bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence and molecular study among blood donors in China
Authors: Ren Furong , Zhao Chenyan , Wang Ling , Wang Zhuoyan , Gong Xiaoyan , Song Meilan , Zhuang Hui , Huang Yi , Shan Hua , Wang Jingxing , Liu Qiang , Ness Paul , Nelson Kenrad E. , Wang Youchun
Published: December 2013

Background

The risk of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection from blood transfusion has aroused increasing concern in many countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential risk of HEV infection through blood transfusion in China.

Study Design and Methods

Qualified blood donations and donations with isolated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations from five geographically diverse Chinese regions were tested for anti‐HEV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG and HEV antigen. The positive samples for anti‐HEV IgM and HEV antigen were tested for HEV RNA. HEV open reading frame (ORF)2 partial sequences were analyzed from HEV RNA–positive samples.

Results

The seroprevalence rates of HEV antigen and anti‐HEV IgM and IgG among qualified donations were 0.06% (6/10,741), 1.02% (109/10,741), and 27.42% (2945/10,741), respectively. Samples with isolated ALT elevations had higher prevalence of HEV markers, namely, HEV antigen of 0.25% (2/797), anti‐HEV IgM of 2.76% (22/797), and anti‐HEV IgG of 40.02% (319/797). The HEV antibody prevalence varied significantly by age, sex, and geographic region. All 131 samples that were anti‐HEV IgM positive were negative for HEV RNA, whereas four of eight (50%) samples positive for HEV antigen were HEV RNA positive. HEV ORF2 sequences from three of four HEV RNA–positive samples were determined and grouped with Genotype 4.

Conclusion

Qualified donations after routine blood donor screening still carry potential risk for transmitting HEV. HEV antigen screening could be one measure to reduce the risk of HEV transmission by blood transfusion.
Habitat translocation, rebuilding biodiversity and no net loss of biodiversity
Authors: Box John
Published: December 2013

Recent reviews of the priority policy options and research needs for nature conservation have identified the importance of new land use policies for restoring and rebuilding biodiversity including habitat banking, ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity, restoring flood plain functionality and ecologically coherent networks. Such policies are usually delivered by habitat creation, habitat restoration and habitat enhancement. Habitat translocation is another mechanism that can contribute to the delivery of these policies. Habitats can be restored and created by translocating ecological resources from sites as part of ongoing habitat management, where habitat diversity or early successional habitats are required. Habitat translocation can be used to salvage ecological features and their associated ecosystem services from sites for consented or permitted development projects. Critical success factors for translocation of aquatic and terrestrial habitats are identified. New policy issues and research topics relating to habitat translocation are proposed.
The Daniell cell, Ohm's law, and the emergence of the International System of Units
Authors: Jayson Joel S.
Published: December 2013

Telegraphy originated in the 1830s and 40 s and flourished in the following decades but with a patchwork of electrical standards. Electromotive force was for the most part measured in units of the predominant Daniell cell, but each telegraphy company had their own resistance standard. In 1862, the British Association for the Advancement of Science formed a committee to address this situation. By 1873, they had given definition to the electromagnetic system of units (emu) and defined the practical units of the ohm as 109 emu units of resistance and the volt as 108 emu units of electromotive force. These recommendations were ratified and expanded upon in a series of international congresses held between 1881 and 1904. A proposal by Giovanni Giorgi in 1901 took advantage of a coincidence between the conversion of the units of energy in the emu system (the erg) and in the practical system (the Joule). As it was, the same conversion factor existed between the cgs based emu system and a theretofore undefined MKS system. By introducing another unit X (where X could be any of the practical electrical units), Giorgi demonstrated that a self-consistent MKSX system was tenable without the need for multiplying factors. Ultimately, the ampere was selected as the fourth unit. It took nearly 60 years, but in 1960, Giorgi's proposal was incorporated as the core of the newly inaugurated International System of Units (SI). This article surveys the physics, physicists, and events that contributed to those developments.
Introducing polarization and magnetization into Maxwell's equations: A modified approach
Authors: Jakoby Bernhard
Published: December 2013

The introduction of electric polarization and magnetization—the density of electric and magnetic dipole moments respectively—into Maxwell's equations requires establishing their respective relation to polarization charges and magnetization currents. Using a method introduced by Feynman in his famous lectures on physics and considering statistically distributed dipoles on the microscopic scale, the desired relations can be established in a manner that may be more intuitive to undergraduate students.
Synergistic Effect of the Flavonoid Catechin, Quercetin, or Epigallocatechin Gallate with Fluconazole Induces Apoptosis in Candida tropicalis Resistant to Fluconazole
Authors: da Silva Cecília Rocha , de Andrade Neto João Batista , de Sousa Campos Rosana , Figueiredo Narjara Silvestre , Sampaio Letícia Serpa , Magalhães Hemerson Iury Ferreira , Cavalcanti Bruno Coêlho , Gaspar Danielle Macêdo , de Andrade Geanne Matos , Lima Iri Sandro Pampolha , de Barros Viana Glauce Socorro , de Moraes Manoel Odorico , Lobo Marina Duarte Pinto , Grangeiro Thalles Barbosa , Nobre Júnior Hélio Vitoriano
Published: December 2013

