bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A method to facilitate and monitor expression of exogenous genes in the rat kidney using plasmid and viral vectors
Authors: Corridon Peter R. , Rhodes George J. , Leonard Ellen C. , Basile David P. , Gattone Vincent H. , Bacallao Robert L. , Atkinson Simon J.
Published: March 2013

Gene therapy has been proposed as a novel alternative to treat kidney disease. This goal has been hindered by the inability to reliably deliver transgenes to target cells throughout the kidney, while minimizing injury. Since hydrodynamic forces have previously shown promising results, we optimized this approach and designed a method that utilizes retrograde renal vein injections to facilitate transgene expression in rat kidneys. We show, using intravital fluorescence two-photon microscopy, that fluorescent albumin and dextrans injected into the renal vein under defined conditions of hydrodynamic pressure distribute broadly throughout the kidney in live animals. We found injection parameters that result in no kidney injury as determined by intravital microscopy, histology, and serum creatinine measurements. Plasmids, baculovirus, and adenovirus vectors, designed to express EGFP, EGFP-actin, EGFP-occludin, EGFP-tubulin, tdTomato-H2B, or RFP-actin fusion proteins, were introduced into live kidneys in a similar fashion. Gene expression was then observed in live and ex vivo kidneys using two-photon imaging and confocal laser scanning microscopy. We recorded widespread fluorescent protein expression lasting more than 1 mo after introduction of transgenes. Plasmid and adenovirus vectors provided gene transfer efficiencies ranging from 50 to 90%, compared with 10–50% using baculovirus. Using plasmids and adenovirus, fluorescent protein expression was observed 1) in proximal and distal tubule epithelial cells; 2) within glomeruli; and 3) within the peritubular interstitium. In isolated kidneys, fluorescent protein expression was observed from the cortex to the papilla. These results provide a robust approach for gene delivery and the study of protein function in live mammal kidneys.
Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons exhibit type 1 phase-response curves and type 1 excitability
Authors: Wang Shuoguo , Musharoff Maximilian M. , Canavier Carmen C. , Gasparini Sonia
Published: March 2013

Phase-resetting properties of neurons determine their functionality as integrators (type 1) vs. resonators (type 2), as well as their synchronization tendencies. We introduce a novel, bias-correction method to estimate the infinitesimal phase-resetting curve (iPRC) and confirm type 1 excitability in hippocampal pyramidal CA1 neurons in vitro by two independent methods. First, PRCs evoked using depolarizing pulses consisted only of advances, consistent with type 1. Second, the frequency/current (f/I) plots showed no minimum frequency, again consistent with type 1. Type 1 excitability was also confirmed by the absence of a resonant peak in the interspike interval histograms derived from the f/I data. The PRC bias correction assumed that the distribution of noisy phase resetting is truncated, because an input cannot advance a spike to a point in time before the input (the causal limit) and successfully removed the statistical bias for delays in the null PRC in response to zero-magnitude input by computing the phase resetting as the mean of the untruncated distribution. The PRC for depolarization peaked at late phases and decreased to zero by the end of the cycle, whereas delays observed in response to hyperpolarization increased monotonically. The bias correction did not affect this difference in shape, which was due instead to the causal limit obscuring the iPRC for depolarization but not hyperpolarization. Our results suggest that weak periodic hyperpolarizing drive can theoretically entrain CA1 pyramidal neurons at any phase but that strong excitation will preferentially phase-lock them with zero time lag.
Development of a Neural Network Simulator for Studying the Constitutive Behavior of Structural Composite Materials
Authors: Na Hyuntae , Lee Seung-Yub , Üstündag Ersan , Ross Sarah L. , Ceylan Halil , Gopalakrishnan Kasthurirangan
Published: March 2013

