bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disseminated tuberculosis manifesting as pulmonary, meningeal and spinal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient
Authors: Verma Rajesh , Patil Tushar B , Lalla Rakesh
Published: December 2012

Disseminated tuberculosis is characterised by concurrent tubercular involvement of two or more non-contiguous organs. It is an unusual presentation of tuberculosis, especially in the absence of immunodeficiency. We describe a young, immunocompetent patient who presented with fever, cough, headache, diplopia and paraparesis. On examination, the patient had positive Kernig's sign, right third cranial nerve palsy and bilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy, bilateral lower limb weakness and crepititions on lung auscultation bilaterally. Chest radiogram revealed bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis. CT of brain showed hydrocephalus and MRI of spine showed collapse of lumbar vertebrae with paravertebral cold abscess. Sputum microscopy was positive for acid fast bacilli, cerebrospinal fluid analysis was suggestive of tubercular meningitis and CT-guided biopsy of the vertebral lesions revealed caseating granulomas with acid fast bacilli. The patient received antitubercular therapy with initial treatment with steroids and he improved clinically at the end of a 9-month treatment.
Polyuria and ‘watery wee’ in a toddler
Authors: Ding Jane , Perera Leonie
Published: December 2012

A 2-year-old girl presented with intermittent dysuria. Following triage in paediatric A+E, the nursing staff became concerned with the large sample of colourless urine she produced, which tested positive for leucocytes. She was described as a ‘big drinker’ to the SHO, raising concerns about diabetes insipidus. On detailed questioning it emerged that she had recently drunk a herbal tea preparation (buchu, couchgrass, marshmallow and plantain) to help ‘flush out’ her urinary system. She was advised to stop the tea. She had localised genital irritation and was discharged home with hygiene/barrier advice, pending urine culture results. She represented 2 days later with worsening dysuria and fever. Her urine was of normal colour and tested positive for leucocytes, nitrites and blood, hence she started antibiotics (urine cultures subsequently grew coliforms). Herbal use in children is not uncommon and should be considered as a cause of polyuria.
Predictors of repeatChlamydia trachomatisand/orNeisseria gonorrhoeaeinfections among African-American adolescent women
Authors: Swartzendruber Andrea , Sales Jessica M , Brown Jennifer L , Davis Teaniese Latham , DiClemente Ralph J , Rose Eve
Published: December 2012

Background

Young African-American women have the highest rates ofChlamydia trachomatisandNeisseria gonorrhoeaein the USA. The objective was to identify baseline predictors of repeat chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea infections among African-American adolescent women.

Methods

Sociodemographic, psychosocial and behavioural data were collected at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years from 701 African-American women (14–20 years) enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. Vaginal swabs were self-collected at each visit and assayed for chlamydia and gonorrhoea using DNA amplification. Among participants testing positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea at baseline, logistic regression analyses assessed baseline predictors of repeat infection.

Results

Of 618 (88%) participants with ≥1 follow-up assessment, 123 (20%) had a positive chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea test result at baseline; 49 (40%) had a repeat infection during the study period. Of those with a repeat infection, 30 (61%) were positive at one follow-up visit, 18 (37%) at two visits and 1 (2%) at three follow-up visits. Controlling for age and intervention condition, impulsivity (AOR: 1.71, p=0.018) was associated with an increased likelihood, and having a boyfriend (AOR: 0.21, p=0.006) was associated with a decreased likelihood of repeat infection.

Conclusions

Repeat chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea infections are common among African-American adolescent women. Among young African-American women who test positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea, tailored interventions for more impulsive adolescents and those not in a relationship may reduce risk of repeat infections. Given the high numbers of repeat infections after receipt of an evidence-based intervention, enhanced screening and treatment services for young men may be warranted.

Clinical Trials Registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov(NCT00279799)
Effects of capillary number, Bond number, and gas solubility on water saturation of sand specimens
Authors: Kutter Bruce L.
Published: December 2012

To better understand how to prepare completely water-saturated specimens or centrifuge models from dry sand, the mechanisms of the infiltration and filling of pores in sand are studied. Complete saturation has been shown by others to be especially important in studies involving the triggering of liquefaction. This paper discusses how the degree of saturation obtained during infiltration increases with the “Bond number”, Bo (ratio of body forces and capillary forces), and the “capillary number”, Ca (ratio of viscous forces and capillary forces), as well as the solubility of gas bubbles in the pore fluid. Bo is varied by changing the particle size, fluid density, and centrifugal acceleration. Ca is varied by changing the fluid viscosity and infiltration rate. The dissolution of gas is encouraged by replacing pore air by CO2 (56 times more soluble in water than N2), by de-airing the liquid prior to infiltration or by increasing the pore fluid pressure after infiltration. Infiltration experiments performed at 1g and in a centrifuge are presented. A new technique for measuring the degree of saturation is also presented. Quantitative pressure–saturation relations are presented for different gasses, illustrating the importance of replacement of air by CO2. Spinning a specimen in a centrifuge during infiltration is also useful for speeding up the saturation process and for achieving higher degrees of saturation.
Oils rich in α-linolenic acid independently protect against characteristics of fatty liver disease in the Δ6-desaturase null mouse
Authors: Monteiro Jessica , Askarian Fatemeh , Nakamura Manabu T. , Moghadasian Mohammed H. , Ma David W.L.
Published: December 2012

