bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STABILITY AND CHAOS IN REACTION SYSTEMS
Authors: EHRENFEUCHT ANDRZEJ , MAIN MICHAEL , ROZENBERG GRZEGORZ , BROWN ALLISON THOMPSON
Published: October 2012

Reaction systems are an abstract model of biochemical reactions in the living cell within a framework of finite (though often large) discrete dynamical systems. In this setting, this paper provides an analytical and experimental study of stability. The notion of stability is defined in terms of the way in which small perturbations to the initial state of a system are likely to change the system's eventual behavior. At the stable end of the spectrum, there is likely to be no change; but at the unstable end, small perturbations take the system into a state that is probabilistically the same as a randomly selected state, similar to chaotic behavior in continuous dynamical systems.
ANALYSIS OF CONTAMINATED SLUDGE DEPOSITED ON THE LAND ATTACKED BY GREAT TSUNAMI FOLLOWING TOHOKU GREAT EARTHQUAKE DISASTER
Authors: BABA F. , SERA K. , GOTO S. , TAKAHASHI C. , SAITOH Y.
Published: October 2012

A gigantic tsunami following Tohoku-Earthquake Disaster brought a large amount of sludge, which originated from the sediments pilling upon the bottom of the sea to the residential areas. As it is anticipated that the sludge contains a large amount of heavy toxic elements, its influence on the health of the suffered people will become a problem. In the present study, 72 sludge samples were taken from the stricken areas by the tsunami over the wide area; (Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures). These samples were treated on the basis of a powdered-internal-standard method and analyzed by means of PIXE with a specially-designed absorber. It was found that the sludge contains much amount of heavy elements such as arsenic, lead, zirconium, barium etc. in comparison with those in soils collected in the inland district of Iwate prefecture. Furthermore, 16 plant samples were gathered in the estuary area, on which the sludge deposited, and analyzed in order to evaluate the effect of the sludge on the ecosystem. These results were compared with those for 45 plant samples collected in the inland district of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. It was found that these plants contain lager amount of heavy elements in comparison with those in the inland plants.
LATTICES OF QUASI-EQUATIONAL THEORIES AS CONGRUENCE LATTICES OF SEMILATTICES WITH OPERATORS: PART I
Authors: ADARICHEVA KIRA , NATION J. B.
Published: October 2012

We show that for every quasivariety 𝒦 of structures (where both functions and relations are allowed) there is a semilattice S with operators such that the lattice of quasi-equational theories of 𝒦 (the dual of the lattice of sub-quasivarieties of 𝒦) is isomorphic to Con(S, +, 0, 𝒡. As a consequence, new restrictions on the natural quasi-interior operator on lattices of quasi-equational theories are found.
Shape-persistent poly-porphyrins assembled by a central truxene: synthesis, structure, and singlet energy transfer behaviors
Authors: Xu Hai-Jun , Du Bin , Gros Claude P. , Richard Philippe , Barbe Jean-Michel , Harvey Pierre D.
Published: October 2012

Four dyad systems composed of a central truxene and either one or three β-substituted zinc(II) porphyrins (ZnP: TruZnP (7) and TruTriZnP (9)) or free-bases (H2P: TruP (6) and TruTriP (8)) have been prepared. The presence of β-methyl groups minimizes π-conjugation through the quasi right angle made by the porphyrin and the truxene planes, and renders these dyads relatively rigid. The position of the absorption and emission 0–0 peaks confirms the role of the truxene and porphyrin as the energy donor and acceptor, respectively. Selective excitation of the truxene results in an efficient singlet energy transfer (S1 ET) from the truxene to the porphyrin unit. The rates for S1 ET (k ET ) are extracted from the change in the fluorescence lifetime of truxene in the presence and absence of the acceptor, and are temperature independent, (TruP (6), TruTriP (8), TruZnP (7) and TruTriZnP (9) are 5.0, 1.4, 1.0 and 1.4 at 298 K and 5.9, 1.3, 2.6, and 0.86 (ns)-1 at 77 K, respectively), consistent with their relative rigidity. These k ET 's are similar to other related but more flexible systems reported by one of us (Inorg. Chem.2011, 50, 11493–11505). The k ET 's time scale was assumed, based on modeling, to be related with hindered rotations about the truxene-porphyrin C–C bonds due to steric hexyl–hexyl interactions. This work confirms this earlier conclusion was correct.
Replacement paths and
k
simple shortest paths in unweighted directed graphs
Authors: Roditty Liam , Zwick Uri
Published: October 2012

Let
G
= (
V,E
) be a
directed
graph and let
P
be a shortest path from
s
to
t
in
G
. In the
replacement paths
problem, we are required to find, for every edge
e
on
P
, a shortest path from
s
to
t
in
G
that avoids
e
. The only known algorithm for solving the problem, even for unweighted directed graphs, is the trivial algorithm in which each edge on the path, in its turn, is excluded from the graph and a shortest paths tree is computed from
s
. The running time is
O
(
mn
+
n
2
log
n
).

The replacement paths problem is strongly motivated by two different applications:

(1) The fastest algorithm to compute the
k
simple
shortest paths between
s
and
t
in directed graphs [Yen 1971; Lawler 1972] computes the replacement paths between
s
and
t
. Its running time is
Õ
(
mnk
).

