caries experience and bruxism are conditions strongly associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL of children with CP and their parents, but a higher family income can improve this negative impact.
Parent and Peer Restrictions of Opportunities Attenuate the Link between Low Self‐control and Antisocial Behavior
Authors: Kuhn Emily S. , Laird Robert D.
Published: June 2013

Focusing on parents and peers as restrictors of opportunities, this study tested whether restricted opportunities attenuate the link between low self‐control and antisocial behavior as hypothesized by theGeneralTheory ofCrime. Early adolescents (N=180,Mage=12.04 years, 49.4 percent female, 49 percentEuropeanAmerican, 45 percentAfricanAmerican) reported their levels of self‐control, antisocial peer involvement, unsupervised time, parental solicitation, family rules, and involvement in antisocial behavior. Low levels of antisocial peer involvement and high levels of parental supervision, solicitation, and family rules were conceptualized as restricted opportunities for antisocial behavior. Opportunity restrictions attenuated the association between low self‐control and antisocial behavior such that low self‐control was less strongly associated with antisocial behavior when youth experienced less antisocial peer involvement, less unsupervised time, more parental solicitation, and more family rules than when youth experienced more antisocial peer involvement, more unsupervised time, less parental solicitation, and fewer family rules. Results clarify and extend our understanding of the role of restricted opportunities for low self‐control youth in theGeneralTheory ofCrime.
Effect of the Al0.3Ga0.7As interlayer thickness upon the quality of GaAs on a Ge substrate grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Li Senlin , Chen Qingqing , Zhang Jin , Chen Huiquan , Xu Wei , Xiong Hui , Wu Zhihao , Fang Yanyan , Chen Changqing , Tian Yu
Published: June 2013

GaAs epilayers on Ge substrates are grown with a thin Al0.3Ga0.7As interlayer via metal-organic chemical vapor deposition with the goal of investigating the effect of the Al0.3Ga0.7As interlayer thickness upon the GaAs epilayer. The results show that as the Al0.3Ga0.7As interlayer thickness increases from 0 to 30 nm, both the crystal quality and surface morphology of the GaAs epilayer follow a trend of melioration and then deterioration. All of the Al0.3Ga0.7As interlayers investigated are seen to effectively block the diffusion of Ge atoms to the GaAs epilayers, and high crystalline quality GaAs epilayers with a smooth surface are obtained by growing a 15–23 nm-thick Al0.3Ga0.7As interlayer.
The Deubiquitinase A20 Mediates Feedback Inhibition of Interleukin-17 Receptor Signaling
Authors: Garg Abhishek V. , Ahmed Mushtaq , Vallejo Abbe N. , Ma Averil , Gaffen Sarah L.
Published: June 2013

Inhibition of an inflammatory cytokine signaling pathway by A20 at the receptor may play a role in preventing autoimmunity.
Repress, Derepress, Activate
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: June 2013

Unliganded progesterone receptor recruits a complex that maintains some progesterone-responsive genes in a closed chromatin conformation.
A Quinazoline-2,4-Diamino Analog Suppresses Vibrio cholerae Flagellar Motility by Interacting with Motor Protein PomB and Induces Envelope Stress
Authors: Wang Hongxia , Zhang Li , Silva Anisia J. , Benitez Jorge A.
Published: June 2013

Vibrio choleraestrains of serogroups O1 and O139, the causative agents of the diarrheal illness cholera, express a single polar flagellum powered by sodium motive force and require motility to colonize and spread along the small intestine. In a previous study, we described a high-throughput assay for screening for small molecules that selectively inhibit bacterial motility and identified a family of quinazoline-2,4-diamino analogs (Q24DAs) that (i) paralyzed the sodium-driven polar flagellum ofVibriosand (ii) diminished cholera toxin secreted by El Tor biotypeV. cholerae. In this study, we provide evidence that a Q24DA paralyzes the polar flagellum by interacting with the motor protein PomB. Inhibition of motility with the Q24DA enhanced the transcription of the cholera toxin genes in both biotypes. We also show that the Q24DA interacts with outer membrane protein OmpU and other porins to induce envelope stress and expression of the extracellular RNA polymerase sigma factor σE. We suggest that Q24DA-induced envelope stress could affect the correct folding, assembly, and secretion of pentameric cholera toxin in El Tor biotypeV. choleraeindependently of its effect on motility.
Characterization of a New
bla
OXA-48
-Carrying Plasmid in Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Berger Sibel , Alauzet Corentine , Aissa Nejla , Hénard Sandrine , Rabaud Christian , Bonnet Richard , Lozniewski Alain
Published: June 2013

