bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SUPER-BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS AND FREE BOOLEAN QUASILATTICES
Authors: MOVSISYAN YU. M. , ASLANYAN V. A.
Published: January 2014

A Boolean quasilattice is an algebra with hyperidentities of the variety of Boolean algebras. In this paper, we give a functional representation of the free n-generated Boolean quasilattice with two binary, one unary and two nullary operations. Namely, we define the concept of super-Boolean function and prove that the free Boolean quasilattice with two binary, one unary and two nullary operations on n free generators is isomorphic to the Boolean quasilattice of super-Boolean functions of n variables.
Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3single crystal and device development
Authors: Lim L. C. , Zhang S. , Xia Y. X. , Lin D. H. , Goh N. H. L.
Published: January 2014

This paper describes recent device developments with relaxor ferroelectric Pb ( Zn1/3Nb2/3) O3– PbTiO3(PZN–PT) single crystals carried out at Microfine Materials Technologies Pte. Ltd, Singapore. Promising [011]-poled transverse cuts of PZN–PT single crystals and the results on the effect of electric field and axial compressive stress on the rhombohedral-to-orthorhombic ( R – O ) phase transformation behavior of such cuts are presented and discussed. The single crystal devices described include a compact low-frequency broadband power-efficient underwater tonpilz projector, high sensitivity shear accelerometers and acoustic vector sensors (AVS). The unique characteristics offered by these PZN–PT single crystal devices are highlighted, which serve as examples of new-generation piezoelectric devices and systems for a wide range of demanding applications.
Force-dependent vinculin binding to talin in live cells: a crucial step in anchoring the actin cytoskeleton to focal adhesions
Authors: Hirata Hiroaki , Tatsumi Hitoshi , Lim Chwee Teck , Sokabe Masahiro
Published: January 2014

Mechanical forces play a pivotal role in the regulation of focal adhesions (FAs) where the actin cytoskeleton is anchored to the extracellular matrix through integrin and a variety of linker proteins including talin and vinculin. The localization of vinculin at FAs depends on mechanical forces. While in vitro studies have demonstrated the force-induced increase in vinculin binding to talin, it remains unclear whether such a mechanism exists at FAs in vivo. In this study, using fibroblasts cultured on elastic silicone substrata, we have examined the role of forces in modulating talin-vinculin binding at FAs. Stretching the substrata caused vinculin accumulation at talin-containing FAs, and this accumulation was abrogated by expressing the talin-binding domain of vinculin (domain D1, which inhibits endogenous vinculin from binding to talin). These results indicate that mechanical forces loaded to FAs facilitate vinculin binding to talin at FAs. In cell-protruding regions, the actin network moved backward over talin-containing FAs in domain D1-expressing cells while it was anchored to FAs in control cells, suggesting that the force-dependent vinculin binding to talin is crucial for anchoring the actin cytoskeleton to FAs in living cells.
The biochemistry and cell biology of aging: metabolic regulation through mitochondrial signaling
Authors: Long Yun Chau , Tan Theresa May Chin , Takao Inoue , Tang Bor Luen
Published: January 2014

Cellular and organ metabolism affects organismal lifespan. Aging is characterized by increased risks for metabolic disorders, with age-associated degenerative diseases exhibiting varying degrees of mitochondrial dysfunction. The traditional view of the role of mitochondria generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cellular aging, assumed to be causative and simply detrimental for a long time now, is in need of reassessment. While there is little doubt that high levels of ROS are detrimental, mounting evidence points toward a lifespan extension effect exerted by mild to moderate ROS elevation. Dietary caloric restriction, inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-I signaling, and inhibition of the nutrient-sensing mechanistic target of rapamycin are robust longevity-promoting interventions. All of these appear to elicit mitochondrial retrograde signaling processes (defined as signaling from the mitochondria to the rest of the cell, for example, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, or UPRmt). The effects of mitochondrial retrograde signaling may even spread to other cells/tissues in a noncell autonomous manner by yet unidentified signaling mediators. Multiple recent publications support the notion that an evolutionarily conserved, mitochondria-initiated signaling is central to the genetic and epigenetic regulation of cellular aging and organismal lifespan.
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor protects against high-fat diet-induced obesity
Authors: Mwangi Simon Musyoka , Nezami Behtash Ghazi , Obukwelu Blessing , Anitha Mallappa , Marri Smitha , Fu Ping , Epperson Monica F. , Le Ngoc-Anh , Shanmugam Malathy , Sitaraman Shanthi V. , Tseng Yu-Hua , Anania Frank A. , Srinivasan Shanthi
Published: January 2014