(2) The replacement paths problem is used to compute the
Vickrey pricing
of edges in a distributed network. It was raised as an open problem by Nisan and Ronen [2001] whether it is possible to compute the Vickrey pricing faster than
n
computations of a shortest paths tree.

In this article we present the first nontrivial algorithm for computing replacement paths in unweighted directed graphs (and in graphs with small integer weights). Our algorithm is Monte-Carlo and its running time is
Õ
(
m
√
n
). This result immediately improves the running time of the two applications mentioned above in a factor of √
n
.

We also show how to reduce the problem of computing
k
simple shortest paths between
s
and
t
to
O
(
k
) computations of a second simple shortest path from
s
to
t
each time in a different subgraph of
G
. The importance of this result is that computing a second simple shortest path may turn out to be an easier problem than computing the replacement paths, thus, we can focus our efforts to improve the
k
simple shortest paths algorithm in obtaining a faster algorithm for the second shortest path problem.
Instant Multiunit Resource Hardware Deadlock Detection Scheme for System-on-Chips
Authors: Lee Jaehwan John , Xiao Xiang
Published: October 2012

In this article, a brand new method of determining deadlock is presented. Most previous deadlock detection methods are algorithmic in the sense that they usually leverage some forms of Resource Allocation Graph (RAG) representations and then algorithms are devised to manipulate such representations in order to detect deadlock using information contained in the graph. Different from all previous methods, the proposed method actualizes the RAG with a digital circuit and uses it as a token-transmitting network. By supplying special input signals (tokens) to the network and observing the output tokens from the network, it is easier to identify which process nodes are reachable from each resource node in the graph. Using the reachability information, deadlock can be detected immediately. The time required to obtain the reachability information is determined by how fast the combinational circuit operates. Compared with previous algorithmic methods, the proposed deadlock detection can be deemed instant. We show that the proposed method is an order of magnitude faster than the previous fastest hardware mechanism and several orders of magnitude faster than traditional software-based algorithms.
A method fragments approach to methodologies for engineering self-organizing systems
Authors: Puviani Mariachiara , Serugendo Giovanna Di Marzo , Frei Regina , Cabri Giacomo
Published: October 2012

This article summarizes five relevant methods for developing self-organizing multiagent systems. It identifies their most relevant aspects and provides a description of each one under the form of
method fragments expressed using SPEM
(Software and System Process Engineering Metamodel). The use of a “metamodel” to describe fragments facilitates the comparison of the methods and their respective fragments. These fragments can be combined and be part of a more general ad hoc methodology, created according to the needs of the designer. Self-organizing traffic lights controllers and self-organizing displays are chosen as case studies to illustrate the methods and to underline which fragments are important for self-organizing systems. Finally, we illustrate how to augment PASSI2, an agent-based methodology which does not consider self-organization aspects, with some of the identified fragments for self-organization.
Dynamically dispatching speculative threads to improve sequential execution
Authors: Luo Yangchun , Zhai Antonia
Published: October 2012

Efficiently utilizing multicore processors to improve their performance potentials demands extracting thread-level parallelism from the applications. Various novel and sophisticated execution models have been proposed to extract thread-level parallelism from sequential programs. One such execution model, Thread-Level Speculation (TLS), allows potentially dependent threads to execute speculatively in parallel.

However, TLS execution is inherently unpredictable, and consequently incorrect speculation could degrade performance for the multicore systems. Existing approaches have focused on using the compilers to select sequential program regions to apply TLS. Our research shows that even the state-of-the-art compiler makes suboptimal decisions, due to the unpredictability of TLS execution. Thus, we propose to
dynamically
optimize TLS performance.

This article describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a runtime thread dispatching mechanism that adjusts the behaviors of speculative threads based on their efficiency. In the proposed system, speculative threads are monitored by hardware-based performance counters and their performance impact is evaluated with a novel methodology that takes into account various unique TLS characteristics. Thread dispatching policies are devised to adjust the behaviors of speculative threads accordingly.

With the help of the runtime evaluation, where and how to create speculative threads is better determined. Evaluated with all the SPEC CPU2000 benchmark programs written in C, the dynamic dispatching system outperforms the state-of-the-art compiler-based thread management techniques by 9.4% on average. Comparing to sequential execution, we achieve 1.37X performance improvement on a four-core CMP-based system.
The Tag Genome
Authors: Vig Jesse , Sen Shilad , Riedl John
Published: October 2012

This article introduces the tag genome, a data structure that extends the traditional tagging model to provide enhanced forms of user interaction. Just as a biological genome encodes an organism based on a sequence of genes, the tag genome encodes an item in an information space based on its relationship to a common set of tags. We present a machine learning approach for computing the tag genome, and we evaluate several learning models on a ground truth dataset provided by users. We describe an application of the tag genome called Movie Tuner which enables users to navigate from one item to nearby items along dimensions represented by tags. We present the results of a 7-week field trial of 2,531 users of Movie Tuner and a survey evaluating users’ subjective experience. Finally, we outline the broader space of applications of the tag genome.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Common Sense for Interactive Systems
Authors: Lieberman Henry , Havasi Catherine
Published: October 2012

