bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trypanosoma bruceiOrc1 is essential for nuclear DNA replication and affects both VSG silencing and VSG switching
Authors: Benmerzouga Imaan , Concepción‐Acevedo Jeniffer , Kim Hee‐Sook , Vandoros Anthula V. , Cross George A. M. , Klingbeil Michele M. , Li Bibo
Published: December 2012

Binding of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) to replication origins is essential for initiation of DNA replication, but ORC has non‐essential functions outside of DNA replication, including in heterochromatic gene silencing and telomere maintenance. Trypanosoma brucei, a protozoan parasite that causes human African trypanosomiasis, uses antigenic variation as a major virulence mechanism to evade the host's immune attack by expressing its major surface antigen, the Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG), in a monoallelic manner. An Orc1/Cdc6 homologue has been identified in T. brucei, but its role in DNA replication has not been directly confirmed and its potential involvement in VSG repression or switching has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we show that TbOrc1 is essential for nuclear DNA replication in mammalian‐infectious bloodstream and tsetse procyclic forms (BF and PF). Depletion of TbOrc1 resulted in derepression of telomere‐linked silent VSGs in both BF and PF, and increased VSG switching particularly through the in situ transcriptional switching mechanism. TbOrc1 associates with telomere repeats but appears to do so independently of two known T. brucei telomere proteins, TbRAP1 and TbTRF. We conclude that TbOrc1 has conserved functions in DNA replication and is also required to control telomere‐linked VSG expression and VSG switching.
Quantification of flagellar motor stator dynamics through in vivo proton‐motive force control
Authors: Tipping Murray J. , Steel Bradley C. , Delalez Nicolas J. , Berry Richard M. , Armitage Judith P.
Published: December 2012

The bacterial flagellar motor, one of the few rotary motors in nature, produces torque to drive the flagellar filament by ion translocation through membrane‐bound stator complexes. We used the light‐driven proton pump proteorhodopsin (pR) to control the proton‐motive force (PMF) in vivo by illumination. pR excitation was shown to be sufficient to replace native PMF generation, and when excited in cells with intact native PMF generation systems increased motor speed beyond the physiological norm. We characterized the effects of rapid in vivo PMF changes on the flagellar motor. Transient PMF disruption events from loss of illumination caused motors to stop, with rapid recovery of their previous rotation rate after return of illumination. However, extended periods of PMF loss led to stepwise increases in rotation rate upon PMF return as stators returned to the motor. The rate constant for stator binding to a putative single binding site on the motor was calculated to be 0.06 s−1. Using GFP‐tagged MotB stator proteins, we found that transient PMF disruption leads to reversible stator diffusion away from the flagellar motor, showing that PMF presence is necessary for continued motor integrity, and calculated a stator dissociation rate of 0.038 s−1.
The Escherichia coliSLC26 homologue YchM (DauA) is a C4‐dicarboxylic acid transporter
Authors: Karinou Eleni , Compton Emma L. R. , Morel Mélanie , Javelle Arnaud
Published: December 2012

The SLC26/SulP (solute carrier/sulphate transporter) proteins are a ubiquitous superfamily of secondary anion transporters. Prior studies have focused almost exclusively on eukaryotic members and bacterial members are frequently classified as sulphate transporters based on their homology with SulP proteins from plants and fungi. In this study we have examined the function and physiological role of the Escherichia coli Slc26 homologue, YchM. We show that there is a clear YchM‐dependent growth defect when succinate is used as the sole carbon source. Using an in vivo succinate transport assay, we show that YchM is the sole aerobic succinate transporter active at acidic pH. We demonstrate that YchM can also transport other C4‐dicarboxylic acids and that its substrate specificity differs from the well‐characterized succinate transporter, DctA. Accordingly ychM was re‐designated dauA (dicarboxylic acid uptake system A). Finally, our data suggest that DauA is a protein with transport and regulation activities. This is the first report that a SLC26/SulP protein acts as a C4‐dicarboxylic acid transporter and an unexpected new function for a prokaryotic member of this transporter family.
The status of religion in emergent political regimes: lessons fromTurkey andIsrael
Authors: Rubin Aviad
Published: December 2012

Why do some newly formed regimes incorporate religion in various dimensions of public affairs, while others relegate religious actors and content to the private sphere? This article offers an explanatory model with four key components that together determine the status of religion in newborn political regimes: (1) the pervasiveness of religion in the old order; (2) the overlap among different ingredients of national‐identity; (3) the constraints of demographic realities; and (4) the period before and during the formation of the new regime as critical juncture. The model is applied and tested in the cases ofIsrael andTurkey, which in many respects represent opposite trends – accommodation and marginalization, respectively – that produced broad and long‐term consequences for their respective political regimes.
Feasibility of ultra‐low‐volume indoor space spraying for dengue control in Southern Thailand
Authors: Ditsuwan Thanittha , Liabsuetrakul Tippawan , Ditsuwan Vallop , Thammapalo Suwich
Published: December 2012

Objectives

To assess the feasibility of conducting standard indoor space spraying using ultra‐low‐volume (SID‐ULV) in terms of willingness to pay (WTP) and ability to pay (ATP) and ability to conduct space spraying by local administrative organisations (LAO) in lower Southern Thailand.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. The executive leaders of each LAO were asked to state their WTP and ATP for SID‐ULV. Willingness to pay was measured by the payment card and open‐ended question methods. Ability to pay was calculated using the budget allocation for space spraying and estimated expenditure for SID‐ULV. Ability to conduct the SID‐ULV was assessed by interviewing the spraymen. Average WTP and ATP were calculated and uncertainties were estimated using a bootstrapping technique.

