bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regular perturbation analysis of small amplitude oscillatory dilatation of an interface in a capillary pressure tensiometer
Authors: Kotula Anthony P. , Anna Shelley L.
Published: December 2014

The dilatational rheology of complex fluid-fluid interfaces is linked to the stability and bulk rheology of emulsions and foams. Dilatational rheology can be measured by pinning a bubble or droplet at the tip of a capillary, subjecting the interface shape to small amplitude oscillations, and recording the resulting pressure jump across the interface. The complex dilatational modulus is obtained by differentiating the interfacial stress with respect to the area change of the interface. In this paper, we perform a regular asymptotic expansion to analyze the interface response in pressure-controlled capillary pressure tensiometers to determine the dilatational modulus as a function of the measured radius of curvature. We show that small amplitude oscillatory dilation of a spherical bubble is neither stress nor strain rate controlled. The resulting dilatational modulus contains contributions from both surface tension effects as well as extra stresses. Depending on the specifics of the interface, each contribution can be a function of the dilation rate and the radius of the bubble. Thus, the radius of curvature can be used as a control parameter with which to separate surface tension and interfacial rheology effects, aiding in validation of interfacial constitutive models. We examine the limits of validity of the small amplitude assumption and provide guidelines for determining the operating limits of a capillary pressure tensiometer. Finally, we compare several existing devices, including a microtensiometer we developed previously that oscillates the pressure inside small (R ∼ 10 μm) droplets.
The New, Old Finisher Sports: The Remaking of an Apparel Titan
Authors: Walker Khirey , Soebbing Brian P. , Seifried Chad S. , Pfleegor Adam G.
Published: December 2014

Finisher Sports went from a small business to one of the top sports apparel businesses in the United States under the leadership of its founder, George Taylor. After declaring bankruptcy, Taylor sold the business to Carol Anthony, President and CEO of Star Brand Group. Since the purchase, the Star Brand Group believed that Finisher Sports had not realized its full revenue potential. Thus, Anthony organized a think tank to devise solutions. The purpose of the case study is for students, as the members of the think tank, to examine Finisher sports from marketing and organizational behavior perspectives, particularly focusing on the role that the company’s history plays in the marketing and strategic components of the company.
One Health approach to use of veterinary pharmaceuticals
Authors: Margalida A. , Bogliani G. , Bowden C. G. R. , Donázar J. A. , Genero F. , Gilbert M. , Karesh W. B. , Kock R. , Lubroth J. , Manteca X. , Naidoo V. , Neimanis A. , Sánchez-Zapata J. A. , Taggart M. A. , Vaarten J. , Yon L. , Kuiken T. , Green R. E.
Published: December 2014

Weak environmental assessments undermine regulations
The Salmonella Type III Secretion System Virulence Effector Forms a New Hexameric Chaperone Assembly for Export of Effector/Chaperone Complexes
Authors: Tsai Chi-Lin , Burkinshaw Brianne J. , Strynadka Natalie C. J. , Tainer John A.
Published: December 2014

Bacteria hijack eukaryotic cells by injecting virulence effectors into host cytosol with a type III secretion system (T3SS). Effectors are targeted with their cognate chaperones to hexameric T3SS ATPase at the bacterial membrane's cytosolic face. In this issue of the
Journal of Bacteriology
, Roblin et al. (P. Roblin, F. Dewitte, V. Villeret, E. G. Biondi, and C. Bompard, J Bacteriol 197:688–698, 2015,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JB.02294-14
) show that the T3SS chaperone SigE of
Salmonella
can form hexameric rings rather than dimers when bound to its cognate effector, SopB, implying a novel multimeric association for chaperone/effector complexes with their ATPase.
Research consent from young people in resource-poor settings
Authors: Cheah Phaik Yeong , Parker Michael
Published: December 2014

Authoritative international guidelines stipulate that for minors to participate in research, consent must be obtained from their parents or guardians. Significant numbers of mature minors, particularly in low-income settings, are currently being ruled out of research participation because their parents are unavailable or refuse to provide consent despite the possibility that they might wish to do so and that such research has the potential to be of real benefit. These populations are under-represented in all types of clinical research. We propose that, for research with a prospect of direct benefit that has been approved by relevant ethics committees, the default position should be that minors who are able to provide valid consent and meet the following criteria should be able to consent for themselves regardless of age and whether they have reached majority: the minor must be competent and mature relative to the decision; their consent must be voluntary and they must be relatively independent and used to decision making of comparable complexity. In addition, the context must be appropriate, the information related to the research must be provided in a manner accessible to the minor and the consent must be obtained by a trained consent taker in surroundings conducive for decision making by the minor. In this paper, we have argued that consent by mature minors to research participation is acceptable in some situations and should be allowed.
A curious case of cholestasis: oral terbinafine associated with cholestatic jaundice and subsequent erythema nodosum
Authors: Kumar Kartik , Gill Anna , Shafei Rachelle , Wright Janine L
Published: December 2014

