bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of the ALAnerv nutritional supplement on some oxidative stress markers in postacute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation
Authors: Oprea Eliza , Berteanu Mihai , Cintezã Delia , Manolescu Bogdan Nicolae
Published: January 2013

Stroke is a pathologic condition associated with redox imbalance. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the effect of the consumption of the nutritional supplement ALAnerv on some oxidative stress markers in postacute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation. To achieve this goal, we assigned 28 patients to 2 study groups: (−)ALA and (+)ALA. Patients in both groups participated in the same rehabilitation program and received comparable standard medications; however, patients in the (+)ALA group received ALAnerv for 2 weeks (2 pills per day). We assessed total and nonproteic thiols, protein carbonyls, ceruloplasmin, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, lipid hydroperoxide concentrations, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, and total antioxidant capacity. Regression analysis indicated that supplementation with ALAnerv was responsible for the significant decrease in glucose (p = 0.002) and oxidized LDL particles (p < 0.001) during the study period. For both parameters, the variation in the percent of concentration between the 2 groups during the study period reached statistical significance (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, Barthel Index values at discharge were significantly influenced by ALAnerv treatment. These preliminary results indicate that ALAnerv might be helpful because it rapidly corrects plasma fasting glucose and corrects serum oxidized LDL particle concentrations, suggesting the need for longer treatment with 2 pills or more per day.
Isgur–Wise function within a QCD quark model with Airy's function as the wave function of heavy–light mesons
Authors: Roy Sabyasachi , Bordoloi N.S. , Choudhury D.K.
Published: January 2013

We report a somewhat improved wave function for mesons by taking the linear confinement term in standard QCD potential as a parent and the coulombic term as a perturbation while applying quantum mechanical perturbation techniques in solving the Schrödinger equation with such a potential. We find that Airy's infinite series appears in the wave function of the mesons. We report our calculations on the Isgur–Wise function and its derivatives for heavy–light mesons within this framework.
Building and Evaluating Adaptive Web Pages
Authors: Koutb M. , Kelash H. , Abu Al-Khair M.
Published: January 2013

Each year the number of consumers and the variety of their interests increase. As a result, providers are seeking ways to infer the customer's interests and to adapt their websites to make the content of interest more easily accessible. Assume that past navigation behaviour as an indicator of the user's interests. Then, the records of this behaviour, kept in the web-server logs, can be mined to extract the user's interests. On this principal, recommendations can be generated, to help old and new website's visitors to find the information about their interest faster.
Superconductivity in Medicine
Authors: Alonso Jose R. , Antaya Timothy A.
Published: January 2013

Superconductivity is playing an increasingly important role in advanced medical technologies. Compact superconducting cyclotrons are emerging as powerful tools for external beam therapy with protons and carbon ions, and offer advantages of cost and size reduction in isotope production as well. Superconducting magnets in isocentric gantries reduce their size and weight to practical proportions. In diagnostic imaging, superconducting magnets have been crucial for the successful clinical implementation of magnetic resonance imaging. This article introduces each of those areas and describes the role which superconductivity is playing in them.
EXPANDING FRAGMENTATION OF PRODUCTION IN EAST ASIA AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS: FURTHER EVIDENCE FROM JAPANESE MANUFACTURING FIRMS
Authors: ANDO MITSUYO , KIMURA FUKUNARI
Published: January 2013

This paper investigates the pattern of globalizing corporate activities of Japanese manufacturing firms and their domestic operations and international trade. More specifically, we compare changes in domestic operations and international trade of firms expanding operations in East Asia with those of firms not expanding operations in two contrastive periods, 1998–2002 and 2002–2006. In addition, we conduct analyses incorporating the information on the globalizing behavior in the former period for the latter period and analyses focusing only on non-MNEs or MNEs in line with the literature. Our study demonstrates that Japanese manufacturing firms with expanding operations in East Asia are more likely to increase domestic employment and the number of domestic affiliates and establishments as well as to intensify export/import activities with the region, particularly in the latter period, by effectively utilizing the mechanics of production process-wise division of labor in East Asia.
Characterization of HIV-1 Infection and Innate Sensing in Different Types of Primary Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages
Authors: Diget Elisabeth A. , Zuwala Kaja , Berg Randi K. , Laursen Rune R. , Søby Stine , Østergaard Lars , Melchjorsen Jesper , Mogensen Trine H.
Published: January 2013

Macrophages play an important role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathogenesis and contribute to establishment of a viral reservoir responsible for continuous virus production and virus transmission to T cells. In this study, we investigated the differences between various monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) generated through different differentiation protocols and evaluated different cellular, immunological, and virological properties. We found that elevated and persistent HIV-1 pWT/BaL replication could be obtained only in MDMs grown in RPMI containing macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Interestingly, this MDM type was also most responsive to toll-like receptor stimulation. By contrast, all MDM types were activated to a comparable extent by intracellular DNA, and the macrophage serum-free medium-(Mac-SFM-)differentiated MDMs responded strongly to membrane fusion through expression of CXCL10. Finally, we found that HIV infection of RPMI/M-CSF-differentiated MDMs induced low-grade expression of two interferon-stimulated genes in some donors. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the differentiation protocol used greatly influences the ability of MDMs to activate innate immune reactions and support HIV-1 replication. Paradoxically, the data show that the MDMs with the strongest innate immune response were also the most permissive for HIV-1 replication.
Examining the Correspondence between Self-Regulated Learning and Academic Achievement: A Case Study Analysis
Authors: Cleary Timothy J. , Platten Peter
Published: January 2013

