bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro effects of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides delivered by gelatin nanoparticles on canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic and healthy dogs – a pilot study
Authors: Prélaud Ana Rostaher , Fuchs Sebastian , Weber Karin , Winter Gerhard , Coester Conrad , Mueller Ralf S.
Published: July 2013

Background

Cytosine‐phosphate‐guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides offer a novel promising immunotherapeutic approach for atopic dermatitis (AD) both in humans and animals. Gelatin nanoparticles (GNP) enhance and prolong CpG‐associated immunomodulatory effects and minimize adverse effects both in vitro and in vivo. Information about the effects of this combination in dogs is lacking.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate immunological effects of CpG coupled to GNP on canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro.

Animals

Eight dogs with AD, diagnosed by standard criteria and with a concurrent immediate hypersensitivity to house dust mites were included. Control samples were taken from eight healthy, age‐matched control dogs without history or evidence of cutaneous or systemic illness.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy and allergic dogs were incubated with CpG‐GNP and the uptake of CpG‐GNP was demonstrated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Cell culture supernatant concentrations of interferon gamma (IFN‐γ), interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐6 and IL‐10 were measured by Canine Cytokine Milliplex.

Results

No significant changes in IFN‐γ and IL‐4 were found when comparing PBMCs incubated with CpG and CpG‐GNP with the negative controls in atopic and healthy dogs. Interleukin‐6 was not detected in any of the groups. However, a statistically significant increase in IL‐10 concentration was found after 24 h stimulation with CpG‐GNP compared with CpG alone both in atopic and healthy dogs.

Conclusions and clinical importance

As IL‐10 is considered an immunosuppressive cytokine playing a key role in peripheral tolerance; the reported CpG‐GNP formulation could be a new approach in allergy treatment.
Stochastic Simulation Model Comparing Distributions of STEC O157 Faecal Shedding Prevalence Between Cattle Vaccinated With Type III Secreted Protein Vaccines and Non‐Vaccinated Cattle
Authors: Vogstad A. R. , Moxley R. A. , Erickson G. E. , Klopfenstein T. J. , Smith D. R.
Published: July 2013

Pens of cattle with high Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157) prevalence at harvest may present a greater risk to food safety than pens of lower prevalence. Vaccination of live cattle against STEC O157 has been proposed as an approach to reduce STEC O157 prevalence in live cattle. Our objective was to create a stochastic simulation model to evaluate the effectiveness of pre‐harvest interventions. We used the model to compare STEC O157 prevalence distributions for summer‐ and winter‐fed cattle to summer‐fed cattle immunized with a type III secreted protein (TTSP) vaccine. Model inputs were an estimate of vaccine efficacy, observed frequency distributions for number of animals within a pen, and pen‐level faecal shedding prevalence for summer and winter. Uncertainty about vaccine efficacy was simulated using a log‐normal distribution (mean = 58%, SE = 0.14). Model outputs were distributions of STEC O157 faecal pen prevalence of summer‐fed cattle unvaccinated and vaccinated, and winter‐fed cattle unvaccinated. The simulation was performed 5000 times. Summer faecal prevalence ranged from 0% to 80% (average = 30%). Thirty‐six per cent of summer‐fed pens had STEC O157 prevalence >40%. Winter faecal prevalence ranged from 0% to 60% (average = 10%). Seven per cent of winter‐fed pens had STEC O157 prevalence >40%. Faecal prevalence for summer‐fed pens vaccinated with a 58% efficacious vaccine product ranged from 0% to 52% (average = 13%). Less than one per cent of vaccinated pens had STEC O157 prevalence >40%. In this simulation, vaccination mitigated the risk of STEC O157 faecal shedding to levels comparable to winter, with the major effects being reduced average shedding prevalence, reduced variability in prevalence distribution, and a reduction in the occurrence of the highest prevalence pens. Food safety decision‐makers may find this modelling approach useful for evaluating the value of pre‐harvest interventions.
Global Epigenomic Reconfiguration During Mammalian Brain Development
Authors: Lister Ryan , Mukamel Eran A. , Nery Joseph R. , Urich Mark , Puddifoot Clare A. , Johnson Nicholas D. , Lucero Jacinta , Huang Yun , Dwork Andrew J. , Schultz Matthew D. , Yu Miao , Tonti-Filippini Julian , Heyn Holger , Hu Shijun , Wu Joseph C. , Rao Anjana , Esteller Manel , He Chuan , Haghighi Fatemeh G. , Sejnowski Terrence J. , Behrens M. Margarita , Ecker Joseph R.
Published: July 2013

Epigenetic Brainscape

Epigenetic modifications and their potential changes during development are of high interest, but few studies have characterized such differences.Listeret al.(1237905, published online 4 July; see the Perspective byGabel and Greenberg) report whole-genome base-resolution analysis of DNA cytosine modifications and transcriptome analysis in the frontal cortex of human and mouse brains at multiple developmental stages. The high-resolution mapping of DNA cytosine methylation (5mC) and one of its oxidation derivatives (5hmC) at key developmental stages provides a comprehensive resource covering the temporal dynamics of these epigenetic modifications in neurons compared to glia. The data suggest that methylation marks are dynamic during brain development in both humans and mice.
All-Optical Switch and Transistor Gated by One Stored Photon
Authors: Chen Wenlan , Beck Kristin M. , Bücker Robert , Gullans Michael , Lukin Mikhail D. , Tanji-Suzuki Haruka , Vuletić Vladan
Published: July 2013

A Single-Photon Gate

A long-standing goal in optics is to produce an all-optical transistor, in which the transmission of a light beam can be controlled by a single photon. Using a system in which a cloud of cesium atoms is coupled to an optical cavity,

Chen
et al.

