bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sang-qi Granula Reduces Blood Pressure and Myocardial Fibrosis by Suppressing Inflammatory Responses Associated with the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors and Nuclear FactorκB Protein in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Chen Lan-Yu , Pan Chun-Shui , Wei Xiao-Hong , Li Lin , Han Jing-Yan , Huang Li
Published: September 2013

Aim. Sang-qi Granula (SQ) is a compound prepared from Chinese herbs and is currently used for treatment of hypertension in China. Given its protective effects on cardial function in decreasing blood pressure, we investigated the mechanism of protective effects of SQ on myocardium.Methods. 16 male normal Wistar-Kyoto rats and 16 spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were employed without medical treatment. 16 SHR were employed with SQ treatment. Rats in each group were sacrificed at two time points (8-week treatment and 16-week treatment). Blood pressure (BP), and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) were measured. The expression of myeloperoxidase (MCP-1), ICAM-1, TNF-α, and CD68-positive cells was assessed. The interstitial collagen volume fraction (CVF), perivascular collagen volume area (PVCA), and the expression of TGF-β, Smad-3, PPARα,γ, and NF-κB (P65 and P50) were observed.Results. SQ significantly inhibited the elevation of the blood pressure and HW/BW of SHR. Next, SQ prevented myocardial fibrosis. Finally, a proinflammatory mediator associated with NF-κB (TNF-α, ICAM-1, MCP-1, CD68), TGF-β, and Smad-3 related to collagen deposition, which is upregulated in SHR group, was significantly suppressed by SQ. Expression of NF-κB was decreased in SHQ+SQ group compared to PPARα, andγexpression was increased by SQ.Conclusion. Treatment with SQ ameliorates cardial fibrosis induced by hypertension by attenuating the upregulation of ICAM-1, TNF-α, MCP-1, TGF-β, Smad-3, P65, and P50 expression and improving PPARαand PPARγexpression level. The results suggest that SQ may be an option for preventing cardial fibrosis through PPAR signalling pathway.
Resolution of Ternary Mixture of Aspirin, Atorvastatin, and Clopidogrel by Chemometric-Assisted UV Spectroscopic and Liquid Chromatography Methods
Authors: Issa Mahmoud Mohamed , Nejem R'afat Mahmoud , Abu Shanab Alaa , Stefan-van Staden Raluca-Ioana
Published: September 2013

Two chemometrics-assisted UV spectrophotometric methods were proposed for the resolution of ternary mixtures without any chemical pretreatment. The first method is based on modification of H-point standard addition method which permits simultaneous analysis of three species from a unique calibration set by making the simultaneous addition of the three analytes. Quotient between the spectra of aspirin, atorvastatin, and clopidogrel was obtained and the results showed that simultaneous determination of aspirin, atorvastatin, and clopidogrel can be obeyed in the linear range 2.5–20 μg mL−1 of aspirin, 2.5–17.5 μg mL−1 of atorvastatin, and 2.5–20 μg mL−1 of clopidogrel in ternary mixture. The second method is based on the combination of the first derivative spectra and Cramer's matrix rule. In the matrix calculation, clopidogrel has zero crossing point at 316.8 and 212 nm, while for atorvastatin the zero crossing point at 250 nm where the matrix is greatly simplified and easily solved. The linear concentration ranges were 2.5–20 μg mL−1 aspirin, 2.5–17.5 μg mL−1 atorvastatin and 2.5–20 μg mL−1 clopidogrel in ternary mixtures. The results proved that the simultaneous determination of aspirin, atorvastatin, and clopidogrel could be obeyed. Both methods were applied for capsules containing the three ingredients and results were in good concordance with alternative liquid chromatography.
Biomaterials-Based Modulation of the Immune System
Authors: Gardner Austin B. , Lee Simon K. C. , Woods Elliot C. , Acharya Abhinav P.
Published: September 2013

The immune system is traditionally considered from the perspective of defending against bacterial or viral infections. However, foreign materials like implants can also illicit immune responses. These immune responses are mediated by a large number of molecular signals, including cytokines, antibodies and reactive radical species, and cell types, including macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, T-cells, B-cells, and dendritic cells. Most often, these molecular signals lead to the generation of fibrous encapsulation of the biomaterials, thereby shielding the body from these biomaterials. In this review we will focus on two different types of biomaterials: those that actively modulate the immune response, as seen in antigen delivery vehicles for vaccines, and those that illicit relatively small immune response, which are important for implantable materials. The first serves to actively influence the immune response by co-opting certain immune pathways, while the second tries to mimic the properties of the host in an attempt to remain undetected by the immune system. As these are two very different end points, each type of biomaterial has been studied and developed separately and in recent years, many advances have been made in each respective area, which will be highlighted in this review.
Estimation of n‐Octanol/Water Partition Coefficients (log KOW) of Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Using Quantum Chemical Descriptors and Partial Least Squares
Authors: Zhang Fang-Li , Yang Xing-Jian , Xue Xiu-Ling , Tao Xue-Qin , Lu Gui-Ning , Dang Zhi
Published: September 2013

