bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myosin-binding protein C corrects an intrinsic inhomogeneity in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling
Authors: Previs Michael J. , Prosser Benjamin L. , Mun Ji Young , Previs Samantha Beck , Gulick James , Lee Kyounghwan , Robbins Jeffrey , Craig Roger , Lederer W. J. , Warshaw David M.
Published: March 2015

The localization of MyBP-C within cardiac muscle cells provides efficient mechanochemical excitation-contraction coupling.
Happy Birthday
Science Advances
!
Authors: McNutt Marcia
Published: March 2015

Scientists are invited to join in our effort to publish significant, innovative original research that advances the frontiers of science.
Development of the Honey Bee Gut Microbiome throughout the Queen-Rearing Process
Authors: Tarpy David R. , Mattila Heather R. , Newton Irene L. G.
Published: February 2015

The European honey bee (
Apis mellifera
) is used extensively to produce hive products and for crop pollination, but pervasive concerns about colony health and population decline have sparked an interest in the microbial communities that are associated with these important insects. Currently, only the microbiome of workers has been characterized, while little to nothing is known about the bacterial communities that are associated with queens, even though their health and proper function are central to colony productivity. Here, we provide a large-scale analysis of the gut microbiome of honey bee queens during their developmental trajectory and through the multiple colonies that host them as part of modern queen-rearing practices. We found that queen microbiomes underwent a dramatic shift in size and composition as they aged and encountered different worker populations and colony environments. Queen microbiomes were dominated by enteric bacteria in early life but were comprised primarily of alphaproteobacteria at maturity. Furthermore, queen gut microbiomes did not reflect those of the workers who tended them and, indeed, they lacked many of the bacteria that are considered vital to workers. While worker gut microbiotas were consistent across the unrelated colony populations sampled, the microbiotas of the related queens were highly variable. Bacterial communities in mature queen guts were similar in size to those of mature workers and were characterized by dominant and specific alphaproteobacterial strains known to be associated with worker hypopharyngeal glands. Our results suggest a model in which queen guts are colonized by bacteria from workers' glands, in contrast to routes of maternal inoculation for other animal microbiomes.
Pseudomonas fluorescens Pirates both Ferrioxamine and Ferricoelichelin Siderophores from Streptomyces ambofaciens
Authors: Galet Justine , Deveau Aurélie , Hôtel Laurence , Frey-Klett Pascale , Leblond Pierre , Aigle Bertrand
Published: February 2015

Iron is essential in many biological processes. However, its bioavailability is reduced in aerobic environments, such as soil. To overcome this limitation, microorganisms have developed different strategies, such as iron chelation by siderophores. Some bacteria have even gained the ability to detect and utilize xenosiderophores, i.e., siderophores produced by other organisms. We illustrate an example of such an interaction between two soil bacteria,
Pseudomonas fluorescens
strain BBc6R8 and
Streptomyces ambofaciens
ATCC 23877, which produce the siderophores pyoverdine and enantiopyochelin and the siderophores desferrioxamines B and E and coelichelin, respectively. During pairwise cultures on iron-limiting agar medium, no induction of siderophore synthesis by
P. fluorescens
BBc6R8 was observed in the presence of
S. ambofaciens
ATCC 23877. Cocultures with a
Streptomyces
mutant strain that produced either coelichelin or desferrioxamines, as well as culture in a medium supplemented with desferrioxamine B, resulted in the absence of pyoverdine production; however, culture with a double mutant deficient in desferrioxamines and coelichelin production did not. This strongly suggests that
P. fluorescens
BBbc6R8 utilizes the ferrioxamines and ferricoelichelin produced by
S. ambofaciens
as xenosiderophores and therefore no longer activates the production of its own siderophores. A screening of a library of
P. fluorescens
BBc6R8 mutants highlighted the involvement of the TonB-dependent receptor FoxA in this process: the expression of
foxA
and genes involved in the regulation of its biosynthesis was induced in the presence of
S. ambofaciens
. In a competitive environment, such as soil, siderophore piracy could well be one of the driving forces that determine the outcome of microbial competition.
Mono- and Dialkyl Glycerol Ether Lipids in Anaerobic Bacteria: Biosynthetic Insights from the Mesophilic Sulfate Reducer Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans PF2803
T
Authors: Grossi Vincent , Mollex Damien , Vinçon-Laugier Arnauld , Hakil Florence , Pacton Muriel , Cravo-Laureau Cristiana
Published: February 2015

