bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of anteroposterior view fluoroscopy for targeting percutaneous pedicle screws in cases of spinal deformity with axial rotation
Authors: Ahmad Faiz U. , Wang Michael Y.
Published: August 2014

Object

Over the past decade percutaneous pedicle screws have become popular for the minimally invasive treatment of spinal disorders. However, until the last 5 years the presence of a significant spinal deformity was regarded as a relative contraindication for percutaneous instrumentation. Recent advances in surgical technique and intraoperative technology have made percutaneous fixation in complex spinal pathologies more commonplace. The authors report their experience using a parsimonious method for uniplanar fluoroscopic targeting of pedicles in challenging cases.

Methods

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of patients with adult spinal deformity who underwent percutaneous pedicle screw instrumentation from 2008 to 2013. Cases were included if a spiral slice postoperative CT scan was obtained. All cases had a minimum of 10° of axial rotation and typically had additional accompanying anatomical abnormalities. Screws were assessed for any pedicle violations as well as any impingement of the surrounding facet joints.

Results

A total of 410 pedicle screws were placed in 36 patients with an average 6.4 levels of instrumentation per patient. The mean age was 67 years (range 44–86 years) and there were 25 females. Of the 410 screws, 29 (7.1%) had some medial or lateral pedicle violation. Of these, 15 (3.7%) were Grade 1, 6 (1.4%) were Grade 2, and 8 (2.0%) were Grade 3 violations. Of the Grade 3 violations, 2 each were at the L-4, L-5, and S-1 levels, and 1 each was at the T-10 and L-1 levels. Two of the patients had symptoms and both underwent screw repositioning, one during the same admission and the other in a delayed fashion. Both were at the L-5 and S-1 levels with anatomically highly medialized pedicles. There were no motor deficits, and both removals were for numbness. Of the 72 screws at the proximal end of the construct, there were 6 facet violations (8.3%). Four (5.6%) of these were Grade 1, 1 (1.4%) was Grade 2, and 1 (1.4%) was Grade 3.

Conclusions

The anteroposterior fluoroscopic technique can be effectively used by spinal surgeons to cannulate the pedicles in patients with rotational deformities. The complication rate in this challenging population is acceptable and is in accordance with the existing literature. However, caution should be used at L-5 and S-1 when the pedicle is narrow and highly medialized, rendering an indistinct medial wall on anteroposterior imaging.
Agricultural Biotechnology and Poverty Reduction in South Asia
Authors: Hasan M , Khan MI , Ivy NA
Published: August 2014

South Asian countries have made remarkable advances in food production accompanied by a dramatic reduction of poverty during the past two decades. This has been due to the result of trade and investment reforms, which have generated economic growth in this region. Despite these changes South Asia generates only 2% of the global income, yet supports 22% of the worlds population and 44% of the worlds poor. Over 75% of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. Therefore, agriculture will play a major role in the future and massive productivity increases and product diversification will be required. Due to escalating population and urbanization, natural resources are gradually depleting posing major challenges to reduce poverty in this region. The problems confronting these countries are complex and enormous of which the major issues are; declining agricultural land and agricultural population, marginal producers with small land holdings, decreasing per capita land availability, conflicting demands for scarce water resource, urbanization and youth evading traditional farming. This region will be required to produce food for larger and larger populations from less and lees land. The biggest challenge is how to increase output from the shrinking agricultural sector, while sustaining the productivity potential of the available natural resources. The agricultural production systems are changing rapidly in these countries, trend being intensive agriculture using high- tech that provides maximum potential benefit of improved crop germplasm. Agriculture is the largest contributor to the economies of many countries of the developing world. Agricultural biotechnology, which comprises a wide range of biological disciplines, offers enormous potential to speed up the development of plant varieties with pro-poor traits such as drought tolerance, pest resistance or tolerance, higher yields, increased nutritional value, among others. While biotechnology does not provide the silver bullet for poverty alleviation, it does enhance the effectiveness of other disciplines such as plant breeding, integrated pest and nutrient management, and livestock breeding, feeding and disease management.
Excessive Americanisms: Hollywood in the British Empire, 1918–1930
Authors: Burns James
Published: August 2014

This article analyses debates about American movies in the British Empire during the inter-war era. These had a different tone than similar public discussions within Britain, where critics emphasised the dangers cinema posed to ‘white prestige’ and public order. In the colonies, movies were widely perceived to pose a threat to the cultural bonds that linked the periphery to the metropole. As the post-war empire struggled to redefine the relationship between ruler and ruled, critics of Hollywood – many of them British expatriates – feared American movies would attenuate their connection to the mother country. Movies popularized American history, American institutions and American slang among imperial subjects, thereby diminishing their enthusiasm for the British alternative. The advent of sound films after 1928 injected a further sense of urgency into this debate. The colonial reaction to Hollywood reveals the particularly fragile state of imperial identity formation during the inter-war era.
To Be or Not to Be? The North Korean Challenge to British Foreign Policy, 1971–1976
Authors: Won Tae Joon
Published: August 2014