(p.
768
, published online 4 July; see the Perspective by

Volz and Rauschenbeutel

) were able to control transmission through the optical cavity by exciting the atomic ensemble using a “gate” laser pulse. Just one gate photon stored was sufficient to detune the system and switch the transmission of source photons through the cavity.
Real-Time Dynamics of RNA Polymerase II Clustering in Live Human Cells
Authors: Cisse Ibrahim I. , Izeddin Ignacio , Causse Sebastien Z. , Boudarene Lydia , Senecal Adrien , Muresan Leila , Dugast-Darzacq Claire , Hajj Bassam , Dahan Maxime , Darzacq Xavier
Published: July 2013

Pol II Micro Clusters

In higher eukaryotes, messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis is thought to involve foci of clustered RNA polymerase II (Pol II) called transcription factories. However, clustered Pol II have not been resolved in living cells, raising the debate about their existence in vivo and what role, if any, they play in nuclear organization and regulation of gene expression.

Cisse
et al.

(p.
664
, published online 4 July; see the Perspective by

Rickman and Bickmore

) developed single-molecule in vivo analyses revealing the distribution and dynamics of Pol II clustering in living cells. Pol II clusters were smaller than the diffraction limit (<250 nm). Transient dynamics of the Pol II clusters, and correlation with changes in transcription, pointed to a role in transcription initiation rather than in elongation.
The Microbial Metabolites, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Regulate Colonic T
reg
Cell Homeostasis
Authors: Smith Patrick M. , Howitt Michael R. , Panikov Nicolai , Michaud Monia , Gallini Carey Ann , Bohlooly-Y Mohammad , Glickman Jonathan N. , Garrett Wendy S.
Published: July 2013

Protecting the Guts

Regulatory T cells (T
regs
) in the gut are important sentinels in maintaining the peace between our gut and its trillions of resident bacteria and have been shown to be regulated by specific strains of bacteria in mouse models.

Smith
et al.

(p.
569
, published online 4 July; see the Perspective by

Bollrath and Powrie

) asked whether metabolite(s) generated by resident bacterial species may regulate T
regs
in the gut. Indeed, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bacterial fermentation products of dietary fibers produced by a range of bacteria, restored colonic T
reg
numbers in mice devoid of a gut microbiota and increased T
reg
numbers in colonized mice. The effects of SCFAs on T
regs
were mediated through GPCR43, a receptor for SCFAs, which is expressed on colonic T
regs
. Mice fed SCFAs were protected against experimentally induced colitis in a manner that was dependent on GPR43-expressing T
regs
.
Successful retrieval of a fractured and embolised Judkin's catheter during a coronary angiogram
Authors: Patra Soumya , Sadananda K S , Agrawal Navin , Manjunath Cholenahally Nanjappa
Published: July 2013

We report the successful retrieval of a large broken segment of right Judkin's catheter using a snare catheter by a retrograde approach. A 69-year-old woman presented with an anterior wall myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram revealed severe stenosis of distal left main coronary artery, ostio-proximal portion of the left anterior descending artery and the ostial left circumflex artery. During right shoot, the Judkin's right catheter was broken at almost 15  cm from the distal end. The distal end of the broken catheter was lying in the ascending aorta, whereas proximal end was in the left subclavian artery. First, we snared the distal end and pulled out the catheter in right common iliac artery but owing to the curvature of the fragment, this attempt was unsuccessful. Finally, we were successful in removing the fractured segment retrogradely through the arterial sheath placed in left femoral artery.
Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura masquerading as catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma
Authors: Rahnemai-Azar Amir A , Rahnemai-Aazr Ata A , Robinson Philip , Pham Si
Published: July 2013

A 33-year-old African-American woman presented with left-sided chest pain for 2 months before admission. Physical examination revealed no breath sound in the left chest and CT scan of the chest showed total obliteration of the left pleural cavity. The patient also had hypertension and elevated urinary metanephrines, leading to a tentative diagnosis of a catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma. MRI revealed a large, heterogeneous soft tissue mass that occupied the entire left chest cavity, causing displacement of the heart and mediastinal structures to the right. Through a left thoracotomy incision, a tumour weighing 2790 g was removed along with a small portion of adherent lung. The tumour was positive for CD34 but negative for S-100, keratin, desmin and progesterone-receptor, which is consistent with pathological diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura. The patient remains symptom free 4 years after the operation.
Neonatal obstructed Treitz’s hernia with abdominal cocoon simulating volvulus neonatorum
Authors: Patel Ramnik V , Lawther Suzanne , Starzyk Bozena , de la Hunt Michael N
Published: July 2013