Bacterial glycerol ether lipids (alkylglycerols) have received increasing attention during the last decades, notably due to their potential role in cell resistance or adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. Major uncertainties remain, however, regarding the origin, biosynthesis, and modes of formation of these uncommon bacterial lipids. We report here the preponderance of monoalkyl- and dialkylglycerols (1-
O
-alkyl-, 2-
O
-alkyl-, and 1,2-
O
-dialkylglycerols) among the hydrolyzed lipids of the marine mesophilic sulfate-reducing proteobacterium
Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans
PF2803
T
grown on
n
-alkenes (pentadec-1-ene or hexadec-1-ene) as the sole carbon and energy source. Alkylglycerols account for one-third to two-thirds of the total cellular lipids (alkylglycerols plus acylglycerols), depending on the growth substrate, with dialkylglycerols contributing to one-fifth to two-fifths of the total ether lipids. The carbon chain distribution of the lipids of
D. alkenivorans
also depends on that of the substrate, but the chain length and methyl-branching patterns of fatty acids and monoalkyl- and dialkylglycerols are systematically congruent, supporting the idea of a biosynthetic link between the three classes of compounds. Vinyl ethers (1-alken-1′-yl-glycerols, known as plasmalogens) are not detected among the lipids of strain PF2803
T
. Cultures grown on different (per)deuterated
n
-alkene,
n
-alkanol, and
n
-fatty acid substrates further demonstrate that saturated alkylglycerols are not formed via the reduction of hypothetic alken-1′-yl intermediates. Our results support an unprecedented biosynthetic pathway to monoalkyl/monoacyl- and dialkylglycerols in anaerobic bacteria and suggest that
n
-alkyl compounds present in the environment can serve as the substrates for supplying the building blocks of ether phospholipids of heterotrophic bacteria.
Role of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Signaling in the Regulation of the Filamentous-Growth Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway
Authors: Adhikari Hema , Cullen Paul J.
Published: February 2015

Reversible phosphorylation of the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol (PI) is a key event in the determination of organelle identity and an underlying regulatory feature in many biological processes. Here, we investigated the role of PI signaling in the regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway that controls filamentous growth in yeast. Lipid kinases that generate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P] at the Golgi (Pik1p) or PI(4,5)P2 at the plasma membrane (PM) (Mss4p and Stt4p) were required for filamentous-growth MAPK pathway signaling. Introduction of a conditional allele of
PIK1
(
pik1-83
) into the filamentous (Σ1278b) background reduced MAPK activity and caused defects in invasive growth and biofilm/mat formation. MAPK regulatory proteins that function at the PM, including Msb2p, Sho1p, and Cdc42p, were mislocalized in the
pik1-83
mutant, which may account for the signaling defects of the PI(4)P kinase mutants. Other PI kinases (Fab1p and Vps34p), and combinations of PIP (synaptojanin-type) phosphatases, also influenced the filamentous-growth MAPK pathway. Loss of these proteins caused defects in cell polarity, which may underlie the MAPK signaling defect seen in these mutants. In line with this possibility, disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by latrunculin A (LatA) dampened the filamentous-growth pathway. Various PIP signaling mutants were also defective for axial budding in haploid cells, cell wall construction, or proper regulation of the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) pathway. Altogether, the study extends the roles of PI signaling to a differentiation MAPK pathway and other cellular processes.
Control of Plasma Membrane Permeability by ABC Transporters
Authors: Khakhina Svetlana , Johnson Soraya S. , Manoharlal Raman , Russo Sarah B. , Blugeon Corinne , Lemoine Sophie , Sunshine Anna B. , Dunham Maitreya J. , Cowart L. Ashley , Devaux Frédéric , Moye-Rowley W. Scott
Published: February 2015

ATP-binding cassette transporters Pdr5 and Yor1 from
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
control the asymmetric distribution of phospholipids across the plasma membrane as well as serving as ATP-dependent drug efflux pumps. Mutant strains lacking these transporter proteins were found to exhibit very different resistance phenotypes to two inhibitors of sphingolipid biosynthesis that act either late (aureobasidin A [AbA]) or early (myriocin [Myr]) in the pathway leading to production of these important plasma membrane lipids. These
pdr5Δ yor1
strains were highly AbA resistant but extremely sensitive to Myr. We provide evidence that these phenotypic changes are likely due to modulation of the plasma membrane flippase complexes, Dnf1/Lem3 and Dnf2/Lem3. Flippases act to move phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Genetic analyses indicate that
lem3
Δ mutant strains are highly AbA sensitive and Myr resistant. These phenotypes are fully epistatic to those seen in
pdr5Δ yor1
strains. Direct analysis of AbA-induced signaling demonstrated that loss of Pdr5 and Yor1 inhibited the AbA-triggered phosphorylation of the AGC kinase Ypk1 and its substrate Orm1. Microarray experiments found that a
pdr5Δ yor1
strain induced a Pdr1-dependent induction of the entire Pdr regulon. Our data support the view that Pdr5/Yor1 negatively regulate flippase function and activity of the nuclear Pdr1 transcription factor. Together, these data argue that the interaction of the ABC transporters Pdr5 and Yor1 with the Lem3-dependent flippases regulates permeability of AbA via control of plasma membrane protein function as seen for the high-affinity tryptophan permease Tat2.
Perthes disease in a 2-year-old child
Authors: Dhas Daphne , Viswanath Aparna , Latimer Mark David
Published: March 2015

Perthes disease represents a transient interruption of the blood supply to the femoral head followed by collapse and subsequent remodelling. The majority of cases present between the ages of 4 and 10 years. We report the case of a child who developed a painful right-sided limp some days after his second birthday. The limp was initially interpreted as a transient synovitis of the hip. However, when the limp persisted, further investigations revealed that he had Perthes disease.
Incidental diagnosis of liver tuberculosis in a patient with jaundice
Authors: Suthar Pokhraj Prakashchandra , Bumiya Raj G , Patel Kimmyben , Patel Ankitkumar Bipinbhai
Published: March 2015