This article seeks to explore the arguments that occurred mainly within the British Foreign Office and in its discussions with other government ministries in the early 1970s concerning the matter of affording diplomatic recognition to North Korea. Legal experts within the Foreign Office were concerned that London's non-recognition of Pyongyang could render Britain's position hypocritical and even illegal vis-à-vis its potential recognition of North Vietnam. British diplomats in Seoul however were adamant that North Korea should be not recognized for fear of angering both the South Korean and the American allies and damaging British commercial interests in South Korea. The Foreign Office ministers decided to delay the inevitable recognition for as long as they could, but then the illegal activities of North Korean diplomats in Europe came to light in 1976 and subsequently put an end to potential public queries about Britain's legal duty to recognise the North Korean regime.
Reduced Culture Temperature Differentially Affects Expression and Biophysical Properties of Monoclonal Antibody Variants
Authors: Mason Megan , Sweeney Bernadette , Cain Katharine , Stephens Paul , Sharfstein Susan
Published: August 2014

Reduced culture temperature is an increasingly popular practice to improve recombinant protein yields in CHO cells. Recent studies have attributed the enhancement of protein titers at sub-physiological temperatures to increased mRNA levels as well as extended stationary phase. We observed that reducing the culture temperature arrested cell growth, prolonged viability, and increased cell size. However, the reduced culture temperature had a differential effect on protein and mRNA expression of closely related antibody mutants from stable cell lines. The highly expressing mutant (Ala) exhibited similar or decreased specific productivity and decreased volumetric productivity over the culture lifetime at 32 °C compared to 37 °C. In contrast, the specific and volumetric productivity of the poorly expressing mutant (Gly) was enhanced at the lower culture temperature. The difference in specific productivity was reflected in the amounts of heavy- and light-chain mRNA. Analysis of the secondary and tertiary configurations of the purified antibodies by circular dichroism revealed fundamental structural differences imposed by the Ala to Gly mutation as well as reduced culture temperature. We propose that the effect of reduced culture temperature on expression is protein-dependent; protein folding fidelity and assembly is improved at lower temperatures, enhancing the expression of proteins that have a propensity to misfold.
Impact of Dams on Riparian Frog Communities in the Southern Western Ghats, India
Authors: Naniwadekar Rohit , Vasudevan Karthikeyan
Published: August 2014

The Western Ghats is a global biodiversity hotspot and home to diverse and unique assemblages of amphibians. Several rivers originate from these mountains and hydropower is being tapped from them. The impacts of hydrological regulation of riparian ecosystems to wildlife and its habitat are poorly documented, and in particular the fate of frog populations is unknown. We examined the effects of dams on riparian frog communities in the Thamirabarani catchment in southern Western Ghats. We used nocturnal visual encounter surveys constrained for time, to document the species richness of frogs below and above the dam, and also at control sites in the same catchment. While we did not find differences in species richness below and above the dams, the frog community composition was significantly altered as a likely consequence of altered flow regime. The frog species compositions in control sites were similar to above-dam sites. Below-dam sites had a distinctly different species composition. Select endemic frog species appeared to be adversely impacted due to the dams. Below-dam sites had a greater proportion of generalist and widely distributed species. Dams in the Western Ghats appeared to adversely impact population of endemic species, particularly those belonging to the genus Nyctibatrachus that shows specialization for intact streams.
Application of Entropy-Based Attribute Reduction and an Artificial Neural Network in Medicine: A Case Study of Estimating Medical Care Costs Associated with Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Du Qingyun , Nie Ke , Wang Zhensheng
Published: August 2014

In medicine, artificial neural networks (ANN) have been extensively applied in many fields to model the nonlinear relationship of multivariate data. Due to the difficulty of selecting input variables, attribute reduction techniques were widely used to reduce data to get a smaller set of attributes. However, to compute reductions from heterogeneous data, a discretizing algorithm was often introduced in dimensionality reduction methods, which may cause information loss. In this study, we developed an integrated method for estimating the medical care costs, obtained from 798 cases, associated with myocardial infarction disease. The subset of attributes was selected as the input variables of ANN by using an entropy-based information measure, fuzzy information entropy, which can deal with both categorical attributes and numerical attributes without discretization. Then, we applied a correction for the Akaike information criterion (ΑICc) to compare the networks. The results revealed that fuzzy information entropy was capable of selecting input variables from heterogeneous data for ANN, and the proposed procedure of this study provided a reasonable estimation of medical care costs, which can be adopted in other fields of medical science.
Open Access Data Sharing in Genomic Research
Authors: Pereira Stacey , Gibbs Richard , McGuire Amy
Published: August 2014

