bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective spectrophotometric study of the complexation reactions of 2-(2-pyridylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid with Zn(II) and Cd(II) using the SQUAD-G program
Authors: Jančář Luděk , Havel Josef , Kubáň Vlastimil , Sommer Lumír
Published: August 2011

The existence of the red-orange protonated MLH complexes (λmax = 490 nm, εmax = 16 700 mmol-1 cm2, log *β111 = -0.51 for Zn(II) and λmax = 490 nm, εmax = 20 800 mmol-1 cm2, log *β111 = -1.28 for Cd(II)) and of the red-purple ML and ML2 complexes (λmax = 517 nm, εmax = 27 500 mmol-1 cm2, log *β112 = -2.8 and λmax = 527 nm, εmax = 61 500 mmol-1 cm2, log *β124 = -6.0 for Zn(II) and λmax = 522 nm, εmax = 27 200 mmol-1 cm2, log *β112 = -3.9 and λmax = 522 nm, εmax = 52 000 mmol-1 cm2, log *β124 = -8.2 for Cd(II) ions) was demonstrated in aqueous medium by numerical interpretation of the absorbance curves by the SQUAD-G minimization program. Conditions were proposed for development of a spectrophotometric method for the determination of Zn(II) and Cd(II) using 1-PAN-4S.
Spectrophotometric study of the acid-base and optical properties of the 5-bromo and 5-chloro derivatives of 2-(2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol (BrPADAP, ClPADAP) and their complexation equilibria with zinc(II) ions
Authors: Macka Miroslav , Kubáň Vlastimil
Published: August 2011

The optical and acid-base characteristics of BrPADAP and ClPADAP were studied in mixed water-ethanol and water-DMF media and in 10% ethanol medium in the presence of cationic, anionic and nonionic tensides. The composition, optical characteristics, molar absorption coefficients and equilibrium constants of the ML and ML2 complexes with zinc(II) ions were found by graphical analysis and numerical interpretation of the absorbance curves by the modified SQUAD-G program. Optimal conditions were found for the spectrophotometric determination of Zn(II) in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 or 1% Brij 35 in alkaline media with pH = 6.5-10. BrPADAP and ClPADAP are the most sensitive reagents (ε = 1.3-1.6 . 105 mmol-1 cm2 at 557 and 560 nm, respectively) for the determination of zinc with high colour contrast of the reaction (Δλ = 104 nm) and selectivity similar to that for the other N-heterocyclic azodyes (PAN, PAR, etc.).
Studies on semiconductive nature of Brdička current
Authors: Shinagawa Matsuoki , Kakumoto Susumu
Published: August 2011

Bovine serum or egg white shows a peak wave (so-called presodium wave) at c. -1.8 V (S.C.E.) in NH4Cl or LiCl solution. This wave is enhanced by adding iodine, o-chloranil or cobalt ions and depressed by hydroxyl ions. If ammonium hydroxide and Co(II) ions are added to the solution, a double wave appears for protein at c. -1.4 ~ -1.6 V or a single wave for cysteine at c. -1.6 V; the presodium wave is depressed. These phenomena correspond to the conductivity effect of organic semiconductor, showing that the c. -1.4 V is a n-type, the c. -1.6 V wave is an amphoteric type, and the presodium wave (c. -1.8 V wave) is a p-type wave. Such a n-, amphoteric or p-type current is caused by exchange of electrons and/or holes between mercury electrode (with or without Co) and its adsorbate at a proper cathodic potential. The latter types of the waves are partly modified by the effect of electron donors or acceptors, which change their height. They are simulated by an inorganic semiconductor, e.g., cobalt sulfide, by the suspension or press-on method as formerly reported. Consequently a hybridized electrode surface system composed of Hg (with or without Co)/solution and Hg (with or without Co)/semiconductore/solution is considered to be closely related to the Brdi_ka current. Some results of studies on the relation between polarographic behaviour and semiconductor characteristics are reported.
Oxidation mechanism of carcinogenic bis-azo dyestuff Trypan Blue
Authors: Matrka Miroslav , Pípalová Jana
Published: August 2011

Oxidation of Trypan Blue with cerium(IV) ion in acid medium gives arenediazonium cation similar to the oxidation product of N,N-dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene. Quantitative evaluation of the arenediazonium salt formed has been carried out spectrophotometrically after previous C-azo coupling with 2-naphthol.
Synthesis of 4,4- and 5,5-disubstituted 4,5-dihydro-6H-canthin-6-ones
Authors: Hájíček Josef , Holubek Jiří , Trojánek Jan
Published: August 2011

The paper describes regiospecific synthesis of 4,4- and 5,5-disubstituted 4,5-dihydro-6H-canthin-6-ones III and XVIII, starting from half-esters of 2,3-disubstituted succinic acids, V and XIV. The formation of the anomalous 5,5-disubstituted canthin-4,6-diones XVII is ascribed to oxidation of the intermediate XIX. The 1H NMR spectra of the compounds prepared are discussed.
Sequential studies on peptides prepared by chymotryptic digestion of chicken pepsinogen and partial covalent structure of the protein
Authors: Baudyš Miroslav , Kostka Vladimír
Published: August 2011