A case of congenital obstructed Treitz's hernia presenting with bilious vomiting in a newborn baby girl has been presented. Internal herniation of contents within a peritoneal sac of the right paramesocolic hernia formed abdominal cocoon which simulated volvulus neonatorum. Plain radiographs and contrast studies were helpful in defining the nature and extent of the lesion. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, reduction of small bowel contents from the hernial sac forming an abdominal cocoon, Ladd's procedure to correct associated midgut malrotation with incidental appendicectomy uneventfully and recovered well.
First permanent molar root development arrest associated with compound odontoma
Authors: Gunda Sachin A , Patil Anil , Varekar Aniruddha
Published: July 2013

Trauma or infection to the primary tooth may have deleterious effects on the underlying developing tooth buds. Anatomically the root apices of primary teeth are in close proximity to the developing permanent tooth buds; hence spread of infection originating from pulp necrosis of primary tooth may not only affect the underlying tooth bud but may also affect the adjacent tooth buds. The extent of malformation depends on the developmental stage of tooth or the age of patient. Presented here is a rare case of complete arrest of maxillary first permanent molar root growth due to spread of periapical infection originating from second primary molar leading to failure of its eruption and finally extraction. Histopathlogical analysis revealed compound odontoma associated with maxillary first permanent molar.
Acute lymphocitic leukaemia and AIDS
Authors: Bacci Marcelo Rodrigues , Santos Janaina Aparecida Boide , Zing Natalia C P , Barros Danielle M
Published: July 2013

Patients with AIDS have become more and more prevalent. Therefore, the onset of diseases that coexist with this condition must be studied in order to establish proper diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of a patient who reported with loss of strength in the lower limbs and a progressive worsening in his clinical picture. He was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia, an unusual form of association with the AIDS condition. Despite the diagnosis, he evolved into pulmonary sepsis and so staging and chemotherapy treatment could not be performed.
Discordant U waves in the setting of hyperkalaemia
Authors: Chhabra Lovely , Spodick David H
Published: July 2013

Physiological U wave genesis occurs likely secondary to either late repolarisation of Purkinje fibres, or late repolarisation of some myocardial cells and/or delayed after depolarisation of the ventricular wall occurring during ventricular filling. Hypokalaemia has a well-known association with pathological ‘U wave’ which actually combines with the T wave (TU complex) and results from slowing of phase 3 of the action potential with resultant electrical interaction between the three myocardial layers. U waves usually tend to disappear in the setting of hyperkalaemia. We report an unusual case where hyperkalaemia and discordant U waves coexisted. We believe that this may have occurred as a result of partial clinical adaptation of cardiac myocytes to the long-standing effects of hyperkalaemia as the patient had underlying history of chronic kidney disease. We also discuss the possible mechanisms of the U wave genesis and the importance of different U wave morphologies encountered in the real clinical practice.
Xanthomatous oophoritis following uterine artery embolisation: successful conservative surgical management with favourable outcome
Authors: Singh Nilanchali , Tripathi Reva , Mala Yedla Manikya , Arora Shelly
Published: July 2013

Xanthomatous oophoritis is a rare inflammatory condition of the ovaries. We are reporting a case of a 28-year-old woman, who had undergone uterine artery embolisation 4 years ago due to symptomatic focal adenomyosis. After 3 years of embolisation, the patient started having chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea and polymenorrhagia along with inability to conceive. Abdominal examination showed 16 weeks size mass arising from the pelvis. Ultrasound findings were suggestive of focal adenomyosis and bilateral tubo-ovarian masses. A CT scan report showed cystic enlargement of ovaries showing high-density fluid contents. MRI showed two well-defined, thick-walled, septated, cystic lesions appearing hyperintense on both T1-weighted (T1w) and T2w images with peripheral and septal enhancement. Bilateral abscess walls were excised and the healthy ovarian tissue was left behind during surgery. Histopathology of the cyst wall showed xanthomatous oophoritis. After the conservative surgery, she received three doses of goserelin. She conceived spontaneously thereafter and delivered a healthy term baby.
Giant frontal intraparenchymal schwannoma: unexpected diagnosis
Authors: Rotondo Michele , Pascale Michela , Scuotto Assunta
Published: July 2013

We report the case of an intraparenchymal frontal schwannoma, surgically resected in a middle-aged, otherwise healthy woman. Magnetic resonance imaging was ineffective for the definitive diagnosis and was instead afforded by histology. This case is unique because the rare lesion presented as agiantmass; to the best of our knowledge, such a finding has not been previously reported.
Pulmonary artery catheter coiled in the main pulmonary artery trunk
Authors: Aggarwal Nidhi , Kupfer Yizhak , Yoon Taek Sang , Tessler Sidney
Published: July 2013

Pulmonary artery (PA) catheterisation has been performed for over four decades. It is utilised in intensive care units and perioperatively to titrate fluid and pressor therapy. Major and minor complications have been reported. The catheter can infrequently loop and coil in the right atrium, right ventricle and superior vena cava .We report a case of coiling of the PA catheter in the main PA. A 33-year-old woman was admitted with multiorgan failure and shock. She required mechanical ventilation, was in severe pulmonary oedema and required vasopressors for shock. We placed a PA catheter to assist in the management of her haemodynamic collapse. The catheter coiled in the main pulmonary trunk, which is extremely rare. The catheter was removed without any complications.
Scapular bone destruction: do not forget to think of tuberculosis in endemic areas
Authors: Sharma Barun Kumar , Singh Varun Kumar , Nishant Kumar , Das Deepak
Published: July 2013