Four high school students received 11 weeks of a self-regulated learning (SRL) intervention, called the Self-Regulation Empowerment Program (SREP), to improve their classroom-based biology exam scores, SRL, and motivated behaviors. This mixed model case study examined the correspondence between shifts in students’ strategic, regulated behaviors with their performance on classroom-based biology tests. The authors used traditional SRL assessment tools in a pretest-posttest fashion (e.g., self-report questionnaires, teaching rating scales) and gathered SRL data during the intervention using field note observations and contextualized structured interviews. This multidimensional assessment approach was used to establish convergence among the assessment tools and to facilitate interpretation of trends in students’ biology test performance relative to their SRL processes. Key themes in this study included the following: (a) the close correspondence between changes in students SRL, biology exam performance, and SREP attendance; (b) individual variability in student performance, SRL behaviors, and beliefs in response to SREP; and (c) the importance of using a multi-dimensional assessment approach in SRL intervention research. Furthermore, this study provided additional support for the potential effectiveness of SREP in academic contexts.
Influence of Mast Cells in Drug-Induced Gingival Overgrowth
Authors: Subramani Tamilselvan , Rathnavelu Vidhya , Yeap Swee Keong , Alitheen Noorjahan Banu
Published: January 2013

Mast cells (MCs) are multifunctional effector cells that were originally thought to be involved in allergic disorders. Now it is known that they contain an array of mediators with a multitude of effects on many other cells. MCs have become a recent concern in drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO), an unwanted outcome of systemic medication. Most of the studies have confirmed the significant presence of inflammation as a prerequisite for the overgrowth to occur. The inflammatory changes within the gingival tissue appear to influence the interaction between the inducing drug and the fibroblast activity. The development of antibodies to MC-specific enzymes, tryptase and chymase, has facilitated the study of mast cells in DIGO. Many immunohistochemical studies involving MCs have been conducted; as a result, DIGO tissues are found to have increased the number of MCs in the gingiva, especially in the area of fibrosis. At the cellular level, gingival fibrogenesis is initiated by several mediators which induce the recruitment of a large number of inflammatory cells, including MCs. The purpose of this paper is to access the roles played by MCs in gingival overgrowth to hypothesize a relationship between these highly specialized cells in the pathogenesis of DIGO.
Responsiveness of Various Exercise-Testing Protocols to Therapeutic Interventions in COPD
Authors: Borel Benoit , Provencher Steeve , Saey Didier , Maltais François
Published: January 2013

Exercise intolerance is a key element in the pathophysiology and course of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). As such, evaluating exercise tolerance has become an important part of the management of COPD. A wide variety of exercise-testing protocols is currently available, each protocol having its own strengths and weaknesses relative to their discriminative, methodological, and evaluative characteristics. This paper aims to review the responsiveness of several exercise-testing protocols used to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions to improve exercise tolerance in COPD. This will be done taking into account the minimally important difference, an important concept in the interpretation of the findings about responsiveness of exercise testing protocols. Among the currently available exercise-testing protocols (incremental, constant work rate, or self-paced), constant work rate exercise tests (cycle endurance test and endurance shuttle walking test) emerge as the most responsive ones for detecting and quantifying changes in exercise capacity after an intervention in COPD.
A Nanotechnology Enhancement to Moore's Law
Authors: Wu Jerry , Shen Yin-Lin , Reinhardt Kitt , Szu Harold , Dong Boqun
Published: January 2013

Intel Moore observed an exponential doubling in the number of transistors in every 18 months through the size reduction of transistor components since 1965. In viewing of mobile computing with insatiate appetite, we explored the necessary enhancement by an increasingly maturing nanotechnology and facing the inevitable quantum-mechanical atomic and nuclei limits. Since we cannot break down the atomic size barrier, the fact implies a fundamental size limit at the atomic/nucleus scale. This means, no more simple 18-month doubling, but other forms of transistor doubling may happen at a different slope. We are particularly interested in the nano enhancement area. (i) 3 Dimensions: If the progress in shrinking the in-plane dimensions is to slow down, vertical integration can help increasing the areal device transistor density. As the devices continue to shrink into the 20 to 30 nm range, the consideration of thermal properties and transport in such devices becomes increasingly important. (ii) Quantum computing: The other types of transistor material are rapidly developed in laboratories worldwide, for example, Spintronics, Nanostorage, HP display Nanotechnology, which are modifying this Law. We shall consider the limitation of phonon engineering fundamental information unit “Qubyte” in quantum computing, Nano/Micro Electrical Mechanical System (NEMS), Carbon Nanotubes, single-layer Graphenes, single-strip Nano-Ribbons, and so forth.
Role of Elicitors in Inducing Resistance in Plants against Pathogen Infection: A Review
Authors: Thakur Meenakshi , Sohal Baldev Singh
Published: January 2013