In this work, we characterized a new, 160-kb,
bla
OXA-48
-harboring IncL/M-type plasmid isolated from a
Klebsiella pneumoniae
strain from France. Moreover, we report the transfer of a 60-kb OXA-48-encoding plasmid from
Klebsiella pneumoniae
to other
Enterobacteriaceae
in two patients.
Escherichia coli Resistance to Nonbiocidal Antibiofilm Polysaccharides Is Rare and Mediated by Multiple Mutations Leading to Surface Physicochemical Modifications
Authors: Travier Laetitia , Rendueles Olaya , Ferrières Lionel , Herry Jean-Marie , Ghigo Jean-Marc
Published: June 2013

Antivirulence strategies targeting bacterial behavior, such as adhesion and biofilm formation, are expected to exert low selective pressure and have been proposed as alternatives to biocidal antibiotic treatments to avoid the rapid occurrence of bacterial resistance. Here, we tested this hypothesis using group 2 capsule polysaccharide (G2cps), a polysaccharidic molecule previously shown to impair bacterium-surface interactions, and we investigated the nature of bacterial resistance to a nonbiocidal antibiofilm strategy. We screened an
Escherichia coli
mutant library for an increased ability to form biofilm in the presence of G2cps, and we identified several mutants displaying partial but not total resistance to this antibiofilm polysaccharide. Our genetic analysis showed that partial resistance to G2cps results from multiple unrelated mutations leading to modifications in surface physicochemical properties that counteract the changes in ionic charge and Lewis base properties induced by G2cps. Moreover, some of the identified mutants harboring improved biofilm formation in the presence of G2cps were also partially resistant to other antibiofilm molecules. This study therefore shows that alterations of bacterial surface properties mediate only partial resistance to G2cps. It also experimentally validates the potential value of nonbiocidal antibiofilm strategies, since full resistance to antibiofilm compounds is rare and potentially unlikely to arise in clinical settings.
Gallbladder Epithelium as a Niche for Chronic Salmonella Carriage
Authors: Gonzalez-Escobedo Geoffrey , Gunn John S.
Published: June 2013

Although typhoid fever has been intensively studied, chronic typhoid carriage still represents a problem for the transmission and persistence of the disease in areas of endemicity. This chronic state is highly associated with the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder of infected carriers upon whichSalmonellacan form robust biofilms. However, we hypothesize that in addition to gallstones, the gallbladder epithelium aids in the establishment/maintenance of chronic carriage. In this work, we present evidence of the role of the gallbladder epithelium in chronic carriage by a mechanism involving invasion, intracellular persistence, and biofilm formation.Salmonellawas able to adhere to and invade polarized gallbladder epithelial cells apically in the absence and presence of bile in aSalmonellapathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1)-dependent manner. Intracellular replication ofSalmonellawas also evident at 12 and 24 h postinvasion. A flowthrough system revealed thatSalmonellais able to adhere to and form extensive bacterial foci on gallbladder epithelial cells as early as 12 h postinoculation.In vivoexperiments using a chronic mouse model of typhoid carriage showed invasion and damage of the gallbladder epithelium and lamina propria up to 2 months afterSalmonellainfection, with an abundant presence of macrophages, a relative absence of neutrophils, and extrusion of infected epithelial cells. Additionally, microcolonies ofSalmonellacells were evident on the surface of the mouse gallbladder epithelia up to 21 days postinfection. These data reveal a second potential mechanism, intracellular persistence and/or bacterial aggregation in/on the gallbladder epithelium with luminal cell extrusion, forSalmonellamaintenance in the gallbladder.
Inhibition of Water Absorption and Selective Damage to Human Colonic Mucosa Are Induced by Subtilase Cytotoxin Produced by Escherichia coli O113:H21
Authors: Gerhardt Elizabeth , Masso Mariana , Paton Adrienne W. , Paton James C. , Zotta Elsa , Ibarra Cristina
Published: June 2013

Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 (STEC) is by far the most prevalent serotype associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) although many non-O157 STEC strains have been also isolated from patients with HUS. The main virulence factor of STEC is the Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2) present in O157 and non-O157 strains. Recently, another toxin, named subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB), has been isolated from several non-O157 strains and may contribute to the pathogenesis of HUS. Here, we have demonstrated that an O113:H21 STEC strain expressing SubAB and Stx2 inhibits normal water absorption across human colon and causes damage to the surface epithelium, necrosis, mononuclear inflammatory infiltration, edema, and marked mucin depletion. This damage was less marked, but nevertheless significant, when purified SubAB or
E. coli
O113:H21 expressing only SubAB was assayed. This is the first study showing that SubAB may directly participate in the mechanisms of diarrhea in children infected with non-O157 STEC strains.
The RNA Chaperone Hfq Promotes Fitness of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae during Porcine Pleuropneumonia
Authors: Subashchandrabose Sargurunathan , Leveque Rhiannon M. , Kirkwood Roy N. , Kiupel Matti , Mulks Martha H.
Published: June 2013