Alpha-linolenic acid's (ALA) biological activity is poorly understood and primarily associated with its conversion to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Delta-6 desaturase (D6D) initiates the metabolism of linoleic acid (LA) and ALA to arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA, respectively. In this study, D6D knock-out (D6KO) mice were used to evaluate the effects of ALA-rich oils in preventing hepatic steatosis and inflammation. D6KO and wild-type mice were fed 1 of 4 high-fat (14% w/w) diets: (i) lard (LD, 0% n-3 PUFA), (ii) canola oil + ARASCO (CD, 8% ALA), (iii) flax seed oil + ARASCO (FD, 55% ALA), (iv) menhaden oil (MD, 30% EPA/DHA) for 8 or 20 weeks. Livers of D6KO mice consuming CD and FD were depleted of EPA/DHA, and enriched in ALA. Markers of fat accumulation and inflammation were lowest in the MD-fed mice, at 8 and 20 weeks, regardless of genotype. CD- and FD-fed D6KO groups were found to have lower liver lipid accumulation and lower hepatic inflammation relative to the LD-fed mice at 8 weeks. In conclusion, while MD was the most protective, this study shows that ALA can act independently on risk factors associated with the development of fatty liver disease.
Circulating carotenoid levels are negatively associated with previous reproductive success in Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
Authors: Cohen A.A. , Bowman R. , Boughton R.K. , Bridge E. , Heiss R.S. , Schoech S.J. , McGraw K.J.
Published: December 2012

The relationship between individual fitness and antioxidants and oxidative stress has come under increasing scrutiny of late. In particular, associations between oxidative balance indicators and reproductive success in the wild have been inconsistent in the limited prior work on this topic. Studies spanning multiple seasons and antioxidant types are particularly lacking. Here, we examined associations between reproductive success over two breeding seasons and several metrics of circulating antioxidants (antioxidant capacity, uric acid, carotenoids, and vitamin E, measured in the intervening nonbreeding season) in Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens (Bosc, 1795)). We found that carotenoid levels in the nonbreeding season were negatively associated with reproductive success in the preceding breeding season but unassociated with that in the subsequent breeding season. This correlation may be driven by the cost of reproduction (i.e., carotenoid depletion while breeding) or some other unmeasured and intercorrelated variable such as diet. Antioxidant capacity, uric acid, and vitamin E were not associated with reproductive success. These data are consistent with an emerging theme in physiological ecology: that antioxidants and oxidative stress are but one part of a suite of integrative physiological systems that interact and trade-off in complex ways, making full understanding of their ecological roles challenging.
MØLLER ENERGY–MOMENTUM COMPLEX FOR HIGHER-DIMENSIONAL SPHERICALLY SYMMETRIC SPACETIME IN GENERAL RELATIVITY
Authors: BAYSAL HÜSNÜ
Published: December 2012

We have calculated the total energy–momentum distribution associated with (n+2)-dimensional spherically symmetric model of the universe by using the Møller energy–momentum definition in general relativity (GR). We have found that components of Møller energy and momentum tensor for given spacetimes are different from zero. Also, we are able to get energy and momentum density of various well-known wormholes and black hole models by using the (n+2)-dimensional spherically symmetric metric. Also, our results have been discussed and compared with the results for four-dimensional spacetimes in literature.
AN UPPER BOUND OF THE DIRECTIONAL ENTROPY WITH RESPECT TO THE MARKOV MEASURES
Authors: AKIN HASAN
Published: December 2012

In this short paper, without considering the natural extension we study the directional entropy of a Z2-action Φ generated by an invertible one-dimensional linear cellular automaton [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], over the ring Zpk(with p a prime number and k ≥ 2), where gcd (p, λr) = 1 and p ∣ λifor all i ≠ r, and the shift map acting on the compact metric space [Formula: see text]. Without loss of generality, we consider k = 2. We prove that the directional entropy hv(Φ)(v = (s, q) ∈ R) of a Z2-action with respect to a Markov measure μπPover space [Formula: see text] defined by a stochastic matrix P = (aij) and a probability vector π = {π0, π1, …, πp2-1} is bounded above by [Formula: see text].
NONAUTONOMOUS TWO-PERIODIC GUMOVSKI–MIRA DIFFERENCE EQUATIONS
Authors: CIMA ANNA , GASULL ARMENGOL , MAÑOSA VÍCTOR
Published: December 2012

We consider two types of nonautonomous two-periodic Gumovski–Mira difference equations. We show that while the corresponding autonomous recurrences are conjugated, the behavior of the sequences generated by the two-periodic ones differ dramatically: in one case the behavior of the sequences is simple (integrable) and in the other case it is much more complicated (chaotic). We also present a global study of the integrable case that includes which periods appear for the recurrence.
MODELING THE NEWTON–LEIPNIK ATTRACTOR
Authors: MARLIN BENJAMIN
Published: December 2012

