bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FUZZY LOGIC BASED UNCERTAINTY REPRESENTATION AND SIMULATION IN A FLEXIBLE ASSEMBLY SYSTEM
Authors: ALI AHAD
Published: April 2012

This paper provides intelligent simulation approach using manufacturing uncertainty in the form of simulation intelligence to improve the performances of manufacturing production system. It shows how simulation can be used to evaluate alternative designs in an uncertain manufacturing environment. Fuzzy rule-based manufacturing uncertainties are addressed in this study. A combination of product mix and production volume is analyzed using intelligent simulation model for an optimal production design. The intelligent simulation approach would improve the modeling accuracy in terms of more realistic presentation of uncertain activities. The proposed intelligent simulation modeling shows significant improvement and validated with real life application.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AT THE QUANTUM LEVEL: CAN MODERN DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY FORGE THE PATH?
Authors: KOLB BRIAN , THONHAUSER T.
Published: April 2012

Recent years have seen vast improvements in the ability of rigorous quantum-mechanical methods to treat systems of interest to molecular biology. In this review article, we survey common computational methods used to study such large, weakly bound systems, starting from classical simulations and reaching to quantum chemistry and density functional theory. We sketch their underlying frameworks and investigate their strengths and weaknesses when applied to potentially large biomolecules. In particular, density functional theory — a framework that can treat thousands of atoms on firm theoretical ground — can now accurately describe systems dominated by weak van der Waals interactions. This newfound ability has rekindled interest in using this tried-and-true approach to investigate biological systems of real importance. In this review, we focus on some new methods within the density functional theory that allow for accurate inclusion of the weak interactions that dominate binding in biological macromolecules. Recent work utilizing these methods to study biologically relevant systems will be highlighted, and a vision for the future of density functional theory within molecular biology will be discussed.
Sensitivity to Rocuronium-Induced Neuromuscular Block and Reversibility with Sugammadex in a Patient with Myotonic Dystrophy
Authors: Kashiwai Akihiro , Suzuki Takahiro , Ogawa Setsuro
Published: April 2012

We report a patient with myotonic dystrophy who showed prolonged rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade, although with a fast recovery with sugammadex. During general anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil, the times to spontaneous recovery of the first twitch (T1) of train of four to 10% of control values after an intubating dose of rocuronium 1 mg/kg and an additional dose of 0.2 mg/kg were 112 min and 62 min, respectively. Despite the high sensitivity to rocuronium, sugammadex 2 mg/kg administered at a T1 of 10% safely and effectively antagonized rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in 90 s.
Diffuse Optical Imaging Using Decomposition Methods
Authors: Wu Binlin , Alrubaiee M. , Cai W. , Xu M. , Gayen S. K.
Published: April 2012

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) for detecting and locating targets in a highly scattering turbid medium is treated as a blind source separation (BSS) problem. Three matrix decomposition methods, independent component analysis (ICA), principal component analysis (PCA), and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) were used to study the DOI problem. The efficacy of resulting approaches was evaluated and compared using simulated and experimental data. Samples used in the experiments included Intralipid-10% or Intralipid-20% suspension in water as the medium with absorptive or scattering targets embedded.
The SARAH Domain of RASSF1A and Its Tumor Suppressor Function
Authors: Dittfeld Claudia , Richter Antje M. , Steinmann Katrin , Klagge-Ulonska Antje , Dammann Reinhard H.
Published: April 2012

The Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) tumor suppressor encodes a Sav-RASSF-Hpo domain (SARAH), which is an interaction domain characterized by hWW45 (dSAV) and MST1/2 (dHpo). In our study, the interaction between RASSF1A and RASSF1C with MST1 and MST2 was demonstrated and it was shown that this interaction depends on the SARAH domain. SARAH domain-deleted RASSF1A had a similar growth-reducing effect as full-length RASSF1A and inhibited anchorage independent growth of the lung cancer cell lines A549 significantly. In cancer cells expressing the SARAH deleted form of RASSF1A, reduced mitotic rates (P=0.001) with abnormal metaphases (P<0.001) were observed and a significantly increased rate of apoptosis was found (P=0.006) compared to full-length RASSF1A. Although the association with microtubules and their stabilization was unaffected, mitotic spindle formation was altered by deletion of the SARAH domain of RASSF1A. In summary, our results suggest that the SARAH domain plays an important role in regulating the function of RASSF1A.
Sickle Cell Disease Activates Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Induce Cathepsins K and V Activity in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Keegan Philip M. , Surapaneni Sindhuja , Platt Manu O.
Published: April 2012