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
is the etiological agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, an economically important disease of pigs. The
hfq
gene in
A. pleuropneumoniae
, encoding the RNA chaperone and posttranscriptional regulator Hfq, is upregulated during infection of porcine lungs. To investigate the role of this
in vivo
-induced gene in
A. pleuropneumoniae
, an
hfq
mutant strain was constructed. The
hfq
mutant was defective in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. The level of
pgaC
transcript, encoding the biosynthesis of poly-β-1,6-
N
-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), a major biofilm matrix component, was lower and PNAG content was 10-fold lower in the
hfq
mutant than in the wild-type strain. When outer membrane proteins were examined, cysteine synthase, implicated in resistance to oxidative stress and tellurite, was not found at detectable levels in the absence of Hfq. The
hfq
mutant displayed enhanced sensitivity to superoxide generated by methyl viologen and tellurite. These phenotypes were readily reversed by complementation with the
hfq
gene expressed from its native promoter. The role of Hfq in the fitness of
A. pleuropneumoniae
was assessed in a natural host infection model. The
hfq
mutant failed to colonize porcine lungs and was outcompeted by the wild-type strain (median competitive index of 2 × 10
−5
). Our data demonstrate that the
in vivo
-induced gene
hfq
is involved in the regulation of PNAG-dependent biofilm formation, resistance to superoxide stress, and the fitness and virulence of
A. pleuropneumoniae
in pigs and begin to elucidate the role of an
in vivo
-induced gene in the pathogenesis of pleuropneumonia.
Effect of pedal cadence on the heterogeneity of muscle deoxygenation during moderate exercise
Authors: Zorgati Houssem , Collomp Katia , Amiot Virgile , Prieur Fabrice
Published: June 2013

This study examined the effect of pedal cadence on the heterogeneity of muscle deoxygenation during exercise of moderate intensity. Twelve healthy subjects performed 6 min of cycling at 40 and 100 r·min–1at 80% of the workload corresponding to the gas exchange threshold. Gas exchanges were measured breath by breath during each exercise. Muscle deoxygenation (HHb, i.e., O2extraction) was monitored continuously by near-infrared spectroscopy at eight sites on the vastus lateralis. The heterogeneity of HHb was assessed using the relative dispersion of the signal measured at the eight sites (i.e., 100 × standard deviation / mean). HHb was not altered by the pedal cadence, whereas pulmonary V̇O2was higher at 100 r·min–1than at 40 r·min–1(p < 0.001). The relative dispersion of HHb was significantly higher at 100 r·min–1than at 40 r·min–1(p < 0.001). These results indicate that pedal cadence has no effect on O2extraction but that an elevated cadence would increase muscle V̇O2, suggesting an increase in muscle blood flow. Elevated cadence also induced greater heterogeneity of the muscle’s V̇O2/Q̇O2delivery ratio, suggesting a change in the adequacy between O2demand and O2delivery in some regions of active muscle.
Relativistic elastic scattering of hydrogen atom by positron impact in a circularly polarized laser field
Authors: Manaut B. , Taj S. , El Idrissi M.
Published: June 2013

In the framework of the first Born approximation and using the Dirac–Volkov formalism, we investigate the relativistic model describing the laser assisted elastic differential cross sections (DCSs) for positron scattering by the hydrogen atom. Both the DCSs for electron and positron are notably modified by the circularly polarized laser field, particularly in the regime of high energies and medium intensities. Comparing the two numerical DCSs, we recover the well-known result that the elastic scattering differential cross sections with and without laser field for a hydrogen atom by electron and positron impact are the same (Greiner and Reinhardt. Quantum Electrodynamics, 2nd ed., Springer Verlag, New York, Berlin, Heidelberg. 1994). The numerical results reveal that the differential cross section for positron – hydrogen atom scattering is significantly reduced with the increase of the electric field strength.
BEC MODEL OF HIGH-TcSUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN LAYERED CUPRATES
Authors: LOMNITZ M. , VILLARREAL C. , DE LLANO M.
Published: June 2013

High-Tcsuperconductivity in layered cuprates is described in a BCS-BEC formalism with linearly-dispersive s- and d-wave Cooper pairs moving in quasi-2D finite-width layers around the CuO2planes. This yields a closed formula for Tcinvolving the layer width, the Debye frequency, the pairing energy and the in-plane penetration depth. The new formula has no free parameters and reasonably reproduces empirical values of superconducting Tcs for 11 different layered superconductors over a wide doping regime including YBCO itself as well as other compounds like LSCO, BSCCO and TBCCO. In agreement with the London formalism, the formula also yields a fair description of the Tcdependence of the lower critical magnetic field in highly underdoped YBCO.
ENERGY QUANTIZATION ON THE CURRENT-VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTIC OF NANOSCALE TWO-DIMENSIONAL MOSFET
Authors: KANG ENG SIEW , AHMADI MUHAMMAD TAGHI , ANWAR SOHAIL , ISMAIL RAZALI
Published: June 2013