Obesity is a growing epidemic with limited effective treatments. The neurotrophic factor glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was recently shown to enhance β-cell mass and improve glucose control in rodents. Its role in obesity is, however, not well characterized. In this study, we investigated the ability of GDNF to protect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. GDNF transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpress GDNF under the control of the glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter and wild-type (WT) littermates were maintained on a HFD or regular rodent diet for 11 wk, and weight gain, energy expenditure, and insulin sensitivity were monitored. Differentiated mouse brown adipocytes and 3T3-L1 white adipocytes were used to study the effects of GDNF in vitro. Tg mice resisted the HFD-induced weight gain, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperleptinemia, and hepatic steatosis seen in WT mice despite similar food intake and activity levels. They exhibited significantly ( P < 0.001) higher energy expenditure than WT mice and increased expression in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α and β1- and β3-adrenergic receptor genes, which are associated with increased lipolysis and enhanced lipid β-oxidation. In vitro, GDNF enhanced β-adrenergic-mediated cAMP release in brown adipocytes and suppressed lipid accumulation in differentiated 3T3L-1 cells through a p38MAPK signaling pathway. Our studies demonstrate a novel role for GDNF in the regulation of high-fat diet-induced obesity through increased energy expenditure. They show that GDNF and its receptor agonists may be potential targets for the treatment or prevention of obesity.
Human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) variants and chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Németh Balázs Csaba , Sahin-Tóth Miklós
Published: January 2014

Variations in the serine protease 1 ( PRSS1) gene encoding human cationic trypsinogen have been conclusively associated with autosomal dominant hereditary pancreatitis and sporadic nonalcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Most high-penetrance PRSS1 variants increase intrapancreatic trypsin activity by stimulating trypsinogen autoactivation and/or by inhibiting chymotrypsin C-dependent trypsinogen degradation. Alternatively, some PRSS1 variants can cause trypsinogen misfolding, which results in intracellular retention and degradation with consequent endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, not all PRSS1 variants are pathogenic, and clinical relevance of rare variants is often difficult to ascertain. Here we review the PRSS1 variants published since 1996 and discuss their functional properties and role in chronic pancreatitis.
High-NaCl diet impairs dynamic renal blood flow autoregulation in rats with adenine-induced chronic renal failure
Authors: Saeed Aso , DiBona Gerald F. , Grimberg Elisabeth , Nguy Lisa , Mikkelsen Minne Line Nedergaard , Marcussen Niels , Guron Gregor
Published: January 2014

This study examined the effects of 2 wk of high-NaCl diet on kidney function and dynamic renal blood flow autoregulation (RBFA) in rats with adenine-induced chronic renal failure (ACRF). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either chow containing adenine or were pair-fed an identical diet without adenine (controls). After 10 wk, rats were randomized to either remain on the same diet (0.6% NaCl) or to be switched to high 4% NaCl chow. Two weeks after randomization, renal clearance experiments were performed under isoflurane anesthesia and dynamic RBFA, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), systolic arterial pressure variability (SAPV), and heart rate variability were assessed by spectral analytical techniques. Rats with ACRF showed marked reductions in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow (RBF), whereas mean arterial pressure and SAPV were significantly elevated. In addition, spontaneous BRS was reduced by ∼50% in ACRF animals. High-NaCl diet significantly increased transfer function fractional gain values between arterial pressure and RBF in the frequency range of the myogenic response (0.06–0.09 Hz) only in ACRF animals (0.3 ± 4.0 vs. −4.4 ± 3.8 dB; P < 0.05). Similarly, a high-NaCl diet significantly increased SAPV in the low-frequency range only in ACRF animals. To conclude, a 2-wk period of a high-NaCl diet in ACRF rats significantly impaired dynamic RBFA in the frequency range of the myogenic response and increased SAPV in the low-frequency range. These abnormalities may increase the susceptibility to hypertensive end-organ injury and progressive renal failure by facilitating pressure transmission to the microvasculature.
Characterizingξ-Lie Multiplicative Isomorphisms on Von Neumann Algebras
Authors: Song Yamin , Hou Jinchuan , Qi Xiaofei
Published: January 2014

Letℳand𝒩be von Neumann algebras without central summands of typeI1. Assume thatξ∈ℂwithξ≠1. In this paper, all mapsΦ:ℳ→𝒩satisfyingΦAB-ξBA=ΦAΦB-ξΦBΦ(A)are characterized.
Treatment Planning Methods in High Dose Rate Interstitial Brachytherapy of Carcinoma Cervix: A Dosimetric and Radiobiological Analysis
Authors: Anbumani Surega , Anchineyan Pichandi , Narayanasamy ArunaiNambiraj , Palled Siddanna R. , Sathisan Sajitha , Jayaraman Punitha , Selvi Muthu , Bilimagga Ramesh S.
Published: January 2014

Treatment planning is a trial and error process that determines optimal dwell times, dose distribution, and loading pattern for high dose rate brachytherapy. Planning systems offer a number of dose calculation methods to either normalize or optimize the radiation dose. Each method has its own characteristics for achieving therapeutic dose to mitigate cancer growth without harming contiguous normal tissues. Our aim is to propose the best suited method for planning interstitial brachytherapy. 40 cervical cancer patients were randomly selected and 5 planning methods were iterated. Graphical optimization was compared with implant geometry and dose point normalization/optimization techniques using dosimetrical and radiobiological plan quality indices retrospectively. Mean tumor control probability was similar in all the methods with no statistical significance. Mean normal tissue complication probability for bladder and rectum is 0.3252 and 0.3126 (P=0.0001), respectively, in graphical optimized plans compared to other methods. There was no significant correlation found between Conformity Index and tumor control probability when the plans were ranked according to Pearson product moment method (r=-0.120). Graphical optimization can result in maximum sparing of normal tissues.
Bipartite Medial Cuneiform: Case Report and Retrospective Review of 1000 Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging Studies
Authors: Chang Geraldine H. , Chang Eric Y. , Chung Christine B. , Resnick Donald L.
Published: January 2014