We examine the invariant set of the Newton–Leipnik attractor using the inverse limit of a related function. This is accomplished using a simpler model than that proposed in [LoFaro, 1997b], and we argue that the earlier model is suspect.
A RIKITAKE TYPE SYSTEM WITH QUADRATIC CONTROL
Authors: LĂZUREANU CRISTIAN , BÎNZAR TUDOR
Published: December 2012

A Rikitake type system with quadratic control having a negative tuning parameter is considered and some of the geometrical and dynamical properties are analyzed.
BIFURCATION OF ROUGH HETEROCLINIC LOOP WITH ORBIT FLIPS
Authors: LIU XINGBO , WANG ZHENZHEN , ZHU DEMING
Published: December 2012

In this paper, heteroclinic loop bifurcations with double orbit flips are investigated in four-dimensional vector fields. We obtain the bifurcation equations by setting up a local coordinate system near the rough heteroclinic orbit and establishing the Poincaré map. By means of the bifurcation equations, we investigate the existence, coexistence and noncoexistence of periodic orbit, homoclinic loop and heteroclinic loop under some nongeneric conditions. The approximate expressions of corresponding bifurcation curves (or surfaces) are also given. An example of application is also given to demonstrate the existence of the heteroclinic loop with double orbit flips.
COLLECTIVE DYNAMICS AND CONTROL OF A 3-D SMALL-WORLD NETWORK WITH TIME DELAYS
Authors: XU XU , LUO JIAWEI , GU YUANTONG
Published: December 2012

The paper presents a detailed analysis on the collective dynamics and delayed state feedback control of a three-dimensional delayed small-world network. The trivial equilibrium of the model is first investigated, showing that the uncontrolled model exhibits complicated unbounded behavior. Then three control strategies, namely a position feedback control, a velocity feedback control, and a hybrid control combined velocity with acceleration feedback, are then introduced to stabilize this unstable system. It is shown in these three control schemes that only the hybrid control can easily stabilize the 3-D network system. And with properly chosen delay and gain in the delayed feedback path, the hybrid controlled model may have stable equilibrium, or periodic solutions resulting from the Hopf bifurcation, or complex stranger attractor from the period-doubling bifurcation. Moreover, the direction of Hopf bifurcation and stability of the bifurcation periodic solutions are analyzed. The results are further extended to any "d" dimensional network. It shows that to stabilize a "d" dimensional delayed small-world network, at least a "d – 1" order completed differential feedback is needed. This work provides a constructive suggestion for the high dimensional delayed systems.
BUCKLING BEHAVIOR OF SHORT MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES UNDER AXIAL COMPRESSION LOADS
Authors: KORAYEM A. H. , DUAN W. H. , ZHAO X. L. , WANG C. M.
Published: December 2012

We investigate the buckling behaviors of short multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) under axial compression by using molecular mechanics (MM) simulations. The effects of the number of walls, length and chiral angle of MWCNTs on the buckling behaviors are examined. The results show that the buckling behaviors of short MWCNTs are rather different from single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and slender MWCNTs. Moreover, it is observed that the buckling strains of short MWCNTs vary inversely proportional to the number of nanotube walls. For slender MWCNTs, the buckling strains fluctuate as the number of walls increase. It increases for beam-like buckling mode, decreases for shell-like buckling mode and is approximately constant for the shell-beam-like buckling mode. The increase in the length of MWCNT has also led to a significant decrease of the buckling strain for short MWCNTs. However, chirality does not have a significant effect on the buckling strain of MWCNTs nor alter the buckling mode of short MWCNTs.
STRUCTURE AND STABILITY OF $CLOSO-B_{n}H_{n-1}N_{2}^{-} (n=5-12)$
Authors: TANG YUPENG , LI NAN
Published: December 2012

[Formula: see text], framework-isoelectronic to [Formula: see text], have been investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G** level of theory. The most stable positional isomers of individual [Formula: see text] are similar to those of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in framework configuration. The energy analysis reveals that the cage [Formula: see text] with the icosahedron framework, [Formula: see text] with the octahedron framework and [Formula: see text] with the bicapped square antiprism framework are, in order, the most stable in the [Formula: see text] system. Furthermore, three-dimensional aromaticity of all [Formula: see text] is characterized. The most stable cages, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], also have relatively large aromaticity. All the predicted N–N stretching frequencies (2127–2303 cm−1) of the most stable positional isomers in the [Formula: see text] system are lower than the computational N–N stretching frequency (2445 cm−1) of free N2 at the same level, which results from the σ donation of N2 to B frameworks. The stretching frequencies of N–N in the [Formula: see text] cages increase with the decrease of N–N distances or the increase of B–N distance. In addition, B n−1 H n−1 fragment has larger affinity for group CH than that for group BNN, namely, it favors to form the [Formula: see text] rather than the [Formula: see text].
THE EFFECT OF SCREENED COULOMB INTERACTION ON THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF EuS/PbS/EuS FINITE CONFINING POTENTIAL QUANTUM WELL
Authors: AHARONYAN K. H. , KAZARYAN E. M.
Published: December 2012