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disease that increases systemic inflammation as well as the risk of pediatric strokes, but links between sickle-induced inflammation and arterial remodeling are not clear. Cathepsins are powerful elastases and collagenases secreted by endothelial cells and monocyte-derived macrophages in atherosclerosis, but their involvement in sickle cell disease has not been studied. Here, we investigated how tumor necrosis alpha (TNFα) and circulating mononuclear cell adhesion to human aortic endothelial cells (ECs) increase active cathepsins K and V as a model of inflammation occurring in the arterial wall. ECs were stimulated with TNFα and cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from persons homozygous for sickle (SS) or normal (AA) hemoglobin. TNFα was necessary to induce cathepsin K activity, but either PBMC binding or TNFα increased cathepsin V activity. SS PBMCs were unique; they induced cathepsin K in ECs without exogenous TNFα (n=4,P<0.05). Inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) significantly reduced cathepsins K and V activation by 60% and 51%, respectively. Together, the inflammation and activated circulating mononuclear cells upregulate cathepsin activity through JNK signaling, identifying new pharmaceutical targets to block the accelerated pathology observed in arteries of children with sickle cell disease.
MarVis-Filter: Ranking, Filtering, Adduct and Isotope Correction of Mass Spectrometry Data
Authors: Kaever Alexander , Landesfeind Manuel , Possienke Mareike , Feussner Kirstin , Feussner Ivo , Meinicke Peter
Published: April 2012

Statistical ranking, filtering, adduct detection, isotope correction, and molecular formula calculation are essential tasks in processing mass spectrometry data in metabolomics studies. In order to obtain high-quality data sets, a framework which incorporates all these methods is required. We present the MarVis-Filter software, which provides well-established and specialized methods for processing mass spectrometry data. For the task of ranking and filtering multivariate intensity profiles, MarVis-Filter provides the ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests with adjustment for multiple hypothesis testing. Adduct and isotope correction are based on a novel algorithm which takes the similarity of intensity profiles into account and allows user-defined ionization rules. The molecular formula calculation utilizes the results of the adduct and isotope correction. For a comprehensive analysis, MarVis-Filter provides an interactive interface to combine data sets deriving from positive and negative ionization mode. The software is exemplarily applied in a metabolic case study, where octadecanoids could be identified as markers for wounding in plants.
GluA1 Phosphorylation Alters Evoked Firing PatternIn Vivo
Authors: Barkóczi Balázs , Juhász Gábor , Averkin Robert G. , Vörös Imre , Vertes Petra , Penke Botond , Szegedi Viktor
Published: April 2012

AMPA and NMDA receptors convey fast synaptic transmission in the CNS. Their relative contribution to synaptic output and phosphorylation state regulate synaptic plasticity. The AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 is central in synaptic plasticity. Phosphorylation of GluA1 regulates channel properties and trafficking. The firing rate averaged over several hundred ms is used to monitor cellular input. However, plasticity requires the timing of spiking within a few ms; therefore, it is important to understand how phosphorylation governs these events. Here, we investigate whether the GluA1 phosphorylation (p-GluA1) alters the spiking patterns of CA1 cellsin vivo. The antidepressant Tianeptine was used for inducing p-GluA1, which resulted in enhanced AMPA-evoked spiking. By comparing the spiking patterns of AMPA-evoked activity with matched firing rates, we show that the spike-trains after Tianeptine application show characteristic features, distinguishing from spike-trains triggered by strong AMPA stimulation. The interspike-interval distributions are different between the two groups, suggesting that neuronal output may differ when new inputs are activated compared to increasing the gain of previously activated receptors. Furthermore, we also show that NMDA evokes spiking with different patterns to AMPA spike-trains. These results support the role of the modulation of NMDAR/AMPAR ratio and p-GluA1 in plasticity and temporal coding.
Three-Dimensional Near-Field Microwave Holography for Tissue Imaging
Authors: Amineh Reza K. , Khalatpour Ali , Xu Haohan , Baskharoun Yona , Nikolova Natalia K.
Published: April 2012

This paper reports the progress toward a fast and reliable microwave imaging setup for tissue imaging exploiting near-field holographic reconstruction. The setup consists of two wideband TEM horn antennas aligned along each other’s boresight and performing a rectangular aperture raster scan. The tissue sensing is performed without coupling liquids. At each scanning position, wideband data is acquired. Then, novel holographic imaging algorithms are implemented to provide three-dimensional images of the inspected domain. In these new algorithms, the required incident field and Green’s function are obtained from numerical simulations. They replace the plane (or spherical) wave assumption in the previous holographic methods and enable accurate near-field imaging results. Here, we prove that both the incident field and Green’s function can be obtained from a single numerical simulation. This eliminates the need for optimization-based deblurring which was previously employed to remove the effect of realistic non-point-wise antennas.
Effects of Electroacupuncture at BL60 on Formalin-Induced Pain in Rats
Authors: Chang Kyung-Ha , Won Ran , Shim Insop , Lee Hyejung , Lee Bae Hwan
Published: April 2012

Acupuncture was used to treat symptoms of pain in the ancient orient. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the BL60 acupoint on male Sprague-Dawley rats. Each rat received EA at BL60 acupoint before formalin injection. Behavioral responses were recorded using a video camera and c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed thereafter. Treatment of EA at BL60 significantly inhibited flinching behavior and c-fos expression induced by formalin injection into the paw, compared to a control group. These results suggest that electroacupuncture at BL60 acupoint may be effective in relieving inflammatory pain.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Microspheres Functionalized with Porphyrin
Authors: Cai Jin-Hua , Huang Jin-Wang , Yu Han-Cheng , Ji Liang-Nian
Published: April 2012