Objective. To present a unique case report of a Lisfranc fracture in a patient with a bipartite medial cuneiform and to evaluate the prevalence of the bipartite medial cuneiform in a retrospective review of 1000 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of the foot.Materials and Methods. Case report followed by a retrospective review of 1000 MR imaging studies of the foot for the presence or absence of a bipartite medial cuneiform.Results. The incidence of the bipartite medial cuneiform is 0.1%.Conclusion. A bipartite medial cuneiform is a rare finding but one with both clinical and surgical implications.
Noncovalent Interactions of Tiopronin-Protected Gold Nanoparticles with DNA: Two Methods to Quantify Free Energy of Binding
Authors: Prado-Gotor R. , Grueso E.
Published: January 2014

The binding of gold nanoparticles capped with N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (Au@tiopronin) with double-stranded DNA has been investigated and quantified in terms of free energies by using two different approaches. The first approach follows the DNA conformational changes induced by gold nanoparticles using the CD technique. The second methodology consists in the use of pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde as a fluorescent probe. This second procedure implies the determination of the “true” free energy of binding of the probe with DNA, after corrections through solubility measurements. Working at different salt concentrations, the nonelectrostatic and electrostatic components of the binding free energy have been separated. The results obtained revealed that the binding is of nonelectrostatic character, fundamentally. The procedure used in this work could be extended to quantify the binding affinity of other AuNPs/DNA systems.
A Model for Community-Based Pediatric Oral Heath: Implementation of an Infant Oral Care Program
Authors: Ramos-Gomez Francisco J.
Published: January 2014

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates risk assessments, preventive care, and evaluations based on outcomes. ACA compliance will require easily accessible, cost-effective care models that are flexible and simple to establish. UCLA has developed an Infant Oral Care Program (IOCP) in partnership with community-based organizations that is an intervention model providing culturally competent perinatal and infant oral care for underserved, low-income, and/or minority children aged 0–5 and their caregivers. In collaboration with the Venice Family Clinic's Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center, UCLA Pediatrics, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Early Head Start and Head Start programs, the IOCP increases family-centered care access and promotes early utilization of dental services in nontraditional, primary care settings. Emphasizing disease prevention, management, and care that is sensitive to cultural, language, and oral health literacy challenges, IOCP patients achieve better oral health maintenance “in health” not in “disease modality”. IOCP uses interprofessional education to promote pediatric oral health across multiple disciplines and highlights the necessity for the “age-one visit”. This innovative clinical model facilitates early intervention and disease management. It sets a new standard of minimally invasive dental care that is widely available and prevention focused, with high retention rates due to strong collaborations with the community-based organizations serving these vulnerable, high-risk children.
Diversity of Hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) Communities in Different Habitat Types in Zanjan Province, Iran
Authors: Naderloo Masumeh , Pashaei Rad Shahrokh
Published: January 2014

The diversity of hoverfly communities was studied in four different habitat types (river side, woodland, fruit garden, and rice field) in the years of 2008 and 2009. Adult hoverflies were collected from different habitants in Zanjan province. A total of 31 species with 750 individuals of hoverflies were collected, among which Sphaerophoria scripta (Linnaeus), Eristalis arbustorum (Linnaeus) and Eristalis tenax (Linnaeus) were found to be the most abundant. Records from these four sites were used in the diversity analysis. The results indicated that river side and rice field showed the highest and lowest degree of species richness and species diversity. Also, river side and rice field showed the highest and lowest species evenness, respectively.
Hierarchical Fixed Point Problems in Uniformly Smooth Banach Spaces
Authors: Ceng Lu-Chuan , Wen Ching-Feng , Pang Chin-Tzong
Published: January 2014

We propose some relaxed implicit and explicit viscosity approximation methods for hierarchical fixed point problems for a countable family of nonexpansive mappings in uniformly smooth Banach spaces. These relaxed viscosity approximation methods are based on the well-known viscosity approximation method and hybrid steepest-descent method. We obtain some strong convergence theorems under mild conditions.
Curcumin as a Therapeutic Agent in Dementia: A Mini Systematic Review of Human Studies
Authors: Brondino Natascia , Re Simona , Boldrini Annalisa , Cuccomarino Antonella , Lanati Niccolò , Barale Francesco , Politi Pierluigi
Published: January 2014

Dementia is a leading health problem worldwide, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) representing up to 60% of all dementia cases. A growing interest has recently risen on the potential use of natural molecules in this condition. Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound traditionally used in Indian medicine. Severalin vitroandin vivostudies have found a protective effect of curcumin in AD. In the present systematic review we aimed to evaluate the state-of-the-art of clinical trials of curcumin in AD. We retrieved three published studies, while there are several ongoing clinical trials. To date there is insufficient evidence to suggest the use of curcumin in dementia patients. Of note, short-term use of curcumin appears to be safe. Several reasons could be responsible for the discrepancy betweenin vitroandin vivofindings and human trials, such as low bioavailability and poor study design.
Can Fluctuations in Vital Signs Be Used for Pain Assessment in Critically Ill Patients with a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Authors: Arbour Caroline , Choinière Manon , Topolovec-Vranic Jane , Loiselle Carmen G. , Gélinas Céline
Published: January 2014