The current emphasis on broad sharing of human genomic data generated in research in order to maximize utility and public benefit is a significant legacy of the Human Genome Project. Concerns about privacy and discrimination have led to policy responses that restrict access to genomic data as the means for protecting research participants. Our research and experience show, however, that a considerable number of research participants agree to open access sharing of their genomic data when given the choice. General policies that limit access to all genomic data fail to respect the autonomy of these participants and, at the same time, unnecessarily limit the utility of the data. We advocate instead a more balanced approach that allows for individual choice and encourages informed decision making, while protecting against the misuse of genomic data through enhanced legislation.
Democratic Citizenship and the “Crisis in Humanities”
Authors: Spencer Vicki
Published: August 2014

As a consequence of the recent global recession, a new “crisis in the humanities” has been declared, and ideas of how best to defend the humanities have been vigorously debated. Placing this “crisis” in the context of neoliberal reforms to higher education since the 1980s, I examine the argument expounded by Martha Nussbaum that the very foundation of democratic citizenship is at stake. I indicate a number of problems with Nussbaum’s case. First, to resist the neoliberal agenda that pits disciplines against one another, I maintain that we need to understand the humanities broadly to include the social sciences. Second, I indicate that the humanities are not just important to democracies, but are a vital aspect of any society because they form a crucial part of human existence. Third, I argue that the humanities are important to democratic societies not merely because they promote critical thinking about our political processes and sympathetic understanding as Nussbaum argues. More fundamentally, the diversity of the humanities in both their content and approaches to knowledge is central to freedom. Finally, I warn against framing the challenges facing the humanities in terms of a crisis discourse that deprecates freedom in accord with the neoliberal agenda.
Strong Associations Between the Pesticide Hexachlorocyclohexane and Type 2 Diabetes in Saudi Adults
Authors: Al-Othman Abdulaziz , Yakout Sobhy , Abd-Alrahman Sherif , Al-Daghri Nasser
Published: August 2014

Pesticide exposure has been implicated as an environmental risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the body burden of the pesticide hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) with the risk of T2DM in a sample of adults from Saudi Arabia. Serum samples were obtained from 280 adult subjects. Hexachlorocyclohexane isomer residues were measured by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data on lifestyle, dietary habits, and health status were gathered. Associations between exposure and T2DM were analyzed by logistic regression. Around 49% of adults enrolled in this study were diagnosed with T2DM. Among various HCH isomers, serum concentrations of the pesticides β and γ-HCH were most strongly and consistently linked to T2DM in our studied subjects. Associations of HCH varied across five components of the metabolic syndrome. It positively and significantly associated with four out of the five components, especially elevated triglycerides, high fasting glucose, high blood pressure and HOMA-IR but negatively and significantly with HDL-cholesterol. This study in line with earlier ones about diabetes associated with HCH pesticide exposure and proposes possible hormonal pathways worthy of further investigation.
Climatic Factors and Community — Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections — A Time-Series Analysis Study
Authors: Sahoo Krushna , Sahoo Soumyakanta , Marrone Gaetano , Pathak Ashish , Lundborg Cecilia , Tamhankar Ashok
Published: August 2014

Skin and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA-SSTIs) including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have experienced a significant surge all over the world. Changing climatic factors are affecting the global burden of dermatological infections and there is a lack of information on the association between climatic factors and MRSA infections. Therefore, association of temperature and relative humidity (RH) with occurrence of SA-SSTIs (n = 387) and also MRSA (n = 251) was monitored for 18 months in the outpatient clinic at a tertiary care hospital located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Time-series analysis was used to investigate the potential association of climatic factors (weekly averages of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and RH) with weekly incidence of SA-SSTIs and MRSA infections. The analysis showed that a combination of weekly average maximum temperature above 33 °C coinciding with weekly average RH ranging between 55% and 78%, is most favorable for the occurrence of SA-SSTIs and MRSA and within these parameters, each unit increase in occurrence of MRSA was associated with increase in weekly average maximum temperature of 1.7 °C (p = 0.044) and weekly average RH increase of 10% (p = 0.097).
The Protective Effect of Glycyrrhizic Acid on Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Injury Induced by High Glucose
Authors: Hou Shaozhang , Zheng Fangfang , Li Yuan , Gao Ling , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: August 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the beneficial effect of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on type 2 diabetic nephropathy using renal tubular epithelial cell line (NRK-52E). The cells are divided into normal group (NG), high glucose group (HG), and treatment group (HG + GA). The methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. Model driven architecture (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also measured. Electron microscopy and histological were used to detect the changes in cell ultrastructure. The phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1), manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were assessed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure Mn-SOD and PPARγ co-activator 1α (PGC-1a) mRNA. We find that high glucose increases NRK-52E cell proliferation and TGF-β1 expression, but decreases expression of AMPK, SIRT1 and Mn-SOD. These effects are significantly attenuated by GA. Our findings suggest that GA has protective effects against high glucose-induced cell proliferation and oxidative stress at least in part by increasing AMPK, SIRT1 and Mn-SOD expression in NRK-52E cells.
Application of Ionic Liquids in Hydrometallurgy
Authors: Park Jesik , Jung Yeojin , Kusumah Priyandi , Lee Jinyoung , Kwon Kyungjung , Lee Churl
Published: August 2014