The peptides obtained by chymotryptic digestion of the S-sulfo derivative of chicken pepsinogen and of the large tryptic fragments of the same derivative were subjected to sequential analysis. The results obtained afforded information on nonoverlapping sequences of 329 amino acid residues in the molecule of the zymogen and yielded data on links between individual fragments in the middle part of the chain obtained in earlier work. A partial covalent structure of the protein is presented which contains 356 amino acid residues in eight segments of uninterchangeable order.
Polarographic reduction of p-substituted 1-benzyl-3-carbamoylpyridinium chlorides
Authors: Kuthan Josef , Pavlíková-Raclová Františka
Published: August 2011

Substituents effects (H, NO2, CN, COOCH3, CH3, CH3O, (CH3)2N, Cl, F) on polarographic characteristics of the title quaternary salts have been studied in water, anhydrous acetonitrile, and aqueous ethanol. In the last solvent a gradual disappearance of one of the polarographic waves takes place. Probable course of the investigated electrode processes and accompanying chemical transformations is discussed.
Preparation and some biological properties of N-acetylmuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) analogues
Authors: Zaoral Milan , Ježek Jan , Rotta Jiří
Published: August 2011

The condensation of 1-α-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-N-acetylgalactomuramic acid (I), 1-α-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-N-acetylallomuramic acid (VIII), and 1-α-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-N-acetylnorallomuramic acid (XI) with alanyl-D-isoglutamine benzyl ester afforded 1-α-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-N-acetylgalactomuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine benzyl ester (XII), 1-α-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-N-acetylallomuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine benzyl ester (XIII) and 1-α-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-N-acetylnorallomuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine benzyl ester (XIV). Protecting groups were removed from XII-XIV and N-acetylgalactomuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (XV), N-acetylallomuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (XVI), and N-acetylnorallomuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (XVII) were obtained. XV-XVII showed lower pyrogenic and immunoadjuvant effect than N-acetylmuramyl-alanyl-D-isoglutamine.
Tricyclic psychotropic agents containing two chalcogen atoms in the central ring: 2-Fluoro-8-substituted 6-(4-piperidyl)-6H-dibenz[b,e]-1,4-oxathiepins
Authors: Šindelář Karel , Holubek Jiří , Svátek Emil , Ryska Miroslav , Dlabač Antonín , Metyšová Jiřina , Protiva Miroslav
Published: August 2011

The aldehydes VIa and VIb were transformed by treatment with chloroform and sodium hydroxide in the presence of triethylbenzylammonium chloride to the α-chloro acids VIIa and VIIb which were demethylated with boron tribromide and the products were cyclized with sodium hydroxide in dimethyl sulfoxide to 2-fluoro-6H-dibenz[b,e]-1,4-oxathiepin-6-carboxylic acids Ia and Ib. Syntheses of the aldehydes XVIIbcd were carried out and the products treated with 1-methyl-4-piperidylmagnesium chloride to give the amino alcohols XVIbcd. Cyclizations with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide afforded the title compounds XIIbcd; compounds XVIIIbc and XIX were isolated as by-products and characterized. Compound XIIb was transformed via the secondary amine XIIIb to the amino alcohol XIVb which was esterified to the decanoate XVb. Substances XIIbcd are highly active neuroleptic agents with an important prolongation of the central depressant effect. The decanoate XVb revealed the properties of a medium long acting depot neuroleptic.
Reduced moment of inertia for internal rotation and quantum-chemical description of thermodynamics of isomeric molecular complexes: Study of HF-ClF system
Authors: Slanina Zdeněk
Published: August 2011

Relations are studied between values of reduced moment of inertia Ired of a system consisting of a rigid frame and one asymmetric top evaluated within the exact approach and within simpler models of one symmetrical top and of two coaxial tops with particular respect to situation in the isomeric van der Waals molecules HF.ClF and ClF.HF. It has been shown that replacement of the exact approach by the model of two coaxial tops is generally more acceptable physically than that by the model of symmetrical top. For the both isomeric complexes, the error introduced by the coaxial tops approach is always lower than that introduced by transition to the second of the two basis sets (4-31G and 4-31G*) recently used for the study of structure of the complexes. Reevaluation of thermodynamics of this isomeric system using the exact approach for Ired has been carried out, and the problem of relative stabilities has been analyzed. According to the 4-31G* theoretical results, The HF.ClF isomer predominates completely in the equilibrium mixture of the two isomers up to the temperature of 40 K at least, their equimolecular ratio being not attained until at 90 K. Above this temperature, the ClF.HF isomer becomes relatively more abundant (even though not completely predominant) component of the equilibrium mixture. The paper gives proof of independence between Ired and the frame-top assignment. Inaccuracy in former Ired values and in thermodynamic characteristics of Cl2S2 are pointed out as a byproduct.
Synthesis and investigation of enamine-imine tautomerism of 2,6-disubstituted 4H-1,3-thiazin-4-ones
Authors: Imrich Ján , Kristian Pavol
Published: August 2011

Substituted thioureas, obtained by reaction of 3-chloro-3-phenylpropenoyl isothiocyanate with primary aliphatic or aromatic amines, were cyclized to 2-N-alkyl(aryl)amino-6-phenyl-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-ones. The enamine-imine tautomerism was investigated by means of infrared and ultraviolet spectra and also by model substances prepared either by reacting the starting isothiocyanate with secondary amines, or by methylation of 2-N-alkyl(aryl)amino-6-phenyl-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-ones. The structure of the synthesized compounds was corroborated by 1H NMR and electron impact mass spectra. 2-N-Arylamino derivatives dissolved in chloroform exist prevalently an imino form whereas 2-N-alkylamino derivatives is an amino form. Reaction of 3-chloro-3-phenylpropenoyl isothiocyanate with aliphatic thiols gave 2-alkylthio-6-phenyl-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-ones and with sodium hydrosulfide (hydroselenide) 6-phenyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazin(selenazin)-4-ones.
Preparation of 1-phenyldihydropyridines polydeuterated in their heterocyclic ring
Authors: Kuthan Josef , Krechl Jiří , Bělohradský Martin
Published: August 2011