This editorial introduction describes the aims and scope of the special issue on Common Sense for Interactive Systems of the ACM Transactions on Interactive Intelligent Systems. It explains why the common sense knowledge problem is crucial for both artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, and it shows how the four articles selected for this issue fit into the theme.
Capturing Common Knowledge about Tasks
Authors: Gil Yolanda , Ratnakar Varun , Chklovski Timothy , Groth Paul , Vrandecic Denny
Published: October 2012

Although to-do lists are a ubiquitous form of personal task management, there has been no work on intelligent assistance to automate, elaborate, or coordinate a user’s to-dos. Our research focuses on three aspects of intelligent assistance for to-dos. We investigated the use of intelligent agents to automate to-dos in an office setting. We collected a large corpus from users and developed a paraphrase-based approach to matching agent capabilities with to-dos. We also investigated to-dos for personal tasks and the kinds of assistance that can be offered to users by elaborating on them on the basis of substep knowledge extracted from the Web. Finally, we explored coordination of user tasks with other users through a to-do management application deployed in a popular social networking site. We discuss the emergence of Social Task Networks, which link users‘ tasks to their social network as well as to relevant resources on the Web. We show the benefits of using common sense knowledge to interpret and elaborate to-dos. Conversely, we also show that to-do lists are a valuable way to create repositories of common sense knowledge about tasks.
Guidelines for Developing Yoga Interventions for Randomized Trials
Authors: Sherman Karen J.
Published: October 2012

Little guidance is available to assist researchers in developing treatment protocols for research on yoga for health concerns. Because yoga is a complex multifactorial mind-body discipline historically developed for nonmedical purposes, numerous decisions must be made in order to thoughtfully develop such protocols. In this paper, a systematic approach is proposed to assist researchers in selecting an intervention that is appropriate for the condition under consideration and explicitly developed. Researchers need to consider the type or “style” of yoga, the components to include (e.g., breathing exercises, postures) as well as the specific protocol for each component, the dose to be delivered (frequency, duration of practice, and the total duration of practice), and issues related to selection of instructors and monitoring the fidelity to the intervention. Each of these domains and the key issues for the development of protocols is discussed. Finally, some areas for further research related to protocol development are recommended.
IL-17 and IL-22 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Are Elevated in Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Authors: Li Shujuan , Yu Ming , Li Haifeng , Zhang Hongliang , Jiang Yanfang
Published: October 2012

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute autoimmune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease that causes rapidly progressing paralysis and occasionally respiratory failure. We hypothesized that interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 are elevated in GBS and participate in the autoimmune inflammatory response of GBS. We used sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the IL-17 and IL-22 levels in the CSF, and plasma from 22 GBS patients at the acute phase and 18 healthy controls (HC). The results show that CSF and plasma levels of IL-17 and IL-22 are elevated in GBS patients compared with HC. IL-17 and IL-22 levels in CSF, respectively, are correlated with GBS disability scale scores (GDSs). Meanwhile, IL-17 and IL-22 levels in CSF, IL-22 in CSF, and plasma of GBS patients have positive correlation, respectively. The increased levels of IL-17 and IL-22 in CSF may be explained by the disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) local inflammation in GBS. Meanwhile, the elevated levels of these two cytokines in plasma suggest the activation of Th17 and Th22 cells in the systemic immune response of GBS. Our data provide preliminary evidence that GBS is associated with high levels of IL-17 and IL-22 in CSF and plasma. These cytokines display pathogenic potential and may serve as useful biomarkers for GBS.
Hwangryun-Haedok-Tang Fermented withLactobacillus caseiSuppresses Ovariectomy-Induced Bone Loss
Authors: Shim Ki-Shuk , Kim Taesoo , Ha Hyunil , Cho Chang-Won , Kim Han Sung , Seo Dong-Hyun , Ma Jin Yeul
Published: October 2012

Hwangryun-haedok-tang (HRT) is the common recipe in traditional Asian medicine, and microbial fermentation is used for the conventional methods for processing traditional medicine. We investigated the inhibitory effect of then-butanol fraction of HRT (HRT-BU) and fHRT (fHRT-BU) on the RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in bone-marrow-derived macrophages. mRNA expression of osteoclastogenesis-related genes were evaluated by real-time QPCR. The activation of signaling pathways was determined by western blot analysis. The marker compounds of HRT-BU and fHRT-BU were analyzed by HPLC. The inhibitory effect of HRT or fHRT on ovariectomy-induced bone loss were evaluated using OVX rats with orally administered HRT, fHRT (300, 1000 mg/kg), or its vehicle for 12 weeks. fHRT-BU significantly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, and phosphorylation of p38, IKKα/β, and NF-κBp65 compared to HRT-BU. In addition, fHRT-BU also significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of Nfκb2, TNF-α, NFATc1, TRAP, ATPv0d2, and cathepsin K. Furthermore, administration of fHRT had a greater effect on the increase of BMD, and greater improved bone microstructure of the femora than that of HRT in ovariectomy rats. This study demonstrated that bacterial fermentation enhances the inhibitory effect of HRT on osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. These results suggest that fermented HRT might have the beneficial effects on bone disease by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.
The Core and Nucleolus in a Model of Information Transferal
Authors: Hou Dongshuang , Driessen Theo
Published: October 2012