In order to utilize visible light more efficiently in the photocatalytic reaction, microspheres sensitized by 5-(4-allyloxy)phenyl-10,15,20-tri(4-methylphenyl)porphyrin (APTMPP) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and so forth, The characterization results indicated that APTMPP-MPS- was composed of the anatase crystal phase. The morphology of the composite materials was spheriform with size of 0.3–0.7 μm and the porphyrin was chemisorbed on the surface of through a Si–O–Ti bond. The photooxidation ofα-terpinene was employed as the model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of APTMPP-MPS- microspheres under visible light. The results indicated that the photodegradation ofα-terpinene was significantly enhanced in the presence of the APTMPP-MPS- compared with the nonmodified under visible light.
Blind Cartography for Side Channel Attacks: Cross-Correlation Cartography
Authors: Sauvage Laurent , Guilley Sylvain , Flament Florent , Danger Jean-Luc , Mathieu Yves
Published: April 2012

Side channel and fault injection attacks are major threats to cryptographic applications of embedded systems. Best performances for these attacks are achieved by focusing sensors or injectors on the sensible parts of the application, by means of dedicated methods to localise them. Few methods have been proposed in the past, and all of them aim at pinpointing the cryptoprocessor. However it could be interesting to exploit the activity of other parts of the application, in order to increase the attack's efficiency or to bypass its countermeasures. In this paper, we present a localisation method based on cross-correlation, which issues a list of areas of interest within the attacked device. It realizes an exhaustive analysis, since it may localise any module of the device, and not only those which perform cryptographic operations. Moreover, it also does not require a preliminary knowledge about the implementation, whereas some previous cartography methods require that the attacker could choose the cryptoprocessor inputs, which is not always possible. The method is experimentally validated using observations of the electromagnetic near field distribution over a Xilinx Virtex 5 FPGA. The matching between areas of interest and the application layout in the FPGA floorplan is confirmed by correlation analysis.
Cogasification of Coal and Biomass: A Review
Authors: Brar J. S. , Singh K. , Wang J. , Kumar S.
Published: April 2012

Recently, there has been significant research interest in cogasification of coal and various types of biomass blends to improve biomass gasification by reducing the tar content in the product gas. In addition, ash present in biomass catalyzes the gasification of coal. However, due to the fibrous nature of biomass and the large difference in gasification temperature of coal and biomass, cogasification in existing systems presents technical challenges. This paper documents research studies conducted on the cogasification of various types of coal and biomass using different types of gasifiers under various sets of operating conditions. In addition, the influence of cogasification on upstream and downstream processing is presented.
Direct Electron Transfer of Hemoglobin on Manganese III Oxide-Ag Nanofibers Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Negahdary Masoud , Mazaheri Gholamreza , Rad Somyyeh , Hadi Mohammadreza , Malekzadeh Roya , Saadatmand Mohammad Mahdi , Rezaei-Zarchi Saeed , Pishbin Fariba , Khosravian-hemami Mojdeh
Published: April 2012

We investigated the electrochemical behavior of hemoglobin by glassy carbon electrode modified with Mn2O3-Ag nanofibers. The Mn2O3-Ag nanofibers were used as facilitator electron transfer between Hb and glassy-carbon-modified electrode. The Mn2O3-Ag nanofibers are studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hemoglobin showed a quasireversible electrochemical redox behavior with a formal potential of −49 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0. The designed biosensor possesses good stability and reproducibility and achieves 95% of the steady-state current in less than five seconds.
A Parallel Implementation of Unscheduled Flow Control in Interconnected Power Systems
Authors: Ozdemir Dag G. , Bagriyanik Mustafa
Published: April 2012

The unscheduled power flow problem needs to be minimized or controlled as soon as possible in a deregulated power system since the transmission systems are mostly operated at their power‐carrying limits or very close to it. The time spent for simulations to determine the current states of all the system and control variables of the interconnected power system is important. Taking necessary action in case of any failure of equipment or any other occurrence of an undesired situation could be critical. Using supercomputing facilities and parallel computing techniques together decreases the computation time greatly. In this study, a parallel implementation of a multiobjective optimization approach based on both genetic algorithms and fuzzy decision making to manage unscheduled flows is presented. Parallel computation techniques are applied using supercomputers (high‐performance computers). The proposed method is applied to the IEEE 300 bus test system. Two different cases for some parameters of GA are considered to see the power of parallel computation technique. Then the simulation results are presented.
Thin‐Layer Drying Characteristics and Modeling of Chinese Jujubes
Authors: Yi Xiao-Kang , Wu Wen-Fu , Zhang Ya-Qiu , Li Jun-Xing , Luo Hua-Ping
Published: April 2012

A mathematical modeling of thin‐layer drying of jujubes in a convective dryer was established under controlled conditions of temperature and velocity. The drying process took place both in the accelerating rate and falling rate period. We observed that higher temperature reduced the drying time, indicating higher drying rates of jujubes. The experimental drying data of jujubes were used to fit ten different thin‐layer models, then drying rate constants and coefficients of models tested were determined by nonlinear regression analysis using the Statistical Computer Program. As for all the drying models, the Weibull distribution model was superior and best predicted the experimental values. Therefore, this model can be used to facilitate dryer design and promote efficient dryer operation by simulation and optimization of the drying processes. The volumetric shrinkable coefficient of jujubes decreased as the drying air temperature increased.
Agenesis of the Right Hepatic Lobe
Authors: Nacif Lucas Souto , Buscariolli Yuri dos Santos , D'Albuquerque Luiz Augusto Carneiro , Andraus Wellington
Published: April 2012