The n‐octanol/water partition coefficient (log KOW) is a useful parameter for the assessment of the environmental fate and impact of xenobiotic trace contaminants. Quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) model for log KOW of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was analyzed by using the density functional theory at B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level and the partial least squares (PLS) method with an optimizing procedure. A PLS model with reasonably good coefficient (R2 = 0.992) and cross‐validation test () values was obtained. All the predicted values are within the range of ±0.3 log unit from the observed values. The log KOW values of 7 PCBs in the test set predicted by the model are very close to those observed, indicating that this model has high fitting precision and good predictability. The PLS analysis showed that PCBs with larger electronic spatial extent and lower molecular total energy values tend to be more hydrophobic and lipophilic.
Hypoxia and Human Genome Stability: Downregulation of BRCA2 Expression in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Fanale Daniele , Bazan Viviana , Caruso Stefano , Castiglia Marta , Bronte Giuseppe , Rolfo Christian , Cicero Giuseppe , Russo Antonio
Published: September 2013

Previously, it has been reported that hypoxia causes increased mutagenesis and alteration in DNA repair mechanisms. In 2005, an interesting study showed that hypoxia-induced decreases in BRCA1 expression and the consequent suppression of homologous recombination may lead to genetic instability. However, nothing is yet known about the involvement of BRCA2 in hypoxic conditions in breast cancer. Initially, a cell proliferation assay allowed us to hypothesize that hypoxia could negatively regulate the breast cancer cell growth in short term in vitro studies. Subsequently, we analyzed gene expression in breast cancer cell lines exposed to hypoxic condition by microarray analysis. Interestingly, genes involved in DNA damage repair pathways such as mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, nonhomologous end-joining and homologous recombination repair were downregulated. In particular, we focused on the BRCA2 downregulation which was confirmed at mRNA and protein level. In addition, breast cancer cells were treated with dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), a cell-permeable inhibitor of both proline and asparaginyl hydroxylases able to induce HIF-1αstabilization in normoxia, providing results comparable to those previously described. These findings may provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying genetic instability mediated by hypoxia and BRCA involvement in sporadic breast cancers.
Release of Gentamicin and Vancomycin from Preformed Spacers in Infected Total Hip Arthroplasties: Measurement of Concentrations and Inhibitory Activity in Patients’ Drainage Fluids and Serum
Authors: Regis Dario , Sandri Andrea , Samaila Elena , Benini Anna , Bondi Manuel , Magnan Bruno
Published: September 2013

Gentamicin (G) and vancomycin (V) concentrations in drainage fluids obtained from patients during the first 24 hours after implantation of antibiotic‐loaded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacers in two‐stage revision of infected total hip arthroplasty were studied. The inhibitory activity of drainage fluids against different multiresistant clinical isolates was investigated as well. Seven hips were treated by implantation of industrial G‐loaded spacers. Vancomycin was added by manually mixing with PMMA bone cement. Serum and drainage fluid samples were collected 1, 4, and 24 hours after spacer implantation. Antibiotics concentrations and drains bactericidal titer of combination were determined against multiresistant staphylococcal strains. The release of G and V from PMMA cement at the site of infection was prompt and effective. Serum levels were below the limit of detection. The local release kinetics of G and V from PMMA cement was similar, exerting a pronounced, combined inhibitory effect in the implant site. The inhibitory activity of drainage fluids showed substantial intersubject variability related to antibiotic concentrations and differed according to the pathogens tested. Gentamicin and vancomycin were released from temporary hip spacers at bactericidal concentrations, and their use in combination exerted strong inhibition against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci strains.
Description of the Postlarval Stages ofDactylochelifer gracilisBeier, Pseudoscorpiones: Cheliferidae
Authors: Nassirkhani Mahrad , Harvey Mark S.
Published: September 2013

A study of the free-living developmental stages ofDactylochelifer gracilisBeier, 1951, is presented based on 68 specimens of all nymphal and adult stages, collected from two locations in Iran. Basic differences of all stages are characterized by size, pedipalpal ratios, and the addition of trichobothria and setae during development.
Plastic and Elastic Responses of a Jacket Platform Subjected to Ship Impacts
Authors: Li Liang , Hu Zhiqiang , Jiang Zhe
Published: September 2013

This paper deals with ship-jacket platform collisions. An examination on NORSOK N-004 rule is carried out. Furthermore, elastic and plastic response of jacket platform is studied. This paper also conducts a sensitivity analysis, focusing on collision points. Simulation models of a ductile and a rigid supply vessel were developed, as well as models of two typical jacket platforms. Data such as collision force, kinetic energy, and deformation energy have been obtained. Several conclusions have been drawn: NORSOK rule underestimates the resistance for certain indention, due to inaccurate description of column deformation mode. Elastic response is extremely important in dynamic analysis of ship-platform impacts, by contributing to reducing impact loads and local energy dissipation. Struck members are therefore subjected to impacts to a low extent, which can be regarded as result of a buffering effect. Before a buffering effect works, a time delay exists. This is caused because the topside has to take up adequate kinetic energy. Striking position has an effect on dynamic behavior of platform. High local strength is in favor of buffering an effect. Elastic response is more significant in a flexible platform than in a sticky one.
Analytical and Semianalytical Treatment of the Collinear Points in the Photogravitational Relativistic RTBP
Authors: Abd El-Bar S. E. , Abd El-Salam F. A.
Published: September 2013