The pentadeuterated quaternary salt III reacts with aniline to give the pentadeuterated pentamethine salt IV which, on action of triethylamine, gives a mixture of 1-phenylpyridinium chlorides Va-c. The chlorides Va-c are reduced with dithionite or borohydride to mixtures of 1,4- (VIIa-c) or 1,2-dihydropyridines (VIIIa-c), respectively. A procedure has been found for obtaining the 3,4,5-trideuterated or 2,3,4,5,6-pentadeuterated products.
Oxidative rearrangement of o-fuchsone to 2,2-diphenyl-1,3-benzodioxol
Authors: Píšová Milena , Souček Milan
Published: August 2011

The photo-decolouration of o-fuchsone is caused by [8 + 2] cycloaddition of singlet oxygen to the quinonoid trienone π-system. The arising 1,2,3-trioxanaphthalene undergoes further fragmentations and recyclizations to give 1,3-benzodioxol. The course of this reaction was investigated using fuchsones I-IV as substrates and hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidants. The thermolabile epoxy ketone XV was identified as the key intermediate.
Analogues of the active and inactive sodium carbonate
Authors: Lippert Erich , Mocek Karel , Erdös Emerich
Published: August 2011

The reactivity of the anhydrous carbonates of alkaline metals with sulphur dioxide has been studied experimentally in dependence both on the nature of the cation and on the way of preparation of the anhydrous carbonate. The carbonates were prepared either by thermal decomposition of hydrogen carbonates or by thermal dehydration of carbonate hydrates. The carbonates of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium have been investigated. Kinetic measurements were carried out in a flow reactor in the integral regime at 423 K under atmospheric pressure, with a gas containing 0.2 vol.% of sulphur dioxide and 2.0 vol.% of water vapour in the nitrogen as a carrier gas. The reactivities have been compared on the basis of time dependence of the conversion of carbonate to sulphite.
A theoretical investigation of electron relaxation accompanying core ionization in the symmetry forms of ethylene
Authors: Ficker Tomáš
Published: August 2011

Relaxation energies accompanying core ionization in the planar and twisted form of the C2H4 molecule have been computed in terms of single orbital contributions by means of the ab initio SCF techniques. It is shown that the 2 eV shift between the core electron binding energies of both symmetry conformers may be attributed to changes in the π-valence electron relaxation when going from the planar to the twisted form of C2H4.
Amino acid sequence around the reactive cysteinyl residue of chicken pepsin
Authors: Pohl Jan , Baudyš Miroslav , Kostka Vladimír
Published: August 2011

The amino acid sequence of the cysteine-containing peptide was determined in two different manners. 1) Chicken pepsin was covalently coupled via its SH-group to Thiopropyl-Sepharose 6B, subjected to peptic digestion and cysteinyl peptides, generated by multiplicity of peptic attack on the sequence ..-Tyr-Tyr-Cys-Asn-Phe-.. (marked by arrows), were eluted by 2-mercaptoethanol. 2) Systematic structure analysis of the tryptic-chymotryptic digest of chicken pepsinogen afforded peptide Tyr-Tyr-Cys-Asn-Phe-Asp-Gly-Ile-Leu-Gly-Leu, whose C-terminal part is highly homologous with other pepsins. These data permitted the cysteinyl residue to be assigned to position 115 (numbered according to hog pepsin A) in a relatively variable region. The same position is occupied by an alanyl residue in hog pepsin A and calf chymosin; this replacement can be considered conservative from the viewpoint of molecular volume.
The effect of alphaxalone–alphadolone, propofol, and pentobarbitone anaesthesia on the β-endorphin and ACTH response to haemorrhage in the pig
Authors: Ruane-O’Hora Therese , Hall W.J. , Markos F.
Published: August 2011

In the literature there appears to be variability in reported levels of certain hormones during haemorrhage, specifically adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and β-endorphin. It is possible that this variability may be due to the choice of anaesthetic. Therefore, the effect of 3 common research-only anaesthetic agents (alphaxalone–alphadolone, propofol, and pentobarbitone) on ACTH and β-endorphin levels during haemorrhage was assessed in pigs. Animals were divided into 3 groups: group I received alphaxalone–alphadolone (n = 5), group II received propofol (n = 6), and group III received pentobarbitone (n = 6). Pigs were subjected to a continuous fixed-volume haemorrhage under one of the above anaesthetics while being mechanically ventilated. ACTH and β-endorphin levels increased significantly during haemorrhage under propofol and pentobarbitone anaesthesia but not with alphaxalone–alphadolone. For ACTH there was no significant difference between the groups, whereas for β-endorphin there was a significant difference between the propofol- and pentobarbitone-anaesthetized pigs. The increase in heart rate during haemorrhage was significantly different between the alphaxalone–alphadolone and propofol as well as between the propofol and pentobarbitone groups. The drop in blood pressure was only significantly different between the alphaxalone–alphadolone- and propofol-anaesthetized pigs. These results indicate that the choice of anaesthetic agent can affect the hormone response to haemorrhage and may account for the variable hormone levels reported in the published literature to date.
Early hyperglycemia following alloxan administration in vivo is not associated with altered hepatic mitochondrial function: acceptable model for type 1 diabetes?
Authors: Rendon Dairo A. , Alvarez-Bustamante Jose A.
Published: August 2011

