bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Which factors influence patients’ maximum acceptable waiting time for cataract surgery? – a questionnaire survey
Authors: Weingessel Birgit , Richter‐Mueksch Sibylla , Vécsei‐Marlovits Pia V.
Published: June 2010

Purpose:  To evaluate patients’ maximum acceptable waiting time (MAWT) and to assess the determinants of patient perceptions of MAWT.

Methods:  A total of 500 consecutive patients with cataract were asked to fill out a preoperative questionnaire, addressing patients’ MAWT to undergo cataract surgery. Patients’ visual impairment (VF‐14 score), education, profession and social status were evaluated, and an ophthalmologic examination was performed. Univariate analysis included Spearman’s correlation test, unpaired Student’s t‐test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Univariate and multivariate associations were calculated using unconditional logistic regression.

Results:  The mean MAWT was 3.17 ± 2.12 months. The mean VF‐14 score was 72.10 ± 22.54. Between VF‐14 score and MAWT, there was a significant correlation (r = 0.180, p = 0.004). Patients with higher education (high school, university) accepted significantly longer MAWT (3.92 ± 2.38 months versus 3.02 ± 2.00 months, p = 0.009). Patients who had self‐noticed visual impairment were nearly four times (OR: 3.88, 95% CI = 2.07–7.28, p < 0.001) more likely to accept only MAWT of <3 months.

Conclusions:  Patients with low tolerance for waiting had greater self‐reported difficulty with vision. Patients’ acceptance of waiting was not associated with clinical visual acuity measures. Education, ability to work, living independently and taking care of dependents were also strong predictors from patients’ perspective. Considering the implementation of standards for waiting lists, these facts should be taken into account.
West‐Libyan propolis and rosemary have synergistic anti‐tumor effect against 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate‐induced skin tumor in BULB/C mice previously initiated with 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene
Authors: Abd El‐Rahman Sahar S
Published: June 2010

Background and aim: Many dietary constituents are chemopreventive in animal models and experiments with cultured cells are revealing various potential mechanisms of action. Many of these compounds can prevent, or greatly reduce, initiation of carcinogenesis, or can act on cell proliferation. In this study we examined the effects of topical application of propolis extract, rosemary extract and a mixture of both extracts together on 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate‐induced tumor promotion in mice previously initiated with 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Methods: The propolis extract, rosemary extract and a mixture of both extracts together were applied topically 15 min prior to the application of 5 nmol TPA for 20 weeks. Results: A decrease in the number of skin tumors per mouse by 27, 39, 71% was seen, as well as a decrease in the number of mice with tumors by 22, 31, 75% and inhibited the tumor size per mouse by 46, 62, 72% for propolis, rosemary and both together respectively. Also TUNEL data showed more increased incidence of TUNEL positivity among cancer cells in both topical applications together than their separate application on the back skin of mice. Conclusions: It is likely that the combination of their activities such as antioxidant and cytotoxic ones as well as the combination of several components in both are responsible for their inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis. Further investigations are recommended in order to establish the conditions under which topical application of propolis as well as rosemary produces either protective or deleterious effects.
Endosymbiotic bacterium Protochlamydia can survive in acanthamoebae following encystation
Authors: Nakamura Shinji , Matsuo Junji , Hayashi Yasuhiro , Kawaguchi Kouhei , Yoshida Mitsutaka , Takahashi Kaori , Mizutani Yoshihiko , Yao Takashi , Yamaguchi Hiroyuki
Published: June 2010

Obligate intracellular bacteria are commonly seen as endosymbionts of acanthamoebae. However, whether endosymbionts can survive amoebal encystations remains a significant challenge in cellular biology. The survival of the endosymbiotic bacteria Protochlamydia belonging to environmental chlamydiae found in an amoebal isolate that we have previously reported (Environmental Microbiology Reports, DOI: 10.1111/j.1758‐2229.2009.00094.x, 2009) following encystation was therefore assessed. The bacteria were observed in cysts and trophozoites reverted from cysts by analysis with transmission electron microscope, and the bacterial 16S rRNA transcripts were detected in amoeba cultures following encystations by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. Furthermore, the bacterial growth was also confirmed, by fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis and the AIU assay that we have previously established (Applied Environmental Microbiology, 74: 6397‐6404, 2008), in trophozoites reverted from cysts stored at 4°C for up to a month after encystation. Thus, these results demonstrated that Protochlamydia could survive in acanthamoebae following encystation. Our findings suggest that amoeba cysts might be further studied in order to understand their role in the environmental survival of endosymbionts.
The Latest PARP Sensation
Authors: Bentley-Lewis Rhonda
Published: June 2010

Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase serves as a therapy for peripheral diabetic neuropathy.
Contribution of a Plasmid-Borne
bla
OXA-58
Gene with Its Hybrid Promoter Provided by IS
1006
and an IS
Aba3
-Like Element to β-Lactam Resistance in
Acinetobacter
Genomic Species 13TU
Authors: Chen Te-Li , Chang Wei-Che , Kuo Shu-Chen , Lee Yi-Tzu , Chen Chien-Pei , Siu Leung-Kei , Cho Wen-Long , Fung Chang-Phone
Published: June 2010