Disease control is largely based on the use of fungicides, bactericides, and insecticides—chemical compounds toxic to plant invaders, causative agents, or vectors of plant diseases. However, the hazardous effect of these chemicals or their degradation products on the environment and human health strongly necessitates the search for new, harmless means of disease control. There must be some natural phenomenon of induced resistance to protect plants from disease. Elicitors are compounds, which activate chemical defense in plants. Various biosynthetic pathways are activated in treated plants depending on the compound used. Commonly tested chemical elicitors are salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, benzothiadiazole, benzoic acid, chitosan, and so forth which affect production of phenolic compounds and activation of various defense-related enzymes in plants. Their introduction into agricultural practice could minimize the scope of chemical control, thus contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture. This paper chiefly highlights the uses of elicitors aiming to draw sufficient attention of researchers to the frontier research needed in this context.
Permittivity and Backscattering Coefficient of Diesel Oil-Contaminated Soil at C Band (5.3 GHz)
Authors: Ahmadian Nima , Hasan Sayeh , Calla Om Prakash Narayan
Published: January 2013

Studying the behavior of soil contaminated by diesel requires the measurement and calculation of electrical parameters such as permittivity and backscattering coefficient. It is also necessary to study the physical parameters such as surface roughness. The intent of this paper is to present a broad and updated overview of the diesel oil contaminated soil, emphasizing permittivity and scattering coefficient that are involved in determining and detecting the rate at which and extent to which hydrocarbons contaminate the soil and environment. The measurement of permittivity and the calculations of backscattering coefficient values were made with different amounts of diesel oil contamination and different incident angles in 5° intervals ranging from 10° to 80° for both horizontal and vertical polarization at C band. The values of scattering coefficient for different look angles (25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, and 55°) were calculated and are suitable for comparison with data generated from other remote sensing platforms. Accurate electrical parameter measurements of soil contamination and recognition of their dependence on physical and chemical composition are interesting and can support using microwave remote sensing instruments to observe the earth.
Scissurella clathrata in the San Jorge Gulf (Argentina) and the identity of the enigmatic S. dalli Bartsch, 1903 (Gastropoda: Scissurellidae)
Authors: ZELAYA DIEGO G. , GEIGER DANIEL L.
Published: January 2013

Scissurella dalli Bartsch, 1903, from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean has been reported at least six times in the malacological literature. However, the species is thus far known only from the original description; it was never fi gured; and the type material is missing from the original repository, the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution. In the present study, we examine specimens of a scissurellid collected adjacent to the type locality of Scissurella dalli, and evaluate their identity. These specimens proved to correspond to Scissurella clathrata Strebel, 1908. Even though this species shows some similarity with the original description of Scissurella dalli, the vague description by Bartsch lacking details and even containing contradictory indications, led us to the conclusion that they are not conspecifi c. Thus, Scissurella clathrata is reported for the first time at the type locality of S. dalli, and the latter remains as a nomen dubium.
Planonasus parini n. g. and n. sp., a new genus and species of false cat sharks (Carchariniformes, Pseudotriakidae) from the deep northwestern Indian Ocean off Socotra Islands
Authors: WEIGMANN SIMON , STEHMANN MATTHIAS F.W. , THIEL RALF
Published: January 2013

A new genus and species of the carcharhiniform family Pseudotriakidae is described based on three specimens caught near the Socotra Islands in the northwestern Indian Ocean. The first specimen and holotype of Planonasus parini g. n. and sp. n. was caught during cruise 17 of RV ‘Vityaz’ in 1988/89 along the deep western Indian Ocean. Two further specimens of the new genus and species were caught somewhat later by commercial trawlers close to the locality of the holotype. The new genus differs from the two other pseudotriakid genera Gollum and Pseudotriakis by the presence of oral papillae, the absence of nicitating eyelids, a longer head, an intermediate prenarial snout length, an intermediate number of tooth rows per jaw, a first dorsal fin of intermediate height and length and with a white free rear tip, a caudal peduncle of inter-mediate length, and fewer vertebrae.
An annotated list of the Opostegidae of the Himalaya, with a description of Pseudopostega brevicaudata sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Nepticuloidea)
Authors: STONIS JONAS RIMANTAS , REMEIKIS ANDRIUS , SRUOGA VIRGINIJUS
Published: January 2013

Seven species of Opostegidae are reported from the Himalaya:Opostegoides pelorrhoa (Meyrick, 1915), Pseudopostega frigida (Meyrick, 1906), P. nepalensis Puplesis & Robinson, 1999, P. zelopa (Meyrick, 1905), Pseudopostega brevicaudata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., Opostega chalcophylla Meyrick, 1910 and one documented but left unnamed Opostegoides species. Genital structures of all species treated herein are illustrated with photographs for the first time.
Atopy is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms in COPD patients: results from the EUROSCOP study
Authors: Fattahi Fatemeh , ten Hacken Nick H T , Löfdahl Claes-Göran , Hylkema Machteld N , Timens Wim , Postma Dirkje S , Vonk Judith M
Published: January 2013

Background

The pathogenesis of COPD is complex and remains poorly understood. The European Respiratory Society Study on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (EUROSCOP) investigated long-term effects of budesonide; 18% of the COPD participants were atopic. So far effects of atopy on the long-term course of COPD have not been elucidated.