This paper introduces a recent development and application of a noncommercial artificial neural network (ANN) simulator with graphical user interface (GUI) to assist in rapid data modeling and analysis in the engineering diffraction field. The real-time network training/simulation monitoring tool has been customized for the study of constitutive behavior of engineering materials, and it has improved data mining and forecasting capabilities of neural networks. This software has been used to train and simulate the finite element modeling (FEM) data for a fiber composite system, both forward and inverse. The forward neural network simulation precisely reduplicates FEM results several orders of magnitude faster than the slow original FEM. The inverse simulation is more challenging; yet, material parameters can be meaningfully determined with the aid of parameter sensitivity information. The simulator GUI also reveals that output node size for materials parameter and input normalization method for strain data are critical train conditions in inverse network. The successful use of ANN modeling and simulator GUI has been validated through engineering neutron diffraction experimental data by determining constitutive laws of the real fiber composite materials via a mathematically rigorous and physically meaningful parameter search process, once the networks are successfully trained from the FEM database.
Synchronization of Discontinuous Neural Networks with Delays via Adaptive Control
Authors: Yang Xinsong , Cao Jinde
Published: March 2013

The drive-response synchronization of delayed neural networks with discontinuous activation functions is investigated via adaptive control. The synchronization of this paper means that the synchronization error approaches to zero for almost all time as time goes to infinity. The discontinuous activation functions are assumed to be monotone increasing which can be unbounded. Due to the mild condition on the discontinuous activations, adaptive control technique is utilized to control the response system. Under the framework of Filippov solution, by using Lyapunov function and chain rule of differential inclusion, rigorous proofs are given to show that adaptive control can realize complete synchronization of the considered model. The results of this paper are also applicable to continuous neural networks, since continuous function is a special case of discontinuous function. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the theoretical results. Moreover, when there are parameter mismatches between drive and response neural networks with discontinuous activations, numerical example is also presented to demonstrate the complete synchronization by using discontinuous adaptive control.
Blocking Type I Interferon Signaling Rescues Lymphocytes from Oxidative Stress, Exhaustion, and Apoptosis in a Streptozotocin-Induced Mouse Model of Type I Diabetes
Authors: Ibrahim Hany M. , El-Elaimy Ibrahim A. , Saad Eldien Heba M. , Badr Badr Mohamed , Rabah Danny M. , Badr Gamal
Published: March 2013

Elevated levels of type I interferon (IFN) during type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) are associated with a defective immune response. In the present study, we investigated whether blocking type I IFN signaling during streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced T1D in mice improves lymphocyte proliferation and escape from continuous apoptosis. Three groups of mice were examined: diabetic mice, type I IFN signaling-incompetent diabetic mice, and control nondiabetic mice. We first found that diabetes induction was accompanied by an elevation in the plasma levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroperoxide, malondialdehyde (MDN), and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and CXCL10. Blocking type 1 IFN signaling in diabetic mice significantly decreased the levels of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, lymphocytes from diabetic mice exhibited a marked reduction in their proliferative capacity, increased apoptosis, upregulation of the exhaustion marker PD-1, and aberrant phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT2, AKT and IκB-α. Interestingly, following the blocking of type I IFN signaling in diabetic mice, the lymphocytes exhibited restored proliferative capacity, decreased apoptosis, normal expression of PD-1, and normal phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT2, AKT and IκB-α. Our data suggest that elevated levels of type I IFN during T1D trigger lymphocyte exhaustion and a defective lymphocyte-medicated immune response.
Clinical Trials in Cardiac Arrest and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Lessons from the Past and Ideas for the Future
Authors: Frontera Jennifer A.
Published: March 2013

Introduction. Elevated intracranial pressure that occurs at the time of cerebral aneurysm rupture can lead to inadequate cerebral blood flow, which may mimic the brain injury cascade that occurs after cardiac arrest. Insights from clinical trials in cardiac arrest may provide direction for future early brain injury research after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Methods. A search of PubMed from 1980 to 2012 and clinicaltrials.gov was conducted to identify published and ongoing randomized clinical trials in aneurysmal SAH and cardiac arrest patients. Only English, adult, human studies with primary or secondary mortality or neurological outcomes were included.Results. A total of 142 trials (82 SAH, 60 cardiac arrest) met the review criteria (103 published, 39 ongoing). The majority of both published and ongoing SAH trials focus on delayed secondary insults after SAH (70%), while 100% of cardiac arrest trials tested interventions within the first few hours of ictus. No SAH trials addressing treatment of early brain injury were identified. Twenty-nine percent of SAH and 13% of cardiac arrest trials showed outcome benefit, though there is no overlap mechanistically.Conclusions. Clinical trials in SAH assessing acute brain injury are warranted and successful interventions identified by the cardiac arrest literature may be reasonable targets of the study.
Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of MG132 by Activating Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway on Oxidative Stress-Induced Cardiovascular and Renal Injury
Authors: Cui Wenpeng , Bai Yang , Luo Ping , Miao Lining , Cai Lu
Published: March 2013