The contribution of the
bla
OXA-58
gene and its promoter to β-lactam resistance has not been validated in
Acinetobacter
spp. other than
Acinetobacter baumannii
. We identified a multidrug-resistant (including carbapenem resistance)
Acinetobacter
genomic species 13TU in which
bla
OXA-58
was the only detected carbapenemase gene. The
bla
OXA-58
gene was plasmid located, flanked by IS
Aba3
(downstream) and an IS
Aba3-
like element (upstream). An IS
1006
element was inserted into IS
Aba3
-like (IS
1006
-ΔIS
Aba3
-like) to generate a hybrid promoter for
bla
OXA-58
, with a −35 promoter located in IS
1006
and a −10 promoter in IS
Aba3
-like. The reference strain of
Acinetobacter
genomic species 13TU, ATCC 17903, revealed higher MICs of amoxicillin, ticarcillin, and piperacillin and heteroresistance to imipenem and meropenem when it was transformed with a shuttle vector containing a fragment encompassing ΔIS
Aba3
-like-
bla
OXA-58
, compared to the same host containing only
bla
OXA-58
. When the fragment was changed from ΔIS
Aba3
-like-
bla
OXA-58
to IS
1006
-ΔIS
Aba3
-like-
bla
OXA-58
, the ATCC 17903 transformant revealed a markedly higher level of
bla
OXA-58
transcription (12-fold), increased cefuroxime and piperacillin-tazobactam MICs, and homoresistance to imipenem and meropenem. Different roles of the insertion elements preceding the
bla
OXA-58
gene in
Acinetobacter
genomic species 13TU are demonstrated. The IS
Aba3
-like-
-bla
OXA-58
construct can mediate resistance to penicillin derivatives but only heteroresistance to carbapenems. The insertion of IS
1006
into IS
Aba3
-like, generating a hybrid promoter, could further enhance the transcription of
bla
OXA-58
and mediate homoresistance to carbapenems and also enhanced resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam.
In Vitro
Activities of Quinine and Other Antimalarials and
pfnhe
Polymorphisms in
Plasmodium
Isolates from Kenya
Authors: Okombo John , Kiara Steven M. , Rono Josea , Mwai Leah , Pole Lewa , Ohuma Eric , Borrmann Steffen , Ochola Lynette Isabella , Nzila Alexis
Published: June 2010

Resistance to the amino alcohol quinine has been associated with polymorphisms in
pfnhe
, a sodium hydrogen exchanger. We investigated the role of this gene in quinine resistance
in vitro
in isolates from Kenya. We analyzed
pfnhe
whole-gene polymorphisms, using capillary sequencing, and
pfcrt
at codon 76 (
pfcrt
-76) and
pfmdr1
at codon 86 (
pfmdr1
-86), using PCR-enzyme restriction methodology, in 29 isolates from Kilifi, Kenya, for association with the
in vitro
activities of quinine and 2 amino alcohols, mefloquine and halofantrine.
In vitro
activity was assessed as the drug concentration that inhibits 50% of parasite growth (IC
50
). The median IC
50
s of quinine, halofantrine, and mefloquine were 92, 22, and 18 nM, respectively. The presence of 2 DNNND repeats in microsatellite ms4760 of
pfnhe
was associated with reduced susceptibility to quinine (60 versus 227 nM for 1 and 2 repeats, respectively;
P
< 0.05), while 3 repeats were associated with restoration of susceptibility. The decrease in susceptibility conferred by the 2 DNNND repeats was more pronounced in parasites harboring the
pfmdr1
-86 mutation. No association was found between susceptibility to quinine and the
pfcrt
-76 mutation or between susceptibility to mefloquine or halofantrine and the
pfnhe
gene and the
pfcrt
-76 and
pfmdr1
-86 mutations. Using previously published data on the
in vitro
activities of chloroquine, lumefantrine, piperaquine, and dihydroartemisinin, we investigated the association of their activities with
pfnhe
polymorphism. With the exception of a modulation of the activity of lumefantrine by a mutation at position 1437,
pfnhe
did not modulate their activities. Two DNNND repeats combined with the
pfmdr1
-86 mutation could be used as an indicator of reduced susceptibility to quinine.
Effects of Four Different Meal Types on the Population Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Rifapentine in Healthy Male Volunteers
Authors: Zvada Simbarashe P. , Van Der Walt Jan-Stefan , Smith Peter J. , Fourie P. Bernard , Roscigno Giorgio , Mitchison Denis , Simonsson Ulrika S. H. , McIlleron Helen M.
Published: June 2010

Rifapentine and its primary metabolite, 25-desacetyl rifapentine, are active against mycobacterium tuberculosis. The objectives of this study were to describe the population pharmacokinetics of rifapentine and 25-desacetyl rifapentine in fasting and fed states. Thirty-five male healthy volunteers were enrolled in an open-label, randomized, sequential, five-way crossover study. Participants received a single 900-mg dose of rifapentine after meals with high fat (meal A), bulk and low fat (meal B), bulk and high fat (meal C), high fluid and low fat (meal D), or 200 ml of water (meal E). Venous blood samples were collected over 72 h after each rifapentine dose, and plasma was analyzed for rifapentine and 25-desacetyl rifapentine using high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic data were analyzed by nonlinear mixed-effect modeling using NONMEM. Compared with the fasting state, meal A had the greatest effect on rifapentine oral bioavailability, increasing it by 86%. Meals B, C, and D resulted in 33%, 46%, and 49% increases in rifapentine oral bioavailability, respectively. Similar trends were observed for 25-desacetyl rifapentine. As meal behavior has a substantial impact on rifapentine exposure, it should be considered in the evaluation of optimal dosing approaches.
Population Dynamics of Antibiotic Treatment: a Mathematical Model and Hypotheses for Time-Kill and Continuous-Culture Experiments
Authors: Levin Bruce R. , Udekwu Klas I.
Published: June 2010

