bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Matched Filtering Algorithm for Pavement Cracking Detection
Authors: Zhang Allen , Li Qiang (Joshua) , Wang Kelvin C. P. , Qiu Shi
Published: December 2013

There have been rapid developments in automated surveying of cracking pavements in recent years. Laser-imaging technology has made the acquisition of shadow-free images feasible. However, because of the complexity of pavement surfaces, the diverse characteristics of cracks, the presence of foreign objects, and varying identification protocols, the results of automated cracking recognition have had limited use. A matched filtering algorithm is introduced for detection of pavement cracking. Unlike traditional edge detection approaches that adopt first-or second-order derivatives of image signals, the matched filtering algorithm detects cracks by matching predesigned filters with crack features by shape, orientation, or intensity. Experiments were conducted to compare the results of five traditional edge detectors (Roberts, Prewitt, Sobel, Laplacian of Gaussian, and Canny) and the matched filtering algorithm. The matched filtering algorithm was shown to be a robust approach for detecting cracks and had better performance in noise removal and detection of cracking. With matched filters aligned at various orientations, the matched filtering algorithm showed its distinctive advantages for extracting a single crack in its actual form and recording the crack's orientation to be used for more accurate classification in the next step of automated processing.
Characteristics of Base Friction for Concrete Pavement Structure in China
Authors: Li Sili , Tian Bo , Niu Kaimin , Sun Zhengfu , Zhou Wenhuan
Published: December 2013

The restraint between the slab and the base of a concrete pavement structure is an important factor in the design of a concrete pavement. Excessive restraint can lead to unexpected distresses because of the daily cycle of ambient thermal influence and the changing moisture conditions that are ultimately detrimental to the performance of a pavement. Evaluation of base friction is needed for configuring joint sealing, slab thickness, and reinforced steel. The semirigid base, made mostly of cement-stabilized crushed stone, is widely used as the typical base for cement concrete pavement in China. Usually, a polythene sheet is placed between the concrete slab and the base to smooth the interface. In some cases, geotextiles and an asphalt bond breaker may be used to reduce friction. A series of push-off tests was performed under various conditions to study the characteristics of base friction for a typical concrete pavement in China. A polythene sheet, a geotextile, emulsified asphalt, and asphalt bond breakers of three thicknesses (2, 4, and 6 cm) were placed between concrete slabs and semirigid bases. Concrete slabs were also cast directly on the base with no bond breaker to determine the influence of these factors on the characteristics of base friction. Factors that could affect the behavior of a concrete slab under frictional drag, including rate of movements, slab thickness, and number of movement cycles, were investigated.
Antioxidant Enzymatic Activities and Gene Expression Associated with Heat Tolerance in the Stems and Roots of Two Cucurbit Species (“Cucurbita maxima” and “Cucurbita moschata”) and Their Interspecific Inbred Line “Maxchata”
Authors: Ara Neelam , Nakkanong Korakot , Lv Wenhui , Yang Jinghua , Hu Zhongyuan , Zhang Mingfang
Published: December 2013

The elucidation of heat tolerance mechanisms is required to combat the challenges of global warming. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant enzyme responses to heat stress, at the enzymatic activity and gene expression levels, and to investigate the antioxidative alterations associated with heat tolerance in the stems and roots of squashes using three genotypes differing in heat tolerance. Plants of heat-tolerant “C. moschata”, thermolabile “C. maxima” and moderately heat-tolerant interspecific inbred line “Maxchata” genotypes were exposed to moderate (37 °C) and severe (42 °C) heat shocks. “C. moschata” exhibited comparatively little oxidative damage, with the lowest hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O2−) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the roots compared to stems, followed by “Maxchata”. The enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were found to be increased with heat stress in tolerant genotypes. The significant inductions of FeSOD, MnSOD, APX2, CAT1 and CAT3 isoforms in tolerant genotypes suggested their participation in heat tolerance. The differential isoform patterns of SOD, APX and CAT between stems and roots also indicated their tissue specificity. Furthermore, despite the sequence similarity of the studied antioxidant genes among “C. maxima” and “Maxchata”, most of these genes were highly induced under heat stress in “Maxchata”, which contributed to its heat tolerance. This phenomenon also indicated the involvement of other unknown genetic and/or epigenetic factors in controlling the expression of these antioxidant genes in squashes, which demands further exploration.
Life history and resource acquisition: Photosynthetic traits in selected accessions of three perennial cereal species compared with annual wheat and rye
Authors: Jaikumar Nikhil S. , Snapp Sieglinde S. , Sharkey Thomas D.
Published: December 2013

•Premise of the study:Few previous studies have considered how plant age affects photosynthetic physiology in herbaceous perennials or how photosynthetic capacity in annual cereals compares to perennial relatives. Newly developed perennial cereals offer novel systems for addressing these questions. Our study makes a novel contribution by considering how life history differences affect photosynthetic physiology.

•Methods:In two linked field studies, we evaluated effects of life history and plant age on photosynthetic rates (A), and related biochemical, morphological, and water‐relations traits, comparing 1‐ and 2‐yr‐old cohorts of perennial wheat, intermediate wheatgrass, and perennial rye to close annual relatives (wheat and rye).