The current-voltage characteristic for nanoscale MOSFET is presented based to the velocity saturation and quantum confinement. It has been clarified that the drain velocity which is saturated with an increased drain voltage limits the onset of the current saturation. In the presence of high electric field, the motion of the velocity saturation that is randomly oriented in the equilibrium becomes streamlined and unidirectional. The model presents the current-voltage characteristic from the drift-diffusion regime to the ballistic regime with the presence of the quantum confinement on the charge carrier distribution and the energy quantization. The obtained results are considered in the modeling of the current-voltage characteristics of nanoscale two-dimensional MOSFET and show good agreement with the experimental data without using any artificial parameters.
EPILEPTIC SEIZURE DETECTION IN EEG SIGNALS USING MULTIFRACTAL ANALYSIS AND WAVELET TRANSFORM
Authors: UTHAYAKUMAR R. , EASWARAMOORTHY D.
Published: June 2013

This paper explores the three different methods to explicitly recognize the healthy and epileptic EEG signals: Modified, Improved, and Advanced forms of Generalized Fractal Dimensions (GFD). The newly proposed scheme is based on GFD and the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for analyzing the EEG signals. First EEG signals are decomposed into approximation and detail coefficients using DWT and then GFD values of the original EEGs, approximation and detail coefficients are computed. Significant differences are observed among the GFD values of the healthy and epileptic EEGs allowing us to classify seizures with high accuracy. It is shown that the classification rate is very less accurate without DWT as a preprocessing step. The proposed idea is illustrated through the graphical and statistical tools. The EEG data is further tested for linearity by using normal probability plot and we proved that epileptic EEG had significant nonlinearity whereas healthy EEG distributed normally and similar to Gaussian linear process. Therefore, we conclude that the GFD and the wavelet decomposition through DWT are the strong indicators of the state of illness of epileptic patients.
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BEST PRACTICE PROCESS ELEMENTS AND OUTCOMES IN THE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRICITY SECTOR
Authors: WHITE LISA NICOLE , NOBLE BRAM F.
Published: June 2013

This paper examines the contribution of SEA in six international electricity sector planning case studies. All cases showed some "best practice" evidence such as participation, alternatives consideration and impact assessment; however, considerable variability was found in the types of alternatives considered and the approach to impact assessment and monitoring depending on the timing of SEA application in the PPP process. Regarding substantive contributions, SEA was identified by stakeholders as improving communication during planning and informing lower-level decision making, but fared less well in influencing the nature of the PPP at hand; only two cases clearly incorporated SEA recommendations into the final PPP. Overall, results show considerable potential for SEA to support PPP assessment and decision making in the electricity sector, but also a considerable need for improvements in understanding of the importance of the timing of SEA in the PPP process and how to integrate the results of SEA into PPP development.
The Formation and Dynamics of Super-Earth Planets
Authors: Haghighipour Nader
Published: June 2013

Super-Earths, objects slightly larger than Earth and slightly smaller than Uranus, have found a special place in exoplanetary science. As a new class of planetary bodies, these objects have challenged models of planet formation at both ends of the spectrum and have triggered a great deal of research on the composition and interior dynamics of rocky planets in connection to their masses and radii. Being relatively easier to detect than an Earth-sized planet at 1 AU around a G star, super-Earths have become the focus of worldwide observational campaigns to search for habitable planets. With a range of masses that allows these objects to retain moderate atmospheres and perhaps even plate tectonics, super-Earths may be habitable if they maintain long-term orbits in the habitable zones of their host stars. Given that in the past two years a few such potentially habitable super-Earths have in fact been discovered, it is necessary to develop a deep understanding of the formation and dynamical evolution of these objects. This article reviews the current state of research on the formation of super-Earths and discusses different models of their formation and dynamical evolution.
Extracting Earth's Elastic Wave Response from Noise Measurements
Authors: Snieder Roel , Larose Eric
Published: June 2013

Recent research has shown that noise can be turned from a nuisance into a useful seismic source. In seismology and other fields in science and engineering, the estimation of the system response from noise measurements has proven to be a powerful technique. To convey the essence of the method, we first treat the simplest case of a homogeneous medium to show how noise measurements can be used to estimate waves that propagate between sensors. We provide an overview of physics research—dating back more than 100 years—showing that random field fluctuations contain information about the system response. This principle has found extensive use in surface-wave seismology but can also be applied to the estimation of body waves. Because noise provides continuous illumination of the subsurface, the extracted response is ideally suited for time-lapse monitoring. We present examples of time-lapse monitoring as applied to the softening of soil after the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake, the detection of a precursor to a landslide, and temporal changes in the lunar soil.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in Animal Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Wei Rui-li , Teng Hai-juan , Yin Bo , Xu Yang , Du Yue , He Fang-pin , Chu Ke-tan , Luo Ben-yan , Zheng Guo-qing
Published: June 2013

Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) is a well-known Chinese herbal prescription for ischemic stroke. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to provide the current evidence for neuroprotective effects of BHD and its possible mechanisms in animal models of focal ischemia. A systematic literature search, through October 2012, was performed using six databases. The outcome measures assessed were infarct size and/or neurological score. Fifty-six studies with 1270 animals that met the inclusion criteria were identified. The median score for methodological quality was 3 with a range of 2 to 6. Compared with vehicle or no treatment controls, BHD gave a 37% improvement in outcome for all doses ranging from 1.0 g/kg to 60 g/kg at each time point that BHD was administered (P<0.01). Efficacy was higher in mouse models that utilized suture occlusion and temporary ischemia. The neuroprotective effects of BHD are involved in multiple mechanisms and act upon multiple cell types. In conclusion, BHD possesses substantial neuroprotective effects in experimental stroke probably as a result of the multitarget therapy strategy typically utilized in traditional Chinese medicine. Future research should examine the presence of possible experimental bias and an in-depth study of herbal compound preparations.
A Real-Valued Negative Selection Algorithm Based on Grid for Anomaly Detection
Authors: Zhang Ruirui , Li Tao , Xiao Xin
Published: June 2013

Negative selection algorithm is one of the main algorithms of artificial immune systems. However, candidate detectors randomly generated by traditional negative selection algorithms need to conduct self-tolerance with all selves in the training set in order to eliminate the immunological reaction. The matching process is the main time cost, which results in low generation efficiencies of detectors and application limitations of immune algorithms. A novel algorithm is proposed, named GB-RNSA. The algorithm analyzes distributions of the self set in real space and regards then-dimensional [0, 1] space as the biggest grid. Then the biggest grid is divided into a finite number of sub grids, and selves are filled in the corresponding subgrids at the meantime. The randomly generated candidate detector only needs to match selves who are in the grid where the detector is and in its neighbor grids, instead of all selves, which reduces the time cost of distance calculations. And before adding the candidate detector into mature detector set, certain methods are adopted to reduce duplication coverage between detectors, which achieves fewer detectors covering the nonself space as much as possible. Theory analysis and experimental results demonstrate that GB-RNSA lowers the number of detectors, time complexity, and false alarm rate.
A Sensor Positioning Scheme with High Accuracy in Nonuniform Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Park Junho , Park Hyuk , Seong Dong-ook , Yoo Jaesoo
Published: June 2013

In wireless sensor networks, a geographical positioning scheme is one of core technologies for sensor applications such as disaster monitoring, environment monitoring, and military services. For this reason, the research for range-free positioning schemes had progressing actively. And a density probability scheme based on the central limit theorem and normal distribution theory has been proposed to improve the location accuracy in nonuniform sensor network environments. The density probability scheme estimates 1-hop distance by using communication between nodes. After that, it estimates the final position of an unknown node. But the density probability scheme has a problem that it has equivalent 1-hop distance for all of nodes in the same area. To overcome this problem, we propose a novel sensor positioning scheme in non-uniform wireless sensor networks. As a result, the proposed scheme ensures the high accuracy of sensor positioning in non-uniform networks. To show the superiority of our proposed scheme, we compare it with the existing scheme such as DV-based position scheme. Our experimental results show that the proposed scheme improves by about 36% sensor positioning accuracy over the existing scheme on average even in non-uniform wireless sensor networks.
Reproductive Cycle of Marphysa sanguinea (Montagu, 1815) (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) in the Lagoon of Tunis
Authors: El Barhoumi Monia , Scaps Patrick , Zghal Fathia
Published: June 2013

The reproductive cycle of Marphysa sanguinea (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) was studied in the Lagoon of Tunis between May 2006 and May 2007. M. sanguinea is a gonochoric species. There were no morphological differences between males and females, and spawning occurred without epitokal metamorphosis. Gonads are not well defined in either sex. The process of spermatogenesis takes place in the coelomic cavity. Mature males show all stages of spermiogenesis at any one time. The ovaries of M. sanguinea consist of coelomic germ‐cell clusters surrounded by a thin envelope of follicle cells derived from the peritoneum. Germ cells in premeiotic and previtellogenic phases are observed in one cluster. In each cluster the more differentiated oocytes detach and float free in the coelomic cavity where they undergo vitellogenesis as solitary cells. The cytoplasmic material of the mature oocytes (diameter superior to 200 μm) is asymmetrically distributed; large lipid droplets and large yolk spheres occupy the vegetal pole of the oocyte while smaller yolk spheres are situated in the animal hemisphere. The female coelomic puncture has a heterogeneous aspect and shows different oocyte diameters. The reproductive period is more intense in winter period from January to March. Spawning occurs mainly in April.
Assessing Sediment-Nutrient Export Rate and Soil Degradation in Mai-Negus Catchment, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfahunegn Gebreyesus Brhane , Vlek Paul L. G.
Published: June 2013