Flavonoids are a class of phenolic compounds commonly found in fruits, vegetables, grains, flowers, tea, and wine. They differ in their chemical structures and characteristics. Such compounds show various biological functions and have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
in vitro
interactions of flavonoids with fluconazole against
Candida tropicalis
strains resistant to fluconazole, investigating the mechanism of synergism. Three combinations formed by the flavonoids (+)-catechin hydrated, hydrated quercetin, and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate at a fixed concentration with fluconazole were tested. Flavonoids alone had no antifungal activity within the concentration range tested, but when they were used as a cotreatment with fluconazole, there was significant synergistic activity. From this result, we set out to evaluate the possible mechanisms of cell death involved in this synergism. Isolated flavonoids did not induce morphological changes or changes in membrane integrity in the strains tested, but when they were used as a cotreatment with fluconazole, these changes were quite significant. When evaluating mitochondrial damage and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) only in the cotreatment, changes were observed. Flavonoids combined with fluconazole were shown to cause a significant increase in the rate of damage and the frequency of DNA damage in the tested strains. The cotreatment also induced an increase in the externalization of phosphatidylserine, an important marker of early apoptosis. It is concluded that flavonoids, when combined with fluconazole, show activity against strains of
C. tropicalis
resistant to fluconazole, promoting apoptosis by exposure of phosphatidylserine in the plasma membrane and morphological changes, mitochondrial depolarization, intracellular accumulation of ROS, condensation, and DNA fragmentation.
Phylogenetic Relationships Matter: Antifungal Susceptibility among Clinically Relevant Yeasts
Authors: Schmalreck A. F. , Lackner M. , Becker K. , Fegeler W. , Czaika V. , Ulmer H. , Lass-Flörl C.
Published: December 2013

The objective of this study was 2-fold: to evaluate whether phylogenetically closely related yeasts share common antifungal susceptibility profiles (ASPs) and whether these ASPs can be predicted from phylogeny. To address this question, 9,627 yeast strains were collected and tested for their antifungal susceptibility. Isolates were reidentified by considering recent changes in taxonomy and nomenclature. A phylogenetic (PHYLO) code based on the results of multilocus sequence analyses (large-subunit rRNA, small-subunit rRNA, translation elongation factor 1α, RNA polymerase II subunits 1 and 2) and the classification of the cellular neutral sugar composition of coenzyme Q and 18S ribosomal DNA was created to group related yeasts into PHYLO groups. The ASPs were determined for fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole in each PHYLO group. The majority (95%) of the yeast strains were Ascomycetes. After reclassification, a total of 23 genera and 54 species were identified, resulting in an increase of 64% of genera and a decrease of 5% of species compared with the initial identification. These taxa were assigned to 17 distinct PHYLO groups (Ascomycota,
n
= 13; Basidiomycota,
n
= 4). ASPs for azoles were similar among members of the same PHYLO group and different between the various PHYLO groups. Yeast phylogeny may be an additional tool to significantly enhance the assessment of MIC values and to predict antifungal susceptibility, thereby more rapidly initiating appropriate patient management.
Pharmacological Assessment Defines Leishmania donovani Casein Kinase 1 as a Drug Target and Reveals Important Functions in Parasite Viability and Intracellular Infection
Authors: Rachidi Najma , Taly Jean François , Durieu Emilie , Leclercq Olivier , Aulner Nathalie , Prina Eric , Pescher Pascale , Notredame Cedric , Meijer Laurent , Späth Gerald F.
Published: December 2013

Protein kinase inhibitors have emerged as new drugs in various therapeutic areas, including leishmaniasis, an important parasitic disease. Members of the
Leishmania
casein kinase 1 (CK1) family represent promising therapeutic targets.
Leishmania
casein kinase 1 isoform 2 (CK1.2) has been identified as an exokinase capable of phosphorylating host proteins, thus exerting a potential immune-suppressive action on infected host cells. Moreover, its inhibition reduces promastigote growth. Despite these important properties, its requirement for intracellular infection and its chemical validation as a therapeutic target in the disease-relevant amastigote stage remain to be established. In this study, we used a multidisciplinary approach combining bioinformatics, biochemical, and pharmacological analyses with a macrophage infection assay to characterize and define
Leishmania
CK1.2 as a valid drug target. We show that recombinant and transgenic
Leishmania
CK1.2 (i) can phosphorylate CK1-specific substrates, (ii) is sensitive to temperature, and (iii) is susceptible to CK1-specific inhibitors. CK1.2 is constitutively expressed at both the promastigote insect stage and the vertebrate amastigote stage. We further demonstrated that reduction of CK1 activity by specific inhibitors, such as D4476, blocks promastigote growth, strongly compromises axenic amastigote viability, and decreases the number of intracellular
Leishmania donovani
and
L. amazonensis
amastigotes in infected macrophages. These results underline the potential role of CK1 kinases in intracellular survival. The identification of differences in structure and inhibition profiles compared to those of mammalian CK1 kinases opens new opportunities for
Leishmania
CK1.2 antileishmanial drug development. Our report provides the first chemical validation of
Leishmania
CK1 protein kinases, required for amastigote intracellular survival, as therapeutic targets.
Spiroindolone That Inhibits PfATPase4 Is a Potent, Cidal Inhibitor of Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites
In Vitro
and
In Vivo
Authors: Zhou Ying , Fomovska Alina , Muench Stephen , Lai Bo-Shiun , Mui Ernest , McLeod Rima
Published: December 2013