The objectives of the study were to develop a quantitative framework for generating hypotheses for and interpreting the results of time-kill and continuous-culture experiments designed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics and to relate the results of these experiments to MIC data. A mathematical model combining the pharmacodynamics (PD) of antibiotics with the population dynamics of bacteria exposed to these drugs in batch and continuous cultures was developed, and its properties were analyzed numerically (using computer simulations). These models incorporate details of (i) the functional form of the relationship between the concentrations of the antibiotics and rates of kill, (ii) the density of the target population of bacteria, (iii) the growth rate of the bacteria, (iv) byproduct resources generated from dead bacteria, (v) antibiotic-refractory subpopulations, persistence, and wall growth (biofilms), and (vi) density-independent and -dependent decay in antibiotic concentrations. Each of the factors noted above can profoundly affect the efficacy of antibiotics. Consequently, if the traditional (CLSI) MICs represent the sole pharmacodynamic parameter, PK/PD indices can fail to predict the efficacy of antibiotic treatment protocols. More comprehensive pharmacodynamic data obtained with time-kill and continuous-culture experiments would improve the predictive value of these indices. The mathematical model developed here can facilitate the design and interpretation of these experiments. The validity of the assumptions behind the construction of these models and the predictions (hypotheses) generated from the analysis of their properties can be tested experimentally. These hypotheses are presented, suggestions are made about how they can be tested, and the existing statuses of these tests are briefly discussed.
PSI-7851, a Pronucleotide of β-
d
-2′-Deoxy-2′-Fluoro-2′-
C
-Methyluridine Monophosphate, Is a Potent and Pan-Genotype Inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Authors: Lam Angela M. , Murakami Eisuke , Espiritu Christine , Steuer Holly M. Micolochick , Niu Congrong , Keilman Meg , Bao Haiying , Zennou Veronique , Bourne Nigel , Julander Justin G. , Morrey John D. , Smee Donald F. , Frick David N. , Heck Julie A. , Wang Peiyuan , Nagarathnam Dhanapalan , Ross Bruce S. , Sofia Michael J. , Otto Michael J. , Furman Phillip A.
Published: June 2010

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B RNA polymerase facilitates the RNA synthesis step during the HCV replication cycle. Nucleoside analogs targeting the NS5B provide an attractive approach to treating HCV infections because of their high barrier to resistance and pan-genotype activity. PSI-7851, a pronucleotide of β-
d
-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-2′-
C
-methyluridine-5′-monophosphate, is a highly active nucleotide analog inhibitor of HCV for which a phase 1b multiple ascending dose study of genotype 1-infected individuals was recently completed (M. Rodriguez-Torres, E. Lawitz, S. Flach, J. M. Denning, E. Albanis, W. T. Symonds, and M. M. Berry, Abstr. 60th Annu. Meet. Am. Assoc. Study Liver Dis., abstr. LB17, 2009). The studies described here characterize the
in vitro
antiviral activity and cytotoxicity profile of PSI-7851. The 50% effective concentration for PSI-7851 against the genotype 1b replicon was determined to be 0.075 ± 0.050 μM (mean ± standard deviation). PSI-7851 was similarly effective against replicons derived from genotypes 1a, 1b, and 2a and the genotype 1a and 2a infectious virus systems. The active triphosphate, PSI-7409, inhibited recombinant NS5B polymerases from genotypes 1 to 4 with comparable 50% inhibitory concentrations. PSI-7851 is a specific HCV inhibitor, as it lacks antiviral activity against other closely related and unrelated viruses. PSI-7409 also lacked any significant activity against cellular DNA and RNA polymerases. No cytotoxicity, mitochondrial toxicity, or bone marrow toxicity was associated with PSI-7851 at the highest concentration tested (100 μM). Cross-resistance studies using replicon mutants conferring resistance to modified nucleoside analogs showed that PSI-7851 was less active against the S282T replicon mutant, whereas cells expressing a replicon containing the S96T/N142T mutation remained fully susceptible to PSI-7851. Clearance studies using replicon cells demonstrated that PSI-7851 was able to clear cells of HCV replicon RNA and prevent viral rebound.
Brain Microdialysis Study of Meropenem in Two Patients with Acute Brain Injury
Authors: Dahyot-Fizelier Claire , Timofeev Ivan , Marchand Sandrine , Hutchinson Peter , Debaene Bertrand , Menon David , Mimoz Olivier , Gupta Arun , Couet William
Published: June 2010

Concentrations of unbound meropenem in the cerebral extracellular fluid (ECF) of two patients with acute brain injury were assessed by microdialysis. Brain ECF unbound-meropenem concentrations were lower than serum unbound-meropenem concentrations, with brain-to-serum area under the concentration-time curve ratios of 0.73 and 0.14. A pharmacokinetic model was developed to fit the experimental data adequately.
Extracellular ATP and P2Y Receptor Activation Induce a Proinflammatory Host Response in the Human Urinary Tract
Authors: Säve Susanne , Persson Katarina
Published: June 2010