Galdeano et al. introduced the so‐called information market game involving n identical firms acquiring a new technology owned by an innovator. For this specific cooperative game, the nucleolus is determined through a characterization of the symmetrical part of the core. The nonemptiness of the (symmetrical) core is shown to be equivalent to one of each, super additivity, zero‐monotonicity, or monotonicity.
Proteomic Profiling of the Dioxin-Degrading BacteriumSphingomonas wittichiiRW1
Authors: Colquhoun David R. , Hartmann Erica M. , Halden Rolf U.
Published: October 2012

Sphingomonas wittichiiRW1 is a bacterium of interest due to its ability to degrade polychlorinated dioxins, which represent priority pollutants in the USA and worldwide. Although its genome has been fully sequenced, many questions exist regarding changes in protein expression ofS. wittichiiRW1 in response to dioxin metabolism. We used difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) to identify proteomic changes induced by growth on dibenzofuran, a surrogate for dioxin, as compared to acetate. Approximately 10% of the entire putative proteome of RW1 could be observed. Several components of the dioxin and dibenzofuran degradation pathway were shown to be upregulated, thereby highlighting the utility of using proteomic analyses for studying bioremediation agents. This is the first global protein analysis of a microorganism capable of utilizing the carbon backbone of both polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans as the sole source for carbon and energy.
Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial, Antinociceptive, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Two Chemotypes ofPimenta pseudocaryophyllus(Myrtaceae)
Authors: Paula Joelma Abadia Marciano de , Silva Maria do Rosário Rodrigues , Costa Maysa P. , Diniz Danielle Guimarães Almeida , Sá Fabyola A. S. , Alves Suzana Ferreira , Costa Élson Alves , Lino Roberta Campos , Paula José Realino de
Published: October 2012

Preparations fromPimenta pseudocaryophyllus(Gomes) L.R. Landrum (Myrtaceae) have been widely used in Brazilian folk medicine. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the crude ethanol extracts, fractions, semipurified substances, and essential oils obtained from leaves of two chemotypes ofP. pseudocaryophyllusand to perform the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory screening. The ethanol extracts were purified by column chromatography and main compounds were spectrally characterised (1D and 2D1H and13C NMR). The essential oils constituents were identified by GC/MS. The broth microdilution method was used for testing the antimicrobial activity. The abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid and the ear oedema induced by croton oil were used for screening of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. The phytochemical analysis resulted in the isolation of pentacyclic triterpenes, flavonoids, and phenol acids. The oleanolic acid showed the best profile of antibacterial activity for Gram-positive bacteria (31.2–125 μg mL−1), followed by the essential oil of the citral chemotype (62.5–250 μg mL−1). Among the semipurified substances,Ppm5, which contained gallic acid, was the most active forCandidaspp. (31.2 μg mL−1) andCryptococcusspp. (3.9–15.6 μg mL−1). The crude ethanol extract and fractions from citral chemotype showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects.
Almost Periodic Solutions to Dynamic Equations on Time Scales and Applications
Authors: Li Yongkun , Wang Chao
Published: October 2012

We first introduce the concept of admitting an exponential dichotomy to a class of linear dynamic equations on time scales and study the existence and uniqueness of almost periodic solution and its expression form to this class of linear dynamic
equations on time scales. Then, as an application, using these concepts and results, we establish sufficient conditions for the existence and exponential stability of almost periodic solution to a class of Hopfield neural networks with delays. Finally, two examples and numerical simulations given to illustrate our results are plausible and meaningful.
Epidemiology ofRhodotorula: An Emerging Pathogen
Authors: Wirth Fernanda , Goldani Luciano Z.
Published: October 2012

This is an updated paper focusing on the general epidemiological aspects ofRhodotorulain humans, animals, and the environment. Previously considered nonpathogenic,Rhodotorulaspecies have emerged as opportunistic pathogens that have the ability to colonise and infect susceptible patients.Rhodotorulaspecies are ubiquitous saprophytic yeasts that can be recovered from many environmental sources. Several authors describe the isolation of this fungus from different ecosystems, including sites with unfavourable conditions. Compared toR. mucilaginosa,R. glutinisandR. minutaare less frequently isolated from natural environments. Among the few references to the pathogenicity ofRhodotorulaspp. in animals, there are several reports of an outbreak of skin infections in chickens and sea animals and lung infections and otitis in sheep and cattle. Most of the cases of infection due toRhodotorulain humans were fungemia associated with central venous catheter (CVC) use. The most common underlying diseases included solid and haematologic malignancies in patients who were receiving corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs, the presence of CVC, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Unlike fungemia, some of the other localised infections caused byRhodotorula, including meningeal, skin, ocular, peritoneal, and prosthetic joint infections, are not necessarily linked to the use of CVCs or immunosuppression.
Direct Simulation of Low‐Re Flow around a Square Cylinder by Numerical Manifold Method for Navier‐Stokes Equations
Authors: Zhang Zhengrong , Zhang Xiangwei
Published: October 2012