Methods

Factors related to the presence of atopy (positive phadiatop) in 1277 mild-to-moderate COPD patients participating in EUROSCOP were analysed using regression analysis. Incidence and remission of respiratory symptoms during 3-year follow-up were analysed using generalised estimating equations models, and association of atopy with lung function decline using linear mixed effects models.

Results

Independent predisposing factors associated with the presence of atopy were: male gender (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.47–3.34), overweight/obese (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.04–1.92) and lower age (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96–0.99). Atopy was associated with a higher prevalence of cough (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.26–2.34) and phlegm (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.10–2.03), but not with lung function levels or FEV1 decline. Atopic COPD patients not treated with budesonide had an increased incidence of cough over time (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.03–3.08, p = 0.038), while those treated with budesonide had increased remission of cough (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.11–3.37, p = 0.02) compared to non-atopic COPD patients.

Conclusions

Atopic COPD patients are more likely male, have overweight/obesity and are younger as compared with non-atopic COPD patients. Atopy in COPD is associated with an increased incidence and prevalence of respiratory symptoms. If atopic COPD patients are treated with budesonide, they more often show remission of symptoms compared to non-atopic COPD patients who are treated with budesonide. We recommend including atopy in the diagnostic work-up and management of COPD.
Apoptosis-associated biomarkers in tuberculosis: promising for diagnosis and prognosis prediction
Authors: Shu Chin-Chung , Wu Ming-Fang , Hsu Chia-Lin , Huang Chun-Ta , Wang Jann-Yuan , Hsieh Shie-Liang , Yu Chong-Jen , Lee Li-Na , Yang Pan-Chyr
Published: January 2013

Background

Apoptosis-associated biomarkers are rarely studied, especially their role in predicting the development of tuberculosis (TB) from latent TB infection and in prognostication.

Methods

Patients with TB and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA)-positive and IGRA-negative family contacts were evaluated to analyze changes in apoptosis-associated serum biomarkers, which included decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), prostaglandin 2 (PGE2), and lipoxin. The prognostic implications of these serum biomarkers were also analyzed.

Results

One hundred TB patients and 92 IGRA-negative and 91 IGRA-positive family contacts were recruited. The DcR3 and PGE2 levels decreased from the IGRA-negative group to the IGRA-positive group, and peaked in the TB group. Lipoxin decreased to trough in the TB group. The three apoptosis serum markers and age were independent factors discriminating active TB from latent TB infection. In active TB, older age, co-morbidity, and higher serum DcR3 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 were independently associated with poorer six-month survival.

Conclusion

Apoptosis-associated serum biomarkers change along with the status of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In close contacts with positive IGRA, high DcR3 and PGE2 and low lipoxin may increase the probability of active TB. Older age, co-morbidity, and high DcR3 and MCP-1 levels might be important prognostic factors that warrant further investigation.
Comparison of survival of patients with metastases from known versus unknown primaries: survival in metastatic cancer
Authors: Riihimäki Matias , Thomsen Hauke , Hemminki Akseli , Sundquist Kristina , Hemminki Kari
Published: January 2013

Background

Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is considered an aggressive metastatic disease but whether the prognosis differs from metastatic cancers of known primary site is not known. Such data may give insight into the biology of CUP and the metastatic process in general.

Methods

6,745 cancer patients, with primary metastatic cancer at diagnosis, were identified from the Swedish Cancer Registry, and were compared with 2,881 patients with CUP. Patients were diagnosed and died between 2002 and 2008. The influence of the primary site, known or unknown, on survival in patients with metastases at specific locations was investigated. Hazard ratios (HRs) of death were estimated for several sites of metastasis, where patients with known primary sites were compared with CUP patients.

Results

Overall, patients with metastatic cancers with known primary sites had decreased hazards of death compared to CUP patients (HR = 0.69 [95% CI = 0.66–0.72]). The exceptions were cancer of the pancreas (1.71 [1.54–1.90]), liver (1.58 [1.36–1.85]), and stomach (1.16 [1.02–1.31]). For individual metastatic sites, patients with liver or bone metastases of known origin had better survival than those with CUP of the liver and bone. Patients with liver metastases of pancreatic origin had an increased risk of death compared with patients with CUP of the liver (1.25 [1.06–1.46]). The median survival time of CUP patients was three months.