Terbinafine is a commonly prescribed antifungal agent used in the treatment oftrichophytic onychomycosis and chronic cutaneous mycosis that are resistant to other treatments. This case report highlights a rarely documented but important adverse hepatic reaction that was caused by the use of oral terbinafine. A woman in her thirties presented with a 3-week history of jaundice, malaise, itching, nausea, decreased appetite, weight loss, dark orange urine and intermittent non-radiating epigastric pain. She had recently finished a 3-week course of oral terbinafine for a fungal nail infection. Liver biopsy findings were consistent with chronic active hepatitis secondary to a drug reaction. A few days after initial presentation, the patient developed erythema nodosum. Delayed development of erythema nodosum secondary to terbinafine could not be excluded.
Spontaneous haemoperitoneum due to a sigmoid diverticulum
Authors: George Jayan , Ben-Sassi Abozed , Dixon Rebecca
Published: December 2014

Spontaneous haemoperitoneum is rare. When it occurs it is a life-threatening condition. Common causes of this are gynaecological in nature and rarely due to colonic diverticular perforation. Diverticulitis is a common condition affecting people in western countries. This presentation of spontaneous haemoperitoneum highlights the disproportionate abdominal pain and opioid-induced constipation. Significant bloods on admission included haemoglobin of 148 g/L, C reactive protein (CRP) of 1.1 mg/L, white cell count (WCC) of 12.7×109/L (neutrophils 10.9×109/L). Bloods repeated 10 h later revealed the haemoglobin had dropped to 100 g/L, CRP had increased significantly to 120 mg/L, WCC: 7.4×109/L (neutrophils 5.3×109/L) and a reduced packed cell volume: 0.307 L/L. CT scan revealed free fluid and a possible mass. At laparoscopy, frank haemoperitoneum was seen and a decision was made to open and perform a Hartmann's procedure. The patient did very well postoperatively and was discharged on the ninth postoperative day. He is currently awaiting reversal of the ileostomy.
Prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in middle-class urban participants in India
Authors: Gupta Arvind , Gupta Rajeev , Sharma Krishna Kumar , Lodha Sailesh , Achari Vijay , Asirvatham Arthur J , Bhansali Anil , Gupta Balkishan , Gupta Sunil , Jali Mallikarjuna V , Mahanta Tulika G , Maheshwari Anuj , Saboo Banshi , Singh Jitendra , Deedwania Prakash C
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of diabetes and awareness, treatment and control of cardiovascular risk factors in population-based participants in India.

Methods

A study was conducted in 11 cities in different regions of India using cluster sampling. Participants were evaluated for demographic, biophysical, and biochemical risk factors. 6198 participants were recruited, and in 5359 participants (86.4%, men 55%), details of diabetes (known or fasting glucose>126 mg/dL), hypertension (known or blood pressure>140/>90 mm Hg), hypercholesterolemia (cholesterol>200 mg/dL), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (men <40, women <50 mg/dL), hypertriglyceridemia (>150 mg/dL), and smoking/tobacco use were available. Details of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were also obtained.

Results

The age-adjusted prevalence (%) of diabetes was 15.7 (95% CI 14.8 to 16.6; men 16.7, women 14.4) and that of impaired fasting glucose was 17.8 (16.8 to 18.7; men 17.7, women 18.0). In participants with diabetes, 27.6% were undiagnosed, drug treatment was in 54.1% and control (fasting glucose ≤130 mg/dL) in 39.6%. Among participants with diabetes versus those without, prevalence of hypertension was 73.1 (67.2 to 75.0) vs 26.5 (25.2 to 27.8), hypercholesterolemia 41.4 (38.3 to 44.5) vs 14.7 (13.7 to 15.7), hypertriglyceridemia 71.0 (68.1 to 73.8) vs 30.2 (28.8 to 31.5), low HDL cholesterol 78.5 (75.9 to 80.1) vs 37.1 (35.7 to 38.5), and smoking/smokeless tobacco use in 26.6 (23.8 to 29.4) vs 14.4 (13.4 to 15.4; p<0.001). Awareness, treatment, and control, respectively, of hypertension were 79.9%, 48.7%, and 40.7% and those of hypercholesterolemia were 61.0%, 19.1%, and 45.9%, respectively.

Conclusions

In the urban Indian middle class, more than a quarter of patients with diabetes are undiagnosed and the status of control is low. Cardiovascular risk factors—hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and smoking/smokeless tobacco use—are highly prevalent. There is low awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in patients with diabetes.
Redesigning the ‘choice architecture’ of hospital prescription charts: a mixed methods study incorporating in situ simulation testing
Authors: King Dominic , Jabbar Ali , Charani Esmita , Bicknell Colin , Wu Zhe , Miller Gavin , Gilchrist Mark , Vlaev Ivo , Franklin Bryony Dean , Darzi Ara
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To incorporate behavioural insights into the user-centred design of an inpatient prescription chart (Imperial Drug Chart Evaluation and Adoption Study, IDEAS chart) and to determine whether changes in the content and design of prescription charts could influence prescribing behaviour and reduce prescribing errors.

Design

A mixed-methods approach was taken in the development phase of the project; in situ simulation was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the newly developed IDEAS prescription chart.