Extracellular ATP can be released by many cell types under conditions of cellular stress and signals through activation of purinergic receptors. Bladder uroepithelial cells grownin vitrohave previously been shown to release ATP in response to stretch. In the present study, we investigated ATP release from uroepithelial cells infected with bacteria and the effect of ATP on the host cell proinflammatory interleukin 8 (IL-8) response. The human kidney epithelial cell line A498 and the human uroepithelial cell line UROtsa were grown in culture and stimulated by the uropathogenicEscherichia coli(UPEC) IA2 strain or the stable ATP analogue ATP-γ-S. ATP and IL-8 levels were measured in cell culture medium with a luciferin-luciferase assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The results showed that UPEC infection of uroepithelial cells for 1 h significantly increased (P< 0.01) the extracellular ATP levels. ATP-γ-S (10 and 100 μM) stimulated release of IL-8 from UROtsa and A498 cells after 6 and 24 h. Experiments with different purinoceptor agonists suggested that P2Y receptors, and not P2X receptors, were responsible for the ATP-γ-S-induced IL-8 release. The potency profile further suggested involvement of P2Y1, P2Y2, and/or P2Y11receptors, and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) studies confirmed that the cells expressed these receptors. The amount of IL-8 released increased 12-fold in UPEC-infected cells, and apyrase, an enzyme that degrades ATP, reduced this increase by approximately 50%. The present study suggests that enhanced ATP release and P2Y receptor activation during urinary tract infection may represent a novel, non-TLR4-mediated mechanism for production of proinflammatory IL-8 in human urinary tract epithelial cells.
Identification of Lipoprotein MslA as a Neoteric Virulence Factor ofMycoplasma gallisepticum
Authors: Szczepanek S. M. , Frasca S. , Schumacher V. L. , Liao X. , Padula M. , Djordjevic S. P. , Geary S. J.
Published: June 2010

Many lipoproteins are expressed on the surfaces of mycoplasmas, and some have been implicated as playing roles in pathogenesis. Family 2 lipoproteins ofMycoplasma pneumoniaehave a conserved “mycoplasma lipoprotein X” central domain and a “mycoplasma lipoprotein 10” C-terminal domain and are differentially expressed in response to environmental conditions. Homologues of family 2 lipoproteins areMycoplasmaspecific and include the lipoprotein ofMycoplasma gallisepticum, encoded by the MGA0674 gene. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of theM. gallisepticumlive attenuated vaccine strain F and the virulent strain Rlow, reported in this study, indicated that MGA0674 is one of several differentially expressed genes. The MGA0674-encoded lipoprotein is a proteolytically processed, immunogenic, TX-114 detergent-phase protein which appears to have antigenic divergence between field strains Rlowand S6. We examined the virulence of an RlowΔMGA0674 mutant (P1H9)in vivoand observed reduced recovery and attenuated virulence in the tracheas of experimentally infected chickens. The virulence of two additional RlowΔMGA0674 mutants, 2162 and 2204, was assessed in a secondin vivovirulence experiment. These mutants exhibited partial to complete attenuationin vivo, but recovery was observed more frequently. Since onlyMycoplasmaspecies harbor homologues of MGA0674, the gene product has been renamed “Mycoplasma-specific lipoprotein A” (MslA). Collectively, these data indicate that MslA is an immunogenic lipoprotein exhibiting reduced expression in an attenuated strain and plays a role inM. gallisepticumvirulence.
Salmonella entericaReplication in Hemophagocytic Macrophages Requires Two Type Three Secretion Systems
Authors: Silva-Herzog Eugenia , Detweiler Corrella S.
Published: June 2010

Salmonella entericaserotype Typhimurium is a natural pathogen of mice, which acquire the bacteria orally and develop systemic acute infections that can become subacute to chronic infections.S.Typhimurium can reside within hemophagocytic macrophages (HMs) in SV129S6 mice, an Slc11a1/Nramp1+/+inbred strain. HMs are activated macrophages which have ingested viable hematopoietic cells and are a key characteristic of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Here we show that modestS.Typhimurium replication in HMs begins at 18 h postinfection, while activated macrophages kill the bacteria. For bacterial replication to occur, the phagocytosed viable cells must be grown to a low cell density and the multiplicity of infection must be low. HMs are able to kill phagocytosedEscherichia coli, produce reactive nitrogen species, and retainS.Typhimurium within membrane-bound vesicles.S.Typhimurium does not rescueE. coliupon coinfection of HMs. This indicates thatS.Typhimurium does not cause HMs to become permissive for other microbes; rather,S.Typhimurium is especially equipped to survive within HMs. Two type three secretion systems (T3SS) encoded byS.Typhimurium are required for replication within HMs. While the T3SS withinSalmonellapathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) has been previously shown to be important for bacterial survival in cells, a role for SPI-1 in replication in macrophages has not been reported. The requirement for SPI-1 in HMs may help explain the role of SPI-1 during long-term colonization of mice.
Signaling through C/EBP Homologous Protein and Death Receptor 5 and Calpain Activation Differentially Regulate THP-1 Cell Maturation-Dependent Apoptosis Induced by Shiga Toxin Type 1
Authors: Lee Moo-Seung , Cherla Rama P. , Lentz Erin K. , Leyva-Illades Dinorah , Tesh Vernon L.
Published: June 2010