The problem of restricted three bodies is considered. The treatment is carried out within the framework of the post-Newtonian approximation. The primaries also are assumed to be radiant sources. The locations of the collinear points are computed. Series forms of these locations are obtained as new results. A Mathematica program is constructed so as to draw the locations of collinear points versus the whole range of the mass ratioμtaking into account the photo-gravitational effects and/or the relativistic corrections. Analyses of these figures are addressed.
A Procedure for the Selection of Single Sampling Plans by Variables Based on Pareto Distribution
Authors: Sathya Narayanan Geetha , Rajarathinam Vijayaraghavan
Published: September 2013

Product control in statistical quality control is the methodology that deals with procedures for taking decisions about one or more lots of finished products manufactured by production processes. Sampling inspection by variables is one of the major classifications of product control and comprises procedures for deciding about the disposition of a lot of individual units based on sample measurements of units on a quality characteristic under study. These procedures are defined under the assumption that the quality characteristic is measurable on a continuous scale, and the functional form of the probability distribution must be known. Inspection procedures which have been developed under the implicit assumption that the quality characteristic is distributed as normal with the related properties are found in the literature of product control. The assumption of normality may not be realized often in practice, and it becomes indispensable to investigate the properties of sampling plans based on nonnormal distributions. In this paper, a single sampling plan by variables is formulated and evaluated when the quality characteristic is assumed to be distributed according to a Pareto distribution. A procedure is developed for determining the parameters of the plan for specified requirements to ensure protection to both the producer and consumer.
Variational Approximate Solutions of Fractional Nonlinear Nonhomogeneous Equations with Laplace Transform
Authors: Liu Yanqin , Xu Fengsheng , Yin Xiuling
Published: September 2013

A novel modification of the variational iteration method is proposed by means of Laplace transform and homotopy perturbation method. The fractional lagrange multiplier is accurately determined by the Laplace transform and the nonlinear one can be easily handled by the use of He’s polynomials. Several fractional nonlinear nonhomogeneous equations are analytically solved as examples and the methodology is demonstrated.
Narrowband-to-Narrowband Frequency Reconfiguration with Harmonic Suppression Using Fractal Dipole Antenna
Authors: Hamzah S. A. , Esa M. , Malik N. N. N. A. , Ismail M. K. H.
Published: September 2013

Harmonic suppressed fractal antenna with switches named TMFDB25 is developed to select desired frequency band from 400 MHz to 3.5 GHz. The radiating element length is changed to tune the operating frequency while the stub is used to eliminate the undesired harmonic frequency. The balun circuit is reduced by 75% from the original size. The antenna is built on a low loss material. It has the ability to select a single frequency out of fifteen different bands and maintain the omnidirectional radiation pattern properties. Furthermore, the antenna is designed, built, and tested. Simulation and measurement results show that the antenna operates well at the specific frequency range. Therefore, the antenna is suitable to be used for switching frequencies in the band of TV, GSM900/1800, 3G, ISM 2.4 GHz, and above.
NN-Based Approximate Model Control for the EAF Electrode Regulator System
Authors: Zhao Hongge
Published: September 2013

This paper proposes a robust adaptive neural network controller (RANNC) for electrode regulator system. According to the characteristics of electrode regulator system, an affine-like equivalent model is first derived. Then, the nonlinear control law is derived directly based on the affine-like equivalent model identified with neural networks, which avoids complex control development and intensive computation. The control scheme is simple enough that it can be implemented on an automotive microcontroller system, and the performance meets the system requirements. The stability of the system is established by the Lyapunov method. Several simulations illustrate the effectiveness of the controller.
Proteinase-Activated Receptor-2 Agonist Activates Anti-Influenza Mechanisms and Modulates IFNγ-Induced Antiviral Pathways in Human Neutrophils
Authors: Feld Micha , Shpacovitch Victoria , Ehrhardt Christina , Fastrich Michaela , Goerge Tobias , Ludwig Stephan , Steinhoff Martin
Published: September 2013

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is expressed by human leukocytes and participates in the development of inflammatory diseases. Recent studies demonstrated an ability of PAR2agonist to enhance IFNγ-induced antiviral responses of human leukocytes. However, the precise cellular antiviral defense mechanisms triggered in leukocytes after stimulation with IFNγand/or PAR2agonist remain elusive. Therefore, we aimed to identify neutrophil defense mechanisms involved in antiviral resistance. Here we demonstrated that PAR2agonist enhanced IFNγ-related reduction of influenza A virus (IAV) replication in human neutrophils. PAR2-mediated decrease in IAV replication was associated with reduced NS-1 transcription. Moreover, PAR2-dependent neutrophil activation resulted in enhanced myeloperoxidase degranulation and extracellular myeloperoxidase disrupted IAV. The production of ROS was elevated in response to PAR2activation. Interestingly, IFNγdid not influence both effects: PAR2agonist-triggered myeloperoxidase (MPO) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which are known to limit IAV infections. In contrast, orthomyxovirus resistance gene A (MxA) protein expression was synergistically elevated through PAR2agonist and IFNγin neutrophils. Altogether, these findings emphasize two PAR2-controlled antiviral mechanisms that are independent of or modulated by IFNγ.
Gene Expression Profiles at Moxibustioned Site (ST36): A Microarray Analysis
Authors: Yin Hai-Yan , Tang Yong , Lu Sheng-Feng , Luo Ling , Wang Jia-Ping , Liu Xu-Guang , Yu Shu-Guang
Published: September 2013