Ionic liquids, low temperature molten salts, have various advantages manifesting themselves as durable and environmentally friendly solvents. Their application is expanding into various fields including hydrometallurgy due to their unique properties such as non-volatility, inflammability, low toxicity, good ionic conductivity, and wide electrochemical potential window. This paper reviews previous literatures and our recent results adopting ionic liquids in extraction, synthesis and processing of metals with an emphasis on the electrolysis of active/light, rare earth, and platinum group metals. Because the research and development of ionic liquids in this area are still emerging, various, more fundamental approaches are expected to popularize ionic liquids in the metal manufacturing industry.
The Influence of Green Surface Modification of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber by Superheated Steam on the Mechanical Properties and Dimensional Stability of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fiber/Poly(butylene succinate) Biocomposite
Authors: Then Yoon , Ibrahim Nor , Zainuddin Norhazlin , Ariffin Hidayah , Yunus Wan , Chieng Buong
Published: August 2014

In this paper, superheated steam (SHS) was used as cost effective and green processing technique to modify oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) for biocomposite applications. The purpose of this modification was to promote the adhesion between fiber and thermoplastic. The modification was carried out in a SHS oven at various temperature (200–230 °C) and time (30–120 min) under normal atmospheric pressure. The biocomposites from SHS-treated OPMFs and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) at a weight ratio of 70:30 were prepared by melt blending technique. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the biocomposites were evaluated. This study showed that the SHS treatment increased the roughness of the fiber surface due to the removal of surface impurities and hemicellulose. The tensile, flexural and impact properties, as well as dimensional stability of the biocomposites were markedly enhanced by the presence of SHS-treated OPMF. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed improvement of interfacial adhesion between PBS and SHS-treated OPMF. This work demonstrated that SHS could be used as an eco-friendly and sustainable processing method for modification of OPMF in biocomposite fabrication.
Genetic Variation of the Host Plant Species Matters for Interactions with Above- and Belowground Herbivores
Authors: Kafle Dinesh , Krähmer Andrea , Naumann Annette , Wurst Susanne
Published: August 2014

Plants are challenged by both above- and belowground herbivores which may indirectly interact with each other via herbivore-induced changes in plant traits; however, little is known about how genetic variation of the host plant shapes such interactions. We used two genotypes (M4 and E9) of Solanum dulcamara (Solanaceae) with or without previous experience of aboveground herbivory by Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae) to quantify its effects on subsequent root herbivory by Agriotes spp. (Elateridae). In the genotype M4, due to the aboveground herbivory, shoot and root biomass was significantly decreased, roots had a lower C/N ratio and contained significantly higher levels of proteins, while the genotype E9 was not affected. However, aboveground herbivory had no effects on weight gain or mortality of the belowground herbivores. Root herbivory by Agriotes increased the nitrogen concentration in the roots of M4 plants leading to a higher weight gain of conspecific larvae. Also, in feeding bioassays, Agriotes larvae tended to prefer roots of M4 over E9, irrespective of the aboveground herbivore treatment. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) documented differences in metabolic profiles of the two plant genotypes and of the roots of M4 plants after aboveground herbivory. Together, these results demonstrate that previous aboveground herbivory can have genotype-specific effects on quantitative and qualitative root traits. This may have consequences for belowground interactions, although generalist root herbivores might not be affected when the root biomass offered is still sufficient for growth and survival.
Preparation, Characterization and Performances of Powdered Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer with Bulk Polymerization
Authors: Liu Xiao , Wang Ziming , Zheng Yunsheng , Cui Suping , Lan Mingzhang , Li Huiqun , Zhu Jie , Liang Xu
Published: August 2014

A polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) was synthesized in a non-solvent system with bulk polymerization and then was pulverized into powdered form to achieve a rapid transportation and convenient preparation. PCE synthesized by using isopentenyl polyethylene glycol (TPEG) or isobutenyl polyethylene glycol (IPEG) as a macromonomer exhibited the best fluidities and retaining properties at 80 °C and 75 °C, respectively. Besides, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was suitable as an initiator, and the fumaric acid was suitable as the third monomer. The test results of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) confirmed the occurrences of polymerization, and the measurement results of molecular weight and distribution showed that PCE molecular weight characteristics were in accordance with their fluidity properties in cement paste. The application performances in cement showed that PCEs with the best paste fluidity retentions had the longest final setting time and the shortest setting time interval, and the PCEs with good fluidity properties can obviously delay the hydration process and lower the hydration heat. Accordingly, this is a novel, energy-saving and economical method to prepare powdered PCE in the field of concrete admixtures.
A Critical Comparison of Methods for the Analysis of Indigo in Dyeing Liquors and Effluents
Authors: Buscio Valentina , Crespi Martí , Gutiérrez-Bouzán Carmen
Published: August 2014