Setting

A London teaching hospital.

Interventions/methods

A multimodal approach comprising (1) an exploratory phase consisting of chart reviews, focus groups and user insight gathering (2) the iterative design of the IDEAS prescription chart and finally (3) testing of final chart with prescribers using in situ simulation.

Results

Substantial variation was seen between existing inpatient prescription charts used across 15 different UK hospitals. Review of 40 completed prescription charts from one hospital demonstrated a number of frequent prescribing errors including illegibility, and difficulty in identifying prescribers. Insights from focus groups and direct observations were translated into the design of IDEAS chart. In situ simulation testing revealed significant improvements in prescribing on the IDEAS chart compared with the prescription chart currently in use in the study hospital. Medication orders on the IDEAS chart were significantly more likely to include correct dose entries (164/164 vs 166/174; p=0.0046) as well as prescriber's printed name (163/164 vs 0/174; p<0.0001) and contact number (137/164 vs 55/174; p<0.0001). Antiinfective indication (28/28 vs 17/29; p<0.0001) and duration (26/28 vs 15/29; p<0.0001) were more likely to be completed using the IDEAS chart.

Conclusions

In a simulated context, the IDEAS prescription chart significantly reduced a number of common prescribing errors including dosing errors and illegibility. Positive behavioural change was seen without prior education or support, suggesting that some common prescription writing errors are potentially rectifiable simply through changes in the content and design of prescription charts.
Congestive heart failure adherence redesign trial: a pilot study
Authors: Mangla Ashvarya , Doukky Rami , Powell Lynda H , Avery Elizabeth , Richardson DeJuran , Calvin James E
Published: December 2014

Objective

Heart failure (HF) continues to be a leading cause of hospital admissions, particularly in underserved patients. We hypothesised that providing individualised self-management support to patients and feedback on use of evidence-based HF therapies (EBT) to physicians could lead to improvements in care and decrease hospitalisations. To assess the feasibility of conducting a larger trial testing the efficacy of this dual-level intervention, we conducted the Congestive Heart failure Adherence Redesign Trial Pilot (CHART-P), a proof-of-concept, quasi-experimental, feasibility pilot study.

Setting

A large tertiary care medical centre in Chicago.

Participants

Low-income patients (<US$30 000/year) hospitalised for exacerbation of systolic HF (ejection fraction ≤50%) and their physicians. Twenty physicians and 33 patients were enrolled, of whom 23 patients completed the study.

Interventions

Physicians received HF guidelines and periodic individualised feedback on their adherence to EBT. Patients received HF education, support and self-management training for diet and medication adherence by a trained nurse through 11 interactive sessions over a 4-month period. Evaluations were conducted pre-enrolment and 1 month postintervention completion.

Outcome measures

Feasibility was assessed by the ability to deliver intervention to patients and physicians. Exploratory outcomes included changes in medication and sodium intake for patients and adherence to EBT for physicians.

Results

Eighty-seven per cent and 82% of patients received >80% of interventions at 1 month and by study completion, respectively. Median sodium intake declined (3.5 vs 2.0 g; p<0.01). There was no statistically significant change in medication adherence based on electronic pill cap monitoring or the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS); however, there was a trend towards improved adherence based on MMAS. All physicians received timely intervention.

Conclusions

This pilot study demonstrated that the protocol was feasible. It provided important insights about the need for intervention and the difficulties in treating patients with a variety of psychosocial problems that undercut their effective care.
CD1d expression in renal cell carcinoma is associated with higher relapse rates, poorer cancer-specific and overall survival
Authors: Chong Tsung Wen , Goh Fera Yiqian , Sim Mei Yi , Huang Hong Hong , Thike Daw Aye Aye , Lim Weng Khong , Teh Bin Tean , Tan Puay Hoon
Published: December 2014

Aims

We hypothesised that CD1d expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) may play a role in modifying the host immune response. Our aims were to investigate the expression of CD1d and to correlate this with histopathology and clinical outcomes in a cohort study of patients with RCC.

Methods

Gene expression and tissue microarray studies on a panel of RCC tissue were performed. Clinicopathological correlation was analysed using χ2/Fisher's exact test. Relapse-free survival, cancer-specific survival and overall survival were calculated for both CD1d high and low expressors. Survival outcomes were estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using Cox regression analysis.

Results

Gene expression microarray showed significant expression of CD1d in RCC versus normal renal tissue. By immunohistochemistry, we found that CD1d expression significantly associated with tumour stage/grade, higher relapse rates, poorer cancer-specific and overall survival.