Conclusions

Patients with CUP have poorer survival than patients with known primaries, except those with brain and respiratory system metastases. Of CUP sites, liver metastases had the worst prognosis. Survival in CUP was comparable to that in metastatic lung cancer. The aggressive behavior of CUP may be due to initial immunosuppression and immunoediting which may allow accumulation of mutations. Upon escape from the suppressed state an unstoppable tumor spread ensues. These novel data on the epidemiology of the metastatic process at the population level demonstrated large survival differences in organ defined metastases depending on the original cancer.
Electroacupuncture preconditioning reduces cerebral ischemic injury via BDNF and SDF-1α in mice
Authors: Kim Ji Hyun , Choi Kyung Ha , Jang Young Jung , Kim Ha Neui , Bae Sun Sik , Choi Byung Tae , Shin Hwa Kyoung
Published: January 2013

Background

This study was designed to determine if electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning improves tissue outcome and functional outcome following experimentally induced cerebral ischemia in mice. In addition, we investigated whether the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and stromal cell derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and infarct volume were related with improvement in neurological and motor function by interventions in this study.

Methods

After treatment with EA at the acupoints ‘Baihui (GV20)’ and ‘Dazhui (GV14)’ for 20 min, BDNF was assessed in the cortical tissues based on Western blot and the SDF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the plasma determined by ELISA. To assess the protective effects of EA against ischemic injury, the mice received once a day 20 min EA preconditioning for three days prior to the ischemic event. Focal cerebral ischemia was then induced by photothrombotic cortical ischemia. Infarct volumes, neurobehavioral deficit and motor deficit were evaluated 24 h after focal cerebral ischemia.

Results

The expression of BDNF protein increased significantly from 6 h, reaching a plateau at 12 h after the end of EA treatment in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, SDF-1α, not VEGF, increased singnificantly from 12 h to 48 h after EA stimulation in the plasma. Moreover, EA preconditioning reduced the infarct volume by 43.5% when compared to control mice at 24 h after photothrombotic cortical ischemia. Consistent with a smaller infarct size, EA preconditioning showed prominent improvement of neurological function and motor function such as vestibule-motor function, sensori-motor function and asymmetric forelimb use. The expression of BDNF colocalized within neurons and SDF-1α colocalized within the cerebral vascular endothelium was observed throughout the ischemic cortex by EA.

Conclusions

Pretreatment with EA increased the production of BDNF and SDF-1α, which elicited protective effects against focal cerebral ischemia. These results suggest a novel mechanism of EA pretreatment-induced tolerance against cerebral ischemic injury.
Silencing of mutant p53 by siRNA induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells
Authors: Zhu Hai-Bin , Yang Kai , Xie Yan-Qi , Lin Yi-Wei , Mao Qi-Qi , Xie Li-Ping
Published: January 2013

Background

p53 is the most frequently mutated tumor-suppressor gene in human cancers. It has been reported that mutations in p53 result not only in the loss of its ability as a tumor suppressor, but also in the gain of novel cancer-related functions that contribute to oncogenesis. The present study evaluated the potential of silencing of mutant p53 by small interfering RNA in the treatment of bladder cancer cells in vitro.

Methods

We used the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to assess cell viability and flow cytometry to detect cell cycle alterations and apoptosis. The related molecular mechanisms were assessed by western blotting. We also used the MTT assay and flow cytometry to investigate if silencing of mutant p53 by knockdown with small interfering (si)RNA would change the sensitivity to cisplatin treatment.

Results

Using 5637 and T24 human bladder cancer cell lines characterized by mutations in p53, we found that silencing of the mutant p53 by RNA interference induced evident inhibition of cell proliferation and viability, which was related to the induction of G2 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, our study also showed that the p53-targeting siRNA cooperated with cisplatin in the inhibition of bladder cancer cells.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that RNA interference targeting mutant p53 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of bladder cancer.
Bioconversion of lignocellulose: inhibitors and detoxification
Authors: Jönsson Leif J , Alriksson Björn , Nilvebrant Nils-Olof
Published: January 2013

Bioconversion of lignocellulose by microbial fermentation is typically preceded by an acidic thermochemical pretreatment step designed to facilitate enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. Substances formed during the pretreatment of the lignocellulosic feedstock inhibit enzymatic hydrolysis as well as microbial fermentation steps. This review focuses on inhibitors from lignocellulosic feedstocks and how conditioning of slurries and hydrolysates can be used to alleviate inhibition problems. Novel developments in the area include chemical in-situ detoxification by using reducing agents, and methods that improve the performance of both enzymatic and microbial biocatalysts.
Preliminary study of ventilation with 4 ml/kg tidal volume in acute respiratory distress syndrome: feasibility and effects on cyclic recruitment - derecruitment and hyperinflation
Authors: Retamal Jaime , Libuy Javiera , Jiménez Magdalena , Delgado Matías , Besa Cecilia , Bugedo Guillermo , Bruhn Alejandro
Published: January 2013

Introduction

Cyclic recruitment-derecruitment and overdistension contribute to ventilator-induced lung injury. Tidal volume (Vt) may influence both, cyclic recruitment-derecruitment and overdistension. The goal of this study was to determine if decreasing Vt from 6 to 4 ml/kg reduces cyclic recruitment-derecruitment and hyperinflation, and if it is possible to avoid severe hypercapnia.

