bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective evaluation of aerosol delivery by a powered nasal nebulizer in the cadaver model
Authors: Manes R. Peter , Tong Liyue , Batra Pete S.
Published: May 2011

Background

The objective of this study was to compare the distribution of aerosol delivered via a powered nasal nebulizer device in 5 fresh frozen‐cadaver heads (10 total sides).

Methods

Nasoneb® (Medinvent, St. Paul, MN) was used to deliver a total volume of 10 mL (9 mL saline and 1 mL of 10% fluorescein). Aerosol distribution was assessed in 3 trials: (1) unoperated nose; (2) post–functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS); and (3) post‐FESS with endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EML). Two independent observers rated the distribution of the fluorescein‐dyed saline in the anterior nasal cavity (ANC), olfactory cleft (OC), middle meatus (MM), sphenoethmoid recess (SER), nasopharynx (NP), along with maxillary sinus (MS), ethmoid cavity (EC), sphenoid sinus (SS), frontal sinus (FS), and frontal neo‐ostium (F‐NEO) in the operated specimens.

Results

The nebulizer consistently delivered aerosolized saline to the ANC, MM/EC, and SER/SS across the 3 trials. A statistically significant increase in delivery was noted to the MM (p = 0.044) post‐FESS. In addition, a statistically significant increase in delivery to the F‐NEO was noted post‐FESS with EML (p = 0.001). Multiplicity adjustment done for the FESS group showed statistically superior delivery to the EC vs OC (p = 0.031) and FS (p = 0.02) and to the SS vs FS (p = 0.031). Multiplicity adjustment after FESS with EML improved delivery to the FS, resulting in no statistical difference in aerosol delivery between F‐NEO and EC or SS.

Conclusion

The nebulizer consistently delivered aerosolized saline to multiple nasal subsites, with improvement in delivery seen to the middle meatal region after FESS and F‐NEO after FESS with EML. This may have important implications for the delivery of topical medications to the paranasal sinuses in the postoperative setting. © 2011 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
Community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nasal vestibular abscess
Authors: Earley Marisa A. , Friedel Mark E. , Govindaraj Satish , Tessema Belachew , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: May 2011

Background

Community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a recognized entity that is increasingly responsible for skin and soft tissue infections. However, it is not the usual pathogen isolated in nasal vestibular abscess.

Methods

We present a series of 13 consecutive patients presenting to a tertiary care center with nasal vestibular abscess over a 2.5‐year period.

Results

All abscesses were cultured and 100% (13/13) grew S. aureus. Of the S. aureus isolates, 92% (12/13) were MRSA. Antibiotic susceptibilities of the MRSA isolates were as follows: 100% were susceptible to rifampin, trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline, 75% to clindamycin, 58% to fluoroquinolones, and 17% to erythromycin.

Conclusion

MRSA is an important pathogen in the community. It is therefore critical to appreciate its potential predominance in nasal vestibular abscess. Clinicians should obtain cultures, modify antibiotic therapy as warranted, and initiate empiric therapy to include MRSA coverage for nasal vestibular abscess. © 2011 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.
Biology and invasive potential of the introduced swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii Heckel (Poeciliidae) in Western Australia
Authors: Maddern M. G. , Gill H. S. , Morgan D. L.
Published: May 2011

The swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii is a popular ornamental freshwater fish that occurs as an introduced species in the aquatic habitats of at least 31 countries. Although introduced populations are found in other Australian states, the only known Western Australian population occurs in the Irwin River (29°15′S).

The biology of X. hellerii in the Irwin River in south‐western Australia is described from four seasonal samples, collected by seine net, between spring 2002 and winter 2003.

Pregnant females were collected in all seasonal samples, though juveniles were absent in spring, implying that juvenile mortality during late winter is high. Although mean length of pregnant females (38.7 mm) and mean gonadosomatic index (GSI) (14.7) were similar to reported data for X. hellerii populations in Queensland, mean fecundity was markedly lower in Western Australia, i.e. 34.1, cf. 60.15.

Logistic analysis of the percentage of female and male X. hellerii with developing and mature gonads predicted that the length at which 50% of the sexes mature was 30.8 and 31.5 mm SL, respectively. The sex ratios of females to males did not differ statistically from a ratio of 2:1.

The diet of all X. hellerii size classes was omnivorous (primarily vegetal matter/algae), although a significant difference was observed between the diet of juveniles and that of the two larger size classes (i.e. juveniles consumed greater quantities of aquatic invertebrates).

A melanic polymorphism (i.e. pigmented caudal peduncle and fin) was observed in approximately 5% of X. hellerii collected.

If released, the range of X. hellerii is likely to expand in anthropogenically modified habitats in tropical and temperate latitudes of Western Australia. Potential ecological impacts on indigenous fishes may be magnified owing to the depauperate nature of the endemic ichthyofauna including a lack of predators. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cover and edge length to area ratio of seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadows in coral reef lagoons (Veracruz Reef System, Southwest Gulf of México)
Authors: Terrados Jorge , Ramírez‐García Pedro
Published: May 2011

Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation are usually correlated while habitat degradation may occur independently of them. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances increase the spatial fragmentation of seagrass meadows with unknown consequences on the vegetative development achieved by seagrass.