Conclusions

CD1d expression on RCC correlated with aggressive disease and poorer clinical outcomes.
Engaged with ethics
Authors: Ashall Vanessa
Published: December 2014

Vanessa Ashall's first job was in mixed practice and was everything she hoped it would be. When the time came to seek further challenges she applied for a job as a Named Veterinary Surgeon and became fascinated by ethics. This lead to her researching the ethical issues surrounding companion animal blood and organ donation
Diary of a parliamentary intern
Authors: Jordan Hannah
Published: December 2014

Hannah Jordan, parliamentary intern to Lord Trees, learns that, if it turned out the UK were no longer able to import food, she wouldn't starve in the short term, so long as she could cope without avocados.
Centrifuge modelling of heating effects on energy pile performance in saturated sand
Authors: Ng C.W.W. , Shi C. , Gunawan A. , Laloui L. , Liu H.L.
Published: December 2014

The operation of energy piles in summer can expel excess heat of the buildings into the ground by the use of a heat pump. Despite having been implemented for decades, the design of energy piles still relies heavily on empiricism, as there is limited understanding about heating effects on pile capacity. A series of centrifuge model tests on aluminum energy piles in medium dense saturated sand is reported in this study to investigate heating effects on the settlement patterns as well as capacities of single piles. In total, four in-flight pile load tests under three different temperatures, namely 22, 37, and 52 °C, and different loading sequences were carried out. Variations of pile capacity were interpreted with the help of a nonlinear elastic analysis. The test results show that after heating at zero applied axial load, toe resistance of the pile was mobilized as a result of constrained downward thermal expansion of the pile. Heating to a higher temperature caused the neutral plane to shift towards the pile toe due to a larger degree of mobilization of end-bearing resistance. It is also found that for a pile under a maintained working load, the pile head heaved initially by 1.4%D (D, pile diameter) when the temperature increased by 30 °C, but it gradually settled to 0.8%D after 4 months of continuous heating at the constant temperature. The post-pile settlement is believed to be caused by thermal contraction of sand. Subsequent pile load tests show that pile capacities increased by 13% and 30% with incremental temperatures of 15 and 30 °C, respectively. With an increasing temperature, shaft resistance increased but at a reducing rate. At a higher elevated temperature, toe resistance increased more rapidly than shaft resistance due to a larger downward expansion of the pile. For simplicity, earth pressure coefficients with values of 1.1K0and 1.3K0were found to be suitable for estimating the capacities of aluminum model piles with temperature increments of 15 and 30 °C, respectively.
Determination of K–L vacancy transfer probabilities of some 3d elements using synchrotron radiation
Authors: Mirji Santosh , Bennal A.S. , Krishnananda  , Badiger N.M. , Tiwari M.K. , Lodha G.S.
Published: December 2014

The K–L total vacancy transfer probabilities (ηKL) of some 3d elements have been determined using Indus-2 synchrotron radiation. The targets, such as Cr, Cu, and Zn, are excited by using 6.5, 10, and 11 keV synchrotron radiation, respectively. The K X-ray photons are detected with a silicon drift detector, which has an energy resolution of 130 eV at 5.9 keV. By measuring the K-shell fluorescence yield and K X-ray intensity ratio, the K–L vacancy transfer probabilities have been determined. Measured values have been compared with the theoretical values and other experimental values.
Railway faults spreading model based on dynamics of complex network
Authors: Zhou Jin , Xu Weixiang , Guo Xin , Ma Xin
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we propose a railway faults spreading model which improved the SIR model and made it suitable for analyzing the dynamic process of faults spreading. To apply our model into a real network, the accident causation network of "7.23" China Yongwen high-speed railway accident is employed. This network is improved into a directed network, which more clearly reflects the causation relationships among the accident factors and provides help for our studies. Simulation results quantitatively show that the influence of failures can be diminished via choosing the appropriate initial recovery factors, reducing the time of the failure detected, decreasing the transmission rate of faults and increasing the propagating rate of corrected information. The model is useful to simulate the railway faults spreading and quantitatively analyze the influence of failures.
Conjugacy growth and width of certain branch groups
Authors: Fink Elisabeth
Published: December 2014

The conjugacy growth function counts the number of distinct conjugacy classes in a ball of radius n. We give a lower bound for the conjugacy growth of certain branch groups, among them the Grigorchuk group. This bound is a function of intermediate growth. We further prove that certain branch groups have the property that every element can be expressed as a product of uniformly boundedly many conjugates of the generators. We call this property bounded conjugacy width. We also show how bounded conjugacy width relates to other algebraic properties of groups and apply these results to study the palindromic width of some branch groups.
An infinite family of prime knots with a certain property for the clasp number
Authors: Kadokami Teruhisa , Kawamura Kengo
Published: December 2014

The clasp number c(K) of a knot K is the minimum number of clasp singularities among all clasp disks bounded by K. It is known that the genus g(K) and the unknotting number u(K) are lower bounds of the clasp number, that is, max {g(K), u(K)} ≤ c(K). Then it is natural to ask whether there exists a knot K such that max {g(K), u(K)} < c(K). In this paper, we prove that there exists an infinite family of prime knots such that the question above is affirmative.
Identity, Envy and Resource Loss
Authors: Mukherjee Diganta
Published: December 2014