Background. Many critically ill patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unable to communicate. While observation of behaviors is recommended for pain assessment in nonverbal populations, they are undetectable in TBI patients who are under the effects of neuroblocking agents. Aim. This study aimed to validate the use of vital signs for pain detection in critically ill TBI patients. Methods. Using a repeated measure within subject design, participants (N=45) were observed for 1 minute before (baseline), during, and 15 minutes after two procedures: noninvasive blood pressure: NIBP (nonnociceptive) and turning (nociceptive). At each assessment, vital signs (e.g., systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), capillary saturation (SpO2), end-tidal CO2, and intracranial pressure (ICP)) were recorded. Results. Significant fluctuations (P<0.05) in diastolic (F=6.087), HR (F=3.566), SpO2 (F=5.740), and ICP (F=3.776) were found across assessments, but they were similar during both procedures. In contrast, RR was found to increase exclusively during turning (t=3.933; P<0.001) and was correlated to participants’ self-report. Conclusions. Findings from this study support previous ones that vital signs are not specific for pain detection. While RR could be a potential pain indicator in critical care, further research is warranted to support its validity in TBI patients with different LOC.
Performance Analysis of a Six-Port Receiver in a WCDMA Communication System including a Multipath Fading Channel
Authors: Olopade A. O. , Helaoui M.
Published: January 2014

Third generation communication systems require receivers with wide bandwidth of operation to support high transmission rates and are also reconfigurable to support various communication standards with different frequency bands. An ideal software defined radio (SDR) will be the absolute answer to this requirement but it is not achievable with the current level of technology. This paper proposes the use of a six-port receiver (SPR) front-end (FE) in a WCDMA communication system. A WCDMA end-to-end physical layer MATLAB demo which includes a multipath channel distortion block is used to determine the viability of the six-port based receiver. The WCDMA signal after passing through a multipath channel is received using a constructed SPR FE. The baseband signal is then calibrated and corrected in MATLAB. The six-port receiver performance is measured in terms of bit error rate (BER). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the transmittedIQdata is varied and the BER profile of the communication system is plotted. The effect of the multipath fading on the receiver performance and the accuracy of the calibration algorithm are obtained by comparing two different measured BER curves for different calibration techniques to the simulated BER curve of an ideal receiver.
Genetic Variability and Phylogeny of Current Chinese Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Strains Based onSpike,ORF3, andMembraneGenes
Authors: Sun Ruiqin , Leng Zhangming , Zhai Shao-Lun , Chen Dekun , Song Changxu
Published: January 2014

Since late 2010, the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in China has resulted in the deaths of millions of suckling piglets. The main cause of the disease outbreak was unknown. In this study, partialspike(S),ORF3, andmembrane(M) genes amplified from these variants were sequenced and analyzed. The results showed that the variants could be clustered into one to three subgroups and suggested thatSgenes were variable, whileMgenes were relatively conserved. Moreover, in comparison with the vaccine strain CV777, sequence alignment analyses revealed that theSgenes of the newly isolated strains contained several mutations at the aa level. It is possible that these mutations have changed the hydrophobicity of the S protein and influenced the viral antigenicity and virulence. Interestingly, homology analyses based on ORF3 demonstrated that the isolates had an intact opening reading frame (ORF), which were different from the attenuated DR13 strain. In conclusion, the widespread PED virus (PEDV) isolates had virulent characteristics. Additionally, the high degree of variation in the genes, particularlySgenes, might provide an explanation for the poor immunity and rapid spread of the disease.
Brooke-Spiegler Syndrome: A Rare Entity
Authors: Rathi Monika , Awasthi Seema , Budania Satish Kumar , Ahmad Faiyaz , Dutta Shyamoli , Kumar Ashutosh
Published: January 2014

Brooke-Spiegler syndrome is a rare entity. It is an autosomal dominant syndrome in which multiple trichoepitheliomas, cylindromas, or other adnexal tumors are seen. Very few cases of Brooke-Spiegler syndrome are reported in the literature. We came across a 40 -year-old female in which multiple trichoepitheliomas and cylindromas were seen on scalp. In view of clinical history and histopathological examination it was diagnosed as Brooke-Spiegler syndrome. We report this case because of its rarity.
Probabilistic Decomposition Method on the ServerIndices of anMξ/G/1 Vacation Queue
Authors: Liu Renbin
Published: January 2014

This paper develops a probabilistic decomposition method for anMξ/G/1 repairable queueing system with multiple vacations, in which the customers who arrive during server vacations enter the system with probabilityp. Such a novel method is used to analyze the main performance indices of the server, such as the unavailability and the mean failure number during(0,t]. It is derived that the structures of server indices are two convolution equations. Further, comparisons with existing methods indicate that our method is effective and applicable for studying server performances in single-serverMξ/G/1 vacation queues and their complex variants. Finally, a stochastic order and production system with a multipurpose production facility is numerically presented for illustrative purpose.
Impact of Endophytic Microorganisms on Plants, Environment and Humans
Authors: Nair Dhanya N. , Padmavathy S.
Published: January 2014