A 30-year-old afebrile woman presented with anorexia, yellowish discolouration of the sclera and bilateral pedal oedema. Blood investigations revealed severe anaemia, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and thrombocytopaenia. Liver function tests were abnormal with raised bilirubin, alanine transaminase and prothrombin time. Chest roentgenogram was negative for tuberculosis. Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) revealed coarsened echotexture of the liver with surface nodularity. Contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed heterogeneity with surface and parenchymal nodularity scattered throughout the liver parenchyma. USG-guided liver biopsy was performed, which showed changes in granulomatous hepatitis with positive Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli. The patient was started on antituberculous drugs. After completion of the antituberculous regimen, the patient made an uneventful recovery with normal range of aspartate aminotransferase, serum albumin and prothrombin time. In summary, isolated liver tuberculosis is rare and a high index of suspicion is required in a patient from an area where tuberculosis is endemic, after excluding other common diffuse liver pathologies.
Adipofascial radial artery perforator flap interposition to treat post-traumatic radioulnar synostosis in a patient with head injury
Authors: Samson Deepak , Power Dominic , Tan Simon
Published: February 2015

We report this 47-year-old man who presented with polytrauma following a fall from a roof in March 2011. He sustained a head injury and a complex, comminuted forearm fracture. He underwent an open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture at the time of injury, but later developed a rigid type 2 diaphyseal radioulnar synostosis, with loss of forearm rotation. Synostosis excision and a radial artery perforator-based adipofascial interposition flap to prevent recurrence has resulted in a good functional outcome and no recurrence at 2.5 years follow-up.
Acute postoperative inflammatory polyarthritis associated with a lone IgM cardiolipin antibody
Authors: Chua Ignatius , Jawad Ali
Published: March 2015

While the most recognised complication after joint surgery is septic arthritis, other forms of joint pathology may occur. We present a case of postoperative polyarthritis with high inflammatory markers, which responded to a course of prednisolone. The occurrence of high IgM cardiolipin antibodies that normalised with treatment suggests that this condition is a form of transient autoimmunity.
Parietal bone osteomyelitis in melioidosis
Authors: Shetty Hariprasad Sadanand , Mallela Ajay Raj , Shastry Barkur Ananthakrishna , Acharya Vasudeva
Published: February 2015

We report a case of a 55-year-old man with uncontrolled diabetes who presented with pneumonia. During his hospital stay his clinical status worsened and he had a focal seizure. MRI showed central nervous system involvement and parietal bone osteomyelitis. As the patient's blood culture and endotracheal aspirate grewBurkholderia pseudomallei, melioidosis was diagnosed. He was treated with meropenem after failure to respond to ceftazidime. He gradually improved over a period of 4 weeks and was discharged. Early diagnosis and therapy resulted in improved outcome.
Effects of proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists on response to fidaxomicin or vancomycin in patients withClostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea
Authors: Weiss Karl , Louie Thomas , Miller Mark A , Mullane Kathleen , Crook Derrick W , Gorbach Sherwood L
Published: March 2015

Objective

It has been established that use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with an increased risk of acquiringClostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD). However, it is not known whether the use of PPIs or histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) concurrently with CDAD-targeted antibiotic treatment affects clinical response or recurrence rates.

Design

In two phase 3 trials, patients with toxin-positive CDAD were randomised to receive fidaxomicin 200 mg twice daily or vancomycin 125 mg four times daily for 10 days. Only inpatients with CDAD (due to complete medication record availability) were included in this post hoc analysis: 701 patients, of whom 446 (64%) used PPIs or H2RAs during study drug treatment or follow-up. Baseline factors that were statistically significant in univariate analyses were analysed in multivariate analyses of effects on clinical response and recurrence.

Results

Multivariate analysis showed that leukocytosis, elevated creatinine and hypoalbuminemia, but not PPI or H2RA use, were significant factors associated with poor clinical responses. Treatment group was the single significant predictor of recurrence; the probability of recurrence after fidaxomicin therapy was half that following vancomycin therapy.

Conclusions

Acid-suppressing drugs, used by nearly two-thirds of inpatients with CDAD, did not worsen clinical response or recurrence when used concurrently with fidaxomicin or vancomycin. Therefore, development of CDAD does not require discontinuation of anti-acid treatment in patients who have an indication for continuing PPI or H2RA therapy, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and risk of gastrointestinal bleed.
Efficacy of enrofloxacin for the treatment of acute clinical mastitis caused byEscherichia coliin dairy cows
Authors: Persson Y. , Katholm J. , Landin H. , Mörk M. J.
Published: February 2015