Introduction. Agenesis of the right lobe of the liver is a rare finding and was defined as the absence of liver tissue on the right side, with preservation of the middle hepatic vein, without previous disease or surgery. It is usually an incident finding reveled by imaging exams or during abdominal surgery.Case Report. A 32-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital for abdominal discomfort and loss of appetite. Imaging studies revealed the absence of the right hepatic lobe and hypertrophied left hepatic segments.Discussion. Anomalies of hepatic morphology are rare and correspond to developmental defects during embryogenesis, are a rare diagnosis, and are generally diagnosed incidentally based on imaging. Agenesis or hypoplasia of the right lobe may predispose the patient to the development of portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Surgical knowledge of such anatomical agenesis is necessary for surgical planning, for the appropriate identification of intraoperative surgical findings, and for the design of the postoperative approach to therapy.Conclusion. Agenesis of the right hepatic lobe is a rare condition. We want to highlight the importance of understanding the condition. Surgeons must recognize the entity in order to deal appropriately with the findings.
Improvement of Thermal Stability of Nd-Tb-Fe-Co-B Sintered Magnets by Additions of Pr, Ho, Al, and Cu
Authors: Lukin A. A. , Il'yashenko E. I. , Skjeltorp A. T. , Helgesen G.
Published: April 2012

The present work investigates the influence of Pr, Al, Cu, B and Ho which were introduced into the Co-containing sintered magnets of Nd-Dy-Tb-Fe-Co-B type on the magnetic parameters (α, Hci, Br, BHmax⁡). The effect of heat treatment parameters on magnetic properties was also studied. It was revealed that the essential alloying of NdFeB magnets by such elements as Dy, Tb, Ho, Co as well as by boron-forming elements, for example, by titanium, may lead to reducing of F-phase quantity, and, as a consequence, to decreasing of magnetic parameters. It was also shown that additional doping of such alloys by Pr, B, Al and Cu leads to a significant increase of the quantity of F-phase in magnets as well as solubility of the Dy, Tb, Ho and Co in it. This promotes the increase of magnetic parameters. It was possible to attain the following properties for the magnets (Nd0,15Pr0,35Tb0,25Ho0,25)15(Fe0,71Co0,29)bal ⋅ Al0,9Cu0,1B8,5 (at. %) after optimal thermal treatment {1175 K (3,6–7,2 ks) with slow (12–16 ks) cooling to 675 K and subsequently remaining at T=775 K for 3,6 ks—hardening}: Br=0,88 T, Hci=1760 kA/m, BHmax⁡=144 kJ/m3, α<|0,01|%/K in the temperature interval 223–323 K.
Promising Genetic Biomarkers of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: The Influence ofAPOEandTOMM40on Brain Integrity
Authors: Ferencz Beata , Karlsson Sari , Kalpouzos Grégoria
Published: April 2012

Finding biomarkers constitutes a crucial step for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain imaging techniques have revealed structural alterations in the brain that may be phenotypic in preclinical AD. The most prominent polymorphism that has been associated with AD and related neural changes is the Apolipoprotein E (APOE)ε4. The translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 (TOMM40), which is in linkage disequilibrium withAPOE, has received increasing attention as a promising gene in AD.TOMM40also impacts brain areas vulnerable in AD, by downstream apoptotic processes that forego extracellular amyloid beta aggregation. The present paper aims to extend on the mitochondrial influence in AD pathogenesis and we propose aTOMM40-induced disconnection of the medial temporal lobe. Finally, we discuss the possibility of mitochondrial dysfunction being the earliest pathophysiological event in AD, which indeed is supported by recent findings.
High-Resolution Genomic Profiling of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Human Stem Cells Using the 135 K StemArray
Authors: Elliott Aaron M. , Hohenstein Elliott Kristi A. , Kammesheidt Anja
Published: April 2012

Culturing stem cells for an extended period of time can lead to acquired chromosomal aberrations. Determining the copy number variant (CNV) profile of stem cell lines is critical since CNVs can have dramatic effects on gene expression and tumorigenic potential. Here, we describe an improved version of our StemArray, a stem-cell-focused comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) microarray, which contains 135,000 probes and covers over 270 stem cell and cancer related genes at the exon level. We have dramatically increased the median probe spacing throughout the genome in order to obtain a higher resolution genetic profile of the cell lines. To illustrate the importance of using the StemArray, we describe a karyotypically normal iPSC line in which we detected acquired chromosomal variations that could affect the cellular phenotype of the cells. Identifying adaptive chromosomal aberrations in stem cell lines is essential if they are to be used in regenerative medicine.
Actinobaculum schaalii: An Emerging Uropathogen?
Authors: Tavassoli Peyman , Paterson Ryan , Grant Jennifer
Published: April 2012

A. schaaliiis a rare uropathogen. We report urosepsis withActinobaculum schaaliidetected serendipitously in blood and urine culture in a 79-year-old with urinary tract obstruction. This paper illuminates the flaws in our current system in detectingA. schaaliiand raises awareness among clinicians and laboratory teams.
Chronic Kidney Disease in Disadvantaged Populations
Authors: Martins David , Agodoa Lawrence , Norris Keith
Published: April 2012