Cover and spatial fragmentation of Thalassia testudinum meadows in three coral reef lagoons of the Veracruz Reef System,VRS (SW Gulf of México) were quantified by analysing low‐altitude images acquired by photographic and digital video cameras from a helium‐filled blimp. Spatial fragmentation was quantified as the ratio of the length of meadow edge to meadow area. The number of blowouts (erosive gaps in seagrass meadows) was also recorded.

Meadow cover was negatively correlated with the length of meadow edge to meadow area ratio. The number of blowouts per ha of T. testudinum meadow was negatively correlated with meadow cover and positively with the length of meadow edge to meadow area ratio. Wave exposure is probably a main component of the processes determining the cover and spatial fragmentation of T. testudinum meadows in VRS.

Low cover and high spatial fragmentation of T. testudinum meadows in VRS are associated with low vegetative development of this seagrass species. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward a web search model: Integrating multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts
Authors: Du Jia Tina , Spink Amanda
Published: May 2011

Limited research has investigated the role of multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts during web search. Understanding these three behaviors is crucial to web search model development. This study aims to explore characteristics of multitasking behavior, types of cognitive shifts, and levels of cognitive coordination as well as the relationship between them during web search. Data collection included pre‐ and postquestionnaires, think‐aloud protocols, web search logs, observations, and interviews with 42 graduate students who conducted 315 web search sessions with 221 information problems. Results show that web search is a dynamic interaction including the ordering of multiple information problems and the generation of evolving information problems, including task switching, multitasking, explicit task and implicit mental coordination, and cognitive shifting. Findings show that explicit task‐level coordination is closely linked to multitasking, and implicit cognitive‐level coordination is related to the task‐coordination process; including information problem development and task switching. Coordination mechanisms directly result in cognitive state shifts including strategy, evaluation, and view states that affect users' holistic shifts in information problem understanding and knowledge contribution. A web search model integrating multitasking, cognitive coordination, and cognitive shifts (MCC model) is presented. Implications and further research also are discussed.
Convergence speed of a fractional order consensus algorithm over undirected scale‐free networks
Authors: Sun Wei , Li Yan , Li Changpin , Chen YangQuan
Published: May 2011

Scale‐free networks have been rediscovered universally in natural and man‐made systems, and the consensus protocols have been tremendously studied over the last decade. Motivated by the fractional‐order dynamics of bacteria colonies, a fractional‐order protocol is employed to achieve the consensus over scale‐free networks. The most remarkable property of scale‐free networks lies in the inverse power‐law degree distributions. The present work concerns the convergence speed with different fractional orders corresponding to different power‐law parameters. The analytic solutions of consensus protocols are given and its property is discussed, explaining the quick convergence speed in the early stage of the consensus process, and the slower performance later. Inspired by such behavior, a switching order consensus protocol is proposed, which efficiently increases the convergence speed and ensures the exponential convergence as time tends to infinity. The disagreement of the system during the consensus procedure is investigated. Theoretic analysis and simulations demonstrate that, for certain scale‐free networks, an optimal order exists so that the fractional‐order consensus algorithm can minimize the disagreement or its integral.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Sensitivity of Kelvin waves and Madden–Julian oscillation to convective downdrafts in the NCAR‐CAM3
Authors: Mishra Saroj K. , Sahany Sandeep
Published: May 2011

Using NCAR‐Community Atmosphere Model version 3 (CAM3), the sensitivity of Kelvin waves (KWs) and Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) simulation to convective downdrafts is examined. For this, numerical simulations are carried out by changing the downdraft intensity. Increase in the intensity of convective downdrafts in the model leads to greater re‐evaporation of precipitation, which enhances the moisture in the lower troposphere, with a corresponding increase in the convective available potential energy (CAPE). Stronger downdrafts, and hence enhanced CAPE, are found to be more favorable for low frequency variability and less favorable for the higher frequencies, leading to stronger MJO and weaker KWs. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Airport taxi planning: Lagrangian decomposition
Authors: Marín Ángel G.
Published: May 2011

The airport taxi planning (TP) module is a decision tool intended to guide airport surface management operations. TP is defined by a flow network optimization model that represents flight ground movements and improves aircraft taxiing routes and schedules during periods of aircraft congestion. TP is not intended to operate as a stand‐alone tool for airport operations management: on the contrary, it must be used in conjunction with existing departing and arriving traffic tools and overseen by the taxi planner of the airport, also known as the aircraft ground controller. TP must be flexible in order to accommodate changing inputs while maintaining consistent routes and schedules already delivered from past executions. Within this dynamic environment, the execution time of TP may not exceed a few minutes. Classic methods for solving binary multi‐commodity flow networks with side constraints are not efficient enough; therefore, a Lagrangian decomposition methodology has been adapted to solve it. We demonstrate TP Lagrangian decomposition using actual data from the Madrid‐Barajas Airport. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Notochordal and foregut abnormalities correlate with elevated neural crest apoptosis in Patch embryos
Authors: Snider Paige , Simmons Olga , Rogers Rhonda , Young Rachel , Gosnell Mica , Conway Simon J.
Published: May 2011