Indigo is one of the most important dyes in the textile industry. The control of the indigo concentration in dyeing liquors and effluents is an important tool to ensure the reproducibility of the dyed fabrics and also to establish the efficiency of the wastewater treatment. In this work, three analytical methods were studied and validated with the aim to select a reliable, fast and automated method for the indigo dye determination. The first method is based on the extraction of the dye, with chloroform, in its oxidized form. The organic solution is measured by Ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrophotometry at 604 nm. The second method determines the concentration of indigo in its leuco form in aqueous medium by UV-visible spectrophotometry at 407 nm. Finally, in the last method, the concentration of indigo is determined by redox titration with potassium hexacyanoferrate (K3(Fe(CN)6)). The results indicated that the three methods that we studied met the established acceptance criteria regarding accuracy and precision. However, the third method was considered the most adequate for application on an industrial scale due to its wider work range, which provides a significant advantage over the others.
Antioxidant and Nitrite-Scavenging Capacities of Phenolic Compounds from Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Tops
Authors: Sun Jian , He Xue-Mei , Zhao Mou-Ming , Li Li , Li Chang-Bao , Dong Yi
Published: August 2014

Sugarcane tops were extracted with 50% ethanol and fractionated by petroleum ether, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butyl alcohol successively. Eight phenolic compounds in EtOAc extracts were purified through silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and then identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization mass spectra. The results showed that eight phenolic compounds from EtOAc extracts were identified as caffeic acid, cis-p-hydroxycinnamic acid, quercetin, apigenin, albanin A, australone A, moracin M, and 5'-geranyl-5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone. The antioxidant and nitrite-scavenging capacities of different solvent extracts correlated positively with their total phenolic (TP) contents. Amongst various extracts, EtOAc extracts possessed the highest TP content and presented the strongest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capacity, 2,2'-azobis-3-ethylbenthiaazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical-scavenging capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and nitrite-scavenging capacity. Thus, sugarcane tops could be promoted as a source of natural antioxidant.
Protoberberine Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Arcangelisia gusanlung
Authors: Yu Ling-Ling , Li Rong-Tao , Ai Yuan-Bao , Liu Wei , Deng Zhang-Shuang , Zou Zhong-Mei
Published: August 2014

HPLC-DAD-directed isolation and purification of the methanol extract of stems of Arcangelisia gusanlung H. S. Lo. led to the isolation of a new protoberberine alkaloid, gusanlung E (1), along with fourteen known derivatives 2–15, seven of which were obtained from the genus Arcangelisia for the first time. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, and CD analyses. Gusanlung E (1) expressed weak cytotoxic activity against the SGC 7901 cell line with an IC50 value of 85.1 µM.
Copper/N,N-Dimethylglycine Catalyzed Goldberg Reactions Between Aryl Bromides and Amides, Aryl Iodides and Secondary Acyclic Amides
Authors: Jiang Liqin
Published: August 2014

An efficient and general copper-catalyzed Goldberg reaction at 90–110 °C between aryl bromides and amides providing the desired products in good to excellent yields has been developed using N,N-dimethylglycine as the ligand. The reaction is tolerant toward a wide range of amides and a variety of functional group substituted aryl bromides. In addition, hindered, unreactive aromatic and aliphatic secondary acyclic amides, known to be poor nucleophiles, are efficiently coupled with aryl iodides through this simple and cheap copper/N,N-dimethylglycine catalytic system.
Vacuolar Na+/H+ NHX-Type Antiporters Are Required for Cellular K+ Homeostasis, Microtubule Organization and Directional Root Growth
Authors: McCubbin Tyler , Bassil Elias , Zhang Shiqi , Blumwald Eduardo
Published: August 2014

Na+/H+ antiporters (NHXs) are integral membrane transporters that catalyze the electroneutral exchange of K+ or Na+ for H+ and are implicated in cell expansion, development, pH and ion homeostasis and salt tolerance. Arabidopsis contains four vacuolar NHX isoforms (NHX1–NHX4), but only the functional roles for NHX1 and NHX2 have been assessed thus far. Colocalization studies indicated that NHX3 and NHX4 colocalize to the tonoplast. To investigate the role of all vacuolar NHX isoforms, a quadruple knockout nhx1nhx2nhx3nhx4, lacking all vacuolar NHXs, was generated. Seedlings of nhx1nhx2nhx3nhx4 displayed significantly reduced growth, with markedly shorter hypocotyls. Under high K+, but not Na+, pronounced root skewing occurred in nhx1nhx2nhx3nhx4, suggesting that the organization of the cytoskeleton might be perturbed. Whole mount immunolabeling of cortical microtubules indicated that high K+ caused significant microtubule reorganization in nhx1nhx2nhx3nhx4 root cells of the elongation zone. Using microtubule stabilizing (Taxol) and destabilizing (propyzamide) drugs, we found that the effect of K+ on nhx1nhx2nhx3nhx4 root growth was antagonistic to that of Taxol, whereas elevated K+ exacerbated the endogenous effect of propyzamide on root skewing. Collectively, our results suggest that altered K+ homeostasis leads to an increase in the dynamics of cortical microtubule reorganization in nhx1nhx2nhx3nhx4 root epidermal cells of the elongation zone.
Calmodulin Gene Expression in Response to Mechanical Wounding and Botrytis cinerea Infection in Tomato Fruit
Authors: Peng Hui , Yang Tianbao , II Wayne
Published: August 2014