Results

Ninty‐three percent of executive leaders were willing to pay for SID‐ULV. The average WTP per case was USD 259 (95% confidence interval [CI] 217–303). Thirty‐eight percent of all LAO had actual ATP and 60% had ideal ATP. The average annual budget allocated for space spraying was USD 2327 (95% CI: 1654–3138). The amount of money LAO were willing to pay did not vary significantly between their different types, but ATP did. Thirty‐two percent of spraymen could not complete all nine procedures of SID‐ULV.

Conclusions

Although WTP for SID‐ULV space spraying was high, ATP was low, which revealed the flexibility of budget allocation for SID‐ULV in each LAO. The spraymen require training in SID‐ULV space spraying.
Blood supply safety in Afghanistan: a national assessment of high‐volume facilities
Authors: Mansoor G. Farooq , Rahmani Ahmad Masoud , Kakar M. Aziz , Hashimy Pashtoon , Abrahimi Parwiz , Scott Paul T. , Peel Sheila A. , Rentas Francisco J. , Todd Catherine S.
Published: December 2012

Background

Little information is available regarding blood supply safety in Afghanistan. The purpose of this study was to assess blood safety through serologic and observational measures in Afghanistan.

Study Design and Methods

This cross‐sectional assessment included the 40 highest‐volume facilities collecting and transfusing blood nationally identified in a previous survey. At each facility, study representatives completed a standardized instrument assessing staff performance of transfusion‐related activities and performed rapid testing for human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C with rapid diagnostic tests on clinically discarded specimens. Reactive samples received confirmatory testing. Descriptive statistics were generated, with differences analyzed using chi‐square or Fisher's exact tests.

Results

Between November 2010 and May 2011, a total of 332 blood donor collection procedures were observed. Only 52.4% of observed encounters correctly screened and deferred donors by international criteria. Public and private facilities demonstrated glove use, proper sharps disposal, and patient counseling and relayed screening test results in less than 75% of observed events, significantly less likely than military facilities (p < 0.01). Of 1612 specimens assessed, confirmed cases of hepatitis B (n = 6), hepatitis C (n = 1), and syphilis (n = 3) were detected among units already prescreened and accepted for transfusion.

Conclusion

Lapses in proper donor screening contributed to the presence of confirmed‐positive units available for transfusion, as detected in this study. Steps must be taken to ensure standardization of testing kits requirements, documentation, and mandatory training and continuing education for blood bank staff with regard to counseling, drawing, processing, and transfusion of blood products.
A Nongraphical Method to Determine the Optimum Disassembly Plan in Remanufacturing
Authors: Ghoreishi Niloufar , Jakiela Mark J. , Nekouzadeh Ali
Published: December 2012

Optimizing a disassembly process involves maximizing the number of disassembled valuable parts (cores) and minimizing the number of disassembly operations. Usually, some disassembly operations are in common among two or more cores, or sometimes removing a core requires prior removal of other cores (known as precedence relations); these correlations complicate the allocation of the disassembly cost to the cores. To overcome this complexity, the current optimization methods (decision trees) determine the optimum sequence of disassembly operations rather than the optimum set of cores to be disassembled. These methods become difficult to implement when the number of cores increases. In this paper, we developed a mechanized nongraphical approach to determine the optimum set of cores to be disassembled and their required disassembly operations based on the functionality statuses of the cores. This approach introduces a new characterization of the disassembly process and its precedence relations, and can be implemented conveniently using computer codes even when the product consists of many cores. The application of the method is explained with an example. Using this example, it was shown that the optimum disassembly can increase the net profit significantly compared with the complete disassembly.
Reliability-Based Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Using Probabilistic Gradient-Based Transformation Method
Authors: Ting Lin Po , Chang Gea Hae
Published: December 2012

Recently, solving the complex design optimization problems with design uncertainties has become an important but very challenging task in the communities of reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) and multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO). The MDO algorithms decompose the complex design problem into the hierarchical or nonhierarchical optimization structure and distribute the workloads to each discipline (or subproblem) in the decomposed structure. The coordination of the local responses is crucial for the success of finding the optimal design point. The problem complexity increases dramatically when the existence of the design uncertainties is not negligible. The RBDO algorithms perform the reliability analyses to evaluate the probabilities that the random variables violate the constraints. However, the required reliability analyses build up the degree of complexity. In this paper, the gradient-based transformation method (GTM) is utilized to reduce the complexity of the MDO problems by transforming the design space to multiple single-variate monotonic coordinates along the directions of the constraint gradients. The subsystem responses are found using the monotonicity principles (MP) and then coordinated for the new design points based on two general principles. To consider the design uncertainties, the probabilistic gradient-based transformation method (PGTM) is proposed to adapt the first-order probabilistic constraints from three different RBDO algorithms, including the chance constrained programming (CCP), reliability index approach (RIA), and performance measure approach (PMA), to the framework of the GTM. PGTM is efficient because only the sensitivity analyses and the reliability analyses require function evaluations (FE). The optimization processes of monotonicity analyses and the coordination procedures are free of function evaluations. Several mathematical and engineering examples show the PGTM is capable of finding the optimal solutions with desirable reliability levels.
A toddler who refused to stand or walk: lumbar spondylodiscitis
Authors: van den Heuvel Rick , Hertel Marc , Gallagher John , Naidoo Vishal
Published: December 2012