We theoretically investigate excitonic effects on the optical properties of quasi-two dimensional realistic EuS/PbS/EuS finite confining potential quantum well. The strong contrast of material parameter’s across the well interfaces and the characteristic band-nonparabolicity effect of lead salt semiconductor are taken into account. In presence of medium polarization a feasibility of the screened Coulomb potential in quantum well is examined and appropriate screening radius is revealed for the first time. The screened binding energy investigated while a variational approach has been used. Depend on the realistic nanostructure specifics a monotonic decrease of the enhanced binding energy is received when in-plane carrier density/temperature ratio parameter increases. Exciton absorption spectra near the band edge within the effective-mass approximation is examined. Coulomb potential having a cutoff type is used, that efficiently represented the potential in the realistic quantum well. Screened exciton factor, which is the absorption intensity enhancement of the unbound (continuum) exciton states that are located above the band edge, is used. Plot of the dependence of the exciton factor on the exciton pair energy is given.
The podocyte's response to stress: the enigma of foot process effacement
Authors: Kriz Wilhelm , Shirato Isao , Nagata Michio , LeHir Michel , Lemley Kevin V.
Published: December 2012

Progressive loss of podocytes is the most frequent cause accounting for end-stage renal failure. Podocytes are complex, terminally differentiated cells incapable of replicating. Thus lost podocytes cannot be replaced by proliferation of neighboring undamaged cells. Moreover, podocytes occupy a unique position as epithelial cells, adhering to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) only by their processes, whereas their cell bodies float within the filtrate in Bowman's space. This exposes podocytes to the danger of being lost by detachment as viable cells from the GBM. Indeed, podocytes are continually excreted as viable cells in the urine, and the rate of excretion dramatically increases in glomerular diseases. Given this situation, it is likely that evolution has developed particular mechanisms whereby podocytes resist cell detachment. Podocytes respond to stress and injury by undergoing tremendous changes in shape. Foot process effacement is the most prominent and, yet in some ways, the most enigmatic of those changes. This review summarizes the various structural responses of podocytes to injury, focusing on foot process effacement and detachment. We raise the hypothesis that foot process effacement represents a protective response of podocytes to escape detachment from the GBM.
Involvement of p300/CBP and epigenetic histone acetylation in TGF-β1-mediated gene transcription in mesangial cells
Authors: Yuan Hang , Reddy Marpadga A. , Sun Guangdong , Lanting Linda , Wang Mei , Kato Mitsuo , Natarajan Rama
Published: December 2012

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and p21 in renal mesangial cells (MCs) plays a major role in glomerulosclerosis and hypertrophy, key events in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. However, the involvement of histone acetyl transferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) that regulate epigenetic histone lysine acetylation, and their interaction with TGF-β1-responsive transcription factors, are not clear. We evaluated the roles of histone acetylation, specific HATs, and HDACs in TGF-β1-induced gene expression in rat mesangial cells (RMCs) and in glomeruli from diabetic mice. Overexpression of HATs CREB binding protein (CBP) or p300, but not p300/CBP-activating factor, significantly enhanced TGF-β1-induced PAI-1 and p21 mRNA levels as well as transactivation of their promoters in RMCs. Conversely, they were significantly attenuated by HAT domain mutants of CBP and p300 or overexpression of HDAC-1 and HDAC-5. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that TGF-β1 treatment led to a time-dependent enrichment of histone H3-lysine9/14-acetylation (H3K9/14Ac) and p300/CBP occupancies around Smad and Sp1 binding sites at the PAI-1 and p21 promoters. TGF-β1 also enhanced the interaction of p300 with Smad2/3 and Sp1 and increased Smad2/3 acetylation. High glucose-treated RMCs exhibited increased PAI-1 and p21 levels, and promoter H3K9/14Ac, which were blocked by TGF-β1 antibodies. Furthermore, increased PAI-1 and p21 expression was associated with elevated promoter H3K9/14Ac levels in glomeruli from diabetic mice. Thus TGF-β1-induced PAI-1 and p21 expression involves interaction of p300/CBP with Smads and Sp1, and increased promoter access via p300/CBP-induced H3K9/14Ac. This in turn can augment glomerular dysfunction linked to diabetic nephropathy.
Carbon monoxide stimulates Ca2+-dependent big-conductance K channels in the cortical collecting duct
Authors: Wang Zhijian , Yue Peng , Lin Dao-Hong , Wang Wen-Hui
Published: December 2012

We used the patch-clamp technique to examine the role of carbon monoxide (CO) in regulating Ca2+-activated big-conductance K (BK) channels in the principal cell of the cortical collecting duct (CCD). Application of CORM3 or CORM2, a CO donor, activated BK channels in the CCD, whereas adding inactivated CORM2/3 had no effect. Superfusion of the CCD with CO-bubbled bath solution also activated the BK channels in the cell-attached patches. The effect of CO on BK channels was not dependent on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) because the effect of CORM3 was also observed in the CCD treated with l-NAME, an agent that inhibits the NOS. Adding a membrane-permeable cGMP analog, 8-bromo-cGMP, significantly increased the BK channel in the CCD. However, inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase failed to abolish the stimulatory effect of CORM3 on BK channels. Moreover, inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase G did not block the stimulatory effect of CORM3 on the BK channels, suggesting that the stimulatory effect of CO on the BK channels was, at least partially, induced by a cGMP-independent mechanism. Western blot demonstrated that heme oxygenase type 1 (HO-1) and HO-2 were expressed in the kidney. Moreover, a high-K (HK) intake increased the expression of HO-1 but not HO-2 in the kidney. A HK intake also increased renal HO activity defined by NADPH-dependent CO generation following addition of heme in the cell lysate from renal cortex and outer medulla. The role of HO in regulating BK channel activity in the CCD was also suggested by experiments in which application of hemin increased the BK channels. The stimulatory effect of hemin on the BK channels was blocked by SnMP, a HO inhibitor. But, adding CORM3 was still able to activate the BK channels in the presence of SnMP. We conclude that CO activates the BK channels, at least partially, through a NO-cGMP-independent pathway and that HO plays a role in mediating the effect of HK intake on the BK channels in the CCD.
A simple model of mechanotransduction in primate glabrous skin
Authors: Dong Yi , Mihalas Stefan , Kim Sung Soo , Yoshioka Takashi , Bensmaia Sliman , Niebur Ernst
Published: December 2012