As a major alternative therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it has been demonstrated that moxibustion could generate a series of molecular events in blood, spleen, and brain, and so forth. However, what would happen at the moxibustioned site remained unclear. To answer this question, we performed a microarray analysis with skin tissue taken from the moxibustioned site also Zusanli acupoint (ST36) where 15-minute moxibustion stimulation was administrated. The results exhibited 145 upregulated and 72 downregulated genes which responded immediately under physiological conditions, and 255 upregulated and 243 downregulated genes under pathological conditions. Interestingly, most of the pathways and biological processes of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under pathological conditions get involved in immunity, while those under physiological conditions are involved in metabolism.
Face Recognition in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Lin Qiao-min , Yang Jin-wen , Ye Ning , Wang Ru-chuan , Zhang Bin
Published: September 2013

A new wireless sensing network paradigm is presented for face recognition applications. In addition to the flexibility the face recognition system gains by integrating into a wireless sensor network, we take it further by introducing mobility into the network to improve the sensing coverage area and cost efficiency. To implement these goals, a multilayered network structure and Gauss-Markov mobility model are proposed. Furthermore, analysis of the sensing coverage area is given. Besides, some of the potential application scenarios based on the proposed paradigm are also presented. According to the simulation, the whole system achieves high recognition rate and energy efficiency compared to stationary network.
Polyurethane-Keratin Membranes: Structural Changes by Isocyanate and pH, and the Repercussion on Cr(VI) Removal
Authors: Manrique-Juárez María D. , Martínez-Hernández Ana L. , Olea-Mejía Oscar F. , Flores-Estrada Jaime , Rivera-Armenta José L. , Velasco-Santos Carlos
Published: September 2013

Keratin has the capacity to interact with metal ions. In order to take advantage of this potential, a novel membrane with polyurethane and keratin has been developed and studied for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. Physicochemical and morphological properties of these hybrid membranes were studied, varying synthesis parameters such as the type of isocyanate and pH in keratin solution. The effects of using diphenyl-methane-diisocyanate or toluene-diisocyanate and modifying the pH in keratin solutions were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and dynamical mechanical analysis. Results show that pH has a strong influence on morphology and on Cr(VI) removal efficiency. When pH in keratin solution is low (2.5), the protein separates from water, and a more closed cell in the membrane is obtained affecting its mechanical properties. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was also assessed at different pH values of chromium solutions. These results show that when pH of the Cr solution is acidic (at 1.5), the Cr(VI) removal percentages increase significantly, reaching up to a 58%. Thus this paper demonstrates the successful combination of synthetic and natural polymers depending on the process parameters to be applied in the critical purpose of remediation of Cr(VI) contamination.
Nuclear Expression of Snail Is an Independent Negative Prognostic Factor in Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Muenst S. , Däster S. , Obermann E. C. , Droeser R. A. , Weber W. P. , von Holzen U. , Gao F. , Viehl C. , Oertli D. , Soysal S. D.
Published: September 2013

Background. Snail is a key regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tumor cells. Several studies have shown nuclear Snail expression to be a negative prognostic factor in human cancer, where it is generally associated with more aggressive tumor behavior and worse survival.Objectives and Methods. To further explore the role of Snail expression in breast cancer, we conducted a study on a tissue microarray, encompassing 1043 breast cancer cases.Results. A total of 265 (25.4%) breast cancers were positive for Snail. Snail expression was significantly associated with greater tumor size, higher tumor stage and grade, positive lymph node status, and hormone receptor negative status and was differently expressed in the intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer, being the highest in the basal-like subtype and the lowest in the luminal A subtype. In multivariate analysis, Snail proved to be an independent negative prognostic factor for OS. In the intrinsic subtypes, Snail expression was a negative prognostic factor for OS in the luminal B HER2−, the luminal B HER2+, and the basal-like subtype.Conclusions. This is the first study demonstrating that nuclear Snail expression is an independent negative predictor of prognosis in breast cancer, thus suggesting that it may represent a potential therapeutic target.
Evaluation of the In Vitro Efficacy of Artemisia annua, Rumex abyssinicus, and Catha edulis Forsk Extracts in Cancer and Trypanosoma brucei Cells
Authors: Worku Netsanet , Mossie Andualem , Stich August , Daugschies Arwid , Trettner Susanne , Hemdan Nasr Y. A. , Birkenmeier Gerd
Published: September 2013