A young mother presented her 19-month-old boy to the general practitioner (GP) with a 24 h history of reluctance to stand or walk and a slightly raised temperature. The GP arranged an assessment by the paediatrician, who organised an ultrasound of the hips which was normal. Approximately 1 week later the patient became constipated as well, was seen again by another GP but no cause was found. Another week later mother consulted the initial GP again as the boy had not shown any signs of improvement and had become more irritable. The GP arranged a review by the paediatrician and MRI scans of the hips and back were performed. These scans showed normal hips but lumbar spine changes suggestive of a spondylodiscitic event. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics, a corset and analgesia and made an excellent recovery.
Postoperative rhabdomyolysis: a completely localised and symmetrical phenomenon?
Authors: Vyshka Gentian , Morcka Kristi , Andreou Alexander
Published: December 2012

The aim of this case report is to describe an unusual case, where rhabdomyolysis was completely confined to both anterior tibial muscles, with sparing of the posterior compartments (no involvement of gastrocnemii). The patient had undergone a 3 h craniotomy and was weaned from ventilator support on postoperative day 1. All haemodynamic and vital parameters were within normal limits. However, severe pain (8/10 on the visual analogue scale) was felt in lateral-anterior tibial compartments bilaterally; creatine kinase (CK) value was found to be abnormally high. An MRI of both tibial regions was performed, that showed very particular findings. The patient complained of foot drop and pain worsening during standing; he recovered completely within 2 months following the surgery, with serum CK dropping considerably within this period.
Baseline-transmitted V106V/I/M non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance in HIV-1 subtype B infection
Authors: Sherman Elizabeth , Elrod Shara , Eckardt Paula
Published: December 2012

We report a case in which an antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patient diagnosed with HIV-1 subtype B presented with baseline genotype and phenotype resistance tests, confirming a V106V/I/M nucleoside resistance mutation. The V106V/I/M mutation represents a mixture of virus strains conferring resistance to the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretrovirals efavirenz and nevirapine. V106M mutation is not often observed as a primary resistance mutation in patients infected with HIV-1 subtype B. The patient responded well to an ART regimen consisting of tenofovir–emtricitabine and raltegravir, achieving and maintaining an undetectable HIV RNA.
Traumatic bone cyst mimicking radicular cyst
Authors: Dincer Onur , Kose Taha Emre , Cankaya Abdulkadir Burak , Aybar Buket
Published: December 2012

Traumatic bone cysts were first defined by Lucas and Blum in 1929. It is classified as an intraosseous pseudocyst. They are asymptomatic and are usually seen during routine radiographical examination. According to the 2002 classification of the WHO, traumatic bone cysts are in miscellaneous lesions. This report describes a 16-year-old male patient who had a traumatic bone cyst that mimicked a radicular cyst.
Adult diagnosis of Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome
Authors: Tutar Onur , Tekcan Deniz Esin , Samanci Cesur , Bas Ahmet
Published: December 2012

Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS) is a rare, complex disease characterised by unilateral hyperlucent lung or lobe owing to loss of pulmonary vasculature and alveolar hyperdistention. Patients with SJMS may be asymptomatic at diagnosis, but its differential diagnosis with asthma is difficult. Almost all the reported cases of SJMS were managed by conservative therapy, comprising prevention and treatment of recurrent pulmonary infections.
Management of overdenture abutments health by an innovative cleaning aid
Authors: Mall Priyanka , Singh Kamleshwar , Singh Saumyendra Vikram , Agrawal Kaushal Kishor , Siddharth Ramashanker , Chand Pooran
Published: December 2012

This article describes a method for fabrication of a custom-made device for cleaning dome-shaped overdenture abutments. A kid toothbrush and a rubber cup were used for fabrication of a prophylactic device. After regular use of this device periodontal health status of the overdenture abutments patients improved satisfactorily.
Superior patellar dislocation: the value of clinical examination and radiological investigation
Authors: Clift Rosamund Katharine , El-Alami W
Published: December 2012

A 57-year-old obese woman with a history of osteoarthritis presented with an acutely painful left knee and an inability to bear weight following a twisting injury. The initial diagnosis in A&E was a ruptured patellar tendon. A more thorough clinical examination revealed a high-riding patellar with the knee hyper-extended and a patellar dimple, consistent with superior patellar dislocation. The diagnosis was confirmed with imaging and the patient successfully underwent closed reduction. She re-presented 2 months later with ipsilateral knee pain after climbing a step. The initial diagnosis was quadriceps tear and ultrasound confirmed a partial tear in proximal vastus medialis. She was discharged home with analgesia and splinting of the leg. Subsequent MRI demonstrated severe tricompartmental degenerative changes in the left knee, the tear in vastus medialis noted on ultrasound with disruption to the medial capsular structures in keeping with lateral subluxation of the knee.
Mixed cestode infection: an incidental association in an immunocompetent person
Authors: Aggarwal Puneet , Kumar Gunjan , Dev Nishanth , Jain Shalabh
Published: December 2012