Numerical manifold method was applied to directly solve Navier‐Stokes (N‐S) equations for incompressible viscous flow in this paper, and numerical manifold schemes for N‐S equations coupled velocity and pressure were derived based on Galerkin weighted residuals method as well. Mixed cover with linear polynomial function for velocity and constant function for pressure was employed in finite element cover system. As an application, mixed cover 4‐node rectangular manifold element has been used to simulate the incompressible viscous flow around a square cylinder in a channel. Numerical tests illustrate that NMM is an effective and high‐order accurate numerical method for incompressible viscous flow N‐S equations.
Evaluation of Bovine Embryo Biopsy Techniques according to Their Ability to Preserve Embryo Viability
Authors: Cenariu M. , Pall E. , Cernea C. , Groza I.
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this research was to evaluate three embryo biopsy techniques used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in cattle and to recommend the least invasive one for current use, especially when PGD is followed by embryo cryopreservation. Three hundred bovine embryos were biopsied by either one of the needle, aspiration or microblade method, and then checked for viability by freezing/thawing and transplantation to recipient cows. The number of pregnancies obtained after the transfer of biopsied frozen/thawed embryos was assessed 30 days later using ultrasounds. The results were significantly different between the three biopsy methods: the pregnancy rate was of 57% in cows that received embryos biopsied by needle, 43% in cows that received embryos biopsied by aspiration, and 31% in cows that received embryos biopsied by microblade. Choosing an adequate biopsy method is therefore of great importance in embryos that will undergo subsequent cryopreservation, as it significantly influences their viability after thawing.
LC-MS/MS Identification of a Bromelain Peptide Biomarker fromAnanas comosusMerr
Authors: Secor Eric R. , Szczepanek Steven M. , Singh Anurag , Guernsey Linda , Natarajan Prabitha , Rezaul Karim , Han David K. , Thrall Roger S. , Silbart Lawrence K.
Published: October 2012

Bromelain (Br) is a cysteine peptidase (GenBank AEH26024.1) from pineapple, with over 40 years of clinical use. The constituents mediating its anti-inflammatory activity are not thoroughly characterized and no peptide biomarker exists. Our objective is to characterize Br raw material and identify peptides in the plasma of Br treated mice. After SDS-PAGE in-gel digestion, Br (VN#3507; Middletown, CT, USA) peptides were analyzed via LC/MS/MS using 95% protein probability, 95% peptide probability, and a minimum peptide number = 5. Br spiked mouse plasma (1 ug/ul) and plasma from i.p. treated mice (12 mg/kg) were assessed using SRM. In Br raw material, we identified seven proteins: four proteases, one jacalin-like lectin, and two protease inhibitors. In Br spiked mouse plasma, six proteins (ananain, bromelain inhibitor, cysteine proteinase AN11, FB1035 precursor, FBSB precursor, and jacalin-like lectin) were identified. Using LC/MS/MS, we identified the unique peptide, DYGAVNEVK, derived from FB1035, in the plasma of i.p. Br treated mice. The spectral count of this peptide peaked at 6 hrs and was undetectable by 24 hrs. In this study, a novel Br peptide was identified in the plasma of treated mice for the first time. This Br peptide could serve as a biomarker to standardize the therapeutic dose and maximize clinical utility.
Energies, Fine Structures, and Hyperfine Structures of the 1s22snp  3P  (n=2–4) States for the Beryllium Atom
Authors: Chen Chao
Published: October 2012

Energies and wave functions of the 1s22snp  3P  (n=2–4) states for the beryllium atom are calculated with the full-core plus correlation wave functions. Fine structures and hyperfine structures are calculated with the first-order perturbation theory. For the 1s22s2p 3P state, the calculated energies, fine structure, and hyperfine structure parameters are in good agreement with the latest theoretical and experimental data in the literature; it is shown that atomic parameters of the low-lying excited states for the beryllium atom can be calculated accurately using this theoretical method. For the 1s22snp 3P (n=3,4) states, the present calculations may provide valuable reference data for future theoretical calculations and experimental measurements.
Effects of Monoculture, Crop Rotation, and Soil Moisture Content on Selected Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Parameters in Wheat Fields
Authors: Marais A. , Hardy M. , Booyse M. , Botha A.
Published: October 2012

Different plants are known to have different soil microbial communities associated with them. Agricultural management practices such as fertiliser and pesticide addition, crop rotation, and grazing animals can lead to different microbial communities in the associated agricultural soils. Soil dilution plates, most-probable-number (MPN), community level physiological profiling (CLPP), and buried slide technique as well as some measured soil physicochemical parameters were used to determine changes during the growing season in the ecosystem profile in wheat fields subjected to wheat monoculture or wheat in annual rotation with medic/clover pasture. Statistical analyses showed that soil moisture had an over-riding effect on seasonal fluctuations in soil physicochemical and microbial populations. While within season soil microbial activity could be differentiated between wheat fields under rotational and monoculture management, these differences were not significant.
Optimal Reconfiguration Control of the Yaw Stability of the Tractor‐Semitrailer Vehicle
Authors: Yang Xiujian
Published: October 2012