•Key results:Photosynthetic rates (A) were 10–50% higher in perennial cereals compared to annuals. In wheatgrass, elevatedAwas associated with higher carboxylation (VC), triose phosphate utilization (TPU) and electron transport rates (J), and higher leaf soluble protein and chlorophyll. Younger wheatgrass plants maintained higherA, TPU, J, andVCthan older plants did. Perennial wheat and rye differed from annual relatives in some but not all of these parameters. Differences in stomatal limitation were not involved, while differences in stomatal conductance (gs) became evident under drier conditions.

•Conclusions:This study demonstrates that some perennial cereal species can maintain higher midseasonAthan their annual crop relatives. These changes are not fully explainable by increased access to soil water and may reflect trade‐offs between allocation to reproduction and to resource acquisition. We also found evidence for age‐related changes in photosynthetic physiology in a herbaceous perennial plant.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia Is Prevalent and Unpredictable for Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Harris D. , Barts A. , Connors J. , Dahl M. , Elliott T. , Kong J. , Keane T. , Thompson D. , Stafford S. , Ur E. , Sirrs S.
Published: December 2013

Background: Patients with cancer are often treated with glucocorticoids (GCS) as part of therapy, which may cause hyperglycemia. We sought to define the prevalence of, and risk factors for, hyperglycemia in this setting. Methods: Adult patients taking GC as part of therapy protocols for primary brain tumour or metastasis, for lymphoma, or for bone marrow transplant (BMT) were screened with random glucometer measurements taken at least 3 hours after the last dose GCS. Results: We screened 90 patients [44.4% women, 55.6% men; mean age: 59.6 years (range: 25–82 years); mean body mass index (BMI): 26.4 kg/m2 (range: 15.8–45.3 kg/m2)] receiving GC as part of cancer treatment. Mean total daily GC dose in the group was 238.5 mg (range: 30–1067 mg) hydrocortisone equivalents. Hyperglycemia (glucose ≥ 8.0 mmol/L) was found in 58.9% (53 of 90), and diabetes mellitus (DM)–range hyperglycemia (glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L) in 18.9% (17 of 90). The mean time from GC ingestion to glucometer testing was 5.5 hours (range: 3–20 hours). Presence of hyperglycemia did not correlate with traditional DM risk factors such as age, sex, BMI, and personal or family history of DM. A longer interval from GC dose to testing (p < 0.05), a higher GC dose (p = 0.04), and a shorter interval between the preceding meal and testing (p = 0.02) were risk factors for hyperglycemia in some patient groups. Conclusions: Glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia is common in patients undergoing cancer treatment and cannot be predicted by traditional risk factors for DM. We recommend that all cancer patients receiving GC be screened for hyperglycemia at least 4–6 hours after GC administration.
Adenocarcinoma not Otherwise Specified or Cribriform Adenocarcinoma on Dorsum of Tongue?
Authors: Yang Shaodong
Published: December 2013

Market Velker et al.1 recently reported an unusual case of adenocarcinoma arising from the minor salivary gland located on the dorsum of the posterior one third of the tongue in a 66-year-old woman.[...]
The Association between Malnutrition and Psychological Distress in Patients with Advanced Head-and-Neck Cancer
Authors: Ma L. , Poulin P. , Feldstain A. , Chasen M.R.
Published: December 2013

Objective: Malnutrition and psychological distress are often seen in patients with head-and-neck cancer, but little is known about the interrelationships between those two symptoms. The present study examined the relationship between malnutrition and psychological distress in patients with advanced head-and-neck cancer. Methods: Using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, 99 patients with advanced-stage head-and-neck cancer were screened for nutrition status. The patients were also screened for psychosocial distress (using the Distress Thermometer) and for psychosocial issues (using the Problem Checklist). Any relationship between malnutrition and psychosocial distress was determined by regression and correlation analysis. We also used t-tests to compare distress levels for patients with and without specific nutrition-related symptoms. Results: The study group included 80 men and 19 women [mean age: 58.4 ± 10.9 years (range: 23–85 years)]. The correlation between poorer nutrition status and level of psychological distress was significant r = 0.37 (p < 0.001). Specifically, reduced food intake and symptoms were both positively associated with distress: r = 0.27 and r = 0.29 respectively, both significant at p < 0.01. After controlling for the effects of psychosocial problems and pain, nutrition status remained a significant predictor of distress, explaining 3.8% of the variance in the distress scores of the patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Malnutrition and symptoms were strongly related to distress in patients with advanced head-and-neck cancer. Our results suggest the need for further research into the complex relationship between nutrition status and distress and into the management of both nutrition and distress in cancer care.
Template based precursor route for the synthesis of CuInSe2 nanorod arrays for potential solar cell applications
Authors: Pashchanka Mikhail , Bang Jonas , Gora Niklas S A , Balog Ildiko , Hoffmann Rudolf C , Schneider Jörg J
Published: December 2013