Even though soil degradation challenges sustainable development, the use of degradation indicators such as nutrient export (NE) and nutrient replacement cost is not well documented at landform level. This study is aimed to investigate the extent of soil degradation, NE rates, and their replacement cost across landforms in the Mai-Negus catchment, northern Ethiopia. Different erosion-status sites (aggrading, stable, and eroded) in the landforms were identified, and soil samples were randomly collected and analysed. Nutrient export, replacement cost, and soil degradation were calculated following standard procedures. This study showed that soil degradation in the eroded sites ranged from 30 to 80% compared to the corresponding stable site soils, but the highest was recorded in the mountainous and central ridge landforms. Average NE of 95, 68, 9.1, 3.2, 2.5, and 0.07 kg ha−1 y−1 for soil calcium, carbon, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, respectively, was found from the landforms. Significantly strong relationships between NE and sediment yield in the landforms were observed. Annual nutrient replacement costs varied among the landforms though the highest was in the reservoir (€9204 in May 2010). This study thus suggests that while introducing antierosion measures, priority should be given to erosion sources to the reservoir such as mountainous and central ridge landforms.
Preparation and In Vitro and In Vivo Performance of Magnesium Ion Substituted Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Spherical Microscaffolds as Human Adipose Tissue‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Microcarriers
Authors: Kim Dong-Hyun , Kim Tae-Wan , Lee Ju Dong , Shin Keun-Koo , Jung Jin Sup , Hwang Kyu-Hong , Lee Jong Kook , Park Hong-Chae , Yoon Seog-Young
Published: June 2013

Magnesium ion substituted biphasic calcium phosphate (Mg‐BCP) bioceramic microscaffolds with spherical and porous morphology were successfully prepared using in situ coprecipitation and rotary spray drying atomization process for application of tissue engineering combined with human adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAT‐MSCs). After 4 weeks of immersion in Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS), Mg‐BCP micro‐scaffolds showed the enhanced biodegradation and bioactivity due to the substituted Mg2+ ion present in the BCP structure. In this study, it was observed that hAT‐MSCs have clearly attached on the surface of Mg‐BCP micro‐scaffolds. In addition, Mg‐BCP micro‐scaffolds exhibited the improved biocompatibility and osteoconductivity via in vitro and in vivo biological tests with hAT‐MSCs. Therefore, these bioceramic micro‐scaffolds had potential to be used as hAT‐MSCs microcarriers for biomedical applications.
Assessment of Respiration-Induced Motion and Its Impact on Treatment Outcome for Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Yan , Bao Yong , Zhang Li , Fan Wei , He Han , Sun Zong-Wen , Hu Xiao , Huang Shao-Min , Chen Ming , Deng Xiao-Wu
Published: June 2013

This study presented the analysis of free-breathing lung tumor motion characteristics using GE 4DCT and Varian RPM systems. Tumor respiratory movement was found to be associated with GTV size, the superior-inferior tumor location in the lung, and the attachment degree to rigid structure (e.g., chest wall, vertebrae, or mediastinum), with tumor location being the most important factor among the other two. Improved outcomes in survival and local control of 43 lung cancer patients were also reported. Consideration of respiration-induced motion based on 4DCT for lung cancer yields individualized margin and more accurate and safe target coverage and thus can potentially improve treatment outcome.
Vascular Adhesion Protein 1 in the Eye
Authors: Luo Wenting , Xie Fang , Zhang Zhongyu , Sun Dawei
Published: June 2013

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase/vascular adhesion protein-1 (SSAO/VAP-1), a dual-function molecule with adhesive and enzymatic properties, is expressed on the surface of vascular endothelial cells of mammals. It also exists as a soluble form (sVAP-1), which is implicated in oxidative stress via its enzymatic activity and can be a prognostic biomarker. Recent evidence suggests that VAP-1 is an important therapeutic target for several inflammation-related ocular diseases, such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR), by involving in the recruitment of leukocytes at sites of inflammation. Furthermore, VAP-1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of conjunctival inflammatory diseases such as pyogenic granulomas and the progression of conjunctival lymphoma. VAP-1 may be an alternative therapeutic target in ocular diseases. The in vivo imaging of inflammation using VAP-1 as a target molecule is a novel approach with a potential for early detection and characterization of inflammatory diseases. This paper reviews the critical roles of VAP-1 in ophthalmological diseases which may provide a novel research direction or a potent therapeutic strategy.
Active Component ofAntrodia cinnamomeaMycelia Targeting Head and Neck Cancer Initiating Cells through Exaggerated Autophagic Cell Death
Authors: Chang Ching-Wen , Chen Chien-Chih , Wu Meng-Ju , Chen Yu-Syuan , Chen Chin-Chu , Sheu Sen-Je , Lin Ting-Wei , Chou Shiu-Huey , Lin Shu-Chun , Liu Chung-Ji , Lee Te-Chang , Huang Chih-Yang , Lo Jeng-Fan
Published: June 2013