An optimal reconfiguration control scheme based on control allocation (CA) is proposed to stabilize the yaw dynamics of the tractor‐semitrailer vehicle. The proposed control scheme is a two‐level structure consisting of an upper level of sliding mode yaw moment controller (SMYC) and a lower optimal brake force distributor (BFD). The upper SMYC is designed to follow the tractor yaw rate and the combination of the hitch angle and trailer slip angle and outputs the corrective yaw moment, respectively, for the tractor and the trailer. The optimal brake force allocation and reconfigurable control problem is transformed to a problem of error minimization and control minimization combination formulated by constrained weighted least squares (CWLS) optimization and further solved with active set (AS) algorithm. Simulation results reveal that the CA technique‐based optimal reconfigurable control is rather effective for the tractor‐semitrailer vehicle to enhance the yaw stability performance and the reliability in case of actuator failure thanks to the multiple‐axle structure enriching the alternatives of possible actuator combinations in CA optimization.
Structure and Functional Characteristics of Rat’s Left Ventricle Cardiomyocytes under Antiorthostatic Suspension of Various Duration and Subsequent Reloading
Authors: Ogneva I. V. , Mirzoev T. M. , Biryukov N. S. , Veselova O. M. , Larina I. M.
Published: October 2012

The goal of the research was to identify the structural and functional characteristics of the rat's left ventricle under antiorthostatic suspension within 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, and subsequent 3 and 7-day reloading after a 14-day suspension. The transversal stiffness of the cardiomyocyte has been determined by the atomic force microscopy, cell respiration—by polarography and proteins content—by Western blotting. Stiffness of the cortical cytoskeleton increases as soon as one day after the suspension and increases up to the 14th day, and starts decreasing during reloading, reaching the control level after 7 days. The stiffness of the contractile apparatus and the intensity of cell respiration also increases. The content of non-muscle isoforms of actin in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins does not change during the whole experiment, as does not the beta-actin content in the membrane fraction. The content of gamma-actin in the membrane fraction correlates with the change in the transversal stiffness of the cortical cytoskeleton. Increased content of alpha-actinin-1 and alpha-actinin-4 in the membrane fraction of proteins during the suspension is consistent with increased gamma-actin content there. The opposite direction of change of alpha-actinin-1 and alpha-actinin-4 content suggests their involvement into the signal pathways.
Acanthus ebracteatusVahl. Ethanol Extract Enhancement of the Efficacy of the Collagen Scaffold in Wound Closure: A Study in a Full-Thickness-Wound Mouse Model
Authors: Somchaichana Jutamas , Bunaprasert Tanom , Patumraj Suthiluk
Published: October 2012

Acanthus ebracteatusVahl. is a Thai herb that is effective in wound healing. We sought to quantitatively determine whether or not the combined application ofAcanthus ebracteatusVahl. and a collagen scaffold will increase wound closure and angiogenesis. Balb/c mice (body weight: 22–25 g) were anesthetized with sodium thiopental. The dorsal skin incision measuring 1.5 × 1.5 cm was made and then deepened using scissors to produce a full-thickness incision down to the level of the panniculus carnosus. The size of the wound was approximately 10% of the total body surface area. The collagen sheet was implanted onto the wound. Animals were divided into 4 major groups as follows: wound with normal saline (W-NSS), wound treated with 0.3 g/kg BW ofAcanthus ebracteatusVahl. extract (W-AE (0.3 g/kg.bw)), wound implanted with collagen scaffold (W-Coll), and wound implanted with collagen scaffold and treated with 0.3 g/kg BW ofAcanthus ebracteatusVahl. (W-Coll-AE combination). On day 14, the W-Coll-AE group showed decreased wound areas and increased capillary vascularity (CV) when compared to the other 3 groups, W-NSS, W-AE0.3, and W-Coll. In the present study, the combination of AE0.3 with collagen showed the best effect on skin angiogenesis and promoted wound closure with less neutrophil infiltration.
Attenuating Effect ofGinkgo bilobaLeaves Extract on Liver Fibrosis Induced by Thioacetamide in Mice
Authors: Al-Attar Atef M.
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect ofGinkgo bilobaleaves extract on experimental liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in male albino mice. The experimental mice were divided into four groups. The mice of the first group were served as control. The experimental animals of the second group were given 150 mg/kg body weight of TAA by intraperitoneal injection, twice weekly, for 9 weeks. The mice of the third group were exposed to TAA and supplemented withG. bilobaleaves extract. The animals of the fourth group were supplemented withG. bilobaleaves extract. The levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were statistically increased while the levels of plasma total protein, albumin, glucose, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly decreased. The levels of liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glycogen and total protein were notably declined, whereas the level of total lipid was increased in mice of the second group. Furthermore, microscopic examination of liver sections from mice treated with TAA showed an abnormal morphology characterized by nodular transformations in liver parenchyma which surrounded by fibrous septa. Administration ofG. bilobaleaves extract reduced extent and development of fibrous septa, liver cells change, and biochemical alterations in mice exposed to TAA. This study showed thatG. bilobaleaves extract has a potential activity against TAA-induced liver fibrosis and suggested that the chemical constituents ofG. bilobaare effective in modulation of oxidative stress induced by TAA.
Evaluation of Mammary Cancer in 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-Induced Wister Rats by Asymmetrical Temperature Distribution Analysis Using Thermography: A Comparison with Serum CEA Levels and Histopathology
Authors: Angeline Kirubha S. P. , Anburajan M. , Venkataraman B. , Akila R. , Sharath D. , Raj Baldev
Published: October 2012