So far, cardiovascular and renal diseases have brought us not only huge economic burden but also serious society problems. Since effective therapeutic strategies are still limited, to find new methods for the prevention or therapy of these diseases is important. Oxidative stress has been found to play a critical role in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular and renal diseases. In addition, activation of nuclear-factor-E2-related-factor-2- (Nrf2-) antioxidant-responsive element (ARE) signaling pathway protects cells and tissues from oxidative damage. As a proteasomal inhibitor, MG132 was reported to activate Nrf2 expression and function, which was accompanied with significant preventive and/or therapeutic effect on cardiovascular and renal diseases under most conditions; therefore, MG132 seems to be a potentially effective drug to be used in the prevention of oxidative damage. In this paper, we will summarize the information available regarding the effect of MG132 on oxidative stress-induced cardiovascular and renal damage, especially through Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.
On Asymptotically Lacunary Statistical Equivalent Set Sequences
Authors: Ulusu Uğur , Nuray Fatih
Published: March 2013

This paper presents three definitions which are natural combination of the definitions of asymptotic equivalence, statistical convergence, lacunary statistical convergence, and Wijsman convergence. In addition, we also present asymptotically equivalent (Wijsman sense) analogs of theorems in Patterson and Savaş (2006).
Dimensions of Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill in the General Population Stability and Change over Time at Urban and Rural Sites
Authors: Sørensen Tom , Sørensen Andreas
Published: March 2013

Items measuring attitudes toward the mentally ill can be limited in relevance to a particular period or place. The main objective of the study was to provide evidence toward a questionnaire that was short and psychometrically stable over time and geography, and that could be used within comprehensive mental health surveys of general populations. Four rural samples, Lofoten 1983 (n=470), 1990 (n=947), 2000 (n=864), and Valdres 2010 (n=772), and two urban samples, Oslo 1990 (n=948) and 2000 (n=467), were used to test this. The questionnaire was self-administered with fixed questions and response alternatives. Using the three Lofoten and the two Oslo samples, the stability of the factor analytic structure of 19 attitude items was established. In all analyses, there was a clear leveling off after three factors. The 13 highest loading items on these three factors were used in a new rural region, Valdres, in 2010. The three established factors/dimensions, named Distance, Demands, and Positive, seemed to be reasonably stable within a variety of Norwegian samples. On the other hand, the analyses were different enough to recommend researchers and politicians to be careful when comparing absolute levels of the suggested indexes across different locations and at different points in time.
Reversible Audiometric Threshold Changes in Children with Uncomplicated Malaria
Authors: Adjei George O. , Goka Bamenla Q. , Kitcher Emmanuel , Rodrigues Onike P. , Badoe Ebenezer , Kurtzhals Jorgen A. L.
Published: March 2013