Endophytes are microorganisms (bacteria or fungi or actinomycetes) that dwell within robust plant tissues by having a symbiotic association. They are ubiquitously associated with almost all plants studied till date. Some commonly found endophytes are those belonging to the generaEnterobacter sp.,Colletotrichum sp.,Phomopsis sp.,Phyllosticta sp.,Cladosporium sp.,and so forth. Endophytic population is greatly affected by climatic conditions and location where the host plant grows. They produce a wide range of compounds useful for plants for their growth, protection to environmental conditions, and sustainability, in favour of a good dwelling place within the hosts. They protect plants from herbivory by producing certain compounds which will prevent animals from further grazing on the same plant and sometimes act as biocontrol agents. A large amount of bioactive compounds produced by them not only are useful for plants but also are of economical importance to humans. They serve as antibiotics, drugs or medicines, or the compounds of high relevance in research or as compounds useful to food industry. They are also found to have some important role in nutrient cycling, biodegradation, and bioremediation. In this review, we have tried to comprehend different roles of endophytes in plants and their significance and impacts on man and environment.
An Improved Piecewise Linear Chaotic Map Based Image Encryption Algorithm
Authors: Hu Yuping , Zhu Congxu , Wang Zhijian
Published: January 2014

An image encryption algorithm based on improved piecewise linear chaotic map (MPWLCM) model was proposed. The algorithm uses the MPWLCM to permute and diffuse plain image simultaneously. Due to the sensitivity to initial key values, system parameters, and ergodicity in chaotic system, two pseudorandom sequences are designed and used in the processes of permutation and diffusion. The order of processing pixels is not in accordance with the index of pixels, but it is from beginning or end alternately. The cipher feedback was introduced in diffusion process. Test results and security analysis show that not only the scheme can achieve good encryption results but also its key space is large enough to resist against brute attack.
Ecology of Interstitial Faunal Assemblage from the Beaches along the Coast of Kerala, India
Authors: Priyalakshmi Geetha , Menon N. R.
Published: January 2014

A quantitative and qualitative study of interstitial fauna and environmental variables was carried out on five selected sandy beaches of the west coast of India. Species of nine interstitial taxa abound the beaches. Nematodes, harpacticoid copepods, turbellarians, and polychaetes constituted the bulk of the population. The available energy in the beaches ranged from 0.2245 to 16.08 joules/mg and the grain size varied from 0.93 to 2.88φ. Organic matter correlated significantly with coarse sand (Pearson correlation r=0.651; P<0.01). Organic carbon, particle size, and dissolved oxygen determined the abundance and distribution of interstitial fauna as per multivariate BIOENV analysis. Shannon Wiener H′ diversity index was maximum at Cherai (2.027) and minimum at Sakthikulangara (1.144) beach. The value of nematode/copepod ratio (N  (2A)/C>10) indicated at Sakthikulangara beach validates the increased sensitivity of harpacticoids to environmental stress.
Time-Dependent Evolving Null Horizons of a Dynamical Spacetime
Authors: Duggal K. L.
Published: January 2014

Totally geodesic null hypersurfaces have been widely used in the study of isolated black holes. In this paper, we introduce a new quasilocal notion of a family of totally umbilical null hypersurfaces called evolving null horizons (ENH) of a dynamical spacetime, satisfied under an appropriate energy condition. We focus on a variety of examples of ENHs and in some cases establish their relation with event and isolated horizons. We also present two specific physical models of an ENH in a black hole spacetime. Beside the examples, for further study we propose two open problems on possible general existence of an ENH in a black hole spacetime and its canonical or unique existence. The results of this paper have ample scope of working on totally umbilical null hypersurfaces of Lorentzian and, in general, semiRiemannian manifolds.
The Alternative Route to Heme in the Methanogenic ArchaeonMethanosarcina barkeri
Authors: Kühner Melanie , Haufschildt Kristin , Neumann Alexander , Storbeck Sonja , Streif Judith , Layer Gunhild
Published: January 2014

In living organisms heme is formed from the common precursor uroporphyrinogen III by either one of two substantially different pathways. In contrast to eukaryotes and most bacteria which employ the so-called “classical” heme biosynthesis pathway, the archaea use an alternative route. In this pathway, heme is formed from uroporphyrinogen III via the intermediates precorrin-2, sirohydrochlorin, siroheme, 12,18-didecarboxysiroheme, and iron-coproporphyrin III. In this study the heme biosynthesis proteins AhbAB, AhbC, and AhbD fromMethanosarcina barkeriwere functionally characterized. Using anin vivoenzyme activity assay it was shown that AhbA and AhbB (Mbar_A1459 and Mbar_A1460) together catalyze the conversion of siroheme into 12,18-didecarboxysiroheme. The two proteins form a heterodimeric complex which might be subject to feedback regulation by the pathway end-product heme. Further, AhbC (Mbar_A1793) was shown to catalyze the formation of iron-coproporphyrin IIIin vivo. Finally, recombinant AhbD (Mbar_A1458) was produced inE. coliand purified indicating that this protein most likely contains two [4Fe-4S] clusters. Using anin vitroenzyme activity assay it was demonstrated that AhbD catalyzes the conversion of iron-coproporphyrin III into heme.
The Association between KIF6 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism rs20455 and Serum Lipids in Filipino-American Women
Authors: Ancheta Irma B. , Battie Cynthia A. , Richard Dan , Ancheta Christine V. , Borja-Hart Nancy , Volgman Annabelle S. , Conley Yvette
Published: January 2014