Methods

Patients with pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were included in a crossover study with two Vt levels: 6 and 4 ml/kg. The protocol had two parts: one bedside and other at the CT room. To avoid severe hypercapnia in the 4 ml/kg arm, we replaced the heat and moisture exchange filter by a heated humidifier, and respiratory rate was increased to keep minute ventilation constant. Data on lung mechanics and gas exchange were taken at baseline and after 30 minutes at each Vt (bedside). Thereafter, a dynamic CT (4 images/sec for 8 sec) was taken at each Vt at a fixed transverse region between the middle and lower third of the lungs. Afterward, CT images were analyzed and cyclic recruitment-derecruitment was determined as non-aerated tissue variation between inspiration and expiration, and hyperinflation as maximal hyperinflated tissue at end-inspiration, expressed as % of lung tissue weight.

Results

We analyzed 10 patients. Decreasing Vt from 6 to 4 ml/kg consistently decreased cyclic recruitment-derecruitment from 3.6 (2.5 to 5.7) % to 2.9 (0.9 to 4.7) % (P <0.01) and end-inspiratory hyperinflation from 0.7 (0.3 to 2.2) to 0.6 (0.2 to 1.7) % (P = 0.01). No patient developed severe respiratory acidosis or severe hypercapnia when decreasing Vt to 4 ml/kg (pH 7.29 (7.21 to 7.46); PaCO2 48 (26 to 51) mmHg).

Conclusions

Decreasing Vt from 6 to 4 ml/kg reduces cyclic recruitment-derecruitment and hyperinflation. Severe respiratory acidosis may be effectively prevented by decreasing instrumental dead space and by increasing respiratory rate.
Subsalt imaging by target-oriented inversion-based imaging:A 3D field-data example
Authors: Tang Yaxun , Biondi Biondo
Published: January 2013

Reflectivity images obtained by prestack depth migration are often distorted by uneven subsurface illumination, especially in areas with complex geology, such as subsalt regions. We address the problem of uneven illumination in subsalt imaging by posing the reflectivity-imaging problem as a linear inverse problem and solving it in the image domain in a target-oriented fashion. The most computationally intensive part of the image-domain inversion is the explicit computation of the so-called Hessian operator. The Hessian is defined to be the normal operator of the associated modeling/imaging operator, which is a direct measure of the illumination deficiency of the imaging system. We can overcome the cost issue by using the phase-encoding technique in the 3D conical-wave domain for marine streamer acquisitions. We apply the inversion-based imaging methodology to a 3D field data set acquired from the Gulf of Mexico, and we precondition the inversion with nonstationary dip filters, which naturally incorporate interpreted geologic information. Numerical examples demonstrate that imaging by regularized inversion successfully recovers the reflectivities from the effects of uneven illumination, yielding images with more balanced amplitudes and higher spatial resolution.
Coercive Contract Enforcement: Law and the Labor Market in Nineteenth Century Industrial Britain
Authors: Naidu Suresh , Yuchtman Noam
Published: January 2013

British Master and Servant law made employee contract breach a criminal offense until 1875. We develop a contracting model generating equilibrium contract breach and prosecutions, then exploit exogenous changes in output prices to examine the effects of labor demand shocks on prosecutions. Positive shocks in the textile, iron, and coal industries increased prosecutions. Following the abolition of criminal sanctions, wages differentially rose in counties that had experienced more prosecutions, and wages responded more to labor demand shocks. Coercive contract enforcement was applied in industrial Britain; restricted mobility allowed workers to commit to risk-sharing contracts with lower, but less volatile, wages. (JEL J31, J41, K12, K31, N33, N43)
Pandering to Persuade
Authors: Che Yeon-Koo , Dessein Wouter , Kartik Navin
Published: January 2013

An agent advises a principal on selecting one of multiple projects or an outside option. The agent is privately informed about the projects' benefits and shares the principal's preferences except for not internalizing her value from the outside option. We show that for moderate outside option values, strategic communication is characterized by pandering: the agent biases his recommendation toward “conditionally better-looking” projects, even when both parties would be better off with some other project. A project that has lower expected value can be conditionally better-looking. We develop comparative statics and implications of pandering. Pandering is also induced by an optimal mechanism without transfers. (JEL D23, D82)
Cultural Change as Learning: The Evolution of Female Labor Force Participation over a Century
Authors: Fernández Raquel
Published: January 2013

This paper develops a learning model of cultural change to investigate why women's labor force participation (LFP) and attitudes toward women's work both changed dramatically. In the model, women's beliefs about the long-run payoff from working evolve endogenously via an intergenerational learning process. This process generically generates the data's S-shaped LFP curve and introduces a novel role for wage changes via their effect on the speed of intergenerational learning. The calibrated model does a good job of replicating the evolution of female LFP in the United States over the last 120 years and finds that the new role for wages was quantitatively significant.
Data Submission and Quality in Microarray-Based MicroRNA Profiling
Authors: Witwer Kenneth W
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND

Public sharing of scientific data has assumed greater importance in the omics era. Transparency is necessary for confirmation and validation, and multiple examiners aid in extracting maximal value from large data sets. Accordingly, database submission and provision of the Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment (MIAME)3 are required by most journals as a prerequisite for review or acceptance.