This paper looks at society divided into two groups where personal assets as well as group specific values influences the individuals' utility (positively for own group's value and possibly otherwise for the other group's value). Individual resource allocation problem may lead to under investment in production of assets and excessive diversion of resources into wasteful destructive activities. As a result, the net utility is lowered for all individuals. On the economic front, such usage of resource boosts the "black market" economy and results in dead weight loss. Because in equilibrium both the personal as well as social value created is smaller, on the social front these activities encourage social disintegration.
The Core of Voting Games: A Partition Approach
Authors: Lardon Aymeric
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this paper is to analyze a class of voting games in a partition approach. We consider a society in which coalitions can be formed and where a finite number of voters have to choose among a set of alternatives. A coalition is winning if it can veto any proposed alternative. In our model, the veto power of a coalition is dependent on the coalition formation of the outsiders. We show that whether or not the core is non-empty depends crucially on the expectations of each coalition regarding outsiders' behavior when it wishes to veto an alternative. On the one hand, if each coalition has pessimistic expectations, then the core is non-empty if and only if the dimension of the set of alternatives is equal to one. On the other hand, if each coalition has optimistic expectations, the non-emptiness of the core is not ensured.
Relationships Between Phenomenon of Growing Weakness and Leaf Elements Contents in Pinus tabulaeformis
Authors: Zhang Juan , Wu Jianzhi , Wang Yanchun , Liu Yan
Published: December 2014

In order to find the relationships between leaf elements contents and phenomenon of growing weakness of plant, the variation of thirteen mineral elements in pine needles were determined at the period from well growth to weak growth for six consecutive years. Twelve elements consisting toxic metals ( Pb , Cr , and Cd ) and essential mineral elements ( P , K , Fe , Mn , Cu , Zn , Ca , Mg and Na ) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and the N content was analyzed using automatic azotometer (KDY-9820 type). The results showed that there were no significantly variatation in elements N , K , Ca , Mg and Fe between normal and abnormal growing trees. However, the sharply increase of Na and toxic heavy metal Cr , and the gradually decrease of trace elements such as Mn , Cu , Zn , and further the rising of P year by year in pine needles might had much more relationships with the weak growth of Pinus tabulaeformis. The correlations of each element could be used to improve the ratios of different element in order to make plant grow well.
Remarks on the Pseudo-Additivity in the Axiomatization of Tsallis Entropy
Authors: Mulalić Edin H. , Stanković Miomir S. , Stanković Radomir S.
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we discuss the application of pseudo-additivity in axiomatic systems developed for Tsallis entropy and the influence of independence of systems in the entropy of composition. Although the axiomatization of Tsallis entropy has a long history and various axiomatic systems based on pseudo-additivity have been proposed, there are still unresolved questions. We present an overview of such axiomatic systems and highlight some topics, in particular theoretical considerations or some applications, which can be viewed as bottlenecks of a concrete system. Then, we offer solutions for these critical topics, which can be viewed as a contribution to the axiomatization of Tsallis entropy.
Effect of head model on Monte Carlo modeling of spatial sensitivity distribution for functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Li Ting , Li Yan , Sun Yunlong , Duan Meixue , Peng Liyuan
Published: December 2014

Modeling Light propagation within human head to deduce spatial sensitivity distribution (SSD) is important for Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)/imaging (NIRI) and diffuse correlation tomography. Lots of head models have been used on this issue, including layered head model, artificial simplified head model, MRI slices described head model, and visible human head model. Hereinto, visible Chinese human (VCH) head model is considered to be a most faithful presentation of anatomical structure, and has been highlighted to be employed in modeling light propagation. However, it is not practical for all researchers to use VCH head models and actually increasing number of people are using magnet resonance imaging (MRI) head models. Here, all the above head models were simulated and compared, and we focused on the effect of using different head models on predictions of SSD. Our results were in line with the previous reports on the effect of cerebral cortex folding geometry. Moreover, the influence on SSD increases with the fidelity of head models. And surprisingly, the SSD percentages in scalp and gray matter (region of interest) in MRI head model were found to be 80% and 125% higher than in VCH head model. MRI head models induced nonignorable discrepancy in SSD estimation when compared with VCH head model. This study, as we believe, is the first to focus on comparison among full serials of head model on estimating SSD, and provided quantitative evidence for MRI head model users to calibrate their SSD estimation.
EpCAM and the biology of hepatic stem/progenitor cells
Authors: Dollé Laurent , Theise Neil D. , Schmelzer Eva , Boulter Luke , Gires Olivier , van Grunsven Leo A.
Published: December 2014

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which is frequently and highly expressed on carcinomas, tumor-initiating cells, selected tissue progenitors, and embryonic and adult stem cells. During liver development, EpCAM demonstrates a dynamic expression, since it can be detected in fetal liver, including cells of the parenchyma, whereas mature hepatocytes are devoid of EpCAM. Liver regeneration is associated with a population of EpCAM-positive cells within ductular reactions, which gradually lose the expression of EpCAM along with maturation into hepatocytes. EpCAM can be switched on and off through a wide panel of strategies to fine-tune EpCAM-dependent functional and differentiative traits. EpCAM-associated functions relate to cell–cell adhesion, proliferation, maintenance of a pluripotent state, regulation of differentiation, migration, and invasion. These functions can be conferred by the full-length protein and/or EpCAM-derived fragments, which are generated upon regulated intramembrane proteolysis. Control by EpCAM therefore not only depends on the presence of full-length EpCAM at cellular membranes but also on varying rates of the formation of EpCAM-derived fragments that have their own regulatory properties and on changes in the association of EpCAM with interaction partners. Thus spatiotemporal localization of EpCAM in immature liver progenitors, transit-amplifying cells, and mature liver cells will decisively impact the regulation of EpCAM functions and might be one of the triggers that contributes to the adaptive processes in stem/progenitor cell lineages. This review will summarize EpCAM-related molecular events and how they relate to hepatobiliary differentiation and regeneration.
Calcium homeostasis in a local/global whole cell model of permeabilized ventricular myocytes with a Langevin description of stochastic calcium release
Authors: Wang Xiao , Weinberg Seth H. , Hao Yan , Sobie Eric A. , Smith Gregory D.
Published: December 2014