The Trp719Arg allele of KIF6 rs20455, a putative risk factor for CHD especially in those with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was investigated in Filipino-American women (FAW,n=235) participating in health screenings in four cities. The rs20455 genotype of each subject was determined by a multiplex assay using a Luminex-OLA procedure. The risk allele Trp719Arg was present in 77% of the subjects. The genotype distribution was 23% Trp/Trp, 51% Arg/Trp, and 26% Arg/Arg. Genotype did not predict the presence of CHD risk factors. Moreover, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides mean values did not vary as a function of genotype. However, those with the Arg/Arg genotype on statin medication exhibited a significantly higher mean triglycerides level (P<0.01). Approximately 60% of participants regardless of genotype exhibited LDL-C levels≥100 mg/dL but were not taking medication. Approximately 43% of those with the Trp719Arg risk allele on statins exhibited elevated LDL-C levels. Our study suggests that the Trp719Arg allele of KIF 6 rs20455 is common among Filipino-American women; thus, even with borderline LDL-C levels would benefit from statin treatment. Secondly, many participants did not exhibit guideline recommended LDL-C levels including many who were on statin drugs.
Early Stage Design Decisions: The Way to Achieve Sustainable Buildings at Lower Costs
Authors: Bragança Luís , Vieira Susana M. , Andrade Joana B.
Published: January 2014

The construction industry attempts to produce buildings with as lower environmental impact as possible. However, construction activities still greatly affect environment; therefore, it is necessary to consider a sustainable project approach based on its performance. Sustainability is an important issue to consider in design, not only due to environmental concerns but also due to economic and social matters, promoting architectural quality and economic advantages. This paper aims to identify the phases through which a design project should be developed, emphasising the importance and ability of earlier stages to influence sustainability, performance, and life cycle cost. Then, a selection of sustainability key indicators, able to be used at the design conceptual phase and able to start predicting environmental sustainability performance of buildings is presented. The output of this paper aimed to enable designers to compare and evaluate the consequences of different design solutions, based on preliminary data, and facilitate the collaboration between stakeholders and clients and eventually yield a sustainable and high performance building throughout its life cycle.
Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan/Feldspar Biohybrid as an Adsorbent: Optimization of Adsorption Process via Response Surface Modeling
Authors: Yazdani Maryam , Bahrami Hajir , Arami Mokhtar
Published: January 2014

Chitosan/feldspar biobased beads were synthesized, characterized, and tested for the removal of Acid Black 1 dye from aquatic phases. A four-factor central composite design (CCD) accompanied by response surface modeling (RSM) and optimization was used to optimize the dye adsorption by the adsorbent (chitosan/feldspar composite) in 31 different batch experiments. Independent variables of temperature, pH, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent dose were used to change to coded values. To anticipate the responses, a quadratic model was applied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested the significance of the process factors and their interactions. The adequacy of the model was investigated by the correlation between experimental and predicted data of the adsorption and the calculation of prediction errors. The results showed that the predicted maximum adsorption amount of 21.63 mg/g under the optimum conditions (pH 3, temperature 15°C, initial dye concentration 125 mg/L, and dose 0.2 g/50 mL) was close to the experimental value of 19.85 mg/g. In addition, the results of adsorption behaviors of the dye illustrated that the adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Langmuir sorption capacity was found to be 17.86 mg/g. Besides, thermodynamic parameters were evaluated and revealed that the adsorption process was exothermic and favourable.
Dirac Particle in External Non-Abelian Gauge Field
Authors: Hamil Bilel , Chetouani Lyazid
Published: January 2014

The Green function of a Dirac particle in interaction with a non-Abelian SU(N) gauge field exactly and analytically determined via the path integral formalism by using the approach so-called “global projection.” The essential steps in the calculation are the choice of a convenient gauge (Lorentz gauge) and the introduction of two constraints, φ=kx (related to space) and Grassmannian η=kψ (related to Dirac matrices). Furthermore, it is shown that certain selected equations obtained during the integrations can also be classically derived.
Composted Rice Husk Improves the Growth and Biochemical Parameters of Sunflower Plants
Authors: Badar Rabia , Qureshi Shamim A.
Published: January 2014