Evidence for the efficacy of antimicrobial treatments inEscherichia colimastitis is limited. The aim of this double‐blinded field trial was to investigate the efficacy of enrofloxacin compared with placebo, with a special focus on survival, in dairy cows with acute clinical mastitis caused byE. coli. Dairy cows (n=116) with acute clinical mastitis were included in the study. A clinical examination was performed and a milk sample from the affected udder quarter was collected for investigation of somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriology on the first day of treatment (day 0) and at day 3 (clinical examination only), day 22 and day 28. Data regarding culled cows, SCC and daily milk yield were retrieved from monthly milk recording each month until 180 days after treatment. All cows were treated with either enrofloxacin or placebo once a day for three days, starting at day 0. After culturing, 56 cows with confirmedE. colimastitis remained in the study. Nine (16 per cent) of them died within the first week. Enrofloxacin‐treated cows had lower SCC compared with placebo‐treated cows at first monthly milk recordings after being treated for mastitis. Treatment with enrofloxacin did not result in a higher probability of survival compared with placebo.
A practical tool for locomotion scoring in sheep: reliability when used by veterinary surgeons and sheep farmers
Authors: Angell J. W. , Cripps P. J. , Grove‐White D. H. , Duncan J. S.
Published: February 2015

A four‐point locomotion scoring tool for sheep was developed and tested on 10 general practice veterinary surgeons (VS) and 10 sheep farmers. Thirty‐four video clips of sheep displaying different locomotion scores were recorded and randomly assorted. Following a set period of training using four other video clips typical of the four locomotion scores, participants then scored the 34 test clips. The participants repeated the training and the exercise one month later. There were high levels of intraobserver repeatability: weighted κ (κW) 0.81 for VS and 0.83 for farmers. There was no difference in intraobserver repeatability between vets and farmers (Wilcoxon signed rank P=0.8). When considering the overall distribution of scores within the video package, there were high levels of interobserver repeatability: mean κW0.73 for VS and 0.72 for farmers. However, the repeatability for the individual locomotion scores was only fair to moderate. It is therefore recommended that when observations are repeated on different occasions they are made by the same observer.
In vitro assessment of aiming bias in the frontal plane during orthopaedic drilling procedures
Authors: Sparrow T. , Heller J. , Farrell M.
Published: February 2015

Drilling trials were performed using drilling boards incorporating pairs of 22 mm polyethylene tubes mounted horizontally. The tubes were premarked with 20, 0.5 mm deep notches along the centre of their upper surface representing the starting point for each drilling trial. Volunteers were instructed to drill 20 straight holes across the tube until they penetrated both walls. Kirschner wires were inserted through each of the drill holes until they made indentations into the base board. Deviation of each mark from mid‐line was measured using digital callipers. The measured values were used to calculate deviation angles to the left (negative values) or right (positive values). Trials were performed with the drill and guide held in the surgeon's line‐of‐sight (LOS) and with 300 mm offset (OFF). A systematic error (aiming bias) was identified in all individuals. Overall, left‐hander's drilling action was skewed to the left and right‐hander's drilling action was skewed to the right. Using LOS technique, mean overall bias was 2.3° (range 0°–7.7°) to the left for left‐handers and 1.5o (range 0.3°–3.1°) to the right for right‐handers. Surprisingly, aiming bias was greater for LOS than for OFF, although the difference for this comparison was not statistically significant.
Hard pine stem rusts on lodgepole pine at a site-preparation study in sub-boreal British Columbia: effects over 24 years
Authors: Reich Richard W. , Heineman Jean L. , Nemec Amanda F. Linnell , Bedford Lorne , Boateng Jacob O. , Kaffanke Torsten
Published: March 2015

Site preparation can improve lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) survival and growth; however, we lack information regarding possible interactions between treatment effects and the impacts of western gall rust (Endocronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hirats.) and comandra blister rust (Cronartium comandrae Peck). Mechanical and burning techniques examined over 24 years at a sub-boreal British Columbia site did not significantly increase rust infection rates or characteristics relative to an untreated control. Most infection occurred before age 10 years and at heights <2 m. By age 24 years, 22% and 10% of pine had sustained at least one western gall rust or comandra blister rust stem infection, respectively, but only 4% of western gall rust infected trees were dead, compared with 60% of comandra blister rust infected trees. Exploratory regression analysis of the relationship between tree volume and percent stem encirclement and infection height suggested that volume of 24-year-old pine infected with western gall rust averaged 8% less than the corresponding volume of uninfected trees. Over 24 years, estimated stand-level, rust-related volume loss was 8.4%, with the majority due to mortality from comandra blister rust. One-fifth of estimated volume loss was provisionally attributed to growth reductions among live western gall rust infected pine.
Evaluation of UAS for photographic re-identification of bowhead whales,Balaena mysticetus
Authors: Koski William R. , Gamage Gayan , Davis Andrew R. , Mathews Tony , LeBlanc Bernard , Ferguson Steven H.
Published: March 2015

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have the potential to collect high-resolution photographs of marine mammals for life-history studies without disturbing the species being studied. We conducted a pilot study near Igloolik, Nunavut, in early July 2013 to collect identification-quality photographs of bowhead whales and record the responses of the whales to overflights by an UAS. Operating under a restrictive line-of-sight permit from Transport Canada, we successfully collected high quality photographs of bowhead whales and none of the whales overflown responded to the overflights in an observable manner. If the UAS were operated under a beyond-line-of-sight permit, the UAS could be used to search for whales ahead of and to the side of the survey vessels making it more efficient to find whales to photograph. Even when operating under the restrictive line-of-sight permit, large numbers of whales could be photographed, which would provide important life-history information on the poorly studied Eastern Canada – West Greenland population.
Some refined higher type adjunction inequalities on 4-manifolds
Authors: Sung Chanyoung
Published: March 2015