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly lethal cancer. Previously, we identify head and neck cancer initiating cells (HN-CICs), which are highly tumorigenic and resistant to conventional therapy. Therefore, development of drug candidates that effectively target HN-CICs would benefit future head and neck cancer therapy. In this study, we first successfully screened for an active component, named YMGKI-1, from natural products ofAntrodia cinnamomeaMycelia (ACM), which can target the stemness properties of HNSCC. Treatment of YMGKI-1 significantly downregulated the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, one of the characteristics of CIC in HNSCC cells. Additionally, the tumorigenic properties of HNSCC cells were attenuated by YMGKI-1 treatmentin vivo. Further, the stemness properties of HN-CICs, which are responsible for the malignancy of HNSCC, were also diminished by YMGKI-1 treatment. Strikingly, YMGKI-1 also effectively suppressed the cell viability of HN-CICs but not normal stem cells. Finally, YMGKI-1 induces the cell death of HN-CICs by dysregulating the exaggerated autophagic signaling pathways. Together, our results indicate that YMGKI-1 successfully lessens stemness properties and tumorigenicity of HN-CICs. These findings provide a new drug candidate from purified components of ACM as an alternative therapy for head and neck cancer in the future.
Extrahepatic 25-Hydroxylation of Vitamin D3in an Engineered Osteoblast Precursor Cell Line Exploring the Influence on Cellular Proliferation and Matrix Maturation during Bone Development
Authors: Mason Shelley S. , Kohles Sean S. , Winn Shelley R. , Zelick Randy D.
Published: June 2013

Osteoblastic precursors experience distinct stages during differentiation and bone development, which include proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) maturation, and ECM mineralization. It is well known that vitamin D plays a large role in the regulation of bone mineralization and homeostasis via the endocrine system. The activation of vitamin D requires two sequential hydroxylation steps, first in the kidney and then in the liver, in order to carry out its role in calcium homeostasis. Recent research has demonstrated that human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts can metabolize the immediate vitamin D precursor 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(25OHD3) to the active steroid 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(1,25OH2D3) and elicit an osteogenic response. However, reports of extrahepatic metabolism of vitamin D3, the parental vitamin D precursor, have been limited. In this study, we investigated whether osteoblast precursors have the capacity to convert vitamin D3to 1,25OH2D3and examined the potential of vitamin D3to induce 1,25OH2D3associated biological activities in osteoblast precursors. It was demonstrated that the engineered osteoblast precursor derived from human marrow (OPC1) is capable of metabolizing vitamin D3to 1,25OH2D3in a dose-dependent manner. It was also demonstrated that administration of vitamin D3leads to the increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity associated with osteoblast ECM maturation and calcium deposits and a decrease in cellular proliferation in both osteoblast precursor cell lines OPC1 and MC3T3-E1. These findings provide a two-dimensional culture foundation for future three-dimensional engineered tissue studies using the OPC1 cell line.
A Unique Case of Pneumatised Styloid Process with Cholesteatoma
Authors: Alam Mostayn , Dwivedi Raghav C. , Riffat Faruque , Scoffings Daniel , Moffat David , Jani Piyush
Published: June 2013

Pneumatisation of styloid process is a very rare finding and has never been reported previously. We present a unique case of a pneumatised styloid process with a cholesteatoma arising within the cavity. We describe the clinical features, associated radiological findings, and management of this lesion.
PLZF Confers Effector Functions to Donor T Cells That Preserve Graft-versus-Tumor Effects while Attenuating GVHD
Authors: Ghosh Arnab , Holland Amanda M. , Dogan Yildirim , Yim Nury L. , Rao Uttam K. , Young Lauren F. , West Mallory L. , Singer Natalie V. , Lee Hae , Na Il-Kang , Tsai Jennifer J. , Jenq Robert R. , Penack Olaf , Hanash Alan M. , Lezcano Cecilia , Murphy George F. , Liu Chen , Sadelain Michel , Sauer Martin G. , Sant'Angelo Derek , van den Brink Marcel R.M.
Published: June 2013