Shiga toxins (Stxs) induce apoptosis via activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in many cell types. Toxin-mediated activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response was shown to be instrumental in initiating apoptosis in THP-1 myeloid leukemia cells. THP-1 cells responded to Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1) in a cell maturation-dependent manner, undergoing rapid apoptosis in the undifferentiated state but reduced and delayed apoptosis in differentiated cells. The onset of apoptosis was associated with calpain activation and changes in expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), Bcl-2 family members, and death receptor 5 (DR5). Ligation of DR5 by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) activates the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. We show here that expression of TRAIL and DR5 is increased by Stx1 treatment. Addition of exogenous TRAIL enhances, and anti-TRAIL antibodies inhibit, Stx1-induced apoptosis of THP-1 cells. Silencing of CHOP or DR5 expression selectively prevented caspase activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and Stx1-induced apoptosis of macrophage-like THP-1 cells. In contrast, the rapid kinetics of apoptosis induction in monocytic THP-1 cells correlated with rates of calpain cleavage. The results suggest that CHOP-DR5 signaling and calpain activation differentially contribute to cell maturation-dependent Stx1-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of these signaling pathways may protect cells from Stx cytotoxicity.
Microbial Electrosynthesis: Feeding Microbes Electricity To Convert Carbon Dioxide and Water to Multicarbon Extracellular Organic Compounds
Authors: Nevin Kelly P. , Woodard Trevor L. , Franks Ashley E. , Summers Zarath M. , Lovley Derek R.
Published: June 2010

The possibility of providing the acetogenic microorganism
Sporomusa ovata
with electrons delivered directly to the cells with a graphite electrode for the reduction of carbon dioxide to organic compounds was investigated. Biofilms of
S. ovata
growing on graphite cathode surfaces consumed electrons with the reduction of carbon dioxide to acetate and small amounts of 2-oxobutyrate. Electrons appearing in these products accounted for over 85% of the electrons consumed. These results demonstrate that microbial production of multicarbon organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water with electricity as the energy source is feasible.

IMPORTANCE
Reducing carbon dioxide to multicarbon organic chemicals and fuels with electricity has been identified as an attractive strategy to convert solar energy that is harvested intermittently with photovoltaic technology and store it as covalent chemical bonds. The organic compounds produced can then be distributed via existing infrastructure. Nonbiological electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide has proven problematic. The results presented here suggest that microbiological catalysts may be a robust alternative, and when coupled with photovoltaics, current-driven microbial carbon dioxide reduction represents a new form of photosynthesis that might convert solar energy to organic products more effectively than traditional biomass-based strategies.
New cobalt(II)-based electrocatalyst for reduction of trichloroacetic acid and bromate
Authors: Zhuang Rui Rui , Jian Fang Fang , Wang Ke Fei
Published: June 2010

A novel cobalt(II) complex trans-[Co(C6H11N3)4(SCN)2] (C6H11N3 = 1-butyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The cobalt center is six-coordinate, CoIIN6, the axial positions being occupied by the isothiocyanate ligands and the equatorial positions by the 1-butyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole ligands. A conductive carbon paste electrode (Co-CPE), comprised of the studied complex and a carbon powder, was fabricated by the direct mixing method. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic performance of Co-CPE were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The Co-CPE shows electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of trichloroacetic acid and bromate. The detection limit and sensitivity are 0.01 μmol dm–3 and 76.86 μA μmol–1 dm3 for trichloroacetic acid, and 0.02 μmol dm–3 and 96.19 μA μmol–1 dm3 for bromate, respectively. The modified electrode features good reproducibility, high stability, low detection limit, technical simplicity and rapid preparation, which is important for practical applications.
QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT IN THE SYSTEM OF ATOMS IN BELL STATE INTERACTING WITH THE TWO-MODE ODD–EVEN ENTANGLED COHERENT FIELD
Authors: ZOU YAN
Published: June 2010

We studied the entanglement properties of the system consisting of two atoms in Bell states interacting with the two-mode odd-even entangled coherent field by utilizing the complete quantum theory. The influences of the initial Bell state of the atoms, the intensity of field, the coupling strength of interaction between atoms and the initial degree of the entanglement between the two-mode fields on the atomic entropy and on negativity are discussed by using numerical calculations. It turns out that the two atoms can keep their initial maximal entangled state while the two-atom and the two-mode field keep their initial disentangled state if the two atoms are initially in |β11〉. Therefore, for the initial atomic state |β00〉 or |β01〉, the increasing of the field intensity can be a help to prepare the atom-field entanglement, and for |β10〉, it is beneficial for the atom–atom entanglement. Meanwhile, for the initial atomic state |β10〉 and |β01〉, strong coupling strength of interaction between atoms is beneficial for the atom–atom entanglement, but for |β00〉, it can be helpful for the atom-field entanglement.
SOME FEATURES OF THE STATE-SPACE TRAJECTORIES FOLLOWED BY ROBUST ENTANGLED FOUR-QUBIT STATES DURING DECOHERENCE
Authors: MAJTEY A. P. , BORRAS A. , PLASTINO A. R. , CASAS M. , PLASTINO A.
Published: June 2010

In a recent work (Borras et al., Phys. Rev. A79 (2009) 022108), we have determined, for various decoherence channels, four-qubit initial states exhibiting the most robust possible entanglement. Here, we explore some geometrical features of the trajectories in state space generated by the decoherence process, connecting the initially robust pure state with the completely decohered mixed state obtained at the end of the evolution. We characterize these trajectories by recourse to the distance between the concomitant time-dependent mixed state and different reference states.
SEMILOCAL CONVERGENCE OF A STIRLING-LIKE METHOD IN BANACH SPACES
Authors: PARHI S. K. , GUPTA D. K.
Published: June 2010