Although Patch mutants show severe abnormalities in many neural crest‐derived structures including the face and the heart, there is a paucity of information characterizing the mechanisms underlying these congenital defects. Via manipulating the genetic background to circumvent early embryonic lethality, our results revealed that Patch phenotypes are most likely due to a significant decrease in migratory neural crest lineage due to diminished neural crest survival and elevated apoptosis. Homozygous mutant neural crest precursors can undergo typical expansion within the neural tube, epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transformation, and initiate normal neural crest emigration. Moreover, in vitro explant culture demonstrated that when isolated from the surrounding mesenchyme, Patch mutant neural crest cells (NCCs) can migrate appropriately. Additionally, Patch foregut, notochord and somitic morphogenesis, and Sonic hedgehog expression profiles were all perturbed. Significantly, the timing of lethality and extent of apoptosis correlated with the degree of severity of Patch mutant foregut, notochord, and somite dysfunction. Finally, analysis of Balb/c‐enriched surviving Patch mutants revealed that not all the neural crest subpopulations are affected and that Patch mutant neural crest‐derived sympathetic ganglia and dorsal root ganglia were unaffected. We hypothesize that loss of normal coordinated signaling from the notochord, foregut, and somites underlies the diminished survival of the neural crest lineage within Patch mutants resulting in subsequent neural crest‐deficient phenotypes. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Schreiben und Beschreiben. Zur epistemischen Funktion von psychiatrischen Krankenakten, ihrer Archivierung und deren Übersetzung in Fallgeschichten
Authors: Ledebur Sophie
Published: May 2011

Documenting and Describing. The Epistemic Function of Psychiatric Records, their Archiving and Reinterpretation into Case Histories. The paper attempts to reconstruct the writing of published case histories. Due to the establishment of a scientific classification system in psychiatry there were at the Charité several changes from the late 1870s onwards: (1) Not only was the documentation in the clinical records altered significantly, but also (2) the archive was reorganized into a double filing system and (3) the casuistic made a development from describing seldom or sensational cases into a mode which aimed to unfold psychiatric theory through ‘typical cases’. Original medical records, the internal documentation of psychiatric observation, will be compared to their published version. Both, the narrative of a case study and the documentation in the clinical records reveal performative processes of observation and documentation.
Determination of puerarin in biological samples and its application to a pharmacokinetic study by flow‐injection chemiluminescence
Authors: Yang Ran , Wang Qingwen , Zeng Huajin , Qin Zao , Li Jianjun , Qu Lingbo
Published: May 2011

A simple and sensitive flow injection–chemiluminescence (FI–CL) method has been developed for the determination of puerarin, based on the fact that puerarin can greatly inhibit CL of the luminol–H2O2–haemoglobin system. The inhibition of CL intensity was linear to the logarithm of the concentration of puerarin in the range 0.08–10.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9912). The limit of detection was 0.05 μg/mL (3σ) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 1.0 μg/mL (n = 11) of puerarin solution was 1.4%. Coupled with solid‐phase extraction (SPE) as the sample pretreatment, the determination of puerarin in biological samples and a preliminary pharmocokinetic study of puerarin in rats were performed. The recoveries for plasma and urine at three different concentrations were 89.2–110.0% and 91.4–104.8%, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of puerarin in plasma of rat coincides with the two‐compartment open model. The T1/2α, T1/2β, CL/F, VZ/F, AUC(0 – t), MRT(0 – ∞), Tmax and Cmax were 0.77 ± 0.21 h, 7.55 ± 2.64 h, 2.43 ± 1.02 L/kg/h, 11.40 ± 3.45 L/kg, 56.67 ± 10.65 mg/h/L, 5.04 ± 2.78 h, 1.00 ± 0.35 h and 19.70 ± 4.67 μg/mL, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of cell culture conditions on antibody N‐linked glycosylation—what affects high mannose 5 glycoform
Authors: Pacis Efren , Yu Marcella , Autsen Jennifer , Bayer Robert , Li Feng
Published: May 2011

The glycosylation profile of therapeutic antibodies is routinely analyzed throughout development to monitor the impact of process parameters and to ensure consistency, efficacy, and safety for clinical and commercial batches of therapeutic products. In this study, unusually high levels of the mannose‐5 (Man5) glycoform were observed during the early development of a therapeutic antibody produced from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, model cell line A. Follow up studies indicated that the antibody Man5 level was increased throughout the course of cell culture production as a result of increasing cell culture medium osmolality levels and extending culture duration. With model cell line A, Man5 glycosylation increased more than twofold from 12% to 28% in the fed‐batch process through a combination of high basal and feed media osmolality and increased run duration. The osmolality and culture duration effects were also observed for four other CHO antibody producing cell lines by adding NaCl in both basal and feed media and extending the culture duration of the cell culture process. Moreover, reduction of Man5 level from model cell line A was achieved by supplementing MnCl2 at appropriate concentrations. To further understand the role of glycosyltransferases in Man5 level, N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase I GnT‐I mRNA levels at different osmolality conditions were measured. It has been hypothesized that specific enzyme activity in the glycosylation pathway could have been altered in this fed‐batch process. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2348–2358. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modelling of Methanol Synthesis Based on Elementary Reactions
Authors: Otto Thomas N. , Mas Cesar , Ederer Hans , Stiefel Miriam , Döring Manfred , Dinjus Eckhard
Published: May 2011