EchinococcusandTaeniainfection are the two most relevant forms of cestode infection in humans. These infections occur worldwide, but with higher prevalence in developing countries like India, where poor hygiene facilitates their transmission. We report a case of a middle-aged man who presented with seizures and was found to have dual worm infection including Taenia and Echinococcus. The patient was treated with steroids and albendazole followed by PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection of scolicidal agent and reaspiration). After 6 months of follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and seizure-free without any relapse.
Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome related to right hemidiaphragmatic elevation and a ‘stretched’ patent foramen ovale
Authors: Sakagianni Katerina , Evrenoglou Despina , Mytas Dimitrios , Vavuranakis Manolis
Published: December 2012

Patent foramen ovale (PFO), although frequently observed in adults, rarely causes adverse clinical consequences. The most serious among them, are cryptogenic strokes and less commonly significant hypoxia resulting from right-to-left shunt (RLS). Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome referring to abnormal oxygenation in the upright position has been correlated with reopening of foramen ovale and acute right-to-left intracardiac shunt. We report a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome secondary to the development of RLS through a ‘stretched’ PFO, in a patient admitted to the intensive care unit with severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The RLS was associated with right hemidiaphragmatic elevation, without an increased interatrial pressure gradient. The patient was successfully weaned from the ventilator after the percutaneous closure of PFO through a catheter-deployed double-umbrella device, presenting a full recovery.
Phenytoin-induced Lyell's syndrome
Authors: Lobão Bárbara , Martins Claúdio , Sousa Manuel , Marques Susana , Pedroso Ermelinda
Published: December 2012

Lyell's syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare dermatological disease that causes serious morbidity and mortality. It is most commonly drug induced. The authors report the case of a 57-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital with severe rash all over the body. She had been previously submitted to brain surgery for total resection of a large meningioma and medicated with phenytoin for seizures prophylaxis. During this treatment, erythematous lesions and blisters were observed first on her face and trunk and then spreading to the entire body. Detachment of the skin, as well as mucous involvement especially of mouth and conjunctiva, was also observed. TEN was diagnosed, and phenytoin was discontinued. Intravenous fluids, systemic steroids and tightened infection control measures were implemented. After 10 days, skin recovery and re-epithelialisation were established, temperature decreased and mucosal complications stabilised. The patient was discharged after 1 month of hospitalisation.
Adenosine-induced worsening of supraventricular tachycardia
Authors: Kunnumpuram Georgey Koshy , Patel Ashfaq
Published: December 2012

An approximately 20-year-old to 30-year-old patient presented with a haemodynamically stable supraventricular tachycardia . The patient was managed with intravenous adenosine primarily, with two bolus doses of 6 and 12 mg. This, however, caused a rare paradoxical surge of tachycardia with mild haemodynamic compromise. The patient further required a combination of Metoprolol and Verapamil administration to slow down and reverse the arrhythmia. Following this the patient remained stable with no further episodes till discharge.
Frontal linear scleroderma en coup de sabre associated with epileptic seizure
Authors: Inci Rahime , Inci Mehmet Fatih , Ozkan Fuat , Oztürk Perihan
Published: December 2012

Linear scleroderma is a rare variant of localised scleroderma, which is usually seen in childhood and during the adolescent period, and can cause severe functional morbidity as well as cosmetic and psychological problems. Although its ethiopathogenesis is yet obscure, autoimmunity, local ischaemia and injuries, vaccination, irradiation, vitamin K injections,Borrelia burgdorferiandVaricellainfections have been incriminated. A 4-year-old girl who had been followed up for about 18 months with diagnosis of epilepsy had a colour discolouration and depression that first appeared 1 year ago and then progressed on her left frontal region. Her CT scan showed a thinning in the frontal bone and depression in the frontal region. These findings are described as ‘en coup de sabre’ a rare form of linear scleroderma localised at the frontal region of the scalp. In this paper, we present clinical and radiological findings of a 4-year-old girl with epileptic seizures that started 1 year before the onset of the lesion of linear scleroderma.
Pregnancy complicated by abdominopelvic hydatid disease
Authors: Tyagi Shakun , Singh Chanchal , Tripathi Reva , Mala Yedla
Published: December 2012

A 22-year-old second gravida presented with asymptomatic abdominal and pelvic hydatid disease at 16 weeks gestation. She opted for conservative management and was treated with oral Albendazole. She underwent elective caesarean along with cyst excision at term as the large pelvic cyst precluded vaginal delivery. A healthy baby girl weighing 2600 g with Apgar of 9, 9 at 1 and 5 min was delivered.
Unilateral anhidrosis: a rare presentation of atrial myxoma?
Authors: Gould Justin
Published: December 2012

A 50-year-old Chinese woman, non-smoker, presented with a 6-month history of increased sweating on the right side of her face, exertional chest tightness and breathlessness. Although the patient presented with increased sweating on the right, further history and examination revealed unilateral, left-sided anhidrosis, left partial ptosis and miosis consistent with Horner's syndrome. The patient was subsequently investigated with thoracic CT to assess for an apical lung mass (Pancoast tumour). A CT chest ruled out a mediastinal tumour, however, it revealed a large 60×41 mm soft tissue mass arising from the left atrium, protruding across the mitral valve into the left ventricle, suspicious of an intracardiac tumour. The patient was referred urgently for cardiothoracic assessment at a tertiary referral centre and successful open resection was performed. Histology confirmed an atrial myxoma. The patient developed postoperative atrial fibrillation but otherwise made a full recovery.
Comparison of intra-arterial and manual auscultation of blood pressure during submaximal exercise in humans
Authors: Wheatley Courtney M. , Snyder Eric M. , Joyner Michael J. , Johnson Bruce D. , Olson Thomas P.
Published: December 2012