The present study investigated the effects of composted rice husk (5 and 26; 10 g/2 kg of soil/pot) on growth and biochemical parameters of sunflower plants at the 30th and 60th day of germination. Result showed significant improvement in growth and biochemical parameters of plants as compared to control plants treated with uncomposted organic fertilizer. However, the effects vary with the microbial treatments involved in the composting of rice husk like composted withT. hamatum(JUF1), bradyrhizobiumsp-II(JUR2) alone, and JUF1 in combination withRhizobium sp-I(JUR1) were found effective in improving the shoot and root lengths, total chlorophyll, carbohydrate, crude protein, and mineral (nitrogen and phosphorus) content of sunflower plants. It indicates that composted rice husk with improved total carbohydrate and protein contents may increase the soil fertility by improving its organic content.
Effect of Fiber Content on Abrasive Wear Behavior of Date Palm Leaf Reinforced Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone Composite
Authors: Mohanty Jyoti R. , Das Sankar N. , Das Harish C.
Published: January 2014

The effect of fiber contents on wear behavior of date palm leaf reinforced polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP/DPL) composites has been experimentally investigated. The test samples with fillers in 10, 20, 30, and 40% based on weight of fibers were prepared using injection molding. The optimum fiber content (i.e., 26 wt%) for maximum mechanical strength of the composites was determined by regression analysis. The dry sliding wear tests were conducted for each composition at different sliding velocities (0.392, 0.471, and 0.549 m/s) and sliding distances (188, 254, and 376 m) by applying normal loads of 5, 10, 15, and 20 N using pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The specific wear rate, wear loss, and coefficient of friction were plotted against the normal load and sliding distance at all sliding velocities. The results reveal that incorporation of date palm leaf fibers leads to significant improvement in the wear resistance of composites up to optimum fiber content and then decreases as fiber content increases. Further, it is found that surface modification has significant effect on wear performance. Worn surfaces of some selected samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy to analyze the wear mechanism.
A Web-Server of Cell Type Discrimination System
Authors: Wang Anyou , Zhong Yan , Wang Yanhua , He Qianchuan
Published: January 2014

Discriminating cell types is a daily request for stem cell biologists. However, there is not a user-friendly system available to date for public users to discriminate the common cell types, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and somatic cells (SCs). Here, we develop WCTDS, a web-server of cell type discrimination system, to discriminate the three cell types and their subtypes like fetal versus adult SCs. WCTDS is developed as a top layer application of our recent publication regarding cell type discriminations, which employs DNA-methylation as biomarkers and machine learning models to discriminate cell types. Implemented by Django, Python, R, and Linux shell programming, run under Linux-Apache web server, and communicated through MySQL, WCTDS provides a friendly framework to efficiently receive the user input and to run mathematical models for analyzing data and then to present results to users. This framework is flexible and easy to be expended for other applications. Therefore, WCTDS works as a user-friendly framework to discriminate cell types and subtypes and it can also be expended to detect other cell types like cancer cells.
Mesenchymal Conversion of Mesothelial Cells Is a Key Event in the Pathophysiology of the Peritoneum during Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: López-Cabrera Manuel
Published: January 2014

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a therapeutic option for the treatment of end-stage renal disease and is based on the use of the peritoneum as a semipermeable membrane for the exchange of toxic solutes and water. Long-term exposure of the peritoneal membrane to hyperosmotic PD fluids causes inflammation, loss of the mesothelial cells monolayer, fibrosis, vasculopathy, and angiogenesis, which may lead to peritoneal functional decline. Peritonitis may further exacerbate the injury of the peritoneal membrane. In parallel with these peritoneal alterations, mesothelial cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which has been associated with peritoneal deterioration. Factors contributing to the bioincompatibility of classical PD fluids include the high content of glucose/glucose degradation products (GDPs) and their acidic pH. New generation low-GDPs-neutral pH fluids have improved biocompatibility resulting in better preservation of the peritoneum. However, standard glucose-based fluids are still needed, as biocompatible solutions are expensive for many potential users. An alternative approach to preserve the peritoneal membrane, complementary to the efforts to improve fluid biocompatibility, is the use of pharmacological agents protecting the mesothelium. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advances that point to the EMT of mesothelial cells as a potential therapeutic target to preserve membrane function.
An Averaging Principle for Stochastic Differential Delay Equations with Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Xu Yong , Pei Bin , Li Yongge
Published: January 2014

An averaging principle for a class of stochastic differential delay equations (SDDEs) driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm) with Hurst parameter in(1/2,1)is considered, where stochastic integration is convolved as the path integrals. The solutions to the original SDDEs can be approximated by solutions to the corresponding averaged SDDEs in the sense of both convergence in mean square and in probability, respectively. Two examples are carried out to illustrate the proposed averaging principle.
Validation of Simultaneous Quantitative Method of HIV Protease Inhibitors Atazanavir, Darunavir and Ritonavir in Human Plasma by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Mishra Tulsidas , Shrivastav Pranav S.
Published: January 2014