Im Rahmen der transition state‐Theorie können Parameter wie der präexponentielle Faktor und die Aktivierungsenergie mit den aktiven Zentren des Katalysators in Verbindung gebracht werden. Diese Parameter sind ein Indiz dafür, wie ein technischer Prozess beschrieben werden kann, selbst wenn zwischen den adsorbierten Spezies und dem Substrat die dominierenden Geometrien nicht genau bekannt sind. Die hier vorgestellte Modellierung der Methanolsynthese zeigt auf, dass Elementarreaktionen mit einfachen gekoppelten Differentialgleichungen kombiniert werden können, um wichtige Rückschlüsse in Bezug auf die Oberflächenreaktionen des Katalysators ableiten zu können.
Thermal stratification and suction/injection effects on flow and heat transfer of micropolar fluid due to stretching cylinder
Authors: Mansour M. A. , Mohamed R. A. , Abd‐Elaziz M. M. , Ahmed Sameh E.
Published: May 2011

In this paper, a numerical solution of flow and heat transfer in micropolar fluid outside a stretching permeable cylinder with thermal stratification and suction/injection effects. The governing system of partial differential equations is converted to ordinary differential equations by using similarity transformations, which are then solved using numerical technique. The cases of strong concentration of microelement and weak concentration of microelement were considered. Our purpose from this study is to investigate the effects of the governing parameters, namely the suction/injection parameter, thermal stratification parameter, Prandtl number, vortex viscosity parameter and Reynolds number on the velocity profiles, pressure distributions, angular velocity profiles and temperature profiles as well as the skin friction coefficient, dimensionless wall couple stress and the Nusselt number. The numerical results are validated by favorable comparisons with previously published results. The results are shown graphically. The values of the skin friction coefficient, dimensionless wall couple stress and the Nusselt number are presented in tables. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of urinary concentrations of pseudoephedrine and cathine after therapeutic administration of pseudoephedrine‐containing medications to healthy subjects: implications for doping control analysis of these stimulants banned in sport
Authors: Barroso Osquel , Goudreault Danielle , Carbó Banús Marcel‐lí , Ayotte Christiane , Mazzoni Irene , Boghosian Thierry , Rabin Olivier
Published: May 2011

Due to its stimulatory effects on the central nervous system, and its structural similarity to banned stimulants such as ephedrine and methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine (PSE) at high doses is considered as an ergogenic aid for boosting athletic performance. However, the status of PSE in the International Standard of the Prohibited List as established under the World Anti‐Doping Code has changed over the years, being prohibited until 2003 at a urinary cut‐off value of 25 µg/ml, and then subsequently removed from the Prohibited List during the period 2004–2009. The re‐consideration of this position by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) List Expert Group has led to the reintroduction of PSE in the Prohibited List in 2010. In this manuscript, we present the results of two WADA‐sponsored clinical studies on the urinary excretion of PSE and its metabolite cathine (CATH) following the oral administration of different PSE formulations to healthy individuals at therapeutic regimes. On this basis, the current analytical urinary threshold for the detection of PSE as a doping agent in sport has been conservatively established at 150 µg/ml Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of Pdgfrb‐Cre transgenic mice reveals reduction of ROSA26 reporter activity in remodeling arteries
Authors: Cuttler Anne S. , LeClair Renée J. , Stohn J. Patrizia , Wang Qiaozeng , Sorenson Christine M. , Liaw Lucy , Lindner Volkhard
Published: May 2011

With the intention to modulate gene expression in vascular mural cells of remodeling vessels, we generated and characterized transgenic mouse lines with Cre recombinase under the control of the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐β promoter, referred to as Tg(Pdgfrb‐Cre)35Vli. Transgenic mice were crossed with the Gt(ROSA)26Sortm1Sor strain and examined for Cre activation by β‐galactosidase activity, which was compared with endogenous Pdgfrb expression. In addition, Pdgfrb‐Cre mice were used to drive expression of a conditional myc‐tagged Cthrc1 transgene. There was good overlap of β‐galactosidase activity with endogenous Pdgfrb immunoreactivity. However, dedifferentiation of vascular mural cells induced by carotid artery ligation revealed a dramatic discrepancy between ROSA26 reporter activity and Pdgfrb promoter driven Cre dependent myc‐tagged Cthrc1 transgene expression. Our studies demonstrate the capability of the Pdgfrb‐Cre mouse to drive conditional transgene expression as a result of prior Cre‐mediated recombination in tissues known to express endogenous Pdgfrb. In addition, the study shows that ROSA26 promoter driven reporter mice are not suitable for lineage marking of smooth muscle in remodeling blood vessels. genesis 49:673–680, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Easy Routes towards Chiral Lithium Binaphthylamido Catalysts for the Asymmetric Hydroamination of Amino‐1,3‐dienes and Aminoalkenes
Authors: Deschamp Julia , Collin Jacqueline , Hannedouche Jérôme , Schulz Emmanuelle
Published: May 2011