Animal surface temperature profile captured using infrared camera is helpful for the assessment of physiological responses associated with the regulation of body temperature. Diagnosing breast cancer in early stage itself has a greater effect on the prognosis. In this work, asymmetrical temperature distribution analysis of chemical carcinogen 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene-induced in the lower right flank region of Wistar rats (n=6) was carried out to test the potential of thermography in diagnosing mammary cancer and tumor growth over a period of nine weeks in comparison with histopathology results as standard. Temperature difference between the tumor induced lower right and left side of flank region was significant (withPvalue<0.001), whereas in the abdomen and shoulder there was no significant difference in temperature between right and left sides. Percentage of asymmetrical temperature difference in the tumor induced lower flank region was 0.5 to 2%, whereas in the other regions it was<0.5%. Green pixel distribution in RGB color histogram was asymmetrical in the tumor induced lower flank region. Temperature reduction was observed in the tumor induced region after the seventh day of carcinogen induction. Asymmetrical thermogram analysis is the best method of diagnosing mammary cancer and for studying tumor development.
Androgen Metabolism Gene Polymorphisms, Associations with Prostate Cancer Risk and Pathological Characteristics: A Comparative Analysis between South African and Senegalese Men
Authors: Fernandez Pedro , Zeigler-Johnson Charnita M. , Spangler Elaine , van der Merwe André , Jalloh Mohamed , Gueye Serigne M. , Rebbeck Timothy R.
Published: October 2012

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in developed countries and the leading cause of mortality in males in less developed countries. African ethnicity is one of the major risk factors for developing prostate cancer. Pathways involved in androgen metabolism have been implicated in the etiology of the disease. Analyses of clinical data andCYP3A4,CYP3A5, andSRD5A2genotypes were performed in South African White (120 cases; 134 controls), Mixed Ancestry (207 cases; 167 controls), and Black (25 cases; 20 controls) men, as well as in Senegalese men (86 cases; 300 controls). Senegalese men were diagnosed earlier with prostate cancer and had higher median PSA levels compared to South African men. Metastasis occurred more frequently in Senegalese men. Gene polymorphism frequencies differed significantly between South African and Senegalese men. TheCYP3A4rs2740574 polymorphism was associated with prostate cancer risk and tumor aggressiveness in South African men, after correction for population stratification, and theSRD5A2rs523349 CG genotype was inversely associated with high-stage disease in Senegalese men. These data suggest that variants previously associated with prostate cancer in other populations may also affect prostate cancer risk in African men.
Development of a Wheelchair with a Lifting Function
Authors: Mori Yoshikazu , Sakai Norikatsu , Katsumura Kaoru
Published: October 2012

A wheelchair with a lifting function is designed to assist a caregiver when transferring a wheelchair user not only indoors but also outdoors. The target user is typically a severely disabled person with disabled upper and lower limbs and therefore needs the physical support when using a toilet or transferring from a bed to a wheelchair and so forth. Both the wheelchair and the lift are driven by their respective motors. The user can approach above the toilet stool or the bed from the rear because the large driving wheels are located in front of the body, and the seat can be folded. This wheelchair is allowed to travel on public roads because of the mechanism of folding the frame for lifting. This paper presents the concept design and the experimental results of a full-sized prototype wheelchair with the lifting function, which confirms the design effectiveness.
The Systems of Nonlinear Gradient Flows on Metric Spaces and Its Gamma‐Convergence
Authors: Chang Mao-Sheng , Lu Bo-Cheng
Published: October 2012

We first establish the explicit structure of nonlinear gradient flow systems on metric spaces and then develop Gamma‐convergence of the systems of nonlinear gradient
flows, which is a scheme meant to ensure that if a family of energy functionals of several variables depending on a parameter Gamma‐converges, then the solutions to the
associated systems of gradient flows converge as well. This scheme is a nonlinear system edition of the notion initiated by Sylvia Serfaty in 2011.
Depigmenting Effect of Kojic Acid Esters in Hyperpigmented B16F1 Melanoma Cells
Authors: Lajis Ahmad Firdaus B. , Hamid Muhajir , Ariff Arbakariya B.
Published: October 2012

The depigmenting effect of kojic acid esters synthesized by the esterification of kojic acid usingRhizomucor mieheiimmobilized lipase was investigated in B16F1 melanoma cells. The depigmenting effect of kojic acid and kojic acid esters was evaluated by the inhibitory effect of melanin formation and tyrosinase activity on alpha-stimulating hormone- (α-MSH-) induced melanin synthesis in B16F1 melanoma cells. The cellular tyrosinase inhibitory effect of kojic acid monooleate, kojic acid monolaurate, and kojic acid monopalmitate was found similar to kojic acid at nontoxic doses ranging from 1.95 to 62.5 μg/mL. However, kojic acid monopalmitate gave slightly higher inhibition to melanin formation compared to other inhibitors at doses ranging from 15.63 to 62.5 μg/mL. Kojic acid and kojic acid esters also show antioxidant activity that will enhance the depigmenting effect. The cytotoxicity of kojic acid esters in B16F1 melanoma cells was significantly lower than kojic acid at high doses, ranging from 125 and 500μg/mL. Since kojic acid esters have lower cytotoxic effect than kojic acid, it is suggested that kojic acid esters can be used as alternatives for a safe skin whitening agent and potential depigmenting agents to treat hyperpigmentation.
Multiresidue Analysis of 86 Pesticides Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry: II‐Nonleafy Vegetables
Authors: EL-Saeid M. H. , Selim M. T.
Published: October 2012