Blood pressure (BP) is a key measure of cardiovascular function, and accurate measurement is important to ensure proper clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. We compared intra-arterial (direct) and cuff auscultation (manual) measurement techniques at rest and during 2 levels of submaximal constant-load exercise (9 min at 40% and 75% maximum watts). Sixty-four adults (aged 29.0 ± 0.7 years; 48% male; height, 173.7 ± 1.2 cm; mass, 73.0 ± 1.7 kg; body mass index, 24.1 ± 0.4 kg·m−2; body surface area, 1.87 ± 0.03 m2) participated in the study. At rest, low, and moderate intensity, direct measurement demonstrated higher systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) (bias for SBP: 22, 31, and 27 mm Hg and for DBP: 5, 7, and 17 mm Hg; rest, low-, and moderate-intensity, respectively; p < 0.01). At rest, the correlation and agreement between the 2 methods was modest (SBP: r = 0.56, bias = +22.1 mm Hg; DBP: r = 0.53, bias = +4.9 mm Hg; p < 0.001). There was good correlation and agreement with SBP at low and moderate intensity; however, DBP demonstrated a weaker relationship (SBP: r = 0.74 and 0.74, bias = +30.2 and +26.8 mm Hg; DBP: r = 0.39 and 0.28, bias = +7.1 and +13.4 mm Hg; for low and moderate intensity, respectively; p < 0.001). Further, manual measurement demonstrated a greater slope from rest to moderate exercise for the relationship between pulse pressure (PP) and cardiac output (13.6 ± 0.4 vs 12.3 ± 0.4, p = 0.03). As exercise intensity increases, manual DBP tends to bias low compared with direct DBP, which, when combined with parallel increases in SBP, leads to no differences in PP between methods at moderate exercise. Because PP is used to calculate other cardiovascular parameters (mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance), measurement technique and exercise intensity should be considered when using cardiovascular variables as outcome measures.
A functional autophagy pathway is required for rapamycin-induced degradation of the Sgs1 helicase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Marrakchi Rim , Chouchani Chedly , Poschmann Jeremie , Andreev Emil , Cherif Mohamed , Ramotar Dindial
Published: December 2012

In yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the immunosuppressant rapamycin mimics starvation by inhibiting the kinase Tor1. We recently documented that this treatment triggers a rapid degradation of Sgs1, a helicase involved in several biological processes such as the prevention of genomic instability. Herein, we show that yeast strains deleted for genes ATG2, ATG9, and PEP4, encoding components of the autophagy pathway, prevent rapamycin-induced degradation of Sgs1. We propose that defects in the autophagy pathway prevent degradation of key proteins in the rapamycin response pathway and as a consequence cause resistance to the drug.
Hypoxia modifies planktivore–zooplankton interactions in Lake Erie
Authors: Pothoven Steven A. , Vanderploeg Henry A. , Höök Tomas O. , Ludsin Stuart A.
Published: December 2012

We evaluated vertical distributions of fish and zooplankton, planktivore consumption, and prey production in Lake Erie during 2005 to determine how hypolimnetic hypoxia alters fish (i.e., rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) and emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides)) and invertebrate planktivore (i.e., Bythotrephes longimanus and Leptodora kindtii) relationships with their mesozooplankton prey. Hypoxia concentrated 45%–76% of fish into a narrow (<2 m) metalimnetic layer, but only 3%–13% of zooplankton production was in this layer. The epilimnion may have served to some degree as a refuge for mesozooplankton because high temperatures may have excluded rainbow smelt. High concentrations of fish above the hypolimnion likely resulted in increased competition for large prey (i.e., predatory claodcerans). Although hypoxia did not result in overall high predation demands by planktivores relative to total zooplankton production, planktivore consumption rates within the metalimnion exceeded zooplankton production in that layer.
Detection of viable but nonculturable Escherichia coli O157:H7 using propidium monoazide treatments and qPCR
Authors: Xiao Xing-long , Tian Cong , Yu Yi-gang , Wu Hui
Published: December 2012

Escherichia coli O157:H7 can enter into a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state under stress conditions. The aims of the present study were to examine the influences of environmental factors on the survivability and culturability of E. coli O157:H7 and to develop an approach for accurate detection of VBNC E. coli O157:H7. The E. coli O157:H7 strain ATCC 6589 was inoculated into 3 induction microcosm models: (i) Luria–Bertani broth, (ii) sterilized tap water, and (iii) sterilized physiological saline solution. Our results showed that low temperature and nutritional starvation significantly impacted on the survivability of E. coli O157:H7 cells and that the in-vitro-induced VBNC cells were capable of resuscitating under normal temperature and appropriate nutrients. We tested the effectiveness of an approach combining propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PMA–qPCR) for accurate quantification of total, viable, dead, and VBNC cells under different induction microcosm models. Our results indicated different threshold cycle (Ct) values for PMA-treated cells and untreated cells (ΔCt = 4.97, 4.29, and 3.30 for Luria–Bertani broth, sterilized tap water, and sterilized physiological saline solution, respectively). We determined the quantification limit of this PMA–qPCR approach to be 1 × 102 cells·mL–1, providing sufficient sensitivity for detection of VBNC E. coli O157:H7 cells to no less than 100 cells·mL–1. This study clearly demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of using PMA–qPCR to accurately quantify E. coli O157:H7 in a VBNC state.
Critical evaluation of surface tension of binary liquid mixtures from associated and nonassociated processes at various temperatures: an experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Shukla R.K. , Kumar Atul , Srivastava Urvashi , Awasthi Naveen , Pandey J.D.
Published: December 2012