Alloxan and oxidative stress, which have been detected in livers of laboratory animals shortly after in vivo alloxan administration, cause in vitro mitochondrial dysfunction, thus questioning alloxan diabetes as an acceptable model for type 1 diabetes, a model that cannot legitimately be used to investigate mitochondrial metabolism in a diabetic state. In the current study, the blood glucose concentration increased in the drug-treated group of Sprague–Dawley rats (compared with the placebo group) 45 or 60 min after alloxan treatment, whereas at 30 min the blood glucose concentration was unchanged. State 4, state 3, respiratory control, efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial ATP synthase activity, assayed using glutamate plus malate, pyruvate plus malate, or succinate as a substrate, were not negatively altered during the entire study. These results indicated that early increases of blood glucose concentration, after in vivo alloxan administration, did not lead to liver mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that alloxan diabetes can be used for the study of liver mitochondrial respiration in a diabetic state.
Levobupivacaine-induced contraction of isolated rat aorta is calcium dependent
Authors: Baik Ji Seok , Sohn Ju-Tae , Ok Seong-Ho , Kim Jae-Gak , Sung Hui-Jin , Park Sang-Seung , Park Jae-Yong , Hwang Eun Mi , Chung Young-Kyun
Published: August 2011

Levobupivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic that intrinsically produces vasoconstriction in isolated vessels. The goals of this study were to investigate the calcium-dependent mechanism underlying levobupivacaine-induced contraction of isolated rat aorta in vitro and to elucidate the pathway responsible for the endothelium-dependent attenuation of levobupivacaine-induced contraction. Isolated rat aortic rings were suspended to record isometric tension. Cumulative levobupivacaine concentration–response curves were generated in either the presence or absence of the antagonists verapamil, nifedipine, SKF-96365, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate, Gd3+, NW-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), and methylene blue, either alone or in combination. Verapamil, nifedipine, SKF-96365, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate, low calcium concentrations, and calcium-free Krebs solution attenuated levobupivacaine-induced contraction. Gd3+ had no effect on levobupivacaine-induced contraction. Levobupivacaine increased intracellular calcium levels in vascular smooth muscle cells. L-NAME, ODQ, and methylene blue increased levobupivacaine-induced contraction in endothelium-intact aorta. SKF-96365 attenuated calcium-induced contraction in a previously calcium-free isotonic depolarizing solution containing 100 mmol/L KCl. Levobupivacaine-induced contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle is mediated primarily by calcium influx from the extracellular space mainly via voltage-operated calcium channels and, in part, by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-mediated release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The nitric oxide – cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway is involved in the endothelium-dependent attenuation of levobupivacaine-induced contraction.
SEMI-ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO BOSONIC ATOM–MOLECULE CONVERSION VIA FESHBACH RESONANCE
Authors: LI JING , LIU BIN
Published: August 2011

The bosonic atom–molecule conversion via Feshbach resonance is investigated by a semi-analytical method. The many-particle model is used and the independent crossing approximation (ICA) is utilized in calculation. An explicit formula is obtained for the conversion efficiency. The many-particle simulation supports our formula.
ENHANCING VOLUMETRIC BOULIGAND–MINKOWSKI FRACTAL DESCRIPTORS BY USING FUNCTIONAL DATA ANALYSIS
Authors: FLORINDO JOÃO BATISTA , DE CASTRO MÁRIO , BRUNO ODEMIR MARTINEZ
Published: August 2011

This work proposes and studies the concept of Functional Data Analysis transform, applying it to the performance improving of volumetric Bouligand–Minkowski fractal descriptors. The proposed transform consists essentially in changing the descriptors originally defined in the space of the calculus of fractal dimension into the space of coefficients used in the functional data representation of these descriptors. The transformed descriptors are used here in texture classification problems. The enhancement provided by the FDA transform is measured by comparing the transformed to the original descriptors in terms of the correctness rate in the classification of well known datasets.
LOW-MASS DIFFRACTION AT THE LHC
Authors: JENKOVSZKY L. L. , KUPRASH O. E. , LÄMSÄ J. W. , ORAVA R.
Published: August 2011

The expected resonance structure for low-mass single diffractive states is predicted from a Regge-dual model elaborated earlier by the present authors. Estimates for the observable low-mass single diffraction dissociation (SDD) cross-sections and efficiencies for single diffractive events simulated by PYTHIA 6.2 as a function of the diffractive mass are given.
CLUSTER PHYSICS WITH DARK ENERGY
Authors: LEE SEOKCHEON
Published: August 2011