We further sharpen higher type adjunction inequalities of Ozsváth and Szabó on a 4-manifold M with a non-zero Seiberg–Witten invariant for a Spin c structure 𝔰, when an embedded surface Σ ⊂ M satisfies [Σ] ⋅ [Σ] ≥ 0 and
The existence and uniqueness result for quasilinear stochastic PDEs with obstacle under weaker integrability conditions
Authors: Denis Laurent , Matoussi Anis , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2015

We prove an existence and uniqueness result for quasilinear Stochastic PDEs with obstacle (in short OSPDE) under a weaker integrability condition on the coefficient and the barrier.
Thermodynamic modelling of hydrogen migration in argillite for a deep geological radioactive waste repository: IRSN contribution to FORGE
Authors: Dymitrowska M. , Smaï F. , Bourgeat A.
Published: February 2015

The aim of this work is to provide an improved mathematical and physical description of two-phase flow in tight porous media in order to model hydrogen migration within a geological repository for radioactive waste as required to further assess the behaviour in time and space of such facilities. First, we introduce a general physical framework describing multicomponent and two-phase (liquid and gas) flow in porous media with capillary pressure curve and mass exchange between phases. Assuming thermodynamic equilibrium, mass exchange between phases is governed by thermodynamic principles which we briefly describe. This physical modelling is able to describe single-phase flow (only gas mixture or liquid solution) as well as two-phase flow (both liquid and gas phases are present). On the basis of this treatment we obtain a generalized formulation of Henry and Raoult–Kelvin laws. We show that, for a hydrogen–water mixture in repository conditions of pressure and suction, these relationships constitute an adequate mass equilibrium description. Second, we consider the mathematical formulation of the problem, which is mainly determined by the choice of primary variables. Contrary to existing approaches, we are interested in avoiding the need to switch primary variables during calculations. Indeed, such a switch is often proposed as a solution to treat phase appearance or disappearance. We will show that, in our physical framework, taking into account the capillary pressure and mass exchanges between phases, it is possible to work with universal primary variables to correctly describe gas phase appearance or disappearance. Simple numerical simulations are presented for validation as well as an application of this model to the FORGE benchmark on the cell scale together with a sensitivity analysis guided by physical considerations.
Angiotensin-(1–7) treatment mitigates right ventricular fibrosis as a distinctive feature of diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hao Pan-Pan , Yang Jian-Min , Zhang Ming-Xiang , Zhang Kai , Chen Yu-Guo , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Yun
Published: February 2015

In diabetic patients, left ventricular (LV) remodeling is highly prevalent; however, little is known about the impact of diabetes on right ventricular (RV) structure and function. We recently found that overexpression of angiotensin (ANG)-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which metabolizes ANG-II to ANG-(1–7) and ANG-I to ANG-(1–9), may improve LV remodeling in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Here, we aimed to assess whether LV remodeling and dysfunction are paralleled by RV alterations and the effects of ANG-(1–7) on RV remodeling in DCM. After 12 wk of diabetes induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, rats were treated with saline, ANG-(1–7), perindopril, ANG-(1–7) plus perindopril, ANG-(1–7) plus Mas receptor antagonist A779, or ANG-(1–7) plus ANG-II type 2 receptor antagonist PD123319 for 4 wk. RV remodeling in diabetic rats was indicated by fibrosis of the RV free wall in the absence of hypertrophy and apoptosis. Treatment with ANG-(1–7) prevented diabetes-induced RV fibrosis and dysfunction. ANG-(1–7) (800 ng·kg−1·min−1) was superior to perindopril in improving RV fibrosis. The major mechanisms involved a complex interaction of ANG-II type 2 and Mas receptors for subsequent downregulation of ACE expression and activity and ANG-II type 1 receptor expression, as well as upregulation of ACE2 expression and activity and the expression of ANG-II type 2 receptor and sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. Thus RV fibrosis and dysfunction plays a central role in DCM, and ANG-(1–7) mitigates diabetes-induced RV alterations.
Modeling of the Feed-Motor Transient Current in End Milling by Using Varying-Coefficient Model
Authors: Xiao Mi , Wen Long , Li Xi , Gao Liang
Published: March 2015