Polycrystalline CuInSe2 (CISe) nanorods are promising for the fabrication of highly efficient active layers in solar cells. In this work we report on a nanocasting approach, which uses track-etched polycarbonate films as hard templates for obtaining three-dimensionally (3D) arranged CISe nanorod arrays. Copper and indium ketoacidoximato complexes and selenourea were employed as molecular precursors. Arrays of parallel isolated cylindrical pores of 100 nm nominal diameter and 5 μm length were used for the infiltration of the precursor solution under inert atmosphere, followed by drying, thermal conversion into a preceramic ‘green body’, a subsequent dissolution of the template, and a final thermal treatment at 450 °C. The nanorods that where synthesised in this way have dimensions equal to the pore sizes of the template. Investigation of the CuInSe2 nanorod samples by spectroscopic and diffraction methods confirmed a high purity and crystallinity, and a stoichiometric composition of the CISe ternary semiconductor compound.
L’information sur les risques majeurs à l’échelle communale
Authors: Douvinet Johnny , Pallares Rémi , Genre-Grandpierre Cyrille , Gralepois Mathilde , Rode Sylvain , Servain-Courant Sylvie
Published: December 2013

Cette étude propose d’interroger la quantité et la qualité de l’information préventive en France, en étudiant plus spécialement les communes qui ont pour obligation d’informer leurs administrés grâce au Document d’Information Communal sur les Risques Majeurs. Ce DICRIM est censé renseigner sur la nature, l’occurrence et la distribution spatiale et temporelle des risques locaux. Il vise à fournir aux citoyens les moyens d’adopter les bons comportements en cas d’événement majeur. Si 27 752 communes métropolitaines sont soumises en juin 2012 à cette injonction, seule une très faible part (entre 8 et 20 % selon les sources) la respecte. Afin de dresser un inventaire à la fois fiable et exhaustif de la réalisation des DICRIM, et pour expliquer l’origine des manquements à la loi, une enquête téléphonique a été menée auprès de la totalité des 1 033 communes de la Loire, du Loiret, de la Loire-Atlantique et du Vaucluse, choisis comme départements témoins. Les 727 réponses obtenues permettent de 1) quantifier les écarts entre les chiffres issus des sources officielles et la réalité de l’avancement aux échelles locales ; 2) explorer les rôles séparés puis combinés de variables institutionnelles (injonction légale, présence du Plan Communal de Sauvegarde, appartenance à une intercommunalité), géographiques (nombre de risques, proximité à un cours d’eau) ou démographique (importance de la population) ; 3) vérifier le respect du contenu réglementaire des DICRIM collectés.
A Diver’s Automatic Buoyancy Control Device and Its Prototype Development
Authors: Valenko Darko , Mezgec Zdenko , Pec Martin , Golob Marjan
Published: December 2013

AbstractMaintaining depth is a diver’s essential task, and that is why he/she uses a buoyancy vest for maintaining and changing depth [the so-called buoyancy control device (BCD)]. Changing depth is controlled by manually actuating pneumatic valves, which causes the
BCD volume to expand or shrink and consequently change its buoyancy.Divers’ desires for devices that automatically change or maintain depth have been present since the first arrival of modern diving using a buoyancy vest. This need has arisen, particularly when diving, in regard
to the following: where poor visibility is present; when both hands are needed for the job in amateur diving; where decompression procedures are needed; during safety stop procedures; during automatic ascending when a diver’s life functions are critical; and also when using the same
technology for changing depth in small modern submarines and submarine-like vessels.The presented prototype device has been developed for automatic buoyancy control using flexible BCD. This device can limit ascending and descending velocities, allow a diving diver to request a depth at
a requested velocity and hold that requested depth, ensure a diver’s requested depth and velocity are controlled, minimize any depth and velocity errors in relation to disturbances from the environment, and record all captured data for dive analyses. Controlling velocity is important
for proper decompression.This paper presents a mathematical model of a diver’s buoyancy, the prototype development of an automatic BCD, and simulation and actual diving results. The prototype device has been fully tested by one of the leading manufacturers of diving equipment.
Immunization with a Recombinant Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Strain Confers Protective Th1 Immunity against the Human Metapneumovirus
Authors: Palavecino Christian E. , Céspedes Pablo F. , Gómez Roberto S. , Kalergis Alexis M. , Bueno Susan M.
Published: December 2013

Along with the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the leading causes of childhood hospitalization and a major health burden worldwide. Unfortunately, owing to an inefficient immunological memory, hMPV infection provides limited immune protection against reinfection. Furthermore, hMPV can induce an inadequate Th2 type immune response that causes severe lung inflammation, leading to airway obstruction. Similar to hRSV, it is likely that an effective clearance of hMPV would require a balanced Th1 type immunity by the host, involving the activation of IFN-γ–secreting T cells. A recognized inducer of Th1 immunity is Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), which has been used in newborns for many decades and in several countries as a tuberculosis vaccine. We have previously shown that immunization with BCG strains expressing hRSV Ags can induce an efficient immune response that protects against this virus. In this study, we show that immunization with rBCG strains expressing the phosphoprotein from hMPV also can induce protective Th1 immunity. Mice immunized with rBCG were protected against weight loss, airway inflammation, and viral replication in the lungs after hMPV infection. Our rBCG vaccine also induced the activation of hMPV-specific T cells producing IFN-γ and IL-2, which could protect from hMPV infection when transferred to recipient mice. These data strongly support the notion that rBCG induces protective Th1 immunity and could be considered as an efficient vaccine against hMPV.
Intracellular delivery of NF-κB small interfering RNA for modulating therapeutic activities of classical anti-cancer drugs in human cervical cancer cells
Authors: Stanislaus Anthony , Kunnath Anil Philip , Tiash Snigdha , Fatemian Tahereh , Kamaruzman Nur Izyani , Bakhtiar Athirah , Mustak Sayyad , Hossain Sharif , Akaike Toshihiro , Chowdhury Ezharul Hoque
Published: December 2013