Dark energy affects the abundance and evolution of clusters owing to their dependence on the geometry of the Universe and the power spectrum. Usually, there exits the degeneracy between σ8 and the matter energy density contrast [Formula: see text]. We avoid this by using the explicit dark energy dependent rms linear mass fluctuation σ8 which is consistent with the CMB normalization for general constant dark energy equation of state, ω Q . When we use the correct value of the critical density threshold δc = 1.58 into the cluster number density n calculation in the Press–Schechter (PS) formalism, PS formalism predicts the cluster number consistent with both simulation and observed data at the high mass region. The improved coefficients of Sheth–Tormen (ST) formalism by using the correct δc is also obtained. We found that changing ω Q by Δω Q = -0.1 from ω Q = -1.0 causes the changing of the comoving numbers of high mass clusters of M = 1016h-1M⊙ by about 20 and 40% at z = 0 and 1, respectively.
LOW ENERGY NEUTRINO AND DARK MATTER PHYSICS WITH SUB-keV GERMANIUM DETECTORS
Authors: WONG HENRY T.
Published: August 2011

The theme of the TEXONO-CDEX research program is on the studies of low energy neutrino and dark matter physics at Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino Laboratory and China Jin-Ping Underground Laboratory. The current goal is to open the "sub-keV" detector window with germanium detectors. The three main scientific subjects are neutrino magnetic moments, neutrino-nucleus coherent scattering, and dark matter searches. We highlight the status, results and plans in this article.
Characterizing Intelligence Gathering and Control on an Edge Network
Authors: Arlitt Martin , Carlsson Niklas , Gill Phillipa , Mahanti Aniket , Williamson Carey
Published: August 2011

There is a continuous struggle for control of resources at every organization that is connected to the Internet. The local organization wishes to use its resources to achieve strategic goals. Some external entities seek direct control of these resources, for purposes such as spamming or launching denial-of-service attacks. Other external entities seek indirect control of assets (e.g., users, finances), but provide services in exchange for them.

Using a year-long trace from an edge network, we examine what various external organizations know about one organization. We compare the types of information exposed by or to external organizations using either active (
reconnaissance
) or passive (
surveillance
) techniques. We also explore the direct and indirect control external entities have on local IT resources.
Inactivation of TNF-α ameliorates diabetic neuropathy in mice
Authors: Yamakawa Isamu , Kojima Hideto , Terashima Tomoya , Katagi Miwako , Oi Jiro , Urabe Hiroshi , Sanada Mitsuru , Kawai Hiromichi , Chan Lawrence , Yasuda Hitoshi , Maegawa Hiroshi , Kimura Hiroshi
Published: August 2011

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a potent proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. We inactivated TNF-α to determine if it is a valid therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. We effected the inactivation in diabetic neuropathy using two approaches: by genetic inactivation of TNF-α (TNF-α−/− mice) or by neutralization of TNF-α protein using the monoclonal antibody infliximab. We induced diabetes using streptozotocin in wild-type and TNF-α−/− mice. We measured serum TNF-α concentration and the level of TNF-α mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and evaluated nerve function by a combination of motor (MNCV) and sensory (SNCV) nerve conduction velocities and tail flick test, as well as cytological analysis of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) and immunostaining of DRG for NF-κB p65 serine-276 phosphorylated and cleaved caspase-3. Compared with nondiabetic mice, TNF-α+/+ diabetic mice displayed significant impairments of MNCV, SNCV, tail flick test, and IENFD as well as increased expression of NF-κB p65 and cleaved caspase-3 in their DRG. In contrast, although nondiabetic TNF-α−/− mice showed mild abnormalities of IENFD under basal conditions, diabetic TNF-α−/− mice showed no evidence of abnormal nerve function tests compared with nondiabetic mice. A single injection of infliximab in diabetic TNF-α+/+ mice led to suppression of the increased serum TNF-α and amelioration of the electrophysiological and biochemical deficits for at least 4 wk. Moreover, the increased TNF-α mRNA expression in diabetic DRG was also attenuated by infliximab, suggesting infliximab's effects may involve the local suppression of TNF-α. Infliximab, an agent currently in clinical use, is effective in targeting TNF-α action and expression and amelioration of diabetic neuropathy in mice.
Serial Murder of Four Victims, of Both Genders and Different Ethnicities, by an Ordained Baptist Minister
Authors: Reavis James A.
Published: August 2011

A case of a 61-year-old African-American male who sexually assaulted and murdered four individuals, of different ethnicities and both genders, is reported. The subject additionally engaged in sexual activity with each victim postmortem. Each murder is reviewed in detail, and the subjective state of the offender during the murders is commented upon. Psychological test data are reviewed. The subject met criteria for several Axis I disorders, including Bipolar I Disorder, Pedophilia, and Sexual Sadism, and met criteria for Axis II diagnoses of Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality disorder. He was additionally classified as a Psychopath, which, in combination with his Sexual Sadism, general psychiatric state, and exquisite sensitivity to humiliation, led to his decision to murder.
Application of Skin Electrical Conductance of Acupuncture Meridians for Ureteral Calculus: A Case Report
Authors: Lin Wu-Chou , Chen Yung-Hsiang , Xu Jian-Ming , Chen Der-Cherng , Chen Wen-Chi , Lee Chao-Te
Published: August 2011