Population density approaches to modeling local control of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in cardiac myocytes can be used to construct minimal whole cell models that accurately represent heterogeneous local Ca2+ signals. Unfortunately, the computational complexity of such “local/global” whole cell models scales with the number of Ca2+ release unit (CaRU) states, which is a rapidly increasing function of the number of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) per CaRU. Here we present an alternative approach based on a Langevin description of the collective gating of RyRs coupled by local Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]). The computational efficiency of this approach no longer depends on the number of RyRs per CaRU. When the RyR model is minimal, Langevin equations may be replaced by a single Fokker-Planck equation, yielding an extremely compact and efficient local/global whole cell model that reproduces and helps interpret recent experiments that investigate Ca2+ homeostasis in permeabilized ventricular myocytes. Our calculations show that elevated myoplasmic [Ca2+] promotes elevated network sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) [Ca2+] via SR Ca2+-ATPase-mediated Ca2+ uptake. However, elevated myoplasmic [Ca2+] may also activate RyRs and promote stochastic SR Ca2+ release, which can in turn decrease SR [Ca2+]. Increasing myoplasmic [Ca2+] results in an exponential increase in spark-mediated release and a linear increase in nonspark-mediated release, consistent with recent experiments. The model exhibits two steady-state release fluxes for the same network SR [Ca2+] depending on whether myoplasmic [Ca2+] is low or high. In the later case, spontaneous release decreases SR [Ca2+] in a manner that maintains robust Ca2+ sparks.
Elevated pressure causes endothelial dysfunction in mouse carotid arteries by increasing local angiotensin signaling
Authors: Zhao Yingzi , Flavahan Sheila , Leung Susan W. , Xu Aimin , Vanhoutte Paul M. , Flavahan Nicholas A.
Published: December 2014

Experiments were performed to determine whether or not acute exposure to elevated pressure would disrupt endothelium-dependent dilatation by increasing local angiotensin II (ANG II) signaling. Vasomotor responses of mouse-isolated carotid arteries were analyzed in a pressure myograph at a control transmural pressure (PTM) of 80 mmHg. Acetylcholine-induced dilatation was reduced by endothelial denudation or by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase ( NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, 100 μM). Transient exposure to elevated PTM (150 mmHg, 180 min) inhibited dilatation to acetylcholine but did not affect responses to the nitric oxide donor diethylamine NONOate. Elevated PTM also increased endothelial reactive oxygen species, and the pressure-induced endothelial dysfunction was prevented by the direct antioxidant and NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin (100 μM). The increase in endothelial reactive oxygen species in response to elevated PTM was reduced by the ANG II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonists losartan (3 μM) or valsartan (1 μM). Indeed, elevated PTM caused marked expression of angiotensinogen, the precursor of ANG II. Inhibition of ANG II signaling, by blocking angiotensin-converting enzyme (1 μM perindoprilat or 10 μM captopril) or blocking AT1Rs prevented the impaired response to acetylcholine in arteries exposed to 150 mmHg but did not affect dilatation to the muscarinic agonist in arteries maintained at 80 mmHg. After the inhibition of ANG II, elevated pressure no longer impaired endothelial dilatation. In arteries treated with perindoprilat to inhibit endogenous formation of the peptide, exogenous ANG II (0.3 μM, 180 min) inhibited dilatation to acetylcholine. Therefore, elevated pressure rapidly impairs endothelium-dependent dilatation by causing ANG expression and enabling ANG II-dependent activation of AT1Rs. These processes may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension-induced vascular dysfunction and organ injury.
Cyclic stretch-induced TGF-β1 and fibronectin expression is mediated by β1-integrin through c-Src- and STAT3-dependent pathways in renal epithelial cells
Authors: Hamzeh Mona T. , Sridhara Rashmi , Alexander Larry D.
Published: December 2014