Tactile stimulation of the hand evokes highly precise and repeatable patterns of activity in mechanoreceptive afferents; the strength (i.e., firing rate) and timing of these responses have been shown to convey stimulus information. To achieve an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the representation of tactile stimuli in the nerve, we developed a two-stage computational model consisting of a nonlinear mechanical transduction stage followed by a generalized integrate-and-fire mechanism. The model improves upon a recently published counterpart in two important ways. First, complexity is dramatically reduced (at least one order of magnitude fewer parameters). Second, the model comprises a saturating nonlinearity and therefore can be applied to a much wider range of stimuli. We show that both the rate and timing of afferent responses are predicted with remarkable precision and that observed adaptation patterns and threshold behavior are well captured. We conclude that the responses of mechanoreceptive afferents can be understood using a very parsimonious mechanistic model, which can then be used to accurately simulate the responses of afferent populations.
Differential effects of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia on the cerebral and cerebellar cortical activities in the rat
Authors: Ordek Gokhan , Groth Jonathan D. , Sahin Mesut
Published: December 2012

Cerebellum is a highly organized structure with a crystalline morphology that has always intrigued neuroscientists. Much of the cerebellar research has been conducted in anesthetized animals, particularly using ketamine/xylazine combination in rats. It is not clear how and to what extent the cerebellar cortical circuitry is affected by this anesthesia. In this study, we recorded spontaneous and evoked potentials from the cerebellar surface with chronically implanted, flexible-substrate, multielectrode arrays in rats and compared them to the signals simultaneously recorded from the motor cortex with similar electrodes. The power spectra and the intercontact coherence plots of the spontaneous activity in the awake-quiet animals extended up to 800 Hz in the cerebellum and only up to 200 Hz in the motor cortex. Ketamine/xylazine anesthesia suppressed most of the activity in the cerebellar cortex, which was in clear contrast to the motor cortex. In the awake cerebellum, large coherence values were observed between contact pairs as far apart as ∼2 mm. Otherwise, there was not a discernable relation between the coherence and the intercontact distance. These results suggest that the surface electrodes can provide much more detailed information about the state of neural circuits when they are used on the cerebellar cortex compared with the cerebral areas. This may be due to the proximity of the molecular layer cells to the pial surface in the cerebellum.
Research on Regional Strategic Emerging Industry Selection Models Based on Fuzzy Optimization and Entropy Evaluation
Authors: Guo Xiuying , Hui Xiaofeng
Published: December 2012

It is with a great significance to discuss the selection model of regional strategic emerging industry. First, the paper uses the fuzzy optimization theory to select the central industry of area as the regional strategic emerging industry and try to optimize the weight’s calculation in the multistage fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to get more accurate results. Then it will do a strategic emerging industrial inspection about the advantage and ecological related index based on a multiobjective programming model and the maximum entropy.
Production of a Thermostable and Alkaline Chitinase by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Strain HBK-51
Authors: Kuzu Secil Berna , Güvenmez Hatice Korkmaz , Denizci Aziz Akin
Published: December 2012

This paper reports the isolation and identification of chitinase-producing Bacillus from chitin-containing wastes, production of a thermostable and alkaline chitinasese, and enzyme characterization. Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HBK-51 was isolated from soil and was identified. Chitinase was obtained from supernatant of B. thuringiensis HBK-51 strain and showed its optimum activity at 110°C and at pH 9.0. Following 3 hours of incubation period, the enzyme showed a high level of activity at 110°C (96% remaining activity) and between pH 9.0 and 12.0 (98% remaining activity). Considering these characteristics, the enzyme was described as hyperthermophile-thermostable and highly alkaline. Two bands of the enzyme weighing 50 and 125 kDa were obtained following 12% SDS-PAGE analyses. Among the metal ions and chemicals used, Ni2+ (32%), K+ (44%), and Cu2+ (56%) increased the enzyme activity while EDTA (7%), SDS (7%), Hg2+ (11%), and ethyl-acetimidate (20%) decreased the activity of the enzyme. Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HBK-51 is an important strain which can be used in several biotechnological applications as a chitinase producer.
Topical Curcumin-Based Cream Is Equivalent to Dietary Curcumin in a Skin Cancer Model
Authors: Sonavane Kunal , Phillips Jeffrey , Ekshyyan Oleksandr , Moore-Medlin Tara , Roberts Gill Jennifer , Rong Xiaohua , Lakshmaiah Raghunatha Reddy , Abreo Fleurette , Boudreaux Douglas , Clifford John L. , Nathan Cherie-Ann O.
Published: December 2012

Skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the most common cancer in the USA, is a growing problem with the use of tanning booths causing sun-damaged skin. Antiproliferative effects of curcumin were demonstrated in an aggressive skin cancer cell line SRB12-p9 (P<0.05compared to control). Topical formulation was as effective as oral curcumin at suppressing tumor growth in a mouse skin cancer model. Curcumin at 15 mg administered by oral, topical, or combined formulation significantly reduced tumor growth compared to control (P=0.004). Inhibition of pAKT, pS6, p-4EBP1, pSTAT3, and pERK1/2 was noted in SRB12-p9 cells post-curcumin treatment compared to control (P<0.05). Inhibition of pSTAT3 and pERK1/2 was also noted in curcumin-treated groupsin vivo. IHC analysis revealed human tumor specimens that expressed significantly more activated pERK (P=0.006) and pS6 (P<0.0001) than normal skin samples. This is the first study to compare topical curcumin to oral curcumin. Our data supports the use of curcumin as a chemopreventive for skin SCC where condemned skin is a significant problem. Prevention strategies offer the best hope of future health care costs in a disease that is increasing in incidence due to increased sun exposure.
Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection after Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
Authors: Bakoyiannis Christos , Anastasiou Ioannis , Koutsoumpelis Andreas , Fragiadis Evangelos , Felesaki Eleni , Kafeza Marina , Georgopoulos Sotirios , Tsigris Christos
Published: December 2012

The use of shockwave lithotripsy is currently the mainstay of treatment in renal calculosis. Several complications including vessel injuries have been implied to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. We report an isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery in a 60-year-old male presenting with abdominal pain which occurred three days after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. The patient was treated conservatively and the abdominal pain subsided 24 hours later. The patient's history, the course of his disease, and the timing may suggest a correlation between the dissection and the ESWL.
Research on Performance of H2 Rich Blowout Limit in Bluff‐Body Burner
Authors: Zheng Hongtao , Li Yajun , Cai Lin
Published: December 2012

In order to investigate H2 rich blowout limit at different blockage ratios and flow velocities, a CFD software FLUENT was used to simulate H2 burning flow field in bluff‐body burner, and the software CHEMKIN was adopted to analyze the sensitivity of each elementary reaction. Composition Probability Density Function (C‐PDF) model was adopted to simulate H2 combustion field in turbulence flame. The numerical results show that reactions R2 and R9 possess the largest positive and negative temperature sensitivity. Temperature has a very important influence on these two reactions. When equivalence ratio is 1, the mixture is most ignitable, and the critical ignition temperature is 1550 K. There should be an optimal blockage ratio which can stabilize the flame best. When the blockage ratio remains unchanged, the relationship between H2 RBL and flow velocity is a logarithmic function. When the flow velocity remains unchanged, the relationship between H2 RBL and blockage ratio is a parabolic function. A complete extinction requires three phases: the temperature sudden decline in the main stream, the energy dissipation from the recirculation zone to the main stream, and the complete extinction of the flame.
The Role of Long-Chained Marine N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Aarsetoey Hildegunn , Grundt Heidi , Nygaard Ottar , Nilsen Dennis W. T.
Published: December 2012

This paper reviews the current evidence regarding long-chained marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), their possible mechanisms of action, and results of clinical trials. Also, primary and secondary prevention trials as studies on antiarrhythmic effects and meta-analyses are summarized. However, the individual bioavailability of n-3 PUFAs along with the highly different study designs and estimations of FAs intake or supplementation dosages in patient populations with different background intake of n-3 PUFAs might be some of the reasons for the inconsistent findings of the studies evaluating the impact of n-3 PUFAs on CVD. The question of an optimum dose of n-3 PUFAs or whether there exists a dose-response relation for n-3 PUFA supplementation is widely discussed. Moreover, the difficulties in interpreting meta-analyses are clearly demonstrated by two recently published meta-analyses (Rizos et al. and Delgado Lista et al.), evaluating the efficacy of n-3 PUFAs on CVD, including 12 common studies, but drawing opposite conclusions. We definitely need more large-scale, randomized clinical trials of long duration, also reporting harmful effects of n-3 PUFAs.
Personalized Management in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: The Role of Biomarkers
Authors: Dijkstra Siebren , Hamid Agus Rizal A. H. , Leyten Gisèle H. J. M. , Schalken Jack A.
Published: December 2012

Current criteria to predict low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) are still subject to discussion as a substantial number of PCa patients who progress to a more aggressive disease seem to be missed, using these criteria. The main challenge in PCa diagnosis, therefore, is to distinguish patients with low-risk PCa who will show slow progression of disease from patients at risk for progression to a more aggressive cancer. The current discovered biomarkers could potentially guide in this management and improve detection, staging, and prognosis. This paper provides an overview of the current available serum-, urine-, and tissue-based biomarkers in PCa and evaluates the clinical usefulness of these biomarkers in the detection and management of low-risk PCa.
Consensus of Discrete Time Second‐Order Multiagent Systems with Time Delay
Authors: Zhu Wei
Published: December 2012