Densities and surface tensions were measured for the binary liquid mixtures formed by formamide, N-methylacetamide, di-methylformamide, and di-methylacetamide with acetonitrile at 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, and 313.15 K and atmospheric pressure over the whole concentration range. The Prigogine–Flory–Patterson model, the Ramaswamy and Anbananthan model, the model devised by Glinski, the Sanchez equation, the Goldsack relation, and the Eberhart model were used to predict the associational behaviour of weakly interacting liquids. The measured properties were fitted to the Redlich–Kister polynomial relation to estimate the binary coefficients and standard errors. Furthermore, the McAllister multibody interaction model was used to correlate the binary properties. These nonassociated and associated models were compared and tested for different systems showing that the associated processes yield fair agreement between theory and experiment compared with nonassociated processes.
A revised biostratigraphic and well-log sequence-stratigraphic framework for the Scotian Margin, offshore eastern Canada 1This article is one of a series of papers published in this CJES Special Issue on the theme of Mesozoic–Cenozoic geology of the Scotian Basin. 2Earth Sciences Sector Contribution 20120137.
Authors: Weston Janice F. , MacRae R. Andrew , Ascoli Piero , Cooper M. Kevin E. , Fensome Robert A. , Shaw David , Williams Graham L.
Published: December 2012

In this study, we build on a foundation of previous biostratigraphic studies for the Scotian Basin, offshore eastern Canada, by conducting new quantitative multidisciplinary biostratigraphic studies of the Mesozoic sections in eight wells: Bonnet P-23, Chebucto K-90, Cohasset L-97, Glenelg J-48, Glooscap C-63, Mohican I-100, South Desbarres O-76, and South Griffin J-13. These wells were chosen to provide good spatial coverage, stratigraphic penetration, and correlation with the seismic grid. We have also evaluated pre-existing biostratigraphic data and undertaken the well-log sequence-stratigraphic interpretation of Upper Triassic to Cenozoic sediments in 16 additional wells using a consistent multidisciplinary event scheme derived from the new wells. Key to the dating of some horizons has been integration of the palynology and micropaleontology (disciplines mostly used previously on the Scotian Margin) with new nannofossil data. Simultaneously we have closely integrated the biostratigraphic results with lithofacies, well-log, and seismic interpretations. Using this integrated approach, we have identified nine regionally mappable sequence-stratigraphic events (unconformities and maximum flooding surfaces, or MFSs): the Intra-Oligocene Unconformity; the Ypresian Unconformity; the Turonian/Cenomanian Unconformity; the Late Albian Unconformity; the Aptian/Barremian Unconformity; the Intra-Hauterivian MFS; the Near-Base Cretaceous Unconformity; the Tithonian MFS; and the Top-Callovian MFS. Additional events of local extent were also recognized in some wells. Our study has led to significant revision of some previous lithostratigraphic picks. The Early Jurassic on the Scotian Margin remains poorly resolved and may be represented by an unconformity on much of the basin periphery.
Initial rifting and breakup between Nova Scotia and Morocco: insight from new magnetic models 1This article is one of a series of papers published in this CJES Special Issue on the theme of Mesozoic–Cenozoic geology of the Scotian Basin. 2Earth Sciences Sector Contribution 20120024.
Authors: Dehler Sonya A.
Published: December 2012

New models of magnetic data are presented that provide insight into the early stages of rifting and breakup between Morocco and Nova Scotia. The margins, which began forming during the Late Triassic rifting and Middle Jurassic separation of the North American and African plates, display considerable variability in deeper crustal structure, faulting style, and basin geometry along their length. The central and northeastern portions of the Nova Scotia margin show characteristics of a magma-poor margin, with a high degree of crustal thinning and a complex ocean-continent transition zone with little direct evidence of volcanism. In contrast, the margin to the southwest of Nova Scotia has clearly recognized characteristics of a volcanic-style rifted margin, including seaward-dipping reflector (SDR) sequences that are interpreted as rift-related volcanic flows overlying basement. These SDRs are coincident with a strong linear magnetic anomaly, the East Coast Magnetic Anomaly (ECMA), which shares many characteristics with the West African Coast Magnetic Anomaly (WACMA). Both magnetic anomalies change character and diminish in amplitude northward along the margins. The new models show the expected decrease in magnetic source material towards the northeastern end of the margin and suggest that modest amounts of igneous material, emplaced at or near the edge of the thinned continental crust, will satisfy the observed anomalies in this magma-poor section of the margin. These new interpretations and supporting evidence indicate volcanism was a factor along much of the margin during early rifting between Nova Scotia and Morocco.
Modelling available habitat versus available energy flux: do PHABSIM applications that neglect prey abundance underestimate optimal flows for juvenile salmonids?
Authors: Rosenfeld Jordan S. , Ptolemy Ron
Published: December 2012