Tuberculosis is an endemic disease of worldwide concern. The most common involvement is in the form of pulmonary tuberculosis. Musculoskeletal system is involved in 20–30% of cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Among these cases of musculoskeletal tuberculosis, vertebral column is most commonly involved followed by long bones. However, tuberculosis of flat bones like scapula is very rare. We present a case of a 56-year-old woman with painless swelling in the right lower back of chest. Ultrasonography suggested abscess formation. A chest X-ray and CT scan suggested coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis. CT revealed abscess with osteomyelitis of inferior angle of scapula. The abscess was aspirated and histopathological examination confirmed tubercular pathology. A 6-month course of antitubercular treatment resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.
A predictive model of outcomes during cerebral aneurysm coiling
Authors: Bekelis Kimon , Missios Symeon , MacKenzie Todd A , Fischer Adina , Labropoulos Nicos , Eskey Clifford
Published: July 2013

Background

Benchmarking of complications is necessary in the context of the developing path to accountable care. We attempted to create a predictive model of negative outcomes in patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm coiling (CACo).

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study involving patients who underwent CACo from 2005 to 2009 and who were registered in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. A model for outcome prediction based on individual patient characteristics was developed.

Results

Of the 10 607 patients undergoing CACo, 6056 presented with unruptured aneurysms (57.1%) and 4551 with subarachnoid hemorrhage (42.9%). The respective inpatient postoperative risks were 0.3%, 5.7%, 1.8%, 0.8%, 0.5%, 0.2%, 1.9%, and 0.1% for unruptured aneurysms, and 13.8%, 52.8%, 4.9%, 36.7%, 1%, 2.9%, 2.3%, and 0.8% for ruptured aneurysms for death, unfavorable discharge, stroke, treated hydrocephalus, cardiac complications, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and acute renal failure. Multivariate analysis identified risk factors independently associated with the above outcomes. A validated model for outcome prediction based on individual patient characteristics was developed. The accuracy of the model was estimated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and it was found to have good discrimination.

Conclusions

The presented model can aid in the prediction of the incidence of postoperative complications, and can be used as an adjunct in tailoring the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.
Reporting standards for endovascular chemotherapy of head, neck and CNS tumors
Authors: Fraser Justin F , Hussain M Shazam , Eskey Cliff , Abruzzo Todd , Bulsara Ketan , English Joey , Blackham Kristine , Do Huy M , Prestigiacomo Charles , Jayaraman Mahesh V , Patsalides Athos , Kelly Michael , Sunshine Jeffrey L , Meyers Philip ,   on behalf of the Society for NeuroInterventional Surgery
Published: July 2013

Background

The goal of this article is to provide expert consensus recommendations for reporting standards, terminology and definitions when reporting on neurointerventional chemotherapy administration for head and neck tumors. These criteria may be used to design clinical trials, to provide definitions for patient stratification and to permit robust analysis of published data.

Methods

This publication represents a consensus document by the Society for Neurointerventional Surgery. A PubMed search was conducted and included articles published in 2002–2011, with the search strategy designed to identify all studies of intra-arterial chemotherapy for tumors of neck and head. Articles were evaluated for evidence class, and recommendations were made using guidelines for evidence-based medicine proposed by a joint committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Specifically, technical methods, outcome variables and reported complications were highlighted.

Results

Thirty-five publications were included in the review. While most studies represent class III evidence, there was sufficient concordance to justify level 2 recommendations regarding technical methods for administration of intra-arterial chemotherapy. The data also support level 2 recommendations regarding reporting of particular outcome variables subsumed within broad categories entitled ‘Procedure-related’, ‘Disease control’ and ‘Survival’. The data support recommendations for the reporting of access site-related, neurologic, head and neck, ocular, hematologic and systemic complications, and also complications related to the percutaneous access site.

Conclusions

Intra-arterial chemotherapy is a growing field in interventional neuroradiology. It is important to adopt uniform technical and reporting standards that will allow cross-publication comparisons and facilitate homogeneous practice standards. Published data support such standards, which are vital for the consistent evaluation of future published research.
HPV vaccine acceptability among men: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Newman Peter A , Logie Carmen H , Doukas Nick , Asakura Kenta
Published: July 2013

Objective

To understand rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptability and factors correlated with HPV vaccine acceptability.

Design

Meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies.

Data sources

We used a comprehensive search strategy across multiple electronic databases with no date or language restrictions to locate studies that examined rates and/or correlates of HPV vaccine acceptability. Search keywords included vaccine, acceptability and all terms for HPV.

Review methods

We calculated mean HPV vaccine acceptability across studies. We conducted meta-analysis using a random effects model on studies reporting correlates of HPV vaccine acceptability. All studies were assessed for risk of bias.