Background.Plasmodium falciparummalaria, as well as certain antimalarial drugs, is associated with hearing impairment in adults. There is little information, however, on the extent, if any, of this effect in children, and the evidence linking artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) with hearing is inconclusive.Methods. Audiometry was conducted in children with uncomplicated malaria treated with artesunate-amodiaquine (n=37), artemether-lumefantrine (n=35), or amodiaquine (n=8) in Accra, Ghana. Audiometry was repeated 3, 7, and 28 days later and after 9 months. Audiometric thresholds were compared with those of a control group of children (n=57) from the same area.Findings. During the acute stage, hearing threshold levels of treated children were significantly elevated compared with controls (P<0.001). The threshold elevations persisted up to 28 days, but no differences in hearing thresholds were evident between treated children and controls after 9 months. The hearing thresholds of children treated with the two ACT regimens were comparable but lower than those of amodiaquine-treated children during acute illness.Interpretation. Malaria is the likely cause of the elevated hearing threshold levels during the acute illness, a finding that has implications for learning and development in areas of intense transmission, as well as for evaluating potential ototoxicity of new antimalarial drugs.
Porous Titanium Granules and Blood for Bone Regeneration around Dental Implants: Report of Four Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Thor Andreas
Published: March 2013

A regenerative procedure treating a local osseous defect around titanium dental implant using porous titanium granules is described in four patients. Porous titanium granules represent, for maxillofacial surgery, a new alternative in augmenting osseous defects. Its earliest application was in the field of orthopedics for stabilization of tibia plateau fractures and for reoperations in prosthetic fixation of femoral stems. There is emerging scientific evidence regarding titanium for its potential use in the maxillofacial area and porous titanium granules are now commercially available. The scientific background for the osteoconductive use of porous titanium granules is elucidated in this paper and the supporting literature is reviewed.
The Consequences of Chorioamnionitis: Preterm Birth and Effects on Development
Authors: Galinsky Robert , Polglase Graeme R. , Hooper Stuart B. , Black M. Jane , Moss Timothy J. M.
Published: March 2013

Preterm birth is a major cause of perinatal mortality and long-term morbidity. Chorioamnionitis is a common cause of preterm birth. Clinical chorioamnionitis, characterised by maternal fever, leukocytosis, tachycardia, uterine tenderness, and preterm rupture of membranes, is less common than subclinical/histologic chorioamnionitis, which is asymptomatic and defined by inflammation of the chorion, amnion, and placenta. Chorioamnionitis is often associated with a fetal inflammatory response. The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is defined by increased systemic inflammatory cytokine concentrations, funisitis, and fetal vasculitis. Clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that FIRS leads to poor cardiorespiratory, neurological, and renal outcomes. These observations are further supported by experimental studies that have improved our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these outcomes. This paper outlines clinical and experimental studies that have improved our current understanding of the mechanisms responsible for chorioamnionitis-induced preterm birth and explores the cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying poor cardiorespiratory, neural, retinal, and renal outcomes observed in preterm infants exposed to chorioamnionitis.
Cytokine Levels in the Serum of Healthy Subjects
Authors: Kleiner Giulio , Marcuzzi Annalisa , Zanin Valentina , Monasta Lorenzo , Zauli Giorgio
Published: March 2013

Growing knowledge about the cytokine network response has led to a better comprehension of mechanisms of pathologies and to the development of new treatments with biological drugs, able to block specific molecules of the immune response. Indeed, when the cytokine production is deregulated, diseases often occur. The understanding of the physiological mechanism of the cytokine network would be useful to better comprehend pathological conditions. Moreover, since the immune system and response change their properties with development, differences in patients' age should be taken into account, both in physiological and in pathological conditions. In this study, we analyzed the profile of 48 cytokines and chemokines in the serum of healthy subjects, comparing adults (≥18 years) with young children and children (1–6 and 7–17 years). We found that a certain number of cytokines were not being produced in healthy subjects; others showed a constant serum level amongst the groups. Certain cytokines exhibited a downward or an upward trend with increasing age. The remaining cytokines were up- or downregulated in the group of the children with respect to the other groups. In conclusion, we drew some kinds of guidelines about the physiological production of cytokines and chemokines, underling the difference caused by aging.
Modulation of Tumor Immunity by Soluble and Membrane-Bound Molecules at the Immunological Synapse
Authors: González Pablo A. , Carreño Leandro J. , Céspedes Pablo F. , Bueno Susan M. , Riedel Claudia A. , Kalergis Alexis M.
Published: March 2013