Efforts to limit GVHD mediated by alloreactive donor T cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation are limited by a concomitant decrease in graft-versus-tumor (GVT) activity and increased possibilities of tumor relapse. Using a novel approach, we adoptively transferred conventional T cells expressing the transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF), which confers effector properties resembling invariant natural killer T cells, such as copious production of cytokines under suboptimal stimulation. PLZF expression in T-cell allografts attenuates expansion of alloreactive T cells, leading to lower GVHD. Intact alloreactivity-driven antitumor cytokine responses result in preserved GVT effects, leading to improved survival. Our findings suggest that therapy with PLZF-overexpressing T cells would result in overall improved outcomes due to less GVHD and intact GVT effects. Cancer Res; 73(15); 4687–96. ©2013 AACR.
Loss of p120-Catenin Induces Metastatic Progression of Breast Cancer by Inducing Anoikis Resistance and Augmenting Growth Factor Receptor Signaling
Authors: Schackmann Ron C.J. , Klarenbeek Sjoerd , Vlug Eva J. , Stelloo Suzan , van Amersfoort Miranda , Tenhagen Milou , Braumuller Tanya M. , Vermeulen Jeroen F. , van der Groep Petra , Peeters Ton , van der Wall Elsken , van Diest Paul J. , Jonkers Jos , Derksen Patrick W.B.
Published: June 2013

Metastatic breast cancer remains the chief cause of cancer-related death among women in the Western world. Although loss of cell–cell adhesion is key to breast cancer progression, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that drive tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, we show that somatic loss of p120-catenin (p120) in a conditional mouse model of noninvasive mammary carcinoma results in formation of stromal-dense tumors that resemble human metaplastic breast cancer and metastasize to lungs and lymph nodes. Loss of p120 in anchorage-dependent breast cancer cell lines strongly promoted anoikis resistance through hypersensitization of growth factor receptor (GFR) signaling. Interestingly, p120 deletion also induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines, a feature that likely underlies the formation of the prometastatic microenvironment in p120-negative mammary carcinomas. Our results establish a preclinical platform to develop tailored intervention regimens that target GFR signals to treat p120-negative metastatic breast cancers. Cancer Res; 73(15); 4937–49. ©2013 AACR.
Dysfunction of annexin A2 contributes to hyperglycaemia-induced loss of human endothelial cell surface fibrinolytic activity
Authors: Yu Zhanyang , Fan Xiang , Liu Ning , Yan Min , Chen Zhong , Lo Eng H. , Hajjar Katherine A. , Dai Haibin , Wang Xiaoying
Published: June 2013

Hyperglycaemia impairs fibrinolytic activity on the surface of endothelial cells, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that hyperglycaemia causes dysfunction of the endothelial membrane protein annexin A2, thereby leading to an overall reduction of fibrinolytic activity. Hyperglycaemia for 7 days significantly reduced cell surface fibrinolytic activity in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Hyperglycaemia also decreased tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen, and annexin A2 mRNA and protein expression, while increasing plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). No changes in p11 mRNA or protein expression were detected. Hyperglycaemia significantly increased AGE-modified forms of total cellular and membrane annexin A2. The hyperglycemia-associated reduction in fibrinolytic activity was fully restored upon incubation with recombinant annexin A2 (rA2), but not AGE-modified annexin A2 or exogenous t-PA. Hyperglycaemia decreased t-PA, upregulated PAI-1 and induced AGE-related disruption of annexin A2 function, all of which contributed to the overall reduction in endothelial cell surface fibrinolytic activity. Further investigations to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and pathophysiological implications of A2 derivatisation might ultimately lead to a better understanding of mechanisms of impaired vascular fibrinolysis, and to development of new interventional strategies for the thrombotic vascular complications in diabetes.
Euglycemic Clamp Insulin Sensitivity and Longitudinal Systolic Blood Pressure
Authors: Petrie John R. , Malik Muhammad Omar , Balkau Beverley , Perry Colin G. , Højlund Kurt , Pataky Zoltan , Nolan John , Ferrannini Ele , Natali Andrea
Published: June 2013

Insulin resistance may be an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension, but change in blood pressure (BP) over time has not been adequately studied in healthy individuals fully characterized for insulin sensitivity. In the Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular disease (RISC) study, we measured insulin sensitivity (M/I) using the euglycemic clamp technique in 1073 healthy European adults (587 women, 486 men) aged 30 to 60 years followed up 3 years later. Systolic BP (SBP) at baseline was higher in insulin-resistant women (ie, those in the low sex-specific M/I tertile) compared with those in the intermediate (
P
<0.001) or high tertiles (
P
=0.06; mean±SD: 117±13, 111±12, 114±12 mm Hg, respectively). It did not differ across M/I tertiles in men. After adjustment for age, body mass index, baseline SBP, and other covariates, low insulin sensitivity (M/I) predicted a longitudinal rise in SBP in women but not in men; M/I was not associated with change in diastolic BP. SBP rose over time in both sexes and within all M/I tertiles (
P
<0.05), except in women with high insulin sensitivity. Therefore, in women (but not in men), low insulin sensitivity was associated with higher SBP at 3 years, and high insulin sensitivity was associated with a lower rise in SBP over time.