In order to ensure the stability of the machining process, it is vital to control the machining condition during the milling process. While the feed-motor current is related to many physical variables, such as the cutting force and tool wear, we can indicate it as the key variables to monitoring the conditions of the milling process. A predictive model of the feed-motor current amplitude is established in this paper. The change regulation of the transient current amplitude during the milling process is investigated, and the effect of the spindle speed on the transient current amplitude is studied as well. Since the transient current amplitude is time-varying, the predictive model is a typical panel data type. In this case, the varying-coefficient model (VCM), a potential soft computing method, is applied to solve this predictive model. Then several experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of VCM method. Results show that the predicted values match the experimental value well, and the correctness of the predictive model for transient current amplitude is also validated.
Effects of Levothyroxine Replacement Therapy on Parameters of Metabolic Syndrome and Atherosclerosis in Hypothyroid Patients: A Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: Gluvic Zoran , Sudar Emina , Tica Jelena , Jovanovic Aleksandra , Zafirovic Sonja , Tomasevic Ratko , Isenovic Esma R.
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy during three months on some parameters of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in patients with increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level. This study included a group of 30 female patients with TSH level >4 mIU/L and 15 matched healthy controls. Intima media complex thickness (IMCT) and peak systolic flow velocity (PSFV) of superficial femoral artery were determined by Color Doppler scan. In hypothyroid subjects, BMI, SBP, DBP, and TSH were significantly increased versus controls and decreased after LT4 administration. FT4 was significantly lower in hypothyroid subjects compared with controls and significantly higher by treatment. TC, Tg, HDL-C, and LDL-C were similar to controls at baseline but TC and LDL-C were significantly decreased by LH4 treatment. IMCT was significantly increased versus controls at baseline and significantly reduced by treatment. PSFV was similar to controls at baseline and significantly decreased on treatment. In this study, we have demonstrated the effects of LT4 replacement therapy during three months of treatment on correction of risk factors of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.
Comparative Myocardial Deformation in 3 Myocardial Layers in Mice by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography
Authors: Tee Nicole , Gu Yacui , Murni  , Shim Winston
Published: March 2015

Background. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) using dedicated high-resolution ultrasound is a relatively new technique that is useful in assessing myocardial deformation in 3 myocardial layers in small animals. However, comparative studies of STE parameters acquired from murine are limited.Methods. A high-resolution rodent ultrasound machine (VSI Vevo 2100) and a clinically validated ultrasound machine (GE Vivid 7) were used to consecutively acquire echocardiography images from standardized parasternal long axis and short axis at midpapillary muscle level from 13 BALB/c mice. Speckle tracking strain (longitudinal, circumferential, and radial) from endocardial, myocardial, and epicardial layers was analyzed using vendor-specific offline analysis software.Results. Intersystem differences were not statistically significant in the global peak longitudinal strain (−16.8 ± 1.7% versus −18.7 ± 3.1%) and radial strain (46.8 ± 14.2% versus 41.0 ± 9.5%), except in the global peak circumferential strain (−16.9 ± 3.1% versus 27.0 ± 5.2%,P<0.05). This was corroborated by Bland Altman analysis that revealed a weak agreement in circumferential strain (mean bias ± 1.96 SD of −10.12 ± 6.06%) between endocardium and midmyocardium. However, a good agreement was observed in longitudinal strain between midmyocardium/endocardium (mean bias ± 1.96 SD of −1.88 ± 3.93%) and between midmyocardium/epicardium (mean bias ± 1.96 SD of 3.63 ± 3.91%). Radial strain (mean bias ± 1.96 SD of −5.84 ± 17.70%) had wide limits of agreement between the two systems that indicated an increased variability.Conclusions. Our study shows that there is good reproducibility and agreement in longitudinal deformation of the 3 myocardial layers between the two ultrasound systems. Directional deformation gradients at endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium observed in mice were consistent to those reported in human subjects, thus attesting the clinical relevance of STE findings in murine cardiovascular disease models.
In VitroandIn VivoAntileishmanial Effects ofPistacia khinjuk against Leishmania tropicaandLeishmania major
Authors: Ezatpour Behrouz , Saedi Dezaki Ebrahim , Mahmoudvand Hossein , Azadpour Mojgan , Ezzatkhah Fatemeh
Published: February 2015

The present study aims to evaluate thein vitroandin vivoantileishmanial activities ofPistacia khinjukStocks (Anacardiaceae) alcoholic extract and to compare its efficacy with a reference drug, meglumine antimoniate (MA, Glucantime), againstLeishmania tropicaandLeishmania major. This extract (0–100 µg/mL) was evaluatedin vitroagainst promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms ofL. tropica(MRHO/IR/75/ER) and then tested on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in male BALB/c mice withL. majorto reproduce the antileishmanial activity topically.In vitro,P. khinjukextract significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote (IC50 58.6±3.2 µg/mL) and intramacrophage amastigotes (37.3±2.5 µg/mL) ofL. tropicaas a dose-dependent response. In thein vivoassay, after 30 days of treatment, 75% recovery was observed in the infected mice treated with 30% extract. After treatment of the subgroups with the concentration of 20 and 30% ofP. khinjukextract, mean diameter of lesions was significantly (P<0.05) reduced. To conclude, the present investigation demonstrated thatP. veraextract hadin vitroandin vivoeffectiveness againstL. major. Obtained findings also provide the scientific evidences that natural plants could be used in the traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of CL.
Evaluation of the Clinical Impact of ISO 4049 in Comparison with Miniflexural Test on Mechanical Performances of Resin Based Composite
Authors: Calabrese Luigi , Fabiano Francesca , Bonaccorsi Lucio Maria , Fabiano Valerio , Borsellino Chiara
Published: February 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different specimens dimensions on the mechanical properties of a commercial microfilled resin composite by using a modified ISO 4049 standard protocol, that generally provides specimen dimensions of 25 mm length×2 mm width×2 mm height; these standard dimensions are not clinically realistic considering the teeth diameter and length average. Furthermore, the overlapping irradiations required lead to specimens that are not homogeneous with the presence of some flaws due to packaging steps. For this reason, a miniflexural test was employed in this work both to simulate clinically realistic dimensions and to concentrate fewer defects. The flexural tests were performed at varying span length, in the range between 18.5 mm as stated by the ISO 4049 flexural test (IFT) and 10.5 mm according to the miniflexural test (MFT), at the increasing of layers with a 1 mm buildup multilayering technique. The results evidenced the impact of specimen dimensions on mechanical performances and consequently stability of resin-based composite with the formation of an asymmetrical structure which possesses higher stiffness and strength at increasing layering steps.
Flexible Mode Control of Grid Connected Wind Energy Conversion System Using Wavelet
Authors: Jain Bhavna , Singh Sameer , Jain Shailendra , Nema R. K.
Published: February 2015