To circumvent pathology caused by infectious microbes and tumor growth, the host immune system must constantly clear harmful microorganisms and potentially malignant transformed cells. This task is accomplished in part by T-cells, which can directly kill infected or tumorigenic cells. A crucial event determining the recognition and elimination of detrimental cells is antigen recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR) expressed on the surface of T cells. Upon binding of the TCR to cognate peptide-MHC complexes presented on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs), a specialized supramolecular structure known as the immunological synapse (IS) assembles at the T cell-APC interface. Such a structure involves massive redistribution of membrane proteins, including TCR/pMHC complexes, modulatory receptor pairs, and adhesion molecules. Furthermore, assembly of the immunological synapse leads to intracellular events that modulate and define the magnitude and characteristics of the T cell response. Here, we discuss recent literature on the regulation and assembly of IS and the mechanisms evolved by tumors to modulate its function to escape T cell cytotoxicity, as well as novel strategies targeting the IS for therapy.
The ABCs of Experimental Evolution
Authors: Abdo Zaid , Stein Mathew , Wojtowicz Andrzej , Pepin Kim M.
Published: March 2013

Microbial evolution is complex and is influenced by many sources of variation. Experimental evolution is no exception, although it is more controlled, easily replicated, and typically devoid of interactions between species. Mathematical modeling of the evolutionary process can help in understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive outcome of such experiments. These models can be complex and parameter rich, limiting their feasibility for statistical inference. In this paper, we introduce the use of Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) as a tool for statistical inference in the study of experimental evolution. ABC is a fast and simple method for fitting complex models to data. We utilize this method, coupled with a mechanistic model of experimental evolution, to study the evolution process of bacteriophage ϕX174 under benign selection pressure. Our results highlight three mutation-selection scenarios that could explain this process: high mutation/low selection pressure, low mutation/high selection pressure, and low mutation/low selection pressure, with posterior support of 19%, 9.5%, and 71.5% for each of these scenarios, respectively. Sequence data support the first candidate. Though surprising, this scenario was not improbable based on our analysis.
Infiltration of Proinflammatory M1 Macrophages into the Outer Retina Precedes Damage in a Mouse Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Cruz-Guilloty Fernando , Saeed Ali M. , Echegaray Jose J. , Duffort Stephanie , Ballmick Asha , Tan Yaohong , Betancourt Michel , Viteri Eduardo , Ramkhellawan Ghansham C. , Ewald Eric , Feuer William , Huang DeQiang , Wen Rong , Hong Li , Wang Hua , Laird James M. , Sene Abdoulaye , Apte Rajendra S. , Salomon Robert G. , Hollyfield Joe G. , Perez Victor L.
Published: March 2013

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in the developed world. Oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in AMD, but precise mechanisms remain poorly defined. Carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) is an AMD-associated lipid peroxidation product. We previously demonstrated that mice immunized with CEP-modified albumin developed AMD-like degenerative changes in the outer retina. Here, we examined the kinetics of lesion development in immunized mice and the presence of macrophages within the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM), between the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor outer segments. We observed a significant and time-dependent increase in the number of macrophages in immunized mice relative to young age-matched controls prior to overt pathology. These changes were more pronounced in BALB/c mice than in C57BL/6 mice. Importantly, IPM-infiltrating macrophages were polarized toward the M1 phenotype but only in immunized mice. Moreover, when Ccr2-deficient mice were immunized, macrophages were not present in the IPM and no retinal lesions were observed, suggesting a deleterious role for these cells in our model. This work provides mechanistic evidence linking immune responses against oxidative damage with the presence of proinflammatory macrophages at sites of future AMD and experimentally demonstrates that manipulating immunity may be a target for modulating the development of AMD.
Simple Method of Forest Type Inventory by Joining Low Resolution Remote Sensing of Vegetation Indices with Spatial Information from the Corine Land Cover Database
Authors: Zawadzki Jarosław J. , Przeździecki Karol , Szymankiewicz Karol , Marczewski Wojciech
Published: March 2013