Calmodulin, a ubiquitous calcium sensor, plays an important role in decoding stress-triggered intracellular calcium changes and regulates the functions of numerous target proteins involved in various plant physiological responses. To determine the functions of calmodulin in fleshy fruit, expression studies were performed on a family of six calmodulin genes (SlCaMs) in mature-green stage tomato fruit in response to mechanical injury and Botrytis cinerea infection. Both wounding and pathogen inoculation triggered expression of all those genes, with SlCaM2 being the most responsive one to both treatments. Furthermore, all calmodulin genes were upregulated by salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate, two signaling molecules involved in plant immunity. In addition to SlCaM2, SlCaM1 was highly responsive to salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. However, SlCaM2 exhibited a more rapid and stronger response than SlCaM1. Overexpression of SlCaM2 in tomato fruit enhanced resistance to Botrytis-induced decay, whereas reducing its expression resulted in increased lesion development. These results indicate that calmodulin is a positive regulator of plant defense in fruit by activating defense pathways including salicylate- and jasmonate-signaling pathways, and SlCaM2 is the major calmodulin gene responsible for this event.
A Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Interrogation System Based on a Linearly Wavelength-Swept Thermo-Optic Laser Chip
Authors: Lee Hyung-Seok , Lee Hwi , Kim Hyo , Cho Jae , Jeong Myung , Kim Chang-Seok
Published: August 2014

A linearized wavelength-swept thermo-optic laser chip was applied to demonstrate a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogation system. A broad tuning range of 11.8 nm was periodically obtained from the laser chip for a sweep rate of 16 Hz. To measure the linear time response of the reflection signal from the FBG sensor, a programmed driving signal was directly applied to the wavelength-swept laser chip. The linear wavelength response of the applied strain was clearly extracted with an R-squared value of 0.99994. To test the feasibility of the system for dynamic measurements, the dynamic strain was successfully interrogated with a repetition rate of 0.2 Hz by using this FBG sensor interrogation system.
Dynamics of Multi-Scale Intra-Provincial Regional Inequality in Zhejiang, China
Authors: Yue Wenze , Zhang Yuntang , Ye Xinyue , Cheng Yeqing , Leipnik Mark
Published: August 2014

This paper investigates regional inequality in a multi-scale framework, using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis, based on the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of counties and municipalities within the Zhejiang province in China between the years of 1990 and 2010. A Spatial Markov Chain is used to identify the dynamics of regional wealth disparity in Zhejiang. The results show that the regional inequality of Zhejiang is sensitive to the geographic scale of the analysis. In addition, the inter-county inequality shows an inverted-U shape pattern. At the same time, the inter-municipality inequality displays a more consistently upward trend, and the evolution of the interregional inequality is relatively stable over time. The regional inequality is more significant at finer (larger) spatial scales. The decomposition of the Theil Index shows that the contribution of the inequalities between Northeast Zhejiang and Southwest Zhejiang increased. The increasingly larger values of the Global Moran’s I show that there is an intensifying spatial aggregation of economic development. The comparison of the traditional Markov transition matrix and the Spatial Markov transition matrix illustrates how the relative wealth or poverty of neighboring counties make a significance difference in wealth in a given county as measured using domestic GDP per capita in Zhejiang province. This space-time analysis is valuable for policy making towards sustainable economic development in China given the soaring spatial inequality.
Changes in miRNA Expression Profiling during Neuronal Differentiation and Methyl Mercury-Induced Toxicity in Human in Vitro Models
Authors: Pallocca Giorgia , Fabbri Marco , Nerini-Molteni Silvia , Pistollato Francesca , Zagoura Dimitra , Sacco Maria , Gribaldo Laura , Bremer-Hoffmann Susanne , Bal-Price Anna
Published: August 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the epigenetic regulation of several brain developmental processes, such as neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether miRNA expression profiling could be a useful approach to detect in vitro developmental neurotoxicity. For this purpose, we assessed the changes in miRNA expression caused by methyl mercury chloride (MeHgCl), a well-known developmental neurotoxicant, comparing carcinoma pluripotent stem cells (NT-2) with human embryonic stem cells (H9), both analyzed during the early stage of neural progenitor commitment into neuronal lineage. The data indicate the activation of two distinct miRNA signatures, one activated upon neuronal differentiation and another upon MeHgCl-induced toxicity. Particularly, exposure to MeHgCl elicited, in both neural models, the down-regulation of the same six out of the ten most up-regulated neuronal pathways, as shown by the up-regulation of the corresponding miRNAs and further assessment of gene ontology (GO) term and pathway enrichment analysis. Importantly, some of these common miRNA-targeted pathways defined in both cell lines are known to play a role in critical developmental processes, specific for neuronal differentiation, such as axon guidance and neurotrophin-regulated signaling. The obtained results indicate that miRNAs expression profiling could be a promising tool to assess developmental neurotoxicity pathway perturbation, contributing towards improved predictive human toxicity testing.
Incidental uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in the prostate gland
Authors: Sadeghi R. , Giovanella L. , Treglia G. , Bertagna F.
Published: August 2014

Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on the prevalence and risk of malignancy of pros- tatic incidental uptake (PIU) detected by flu- orine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (PET/CT). Patients, material, methods: A comprehensive literature search of studies published up to February 2014 was performed. Pooled prevalence and malignancy risk of PIU were calculated on a per patient-based analysis including 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Furthermore, we assessed some parameters as potential predictors of malignant PIU. Results: Six studies including 47925 patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT were selected. Pooled prevalence of PIU was 1.8% (95%CI: 1.3–2.3%). Overall, 444 patients with PIU were further evaluated and 121 underwent biopsy. The pooled risk of malignancy in patients with PIU further evaluated or verified by biopsy were 17% (95%CI: 12–23%) and 62% (95%CI: 54–71%), respectively. A higher mean age was observed in the group of malignant PIUs compared to benign PIUs. There was a trend towards a higher mean SUVmax in the group of malignant PIUs but without a statistically significant difference compared to benign PIUs. Peripheric site of PIU but not presence or absence of calcification was a predictor of malignancy. Conclusions: PIU is observed in about 1.8% of 18F-FDG PET/CT scans performed in male patients carrying a significant risk of malignancy. Therefore, whenever a PIU is detected further investigation is warranted to exclude malignancy, in particular when PIU is located in the peripheric site of prostate gland.
Bortezomib in Multiple Myeloma: Systematic Review and Clinical Considerations
Authors: Kouroukis T.C. , Baldassarre F.G. , Haynes A.E. , Imrie K. , Reece D.E. , Cheung M.C.
Published: August 2014

We conducted a systematic review to determine the appropriate use of bortezomib alone or in combination with other agents in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, conference proceedings, and the reference lists of included studies. We analyzed randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews if they involved adult MM patients treated with bortezomib and if they reported on survival, disease control, response, quality of life, or adverse effects. Twenty-six unique studies met the inclusion criteria. For patients with previously untreated MM and for candidates for transplantation, we found a statistically significant benefit in time to progression [hazard ratio (HR): 0.48, p < 0.001; and HR: 0.63, p = 0.006, respectively] and a better response with a bortezomib than with a non-bortezomib regimen (p < 0.001). Progression-free survival was longer with bortezomib and thalidomide than with thalidomide alone (p = 0.01). In non-candidates for transplantation, a significant benefit in overall survival was observed with a bortezomib regimen (HR compared with a non-bortezomib regimen: 0.61; p = 0.008), and in transplantation candidates receiving bortezomib, the response rate was improved after induction (p = 0.004) and after a first transplant (p = 0.016). In relapsed or refractory MM, overall survival (p = 0.03), time to progression (HR: 1.82; p = 0.000004), and progression-free survival (HR: 1.69; p = 0.000026) were significantly improved with bortezomib and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (compared with bortezomib alone), and bortezomib monotherapy was better than dexamethasone alone (HR: 0.77; p = 0.027). Bortezomib combined with thalidomide and dexamethasone was better than either bortezomib monotherapy or thalidomide with dexamethasone (p < 0.001). In previously untreated or in relapsed or refractory MM patients, bortezomib-based therapy has
Liquid fuel cells
Authors: Soloveichik Grigorii L
Published: August 2014

The advantages of liquid fuel cells (LFCs) over conventional hydrogen–oxygen fuel cells include a higher theoretical energy density and efficiency, a more convenient handling of the streams, and enhanced safety. This review focuses on the use of different types of organic fuels as an anode material for LFCs. An overview of the current state of the art and recent trends in the development of LFC and the challenges of their practical implementation are presented.
Photorelease of phosphates: Mild methods for protecting phosphate derivatives
Authors: Senadheera Sanjeewa N , Yousef Abraham L , Givens Richard S
Published: August 2014