The current drugs against sleeping sickness are derived from cancer chemotherapeutic approaches. Herein, we aimed at evaluating the in vitro effect of alcoholic extracts of Artemisia annua (AMR), Rumex abyssinicus (RMA), and Catha edulis Forsk (CEF) on proliferation/viability of 1321N1 astrocytoma, MCF-7 breast cancer, THP-1 leukemia, and LNCaP, Du-145, and PC-3 prostate cancer cells and on Trypanosoma brucei cells. Proliferation of tumor cells was evaluated by WST-1 assay and viability/behaviour of T. brucei by cell counting and light microscopy. CEF was the most efficient growth inhibitor in comparison to AMR and RMA. Nevertheless, in LNCaP and THP-1 cells, all extracts significantly inhibited tumor growth at 3 μg/mL. All extracts inhibited proliferation of T. brucei cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Microscopic analysis revealed that 95% of the T. brucei cells died when exposed to 33 μg/mL CEF for 3 hrs. Similar results were obtained using 33 μg/mL AMR for 6 hrs. In case of RMA, however, higher concentrations were necessary to obtain similar effects on T. brucei. This demonstrates the antitumor efficacy of these extracts as well as their ability to dampen viability and proliferation of T. brucei, suggesting a common mechanism of action on highly proliferative cells, most probably by targeting cell metabolism.
In VivoSpinal Posture during Upright and Reclined Sitting in an Office Chair
Authors: Zemp Roland , Taylor William R. , Lorenzetti Silvio
Published: September 2013

Increasing numbers of people spend the majority of their working lives seated in an office chair. Musculoskeletal disorders, in particular low back pain, resulting from prolonged static sitting are ubiquitous, but regularly changing sitting position throughout the day is thought to reduce back problems. Nearly all currently available office chairs offer the possibility to alter the backrest reclination angles, but the influence of changing seating positions on the spinal column remains unknown. In an attempt to better understand the potential to adjust or correct spine posture using adjustable seating, five healthy subjects were analysed in an upright and reclined sitting position conducted in an open, upright MRI scanner. The shape of the spine, as described using the vertebral bodies’ coordinates, wedge angles, and curvature angles, showed high inter-subject variability between the two seating positions. The mean lumbar, thoracic, and cervical curvature angles were29±15°,-29±4°, and13±8° for the upright and33±12°,-31±7°, and7±7° for the reclined sitting positions. Thus, a wide range of seating adaptation is possible through modification of chair posture, and dynamic seating options may therefore provide a key feature in reducing or even preventing back pain caused by prolonged static sitting.
Understanding Infection: A Primer on Animal Models of Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Stavrakis Alexandra I. , Niska Jared A. , Loftin Amanda H. , Billi Fabrizio , Bernthal Nicholas M.
Published: September 2013

Periprosthetic joint infections are devastating complications for patients and for our health system. With growing demand for arthroplasty, the incidence of these infections is projected to increase exponentially. This paper is a review of existing animal models to study periprosthetic infection aimed at providing scientists with a succinct presentation of strengths and weaknesses of available in vivo systems. These systems represent the tools available to investigate novel antimicrobial therapies and reduce the clinical and economic impact of implant infections.
A Granular Hierarchical Multiview Metrics Suite for Statecharts Quality
Authors: Beldjehem Mokhtar
Published: September 2013

This paper presents a bottom-up approach for a multiview measurement of statechart size, topological properties, and internal structural complexity for understandability prediction and assurance purposes. It tackles the problem at different conceptual depths or equivalently at several abstraction levels. The main idea is to study and evaluate a statechart at different levels of granulation corresponding to different conceptual depth levels or levels of details. The higher level corresponds to a flat process view diagram (depth = 0), the adequate upper depth limit is determined by the modelers according to the inherent complexity of the problem under study and the level of detail required for the situation at hand (it corresponds to the all states view). For purposes of measurement, we proceed using bottom-up strategy starting with all state view diagram, identifying and measuring its deepest composite states constituent parts and then gradually collapsing them to obtain the next intermediate view (we decrement depth) while aggregating measures incrementally, until reaching the flat process view diagram. To this goal we first identify, define, and derive a relevant metrics suite useful to predict the level of understandability and other quality aspects of a statechart, and then we propose a fuzzy rule-based system prototype for understandability prediction, assurance, and for validation purposes.
Dynamics in a Lotka-Volterra Predator-Prey Model with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Xu Changjin , Wu Yusen
Published: September 2013

A Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model with time-varying delays is investigated. By using the differential inequality theory, some sufficient conditions which ensure the permanence and global asymptotic stability of the system are established. The paper ends with some interesting numerical simulations that illustrate our analytical predictions.
NT-proBNP Changes in Patients with Ascites during Large Volume Paracentesis
Authors: Nguyen Vi , Zielinski Rob , Harnett Paul , Miller Katherine , Chan Henry , Vootakuru Nikitha , Acharya Priya , Khan Montaha , Gibbs Oliver , Gupta Sarika , Devi Anjla , Phillips Shani , George Jacob , van der Poorten David
Published: September 2013