The preparation of chiral lithium salts of N,N′‐disubstituted binaphthyldiamines and their use as catalysts for asymmetric hydroamination/cyclisation of amino‐1,3‐dienes and aminoalkenes are reported. Several straightforward methods involving the combination of ligand with solutions of methyl‐ or [(trimethylsilyl)methyl]lithium (LiCH2TMS) by ex situ or in situ preparation have been investigated. The use of LiCH2TMS in an in situ procedure was revealed as theeasiest for carrying out reactions with reliable results by fine‐tuning the quantity of base. Screening of a variety of ligands led to the selection of binaphthyldiamines modified by benzyl, pyridyl or naphthyl groups for the cyclisation of conjugated aminodienes in pyrrolidine or piperidine with the highest stereo‐ and enantioselectivities described to date (up to 61 and 72 % ee, respectively). Primary and secondaryaminoalkenes are efficiently cyclised at room temperature, but with poor enantioselectivities.
Organocatalyzed Synthesis of Tertiary α‐Hydroxyphosphonates by a Highly Regioselective Modified Pudovik Reaction
Authors: Barros Maria Teresa , Phillips Ana Maria Faísca
Published: May 2011

An organocatalytic modified Pudovik reaction between dialkyl or diaryl phosphites and α‐haloketones was used to synthesize β‐chloro‐α‐hydroxyphosphonates in high yields with very high regioselectivity and high stereoselectivity. Aliphatic, aromatic, and cyclic ketones could be used successfully. Under the optimized conditions it was possible to obtain enantiomerically enriched products with a combination of quinine and a stoichiometric racemic base, but the ee values only went up to 40 %. The presence of a β‐chloro functionality allows further synthetic elaboration of the hydroxyphosphonates obtained, which could be useful for target‐oriented synthesis, as these compounds often have important biological activity.
Electrophoretic fingerprint metallothionein analysis as a potential prostate cancer biomarker
Authors: Krizkova Sona , Ryvolova Marketa , Gumulec Jaromir , Masarik Michal , Adam Vojtech , Majzlik Petr , Hubalek Jaromir , Provaznik Ivo , Kizek Rene
Published: May 2011

Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) is a routinely used marker of prostate cancer; however, the cut‐off values for unambiguous positive/negative prostate cancer diagnoses are not defined. Therefore, despite the best effort, certain percentage of misdiagnosed cases is being recorded every year. For this reason, search for more specific diagnostic markers is of great interest. In this study, systematic comparison of PSA and metallothionein (MT) levels in blood serum of 46 prostate cancer‐diagnosed patients is presented. It is clearly demonstrated that PSA levels vary significantly and despite normal total PSA values in the range of 0 – 4 ng/mL were obtained in over 36.9% of cases, positive prostate cancer was diagnosed by biopsy. In contrary, MT levels were considerably elevated in all tested samples and no significant variations were observed. These results are indicating the potential of MT as an additional prostate cancer marker reducing, in combination with PSA, the probability of false positive/negative diagnosis. To increase the throughput of the screening, chip‐based capillary electrophoresis was suggested as a rapid and effective method for the fingerprinting analysis of prostate cancer from diseased blood sera.
Proteomic identification of exosomal LRG1: A potential urinary biomarker for detecting NSCLC
Authors: Li Yanyan , Zhang Yuan , Qiu Feng , Qiu Zongyin
Published: May 2011

In the present research, we aimed to screen for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)‐related proteins in urinary exosomes by comparing urinary exosomes proteome of normal controls and NSCLC patients. Urinary exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation and identified by electron microscopy. Exosomal proteins were separated by 1‐D SDS‐PAGE and the differentially expressed bands between healthy controls and NSCLC patients ranging in size from 35 to 45 kD were cut from the gel. After tryptic digestion, 18 proteins were identified by nano‐HPLC‐chip‐MS/MS. The differential expression of leucine‐rich α‐2‐glycoprotein (LRG1) was further validated in urinary exosomes by Western blot and in lung tissue by immunohistochemistry. The LRG1 was found to be expressed at higher levels in urinary exosomes and lung tissue of NSCLC patients. These results suggested that LRG1 may be a candidate biomarker for non‐invasive diagnosis of NSCLC in urine.
Heat Management in a Portable High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Module with Open Cathode
Authors: Kurz T. , Keller J.
Published: May 2011

The development and characterisation of a portable high temperature PEM fuel cell module is presented. The module consists of a 5‐cell stack with open cathodes and coil compression. This design enables the operation and control with only one fan and compact and lightweight packaging. The stack is characterised with polarisation curves and single cell impedance spectroscopy. Temperature distribution in the stack and temperature control is analysed during startup and operation. The results show very similar cell characteristics and stable operation with high power density. Temperature control shows a good reaction on load changes as well as on setpoint changes.
SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION FOR IRRIGATION AND CROP PLANNING
Authors: Darshana  , Pandey Ashish , Ostrowski Manfred , Pandey R. P.
Published: May 2011