The aim of this paper is to establish the semilocal convergence of a third order Stirling–like method employed for solving nonlinear equations in Banach spaces by using the first Fréchet derivative, which satisfies the Lipschitz continuity condition. This makes it possible to avoid the evaluation of higher order Fréchet derivatives which are computationally difficult at times or may not even exist. The recurrence relations are used for convergence analysis. A convergence theorem is given for deriving error bounds and the domains of existence and uniqueness of solutions. The R order of the method is also established to be equal to 3. Finally, two numerical examples are worked out, and the results obtained are compared with the existing results. It is observed that our convergence analysis is more effective.
Spatial and temporal diagenetic evolution of syntectonic sediments in a pulsatory uplifted coastal escarpment, evidenced from the Plio-Pleistocene, Makran subduction zone, Iran
Authors: Hosseini-Barzi Mahboubeh
Published: June 2010

Plio-Pleistocene sediments in coastal escarpments of Makran in SE Iran shows different patterns of diagenetic features in diverse depositional facies and therefore implies a facies-controlled diagenetic evolution mainly related to different porosity patterns. Although geochemical characteristics of various cements in this sediment are masked by pervasive meteoric diagenesis, remnants of primary geochemical characteristics (Mg, Mn, Fe and Sr concentrations, and δ
18
O and δ
13
C values), cathodoluminescence of these cements and paragenetic sequences of diagenetic features help us to unravel the diagenetic history and to reconstruct the history of exposures. The correlation of diagenetic features between rock units in each sedimentary column, inferred by using two distinct dolomite cementation phases, suggests pulsatory changes in the fluid chemistry related to eight episodes of seaward and landward migration of fluids as a result of relative sea-level fluctuation during eight episodes of uplift and relaxation and/or eustactic sea-level fluctuation. Moreover, lateral correlation of paragenetic sequences (eastward increase in the number of phases of cementation and dissolution) implies that pulsation in fluid migration has developed toward the eastern part of each fault-limited block as uplift and erosion rate increased. In the last stage, a net seaward migration of fluids seems to have occurred as relative sea level fell (as a result of regional uplift and/or eustacy). In the last two stages of uplift, reverse fault activities enhanced methane seepage, as indicated by the geochemistry of dolomite cements (δ
13
C−16.15‰ to 20.16‰).
The geomagnetic polarity timescale for the Triassic: linkage to stage boundary definitions
Authors: Hounslow Mark W. , Muttoni Giovanni
Published: June 2010

Studies of Triassic magnetostratigraphy began in the 1960s, with focus on poorly fossilferous nonmarine red-beds. Construction of the Triassic geomagnetic polarity timescale was not consolidated until the 1990s, when access to magnetometers of sufficient sensitivity became widely available to measure specimens from marine successions. The biostratigraphically-calibrated magnetostratigraphy for the Lower Triassic is currently largely based on ammonoid zonations from Boreal successions. Exceptions are the Permian–Triassic and Olenekian–Anisian boundaries, which have more extensive magnetostratigraphic studies calibrated by conodont zonations. Extensive magnetostratigraphic studies of nonmarine Lower Triassic successions allow a validation and cross-calibration of the marine-based ages into some nonmarine successions. The Middle Triassic magnetostratigraphic timescale is strongly age-constrained by conodont and ammonoid zonations from multiple Tethyan carbonate successions, the conclusions of which are supported by detailed work on several nonmarine Anisian successions. The mid Carnian is the only extensive interval in the Triassic in which biostratigraphic-based age calibration of the magnetostratigraphy is not well resolved. Problems remain with the Norian and early Rhaetian in properly constraining the magnetostratigraphic correlation between the well-validated nonmarine successions, such as the Newark Supergroup, and the marine-section-based polarity timescale. The highest time-resolution available from magnetozone correlations should be about 20–30 ka, with an average magnetozone duration of
c
. 240 ka, for the Lower and Middle Triassic, and about twice this for the Upper Triassic.
The Triassic isotope record
Authors: Tanner Lawrence H.
Published: June 2010

A variety of stable isotope measurements have been found useful in studying processes of environmental change. Measurements of δ
13
C, δ
18
O, δ
34
S and
87
Sr/
86
Sr all can provide information about the conditions of the water column in which sediment deposition occurred, but the most widely applied of these is δ
13
C. The carbon isotope record for the Triassic System is a complex one; a pronounced negative excursion begins below the base of the Triassic System and continues into the basal Triassic. The succeeding 4 to 6 Ma Lower Triassic interval is marked by isotopic instability, with positive and negative excursions, continuing through the basal Middle Triassic. In contrast to the Lower Triassic, most of the Middle and Upper Triassic display relative isotopic stability, with rising values of δ
13
C likely reflecting environmental recovery and increasing storage of organic carbon in terrestrial environments. The uppermost Triassic is marked by a pronounced negative excursion near the system boundary that has been linked to significant biotic turnover. The causes of the various excursions remain under investigation, particularly those at the system boundaries, with outgassing during volcanic activity, changes in productivity, ocean anoxia, and seafloor methane releases all suggested as mechanisms both for perturbing the global carbon cycle and for forcing biotic extinction.
Cyclostratigraphic record of the Triassic: a critical examination
Authors: Tanner Lawrence H.
Published: June 2010