Background. N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a hormone involved in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. Changes in serum NT-proBNP during large volume paracentesis (LVP) in patients with ascites have never before been examined. Aims. To determine if significant changes in serum NT-proBNP occur in patients undergoing LVP and the associated clinical correlates in patients with cirrhosis. Method. A total of 45 patients with ascites were prospectively recruited. Serum NT-proBNP, biochemistry, and haemodynamics were determined at baseline and at key time points during and after paracentesis. Results. 34 patients were analysed; 19 had ascites due to cirrhosis and 15 from malignancy. In those with cirrhosis, NT-proBNP decreased by 77.3 pg/mL at 2 L of drainage and 94.3 pg/mL at the end of paracentesis, compared with an increase of 10.5 pg/mL and 77.2 pg/mL in cancer patients at the same time points (P=0.05 and P=0.03). Only congestive cardiac failure (CCF) was an independent predictor of significant NT-proBNP changes at the end of drainage in cirrhotic patients (P<0.01). There were no significant changes in haemodynamics or renal biochemistry for either group. Conclusion. Significant reductions in serum NT-proBNP during LVP occur in patients with cirrhosis but not malignancy, and only comorbid CCF appeared to predict such changes.
Is CA72-4 a Useful Biomarker in Differential Diagnosis between Ovarian Endometrioma and Epithelial Ovarian Cancer?
Authors: Anastasi Emanuela , Manganaro Lucia , Granato Teresa , Benedetti Panici Pierluigi , Frati Luigi , Porpora Maria Grazia
Published: September 2013

Background. Surgical excision of ovarian endometriomas in patients desiring pregnancy has recently been criticized because of the risk of damage to healthy ovarian tissue and consequent reduction of ovarian reserve. A correct diagnosis in cases not scheduled for surgery is therefore mandatory in order to avoid unexpected ovarian cancer misdiagnosis. Endometriosis is often associated with high levels of CA125. This marker is therefore not useful for discriminating ovarian endometrioma from ovarian malignancy. The aim of this study was to establish if the serum marker CA72-4 could be helpful in the differential diagnosis between ovarian endometriosis and epithelial ovarian cancer.Methods. Serums CA125 and CA72-4 were measured in 72 patients with ovarian endometriomas and 55 patients with ovarian cancer.Results. High CA125 concentrations were observed in patients with ovarian endometriosis and in those with ovarian cancer. A marked difference in CA72-4 values was observed between women with ovarian cancer (71.0%) and patients with endometriosis (13.8%) ().Conclusions. This study suggests that CA72-4 determination can be useful to confirm the benign nature of ovarian endometriomas in women with high CA125 levels.
Annual Patterns of Atmospheric Pollutions and Episodes over Cairo Egypt
Authors: Aboel Fetouh Y. , El Askary H. , El Raey M. , Allali M. , Sprigg W. A. , Kafatos M.
Published: September 2013

The Nile Delta major cities, particularly Cairo, experienced stagnant air pollution episodes, known as Black Cloud, every year over the past decade during autumn. Low-elevated thermal inversion layers play a crucial role in intensifying pollution impacts. Carbon monoxide, ozone, atmospheric temperature, water vapor, and methane measurements from the tropospheric emission spectrometer (TES) on board the Aura have been used to assess the dominant component below the inversion layer. In this study, time series analysis, autocorrelations, and cross correlations are performed to gain a better understanding of the connections between those parameters and their local effect. Satellite-based data were obtained for the years 2005–2010. The parameters mentioned were investigated throughout the whole year in order to study the possible episodes that take place in addition to their change from year to year. Ozone and carbon monoxide were the two major indicators to the most basic episodes that occur over Cairo and the Delta region.
The Protective Effect of Cordymin, a Peptide Purified from the Medicinal MushroomCordyceps sinensis, on Diabetic Osteopenia in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Qi Wei , Zhang Yang , Yan Ya-bo , Lei Wei , Wu Zi-xiang , Liu Ning , Liu Shuai , Shi Lei , Fan Yong
Published: September 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of cordymin on diabetic osteopenia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and the possible mechanisms involved. The diabetic rats received daily intraperitoneal injection with cordymin (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. Cordymin could restore the circulating blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and insulin levels in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the treatment of diabetic rats with cordymin could partially reverse theβcells death and decrease the total antioxidant status (TAOS) in the diabetic rats. The results may directly and indirectly account for the possible mechanism of the beneficial effect of cordymin on diabetic osteopenia, which was confirmed with the increased bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in diabetic rats (P<0.05). All those findings indicate that cordymin may play a protective role in diabetic osteoporosis.
Genetic Variation in the Vitamin D Receptor, Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, and Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Disease in Caucasian Young Adults
Authors: García-Bailo Bibiana , Jamnik Joseph , Da Costa Laura A. , Badawi Alaa , El-Sohemy Ahmed
Published: September 2013