Common applications of models to predict the response of fish habitat to altered stream flow (such as the Physical Habitat Simulation Model; PHABSIM) assume that fish abundance is directly related to the area of suitable habitat for limiting life stages and usually ignore flow effects on prey abundance. However, if prey availability is flow sensitive, then fish production may be more closely related to the total flux of available prey than to habitat area. We compared instream flow predictions from PHABSIM to predictions of optimal energy flux to drift-feeding juvenile coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) estimated using a drift-foraging bioenergetics model. Flux of available energy to juvenile coho salmon declined much more rapidly with decreasing flow than suitable habitat area estimated using PHABSIM, so that, relative to the bioenergetic model, predictions from PHABSIM systematically overestimated productive capacity at very low flows (i.e., underestimated the negative consequences of simulated water withdrawal). Applications of habitat suitability based models like PHABSIM may systematically overestimate low-flow productive capacity for species that prefer low velocities (e.g., pools) but are dependent on energy fluxes generated in higher velocity habitats (e.g., riffles).
Spatial and temporal trends of muscle lipid content in Great Lakes fishes: 1970s–2008
Authors: Neff Margaret R. , Bhavsar Satyendra P. , Chin Janice Xin Yan
Published: December 2012

An evaluation of spatial and temporal trends in fish lipid content may provide insight into trends of lipophilic contaminant levels, fish population health, and nutritional benefits to fish consumers. Currently, little is known about lipid content in fishes of the Great Lakes, where commercial and recreational fisheries are important. We examined 35+ years of muscle lipid content data for ten Great Lakes fishes from Canadian waters and found lipid content to have significantly (p < 0.05) declined in 2/6 species in Lake Superior, 3/8 species in Lake Huron, 1/8 species in Lake Erie, and 5/10 species in Lake Ontario. Lake Erie showed the least number of declining trends and most increasing trends (2/8 populations, p < 0.1). For most species, recent (2000–2008) muscle lipid values for Lakes Erie and Ontario are significantly higher compared with Lakes Superior and Huron. These observed trends may be linked to a number of environmental changes within the Great Lakes, and the mechanism(s) of decline are likely to be complex.
HIGHER DIMENSIONAL BLACK HOLES
Authors: REALL HARVEY S.
Published: December 2012

This paper reviews black hole solutions of higher-dimensional General Relativity (GR). The focus is on stationary vacuum solutions and recent work on instabilities of such solutions.
SPATIAL PROPAGATION OF QUANTUM LIGHT IN NONLINEAR WAVEGUIDING DEVICES: THEORY AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: LIÑARES JESÚS , BARRAL DAVID , NISTAL MARÍA C.
Published: December 2012

We present the main theoretical results on spatial propagation of quantum light in nonlinear waveguiding devices together with a few applications. We show that the quantization of the classical momentum provides a consistent quantum mechanical formulation of both the linear and the nonlinear quantum light propagation in waveguiding devices. The momentum operator allows us to derive the correct spatial Heisenberg's equations for the forward and backward absorption and emission operators and consequently to analyze the spatial propagation in the multimode optical-field strength space. For that purpose we use the Feynman's path integral method in order to derive the quantum spatial optical propagators of different nonlinear waveguiding devices and accordingly to calculate the spatial propagation of the optical-field strength probability amplitude of quantum states in these nonlinear devices. Likewise, we present a preliminary and heuristic formulation of quantum dissipation in order to take into account the losses under spatial quantum propagation in lossy nonlinear waveguiding devices. It must be stressed that these optical-field strength probabilities have the advantage of being measured by homodyne techniques and therefore their theoretical analysis is of a remarkable interest in the optical characterization of quantum states obtained under linear and nonlinear propagation in waveguiding devices.
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INSTANTANEOUS AND RELAXED KERR MODEL FOR GENERATION OF THE ALL-OPTICAL LOGIC GATES WITH TRIANGULAR FIBER COUPLER (TFC)
Authors: MENEZES J. W. M. , SOUSA J. R. R. , COSTA M. B. C. , FERREIRA A. C. , LIMA F. T. , SOBRINHO C. S. , LYRA M. L. , SOMBRA A. S. B.
Published: December 2012

All-optical logic gates can enable many advanced functions such as all-optical bit-pattern recognition, all-optical bit-error rate monitoring, all-optical packet address and payload separation, all-optical label swapping and all-optical packet drop in optical time domain multiplexing (OTDM) networks. Recently, much attention has been given to the influence of the relaxation process (sometimes called the Debye relaxation model) of the nonlinear response because the usual assumption of instantaneous nonlinear response fails for ultrashort pulses and additional contributions coming from nonlinear dispersion and relaxed nonlinearity have to be taken into account. The Kerr–Debye model is a relaxation of the nonlinear Kerr model in which the relaxation coefficient is a finite response time of the nonlinear material. In this paper, we have presented a numerical analysis of the triangular fiber coupler (TFC) for generation of the all-optical logic gates with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, where we consider the nonlinear effects Kerr group velocity dispersion (GVD) and self-phase modulation (SPM) instantaneous and relaxed (Kerr–Debye model). To implement all-optical logic gates we used TFC of three symmetric configurations [Instantaneous (III), Relaxed (RRR-5 and RRR-9)]. In the instantaneous condition, the TFC is made up of silica optical fibers (with instantaneous response time — indicated by III) and in the relaxed conditions (RRR-5 and RRR-9) the TFC is made up of fibers with delayed response time of around 25 ps (for example, the polymer optical fibers). In our paper, we are interested in the transmission characteristics, the XRatio level (XR (dB)) as a function of the ΔΦ parameter, the normalized time duration (NTD) and the pulse evolution along the TFC and finally to compare the performance of all-optical logic gates, we will use the figure-of-merit of the logic gates (FOMELG (dB)) defined as a function of the extinction ratio of the gate outputs. All results were obtained numerically, considering a very simple model for generation of a optical logic gates.
TUNABLE MULTIWAVELENGTH YTTERBIUM-DOPED FIBER LASER BASED ON NONLINEAR POLARIZATION ROTATION
Authors: ZHANG ZUXING , ZHANG LIANG , XU ZHONGWEI
Published: December 2012