METHODS

In this study, the level of data submission and MIAME compliance was reviewed for 127 articles that included microarray-based microRNA (miRNA) profiling and were published from July 2011 through April 2012 in the journals that published the largest number of such articles—PLOS ONE, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Blood, and Oncogene—along with articles from 9 other journals, including Clinical Chemistry, that published smaller numbers of array-based articles.

RESULTS

Overall, data submission was reported at publication for <40% of all articles, and almost 75% of articles were MIAME noncompliant. On average, articles that included full data submission scored significantly higher on a quality metric than articles with limited or no data submission, and studies with adequate description of methods disproportionately included larger numbers of experimental repeats. Finally, for several articles that were not MIAME compliant, data reanalysis revealed less than complete support for the published conclusions, in 1 case leading to retraction.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings buttress the hypothesis that reluctance to share data is associated with low study quality and suggest that most miRNA array investigations are underpowered and/or potentially compromised by a lack of appropriate reporting and data submission.
Liquid Structure and Cluster Formation in Ionic Liquid/Water Mixtures – An Extensive ab initio Molecular Dynamics Study on 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Acetate/Water Mixtures – Part
Authors: Brehm Martin , Weber Henry , Pensado Alfonso S. , Stark Annegret , Kirchner Barbara
Published: January 2013

We present an extensive ab initio molecular dynamics study on mixtures of the room temperature ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate with water. To show the dependence of the properties on the concentration, we simulated four different systems: Pure IL, pure water, and two binary mixtures with different mixing ratios. We found that the imidazolium rings are stacking on top of each other in the pure ionic liquid, which is a result of the strong dispersion interactions between the cations. With increasing water content, this ordering is disturbed. While in the pure IL the anions are located almost exclusively within the cation's ring plane, they occupy both the in-plane and the on-top position in the mixture. For very high water content, the anions are mainly found on top of the imidazolium ring. The ethyl chains of the cations attract each other via dispersion force and form clusters, indicating the existence of microheterogeneity in our simulations. We also analyzed the topology of the hydrogen bond network and found that the cation is forming hydrogen bonds to multiple anions at the same time, and is therefore a bridging agent. Likewise, the anion is bridging between different cations. At moderate water content, two acetate ions are frequently coordinated to the same water molecule, leading to the formation of acetate/water clusters.
Interaction between Zwitterionic Surfactants and Amphiphilic Drug: A Tensiometric Study
Authors: Ansari Wajid Husain , Noori Sahar , Naqvi Andleeb , ud - Din Kabir -
Published: January 2013

The physicochemical properties, viz, critical micelle concentration (cmc), surface excess concentration (Γmax), minimum area per head group (Amin) of zwitterionic surfactants (designated asn(−)-2-m(+);n= 8, 10, 12 andm= 12, 14, 16) and their mixtures with amphiphilic antidepressant drug amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT) were determined by using surface tension measurements. The cmc and ideal cmc (cmcid) values along with interaction parameters,βmandβσ(calculated using Rubingh's and Rosen's models), suggest attractive interactions among the components. The Krafft temperature measurements also indicate strong attractive interactions.Γmax(orAmin) increases (or decreases) with the addition of gemini surfactant; the values being closer to that of the drug. These values and micellar mole fraction (X1m-calculated from Rubingh's model andX1Moto-calculated from Motomura's model) indicate larger contribution of gemini surfactants in mixed micelles and smaller contribution at air/solution interface (as mole fraction values at interface,X1σ, are slightly smaller thanX1m). The standard Gibbs energy of micellization (ΔGmicº) and adsorption (ΔGadº) as well as excess energy of mixing (ΔGexm) are all negative. All these results suggest higher stability of the mixed systems. UV absorbance results also suggest that the mixed micelles are stable for several days.
Vulnerabilidade ao burnout entre médicos de hospital público do Recife
Authors: Lima Raitza Araújo dos Santos , Souza Ariani Impieri de , Galindo Renata Hirschle , Feliciano Katia Virginia de Oliveira
Published: January 2013

Identificou-se o burnout e fatores associados entre médicos de hospital público do Recife, Brasil, obtendo resposta de 158 profissionais (92,4% do total) para questionário autoaplicável (aspectos sociodemográficos, laborais e Maslach Burnout Inventory). Definiu-se burnout pela sobreposição de alta exaustão emocional (EE) e despersonalização (DP) e baixa realização profissional (RP). Aplicou-se qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher. Predominaram sexo feminino (83,5%) e tempo de profissão acima de 10 anos (81,6%). Constataram-se altos níveis de EE (61,4%) e DP (36,7%) e baixo nível de RP (13,3%), estando 5,1% com burnout. Mostraram associação: alto nível de EE e realizar "frequentemente/sempre" tarefas com muita rapidez e "nunca/às vezes" ter tempo suficiente; alto nível de DP e ter até dez anos de profissão e efetuar "frequentemente/sempre" tarefas com muita rapidez; baixo nível de RP e gênero feminino e "nunca/às vezes" ter tempo suficiente; burnout e executar "frequentemente/sempre" tarefas com muita rapidez, "nunca/às vezes" dispor de tempo suficiente, ser do gênero masculino e não ter expectativa de ascensão profissional. Para 37,3% duas das três dimensões indicavam alta propensão à síndrome. O burnout institui-se entre médicos, tornando premente a transformação das condições de trabalho.
Mid-latitude ionospheric signature of a weak solar flare in winter
Authors: Koen Etienne J. , Collier Andrew B.
Published: January 2013