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Advanced stage of the disease is treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy with poor therapeutic outcome and adverse side effects. NFκB, a well-known transcription factor in the control of immunity and inflammation, has recently emerged as a key regulator of cell survival through induction of antiapoptotic genes. Many human cancers, including cervical carcinoma, constitutively express NF-κB and a blockade in expression of its subunit proteins through targeted knockdown of the gene transcripts with small interfering RNAs (siRNA) could be an attractive approach in order to sensitize the cancer cells towards the widely used anti-cancer drugs. However, the inefficiency of the naked siRNA to cross the plasma membrane and its sensitiveness to nuclease-mediated degradation are the major challenges limiting the siRNA technology in therapeutic intervention. pH-sensitive carbonate apatite has been established as an efficient nano-carrier for intracellular delivery of siRNA, due to its strong electrostatic interaction with the siRNA, the desirable size distribution of the resulting siRNA complex for effective endocytosis and the ability of the endocytosed siRNA to be released from the degradable particles and escape the endosomes, thus leading to the effective knockdown of the target gene of cyclin B1 or ABCB1. Here, we report that carbonate apatite-facilitated delivery of the siRNA targeting NF-κB1 and NF-κB2 gene transcripts in HeLa, a human cervical adenocar- cinoma cell line expressing NF-κB, led to a synergistic effect in enhancement of chemosensitivity to doxorubicin, but apparently not to cisplatin or paclitaxel.
Effects of replacing barley grain with graded levels of wheat bran on rumen fermentation, voluntary intake and nutrient digestion in beef cattle
Authors: Friedt A. D. , McAllister T. A. , He M. L. , Penner G. B. , McKinnon J. J.
Published: December 2013

Friedt, A. D., McAllister, T. A., He, M. L., Penner, G. B. and McKinnon, J. J. 2014. Effects of replacing barley grain with graded levels of wheat bran on rumen fermentation, voluntary intake and nutrient digestion in beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 129–137. Abrasion-milled wheat bran (AMWB) is a relatively new by-product from wheat-based ethanol production. Few published studies are available on the nutritional value of this by-product feed for growing cattle. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of replacing rolled barley with AMWB on apparent nutrient digestibility, voluntary intake and rumen fermentation parameters of beef heifers fed a backgrounding diet formulated to 1.50 and 0.91 Mcal kg−1 dry matter (DM) of NEm and NEg, respectively. Five spayed and rumen-cannulated Angus heifers (584±40 kg) were used in a 5×5 Latin square design. The control diet consisted of 36% barley silage, 24% grass hay, 8% supplement and 32% rolled barley grain (DM basis). Dietary treatments replaced barley grain with AMWB at 8, 16, 24 and 32% of the diet DM. Voluntary DM (P=0.30) and organic matter (OM) (P=0.19) intake were not affected by AMWB inclusion level. Mean rumen pH (P=0.68) as well as duration (min) (P=0.68) and area under the pH curve 5.8 (P=0.27) were not affected by AMWB. Other than acetate, which linearly increased (P=0.03) with increasing AMWB, effects on rumen volatile fatty acids or NH3-N levels were minimal. There was a linear decrease (P<0.01) in DM, OM and gross energy digestibility with increasing AMWB, while acid (P=0.01) and neutral (P=0.03) detergent fibre digestibility decreased in a quadratic manner. A similar quadratic trend (P=0.06) for decreased digestible energy content was also noted with increasing levels of AMWB. Crude protein digestibility was not affected (P=0.94) by treatment. These results indicate AMWB will not support similar gains to barley grain in growing diets due to reduced total tract nutrient utilization and lower digestible energy content.
Stochastic inversion of sequential hydraulic tests for transient and highly permeable unconfined aquifer systems
Authors: Ni C.-F. , Huang Y.-J. , Yeh T.-C. J. , Dong J.-J. , Chen J.-S. , Li M.-H.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. A hydraulic tomography survey (HTS) is a conceptually improved technique that has been recognized to be efficient for estimating high-resolution aquifer parameters. Based on the concept of HTS, this study presents a modified stochastic inverse model for estimating hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific yield (Sy) in shallow and highly permeable unconfined aquifers. A well field with 15 fully screened wells was developed for the purpose of model implementations. In this study a synthetic example was first employed to assess the accuracy of the inverse model. We then implemented the model to field-scale, cross-hole injection tests in a shallow and highly permeable unconfined aquifer near the middle reach of the Wu River in central Taiwan. To assess the effect of constant head boundary conditions on the estimation results, two additional modeling domains were evaluated based on the same field data from the injection tests. Results for the synthetic example show that the modified inverse model can reproduce well the predefined geologic features of the unconfined aquifer. The inverse model can estimate accurately the ln K patterns and magnitudes. However, slightly fewer details of the ln Sy field are obtained due to the insensitivity of transient hydraulic stresses for specified sampling times. Model implementations of field-scale injection tests show that the model can estimate ln K and ln Sy fields with high spatial resolution. The estimated K and Sy values for the test site vary by one order of magnitude, indicating a relatively homogeneous aquifer for the tested well field. Results based on three different modeling domains show similar patterns and magnitudes of ln K and ln Sy near the well locations. This result suggests that the case with domain 40 m × 20 m should be sufficient for the injection tests at the well field.
Oral Presentations from the 7th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD) held in Vancouver, October 2013
Authors: Authors Various
Published: December 2013