Background/Aims: Vitamin D regulates gene transcription by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), potentially affecting cardiometabolic disease risk. However, studies of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and cardiometabolic disease are inconsistent. Inconsistencies may result from unaccounted for interactions between VDR genetic variants and 25(OH)D. We examined the effect of 25(OH)D on the association between VDR variants and cardiometabolic disease biomarkers. Methods: The relationship between 25(OH)D, 24 VDR variants, and 10 cardiometabolic biomarkers was examined in 488 Caucasians aged 20-29 years. Covariate-adjusted general linear models were used to examine the interaction effect of 25(OH)D × VDR on each biomarker. When interactions were significant (p < 0.05), relationships were further examined with analysis of covariance, stratified by tertiles of 25(OH)D and adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: In the lowest tertile of 25(OH)D, major allele homozygotes for rs3819545 had higher insulin and HOMA-IR than minor allele carriers (p ≤ 0.002). Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were lower in the highest than the lowest tertile of 25(OH)D among major allele homozygotes (p < 0.0001), but minor allele carriers had similar levels regardless of vitamin D status. Conclusions: We identified 25(OH)D-dependent associations between rs3819545 and glycemic dysregulation biomarkers. Major allele homozygotes with low vitamin D status may be at increased risk of insulin resistance.
Effect of Insular Injury on Autonomic Functions in Patients With Ruptured Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms
Authors: Inamasu Joji , Sugimoto Keiko , Watanabe Eiichi , Kato Yoko , Hirose Yuichi
Published: September 2013

Background and Purpose—

Insular injuries are known to cause autonomic derangements. Patients with ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms frequently develop temporal hematomas (THs) in addition to subarachnoid hemorrhages, and those with TH may sustain autonomic derangements more frequently than those without TH. Hemispheric lateralization in autonomic derangements has been reported in patients with insular ischemic stroke, and this study was conducted to clarify whether such lateralization was also observed in patients with TH resulting from middle cerebral artery aneurysm rupture.

Methods—

A retrospective analysis on the medical records of 79 patients with ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms was performed on the basis of lateralization and presence of TH. They were quadrichotomized as left TH+ (LTH+; n=17), right TH+ (n=25), left TH− (n=15), and right TH− (n=22). Comparisons, mainly between LTH+ and right TH+, were made on demographic variables, autonomic/cardiac parameters, plasma catecholamine and glucose levels, and outcomes.

Results—

There were no significant differences in demographic or cardiac parameters between the 2 groups. Systolic blood pressures were lower in LTH+ (139±34 versus 174±47 mm Hg;
P
=0.05). The LTH+ group also tended to be more bradycardiac (80±19 versus 101±22 bpm;
P
=0.13). The LTH+ group exhibited significantly lower plasma norepinephrine (1008±975 versus 2549±2133 pg/mL;
P
=0.03) and glucose levels (9.3±1.8 versus 12.2±4.5 mmol/L;
P
=0.04). However, in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly (41% versus 44%;
P
=1.00).

Conclusions—

Lateralization of autonomic derangements observed might not have had a significant effect on the outcomes. Nevertheless, autonomic derangements associated with insular injury should be considered in the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with TH.
Making Sculptures Audible through Participatory Sound Design
Authors: Grond Florian , Olmos Adriana , Cooperstock Jeremy R.
Published: September 2013

A research group explores rendering sculptural forms as sound using echolocation and the participation of members of the visually impaired community.
Mobile Sound and Locative Practice
Authors: Thompson Jessica
Published: September 2013

The author discusses her work in relation to site-specific practice, embodied interaction and the practice of walking.
Slavery and Household Formation in Ottoman Aleppo, 1640-1700
Authors: Wilkins Charles L.
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Focusing on a seventeenth-century Syrian city, this study examines the practice of slavery as a strategy for building elite households in the Ottoman Empire. After an overview of the slave trade and the social and political conditions which sustained it, it constructs a demographic profile of the slaves and slaveholders and concludes with case studies of how slaves were integrated into selected military-administrative, merchant and ulama families. Valued as servants, soldiers, companions, and business agents, slaves were integrated to a wide range of elite households, in some cases providing critical human resources for the households’ continuity.
Money, Power, and the State: The Origins of the Military-Fiscal State in Modern China
Authors: Halsey Stephen R.
Published: September 2013

Abstract

During the late 1800s, internal rebellion and European imperialism transformed existing patterns of taxation, resource distribution, and government spending in China. Continual preparation for war led to an enormous growth in the state’s extractive capacity, and indirect commercial taxes supplanted the system of direct agrarian levies established in the early Qing era. Authorities earmarked the majority of these new resources for military spending in eastern China in an effort to amass the sinews of politico-economic power. Together these changes laid the initial foundation for the military-fiscal state in modern China, a transformation that parallels the experience of early modern Europe.
The “Fall” of Vijayanagara Reconsidered: Political Destruction and Historical Construction in South Indian History
Authors: Lycett Mark T. , Morrison Kathleen D.
Published: September 2013

Abstract

The eponymous capital of Vijayanagara was largely abandoned following the defeat of the imperial army at Talikota in 1565. The city was burned and looted and its monumental temple complexes, gateways, and images left in ruins. Despite large-scale damage to architecture in the city, however, the level and focus of destruction was strikingly variable. In this paper, we draw on the material record of late Vijayanagara temple complexes and other archaeological evidence to examine patterns of differentially distributed political violence. We suggest that these patterns may be understood, in part, in terms of the contemporary politics of sovereignty, incorporation, and reconstitution of elite authority. Drawing on these observations, we discuss the role of commemorative destruction as well as post-1565 temple rededications and abandonments in the afterlife of Vijayanagara as a social space. In particular, we examine the potential of monumental violence to act as a symbol or to index social memory through a creative and fluid process of instituting claims about the past, heritage, authenticity, and the nature of the present.
The Islamic City Critique: Revising the Narrative
Authors: Aldous Gregory
Published: September 2013