Disadvantaged populations across the globe exhibit a disproportionate burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) because of differences in CKD occurrence and outcomes. Although many CKD risk factors can be managed and modified to optimize clinical outcomes, the prevailing socioeconomic and cultural factors in disadvantaged populations, more often than not, militate against optimum clinical outcomes. In addition, disadvantaged populations exhibit a broader spectrum of CKD risk factors and may be genetically predisposed to an earlier onset and a more rapid progression of chronic kidney disease. A basic understanding of the vulnerabilities of the disadvantaged populations will facilitate the adaptation and adoption of the kidney disease treatment and prevention guidelines for these vulnerable populations. The purpose of this paper is to examine recent discoveries and data on CKD occurrence and outcomes in disadvantaged populations and explore strategies for the prevention and treatment of CKD in these populations based on the established guidelines.
Implicit Iterative Method for Hierarchical Variational Inequalities
Authors: Ceng L.-C. , Ansari Q. H. , Wong N.-C. , Yao J.-C.
Published: April 2012

We introduce a new implicit iterative scheme with
perturbation for finding the approximate solutions of a hierarchical variational inequality, that is, a variational inequality over the
common fixed point set of a finite family of nonexpansive mappings. We establish some convergence theorems for the sequence
generated by the proposed implicit iterative scheme. In particular, necessary and sufficient conditions for the strong convergence
of the sequence are obtained.
Williamson Fluid Model for the Peristaltic Flow of Chyme in Small Intestine
Authors: Nadeem Sohail , Ashiq Sadaf , Ali Mohamed
Published: April 2012

Mathematical model for the peristaltic flow of chyme in small intestine along with inserted endoscope is considered. Here, chyme is treated as Williamson fluid,
and the flow is considered between the annular region formed by two concentric tubes (i.e., outer tube as small intestine and inner tube as endoscope). Flow is induced by two sinusoidal peristaltic
waves of different wave lengths, traveling down the intestinal wall with the same speed. The governing equations of Williamson fluid in cylindrical coordinates have been modeled. The resulting nonlinear momentum equations are simplified using long wavelength and low Reynolds number approximations. The resulting problem is solved using regular perturbation method in terms of a variant of Weissenberg number We. The numerical solution of the problem is also computed by using shooting method, and comparison of results of both solutions for velocity field is presented. The expressions for axial velocity, frictional force, pressure rise, stream function, and axial pressure gradient are obtained, and the effects of various emerging parameters on the flow characteristics are illustrated graphically. Furthermore, the streamlines pattern is plotted, and it is observed that trapping occurs, and the size of the trapped bolus varies with varying embedded flow parameters.
Health and Cellular Impacts of Air Pollutants: From Cytoprotection to Cytotoxicity
Authors: Andreau Karine , Leroux Melanie , Bouharrour Aida
Published: April 2012

Air pollution as one of the ravages of our modern societies is primarily linked to urban centers, industrial activities, or road traffic. These atmospheric pollutants have been incriminated in deleterious health effects by numerous epidemiological andin vitrostudies. Environmental air pollutants are a heterogeneous mixture of particles suspended into a liquid and gaseous phase which trigger the disruption of redox homeostasis—known under the term of cellular oxidative stress—in relation with the establishment of inflammation and cell deathvianecrosis, apoptosis, or autophagy. Activation or repression of the apoptotic process as an adaptative response to xenobiotics might lead to either acute or chronic toxicity. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the central role of oxidative stress induced by air pollutants and to focus on the subsequent cellular impacts ranging from cytoprotection to cytotoxicity by decreasing or stimulating apoptosis, respectively.
A Role for RNA Viruses in the Pathogenesis of Burkitt's Lymphoma: The Need for Reappraisal
Authors: van den Bosch Corry
Published: April 2012

Certain infectious agents are associated with lymphomas, but the strength of the association varies geographically, suggesting that local environmental factors make important contributions to lymphomagenesis. Endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma has well-defined environmental requirements making it particularly suitable for research into local environmental factors. The Epstein-Barr virus and holoendemic Malaria are recognized as important cofactors in endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma and their contributions are discussed. Additionally, infection with Chikungunya Fever, a potentially oncogenic arbovirus, was associated with the onset of endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma in one study and also with space-time case clusters of the lymphoma. Chikungunya Virus has several characteristics typical of oncogenic viruses. The Flavivirus, Hepatitis C, a Class 1 Human Carcinogen, closely related to the arboviruses, Yellow Fever, and Dengue, is also more distantly related to Chikungunya Virus. The mechanisms of oncogenesis believed to operate in Hepatitis C lymphomagenesis are discussed, as is their potential applicability to Chikungunya Virus.
UV Filtering of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: The Effects of Varying the UV Cut-Off upon Cell Performance and Incident Photon-to-Electron Conversion Efficiency
Authors: Carnie Matthew , Watson Trystan , Worsley David
Published: April 2012