Small wind turbine systems offer services to critical loads during grid faults and also connected back to grid in normal condition. The connection of a wind energy conversion system to the grid requires a robust phase locked loop (PLL) and continuous monitoring of the grid conditions such as overvoltage, undervoltage, overfrequency, underfrequency, and grid outages. This paper describes a flexible control operation to operate a small wind turbine in both stand-alone mode via planned islanding and grid connected mode as well. In particular, a proper monitoring and control algorithm is required for transition between the modes. A wavelet based energy function is used for detection of grid disturbances as well as recovery of grid so that transition between the modes is made. To obtain good power quality LCL filter is used to reduce ripples. PLL is used for synchronization whenever mode changes from stand-alone to grid connected. Simulation results from a 10 kW wind energy conversion system are included to show the usefulness of the proposed methods. The control method is tested by generated gate pulses for single phase bridge inverter using field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Effect of the Unsaturation of the Hydrocarbon Chain of Fatty-Amides on theCO2Corrosion of Carbon Steel Using EIS and Real-Time Corrosion Measurement
Authors: Porcayo-Calderon J. , Regla I. , Vazquez-Velez E. , Martinez de la Escalera L. M. , Canto J. , Casales-Diaz M.
Published: March 2015

Fatty-amide derivatives were evaluated to study the effect of the double bonds into the hydrocarbon chain (C18) on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and real-time corrosion measurements were used to evaluate the inhibition mechanism of the fatty-amides on carbon steel in CO2-saturated (3% NaCl + 10% diesel) emulsion at 50°C. EIS results demonstrated that the unsaturation present into the hydrocarbon chain contributes to the efficiency of fatty-amides, because they can be adsorbed on the metal surface by a flat-adsorption process reducing the presence of active sites and blocking the corrosion process and preventing the diffusion of corrosive species, such as H2O, H+, Cl−, andHCO3-. Real-time corrosion measurements also indicated that the effectiveness of the inhibitors is dependent on the unsaturation into the hydrocarbon chain, being also a good technique to determine the stability of the adsorption process of the inhibitors.
Comparative Analysis of the Effect of Organoclay, Boron Nitride, and Fluoropolymer on the Rheology and Instabilities in the Extrusion of High Density Polyethylene
Authors: Adesina A. A. , Nasser M. S. , Hussein I. A.
Published: February 2015

The effect of different processing additives on the extrusion instabilities of high density polyethylene (HDPE) was investigated. The concentration of each processing additive was fixed at 0.05 wt%. Organoclay, boron nitride, and fluoropolymer reduced transient shear and extensional viscosities of HDPE melt. Drop in extrusion pressure occurred during the extrusion experiment. The initial loss of glossiness in HDPE was restored with the addition of these additives. However, the fluoropolymer did not succeed in eliminating the stick-slip fracture. Despite the inclusion of the processing additives, gross-melt fracture in HDPE reappeared at apparent shear rate of 141 s−1. Both moment and distortion factor methods of analyses were employed and their findings support the observed visual trends of the extrudate surface. The quantifying tools indicated that combined organoclay and fluoropolymer reduced the pressure fluctuations and its performance surpassed that of the individual additives.
Feng’s First Integral Method Applied to the ZKBBM and the Generalized Fisher Space-Time Fractional Equations
Authors: Yépez-Martínez Huitzilin , Sosa Ivan O. , Reyes Juan M.
Published: March 2015

The fractional derivatives in the sense of the modified Riemann-Liouville derivative and Feng’s first integral method are employed to obtain the exact solutions of the nonlinear space-time fractional ZKBBM equation and the nonlinear space-time fractional generalized Fisher equation. The power of this manageable method is presented by applying it to the above equations. Our approach provides first integrals in polynomial form with high accuracy. Exact analytical solutions are obtained through establishing first integrals. The present method is efficient and reliable, and it can be used as an alternative to establish new solutions of different types of fractional differential equations applied in mathematical physics.
The Chemistry of Bioconjugation in Nanoparticles-Based Drug Delivery System
Authors: Werengowska-Ciećwierz Karolina , Wiśniewski Marek , Terzyk Artur P. , Furmaniak Sylwester
Published: February 2015