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A Gata3–Mafb transcriptional network directs post-synaptic differentiation in synapses specialized for hearing
Authors: Yu Wei-Ming , Appler Jessica M , Kim Ye-Hyun , Nishitani Allison M , Holt Jeffrey R , Goodrich Lisa V
Published: December 2013

Information flow through neural circuits is determined by the nature of the synapses linking the subtypes of neurons. How neurons acquire features distinct to each synapse remains unknown. We show that the transcription factor Mafb drives the formation of auditory ribbon synapses, which are specialized for rapid transmission from hair cells to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Mafb acts in SGNs to drive differentiation of the large postsynaptic density (PSD) characteristic of the ribbon synapse. In Mafb mutant mice, SGNs fail to develop normal PSDs, leading to reduced synapse number and impaired auditory responses. Conversely, increased Mafb accelerates synaptogenesis. Moreover, Mafb is responsible for executing one branch of the SGN differentiation program orchestrated by the Gata3 transcriptional network. Remarkably, restoration of Mafb rescues the synapse defect in Gata3 mutants. Hence, Mafb is a powerful regulator of cell-type specific features of auditory synaptogenesis that offers a new entry point for treating hearing loss.
In Search of Alternative Research Methods in Marketing: Insights from Layder’s Adaptive Theory Methodology
Authors: Hewege Chandana Rathnasiri , Perera Liyanage Chamila Roshani
Published: December 2013

This paper argues that Layder’s adaptive theory methodology can overcome two main methodological issues affecting academic marketing research—namely, (1) paradigm dilemmas caused by the mixed methods approach and (2) apparent imbalance between agency (individual subjectivity) and structure (social structure). A review of research methods used in marketing reveals that quantitative methods continue to dominate. Marketing phenomena tend to arise in the social world through a circular process whereby individual behaviours create social structures that in turn influence individual behaviours. Both the structure and agency perspectives need to be studied in a single research project to fully understand a marketing phenomenon. Adaptive theory, as a sound alternative to positivistic research approach, can achieve a balance between agency and structure perspectives that underpin marketing phenomena.

Keywords: Academic Marketing Research Methodology, Adaptive Theory, Agency–Structure Issue

To cite this document: Chandana Rathnasiri Hewege and Liyanage Chamila Roshani Perera, "In Search of Alternative Research Methods in Marketing: Insights from Layder’s Adaptive Theory Methodology", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.9, No.3, pp.343-360, 2013.

Permanent link to this document:
http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/cmr.9978
Ballooning instability‐induced plasmoid formation in near‐Earth plasma sheet
Authors: Zhu P. , Raeder J.
Published: December 2013

The formation of plasmoids in the near‐Earth magnetotail is believed to be a key element of the substorm onset process. Previous work has identified a new scenario in MHD simulations where the nonlinear evolution of a ballooning instability is able to induce the formation of plasmoids in a generalized Harris sheet with finite normal magnetic component. In present work, we further examine this novel mechanism for plasmoid formation and explore its implications in the context of substorm onset trigger problem. For that purpose, we adopt the generalized Harris sheet as a model proxy to the near‐Earth region of magnetotail during the substorm growth phase. In this region the magnetic component normal to the neutral sheet Bn is weak but nonzero. The magnetic field lines are closed, and there are no Xlines. Simulation results indicate that in the higher Lundquist number regime , the linear axial tail mode, which is also known as “two‐dimensional resistive tearing mode,” is stabilized by the finite Bn, hence cannot give rise to the formation of X lines or plasmoids by itself. On the other hand, the linear ballooning mode is unstable in the same region and regime, and its nonlinear development leads to the formation of a series of plasmoid structures in the near‐Earth and middle magnetotail regions of plasma sheet. This new scenario of plasmoid formation suggests a critical role of ballooning instability in the near‐Earth plasma sheet in triggering the onset of a substorm expansion.
STA‐21, a Promising STAT‐3 Inhibitor That Reciprocally Regulates Th17 and Treg Cells, Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis in Mice and Humans and Alleviates Autoimmune Inflammation in an Experimental Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Park Jin‐Sil , Kwok Seung‐Ki , Lim Mi‐Ae , Kim Eun‐Kyung , Ryu Jun‐Geol , Kim Sung‐Min , Oh Hye‐Joa , Ju Ji Hyeon , Park Sung‐Hwan , Kim Ho‐Youn , Cho Mi‐La
Published: December 2013

Objective

To investigate the impact of STA‐21, a promising STAT‐3 inhibitor, on the development and progression of inflammatory arthritis and to determine the possible mechanisms by which STA‐21 has antiarthritic effects in interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist–knockout (IL‐1Ra–KO) mice, an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

IL‐1Ra–KO mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of STA‐21 (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle 3 times per week for 3 weeks. The mouse joints were assessed for clinical and histologic features of inflammatory arthritis. CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells and CD4+IL‐17+ cells were defined. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cell–derived monocytes or mouse bone marrow–derived monocyte/macrophage (BMM) cells were cultured in the presence of macrophage colony‐stimulating factor alone or together with RANKL and various concentrations of STA‐21, followed by staining of the cells for tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase activity to determine osteoclast formation.