Measurements of the amplitude and phase of very low frequency transmitter signals were used to evaluate the effects on the ionosphere of a moderate intensity solar flare that occurred on 13 December 2007. These measurements were compared to modelled results from the Long Wave Propagation Capability code. The ionospheric effects were found to be delayed by ~1 min with respect to the 0.1–0.8 nm solar X-ray flux.
Fracture Optimization in a Giant Gas Field, Wamsutter, Wyoming, USA
Authors: Brake Al
Published: January 2013

Optimization of fracture stimulation treatments in BP's giant Wamsutter Field is an important aspect of efficient and viable development of this tight gas asset. This paper integrates historical fracturing data, well performance, surveillance data, and data from fracturing field trials to provide a clearer view of created fracture geometry and resulting well performance. This integrated understanding of Wamsutter fracturing is being used to design additional field trials with a calibrated, more predictive fracture model.

The results of this analysis could directly apply to similar tight gas fields. The evaluation technique of integrating field results with surveillance data and field trials would be beneficial for any unconventional gas asset in defining the most effective fracturing techniques.

Major conclusions of this study:

Fluid Volumes pumped during fracture stimulation have a strong correlation to the well performance in Wamsutter Field. Shale boundaries within the Almond are not always effective in preventing frac height growth. Microseismic indicates that stages frequently grow into each other. A predictive fracture model with a calibrated geomechanical profile is essential for designing and understanding stimulation results. A field trial program to test fracture design concepts and calibrate fracture models is an important aspect of fracture optimization.

Fracture geometry is difficult to model and design accurately. This case study, based on a large data set, provides some "ground truth" to measure the accuracy of design versus actual results.
Creating Value Through Permanent Down Hole Gauges in Oman Block A Tight Gas Appraisal
Authors: Al Busafi Badar , Clark Robert A , Adil Imtiaz
Published: January 2013

BP's down hole instrumentation of the Khazzan tight gas appraisal wells provides a rare opportunity to quantify reservoir pressure and temperature dynamics. Several appraisal wells were initially tested for 3-4 weeks and subsequently shut-in for about a year. The continuous downhole gauge recordings of the resulting pressure build ups were then analyzed to quantify understanding of stimulation effectiveness, reservoir quality away from the wellbore, total producible connected gas, geomechanics and wellbore hydraulics. History matching of this gauge data provided confidence in predicting production profiles for full field development. This paper examines the pressure transient analysis (PTA) of one representative well in the field. The high quality build-up indicated that good quality rock extends to beyond the radius of investigation of the pressure transient and PTA did not reveal any barriers in an area of ~20 sq. km around the wellbore. The absence of boundaries and the possible extension of better quality reservoir have given BP the confidence to place an additional (and successful) appraisal well in the southwest of the block, thus extending the area that potentially will be a focus for early full field development. Installing permanent down hole gauges carried a high initial cost, but the value gained in quantifying subsurface uncertainty has proven the success of this technology application. It has also proved invaluable in executing hydraulic fracture stimulation. This high quality information boosts confidence in reservoir performance and long term deliverability leading to better informed business decisions regarding potential full field development.
Airflow Pathway Development as Affected by Soil Moisture Variability in Heterogeneous Soils
Authors: Sakaki Toshihiro , Schulte Paul E. , Cihan Abdullah , Christ John A. , Illangasekare Tissa H.
Published: January 2013

Understanding how lateral airflow pathways develop in the unsaturated zone is important to address problems dealing with intrusion of contaminants in the form of vapor into buildings and subsurface structures. One of the key factors that contribute to the formation of these vapor pathways is the spatial and temporal variation of soil moisture saturation. The soil moisture in the unsaturated zone is expected to be affected by the mass and temperature boundary conditions at the land surface. We performed highly controlled laboratory experiments in an intermediate‐scale test tank to improve the basic understanding of the factors that contribute to development of such pathways. The tank was packed with different test sands in a layered configuration and the precipitation and thermal boundary conditions were controlled at the soil surface. A numerical model based on the COMSOL Multiphysics software was validated using the experimental data. This model was used to obtain insights into how the degree of subsurface heterogeneity affects air pathway development. The results showed that (i) soil moisture variations created by precipitation could significantly affect the development of dynamic airflow pathways, (ii) thermal flux at the soil surface does not significantly affect soil moisture deep in the formation and hence has a negligible effect on airflow pathways, and (iii) the capping effect created by water accumulating at soil layer interfaces results in more air of subsurface origin entering the building. Further study is needed, however, to examine the validity of these findings under more realistic soil and climate conditions.