With current technology, UV filters are essential to ensure long-term dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) stability. Blocking photons, however, will have an obvious effect on device performance and upon its incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE). Filters have been applied to DSC devices with a range of cut-off wavelengths in order to assess how different levels of filtering affect the performance and IPCE of devices made with three different dyes, namely N719, Z907, and N749. It is shown that dyes that extend their IPCE further into the NIR region suffer lesser relative efficiency losses due to UV filtering than dyes with narrower action spectra. Furthermore, the results are encouraging to those working towards the industrialisation of DSC technology. From the results presented it can be estimated that filtering at a level intended to prevent direct band gap excitation of the TiO2semiconductor should cause a relative drop in cell efficiency of no more than 10% in forward illuminated devices and no more than 2% in reverse illuminated devices.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome due to CMV Reactivation after Cardiac Transplantation
Authors: Steger Christina Maria , Antretter Herwig , Höfer Daniel
Published: April 2012

A 40-year-old male patient suffered from end-stage heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy and received orthotopiccardiac transplantation in June 2005. The instantaneous postoperative course was uneventful, but, seven months later, he suffered from paralysis in the lower extremities finally resulting in quadriplegia and was admitted to hospital. After laboratory testings the diagnosis of a Guillain-Barré syndrome due to cytomegalovirus reactivation was confirmed.
The Coexistence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Thyrotoxicosis: The Diagnostic Value of Antihistone Antibodies
Authors: Baleva Marta , Nikolov Krasimir , Manov Emil , Stoikov Anastas , Shabani Rebhat , Dourmishev Lyubomir , Nikolova Milena
Published: April 2012

We report four female patients with Graves' disease with positive ANA antibodies and possibility for development of systemic lupus erythematosus. All four patients have been treated with antithyroid drugs. SLE symptoms have appeared from 4 to 12 months after the beginning of therapy with methysol in two of them. The third patient had no symptoms for SLE, but her ANA, anti-DNA, and antihistone antibodies had been positive at the time of the onset of thyrotoxicosis. The fourth patient had alopecia areata with positive ANA and antihistone antibodies.
Optimal Resource Allocation and VCG Auction-Based Pricing for H.264 Scalable Video Quality Maximization in 4G Wireless Systems
Authors: Parakh Shreyans , Jagannatham Aditya K.
Published: April 2012

We present novel schemes for optimal OFDMA bitrate allocation towards video quality maximization in H.264 scalable video coding (SVC)-based 4G wireless systems. We use the rate and quality models for video characterization of the SVC extension of the H.264/AVC and develop the framework for optimal scalable video transmission. Subsequently, we derive the closed form solution of the optimal H.264 scalable video quantization parameter for sum video quality maximization in unicast and multicast 4G WiMAX adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) scenarios. We also formulate a Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) auction-based time-frequency (TF) resource pricing scheme for dynamic bitrate allocation and simultaneous prevention of video quality degradation by malicious users for H.264-based scalable video transmission. Simulation results demonstrate that application of the proposed optimal 4G OFDMA schemes for unicast/multicast video quality maximization yield significantly superior performance in comparison to fixed rate video agnostic allocation.
Peripheral Ameloblastoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Beena V. T. , Choudhary Kanaram , Heera R. , Rajeev R. , Sivakumar R. , Vidhyadharan K.
Published: April 2012

Peripheral ameloblastoma, a rare and unusual variant of odontogenic tumour, comprises about 2–10% of all ameloblastomas. The extraosseous location is the peculiar feature of this type of tumour, which is otherwise similar to the classical ameloblastoma. This paper describes a case of peripheral ameloblastoma in a 67-year-old female affecting the lingual alveolar mucosa of the mandibular 32–34 region which was clinically diagnosed as pyogenic granuloma. This paper becomes important due to availability of all data, makeing it a well-documented case.
Evidence of Reciprocity in Reports on International Partnerships
Authors: Umoren Rachel A. , James Jasmine E. , Litzelman Debra K.
Published: April 2012

The increase in global health opportunities in medical education has been accompanied by calls for ethical and reciprocal institutional partnerships. The Working Group on Ethics Guidelines in Global Health Training (WEIGHT) guidelines were developed in 2010 and are widely accepted by the global health community. We reviewed 43 articles on international partnerships from 1970 to 2010 for eight principles of reciprocity derived from the WEIGHT guidelines. The results showed that, while few articles reflected all principles, there was a trend to increasing consideration of the international partner’s local needs, pre-departure cultural training, and collaborative authorship. However, learner supervision and consideration of local cost/benefit ratios decreased over the same time period. Partnerships with only one international partner or with institutional partners in Africa had lower reciprocity scores than those with two or more partners and institutional partners in Asia and South America. We recommend that a new focus on ethics in global health partnerships leads to the inclusion of the principles of reciprocity in model program descriptions in order to enable and encourage ethical, sustainable, and mutually beneficial institutional partnerships.
Pulmonary Disease due toMycobacterium tuberculosisin a Horse: Zoonotic Concerns and Limitations of Antemortem Testing
Authors: Lyashchenko Konstantin P. , Greenwald Rena , Esfandiari Javan , Lecu Alexis , Waters W. Ray , Posthaus Horst , Bodmer Thomas , Janssens Jean-Paul , Aloisio Fabio , Graubner Claudia , Grosclaude Eléonore , Piersigilli Alessandra , Schiller Irene
Published: April 2012