Results

STA‐21 suppressed inflammatory arthritis in IL‐1Ra–KO mice. The proportion of Th17 cells was decreased and the proportion of Treg cells expressing FoxP3 was markedly increased in the spleens of STA‐21–treated mice. Adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ T cells obtained from STA‐21–treated IL‐1Ra–KO mice markedly suppressed inflammatory arthritis. In vitro treatment with STA‐21 induced the expression of FoxP3 and repressed IL‐17 expression in both mouse and human CD4+ T cells. Moreover, STA‐21 prevented both mouse BMM cells and human monocytes from differentiating into osteoclasts in vitro.

Conclusion

STA‐21 improved the clinical course of arthritis in IL‐1Ra–KO mice. It increased not only the number of Treg cells but also the function of the Treg cells. It also suppressed Th17 cells and osteoclast formation. These data suggest that STA‐21 might be an effective treatment for patients with RA.
Rebamipide Suppresses Collagen‐Induced Arthritis Through Reciprocal Regulation of Th17/Treg Cell Differentiation and Heme Oxygenase 1 Induction
Authors: Moon Su‐Jin , Park Jin‐Sil , Woo Yun‐Ju , Lim Mi‐Ae , Kim Sung‐Min , Lee Seon‐Yeong , Kim Eun‐Kyung , Lee Hee Jin , Lee Weon Sun , Park Sang‐Hi , Jeong Jeong‐Hee , Park Sung‐Hwan , Kim Ho‐Youn , Cho Mi‐La , Min Jun‐Ki
Published: December 2013

Objective

Rebamipide, a gastroprotective agent, has the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen radicals. Increased oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this study to investigate the impact of rebamipide on the development of arthritis and the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which rebamipide attenuates arthritis severity in a murine model of RA.

Methods

Collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in DBA/1J mice. Anti–type II collagen antibody titers and interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) levels were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of transcription factors was analyzed by immunostaining and Western blotting. Frequencies of IL‐17–producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results

Rebamipide reduced the clinical arthritis score and severity of histologic inflammation and cartilage destruction in a dose‐dependent manner. The joints isolated from rebamipide‐treated mice with CIA showed decreased expression of nitrotyrosine, an oxidative stress marker. Rebamipide‐treated mice showed lower circulating levels of type II collagen–specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a. Whereas the number of Th17 cells in spleens was decreased in rebamipide‐treated mice with CIA, a significant increase in the number of Treg cells in spleens was observed. In vitro, rebamipide inhibited Th17 cell differentiation through STAT‐3/retinoic acid receptor–related orphan nuclear receptor γt and reciprocally induced Treg cell differentiation through FoxP3. Rebamipide increased Nrf2 nuclear activities in murine CD4+ T cells and LBRM‐33 murine T lymphoma cells. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) expression in the spleens was markedly increased in rebamipide‐treated mice.

Conclusion

The inhibitory effects of rebamipide on joint inflammation are associated with recovery from an imbalance between Th17 cells and Treg cells and with activation of an Nrf2/HO‐1 antioxidant pathway.
An Elementary Derivation of the Large Deviation Rate Function for Finite State Markov Chains
Authors: Vidyasagar Mathukumalli
Published: December 2013

Large deviation theory is a branch of probability theory that is devoted to a study of the “rate” at which empirical estimates of various quantities converge to their true values. The object of study in this paper is the rate at which estimates of the doublet frequencies of a Markov chain over a finite alphabet converge to their true values. In the case where the Markov process is actually an independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) process, the rate function turns out to be the relative entropy (or Kullback‐Leibler divergence) between the true and the estimated probability vectors. This result is a special case of a very general result known as Sanov's theorem and dates back to 1957. Moreover, since the introduction of the “method of types” by Csiszar and his co‐workers during the 1980s, the Proof of this version of Sanov's theorem has been “elementary,” using some combinatorial arguments. However, when the i.i.d. process is replaced by a Markov process, the available Proofs are far more complex. The main objective of this paper is therefore to present a first‐principles derivation of the LDP for finite state Markov chains, using only simple combinatorial arguments (e.g. the method of types), thus gathering in one place various arguments and estimates that are scattered over the literature. The approach presented here extends naturally to multi‐step Markov chains.
Periostin and transforming growth factor β‐induced protein (TGFβIp) are both expressed by osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Authors: Merle Blandine , Bouet Guenaelle , Rousseau Jean‐Charles , Bertholon Cindy , Garnero Patrick
Published: December 2013