Here, we show that spiroindolone, an effective treatment for plasmodia, is also active against
Toxoplasma gondii
tachyzoites.
In vitro
, spiroindolone NITD609 is cidal for tachyzoites (50% inhibitory concentration [IC
50
], 1μM) and not toxic to human cells at ≥10μM. Two daily oral doses of 100 mg/kg of body weight reduced the parasite burden in mice by 90% (
P
= 0.002), measured 3 days after the last dose. This inhibition of
T. gondii
tachyzoites
in vitro
and
in vivo
indicates that spiroindolone is a promising lead candidate for further medicine development.
Global, regional and national sodium intakes in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis of 24 h urinary sodium excretion and dietary surveys worldwide
Authors: Powles John , Fahimi Saman , Micha Renata , Khatibzadeh Shahab , Shi Peilin , Ezzati Majid , Engell Rebecca E , Lim Stephen S , Danaei Goodarz , Mozaffarian Dariush ,   on behalf of the Global Burden of Diseases Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Expert Group (NutriCoDE)
Published: December 2013

Objectives

To estimate global, regional (21 regions) and national (187 countries) sodium intakes in adults in 1990 and 2010.

Design

Bayesian hierarchical modelling using all identifiable primary sources.

Data sources and eligibility

We searched and obtained published and unpublished data from 142 surveys of 24 h urinary sodium and 103 of dietary sodium conducted between 1980 and 2010 across 66 countries. Dietary estimates were converted to urine equivalents based on 79 pairs of dual measurements.

Modelling methods

Bayesian hierarchical modelling used survey data and their characteristics to estimate mean sodium intake, by sex, 5 years age group and associated uncertainty for persons aged 20+ in 187 countries in 1990 and 2010. Country-level covariates were national income/person and composition of food supplies.

Main outcome measures

Mean sodium intake (g/day) as estimable by 24 h urine collections, without adjustment for non-urinary losses.

Results

In 2010, global mean sodium intake was 3.95 g/day (95% uncertainty interval: 3.89 to 4.01). This was nearly twice the WHO recommended limit of 2 g/day and equivalent to 10.06 (9.88–10.21) g/day of salt. Intake in men was ∼10% higher than in women; differences by age were small. Intakes were highest in East Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe (mean >4.2 g/day) and in Central Europe and Middle East/North Africa (3.9–4.2 g/day). Regional mean intakes in North America, Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand ranged from 3.4 to 3.8 g/day. Intakes were lower (<3.3 g/day), but more uncertain, in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Between 1990 and 2010, modest, but uncertain, increases in sodium intakes were identified.

Conclusions

Sodium intakes exceed the recommended levels in almost all countries with small differences by age and sex. Virtually all populations would benefit from sodium reduction, supported by enhanced surveillance.
Sputum PGP is reduced by azithromycin treatment in patients with COPD and correlates with exacerbations
Authors: O'Reilly Philip J , Jackson Patricia L , Wells J Michael , Dransfield Mark T , Scanlon Paul D , Blalock J Edwin
Published: December 2013

Rationale

Proline–glycine–proline (PGP), a neutrophil chemoattractant derived from the enzymatic breakdown of collagen, is elevated in sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may contribute to disease progression. Whether sputum levels of PGP respond to therapy for COPD or predict outcomes is unknown.

Objectives

We conducted a study ancillary to a multicenter trial of the efficacy of azithromycin treatment for 1 year in preventing COPD exacerbations to test whether sputum levels of PGP were altered by treatment or associated with exacerbation frequency.

Methods

We collected remnant sputa from trial participants and assayed them in a blinded fashion for PGP, myeloperoxidase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and for the ability to generate PGP from collagenex vivo. Once the parent trial was unblinded, the results were correlated with use of azithromycin or placebo and exacerbations in participants.

Results

Azithromycin treatment significantly reduced sputum levels of PGP and myeloperoxidase in patients with COPD, particularly with increased duration of therapy. We found no difference in sputum MMP-9 or PGP generation between participants taking azithromycin or placebo. Sputum PGP levels were highest around the time of an exacerbation and declined with successful treatment.