Results

Of 301 identified studies, 29 were included. Across 22 studies (n=8360), weighted mean HPV vaccine acceptability=50.4 (SD 21.5) (100-point scale). Among 16 studies (n=5048) included in meta-analyses, perceived HPV vaccine benefits, anticipatory regret, partner thinks one should get vaccine and healthcare provider recommendation had medium effect sizes, and the following factors had small effect sizes on HPV vaccine acceptability: perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness, need for multiple shots, fear of needles, fear of side effects, supportive/accepting social environment, perceived risk/susceptibility to HPV, perceived HPV severity, number of lifetime sexual partners, having a current sex partner, non-receipt of hepatitis B vaccine, smoking cigarettes, history of sexually transmitted infection, HPV awareness, HPV knowledge, cost, logistical barriers, being employed and non-white ethnicity.

Conclusions

Public health campaigns that promote positive HPV vaccine attitudes and awareness about HPV risk in men, and interventions to promote healthcare provider recommendation of HPV vaccination for boys and mitigate obstacles due to cost and logistical barriers may support HPV vaccine acceptability for men. Future investigations employing rigorous designs, including intervention studies, are needed to support effective HPV vaccine promotion among men.
Seasonal patterns of nitrogen fixation in biological soil crusts from British Columbia’s Chilcotin grasslands
Authors: Caputa Kasia , Coxson Darwyn , Sanborn Paul
Published: July 2013

This study provides estimates of N2 fixation in biological soil crusts (BSCs) from shrub–steppe grasslands in British Columbia’s Chilcotin plateau. We identify key seasonal periods and environmental conditions during episodes of BSC nitrogen-fixation activity. Predicted nitrogen-fixation activity showed two peak periods: one during late winter and early spring snowmelt events, and the second during summer precipitation events. BSC nitrogen fixation, especially summer activity, was quite variable from year to year. The magnitude of predicted nitrogen fixation at the landscape level was dependent upon the ratio used to convert rates of acetylene reduction to nitrogen fixed. Using a theoretical ratio of 3:1, estimates of average annual BSC nitrogen fixation were 1.0 kg N·ha−1. However, using a conversion ratio of 0.06, obtained from side-by-side measurements of acetylene reduction and 15N uptake, annual estimates are 52 kg N·ha−1. These estimates are based on assessments of the aerial extent of dark BSC communities, which at the Farwell Canyon study site exceeded 50%. The fate of fixed nitrogen, especially during the late winter period, when underlying soils are frozen, remains unclear.
A NEW RANKING APPROACH WITH A MODIFIED CROSS EVALUATION MATRIX
Authors: JEONG BYUNG HO , OK CHANG-SOO
Published: July 2013

Cross evaluation matrix was suggested to resolve a ranking problem in the data envelopment analysis (DEA) context. The cross evaluation matrix is composed of simple efficiency and cross-efficiency (CE) values of decision making units (DMUs). However, simple efficiency cannot discriminate efficient DMUs because of the nature of basic DEA models. To make complete use of the efficiency information of DMUs, a modified cross evaluation matrix is proposed. The modified matrix consists of super-efficiency (SE) values for diagonal elements and CE values for nondiagonal elements. As the efficiency values are not limited to "1" in SE approach, the proposed matrix can explain the difference of efficiency of efficient DMUs. The proposed matrix can be more accurate than the original cross evaluation matrix. Consequently, the rank order of DMUs generated by the suggested matrix reflects differences in relative efficiency of DMUs. A numerical example is given to show the superiority of the proposed approach. This is done by comparing with other available ranking methods in the DEA context. Several distance measures are utilized to compare rank consistency of the ranking methods. Finally, a case study is presented to explain how our approach is applied to real ranking problems.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY PHENOMENON INDUCED BY EXTERNAL IN-PLANE MAGNETIC FIELD IN (2 + 1)-DIMENSIONAL GROSS–NEVEU TYPE MODEL
Authors: KLIMENKO K. G. , ZHOKHOV R. N. , ZHUKOVSKY V. CH.
Published: July 2013

Phase structure of the (2 + 1)-dimensional model with four-fermion interaction of spin-½ quasiparticles (electrons) both in the fermion–antifermion (or chiral) and fermion–fermion (or superconducting) channels is considered at nonzero chemical potential μ and under the influence of an in-plane, i.e. parallel to a system sheet, external magnetic field B‖. It is shown that at sufficiently large values of μ and/or B‖ the Cooper pairing (or superconducting) phase appears in the system at arbitrary relation between coupling constants, provided that there is an (arbitrary small) attractive interaction in the superconducting channel. In particular, at sufficiently weak attractive interaction in the chiral channel, the Cooper pairing occurs even at infinitesimal values of μ and/or B‖. The superconducting phase of the model is always a paramagnetic one.
KONTSEVICH INTEGRAL FOR KNOTS AND VASSILIEV INVARIANTS
Authors: DUNIN-BARKOWSKI P. , SLEPTSOV A. , SMIRNOV A.
Published: July 2013

We review quantum field theory approach to the knot theory. Using holomorphic gauge, we obtain the Kontsevich integral. It is explained how to calculate Vassiliev invariants and coefficients in Kontsevich integral in a combinatorial way which can be programmed on a computer. We discuss experimental results and temporal gauge considerations which lead to representation of Vassiliev invariants in terms of arrow diagrams. Explicit examples and computational results are presented.
BOUNDARY UNITARITY AND THE BLACK HOLE INFORMATION PARADOX
Authors: JACOBSON TED
Published: July 2013