A case of pulmonary tuberculosis caused byMycobacterium tuberculosiswas diagnosed in a horse. Clinical evaluation performed prior to euthanasia did not suggest tuberculosis, but postmortem examination provided pathological and bacteriological evidence of mycobacteriosis. In the lungs, multiple tuberculoid granulomas communicating with the bronchiolar lumen, pleural effusion, and a granulomatous lymphadenitis involving mediastinal and tracheobronchial lymph nodes were found. Serologic response toM. tuberculosisantigens was detected in the infected horse, but not in the group of 42 potentially exposed animals (18 horses, 14 alpacas, 6 donkeys, and 4 dogs) which showed no signs of disease. Diagnosis of tuberculosis in live horses remains extremely difficult. Four of 20 animal handlers at the farm were positive for tuberculous infection upon follow-up testing by interferon-gamma release assay, indicating a possibility of interspecies transmission ofM. tuberculosis.
Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Apoptosis in Liver Disease and Fibrosis
Authors: Chakraborty Jayashree Bagchi , Oakley Fiona , Walsh Meagan J.
Published: April 2012

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Development of the fibrotic scar is an outcome of chronic liver diseases of varying aetiologies including alcoholic liver disease (ALD) nonalcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) viral hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV). The critical step in the development of scar is activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which become the primary source of extracellular matrix. Aberrant apoptosis is a feature of chronic liver diseases and is associated with worsening stages of fibrosis. However, apoptosis is also the main mechanism promoting the resolution of fibrosis, and spontaneous or targeted apoptosis of HSC is associated with regression of fibrosis in animal models and patients with chronic liver disease. Given the importance of apoptosis in disease progression and resolution, there is much interest in precisely delineating the mechanisms involved and also developing biomarkers that accurately reflect the underlying pathogenesis. Here, we review the mechanisms driving apoptosis in development of liver disease and use of apoptosis -related biomarkers to aid in clinical diagnosis. Finally, we will also examine the recent literature regarding new insights into mechanisms involved in apoptosis of activated HSCs as possible method of fibrosis regression.
Semianalytic Integration of High‐Altitude Orbits under Lunisolar Effects
Authors: Lara Martin , San Juan Juan F. , López Luis M.
Published: April 2012

The long‐term effect of lunisolar perturbations on high‐altitude orbits is studied after a double averaging procedure that removes both the mean anomaly of the satellite and that of the moon. Lunisolar effects acting on high‐altitude orbits are comparable in magnitude to the Earth’s oblateness perturbation. Hence, their accurate modeling does not allow for the usual truncation of the expansion of the third‐body disturbing function up to the second degree. Using canonical perturbation theory, the averaging is carried out up to the order where second‐order terms in the Earth oblateness coefficient are apparent. This truncation order forces to take into account up to the fifth degree in the expansion of the lunar disturbing function. The small values of the moon’s orbital eccentricity and inclination with respect to the ecliptic allow for some simplification. Nevertheless, as far as the averaging is carried out in closed form of the satellite’s orbit eccentricity, it is not restricted to low‐eccentricity orbits.
Numerical Solution of Nonlinear Fredholm Integrodifferential Equations of Fractional Order by Using Hybrid Functions and the Collocation Method
Authors: Hou Jianhua , Qin Beibo , Yang Changqing
Published: April 2012

A numerical method to solve nonlinear Fredholm integral equations of second kind is presented in this work. The method is based upon hybrid function approximate. The properties of hybrid of block‐pulse functions and Taylor series are presented and are utilized to reduce the computation of nonlinear Fredholm integral equations to a system of algebraic equations. Some numerical examples are selected to illustrate the effectiveness and simplicity of the method.
Stigma and Discrimination in People Suffering with a Mood Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lazowski L. , Koller M. , Stuart H. , Milev R.
Published: April 2012

Background.Much research is done on the stigma of mental illness, but little research has been done to characterize these phenomena from the perspective of people with mood disorders.Objective.To characterize the extent to which individuals with bipolar disorder and depression are stigmatized, determine factors related to higher levels of stigmatization, and assess the reliability of the Inventory of Stigmatizing Experiences in a population of people with a mood disorder.Methods.Two hundred and fourteen individuals with depression and bipolar disorder were recruited from a tertiary care psychiatric hospital and surveyed using the Inventory of Stigmatizing Experiences.Results.Participants reported high levels of stigma experiences and this did not differ by diagnosis(P=0.578). However, people with bipolar disorder reported greater psychosocial impact of stigma on themselves and their family members compared to people with depression(P=0.019). The two subscales produced internally consistent results with both populations.Conclusion.Stigma negatively affects those with both depression and bipolar disorder but appears to have a greater psychosocial impact on those with bipolar disorder.
Inflammation, Diabetes, and Chronic Kidney Disease: Role of Aerobic Capacity
Authors: Shiraishi Flávio Gobbis , Stringuetta Belik Fernanda , Oliveira e Silva Viviana Rugolo , Martin Luis Cuadrado , Hueb João Carlos , Gonçalves Renato de Souza , Caramori Jacqueline Costa Teixeira , Barreti Pasqual , Franco Roberto Jorge da Silva
Published: April 2012