Conclusions

These data support a role for PGP in the airway and parenchymal neutrophilic inflammation that drives COPD progression and exacerbations, and provide new information on the anti-inflammatory properties of macrolides. PGP may have potential as a target for novel anti-inflammatory therapies in COPD and as a biomarker for clinical trials.
SYMMETRIC TELEPARALLEL GRAVITY: SOME EXACT SOLUTIONS AND SPINOR COUPLINGS
Authors: ADAK MUZAFFER , SERT ÖZCAN , KALAY MESTAN , SARI MURAT
Published: December 2013

In this paper, we elaborate on the symmetric teleparallel gravity (STPG) written in a non-Riemannian space–time with nonzero nonmetricity, but zero torsion and zero curvature. First, we give a prescription for obtaining the nonmetricity from the metric in a peculiar gauge. Then, we state that under a novel prescription of parallel transportation of a tangent vector in this non-Riemannian geometry, the autoparallel curves coincide with those of the Riemannian space–times. Subsequently, we represent the symmetric teleparallel theory of gravity by the most general quadratic and parity conserving Lagrangian with lagrange multipliers for vanishing torsion and curvature. We show that our Lagrangian is equivalent to the Einstein–Hilbert Lagrangian for certain values of coupling coefficients. Thus, we arrive at calculating the field equations via independent variations. Then, we obtain in turn conformal, spherically symmetric static, cosmological and pp-wave solutions exactly. Finally, we discuss a minimal coupling of a spin-1/2 field to STPG.
Advances in the Determination of Nucleic Acid Conformational Ensembles
Authors: Salmon Loïc , Yang Shan , Al-Hashimi Hashim M.
Published: December 2013

Conformational changes in nucleic acids play a key role in the way genetic information is stored, transferred, and processed in living cells. Here, we describe new approaches that employ a broad range of experimental data, including NMR-derived chemical shifts and residual dipolar couplings, small-angle X-ray scattering, and computational approaches such as molecular dynamics simulations to determine ensembles of DNA and RNA at atomic resolution. We review the complementary information that can be obtained from diverse sets of data and the various methods that have been developed to combine these data with computational methods to construct ensembles and assess their uncertainty. We conclude by surveying RNA and DNA ensembles determined using these methods, highlighting the unique physical and functional insights obtained so far.
Longitudinal Growth and Body Composition of Twins versus Singletons in the First Month of Life
Authors: Paviotti Giulia , De Cunto Angela , Travan Laura , Bua Jenny , Cont Gabriele , Demarini Sergio
Published: December 2013

Background. Although twin gestation is well recognized to be associated with impaired fetal and postnatal growth, specific data about body composition of twins in the first month of life are scarce. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the body composition of twins, evaluated with air‐displacement plethysmography, to that of singletons of similar gestational age and adequacy of growth, during the first month of life. We tested the hypothesis that the quality of growth would be similar. Methods. Anthropometric and air‐displacement plethysmography measurements were performed in 18 pairs of twins and in 36 singleton neonates, longitudinally, from birth to the 30th day of life. Each twin was matched to a singleton infant of similar gestational age and birth weight z‐score. Results. With regard to anthropometric measures, the only difference was a lower weight in twins versus singletons on the 15th day of life. With regard to body composition, we did not find any difference between groups at any time point. Fat mass increased significantly from day 1 to day 30 in both twins and singletons. Conclusion. In terms of body composition, twins do not differ from singletons of similar gestational age and weight, either at birth or in early postnatal life.
Intracellular Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Activity: New Strategies in Treatment and Protection of Heart Subjected to Oxidative Stress
Authors: Sawicki Grzegorz
Published: December 2013

Much is known regarding cardiac energy metabolism in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Under aerobic conditions, the heart prefers to metabolize fatty acids, which contribute to 60–80% of the required ATP. During ischemia, anaerobic glycolysis increases and becomes an important source of ATP for preservation of ion gradients. With reperfusion, fatty acid oxidation quickly recovers and again predominates as the major source of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Although a number of molecular mechanisms have been implicated in the development of I/R injury, their relative contributions remain to be determined. One such mechanism involves the proteolytic degradation of contractile proteins, such as troponin I (TnI), myosin heavy chain, titin, and the myosin light chains (MLC1 and MLC2) by matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). However, very little is known about intracellular regulation of MMP-2 activity under physiological and pathological conditions. Greater understanding of the mechanisms that govern MMP-2 activity may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at preservation of the contractile function of the heart subjected to myocardial infarction (MI) or I/R. This review discusses the intracellular mechanisms controlling MMP-2 activity and highlights a new intracellular therapeutic direction for the prevention and treatment of heart injury.
Structure/Property Relationships of Poly(L-lactic Acid)/Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposites
Authors: Gudiño-Rivera Javier , Medellín-Rodríguez Francisco J. , Ávila-Orta Carlos , Palestino-Escobedo Alma G. , Sánchez-Valdés Saúl
Published: December 2013

Biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/mesoporous silica nanocomposites were prepared by grafting L-lactic acid oligomer onto silanol groups at the surface of mesoporous silica (SBA-15). The infrared results showed that the lactic acid oligomer was grafted onto the mesoporous silica. Surface characterization of mesoporous silica proved that the grafted oligomer blocked the entry of nitrogen into the mesopores. Thermal analysis measurements showed evidence that, once mixed with PLLA, SBA-15 not only nucleated the PLLA but also increased the total amount of crystallinity. Neat PLLA and its nanocomposites crystallized in the same crystal habit and, as expected, PLLA had a defined periodicity compared with the nanocomposites. This was because the grafted macromolecules on silica tended to cover the lamellar crystalline order. The g-SBA-15 nanoparticles improved the tensile moduli, increasing also the tensile strength of the resultant nanocomposites. Overall, the silica concentration tended to form a brittle material.
An Improved Hierarchical Genetic Algorithm for Sheet Cutting Scheduling with Process Constraints
Authors: Rao Yunqing , Qi Dezhong , Li Jinling
Published: December 2013