Periostin (Postn) and transforming growth factor β‐induced protein (TGFβIp) are two closely related extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins predominantly distributed in collagen‐rich connective tissues submitted to mechanical strain, including bone and more specifically the periosteum. We have investigated the expression of Postn and TGFβIp mRNA by primary osteoblasts isolated from mouse periosteum and calvaria, or by the osteoblast‐like MC3T3‐E1 cell line, and by osteoclasts from mouse long bones differentiated in vitro. Secretion of Postn was measured with a specific ELISA. Postn and TGFβIp mRNA were concomitantly expressed in all three osteoblast models all along the differentiation process in a time‐dependent manner. Both Postn and TGFβIp transcripts appeared early in osteoblast differentiation, and their expression increased 3–10 times in mature osteoblast cells. Expression decreased after differentiation was achieved and when the cultures mineralised. ELISA for secreted Postn showed a similar pattern. When MC3T3‐E1 cells were treated with TGF‐β, Postn and TGFβIp mRNA expression and secretion were stimulated, whereas 1.25(OH)2D3 had no detectable effect. Osteoclasts also expressed both Postn and TGFβIp during in vitro differentiation. Expression of both Postn and TGFβIp peaks in the early phases of osteoblast differentiation, and decreases later at the start of mineralisation. A novel finding is that Postn and TGFβIp are expressed by osteoclasts in vitro. Therefore Postn and TGFβIp proteins are potential biomarkers of early osteoblast differentiation and new bone formation.
The SYNTAX score does not predict presence of carotid disease in a multivessel coronary disease population
Authors: Costanzo Luca , Campisano Maria Barbara , Capodanno Davide , Sole Andrea , Grasso Carmelo , Ragusa Mario , Ronsivalle Giuseppe , Tamburino Claudia , Tamburino Corrado , Di Pino Luigi
Published: December 2013

Background

Numerous reports have shown the relationship between carotid artery atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the association between complex CAD evaluated by SYNTAX score (SxScore) and prevalence of carotid lesion (CL) has not been fully investigated. We sought to assess the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with multivessel CAD assessed by SxScore and the relationship between SxScore severity and features of carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results

Subjects were 204 consecutive patients with multivessel CAD assessed by coronary angiography and no previous history of carotid atherosclerosis that underwent carotid ultrasound scan from June 2012 to 2013. Presence of CL, significant carotid disease (SCD) and carotid plaque morphology was evaluated. At least one CL was found in 159 patients (77.9%) with no significant difference among SxScore groups (P = 0.20 and P = 0.54, respectively). High prevalence of complex carotid plaque (CCP) was found without significant different distribution in SxScore groups (P = 0.69). Age was independently associated with the presence of CL [odds ratio (OR) 1.055; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.015–1.097; P = 0.007] and SCD (OR 1.057; 95% CI: 1.008–1.097; P = 0.019). Age and diabetes were independently associated with CCP (OR 1.58; 95% CI: 1.023–1.095; P = 0.001; OR 1.848; 95% CI: 1.026–3.327; P = 0.041). SxScore was not independently associated with CL, SCD and CCP (all P > 0.2).

Conclusions

We found high prevalence of CL in patients with multivessel complex CAD. However, SxScore does not seem to correlate with carotid atherosclerosis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extensive coronary arterial fistula development in patients with univentricular circulation
Authors: McMahon Colin J. , Coleman David , Oslizlok Paul
Published: December 2013

We describe two children, each with a univentricular circulation who had evidence of elevated pulmonary arterial pressure at cardiac catheterization. Both children developed extensive coronary arterial fistulae detected at cardiac catherization. Each child was medically treated with a combination of phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor and endothelin antagonist pulmonary vasodilators. The presence of chronic hypoxaemia, elevated filling pressures, and the use of pulmonary vasodilators may contribute to coronary endothelial dysfunction, which may result in coronary vasculopathy. This may necessitate early referral for orthotopic cardiac transplantation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of drug‐eluting and bare metal stents in large coronary arteries
Authors: Chan Chi Yuen , Vlachos Helen , Selzer Faith , Mulukutla Suresh R. , Marroquin Oscar C. , Abbott Dawn J. , Holper Elizabeth M. , Williams David O.
Published: December 2013

Objectives

This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drug‐eluting stents (DES) compared to bare‐metal stents (BMS) for patients with large coronary vessels.

Background

Randomized trials have demonstrated that DES reduce the risk of target vessel revascularization (TVR) compared to BMS. This benefit is less pronounced as artery diameter increases. Whether DES are superior to BMS for larger coronary arteries in the setting of routine clinical practice is unknown.

Methods

We analyzed data from 869 patients undergoing de novo lesion PCI with reference vessel diameter greater than or equal to 3.5 mm in the NHLBI Dynamic Registry according to whether they were treated with DES or BMS. Patients were followed for 3 years for the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Results

At 3‐year follow‐up, rates of TVR at 3 years were similar and low in both groups (4.4% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.62). After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, the adjusted hazard ratio for 3‐year MI for DES was 1.85 (95% CI 0.93–3.7, P = 0.08), for TVR at 3 years 1.14 (95% CI 0.52–2.49, P = 0.75) and for mortality 0.89 (95%CI 0.49–1.62, P = 0.71).