We have developed a new photoremovable protecting group for caging phosphates in the near UV. Diethyl 2-(4-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)-2-oxoethyl phosphate (14a) quantitatively releases diethyl phosphate upon irradiation in aq MeOH or aq MeCN at 350 nm, with quantum efficiencies ranging from 0.021 to 0.067 depending on the solvent composition. The deprotection reactions originate from the triplet excited state, are robust under ambient conditions and can be carried on to 100% conversion. Similar results were found with diethyl 2-(4-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-2-oxoethyl phosphate (14b), although it was significantly less efficient compared with 14a. A key step in the deprotection reaction in aq MeOH is considered to be a Favorskii rearrangement of the naphthyl ketone motif of 14a,b to naphthylacetate esters 25 and 26. Disruption of the ketone-naphthyl ring conjugation significantly shifts the photoproduct absorption away from the effective incident wavelength for decaging of 14, driving the reaction to completion. The Favorskii rearrangement does not occur in aqueous acetonitrile although diethyl phosphate is released. Other substitution patterns on the naphthyl or quinolin-5-yl core, such as the 2,6-naphthyl 10 or 8-benzyloxyquinolin-5-yl 24 platforms, also do not rearrange by aryl migration upon photolysis and, therefore, do not proceed to completion. The 2,6-naphthyl ketone platform instead remains intact whereas the quinolin-5-yl ketone fragments to a much more complex, highly absorbing reaction mixture that competes for the incident light.
Lack of the NS5B S282T Mutation in HCV Isolates from Liver Tissue of Treatment-Naive Patients with HCV Genotype-1b Infection
Authors: Maimone Sergio , Tripodi Gianluca , Musolino Cristina , Cacciola Irene , Pollicino Teresa , Raimondo Giovanni
Published: August 2014

Background

Despite the availability of several direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) specifically inhibiting different HCV proteins, treatment of chronic HCV infection is still a challenge also because of the possible selection of resistant viral variants under DAA therapy. Indeed, only the emergence of viruses resistant to the nucleoside inhibitors of the HCV NS5B polymerase (Pol) has not yet been reported, in spite of the fact that in vitro studies have clearly shown that an S282T amino acid change in the Pol protein may confer resistance to these drugs. On the basis of a previous study showing that viral variants resistant to HCV protease inhibitors are largely present in the liver – but not in the serum – of untreated patients, we investigated the possible natural occurrence of viral populations with the S282T change in the Pol protein, analysing viral isolates from liver and serum of HCV genotype-1b treatment-naive patients.

Methods

HCV-1b isolates from liver specimens and serum samples of 10 chronic hepatitis C patients were analysed by cloning and sequencing.

Results

The S282T mutation was not found in any of the viral isolates from either liver or serum samples of all the cases, although an S282G mutation of unknown virological/clinical relevance was detected in 2/19 liver isolates from one patient.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that the natural selection of the S282T mutation is a rare event, thus explaining the lack of emergence and takeover of these variants under drug pressure.
First National Bank de Chicago – (EE.UU.)
Authors: F. Murphy Asociados Arquitectos , Perkins y Will Partnership Arquitectos
Published: August 2014

En este proyecto han intervenido, principalmente, cinco factores: espacio necesario, estructura, sistemas mecánicos y eléctricos, circulación vertical y entorno urbano.
Se han tenido en cuenta dos funciones distintas: parte inferior, para banco, y superior, destinada a arrendamientos, con los consiguientes imperativos de espacio: amplias superficies abiertas, de contacto con el público, en los niveles bajos, y pequeños locales de oficinas, con vistas al exterior, en las plantas superiores. La solución del problema ha sido una construcción que va disminuyendo en profundidad, a medida que aumenta su altura, produciendo alzados laterales en curva inclinada.
Lleva estructura metálica, protegida contra el fuego con hormigón y revestida con placas de granito.
Todas las plantas cuentan con un sistema central de aire acondicionado producido por enfriadores eléctricos en lugar de calderas, con lo que el edificio funciona totalmente con electricidad.
Para conseguir la máxima libertad de espacio en las plantas del banco, el clásico núcleo central de comunicación vertical se ha sustituido, para la zona de alquiler, por dos núcleos de ascensores, en ambos extremos del edificio, y sobresaliendo de la estructura principal.
El banco cuenta, a su vez, con otros dos núcleos de elevadores adyacentes a los anteriores, y escaleras mecánicas, para el público, en los niveles bajos.
La creación de la plaza delantera constituye un atractivo ensanche en una zona de gran densidad de población.
The influence of weather parameters on crucifer flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) capture heights
Authors: Tansey James A. , Dosdall Lloyd M. , Soroka Julie J. , Keddie B. Andrew
Published: August 2014

The crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is the most important pest of seedling canola, Brassica napus Linnaeus (Brassicaceae), in North America, yet effects of weather on its dispersal and flight activity are not completely understood. We investigated effects of ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, barometric flux, and precipitation on capture heights of P. cruciferae over four site-years in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Capture heights increased with mean ambient temperatures for both generations of beetles, with 15°C determined as an estimated minimum temperature for flight. Although capture heights decreased with greater minimum relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and increased with greater mean wind speed, the contributions of these factors were determined to be minor relative to that of mean temperature. Results of the current study will contribute to more accurate predictions of the invasion of canola crops by P. cruciferae and contribute to improved integrated management of this important pest species.