For the first time, an improved hierarchical genetic algorithm for sheet cutting problem which involves n cutting patterns for m non‐identical parallel machines with process constraints has been proposed in the integrated cutting stock model. The objective of the cutting scheduling problem is minimizing the weighted completed time. A mathematical model for this problem is presented, an improved hierarchical genetic algorithm (ant colony—hierarchical genetic algorithm) is developed for better solution, and a hierarchical coding method is used based on the characteristics of the problem. Furthermore, to speed up convergence rates and resolve local convergence issues, a kind of adaptive crossover probability and mutation probability is used in this algorithm. The computational result and comparison prove that the presented approach is quite effective for the considered problem.
Use of SSA and MCSSA in the Analysis of Cardiac RR Time Series
Authors: Thuraisingham R. A.
Published: December 2013

A new preprocessing procedure in the analysis of cardiac RR interval time series is described. It uses the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and the Monte Carlo SSA (MCSSA) test. A novel feature of this preprocessing procedure is the ability to identify the noise component present in the series with a given probability and to separate the time series into a trend, signal, and noise. The MCSSA test involves testing whether the modes obtained from SSA can be generated by a noise process leading to separation of the noise modes from the signal. The procedure described here does not discard or modify any sample in the record but merely separates the time series into a trend, signal, and noise, allowing for further analysis of these components. The procedure is not limited to the length of the record and could be applied to nonstationary data. The basis functions used in SSA are data adaptive in that they are not chosen a priori but instead are dependent on the data set used, increasing flexibility to the analysis. The procedure is illustrated using the RR interval time series of a healthy, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation subject.
Vegetation Activity Trend and Its Relationship with Climate Change in the Three Gorges Area, China
Authors: Han Guifeng , Yang Yongchuan , Yan Shuiyu
Published: December 2013

Based on SPOT/VGT NDVI time series images from 1999 to 2009 in the Three Gorges Area (TGA), we detected vegetation activity and trends using two methods, the Mann-Kendall and Slope tests. The relationships between vegetation activity trends and annual average temperature and annual total precipitation were analyzed using observational data in seven typical meteorological stations. Vegetation activity presents a distinctive uptrend during the study period, especially in Fengjie, Yunyang, Wushan, Wuxi, and Badong counties located in the midstream of the Three Gorges Reservoir. However, in the Chongqing major area (CMA) and its surrounding areas and Fuling, Yichang, and part of Wanzhou, vegetation activity shows a decreasing trend as a result of urban expansion. The NDVI has two fluctuation troughs in 2004 and 2006. The annual mean temperature presents a slight overall upward trend, but the annual total precipitation does not present a significant trend. And they almost have no significant correlations with the NDVI. Therefore, temperature and precipitation are not major influences on vegetation activity change. Instead, increasing vegetation cover benefits from a number of environment protection policies and management, and ecological construction is a major factor resulting in the upward trend. In addition, resettlement schemes mitigate the impact of human activity on vegetation activity.
Anycast Routing Protocol for Forest Monitoring in Rechargeable Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Gao Demin , Liu Yunfei , Zhang Fuquan , Song Jun
Published: December 2013

In rechargeable wireless sensor networks (R-WSNs), sensors have to adjust their duty cycles continuously owing to sporadic availability of energy and operate in a very low duty cycle because of current energy conversion technical limitations. Even though the network lifetime is not the main problem, packet delivery latency is critical because a sensor is in the dormant state most of the time in R-WSNs. These unique characteristics pose a new challenge for routing protocol design over traditional energy-static sensor networks. In this work, we introduce a routing protocol based on anycast communications technology, a novel design to minimize packet delivery latency for forest monitoring in R-WSNs. The key idea is to let a sender choose a closest neighbor to forward packets from forwarding candidates and a nearest sink node to accept the packet from all sinks. For multiple source nodes, we introduce an anycast technology based on Tabu search for each source establishing a minimal E2E delay routing path to reach anyone sinks. Through extensive simulation and experiments, we demonstrate that our anycast scheme based on Tabu search is efficient to provide smallest packets delivery latency in R-WSNs.
KIF6 719Arg Carrier Status Association with Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Malek-Ahmadi Michael , Patel Amar , Sabbagh Marwan N.
Published: December 2013

Recent research has demonstrated associations between statin use, KIF6 719Arg carrier status, and cholesterol levels and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. The association between 719Arg carrier status with homocysteine (tHcy) and c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in aMCI and AD has not been previously investigated. Data from 175 aMCI and AD patients were used for the analysis. 719Arg carriers had significantly lower levels of tHcy than noncarriers (P=0.02). No significant difference in CRP levels between 719Arg carriers and noncarriers was present (P=0.37). Logistic regression yielded no significant effect for 719Arg status on CRP [OR = 1.79 (0.85, 3.83),P=0.13] but did demonstrate a significant effect for tHcy [OR = 0.44 (0.23, 0.83),P=0.01] after adjusting for ApoEε4carrier status, age, gender, and statin use. This study is the first to explore the relationship between KIF6 719Arg carrier status with tHcy and CRP levels. 719Arg carriers were more likely to have normal tHcy levels after adjusting for ApoEε4status, age, gender, and statin use. These results suggest that the KIF6 gene might influence cardiovascular pathways associated with AD.
Intracranial Subdural Hematoma after Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section
Authors: Schweiger Vittorio , Zanconato Giovanni , Lonati Gisella , Baggio Silvia , Gottin Leonardo , Polati Enrico
Published: December 2013