Nanomedicine is, generally, the application of nanotechnology to medicine. The term nanomedicine includes monitoring, construction of novel drug delivery systems, and any possible future applications of nanotechnology and nanovaccinology. In this review, the most important ligand-nanocarrier and drug-nanocarrier bioconjugations are described. The detailed characterizations of covalently formed bonds between targeted ligand and nanocarrier, including amide, thioether, disulfide, acetyl-hydrazone and polycyclic groups, are described. Also, the coupling of small elements and heteroatoms in the form of R-X-R the “click chemistry” groups is shown. Physical adsorption and chemical bonding of drug to nanocarrier surface involving drug on the internal or external surfaces of nanocarriers are described throughout possibility of the formation of the above-mentioned functionalities. Moreover, the most popular nanostructures (liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and nanohorns) are characterized as nanocarriers. Building of modern drug carrier is a new method which could be effectively applied in targeted anticancer therapy.
Fault Detection Based on Tracking Differentiator Applied on the Suspension System of Maglev Train
Authors: Zhang Hehong , Xie Yunde , Long Zhiqiang
Published: March 2015

A fault detection method based on the optimized tracking differentiator is introduced. It is applied on the acceleration sensor of the suspension system of maglev train. It detects the fault of the acceleration sensor by comparing the acceleration integral signal with the speed signal obtained by the optimized tracking differentiator. This paper optimizes the control variable when the states locate within or beyond the two-step reachable region to improve the performance of the approximate linear discrete tracking differentiator. Fault-tolerant control has been conducted by feedback based on the speed signal acquired from the optimized tracking differentiator when the acceleration sensor fails. The simulation and experiment results show the practical usefulness of the presented method.
Survival of AIDS Patients Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine in Rural Central China: A Retrospective Cohort Study, 2004–2012
Authors: Jin Yantao , Wang Xin , Li Zhengwei , Jiang Ziqiang , Guo Huijun , Liu Zhibin , Xu Liran
Published: March 2015

This study aimed to explore the survival of AIDS patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in addition to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and of AIDS patients treated with cART. Data of patients taking cART between 30 October 2003 and 30 October 2004 in the National TCM HIV Treatment Trial Program area were retrospectively analyzed, with follow-up from 30 October 2004 to 30 October 2012. The log-rank test was used to compare survival between the two groups. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine hazard ratios to identify prognostic factors. The study included 521 patients in the TCM + cART group followed up for 3548 person-years and 375 patients in the cART group followed up for 2523 person-years. Mortality rates were 3.2/100 person-years and 4.2/100 person-years in the TCM + cART and cART groups, respectively. The difference in survival was significant. After adjusting for explanatory variables, the mortality rate of AIDS patients in the cART group was 1.7 times higher than in the TCM + cART group. Male sex, older age, little education, and lower CD4 cell count were risk factors for mortality. TCM intervention in addition to cART could increase survival of AIDS patients.
Validation of New and Existing Decision Rules for the Estimation of Beat-to-Beat Pulse Transit Time
Authors: Zhou Xiaolin , Peng Rongchao , Ding Hongxia , Zhang Ningling , Li Pan
Published: March 2015

Pulse transit time (PTT) is a pivotal marker of vascular stiffness. Because the actual PTT duration in vivo is unknown and the complicated variation in waveform may occur, the robust determination of characteristic point is still a very difficult task in the PTT estimation. Our objective is to devise a method for real-time estimation of PTT duration in pulse wave. It has an ability to reduce the interference caused by both high- and low-frequency noise. The reproducibility and performance of these methods are assessed on both artificial and clinical pulse data. Artificial data are generated to investigate the reproducibility with various signal-to-noise ratios. For all artificial data, the mean biases obtained from all methods are less than 1 ms; collectively, this newly proposed method has minimum standard deviation (SD, <1 ms). A set of data from 33 participants together with the synchronously recorded continuous blood pressure data are used to investigate the correlation coefficient (CC). The statistical analysis shows that our method has maximum values of mean CC (0.5231), sum of CCs (17.26), and median CC (0.5695) and has the minimum SD of CCs (0.1943). Overall, the test results in this study indicate that the newly developed method has advantages over traditional decision rules for the PTT measurement.
Prospective Evaluation of Cases of Discharge against Medical Advice in Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Muftau Jimoh Bioku , Anthonia Obalim-Chris , Chinwe Igwilo , Oluwafemi Adewumi , Ganiyu Aremu , Haroun Adamu , Chinwe Eziechila , Joshua Aiyekomogbon
Published: March 2015

Background. Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a global clinical phenomenon contributing significantly to adverse patients’ outcome. Literatures abound on self‐discharges in specific medical subpopulations. However, multidisciplinary studies on this subject in our region are few. Aim. To prospectively evaluate cases of DAMA in a wholesale multidisciplinary perspective at Federal Staff Medical Centre, Abuja, and suggest strategies to reduce it. Patients and Methods. All consecutive patients who DAMA from our medical centre between June 2013 and May 2014 were included in the study. Data harvested from the standard proforma were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 19.0. Results. We recorded an overall DAMA rate of 2.1%. The majority of the patients were paediatric cases (n = 63, 44.6%) while closed long bone fractures represented the leading diagnosis (n = 35, 24.8%). The most commonly cited reasons for leaving the hospital were financial constraints (n = 46, 32.6%) and seeking alternative therapy (n = 25, 17.7%). Conclusion. The DAMA rate in our study is comparable to some urban hospitals elsewhere. However, the leading reasons for this phenomenon are unacceptable in the current medical best practice. Thus, strengthening the Health Insurance Scheme, strict control of traditional medical practices, and focused health education are recommended strategies to reduce DAMA.