High frequency (fourth- and fifth-order) cyclicity is a common feature of sedimentary sequences in all depositional settings. While tectonism and autocyclic processes are clearly responsible for this cyclicity in some instances, many cases are interpreted as resulting from orbitally forced variations in solar insolation at the Milankovitch frequencies, that is, the precession and short and long eccentricity cycles at scales of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. This forcing is presumed to have controlled sedimentation through periodic changes in climate or sea-level. Examples of interpreted Milankovitch-frequency cyclicity occur throughout the Triassic record, and include much of the German Triassic, the Alpine Triassic and the Newark Supergroup of North America. The cyclostratigraphy of these sections has been used as a tool for intrabasinal and interbasinal correlation, and for chronostratigraphy. These interpretations are not always without controversy, however, as conceptual arguments and radio–isotopic age data have called some of these conclusions into question.
Intel's rebates
Authors: Lévêque François
Published: June 2010

Over several years, Intel paid billions of dollars to its customers. Was it to force them to boycott products developed by its rival AMD or so they could sell its microprocessors at lower prices?
Detecting visually similar Web pages
Authors: Chen Teh-Chung , Dick Scott , Miller James
Published: June 2010

We propose a novel approach for detecting visual similarity between two Web pages. The proposed approach applies Gestalt theory and considers a Web page as a single indivisible entity. The concept of supersignals, as a realization of Gestalt principles, supports our contention that Web pages must be treated as indivisible entities. We objectify, and directly compare, these indivisible supersignals using algorithmic complexity theory. We illustrate our approach by applying it to the problem of detecting phishing scams. Via a large-scale, real-world case study, we demonstrate that 1) our approach effectively detects similar Web pages; and 2) it accuractely distinguishes legitimate and phishing pages.
Efficient algorithms for the mining of constrained frequent patterns from uncertain data
Authors: Leung Carson Kai-Sang , Brajczuk Dale A.
Published: June 2010

Mining of frequent patterns is one of the popular knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD) tasks. It also plays an essential role in the mining of many other patterns such as correlation, sequences, and association rules. Hence, it has been the subject of numerous studies since its introduction. Most of these studies find all the frequent patterns from collection of precise data, in which the items within each datum or transaction are definitely known and precise. However, there are many real-life situations in which the user is interested in only some tiny portions of these frequent patterns. Finding all frequent patterns would then be redundant and waste lots of computation. This calls for
constrained mining
, which aims to find only those frequent patterns that are interesting to the user. Moreover, there are also many real-life situations in which the data are uncertain. This calls for
uncertain data mining
. In this article, we propose algorithms to efficiently find
constrained
frequent patterns from collections of
uncertain data
.
Thyroid Hormone Increases TGF-β1 in Cardiomyocytes Cultures Independently of Angiotensin II Type 1 and Type 2 Receptors
Authors: Diniz Gabriela Placoná , Carneiro-Ramos Marcela Sorelli , Barreto-Chaves Maria Luiza Morais
Published: June 2010

TH-induced cardiac hypertrophyin vivois accompanied by increased cardiac Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels, which is mediated by Angiotensin II type 1 receptors (AT1R) and type 2 receptors (AT2R). However, the possible involvement of this factor in TH-induced cardiac hypertrophy is unknown. In this study we evaluated whether TH is able to modulate TGF-β1 in isolated cardiac, as well as the possible contribution of AT1R and AT2R in this response. The cardiac fibroblasts treated withT3did not show alteration on TGF-β1 expression. However, cardiomyocytes treated withT3presented an increase in TGF-β1 expression, as well as an increase in protein synthesis. The AT1R blockade prevented theT3-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, while the AT2R blockage attenuated this response. TheT3-induced increase on TGF-β1 expression in cardiomyocytes was not changed by the use of AT1R and AT2R blockers. These results indicate that Angiotensin II receptors are not implicated inT3-induced increase on TGF-βexpression and suggest that the trophic effects exerted byT3on cardiomyocytes are not dependent on the higher TGF-β1 levels, since the AT1R and AT2R blockers were able to attenuate theT3-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy but were not able to attenuate the increase on TGF-β1 levels promoted byT3.
Comparative Analysis of Growth, Genome Size, Chromosome Numbers and Phylogeny of Arabidopsis thaliana and Three Cooccurring Species of the Brassicaceae from Uzbekistan
Authors: Hoffmann Matthias H. , Schmuths Heike , Koch Christina , Meister Armin , Fritsch Reinhard M.
Published: June 2010

Contrary to literature data Arabidopsis thaliana was rarely observed in Middle Asia during a collection trip in 2001. Instead, three other Brassicaceae species were frequently found at places where A. thaliana was expected. To reveal reasons for this frequency pattern, we studied chromosome numbers, genome sizes, phylogenetic relationships, developmental rates, and reproductive success of A. thaliana, Olimarabidopsis pumila, Arabis montbretiana, and Arabis auriculata from Uzbekistan in two temperature treatments. There are little but partially significant differences between phenotypes. All studied species have very small genomes. The 1Cx-values of different genotypes within the sampled species are correlated with altitude. Developmental rates are also correlated with 1Cx-values. In our growth experiments, Arabidopsis had high seed sterility at higher temperature, which might be one reason for the rarity of A. thaliana in Middle Asia.
RNA Vaccines in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Bringmann Anita , Held Stefanie Andrea Erika , Heine Annkristin , Brossart Peter
Published: June 2010