Both AdS/CFT duality and more general reasoning from quantum gravity point to a rich collection of boundary observables that always evolve unitarily. The physical quantum gravity states described by these observables must be solutions of the spatial diffeomorphism and Wheeler–De Witt constraints, which implies that the state space does not factorize into a tensor product of localized degrees of freedom. The "firewall" argument that unitarity of black hole S-matrix implies the presence of a highly excited quantum state near the horizon is based on such a factorization, hence is not applicable in quantum gravity. In fact, there appears to be no conflict between boundary unitarity and regularity of the event horizon.
THE EMC EFFECT AND HIGH MOMENTUM NUCLEONS IN NUCLEI
Authors: HEN OR , HIGINBOTHAM DOUGLAS W. , MILLER GERALD A. , PIASETZKY ELI , WEINSTEIN LAWRENCE B.
Published: July 2013

Recent developments in understanding the influence of the nucleus on deep-inelastic structure functions, the EMC effect, are reviewed. A new data base which expresses ratios of structure functions in terms of the Bjorken variable xA = AQ2/(2MA q0) is presented. Information about two-nucleon short-range correlations (SRC) from experiments is also discussed and the remarkable linear relation between SRC and the EMC effect is reviewed. A convolution model that relates the underlying source of the EMC effect to modification of either the mean-field nucleons or SRC nucleons is presented. It is shown that both approaches are equally successful in describing the current EMC data.
A SPATIAL DOMAIN OBJECT SEPARABILITY BASED NO-REFERENCE IMAGE QUALITY MEASURE USING MEAN AND VARIANCE
Authors: DE KANJAR , MASILAMANI V.
Published: July 2013

In many modern image processing applications determining quality of the image is one of the most challenging tasks. Researchers working in the field of image quality assessment design algorithms for measuring and quantifying image quality. The human eye can identify the difference between a good quality image and a noisy image by simply looking at the image, but designing a computer algorithm to automatically determine the quality of an image is a very challenging task. In this paper, we propose an image quality measure using the concept of object separability. We define object separability using variance. Two objects are very well separated if variance of individual object is less and mean pixel values of neighboring objects are very different. Degradation in images can be due to a number of reasons like additive noises, quantization defects, sampling defects, etc. The proposed no-reference image quality measure will determine quality of degraded images and differentiate between good and degraded images.
A HYBRID APPROACH FOR INFORMATION EXTRACTION FROM HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGERY
Authors: SINGH PANKAJ PRATAP , GARG R. D.
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a hybrid approach for extraction of information from high resolution satellite imagery and also demonstrates the accuracy achieved by the final extracted information. The hybrid technique comprises of improved marker-controlled watershed transforms and a nonlinear derivative method. It overcomes all the disadvantages of existing region-based and edge-based methods by incorporating aforesaid hybrid methods. It preserves the advantages of multi-resolution and multi-scale gradient approaches. Region-based segmentation also incorporates the watershed technique due to its better efficiency in segmentation. In principle, a proper segmentation can be performed perfectly by watershed technique on incorporating ridges. These ridges express as the object's boundaries according to the property of contour detection. On the other hand, the nonlinear derivative method is used for resolving the discrete edge detection problem. Since it automatically selects the best edge localization, which is very much useful for estimation of gradient selection. The main benefit of univocal edge localization is to provide a better direction estimation of the gradient, which helps in producing a confident edge reference map for synthetic images. The practical merit of this proposed method is to derive an impervious surface from emerging urban areas.
AN AGENT-BASED MODEL OF HUMAN DISPERSALS AT A GLOBAL SCALE
Authors: CALLEGARI SIMONE , WEISSMANN JOHN DAVID , TKACHENKO NATALIE , PETERSEN WESLEY P. , LAKE GEORGE , DE LEÓN MARCIA PONCE , ZOLLIKOFER CHRISTOPH P. E.
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we report on the theoretical foundations, empirical context and technical implementation of an agent-based modeling (ABM) framework, that uses a high-performance computing (HPC) approach to investigate human population dynamics on a global scale, and on evolutionary time scales. The ABM-HPC framework provides an in silico testbed to explore how short-term/small-scale patterns of individual human behavior and long-term/large-scale patterns of environmental change act together to influence human dispersal, survival and extinction scenarios. These topics are currently at the center of the Neanderthal debate, i.e., the question why Neanderthals died out during the Late Pleistocene, while modern humans dispersed over the entire globe. To tackle this and similar questions, simulations typically adopt one of two opposing approaches, top-down (equation-based) and bottom-up (agent-based) models of population dynamics. We propose HPC technology as an essential computational tool to bridge the gap between these approaches. Using the numerical simulation of worldwide human dispersals as an example, we show that integrating different levels of model hierarchy into an ABM-HPC simulation framework provides new insights into emergent properties of the model, and into the potential and limitations of agent-based versus continuum models.
IDENTIFYING NEURAL NETWORK TOPOLOGIES THAT FOSTER DYNAMICAL COMPLEXITY
Authors: YAEGER LARRY S.
Published: July 2013