Intracranial subdural hematoma following spinal anesthesia is an infrequent occurrence in the obstetric population. Nevertheless, it is a potentially life-threatening complication. In the majority of the cases, the first clinical symptom associated with intracranial subdural bleeding is severe headache, but the clinical course may have different presentations. In this report, we describe the case of a 38-year-old woman with an acute intracranial subdural hematoma shortly after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. Early recognition of symptoms of neurologic impairment led to an emergency craniotomy for hematoma evacuation with good recovery of neurologic functions. The possibility of subdural hematoma should be considered in any patient complaining of severe persistent headache following regional anesthesia, unrelieved by conservative measures. Only early diagnosis and an appropriate treatment may avoid death or irreversible neurologic damage.
State Estimation for Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems with Markov Jumps and Nonhomogeneous Transition Probabilities
Authors: Zhao Shunyi , Wang Zhiguo , Liu Fei
Published: December 2013

State estimation problem is addressed for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems with Markov parameters and nonhomogeneous transition probabilities (TPs). In this paper, the optimal estimation mechanism of transition probability matrix is proposed in the minimum mean square error sense to show some critical points. Based on this mechanism, the extended Kalman filters are employed as the subfilters to obtain the subestimates with corresponding models. A novel operator which fuses the prior knowledge and the posterior information embedded in observations is developed to modify the posterior mode probabilities. A meaningful example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of our method.
Pattern and Trend of Substance Abuse in Eastern Rural Iran: A Household Survey in a Rural Community
Authors: Ziaaddini Hasan , Ziaaddini Tayebeh , Nakhaee Nouzar
Published: December 2013

Introduction and Aim. Substance abuse imposes hazards on human health in all biopsychosocial aspects. Limited studies exist on epidemiology of substance abuse and its trend in rural areas. The present study aimed to compare substance abuse in one of the rural areas of southeast Iran, in a 12-year period (2000 and 2012).Design and Methods. In a household survey conducted in 2012, in Dashtkhak/Kerman, 1200 individuals above 12 years of age completed a questionnaire to determine their frequency of substance abuse. The questionnaire included the following three areas: demographic characteristics, frequency of substance abuse and ease of access to various drugs.Results. Among 900 completed questionnaires, majority of the participants (61.8%) were below 30 years of age and among them 54.4% were male. Cigarette (17.0%), opium (15.7%) and opium residue (9.0%) were the most frequent substances abused on a daily basis. Based on the participant’s opinion, we conclude that the ease of access to cigarette, waterpipe and opium contributed to their increase in consumption compared with earlier years.Discussion and Conclusion. The steady rise in substance abuse in rural communities demands immediate attention and emergency preventive measures from policy makers.
Heat Dissipation for Microprocessor Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Based Liquid
Authors: Hung Thang Bui , Trinh Pham Van , Chuc Nguyen Van , Khoi Phan Hong , Minh Phan Ngoc
Published: December 2013

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the most valuable materials with high thermal conductivity (2000 W/m · K compared with thermal conductivity of Ag 419 W/m · K). This suggested an approach in applying the CNTs in thermal dissipation system for high power electronic devices, such as computer processor and high brightness light emitting diode (HB‐LED). In this work, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based liquid was made by COOH functionalized MWCNTs dispersed in distilled water with concentration in the range between 0.2 and 1.2 gram/liter. MWCNT based liquid was used in liquid cooling system to enhance thermal dissipation for computer processor. By using distilled water in liquid cooling system, CPU’s temperature decreases by about 10°C compared with using fan cooling system. By using MWCNT liquid with concentration of 1 gram/liter MWCNTs, the CPU’s temperature decreases by 7°C compared with using distilled water in cooling system. Theoretically, we also showed that the presence of MWCNTs reduced thermal resistance and increased the thermal conductivity of liquid cooling system. The results have confirmed the advantages of the MWCNTs for thermal dissipation systems for the μ‐processor and other high power electronic devices.
4-Methoxycarbonyl Curcumin: A Unique Inhibitor of Both Inflammatory Mediators and Periodontal Inflammation
Authors: Gu Ying , Lee Hsi-Ming , Napolitano Nicole , Clemens McKenzie , Zhang Yazhou , Sorsa Timo , Zhang Yu , Johnson Francis , Golub Lorne M.
Published: December 2013