Renal colic is a common condition seen in the emergency department (ED). Our recent study showed that measures of electrical conductance may be used as supplementary diagnostic methods for patients with acute renal colic. Here, we describe the case of a 30-year-old male subject with a left ureteral calculus who presented with frequency and normal-looking urine. He had already visited the outpatient department, but in vain. Normal urinalysis and nonobstructive urogram were reported at that time. Two days later, he was admitted to the ED because of abdominal pain in the left lower quadrant. The urinalysis did not detect red blood cells. Ultrasonography did not indicate hydronephrosis. The meridian electrical conductance and index of sympathovagal balance were found to be abnormal. High level of electrical conductance on the left bladder meridian was found. An unenhanced helical computed tomography was scheduled to reveal a left ureterovesical stone. Ureteroscopic intervention was later uneventfully performed, and the patient's pain was relieved. The follow-up measurements showed that the meridian parameters had returned to normal one month after treatment. This case suggests that bladder meridian electrical conductance might be used as a supplemental method for ureteral calculus diagnosis.
Scleredema Diabeticorum in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Martín C. , Requena L. , Manrique K. , Manzarbeitia F. D. , Rovira A.
Published: August 2011

Background.Scleredema adultorum, a connective tissue disorder of unknown aetiology, is characterized by a thickening of the reticular dermis in the upper back of the body that may decrease the mobility of the affected tissues. It has been reported in diabetic patients with poor metabolic control. Therapeutic options are limited with generally poor results.Case Report.53-year-old white male with type 2 diabetes mellitus was referred to our department for evaluation of incipient nephropathy and retinopathy. On examination, he presented erythematous, indurated, painless and ill-defined plaque on the skin of the upper back with limited movement of shoulders. A biopsy was done revealing scleredema. PUVA treatment and physiotherapy were started with the amelioration of mobility and acquiring some elasticity of the upper back.Discussion.The development of scleredema in diabetic patients has been related to prolonged exposure to chronic hyperglycaemia. Our patient has had diabetes for 20 years with an acceptable glucose control, however he developed the scleredema 10 years ago.Conclusions.Scleredema is a rare connective disorder that seems to appear most frequently in diabetic subjects. Good metabolic control seems not to preclude its development. PUVA treatment and physiotherapy are therapeutic options that seem to be of some help.
Primary Pelvic Hydatid Cyst: A Case Report
Authors: Parray Fazl Q. , Wani Shadab Nabi , Bazaz Sajid , Khan Shakeel-ur Rehman , Malik Nighat Shaffi
Published: August 2011

This is a case report of a young man who presented to us as a case of hypogastric pain and frequency of micturation. General physical examination and radiological evaluation confirmed a multiloculated pelvic swelling. Patient was subjected to laparotomy which confirmed the diagnosis of a primary pelvic hydatid disease. Patient was put on chemotherapy after surgery and is doing well on follow up.
Numerical Modelling Approaches for Assessing Improvements to the Flow Circulation in a Small Lake
Authors: He Cheng , Rochfort Quintin
Published: August 2011

Kamaniskeg Lake is a long, narrow, and deep small lake located in the northern part of Ontario, Canada. The goals of this paper were to examine various options to improve the water quality in the northern part of the lake by altering the local hydraulic flow conditions. Towards this end, a preliminary screening suggested that the flow circulation could be increased around a central island (Mask Island) in the northern part of the lake by opening up an existing causeway connecting the mainland and central island. Three‐dimensional (3D) hydraulic and transport models were adopted in this paper to investigate the hydraulic conditions under various wind forces and causeway structures. The modelling results show that opening the causeway in a few places is unlikely to generate a large flow circulation around the central island. Full circulation only appears to be possible if the causeway is fully removed and a strong wind blows in a favourable direction. The possible reasons for existing water quality variations at the intake of a local WTP (water treatment plant) are also explored in the paper.
Visiting Power Laws in Cyber‐Physical Networking Systems
Authors: Li Ming , Zhao Wei
Published: August 2011

Cyber‐physical networking systems (CPNSs) are made up of various physical systems that are heterogeneous in nature. Therefore, exploring universalities in CPNSs for either data or systems is desired in its fundamental theory. This paper is in the aspect of data, aiming at addressing that power laws may yet be a universality of data in CPNSs. The contributions of this paper are in triple folds. First, we provide a short tutorial about power laws. Then, we address the power laws related to some physical systems. Finally, we discuss that power‐law‐type data may be governed by stochastically differential equations of fractional order. As a side product, we present the point of view that the upper bound of data flow at large‐time scaling and the small one also follows power laws.
Protection of SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cells from Glutamate-Induced Apoptosis by 3,6′-Disinapoyl Sucrose, a Bioactive Compound Isolated from Radix Polygala
Authors: Hu Yuan , Li Jie , Liu Ping , Chen Xu , Guo Dai-Hong , Li Qing-Shan , Rahman Khalid
Published: August 2011

The neuroprotective effects of 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose (DISS) from Radix Polygala against glutamate-induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cells injury were evaluated in the present study. SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were pretreated with glutamate (8 mM) for 30 min followed by cotreatment with DISS for 12 h. Cell viability was determined by (3,4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylte-trazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and apoptosis was confirmed by cell morphology and flow cytometry assay, evaluated with propidium iodide dye. Treatment with DISS (0.6, 6, and 60 μmol/L) increased cell viability dose dependently, inhibited LDH release, and attenuated apoptosis. The mechanisms by which DISS protected neuron cells from glutamate-induced excitotoxicity included the downregulation of proapoptotic gene Bax and the upregulation of antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2. The present findings indicated that DISS exerts neuroprotective effects against glutamate toxicity, which might be of importance and contribute to its clinical efficacy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
An Efficient Approach to Solve the Large‐Scale Semidefinite Programming Problems
Authors: Zheng Yongbin , Yan Yuzhuang , Liu Sheng , Huang Xinsheng , Xu Wanying
Published: August 2011