We use an ecosystem simulator capable of evolving arbitrary neural network topologies to explore the relationship between an information theoretic measure of the complexity of neural dynamics and several graph theoretical metrics calculated for the underlying network topologies. Evolutionary trends confirm and extend previous results demonstrating an evolutionary selection for complexity and small-world network properties during periods of behavioral adaptation. The resultant mapping of the space of network topologies occupied by the most complex networks yields new insights into the relationship between network structure and function. The highest complexity networks are found within limited numerical ranges of clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, small-world index, and global efficiency. The widths of these ranges vary from quite narrow to modest, and provide a guide to the most productive regions of the space of neural topologies in which to search for complexity. Our demonstration that evolution selects for complex dynamics and small-world networks helps explain biological evidence for these trends and provides evidence for selection of these characteristics based purely on network function—with no physical constraints on network structure—thus suggesting that functional and structural evolutionary pressures cooperate to produce brains optimized for adaptation to a complex, variable world.
ACHIEVING ALLIANCE INNOVATION VIA ALLIANCE LEARNING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
Authors: BUCIC TANIA , NGO LIEM VIET
Published: July 2013

Firms increasingly enter into business alliances in an effort to manage the innovation process and with a view to achieving better outcomes. The process therefore likely benefits from greater alliance learning, which can help transform alliance creativity and absorptive capacity into innovative outputs and thus a sustainable advantage for the alliance firms. Survey data collected from 389 Australian firms confirm that alliance creativity and absorptive capacity affect alliance innovation through the mediating role of alliance learning. In contrast, a test of an alternative moderating perspective reveals that alliance learning does not play a significant moderating role in these relationships. Although this study uses a cross-sectional, key-informant design, it offers important insights for research and practice.
Vomiting stones: mental illness and forensic medicine in 18th century Italy
Authors: Porro Alessandro , Cristini Carlo , Falconi Bruno , Franchini Antonia Francesca , Lorusso Lorenzo
Published: July 2013

In 1746 the case of a young woman vomiting stones, nails, glasses and other foreign bodies came to the notice of the general scientific and religious communities. The Bishop of Cremona, Alessandro Maria Litta (1671–1754), deemed that a scientific–medical approach was necessary. Paolo Valcarenghi (d. 1780), one of the most famous of Cremona’s physicians, was charged with this task. Many physicians, both local and from the wider area of Northern Italy, became actively involved in the discussion: Martino Ghisi (1715–1794), who was the first to describe diphtheria on a scientific basis; Carlo Francesco Cogrossi (1682–1769, Professor of Practical Medicine at Padua University), who is noted for his parasitic theory of contagion; Carlo Gandini (1705–1788), who introduced some typical traditional Chinese Medicine practices into Italian medicine; and Francesco Roncalli Parolino (1692–1769), who recorded the case in his work entitled
Europae medicina a sapientibus illustrata et a comite Francisco Roncalli Parolino observationibus adaucta
(1747), a foundational work in the reconstruction of medical praxis in Europe. Their work is amongst the earliest texts from the Italian Peninsula to deny the natural formation of stones in the stomach, with the debate between the religious and scientific communities resulting in the acceptance of the medical explanation.
Density Functional Theory Models for Radiation Damage
Authors: Dudarev S.L.
Published: July 2013

Density functional theory models developed over the past decade provide unique information about the structure of nanoscale defects produced by irradiation and about the nature of short-range interaction between radiation defects, clustering of defects, and their migration pathways. These ab initio models, involving no experimental input parameters, appear to be as quantitatively accurate and informative as the most advanced experimental techniques developed for the observation of radiation damage phenomena. Density functional theory models have effectively created a new paradigm for the scientific investigation and assessment of radiation damage effects, offering new insight into the origin of temperature- and dose-dependent response of materials to irradiation, a problem of pivotal significance for applications.
Flexoelectric Effect in Solids
Authors: Zubko Pavlo , Catalan Gustau , Tagantsev Alexander K.
Published: July 2013

Flexoelectricity—the coupling between polarization and strain gradients—is a universal effect allowed by symmetry in all materials. Following its discovery several decades ago, studies of flexoelectricity in solids have been scarce due to the seemingly small magnitude of this effect in bulk samples. The development of nanoscale technologies, however, has renewed the interest in flexoelectricity, as the large strain gradients often present at the nanoscale can lead to strong flexoelectric effects. Here we review the fundamentals of the flexoelectric effect in solids, discuss its presence in many nanoscale systems, and look at potential applications of this electromechanical phenomenon. The review also emphasizes the many open questions and unresolved issues in this developing field.
Polymer Electrolytes
Authors: Hallinan Daniel T. , Balsara Nitash P.
Published: July 2013