Conclusions

In our study of the unrestricted use of DES for patients with lesions in larger diameter coronary arteries, first generation DES did not reduce 3‐year risk of TVR. Our findings do not support the preferred use of DES over BMS for patients with lesions located in arteries >3.5 mm. It is unknown whether secondary generation DES can offer better outcome compared to BMS in large coronary vessels. Further study on this issue is warranted. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Controlled Air Oxidation of Plastic and Biomass in a Packed‐Bed Reactor
Authors: Meng Qingmin , Chen Xiaoping , Bu Changsheng , Ma Jiliang
Published: December 2013

A packed‐bed reactor was established to study the effect of polypropylene (PP) content on the controlled air oxidation performance of a mixture of PP and sawdust (SD) at a fixed feed gas flow rate. Attention was focused on product yields, evolutionary behavior of the gas flow rate, and gas compositions. A higher PP content led to increased gas yield, lower solid yield, and substantially reduced liquid yield. The PP content significantly affected the gas composition and rate of gas production. Mixtures of plastic and biomass can be radically converted to gaseous and liquid products under controlled air oxidation conditions.
Exploring the Effect of Bioisosteric Replacement of Carboxamide by a Sulfonamide Moiety on N‐Glycosidic Torsions and Molecular Assembly: Synthesis and X‐ray Crystallographic Investigation of N‐(β‐D‐Glycosyl)sulfonamides as N‐Glycoprotein Linkage Region Analogues
Authors: Srivastava Amrita , Varghese Babu , Loganathan Duraikkannu
Published: December 2013

N‐Glycoprotein linkage region constituents, 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranose (GlcNAc) and asparagine (Asn) are conserved among all the eukaryotes. To gain a better understanding for nature’s choice of GlcNAcβAsn as linkage region constituents and inter‐ and intramolecular carbohydrate–protein interactions, a detailed systemic structural study of the linkage region conformation is essential. Earlier crystallographic studies of several N‐(β‐glycopyranosyl)alkanamides showed that N‐glycosidic torsion, ϕN, is influenced to a larger extent by structural variation in the sugar part than that of the aglycon moiety. To explore the effect of the bioisosteric replacement of a carboxamide group by a sulfonamide moiety on the N‐glycosidic torsions as well as on molecular assembly, several glycosyl methanesulfonamides and glycosyl chloromethanesulfonamides were synthesized as analogues of the N‐glycoprotein linkage region, and crystal structures of seven of these compounds have been solved. A comparative analysis of this series of crystal structures as well as with those of the corresponding alkanamido derivatives revealed that N‐glycosidic torsion, ϕN, does not alter significantly. Methanesulfonamido and chloromethanesulfonamido derivatives of GlcNAc display a different aglycon conformation compared to other sulfonamido analogues. This may be due to the cumulative effect of the direct hydrogen bonding between N1 and O1′ and CH⋅⋅⋅O interactions of the aglycon chain, revealing the uniqueness of the GlcNAc as the linkage sugar.
A General Method for N‐Methylation of Amines and Nitro Compounds with Dimethylsulfoxide
Authors: Jiang Xue , Wang Chao , Wei Yawen , Xue Dong , Liu Zhaotie , Xiao Jianliang
Published: December 2013

DMSO methylates a broad range of amines in the presence of formic acid, providing a novel, green and practical method for amine methylation. The protocol also allows the one‐pot transformation of aromatic nitro compounds into dimethylated amines in the presence of a simple iron catalyst.
ETV6‐NTRK3 is a common chromosomal rearrangement in radiation‐associated thyroid cancer
Authors: Leeman‐Neill Rebecca J. , Kelly Lindsey M. , Liu Pengyuan , Brenner Alina V. , Little Mark P. , Bogdanova Tetiana I. , Evdokimova Viktoria N. , Hatch Maureen , Zurnadzy Liudmyla Y. , Nikiforova Marina N. , Yue Ning J. , Zhang Miao , Mabuchi Kiyohiko , Tronko Mykola D. , Nikiforov Yuri E.
Published: December 2013

BACKGROUND

In their previous analysis of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) from an Ukrainian‐American cohort that was exposed to iodine‐131 (131I) from the Chernobyl accident, the authors identified RET/PTC rearrangements and other driver mutations in 60% of tumors.

METHODS

In this study, the remaining mutation‐negative tumors from that cohort were analyzed using RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction to identify novel chromosomal rearrangements and to characterize their relation with radiation dose.

RESULTS

The ETS variant gene 6 (ETV6)‐neurotrophin receptor 3 (NTRK3) rearrangement (ETV6‐NTRK3) was identified by RNA‐Seq in a tumor from a patient who received a high 131I dose. Overall, the rearrangement was detected in 9 of 62 (14.5%) post‐Chernobyl PTCs and in 3 of 151 (2%) sporadic PTCs (P = .019). The most common fusion type was between exon 4 of ETV6 and exon 14 of NTRK3. The prevalence of ETV6‐NTRK3 rearrangement in post‐Chernobyl PTCs was associated with increasing 131I dose, albeit at borderline significance (P = .126). The group of rearrangement‐positive PTCs (ETV6‐NTRK3, RET/PTC, PAX8‐PPARγ) was associated with significantly higher dose response compared with the group of PTCs with point mutations (BRAF, RAS; P < .001). In vitro exposure of human thyroid cells to 1 gray of 131I and γ‐radiation resulted in the formation of ETV6‐NTRK3 rearrangement at a rate of 7.9 × 10−6 cells and 3.0 × 10−6 cells, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors report the occurrence of ETV6‐NTRK3 rearrangements in thyroid cancer and demonstrate that this rearrangement is significantly more common in tumors associated with exposure to 131I and has a borderline significant dose response. Moreover, ETV6‐NTRK3 rearrangement can be directly induced in thyroid cells by ionizing radiation in vitro and, thus, may represent a novel mechanism of radiation‐induced carcinogenesis. Cancer 2014;120:799–807. © 2013 American Cancer Society.