Solving the large‐scale problems with semidefinite programming (SDP) constraints is of great importance in modeling and model reduction of complex system, dynamical system, optimal control, computer vision, and machine learning. However, existing SDP solvers are of large complexities and thus unavailable to deal with large‐scale problems. In this paper, we solve SDP using matrix generation, which is an extension of the classical column generation. The exponentiated gradient algorithm is also used
to solve the special structure subproblem of matrix generation. The numerical experiments show that our approach is efficient and scales very well with the problem dimension. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is applied for a clustering problem. The experimental results on real datasets imply that the proposed approach outperforms the traditional interior‐point SDP solvers in terms of efficiency and scalability.
Postmenopausal Serum Sex Steroids and Risk of Hormone Receptor–Positive and -Negative Breast Cancer: a Nested Case–Control Study
Authors: James Rebecca E. , Lukanova Annekatrin , Dossus Laure , Becker Susen , Rinaldi Sabina , Tjønneland Anne , Olsen Anja , Overvad Kim , Mesrine Sylvie , Engel Pierre , Clavel-Chapelon Françoise , Chang-Claude Jenny , Vrieling Alina , Boeing Heiner , Schütze Madlen , Trichopoulou Antonia , Lagiou Pagona , Trichopoulos Dimitrios , Palli Domenico , Krogh Vittorio , Panico Salvatore , Tumino Rosario , Sacerdote Carlotta , Rodríguez Laudina , Buckland Genevieve , Sánchez Maria-José , Amiano Pilar , Ardanaz Eva , Bueno-de-Mesquita Bas , Ros Martine M. , van Gils Carla H. , Peeters Petra H. , Khaw Kay-Tee , Wareham Nick , Key Timothy J. , Allen Naomi E. , Romieu Isabelle , Siddiq Afshan , Cox David , Riboli Elio , Kaaks Rudolf
Published: August 2011

Prediagnostic endogenous sex steroid hormone levels have well established associations with overall risk of breast cancer. While evidence toward the existence of distinct subtypes of breast cancer accumulates, few studies have investigated the associations of sex steroid hormone levels with risk of hormone receptor [estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR)] defined breast cancer. In a case–control study nested within the EPIC cohort (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition), estradiol, testosterone, and sex hormone–binding globulin levels were measured in prediagnostic serum samples from postmenopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy at blood donation. A total of 554 women who developed invasive breast cancer with information on receptor status were matched with 821 control subjects. Conditional logistic regression models estimated breast cancer risk with hormone concentrations according to hormone receptor status of the tumor. Sex steroid hormones were associated with risks of not only ER+PR+ breast cancer [estradiol OR for highest vs. lowest tertile = 2.91 (95% CI: 1.62–5.23), Ptrend = 0.002; testosterone OR = 2.27 (95% CI: 1.35–3.81), Ptrend = 0.002] but also of ER-PR- breast cancer [estradiol OR = 2.11 (95% CI: 1.00–4.46), Ptrend = 0.05; testosterone OR = 2.06 (95% CI: 0.95–4.46), Ptrend = 0.03], with associations appearing somewhat stronger in the receptor-positive disease. Serum androgens and estrogens are associated with risks of both hormone receptor–negative as well as receptor–positive breast tumors. Further research is needed to establish through which molecular pathways, and during which evolutionary stages of development, androgens and estrogens can promote the occurrence of both receptor-positive and -negative clinical breast tumors. Cancer Prev Res; 4(10); 1626–35. ©2011 AACR.
Different Brain Activities Predict Retrieval Success during Emotional and Semantic Encoding
Authors: Padovani Tullia , Koenig Thomas , Brandeis Daniel , Perrig Walter J.
Published: August 2011

There is an increasing line of evidence supporting the idea that the formation of lasting memories involves neural activity preceding stimulus presentation. Following this line, we presented words in an incidental learning setting and manipulated the prestimulus state by asking the participants to perform either an emotional (neutral or emotional) or a semantic (animate or inanimate) decision task. Later, we tested the retrieval of each previously presented word with a recognition memory test. For both conditions, the subsequent memory effect (SME) was defined as ERP difference between subsequently remembered and forgotten words. Comparing the prestimulus SME between and within the two conditions yielded topographic differences in the time interval from −1300 to −700 msec before stimulus onset. This indicates that the activity of brain areas involved in incidental encoding of semantic information varied in the spatial distribution of ERPs, depending on the emotional and semantic requirements of the task. These findings provide evidence that there is a difference in semantic and emotional preparatory processes, which modulates successful encoding into episodic memory. This difference suggests that there are multiple task-specific functional neural systems that support memory formation. These systems differ in location and/or relative contribution of some of the brain structures that generate the measured scalp electric fields. Consequently, the cognitive processes that enable memory formation depend on the differential semantic nature of the study task and reflect differences in the preparatory processing of the multiple semantic components of a word's meaning.
Brain Oscillatory Activity during Spatial Navigation: Theta and Gamma Activity Link Medial Temporal and Parietal Regions
Authors: White David J. , Congedo Marco , Ciorciari Joseph , Silberstein Richard B.
Published: August 2011