In this study, simulation and optimization models were assembled for the optimization of irrigation systems and their operation. The simulation model CROPWAT was used for estimation of the crop water requirement, time and depth. The evolutionary algorithm (GANetXL) was used for the optimal planning of cropping pattern, maximization of net benefits and minimization of irrigation water requirements for the study area of Holeta catchment, Ethiopia. The study area encompasses three command areas, i.e. farm A, farm B and Tsedey State Farm, and five different type of crops, i.e. potato, tomato, apple, peach and winter wheat. The simulation results of the CROPWAT model illustrated that crop water requirement for apple was highest (993 mm), followed by peach (908 mm), tomato (470 mm), potato (443 mm) and wheat (294 mm). The study reveals that fruit crops have more crop water requirements than cereals. The results of the GANetXL show that when the cropped area and water allocated was varied between extreme values, 23% of water can be saved. The total benefit from the study area can be enhanced by USD 34 ha−¹ and can be helpful in improving the economic conditions of the farmers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Binding of δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and diazepam to human serum albumin
Authors: Fanali Gabriella , Cao Yu , Ascenzi Paolo , Trezza Viviana , Rubino Tiziana , Parolaro Daniela , Fasano Mauro
Published: May 2011

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide. Cannabis users also appear to use other psychoactive drugs more frequently than noncannabis users. Here, Δ9‐ tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and diazepam binding to human serum albumin (HSA) and HSA‐heme is reported. THC binds to two different binding sites of HSA (Kd1 ≤ 10−7 M and Kd2= 10−3 M) without affecting diazepam binding (Kd = 1.2 × 10−5 M). THC binding to the high‐affinity site accounts for the low free fraction of the drug in plasma. Moreover, THC increases the affinity of heme for HSA. Accordingly, the affinity of THC for HSA‐heme is higher than that for HSA. THC could bind to FA2 and FA7 sites, as substantiated by docking simulations; nevertheless, the observed allosteric effect(s) suggests that the primary binding site of THC is the FA2 cleft that positively modulates heme affinity. Possibly, the HSA conformational transition(s) induced by THC binding could account for drug delivery to the liver through receptor‐ mediated endocytosis. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 63(6): 446–451, 2011
Activation of EGFR promotes squamous carcinoma SCC10A cell migration and invasion via inducing EMT‐like phenotype change and MMP‐9‐mediated degradation of E‐cadherin
Authors: Zuo Jian‐Hong , Zhu Wei , Li Mao‐Yu , Li Xin‐Hui , Yi Hong , Zeng Gu‐Qing , Wan Xun‐Xun , He Qiu‐Yan , Li Jian‐Huang , Qu Jia‐Quan , Chen Yu , Xiao Zhi‐Qiang
Published: May 2011

EGFR is a potent stimulator of invasion and metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). However, the mechanism by which EGFR may stimulate tumor cell invasion and metastasis still need to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that activation of EGFR by EGF in HNSCC cell line SCC10A enhanced cell migration and invasion, and induced loss of epitheloid phenotype in parallel with downregulation of E‐cadherin and upregulation of N‐cadherin and vimentin, indicating that EGFR promoted SCC10A cell migration and invasion possibly by an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like phenotype change. Interestingly, activation of EGFR by EGF induced production of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) and soluble E‐cadherin (sE‐cad), and knockdown of MMP‐9 by siRNA inhibited sE‐cad production induced by EGF in SCC10A. Moreover, both MMP‐9 knockdown and E‐cadherin overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasion induced by EGF in SCC10A. The results indicate that EGFR activation promoted cell migration and invasion through inducing MMP‐9‐mediated degradation of E‐cadherin into sE‐cad. Pharmacologic inhibition of EGFR, MEK, and PI3K kinase activity in SCC10A reduced phosphorylated levels of ERK‐1/2 and AKT, production of MMP‐9 and sE‐cad, cell migration and invasion, and expressional changes of EMT markers (E‐cadherin and N‐cadherin) induced by EGF, indicating that EGFR activation promotes cell migration and invasion via ERK‐1/2 and PI3K‐regulated MMP‐9/E‐cadherin signaling pathways. Taken together, the data suggest that EGFR activation promotes HNSCC SCC10A cell migration and invasion by inducing EMT‐like phenotype change and MMP‐9‐mediated degradation of E‐cadherin into sE‐cad related to activation of ERK‐1/2 and PI3K signaling pathways. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 2508–2517, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A versatile method for systematic conformational searches: Application to CheY
Authors: Petrella Robert J.
Published: May 2011