A total of 1057 samples of fresh vegetables from import and domestic production were analyzed (cold pepper, egg plant, carrot, cucumber, potato, hot pepper, cultivation tomato, squash, beans, okra, onions, cauliflower, and green house tomato). The aim of this study was to investigate pesticide residues in market foods in Riyadh, which have been collected from Riyadh Development Company (Al‐Tamer Vegetables Market). Pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography with mass selective detector (GC‐MSD). A multiresidue method was developed and described for simultaneous determination of 86 pesticides commonly used in crop protection. This method used to determine 86 pesticide residues with a broad range of physicochemical properties in fresh vegetables related to organophosphorus (OPP), organochlorines (OCP), pyrethroids, and carbamates mainly used in agriculture. Sample extract was cleaned up by using AOAC method. Pesticide residues above the maximum residue limits (MRL) were detected in 15.89% of the total samples (168 from 1057 samples), but 83.90% of the total samples (887 from 1057 samples) has no residues or contained pesticide residues at or below MRL. The detected and most frequently found pesticide residues were permethrin (45 times) and endosulfan (34 times) followed by deltamethrin (27 times). The findings of this study pointed to the following recommendations: the need for a monitoring program for pesticide residues in imported food crops.
The Metabolomic Signature of Malignant Glioma Reflects Accelerated Anabolic Metabolism
Authors: Chinnaiyan Prakash , Kensicki Elizabeth , Bloom Gregory , Prabhu Antony , Sarcar Bhaswati , Kahali Soumen , Eschrich Steven , Qu Xiaotao , Forsyth Peter , Gillies Robert
Published: October 2012

Although considerable progress has been made toward understanding glioblastoma biology through large-scale genetic and protein expression analyses, little is known about the underlying metabolic alterations promoting their aggressive phenotype. We conducted global metabolomic profiling on patient-derived glioma specimens and identified specific metabolic programs differentiating low- and high-grade tumors, with the metabolic signature of glioblastoma reflecting accelerated anabolic metabolism. When coupled with transcriptional profiles, we identified the metabolic phenotype of the mesenchymal subtype to consist of accumulation of the glycolytic intermediate phosphoenolpyruvate and decreased pyruvate kinase activity. Unbiased hierarchical clustering of metabolomic profiles identified three subclasses, which we term energetic, anabolic, and phospholipid catabolism with prognostic relevance. These studies represent the first global metabolomic profiling of glioma, offering a previously undescribed window into their metabolic heterogeneity, and provide the requisite framework for strategies designed to target metabolism in this rapidly fatal malignancy. Cancer Res; 72(22); 5878–88. ©2012 AACR.
The Adapted Classification of Male Pattern Hair Loss Improves Reliability
Authors: Khumalo N.P. , Gumedze F.
Published: October 2012

Background: The Hamilton-Norwood classification (HNC) is used to assess the severity of pattern hair loss (PHL). Conflicting associations between PHL and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been reported from studies that used different methods to assess alopecia severity. No classification including the HNC has been validated for population studies. We aimed to simplify the HNC, produce the adapted HNC and test its reliability for use in population studies. Methods: Identifying vertex alopecia as distinct allowed for a simpler alignment of alopecia figures where scores 4V and 5V in the adapted HNC replace IV and V in the original HNC. The two classifications were to be used by twelve of our staff (secretaries, nurses, dermatology trainees and dermatologists) to evaluate 16 men with PHL. Observer agreement was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and a percentage method duplicated from the recent basic and specific (BASP) classification. Results: The ICC improved with the adapted HNC when assessed by both the nurses/secretaries (from 0.47 to 0.61) and dermatology residents/consultants (from 0.68 to 0.76). Agreement using the BASP percentage method for dermatologists was 62–69% for the original and 93–100% for the adapted HNC. Conclusions: The adapted HNC increased reliability at various staff levels, making it suitable for epidemiological studies; its use in future studies could help elucidate the association between PHL and CVD.
Expression of Notch Receptor and Its Target Gene Hes-1 in Bone Marrow CD34+ Cells from Patients with Psoriasis
Authors: Yin Guohua , Hou Ruixia , Li Junqin , Zhang Jing , Li Xinhua , Zhang Kaiming
Published: October 2012

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease mediated mainly by dysfunctional peripheral blood T cells. Both CD4+/CD8+ T cells and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells derived from psoriatic CD34+ bone marrow cells in vitro have been found to be functionally similar to those psoriatic circulating and lesional T cells. Notch signaling participates in diverse cell fate decisions during T cell development and has been reported to influence the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and the differentiation of T cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression levels of Notch receptor 1, 2 and its target gene Hes-1 in CD34+ cells from patients with psoriasis. The total RNA and protein of CD34+ cells were extracted, and the mRNA as well as protein expression of Notch1, Notch2 and Hes-1 were investigated using real-time PCR and Western blot assays. We found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1 and Hes-1 in psoriasis patients were higher compared to normal controls, while the Notch2 mRNA and protein expression levels in psoriasis patients were similar to those of normal controls. The elevated Notch1 and Hes-1 expression levels in psoriatic CD34+ cells might be one reason for the immune disorders which are mainly mediated by T cells.