Brain oscillatory correlates of spatial navigation were investigated using blind source separation (BSS) and standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) analyses of 62-channel EEG recordings. Twenty-five participants were instructed to navigate to distinct landmark buildings in a previously learned virtual reality town environment. Data from periods of navigation between landmarks were subject to BSS analyses to obtain source components. Two of these cortical sources were found to exhibit significant spectral power differences during navigation with respect to a resting eyes open condition and were subject to source localization using sLORETA. These two sources were localized as a right parietal component with gamma activation and a right medial-temporal–parietal component with activation in theta and gamma bandwidths. The parietal gamma activity was thought to reflect visuospatial processing associated with the task. The medial-temporal–parietal activity was thought to be more specific to the navigational processing, representing the integration of ego- and allo-centric representations of space required for successful navigation, suggesting theta and gamma oscillations may have a role in integrating information from parietal and medial-temporal regions. Theta activity on this medial-temporal–parietal source was positively correlated with more efficient navigation performance. Results are discussed in light of the depth and proposed closed field structure of the hippocampus and potential implications for scalp EEG data. The findings of the present study suggest that appropriate BSS methods are ideally suited to minimizing the effects of volume conduction in noninvasive recordings, allowing more accurate exploration of deep brain processes.
Recoding between Two Types of STM Representation Revealed by the Dynamics of Memory Search
Authors: Leszczyński Marcin , Myers Nicholas E. , Akyürek Elkan G. , Schubö Anna
Published: August 2011

Visual STM (VSTM) is thought to be related to visual attention in several ways. Attention controls access to VSTM during memory encoding and plays a role in the maintenance of stored information by strengthening memorized content. We investigated the involvement of visual attention in recall from VSTM. In two experiments, we measured electrophysiological markers of attention in a memory search task with varying intervals between VSTM encoding and recall, and so we were able to track recoding of representations in memory. Results confirmed the involvement of attention in VSTM recall. However, the amplitude of the N2pc and N3rs components, which mark orienting of attention and search within VSTM, decreased as a function of delay. Conversely, the amplitude of the P3 and sustained posterior contralateral negativity components increased as a function of delay, effectively the opposite of the N2pc and N3rs modulations. These effects were only observed when verbal memory was not taxed. Thus, the results suggested that gradual recoding from visuospatial orienting of attention into verbal recall mechanisms takes place from short to long retention intervals. Interestingly, recall at longer delays was faster than at short delays, indicating that verbal representation is coupled with faster responses. These results extend the orienting-of-attention hypothesis by including an account of representational recoding during short-term consolidation and its consequences for recall from VSTM.
Discriminating between Auditory and Motor Cortical Responses to Speech and Nonspeech Mouth Sounds
Authors: Agnew Zarinah K. , McGettigan Carolyn , Scott Sophie K.
Published: August 2011

Several perspectives on speech perception posit a central role for the representation of articulations in speech comprehension, supported by evidence for premotor activation when participants listen to speech. However, no experiments have directly tested whether motor responses mirror the profile of selective auditory cortical responses to native speech sounds or whether motor and auditory areas respond in different ways to sounds. We used fMRI to investigate cortical responses to speech and nonspeech mouth (ingressive click) sounds. Speech sounds activated bilateral superior temporal gyri more than other sounds, a profile not seen in motor and premotor cortices. These results suggest that there are qualitative differences in the ways that temporal and motor areas are activated by speech and click sounds: Anterior temporal lobe areas are sensitive to the acoustic or phonetic properties, whereas motor responses may show more generalized responses to the acoustic stimuli.
Neural Measures of Dynamic Changes in Attentive Tracking Load
Authors: Drew Trafton , Horowitz Todd S. , Wolfe Jeremy M. , Vogel Edward K.
Published: August 2011

In everyday life, we often need to track several objects simultaneously, a task modeled in the laboratory using the multiple-object tracking (MOT) task [Pylyshyn, Z., & Storm, R. W. Tracking multiple independent targets: Evidence for a parallel tracking mechanism. Spatial Vision, 3, 179–197, 1988]. Unlike MOT, however, in life, the set of relevant targets tends to be fluid and change over time. Humans are quite adept at “juggling” targets in and out of the target set [Wolfe, J. M., Place, S. S., & Horowitz, T. S. Multiple object juggling: Changing what is tracked during extended MOT. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14, 344–349, 2007]. Here, we measured the neural underpinnings of this process using electrophysiological methods. Vogel and colleagues [McCollough, A. W., Machizawa, M. G., & Vogel, E. K. Electrophysiological measures of maintaining representations in visual working memory. Cortex, 43, 77–94, 2007; Vogel, E. K., McCollough, A. W., & Machizawa, M. G. Neural measures reveal individual differences in controlling access to working memory. Nature, 438, 500–503, 2005; Vogel, E. K., & Machizawa, M. G. Neural activity predicts individual differences in visual working memory capacity. Nature, 428, 748–751, 2004] have shown that the amplitude of a sustained lateralized negativity, contralateral delay activity (CDA) indexes the number of items held in visual working memory. Drew and Vogel [Drew, T., & Vogel, E. K. Neural measures of individual differences in selecting and tracking multiple moving objects. Journal of Neuroscience, 28, 4183–4191, 2008] showed that the CDA also indexes the number of items being tracking a standard MOT task. In the current study, we set out to determine whether the CDA is a signal that merely represents the number of objects that are attended during a trial or a dynamic signal capable of reflecting on-line changes in tracking load during a single trial. By measuring the response to add or drop cues, we were able to observe dynamic changes in CDA amplitude. The CDA appears to rapidly represent the current number of objects being tracked. In addition, we were able to generate some initial estimates of the time course of this dynamic process.