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including fibronectin, may contribute to the early development and progression of renal interstitial fibrosis associated with chronic renal disease. Recent studies showed that β1-integrin is associated with the development of renal fibrosis in a murine model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). However, the molecular events responsible for β1-integrin-mediated signaling, following UUO, have yet to be determined. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which mechanical stretch, an in vitro model for chronic obstructive nephropathy, regulates fibronectin and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression in cultured human proximal tubular epithelium (HK-2) cells. Mechanical stretch upregulated fibronectin and TGF-β1 expression and activated signal transducer and transcription factor 3 (STAT3) in a time-dependent manner. Stretch-induced fibronectin and TGF-β1 were suppressed by a STAT3 inhibitor, S3I-201, and by small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting human STAT3 (STAT3 siRNA). Similarly, fibronectin and TGF-β1 expression and STAT3 activation induced by mechanical stretch were suppressed by the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 and by transfection of HK-2 cells with a dominant-negative mutant of c-Src (DN-Src), whereas PP3, an inactive analog of PP2, had no significant effect. Furthermore, mechanical stretch resulted in increased β1-integrin mRNA and protein levels in HK-2 cells. Furthermore, neutralizing antibody against β1-integrin and silencing of β1-integrin expression with siRNAs resulted in decreased c-Src and STAT3 activation and TGF-β1 and fibronectin expression evoked by mechanical stretch. This work demonstrates, for the first time, a role for β1-integrin in stretch-induced renal fibrosis through the activation of c-Src and STAT3 signaling pathways.
Locomotor control of limb force switches from minimal intervention principle in early adaptation to noise reduction in late adaptation
Authors: Selgrade Brian P. , Chang Young-Hui
Published: December 2014

During movement, errors are typically corrected only if they hinder performance. Preferential correction of task-relevant deviations is described by the minimal intervention principle but has not been demonstrated in the joints during locomotor adaptation. We studied hopping as a tractable model of locomotor adaptation of the joints within the context of a limb-force-specific task space. Subjects hopped while adapting to shifted visual feedback that induced them to increase peak ground reaction force (GRF). We hypothesized subjects would preferentially reduce task-relevant joint torque deviations over task-irrelevant deviations to increase peak GRF. We employed a modified uncontrolled manifold analysis to quantify task-relevant and task-irrelevant joint torque deviations for each individual hop cycle. As would be expected by the explicit goal of the task, peak GRF errors decreased in early adaptation before reaching steady state during late adaptation. Interestingly, during the early adaptation performance improvement phase, subjects reduced GRF errors by decreasing only the task-relevant joint torque deviations. In contrast, during the late adaption performance maintenance phase, all torque deviations decreased in unison regardless of task relevance. In deadaptation, when the shift in visual feedback was removed, all torque deviations decreased in unison, possibly because performance improvement was too rapid to detect changes in only the task-relevant dimension. We conclude that limb force adaptation in hopping switches from a minimal intervention strategy during performance improvement to a noise reduction strategy during performance maintenance, which may represent a general control strategy for locomotor adaptation of limb force in other bouncing gaits, such as running.
In vivo electrophysiological recordings in amygdala subnuclei reveal selective and distinct responses to a behaviorally identified predator odor
Authors: Govic Antonina , Paolini Antonio G.
Published: December 2014

Chemosensory cues signaling predators reliably stimulate innate defensive responses in rodents. Despite the well-documented role of the amygdala in predator odor-induced fear, evidence for the relative contribution of the specific nuclei that comprise this structurally heterogeneous structure is conflicting. In an effort to clarify this we examined neural activity, via electrophysiological recordings, in amygdala subnuclei to controlled and repeated presentations of a predator odor: cat urine. Defensive behaviors, characterized by avoidance, decreased exploration, and increased risk assessment, were observed in adult male hooded Wistar rats ( n = 11) exposed to a cloth impregnated with cat urine. Electrophysiological recordings of the amygdala (777 multiunit clusters) were subsequently obtained in freely breathing anesthetized rats exposed to cat urine, distilled water, and eugenol via an air-dilution olfactometer. Recorded units selectively responded to cat urine, and frequencies of responses were distributed differently across amygdala nuclei; medial amygdala (MeA) demonstrated the greatest frequency of responses to cat urine (51.7%), followed by the basolateral and basomedial nuclei (18.8%) and finally the central amygdala (3.0%). Temporally, information transduction occurred primarily from the cortical amygdala and MeA (ventral divisions) to other amygdala nuclei. Interestingly, MeA subnuclei exhibited distinct firing patterns to predator urine, potentially revealing aspects of the underlying neurocircuitry of predator odor processing and defensiveness. These findings highlight the critical involvement of the MeA in processing olfactory cues signaling predator threat and converge with previous studies to indicate that amygdala regulation of predator odor-induced fear is restricted to a particular set of subnuclei that primarily include the MeA, particularly the ventral divisions.
Heightened eating drive and visual food stimuli attenuate central nociceptive processing
Authors: Wright Hazel , Li Xiaoyun , Fallon Nicholas B. , Giesbrecht Timo , Thomas Anna , Harrold Joanne A. , Halford Jason C. G. , Stancak Andrej
Published: December 2014