A novel molecular structure prediction method, the Z Method, is described. It provides a versatile platform for the development and use of systematic, grid‐based conformational search protocols, in which statistical information (i.e., rotamers) can also be included. The Z Method generates trial structures by applying many changes of the same type to a single starting structure, thereby sampling the conformation space in an unbiased way. The method, implemented in the CHARMM program as the Z Module, is applied here to an illustrative model problem in which rigid, systematic searches are performed in a 36‐dimensional conformational space that describes the relative positions of the 10 secondary structural elements of the protein CheY. A polar hydrogen representation with an implicit solvation term (EEF1) is used to evaluate successively larger fragments of the protein generated in a hierarchical build‐up procedure. After a final refinement stage, and a total computational time of about two‐and‐a‐half CPU days on AMD Opteron processors, the prediction is within 1.56 Å of the native structure. The errors in the predicted backbone dihedral angles are found to approximately cancel. Monte Carlo and simulated annealing trials on the same or smaller versions of the problem, using the same atomic model and energy terms, are shown to result in less accurate predictions. Although the problem solved here is a limited one, the findings illustrate the utility of systematic searches with atom‐based models for macromolecular structure prediction and the importance of unbiased sampling in structure prediction methods. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011
Complete resolution of diffuse placenta increta in a primigravida with twin pregnancy: Sonographic monitoring
Authors: Cho Fu‐Nan , Liu Cheng‐Bin , Li Ju‐Yueh , Chen San‐Nung
Published: May 2011

We report a case of timely diagnosis of placenta increta by sonography during the third stage of labor, which avoided any attempt at manual removal of a retained placenta and thus prevented additional postpartum bleeding. The use of intra‐cervical injection of vasopressin and methotrexate and application of transcatheter arterial embolization of bilateral uterine arteries and right internal iliac arteries resulted in a good outcome. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011;
First‐trimester diagnosis of conjoined twins aided by spatiotemporal image correlation
Authors: Varma Suraj Kumar , Waalwyk Karen , Menahem Samuel , Meagher Simon
Published: May 2011

A case of conjoined twins after frozen embryo transfer at early blastocyst stage is described. The diagnosis was made early at 7 weeks by vaginal sonography and later confirmed by spatiotemporal image correlation with power Doppler. The value of spatiotemporal image correlation with Doppler in facilitating an early diagnosis of conjoined twinning is discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011;
Animal egg as evolutionary innovation: a solution to the “embryonic hourglass” puzzle
Authors: Newman Stuart A.
Published: May 2011

The evolutionary origin of the egg stage of animal development presents several difficulties for conventional developmental and evolutionary narratives. If the egg's internal organization represents a template for key features of the developed organism, why can taxa within a given phylum exhibit very different egg types, pass through a common intermediate morphology (the so‐called “phylotypic stage”), only to diverge again, thus exemplifying the embryonic “hourglass”? Moreover, if different egg types typically represent adaptations to different environmental conditions, why do birds and mammals, for example, have such vastly different eggs with respect to size, shape, and postfertilization dynamics, whereas all these features are more similar for ascidians and mammals? Here, I consider the possibility that different body plans had their origin in self‐organizing physical processes in ancient clusters of cells, and suggest that eggs represented a set of independent evolutionary innovations subsequently inserted into the developmental trajectories of such aggregates. I first describe how “dynamical patterning modules” (DPMs) associations between components of the metazoan developmental‐genetic toolkit and certain physical processes and effects may have organized primitive animal body plans independently of an egg stage. Next, I describe how adaptive specialization of cells released from such aggregates could have become “proto‐eggs,” which regenerated the parental cell clusters by cleavage, conserving the characteristic DPMs available to a lineage. Then, I show how known processes of cytoplasmic reorganization following fertilization are often based on spontaneous, self‐organizing physical effects (“egg‐patterning processes”: EPPs). I suggest that rather than acting as developmental blueprints or prepatterns, the EPPs refine the phylotypic body plans determined by the DPMs by setting the boundary and initial conditions under which these multicellular patterning mechanisms operate. Finally, I describe how this new perspective provides a resolution to the embryonic hourglass puzzle. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 316:467–483, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DO EXPORTS EXPLAIN INDUSTRIAL AGGLOMERATION AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN TURKEY?
Authors: Akkemik K. Ali , Göksal Koray
Published: May 2011

Along with an increasing integration with global goods and services markets, regional centres of industrial development have emerged in Turkey. Global linkages may play an important role in regional disparities in a developing country like Turkey through the determination of the locations of industries. This paper examines to what extent global linkages, operationalised by export performance, impact on agglomeration economies and regional disparities in industrial production and industrial employment in Turkey. To this end, using province‐level industrial data, panel regressions are run to analyse the determinants of disparities and agglomeration in terms of industrial value added and employment by adding the size of exports as an explanatory variable. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biochemical modulation of the sleep–wake cycle: Endogenous sleep‐inducing factors
Authors: Arias‐Carrión Oscar , Huitrón‐Reséndiz Salvador , Arankowsky‐Sandoval Gloria , Murillo‐Rodríguez Eric
Published: May 2011

Regulation of the sleep–wake cycle involves diverse brain circuits and molecules. Further complexity has been introduced by the recognition of sleep‐promoting factors that accumulate in the brain naturally or during prolonged waking. The variety of sleep‐inducing molecules includes peptides, cytokines, and lipids. With regard to the lipids, current evidence indicates the existence of endogenous lipids, called endocannabinoids, that mimic the pharmacological actions of the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana and that are likely to be essential factors in sleep promotion. This Mini‐Review presents current knowledge concerning the role of endogenous compounds with sleep‐promoting properties. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A chiral HPLC‐UV method for the quantification of dibenz[b,f]azepine‐5‐carboxamide derivatives in mouse plasma and brain tissue: Eslicarbazepine acetate, carbamazepine and main metabolites
Authors: Fortuna Ana , Bicker Joana , Alves Gilberto , Falcão Amílcar , Soares‐da‐Silva Patrício
Published: May 2011