The consensus problem for discrete time second‐order multiagent systems with time delay is studied. Some effective methods are presented to deal with consensus problems in discrete time multiagent systems. A necessary and sufficient condition is established to ensure consensus.
The convergence rate for reaching consensus is also estimated. It is shown that arbitrary bounded time delay can safely be tolerated. An example is presented to illustrate the theoretical result.
Multimodality Fusion with MRI, CT, and Ultrasound Contrast for Ablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Amalou Hayet , Wood Bradford J.
Published: December 2012

Fusion technology with electromagnetic (EM) tracking enables navigation with multimodality feedback that lets the operator use different modalities during different parts of the image-guided procedure. This may be particularly helpful in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing kidney tumor ablation, in whom there is a desire to minimize or avoid nephrotoxic iodinated contrast exposure. EM tracking software merges and fuses different imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, and ultrasound and can also display the position of needles in real time in relation to preprocedure imaging, which may better define tumor targets than available intraoperative imaging. EM tracking was successfully used to ablate a poorly visualized renal tumor, through the combined use of CT, gadolinium-enhanced MR, and contrast-enhanced US imaging to localize the tumor.
Secondary Syphilis with Pleural Effusion: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Elzouki Abdel-Naser , Al-Kawaaz Mustafa , Tafesh Zaid
Published: December 2012

Here we present a case of a 38-year-old Indian man with a history of extramarital relationships who presented with pleurisy, skin rash, and radiological findings of pleural effusion. After thorough investigation of the etiology of his acute illness, he was found to be positive for syphilis. Review of literature revealed a small number of case reports of pleural effusion as a manifestation of secondary syphilis. The review of criteria proposed in the literature was utilized to diagnose this patient as a case of pulmonary syphilis.
PCA-Guided Routing Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Chen Gong , Tan Liansheng , Gong Yanlin , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2012

An important performance concern for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is the total energy dissipated by all the nodes in the network over the course of network lifetime. In this paper, we propose a routing algorithm termed as PCA-guided routing algorithm (PCA-RA) by exploring the principal component analysis (PCA) approach. Our algorithm remarkably reduces energy consumption and prolongs network lifetime by realizing the objective of minimizing the sum of distances between the nodes and the cluster centers in a WSN network. It is demonstrated that the PCA-RA can be efficiently implemented in WSNs by forming a nearly optimalK-means-like clustering structure. In addition, it can decrease the network load while maintaining the accuracy of the sensor measurements during data aggregating process. We validate the efficacy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm by simulations. Both theoretical analyses and simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm can perform significantly with less energy consumption and thus prolong the system lifetime for the networks.
Exponential Admissibility and H∞ Control of Switched Singular Time‐Delay Systems: An Average Dwell Time Approach
Authors: Lin Jinxing , Gao Zhifeng
Published: December 2012

This paper deals with the problems of exponential admissibility and H∞ control for a class of continuous‐time switched singular systems with time‐varying delay. The H∞ controllers to be designed include both the state feedback
(SF) and the static output feedback (SOF). First, by using the average dwell time scheme, the piecewise Lyapunov function, and the free‐weighting matrix technique, an exponential admissibility criterion, which is not only delay‐range‐dependent but also decay‐rate‐dependent, is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A weighted H∞ performance criterion is also provided. Then, based on these, the solvability conditions for the desired SF and SOF controllers are established by employing the LMI technique, respectively. Finally, two numerical examples are
given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Rhinolith: Delayed Presentation after Head Trauma—A Case Report
Authors: Al Mastour Ali S. , Ghnnam Wagih M. , Zubaidi Abdu H.
Published: December 2012

Rhinoliths are uncommon clinical entities reported in clinical practice as unusual cause of unilateral nasal obstruction and foul smell nasal discharge. Rhinolith is calcified material found in the nasal cavity incidentally or due to patient complaint. It should be suspected when patient presents with nasal symptoms and found to have stony mass showed radiologically. We reported a 28-year-old Saudi male with left sided (LT) nasal obstruction and foul smell discharge for 5 years suspected as being due to foreign body presence since childhood due to head trauma following car accident in sandy area.
Retinoic Acid Induces Apoptosis of Prostate Cancer DU145 Cells through Cdk5 Overactivation
Authors: Chen Mei-Chih , Huang Chih-Yang , Hsu Shih-Lan , Lin Eugene , Ku Chien-Te , Lin Ho , Chen Chuan-Mu
Published: December 2012

Retinoic acid (RA) has been believed to be an anticancer drug for a long history. However, the molecular mechanisms of RA actions on cancer cells remain diverse. In this study, the dose-dependent inhibition of RA on DU145 cell proliferation was identified. Interestingly, RA treatment triggered p35 cleavage (p25 formation) and Cdk5 overactivation, and all could be blocked by Calpain inhibitor, Calpeptin (CP). Subsequently, RA-triggered DU145 apoptosis detected by sub-G1 phase accumulation and Annexin V staining could also be blocked by CP treatment. Furthermore, RA-triggered caspase 3 activation and following Cdk5 over-activation were destroyed by treatments of both CP and Cdk5 knockdown. In conclusion, we report a new mechanism in which RA could cause apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells through p35 cleavage and Cdk5 over-activation. This finding may contribute to constructing a clearer image of RA function and bring RA as a valuable chemoprevention agent for prostate cancer patients.
Microenvironment Elements Involved in the Development of Pancreatic Cancer Tumor
Authors: Gardian Katarzyna , Janczewska Sława , Durlik Marek
Published: December 2012