We proposed and demonstrated a room-temperature multiwavelength ytterbium-doped fiber ring laser with fine adjustability and coarse tunability based on nonlinear polarization rotation effect. Stable five-lasing-wavelengths with spacing of 5.0 nm and four-wavelengths with spacing of 6.0 nm are obtained. The simultaneously lasing multiwavelengths can be finely adjusted within small as well as relatively large wavelength range.
ALL AUTOMORPHIC LOOPS OF ORDER p2 FOR SOME PRIME p ARE ASSOCIATIVE
Authors: CSÖRGŐ PIROSKA
Published: December 2012

An automorphic loop (or A-loop) is a loop whose inner mappings are automorphisms. An open problem in [P. Jedlička, M. K. Kinyon and P. Vojtěchovský, Nilpotency in automorphic loops of prime power order, J. Algebra350 (2012) 64–76] was: Are all A-loops of order p2 for some prime p associative? In this paper we give a positive answer to this problem.
ON GROUPS WHOSE PROPER SUBGROUPS ARE CHERNIKOV-BY-BAER OR (PERIODIC DIVISIBLE ABELIAN)-BY-BAER
Authors: ARIKAN AHMET , TRABELSI NADIR
Published: December 2012

If 𝔛 is a class of groups, then a group G is called a minimal non-𝔛-group if it is not an 𝔛-group but all of its proper subgroups belong to 𝔛. In this paper we prove that locally graded minimal non-(Chernikov-by-nilpotent)-groups are precisely minimal non-nilpotent-groups without maximal subgroups and that locally graded minimal non-(Chernikov-by-Baer)-groups are locally finite and coincide with the normal closure of an element. We also prove that an infinite locally graded minimal non-((periodic divisible abelian)-by-Baer)-group G is an imperfect locally nilpotent p-group, for some prime p, and there is an element a in G such that G = 〈a〉G.
NUMERICAL ALGORITHMS FOR DUAL BASES OF POSITIVE-DIMENSIONAL IDEALS
Authors: KRONE ROBERT
Published: December 2012

An ideal of a local polynomial ring can be described by calculating a standard basis with respect to a local monomial ordering. However the usual standard basis algorithms are not numerically stable. A numerically stable approach to describing the ideal is by finding the space of dual functionals that annihilate it, which reduces the problem to one of linear algebra. There are several known algorithms for finding the truncated dual up to any specified degree, which is useful for describing zero-dimensional ideals. We present a stopping criterion for positive-dimensional cases based on homogenization that guarantees all generators of the initial monomial ideal are found. This has applications for calculating Hilbert functions.
ON E-SUPPLEMENTED SUBGROUPS AND THE STRUCTURE OF FINITE GROUPS
Authors: LI CHANGWEN , ZHANG XUEMEI , WANG YAN
Published: December 2012

Consider a finite group G. A subgroup H of G is said to be E-supplemented in G if there is a subgroup T of G such that G = HT and H ∩ T ≤ HeG, where HeG denotes the subgroup of H generated by all those subgroups of H which are S-quasinormally embedded in G. In this paper, we investigate the influence of E-supplemented subgroups on the structure of finite groups.
Design and synthesis of protoporphyrin IX/vitaminB12molecular hybridsviaCuAACreaction
Authors: Loska Rafał , Janiga Anita , Gryko Dorota
Published: December 2012

The design and synthesis of new molecular hybrids composed of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and vitamin B12via copper catalyzed alkyne azide cycloaddition reaction is described. New, clickable aminoazide and aminoalkyne linkers were prepared and subsequently attached to PPIX (via vinyl group) and to vitamin B12giving desired building blocks. Preliminary results showed that respective water soluble hybrids were formed under CuAAC reaction. Gratifyingly, Cu incorporation into the PPIX core was avoided, which was important for further biological studies.
Management of a Pregnancy Complicated by Pompe Disease
Authors: Weida Jennifer , Hainline B. E. , Bodkin C. , Williams M. K.
Published: December 2012

Background. As more women with metabolic muscle diseases reach reproductive age, knowledge of these diseases and their impact on pregnancy is necessary.Case. 23-year-old G1P0 with juvenile-onset Pompe disease (PD) delivered a viable infant by cesarean section at 32 weeks and 6 days. The pregnancy was complicated by worsening maternal pulmonary status, muscular strength, and mobility.Conclusion. The management of pregnancies complicated by Pompe disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, including expertise in neuromuscular disease, maternal-fetal medicine, biochemical genetics, pulmonology, anesthesia, and dietetics.