The persistent inflammatory state is common in diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). These patients present exercise intolerance and increased arterial stiffness. Long-term aerobic exercise has been associated with better arterial compliance, antidiabetic and antiinflammatory benefits. We assessed the hypothesis that in patients with diabetes and CKD, better aerobic capacity is associated with less inflammatory state and arterial stiffness. Thirty-nine CKD patients (17 in hemodialysis) were evaluated. According to CKD etiology two patient groups were obtained: group of diabetics (GD) was formed by 11 patients and nondiabetics (GND) formed by 28 patients. Central blood pressure and arterial stiffness were evaluated by Sphygmocor device. Carotida intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) was evaluated by ultrasonography. Aerobic capacity was measured by estimated VO2max according to treadmill test by Bruce protocol. The GD showed a higher frequency of C-reactive protein above laboratory cutoff (P=0.044), higher frequency of male gender, and a non significant higher value of VO2max (P=0.099). The CA-IMT was similar. Only better aerobic capacity was associated with lower frequency of high C-reactive protein when adjusted to diabetes and gender in a logistic regression model. In conclusion, aerobic capacity was associated with inflammatory state, in CKD patients, independently of diabetes presence.
Spectral Approach to Derive the Representation Formulae for Solutions of the Wave Equation
Authors: Guseinov Gusein Sh.
Published: April 2012

Using spectral properties of the Laplace operator and some structural formula for rapidly decreasing functions of the Laplace operator, we offer a novel method to derive explicit formulae for solutions to the Cauchy problem for classical wave equation in arbitrary dimensions. Among them are the well‐known d′Alembert, Poisson, and Kirchhoff representation formulae in low space dimensions.
Complications of Uterine Fibroids and Their Management, Surgical Management of Fibroids, Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy versus Hysterectomy, Haemorrhage, Adhesions, and Complications
Authors: Mettler Liselotte , Schollmeyer Thoralf , Tinelli Andrea , Malvasi Antonio , Alkatout Ibrahim
Published: April 2012

A critical analysis of the surgical treatment of fibroids compares all available techniques of myomectomy. Different statistical analyses reveal the advantages of the laparoscopic and hysteroscopic approach. Complications can arise from the location of the fibroids. They range from intermittent bleedings to continuous bleedings over several weeks, from single pain episodes to severe pain, from dysuria and constipation to chronic bladder and bowel spasms. Very seldom does peritonitis occur. Infertility may result from continuous metro and menorrhagia. The difficulty of the laparoscopic and hysteroscopic myomectomy lies in achieving satisfactory haemostasis using the appropriate sutures. The hysteroscopic myomectomy requires an operative hysteroscope and a well-experienced gynaecologic surgeon.
Adamantyl Retinoid-Related Molecules Induce Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Inhibiting IGF-1R and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways
Authors: Farhana Lulu , Dawson Marcia I. , Das Jayanta K. , Murshed Farhan , Xia Zebin , Hadden Timothy J. , Hatfield James , Fontana Joseph A.
Published: April 2012

Pancreatic carcinoma has a dismal prognosis as it often presents as locally advanced or metastatic. We have found that exposure to adamantyl-substituted retinoid-related (ARR) compounds 3-Cl-AHPC and AHP3 resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in PANC-1, Capan-2, and MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cell lines. In addition, AHP3 and 3-Cl-AHPC inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in spheres derived from the CD44+/CD24+(CD133+/EpCAM+) stem-like cell population isolated from the pancreatic cancer cell lines. 3-Cl-AHPC-induced apoptosis was preceded by decreasing expression of IGF-1R, cyclin D1,β-catenin, and activated Notch-1 in the pancreatic cancer cell lines. Decreased IGF-1R expression inhibited PANC-1 proliferation, enhanced 3-Cl-AHPC-mediated apoptosis, and significantly decreased sphere formation. 3-Cl-AHPC inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as indicated by decreasedβ-catenin nuclear localization and inhibited Wnt/β-catenin activation of transcription factor TCF/LEF. Knockdown ofβ-catenin using sh-RNA also induced apoptosis and inhibited growth in pancreatic cancer cells. Thus, 3-Cl-AHPC and AHP3 induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and cancer stem-like cells and may serve as an important potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
A Note on the Class of Functions with Bounded Turning
Authors: Ibrahim Rabha W. , Kılıçman Adem
Published: April 2012

We consider subclasses of functions with bounded turning for normalized analytic functions in the unit disk. The geometric representation is introduced, some subordination relations are suggested, and the upper bound of the pre‐Schwarzian norm for these functions is computed. Moreover, by employing Jack′s lemma, we obtain a convex class in the class of functions of
bounded turning and relations with other classes are posed.
Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy by Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Yao Chun , Tang Nong , Xie Guoxiang , Zheng Xiaojiao , Liu Ping , Fu Lei , Xie Wu , Yao Fan , Li Houkai , Jia Wei
Published: April 2012

In spite of the impressive progress in the investigation of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), the complex mechanisms underlying the onset and deterioration of HE are still not fully understood. Currently, none of the existing theories provide conclusive explanations on the symptoms that link liver dysfunction to nervous system disorders and clinical manifestations. This paper summarized the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used for HE in modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine and provided future perspective in HE therapies from the viewpoint of holistic and personalized Chinese medicine.