Objectives. HIV protease inhibitors are used in the treatment of patients suffering from AIDS and they act at the final stage of viral replication by interfering with the HIV protease enzyme. The paper describes a selective, sensitive, and robust method for simultaneous determination of three protease inhibitors atazanavir, darunavir and ritonavir in human plasma by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Materials and Methods. The sample pretreatment consisted of solid phase extraction of analytes and their deuterated analogs as internal standards from 50 μL human plasma. Chromatographic separation of analytes was performed on Waters Acquity UPLC C18 (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column under gradient conditions using 10 mM ammonium formate, pH 4.0, and acetonitrile as the mobile phase.Results. The method was established over a concentration range of 5.0–6000 ng/mL for atazanavir, 5.0–5000 ng/mL for darunavir and 1.0–500 ng/mL for ritonavir. Accuracy, precision, matrix effect, recovery, and stability of the analytes were evaluated as per US FDA guidelines.Conclusions. The efficiency of sample preparation, short analysis time, and high selectivity permit simultaneous estimation of these inhibitors. The validated method can be useful in determining plasma concentration of these protease inhibitors for therapeutic drug monitoring and in high throughput clinical studies.
Clozapine-Induced Myocarditis: Is Mandatory Monitoring Warranted for Its Early Recognition?
Authors: Munshi T. A. , Volochniouk D. , Hassan T. , Mazhar N.
Published: January 2014

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for treatment resistant schizophrenia. Its potential to induce agranulocytosis is well known but it can also cause myocarditis. Clozapine is the only antipsychotic known to induce this side effect, typically early in the treatment, and literature is scarce on this condition. We are presenting a case report of a 21-year-old schizophrenic male who developed myocarditis within 3 weeks of starting on clozapine for his treatment resistant psychosis. We then aim to review some of the available literature and raise awareness among physicians as this condition can potentially be fatal if not detected early.
The Rate of Decline of Glomerular Filtration Rate May Not Be Associated with Polymorphism of the PPARγ2 Gene in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Nephropathy
Authors: Yang Bingmei , Zhao Hongxin , Millward Beverley Ann , Demaine Andrew Glen
Published: January 2014

The aim of the study was to investigate whether a Pro12Ala polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARγ2) gene is associated with the progress of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes. 197 Caucasian patients with type 1 diabetes and ethnically matched 151 normal healthy controls were genotyped for this polymorphism. Results showed that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of the polymorphism between groups. Multiple regression analysis in 77 patients demonstrated that the rate of decline in renal function in terms of glomerular filtration rate was significantly correlated to the baseline level of cholesterol (P=0.0014), mean diastolic blood pressure during follow-up period (P=0.019), and baseline level of HbA1c (P=0.022) adjusting for the effect of diabetes duration and gender, but no significant association was found between the polymorphism and the progression of diabetic nephropathy in our studied population. In summary, our results show that the PPARγ2 polymorphism is unlikely to be associated with the development and progression of the diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes. Further studies in different populations may be warranted to confirm our findings as the sample size in our study was relatively small.
Protein-Protein Interactions Prediction Based on Iterative Clique Extension with Gene Ontology Filtering
Authors: Yang Lei , Tang Xianglong
Published: January 2014

Cliques (maximal complete subnets) in protein-protein interaction (PPI) network are an important resource used to analyze protein complexes and functional modules. Clique-based methods of predicting PPI complement the data defection from biological experiments. However, clique-based predicting methods only depend on the topology of network. The false-positive and false-negative interactions in a network usually interfere with prediction. Therefore, we propose a method combining clique-based method of prediction and gene ontology (GO) annotations to overcome the shortcoming and improve the accuracy of predictions. According to different GO correcting rules, we generate two predicted interaction sets which guarantee the quality and quantity of predicted protein interactions. The proposed method is applied to the PPI network from the Database of Interacting Proteins (DIP) and most of the predicted interactions are verified by another biological database, BioGRID. The predicted protein interactions are appended to the original protein network, which leads to clique extension and shows the significance of biological meaning.
Some Inequalities for theq-Analogue of the Classical Riemann Zeta Functions and theq-Polygamma Functions
Authors: Sroysang Banyat
Published: January 2014

We present the generalizations on some inequalities for theq-analogue of the classical Riemann zeta functions and theq-polygamma functions.
Effects of Herbal Essential Oil Mixture as a Dietary Supplement on Egg Production in Quail
Authors: Çabuk Metin , Eratak Serdar , Alçicek Ahmet , Bozkurt Mehmet
Published: January 2014

One hundred and eighty 7-week-old laying quail were fed various diets over a 12-week period. The diets included a control diet (without essential oil mixture (EOM) or antibiotics (ANTs)), a basal diet including EOM (24 mg/kg feed), and a basal diet including an ANT (avilamycin, 10 mg/kg feed). Each treatment comprised 4 replications with 4 cages (15 quail per cage), amounting to 60 quail per treatment group. Diets (in mash form) and water were provided forad libitumconsumption. EOM consisted of 6 different essential oils derived from the following herbs: oregano (Origanumsp.), laurel leaf (Laurus nobilisL.), sage leaf (Salvia trilobaL.), myrtle leaf (Myrtus communis), fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare), and citrus peel (Citrussp.). In comparison with the control diet, adding supplements such as EOM and ANTs to the basal diet increased egg production in quail (P<0.001). However, egg production was similar between EOM and ANT treatment groups. Moreover, there were no differences between the treatment groups with regard to egg weight. Feed intake was not affected by EOM or ANT supplementation, whereas feed conversion ratio was significantly improved by EOM and ANT supplementation. Thus, we concluded that EOM has beneficial effects as a dietary supplement on egg production and feed conversion ratio.