This review article covers applications in which polymer electrolytes are used: lithium batteries, fuel cells, and water desalination. The ideas of electrochemical potential, salt activity, and ion transport are presented in the context of these applications. Potential is defined, and we show how a cell potential measurement can be used to ascertain salt activity. The transport parameters needed to fully specify a binary electrolyte (salt + solvent) are presented. We define five fundamentally different types of homogeneous electrolytes: type I (classical liquid electrolytes), type II (gel electrolytes), type III (dry polymer electrolytes), type IV (dry single-ion-conducting polymer electrolytes), and type V (solvated single-ion-conducting polymer electrolytes). Typical values of transport parameters are provided for all types of electrolytes. Comparison among the values provides insight into the transport mechanisms occurring in polymer electrolytes. It is desirable to decouple the mechanical properties of polymer electrolyte membranes from the ionic conductivity. One way to accomplish this is through the development of microphase-separated polymers, wherein one of the microphases conducts ions while the other enhances the mechanical rigidity of the heterogeneous polymer electrolyte. We cover all three types of conducting polymer electrolyte phases (types III, IV, and V). We present a simple framework that relates the transport parameters of heterogeneous electrolytes to homogeneous analogs. We conclude by discussing electrochemical stability of electrolytes and the effects of water contamination because of their relevance to applications such as lithium ion batteries.
Uncertainty Quantification in Multiscale Simulation of Materials: A Prospective
Authors: Chernatynskiy Aleksandr , Phillpot Simon R. , LeSar Richard
Published: July 2013

Simulation has long since joined experiment and theory as a valuable tool to address materials problems. Analysis of errors and uncertainties in experiment and theory is well developed; such analysis for simulations, particularly for simulations linked across length scales and timescales, is much less advanced. In this prospective, we discuss salient issues concerning uncertainty quantification (UQ) from a variety of fields and review the sparse literature on UQ in materials simulations. As specific examples, we examine the development of atomistic potentials and multiscale simulations of crystal plasticity. We identify needs for conceptual advances, needs for the development of best practices, and needs for specific implementations.
Effect of Multispecies Probiotic Supplements on Metabolic Profiles, hs-CRP, and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Asemi Zatollah , Zare Zohreh , Shakeri Hossein , Sabihi Sima-sadat , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad
Published: July 2013

Background: We are aware of no study that has indicated the effects of daily consumption of multispecies probiotic supplements on metabolic profiles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and oxidative stress in diabetic patients. Objective: This study was designed to determine the effects of multispecies probiotic supplements on metabolic profiles, hs-CRP, and oxidative stress in diabetic patients. Methods: This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 54 diabetic patients aged 35-70 years. Subjects were randomly assigned to take either a multispecies probiotic supplement (n = 27) or placebo (n = 27) for 8 weeks. The multispecies probiotic supplement consisted of 7 viable and freeze-dried strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus (2 × 109 CFU), L. casei (7 × 109 CFU), L. rhamnosus (1.5 × 109 CFU), L. bulgaricus (2 × 108 CFU), Bifidobacterium breve (2 × 1010 CFU), B. longum (7 × 109 CFU), Streptococcus thermophilus (1.5 × 109 CFU), and 100 mg fructo-oligosaccharide. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after intervention to measure metabolic profiles, hs-CRP, and biomarkers of oxidative stress including plasma total antioxidant capacity and total glutathione (GSH). Results: Between-group comparisons of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) revealed that consumption of probiotic supplements prevented a rise in FPG (+28.8 ± 8.5 for placebo vs. +1.6 ± 6 mg/dl for probiotic group, p = 0.01). Although a significant within-group increase in serum insulin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was found in both the probiotic group and the placebo group, the changes were similar between the two groups. We observed a significant increase in HOMA-IR (homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance) in both the probiotic group (p = 0.02) and the placebo group (p = 0.001); however, the increase in the placebo group was significantly higher than that in the probiotic group (+2.38 vs. +0.78, p = 0.03). Mean changes in serum hs-CRP were significantly different between the two groups (-777.57 for the probiotic group vs. +878.72 ng/ml for the placebo group, p = 0.02). Probiotic supplementation led to a significant increase in plasma GSH levels compared to placebo (240.63 vs. -33.46 µmol/l, p = 0.03). Conclusion: In conclusion, multispecies probiotic supplementation, compared with placebo, for 8 weeks in diabetic patients prevented a rise in FPG and resulted in a decrease in serum hs-CRP and an increase in plasma total GSH.
Analog of Somatostatin Vapreotide Exhibits Biological Effects in vitro via Interaction with Neurokinin-1 Receptor
Authors: Spitsin Sergei , Tuluc Florin , Meshki John , Ping Lai Jian , Tustin III Richard , Douglas Steven D.
Published: July 2013

Objectives: Vapreotide, a synthetic analog of somatostatin, has analgesic activity most likely mediated through the blockade of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), the substance P (SP)-preferring receptor. The ability of vapreotide to interfere with other biological effects of SP has yet to be investigated. Methods: We studied the ability of vapreotide to antagonize NK1R in three different cell types: immortalized U373MG human astrocytoma cells, human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and a human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK293. Both U373MG and MDM express endogenous NK1R while HEK293 cells, which normally do not express NK1R, are stably transformed to express human NK1R (HEK293-NK1R). Results: Vapreotide attenuates SP-triggered intracellular calcium increases and nuclear factor-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner. Vapreotide also inhibits SP-induced interleukin-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 production in HEK293-NK1R and U373MG cell lines. Vapreotide inhibits HIV-1 infection of human MDM in vitro, an effect that is reversible by SP pretreatment. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that vapreotide has NK1R antagonist activity and may have a potential application as a therapeutic intervention in HIV-1 infection.