Hunger and pain are basic drives that compete for a behavioral response when experienced together. To investigate the cortical processes underlying hunger-pain interactions, we manipulated participants' hunger and presented photographs of appetizing food or inedible objects in combination with painful laser stimuli. Fourteen healthy participants completed two EEG sessions: one after an overnight fast, the other following a large breakfast. Spatio-temporal patterns of cortical activation underlying the hunger-pain competition were explored with 128-channel EEG recordings and source dipole analysis of laser-evoked potentials (LEPs). We found that initial pain ratings were temporarily reduced when participants were hungry compared with fed. Source activity in parahippocampal gyrus was weaker when participants were hungry, and activations of operculo-insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, and cerebellum were smaller in the context of appetitive food photographs than in that of inedible object photographs. Cortical processing of noxious stimuli in pain-related brain structures is reduced and pain temporarily attenuated when people are hungry or passively viewing food photographs, suggesting a possible interaction between the opposing motivational forces of the eating drive and pain.
Quantification and classification of neuronal responses in kernel-smoothed peristimulus time histograms
Authors: Hill Michael R. H. , Fried Itzhak , Koch Christof
Published: December 2014

Peristimulus time histograms are a widespread form of visualizing neuronal responses. Kernel convolution methods transform these histograms into a smooth, continuous probability density function. This provides an improved estimate of a neuron's actual response envelope. We here develop a classifier, called the h-coefficient, to determine whether time-locked fluctuations in the firing rate of a neuron should be classified as a response or as random noise. Unlike previous approaches, the h-coefficient takes advantage of the more precise response envelope estimation provided by the kernel convolution method. The h-coefficient quantizes the smoothed response envelope and calculates the probability of a response of a given shape to occur by chance. We tested the efficacy of the h-coefficient in a large data set of Monte Carlo simulated smoothed peristimulus time histograms with varying response amplitudes, response durations, trial numbers, and baseline firing rates. Across all these conditions, the h-coefficient significantly outperformed more classical classifiers, with a mean false alarm rate of 0.004 and a mean hit rate of 0.494. We also tested the h-coefficient's performance in a set of neuronal responses recorded in humans. The algorithm behind the h-coefficient provides various opportunities for further adaptation and the flexibility to target specific parameters in a given data set. Our findings confirm that the h-coefficient can provide a conservative and powerful tool for the analysis of peristimulus time histograms with great potential for future development.
A Comparative Analysis of Performance of Shared Memory Cluster Computing Interconnection Systems
Authors: Tripathy Minakshi , Tripathy C. R.
Published: December 2014

In recent past, many types of shared memory cluster computing interconnection systems have been proposed. Each of these systems has its own advantages and limitations. With the increase in system size of the cluster interconnection systems, the comparative analysis of their various performance measures becomes quite inevitable. The cluster architecture, load balancing, and fault tolerance are some of the important aspects, which need to be addressed. The comparison needs to be made in order to choose the best one for a particular application. In this paper, a detailed comparative study on four important and different classes of shared memory cluster architectures has been made. The systems taken up for the purpose of the study are shared memory clusters, hierarchical shared memory clusters, distributed shared memory clusters, and the virtual distributed shared memory clusters. These clusters are analyzed and compared on the basis of the architecture, load balancing, and fault tolerance aspects. The results of comparison are reported.
Aneurysms of the P2P Segment of Posterior Cerebral Artery: Case Report and Surgical Steps
Authors: Aguiar Paulo , Gatto Luana , Neves Maick , Martins Carlos , Nakasone Fabio , Isolan Gustavo
Published: December 2014

The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is divided into 4 segments: precommunicating segment (P1), postcommunicating segment (P2), quadrigeminal segment (P3), and calcarine segment (P4). Small aneurysms are more prevalent than large aneurysms in patients with ruptured aneurysms. P2 and P3 aneurysms are usually managed by the subtemporal approach. This is a case report of rupture saccular aneurysm of posterior cerebral artery on P2P segment. The authors show the surgical steps of these rare aneurysms with an illustrative case.
Effect of InhalingCymbopogon martiniiEssential Oil and Geraniol on Serum Biochemistry Parameters and Oxidative Stress in Rats
Authors: Andrade Bruna Fernanda Murbach Teles , Braga Camila Pereira , dos Santos Klinsmann Carolo , Barbosa Lidiane Nunes , Rall Vera Lúcia Mores , Sforcin José Maurício , Fernandes Ana Angélica Henrique , Fernandes Júnior Ary
Published: December 2014

The effects of the inhalation ofCymbopogon martiniiessential oil (EO) and geraniol on Wistar rats were evaluated for biochemical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress. Wistar rats were divided into three groupsn=8: G1 was control group, treated with saline solution; G2 received geraniol; and G3 receivedC. martiniiEO by inhalation during 30 days. No significant differences were observed in glycemia and triacylglycerol levels; G2 and G3 decreasedP<0.05total cholesterol level. There were no differences in serum protein, urea, aspartate aminotransferase activity, and total hepatic protein. Creatinine levels increased in G2 but decreased in G3. Alanine aminotransferase activity and lipid hydroperoxide were higher in G2 than in G3. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in G3.C. martiniiEO and geraniol increased glutathione peroxidase. Oxidative stress caused by geraniol may have triggered some degree of hepatic toxicity, as verified by the increase in serum creatinine and alanine aminotransferase. Therefore, the beneficial effects of EO on oxidative stress can prevent the toxicity in the liver. This proves possible interactions between geraniol and numerous chemical compounds present inC. martiniiEO.