For the first time, a selective and sensitive chiral HPLC‐UV method was developed and fully validated for the simultaneous quantification of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL), carbamazepine (CBZ), S‐licarbazepine (S‐Lic), R‐licarbazepine (R‐Lic), oxcarbazepine (OXC) and carbamazepine‐10,11‐epoxide (CBZ‐E), in mouse plasma and brain homogenate supernatant. After the addition of chloramphenicol as the internal standard, samples were processed using an SPE procedure. The chiral chromatographic analysis was carried out on a LiChroCART 250‐4 ChiraDex column, employing a mobile phase of water and methanol (88:12, v/v) pumped at 0.9 mL/min and the UV detector set at 235 nm. The assay was linear (r2≥0.995) for ESL, CBZ, OXC, S‐Lic, R‐Lic and CBZ‐E in the range of, respectively, 0.2–4, 0.4–30, 0.1–60, 0.2–60, 0.2–60 and 0.2–30 μg/mL, in plasma, and of 0.06–1.5 μg/mL for ESL, 0.12–15 μg/mL for CBZ and CBZ‐E and 0.06–15 μg/mL for OXC and both licarbazepine (Lic) enantiomers in brain homogenate supernatant. The overall precision was within 8.71% and accuracy ranged from −7.55 to 8.97%. The recoveries of all the compounds were over 92.1%. Afterwards, the application of the method was demonstrated using real plasma and brain samples obtained from mice administered simultaneously with ESL and CBZ.
Functional outcomes and suitability of the temporalis myofascial flap for palatal and maxillary reconstruction after oncologic resection
Authors: Browne J. Dale , Butler Susan , Rees Catherine
Published: May 2011

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The temporalis myofascial flap (TMF) is a method of palatal reconstruction that offers a single‐stage, reliable, and functional technique to repair oncologic defects involving the oral cavity following tumor removal. It is hypothesized that both speech and swallowing function are preserved following TMF.

Study Design:

In a retrospective and prospective case series, this study evaluated the surgical outcomes of 72 patients undergoing surgical resection and reconstruction of the hard and soft palate using a TMF. Of this series, 25 patients underwent nasalence and swallowing quality‐of‐life testing to determine speech and swallowing function following this procedure.

Methods:

Reliability, safety, and effectiveness data endpoints on TMF reconstruction were collected and analyzed. Instrumental measures of nasalence (KayPentax Nasometer, Lincoln Park, NJ) and swallowing quality of life measures (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory [MDADI] were acquired.

Results:

All TMF's were successfully transferred with complete healing of the oncologic defect. The group mean nasalence for connected speech tasks were within normal limits for connected speech—high‐ and low‐pressure tasks (M = 21% and M = 17%). The group mean nasalence scores for sustained vowels were mildly affected (M = 26%). The group mean MDADI score was 79 (SD = 16), indicating good to mildly affected swallowing quality of life. Neither nasalence nor MDADI scores appeared to vary as a function of defect region.

Conclusions:

The TMF is an oncologically safe and effective method of palate reconstruction that affords excellent quality of life to appropriately selected patients without reliance on other reconstructive techniques.
Selection and placement of oral ventilation tubes based on tracheal morphometry
Authors: Coordes Annekatrin , Rademacher Grit , Knopke Steffen , Todt Ingo , Ernst Arne , Estel Barbara , Seidl Rainer O.
Published: May 2011

Objective/Hypothesis:

Evidence‐based guidelines for the selection of appropriately sized ventilation tubes as well as their placement do not exist, although iatrogenic injuries to the trachea and larynx following endotracheal intubation are not infrequent. Our objective was to provide selection recommendations for ventilation tubes based on anatomic criteria.

Study Design:

Prospective cross‐sectional study at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods:

From January 2010 to June 2010 all patients more than 16 years who underwent computer tomography of the neck were included. Contraindications were intubation, tracheotomy, fractures of the lower jaw, tumors, and head or neck deformities. Radiologic data was used to determine the distance between the lower incisors and cricoid cartilage and the smallest laryngotracheal diameter. The results were correlated with patient characteristics and compared with properties of ventilation tubes.

Results:

One hundred fifty‐nine patients were included in the study. The laryngotracheal constriction was subcricoidal with a mean diameter of 15.5 ± 3.2 mm coronal and 17.1 ± 2.6 mm sagittal. The mean distance between lower incisors and cricoid cartilage was 176.5 ± 14.8 mm. Patient height correlated significantly with the coronal subcricoid tracheal diameter (r = .51; P < .001) as well as with the distance between lower incisors and cricoid cartilage (r = .64; P < .001). No statistically significant gender or age‐related correlations were found. Despite having the same specifications, tubes from different manufacturers differed considerably in their dimensions.

Conclusions:

Selection of size and placement of ventilation tubes can be based on patient height. Considerable differences in the dimensions of ventilation tubes necessitate a height‐based nomogram for evidence‐based tube selection and placement. A uniform system of tube labeling based on biometric data is required.