Chronic inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis have been associated with increased risk for various medical conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), derived from gram-negative periodonto-pathogens, can induce the local accumulation of mononuclear cells in the inflammatory lesion, increasing proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This ultimately results in the destruction of periodontal connective tissues including alveolar bone. Curcumin is the principal dyestuff in the popular Indian spice turmeric and has significant regulatory effects on inflammatory mediators but is characterized by poor solubility and low bioactivity. Recently, we developed a series of chemically modified curcumins (CMCs) with increased solubility and zinc-binding activity, while retaining, or further enhancing, their therapeutic effects. In the current study, we demonstrate that a novel CMC (CMC 2.5: 4-methoxycarbonyl curcumin) has significant inhibitory effects, better than the parent compound curcumin, on proinflammatory cytokines and MMPs inin vitro, in cell culture, and in an animal model of periodontal inflammation. The therapeutic potential of CMC 2.5 and its congeners may help to prevent tissue damage during various chronic inflammatory diseases including periodontitis and may reduce the risks of systemic diseases associated with this local disorder.
Molecular and Virological Investigation of a Focal Chikungunya Outbreak in Northern India
Authors: Soni Manisha , Singh Anil Kumar , Sharma Shashi , Agarwal Ankita , Gopalan Natarajan , Rao P. V. Lakshmana , Parida Manmohan , Dash Paban Kumar
Published: December 2013

Chikungunya (CHIK) fever is one of the most important arboviral infections of medical significance. The objective of the present study is to identify and characterize the etiology of a focal febrile arthritis outbreak from Gwalior, northern India, during October‐November 2010. A detailed virological (isolation) and molecular (end‐point RT‐PCR, quantitative RT‐PCR, and nucleotide sequencing) investigation of this outbreak was carried out by collecting and studying 52 clinical samples and 15 mosquito pools from the affected region. The investigation revealed the presence of CHIK viral RNA in 29% of clinical samples and 13% mosquito pool by RT‐PCR. The quantification of CHIK viral RNA in samples varied from 102.50 to 106.67 copies/mL, as demonstrated through quantitative RT‐PCR. In addition, six CHIK viruses were isolated from RT‐PCR positive samples. The nucleotide sequences of partial E1 gene of five representative CHIK viruses were deciphered, which revealed that all the viral strains from this outbreak belong to the recently emerging ECS African genotype. Identification of Chikungunya virus ECSA African genotype as the etiology of the present outbreak confirms the continued circulation of the novel genotype, since 2006, in India. The identification of CHIK virus in Aedes aegypti also confirmed it as the major vector in northern India.
Gender Differences in Maladaptive Cognitive Schema in Orphans in Dakahlia, Egypt
Authors: El-Gilany Abdel-Hady , El-Bilsha Mona A. , Ibrahim Azza
Published: December 2013

The objective of this study was to assess the gender differences of maladaptive cognitive schema among orphans in Dakahlia governorate orphanages. A cross‐sectional comparative study included 152 orphan boys and 48 orphan girls in all orphanages homes in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. Data collection tools included a structured interview questionnaire for personal data; early maladaptive schema questionnaire‐short form (EMSQ‐SF). The mean score of the total YSQ and all the subscales, except self‐sacrifice and unrelenting standards, are significantly higher among females than males. Attention should be given to the psychological care of the orphans especially security, trust, confidence, and autonomy with more attention to orphan girls.
Robust Distributed Model Predictive Load Frequency Control of Interconnected Power System
Authors: Liu Xiangjie , Nong Huiyun , Xi Ke , Yao Xiuming
Published: December 2013

Considering the load frequency control (LFC) of large-scale power system, a robust distributed model predictive control (RDMPC) is presented. The system uncertainty according to power system parameter variation alone with the generation rate constraints (GRC) is included in the synthesis procedure. The entire power system is composed of several control areas, and the problem is formulated as convex optimization problem with linear matrix inequalities (LMI) that can be solved efficiently. It minimizes an upper bound on a robust performance objective for each subsystem. Simulation results show good dynamic response and robustness in the presence of power system dynamic uncertainties.
Thermal with Mass Spectroscopic Analysis of Wood and Cereal Biomass Torrefaction
Authors: Laryea-Goldsmith René , Woolard Chris
Published: December 2013

Torrefaction is a mild form of pyrolysis that, when applied to biomass, has the effect of improving the energy density of biomass-derived solid fuels. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis (coupled with mass spectrometry) was applied to two biomass fuels (pine wood and white maize ear) to investigate a potential representative torrefaction thermal treatment process. The mass loss from the torrefaction process was indicative of emission of aliphatic hydrocarbons, evidenced by mass spectroscopic data and it is evident that optimal torrefaction conditions are determined by the type of biomass to which torrefaction processing is applied.
Specimens from Biopsies of Colorectal Polyps Often Harbor Additional Diagnoses
Authors: Chopra Shefali , Wu Mark Li-cheng
Published: December 2013