Introduction. In spite of intensive research during many years, pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains one of the deadliest cancers. The surgical intervention remains main possibility of treatment because chemotherapy and radiotherapy has a minimal impact on long-term survival. We are still looking for the weak points of this devastating disease.Materials and Methods. Pancreatic tumor tissue samples were collected from 36 patients. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to evaluate expression of growth factors and immune infiltrates. Activity of MMP2 and MMP9 was assessed by gelatin zymography on 7.5% SDS-PAGE gel with 0.1% gelatin.Results. All growth factors were strongly expressed in pancreatic tumor tissue. We found that level of expression of c-Met receptor was higher for G3 tumors than for G2 tumors. Also we found that active MMP2 was present at all stages of tumor while active MMP9 just at more advanced tumors. Abundant immune cells infiltration was distinctive for tumor tissue, especially macrophages were infiltrating tumor tissue. We found that amount of macrophages was associated with lymph nodes metastases.Conclusion. In our research we demonstrated that among many factors influencing tumor microenvironment c-Met receptor, infiltrating macrophages and MMP2 have significant influence on development and invasion of pancreatic cancer.
Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 3 with Anorexia
Authors: Kahara Toshio , Wakakuri Hitomi , Takatsuji Juri , Motoo Iori , Shima Kosuke R. , Ishikura Kazuhide , Usuda Rika , Noda Yatsugi
Published: December 2012

A 71-year-old man with diabetes mellitus visited our hospital with complaints of anorexia and weight loss (12 kg/3 months). He had megaloblastic anemia, cobalamin level was low, and autoantibody to intrinsic factor was positive. He was treated with intramuscular cyanocobalamin, and he was able to consume meals. GAD autoantibody and ICA were positive, and he was diagnosed with slowly progressive type 1 diabetes mellitus (SPIDDM). Thyroid autoantibodies were positive. According to these findings, he was diagnosed with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3 with SPIDDM, pernicious anemia, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Extended periods of cobalamin deficiency can cause serious complications such as ataxia and dementia, and these complications may not be reversible if replacement therapy with cobalamin is delayed. Although type 1 diabetes mellitus with coexisting pernicious anemia is very rare in Japan, physicians should consider the possibility of pernicious anemia when patients with diabetes mellitus have cryptogenic anorexia with the finding of significant macrocytosis (MCV > 100 fL).
Which Are the Cells of Origin in Merkel Cell Carcinoma?
Authors: Tilling Thomas , Moll Ingrid
Published: December 2012

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly aggressive skin tumour with increasing incidence, is associated with the newly discovered Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Studies on MCC and MCPyV as well as other risk factors have significantly increased our knowledge of MCC pathogenesis, but the cells of origin, which could be important targets in future therapies, are still unknown. Merkel cells (MCs), the neuroendocrine cells of the skin, were believed to be at the origin of MCC due to their phenotypic similarities. However, for several reasons, for example, heterogeneous differentiation of MCCs and postmitotic character of MCs, it is not very likely that MCC develops from differentiated MCs. Skin stem cells, probably from the epidermal lineage, are more likely to be cells of origin in MCC. Future studies will have to address these questions more directly in order to identify the physiological cells which are transformed to MCC cells.
Further Results on Nonlinearly Stretching Permeable Sheets: Analytic Solution for MHD Flow and Mass Transfer
Authors: Cortell Rafael
Published: December 2012

The steady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow and mass transfer of an incompressible, viscous, and electrically conducting fluid over a permeable flat surface stretched with nonlinear (quadratic) velocity uw(x) = ax + c0x2 and appropriate wall transpiration is investigated. It is shown that the problem permits an analytical solution for the complete set of equations with magnetic field influences when a fictitious presence of a chemical reaction is considered. Velocity and concentration fields are presented through graphs and discussed. The results for both skin friction coefficient f′′(0) and mass transfer gradient c′(0) agree well with numerical results published in the literature.
Constrained C0 Finite Element Methods for Biharmonic Problem
Authors: An Rong , Huang Xuehai
Published: December 2012

This paper presents some constrained C0 finite element approximation methods for the biharmonic problem, which include the C0 symmetric interior penalty method, the C0 nonsymmetric interior penalty method, and the C0 nonsymmetric superpenalty method. In the finite element spaces, the C1 continuity across the interelement boundaries is obtained weakly by the constrained condition. For the C0 symmetric interior penalty method, the optimal error estimates in the broken H2 norm and in the L2 norm are derived. However, for the C0 nonsymmetric interior penalty method, the error estimate in the broken H2 norm is optimal and the error estimate in the L2 norm is suboptimal because of the lack of adjoint consistency. To obtain the optimal L2 error estimate, the C0 nonsymmetric superpenalty method is introduced and the optimal L2 error estimate is derived.