The Cancer Report from the World Health Organization states that in the year 2000 12% of all death cases worldwide were caused by cancer. In the western world, the cancer death rates are often devastating, being at about 25%. This fact stresses the urgency to find effective cures against malignant diseases. New approaches in the treatment of cancer focus on the development of immunotherapies to fight the disease. Besides other methods, the usage of tumor-specific RNA as part of vaccines is investigated lately. RNA, administered alone or used for transfection of dendritic cells, shows several advantages as a vaccine including feasibility, applicability, safeness, and effectiveness when it comes to the generation of immune responses. This review concentrates on results from in vitro experiments and recent trials using RNA vaccines to present an overview about this specific strategy.
Transient Detections and Other Real‐Time Data Processing from MASTER‐VWF Wide‐Field Cameras
Authors: Gorbovskoy Evgeny , Ivanov Kirill , Lipunov Vladimir , Kornilov Victor , Belinski Alexander , Shatskij Nikolaj , Kuvshinov Dmitry , Tyurina Nataly , Balanutsa Pavel , Chazov Vadim , Kuznetsov Artem , Kortunov Petr , Tlatov Andrey , Parkhomenko Alexander , Krushinsky Vadim , Zalozhnyh Ivan , Popov Alexander , Kopytova Taisia , Yazev Sergey , Krylov Alexander
Published: June 2010

Construction of robotic observatories has developed into an important and thriving field of astronomy. Their large field of view combined with the capability to be pointed at any direction makes robotic astronomical systems indispensable for tasks involving searches for transients like GRB, supernovae explosions, novae, and so forth, where both the time and direction of the search are impossible to predict. This paper describes prompt GRB observations made with MASTER‐VWF wide‐field cameras and the methods of image analysis and classification of transients used for real‐time data processing. During seven months of operation six synchronous observations of gamma‐ray bursts have been made using MASTER VWF facilities deployed in Kislovodsk and Irkutsk. In all cases high upper limits have been obtained.
CYP2D6 Polymorphisms as Predictors of Outcome in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Tamoxifen: Expanded Polymorphism Coverage Improves Risk Stratification
Authors: Schroth Werner , Hamann Ute , Fasching Peter A. , Dauser Silke , Winter Stefan , Eichelbaum Michel , Schwab Matthias , Brauch Hiltrud
Published: June 2010

Purpose: This study aimed to validate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)/Taqman copy number assay (CNA) CYP2D6 genotyping by AmpliChip CYP450 Test for the prediction of tamoxifen metabolizer phenotypes in breast cancer, and to investigate the influence of CYP2D6 variant coverage on genotype-phenotype relationships and tamoxifen outcome.

Experimental Design: Hormone receptor–positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients (n = 492) treated with adjuvant tamoxifen, previously analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS/CNA, were reanalyzed by AmpliChip CYP450 Test and validated by independent methods. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) were calculated for recurrence of poor (PM) relative to extensive metabolizer (EM) phenotypes with increasing numbers of CYP2D6 variants. Kaplan-Meier distributions were calculated for different phenotype classifications.

Results: Concordance was 99.2% to 99.5% for CNA and 99.8% to 100% per CYP2D6 allele (*3, *4, *5, *9, *10, and *41). The prevalence of predicted phenotypes was 1.2% for ultrarapid metabolizer (UM), 37.2% for EM without variant, 43.5% for heterozygous EM, 9.7% for intermediate metabolizer (IM), and 8.3% for PM. Approximately, one third of patients were misclassified based on a *4 analysis only, but inclusion of all reduced-function alleles increased the PM-associated HR from 1.33 (P = 0.58) to 2.87 (P = 0.006). Kaplan-Meier analyses showed highest and lowest clinical benefit for UM and PM with respect to both the AmpliChip-based and a redefined phenotype assignment. The latter revealed significant allele–dose-dependent associations (P = 0.011) and largest effect size (HRPM_EM = 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-5.89).

Conclusions: MALDI-TOF MS/CNA is suitable for accurate CYP2D6 genotyping. For tamoxifen pharmacogenetics, broad CYP2D6 allele coverage is recommended to reduce phenotype misclassification. Classification based on refined EM and reduced-function metabolizers is advisable. Clin Cancer Res; 16(17); 4468–77. ©2010 AACR.
A Preclinical Study on the Rescue of Normal Tissue by Nicotinic Acid in High-Dose Treatment with APO866, a Specific Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Inhibitor
Authors: Olesen Uffe Høgh , Thougaard Annemette V. , Jensen Peter Buhl , Sehested Maxwell
Published: June 2010

Inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase APO866 is a promising cancer drug currently in phase II clinical trials in oncology. Here, we present a strategy for increasing the therapeutic potential of APO866 through the rescue of normal tissues by coadministration of nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3). We examined the toxicity profile of APO866 in B6D2F1 mice and the effect of oral administration of nicotinic acid on tissue toxicity. Nicotinic acid (50 mg/kg) protects mice from death and severe toxicity from an APO866 dose (60 mg/kg) four times the monotherapy maximum tolerated dose (15 mg/kg). In a panel of six cancer cell lines, we find that three (including ML-2 cells) are protected by nicotinic acid in vitro, whereas the cytotoxicity of APO866 remains unaffected in the remaining three (including A2780 cells). A selective biomarker for the protection by nicotinic acid was subsequently identified by quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase is low in the cell lines not rescued from APO866 by nicotinic acid compared with protected cell lines. The findings in cell lines translated into xenograft models in which the combination of 50 mg/kg nicotinic acid and 50 mg/kg APO866 in mouse xenografts of A2780 cells increased life span by >3-fold compared with standard treatment of 15 mg/kg, and the effect of APO866 was clearly decreased when using the same treatment paradigm in ML-2 xenografts. In conclusion, the combination of high doses of APO866 with rescue by nicotinic acid may significantly increase the therapeutic potential in a subset of cancers with low expression of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(6); 1609–17. ©2010 AACR.