Objectives. The utility of examining specimens from colorectal biopsies of polyps for nonneoplastic diseases is currently unknown. Our objectives were to characterize such additional diagnoses that could be rendered.Methods. We retrospectively and prospectively reviewed specimens from endoscopic biopsies of colorectal polyps obtained during routine screening or surveillance.Results. 17 of 168 specimens (10.1%) contained additional diagnoses, including schistosomiasis, eosinophilic colitis, intestinal spirochetosis, melanosis coli, and other entities. These findings were easily overlooked because they often affected mucosa that was spared by the polyps or were often evident only at high magnification. Schistosomiasis, eosinophilic colitis, and intestinal spirochetosis were clinically occult.Conclusions. Specimens from biopsies of colorectal polyps often harbor other diagnoses, in addition to polyps, and can be simultaneously screened for polyps and examined for nonneoplastic diseases. Detection of other diagnoses in addition to polyps requires awareness, examination at high magnification, and examination of areas spared by the polyps.
Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Multicriteria Group Decision Making Based on VIKOR and Choquet Integral
Authors: Tan Chunqiao , Chen Xiaohong
Published: December 2013

An effective decision making approach based on VIKOR and Choquet integral is developed to solve multicriteria group decision making problem with conflicting criteria and interdependent subjective preference of decision makers in a fuzzy environment where preferences of decision makers with respect to criteria are represented by interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. First, an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator is given. Some of its properties are investigated in detail. The extended VIKOR decision procedure based on the proposed operator is developed for solving the multicriteria group decision making problem where the interactive criteria weight is measured by Shapley value. An illustrative example is given for demonstrating the applicability of the proposed decision procedure for solving the multi-criteria group decision making problem in interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment.
On the Syntactic Monoids Associated with a Class of Synchronized Codes
Authors: Wang Shou-feng
Published: December 2013

A complete code C over an alphabet A is called synchronized if there exist x, y ∈ C* such that xA*∩A*y⊆C*. In this paper we describe the syntactic monoid Syn(C+) of C+ for a complete synchronized code C over A such that C+, the semigroup generated by C, is a single class of its syntactic congruence . In particular, we prove that, for such a code C, either C = A or Syn(C+) is isomorphic to a special submonoid of 𝒯l(I) × 𝒯r(Λ), where 𝒯l(I) and 𝒯r(Λ) are the full transformation semigroups on the nonempty sets I and Λ, respectively.
An Improved Self-Adaptive PSO Algorithm with Detection Function for Multimodal Function Optimization Problems
Authors: Zhang YingChao , Xiong Xiong , Zhang QiDong
Published: December 2013

This paper presented an improved self-adaptive particle swarm optimization (IDPSO) algorithm with detection function to solve multimodal function optimization problems. To overcome the premature convergence of PSO in a short time, the evolution direction of each particle is redirected dynamically by tuning the three parameters of IDPSO in the evolution process. Numerical results on several benchmark functions indicate that the IDPSO strategy outperformed other variants of PSO.
Some Characterizations of the Cobb-Douglas and CES Production Functions in Microeconomics
Authors: Wang Xiaoshu , Fu Yu
Published: December 2013

It is well known that the study of the shape and the properties of the production possibility frontier is a subject of great interest in economic analysis. Vîlcu (Vîlcu, 2011) proved that the generalized Cobb-Douglas production function has constant return to scale if and only if the corresponding hypersurface is developable. Later on, the authors A. D. Vîlcu and G. E. Vîlcu, 2011 extended this result to the case of CES production function. Both results establish an interesting link between some fundamental notions in the theory of production functions and the differential geometry of hypersurfaces in Euclidean spaces. In this paper, we give some characterizations of minimal generalized Cobb-Douglas and CES production hypersurfaces in Euclidean spaces.
Semi-Analytical Solution Based on Strip Method for Buckling and Vibration of Isotropic Plate
Authors: El-Sayad Mohamed A. , Farag Ahmed M.
Published: December 2013

The present paper achieves a semianalytical solution for the buckling and vibration of isotropic rectangular plates. Two opposite edges of plate are simply supported and others are either free, simply supported, or clamped restrained against rotation. The general Levy type solution and strip technique are employed with transition matrix method to develop a semianalytical approach for analyzing the buckling and vibration of rectangular plates. The present analytical approach depends on reducing the strips number of the decomposed domain of plate without escaping the results accuracy. For this target, the transition matrix is expressed analytically as a series with sufficient truncation numbers. The effect of the uni-axial and bi-axial in-plane forces on the natural frequency parameters and mode shapes of restrained plate is studied. The critical buckling of rectangular plate under compressive in-plane forces is also examined. Analytical results of buckling loads and vibration frequencies are obtained for various types of boundary conditions. The influences of the aspect ratios, buckling forces, and coefficients of restraint on the buckling and vibration behavior of rectangular plates are investigated. The presented analytical results may serve as benchmark solutions for such plates. The convergence and efficiency of the present technique are demonstrated by several numerical examples compared with those available in the published literature. The results show fast convergence and stability in good agreement with compressions.
Dynamics of a Beddington-DeAngelis Type Predator-Prey Model with Impulsive Effect
Authors: Shulin Sun , Cuihua Guo
Published: December 2013

In view of the logical consistence, the model of a two-prey one-predator system with Beddington-DeAngelis functional response and impulsive control strategies is formulated and studied systematically. By using the Floquet theory of impulsive equation, small amplitude perturbation method, and comparison technique, we obtain the conditions which guarantee the global asymptotic stability of the two-prey eradication periodic solution. We also proved that the system is permanent under some conditions. Numerical simulations find that the system appears the phenomenon of competition exclusion.