Abstract

In recent years scholars have challenged the concept of an Islamic city by constructing a historical narrative in which it derives from the orientalist tradition. They claim that French orientalists in the early twentieth century created an ideal type of the Islamic city as contrasted with its Western counterpart in order to support the assumptions of orientalist discourse. The first part of the article challenges this assumption by showing that the French orientalists did not in fact posit an Islamic city type. The second part offers an alternative explanation for the genesis of the concept by tracing it to the work of American anthropologists in the 1950s.
Gold, the State and Market Actors: Legal vs. Illegal Practices of Interaction
Authors: Ryzhova Natalia , Lee Elena
Published: September 2013

This article focuses on an examination of the role of the state in the development of the informal economy. Using material from unstructured interviews, the authors analyse reasons for choosing illegal strategies to overcome formal barriers to entry into the gold- mining sector. They conclude that it is not so much the height of administrative barriers as the configuration of power relations which develops when the state treats some businesses favourably compared to others that comprises the fundamental reason for the development of informal economic practices.
Changes in Mobile Pastoralism and Grassland Degradation in Eastern Inner Mongolia
Authors: Torgonshar Naran
Published: September 2013

In recent decades mobile pastoralism in Inner Mongolia has been affected by political and social changes, such as the establishment of People’s Communes, the opening of coal- mines and the development of new cities. Privatisation of land and recent environmental policies aimed at preventing desertification have also had a negative impact on this way of life. The area over which herders can move their livestock has decreased, to the extent that herders now often remain in one camp all year round. This has led to severe degradation of the grassland. These issues are discussed in the context of the Jaruud hoshuu [banner] in eastern Inner Mongolia.
Adaptive Compromisers or Inventive Reformers: Communities, Religion and Ideology in Late Socialism in Central and Inner Asia
Authors: Morozova Irina
Published: September 2013

Pioneering historical comparison between Soviet Central Asia and socialist Mongolia in the last decades of socialism, this article aims to assess the role of international factors and regional geopolitics in the policies of socialist states towards religious institutions and communities. It also traces long- term sociocultural transformations of Muslim and Buddhist communities in comparative perspective, and questions how individuals and groups responded to antireligious social campaigns, adapted to newly introduced institutions and reframed their religious identities throughout. The research is based on archival and oral- history data, while reflections upon the concepts of secularity and religion assist in working out a critical approach to the sources. The article raises the complex question of fading religiosity in the religious rites and ceremonies which persisted into socialism and beyond, explored alongside the sacral meaning imposed and found in communist commemorations and socialist cults. It argues for the necessity of analysing communities in the shared historical space where foreign state policies and individual histories intersect. While post- Second World War Middle Eastern geopolitics impacted upon the reestablishment of legal Muslim institutions in Soviet Central Asia, the status of socialist Mongolia vis- à- vis Peking became an additional motivation for the Mongolian communists’ assault on the lamas. In Soviet Central Asia in the 1970s–1980s, social life was still centred on Islamic rituals, while in Mongolia, where socialist cults laid down deeper roots, the population demonstrated more profound sacral perception of communal commemorations than Central Asians.
The Migration Regime among Koreans in the Russian Far East
Authors: Park H.G.
Published: September 2013

This article discusses the settlement experience of multiple groups of Koreans in the Russian Far East, which were formed by their temporally different migrations. By focusing on the temporal dimension of migration rather than the conventional focus on the spatial dimension which is usually found in the scholarship of migration studies, this article explores the ways in which the different time of migration diversifies the experience of people who moved to the Russian Far East, and examines how this is interlinked with radical socio- economic changes. I argue that the differences among Koreans in Primorskii Krai, Russia, create the basis for coalition among the Korean sub- groups and I also show how the place integrates these intra- ethnic differences derived from historical times with the more dynamic and inclusive ethnic identification of Koreans in the Russian Far East.
Renegotiating Integration: Dual Citizenship and the Mobilisation of Social Networks of Mongolia’s Kazakhs
Authors: Alff Henryk
Published: September 2013

This article explores the highly disputed modes of migration and integration of Mongolia’s Kazakhs after the break- up of the Soviet Union in 1991. Over the past two decades, Kazakh migrants from Mongolia and their kin, still living predominantly in the remote Bayan- Ölgiy aymag [province], have developed transnational social networks. During multi- sited ethnographic fieldwork from 2006 to 2009, interviews with migrants and their relatives in and around Almaty and in Ölgiy revealed how circular migration of a significant proportion of Western Mongolia’s Kazakh population during the past two decades is interrelated to novel patterns of transnational social interaction. Enriching the existing literature, this article looks more specifically at the context in which transnational ties are enacted, both utilising and subverting official state policies. It aims to deconstruct dominant perceptions of the non- migrant population and state rhetoric in Kazakhstan that depict such practices as signifying refusal of ‘integration’. By so doing, I want to argue that these practices serve as a vital factor in livelihood strategies of migrants to cope with socio- economic uncertainty, predatory state bureaucracies and divergent discourses of integration.