The paper presents a simple, inexpensive, and effective method allowing for frequent classification of the forest type coniferous, deciduous, and mixed using medium and low resolution remote sensing images. The proposed method is based on the set of vegetation indices such as NDVI, LAI, FAPAR, and LAIxCab calculated from MODIS and MERIS satellite data. The method uses seasonal changes of the above-mentioned vegetation indices within annual cycle. The main idea was to collect and carefully analyse seasonal changes in vegetation indices in a given ecosystem type proven by a Corine Land Cover, 2006 database, and to compare them afterwards with those of a particular forest under study. Each type of a forest ecosystem has its own specific dynamics of development, thus enabling recognition of the type by comparing temporal changes of the proposed measures based on vegetation indices. Temporal measures of changes were created for selected reference stands by the ratios of particular indices determined in July and April, which are the middle and the beginning of a vegetation season in Poland, respectively. The analysed vegetation indices were additionally provided with chosen statistical measures. The statistical analyses were carried out for Poland’s main national parks which represent the natural stands of temperate climate.
Some New Explicit Values of Quotients of Theta-Function ϕ(q) and Applications to Ramanujan's Continued Fractions
Authors: Saikia Nipen
Published: March 2013

We find some new explicit values of the parameter hk,n for positive real numbers k and n involving Ramanujan's theta-function ϕ(q) and give some applications of these new values for the explicit evaluations of Ramanujan's continued fractions. In the process, we also establish two new identities for ϕ(q) by using modular equations.
Pituitary Adenoma Nitroproteomics: Current Status and Perspectives
Authors: Zhan Xianquan , Wang Xiaowei , Desiderio Dominic M.
Published: March 2013

Oxidative stress is extensively associated with tumorigenesis. A series of studies on stable tyrosine nitration as a marker of oxidative damage were performed in human pituitary and adenoma. This paper reviews published research on the mass spectrometry characteristics of nitropeptides and nitroproteomics of pituitary controls and adenomas. The methodology used for nitroproteomics, the current status of human pituitary nitroproteomics studies, and the future perspectives are reviewed. Enrichment of those low-abundance endogenous nitroproteins from human tissues or body fluid samples is the first important step for nitroproteomics studies. Mass spectrometry is the essential approach to determine the amino acid sequence and locate the nitrotyrosine sites. Bioinformatics analyses, including protein domain and motif analyses, are needed to locate the nitrotyrosine site within the corresponding protein domains/motifs. Systems biology techniques, including pathway analysis, are necessary to discover signaling pathway networks involving nitroproteins from the systematically global point of view. Future quantitative nitroproteomics will discover pituitary adenoma-specific nitroprotein(s). Structural biology techniques such as X-ray crystallography analysis will solidly clarify the effects of tyrosine nitration on structure and functions of a protein. Those studies will eventually address the mechanisms and biological functions of tyrosine nitration in pituitary tumorigenesis and will discover nitroprotein biomarkers for pituitary adenomas and targets for drug design for pituitary adenoma therapy.
Development of a Cell-Based Functional Assay for the Detection ofClostridium botulinumNeurotoxin Types A and E
Authors: Basavanna Uma , Muruvanda Tim , Brown Eric W. , Sharma Shashi K.
Published: March 2013

The standard procedure for definitive detection of BoNT-producingClostridiais a culture method combined with neurotoxin detection using a standard mouse bioassay (MBA). The mouse bioassay is highly sensitive and specific, but it is expensive and time-consuming, and there are ethical concerns due to use of laboratory animals. Cell-based assays provide an alternative to the MBA in screening for BoNT-producingClostridia. Here, we describe a cell-based assay utilizing a fluorescence reporter construct expressed in a neuronal cell model to study toxin activityin situ. Our data indicates that the assay can detect as little as 100 pM BoNT/A activity within living cells, and the assay is currently being evaluated for the analysis of BoNT in food matrices. Among availablein vitroassays, we believe that cell-based assays are widely applicable in high-throughput screenings and have the potential to at least reduce and refine animal assays if not replace it.
Characterization of Nanoporous Ceramic Granules Made with Coal Fly Ash and Their Utilization in Phenol Removal from Water
Authors: Jing Zhaoqian
Published: March 2013

Coal fly ash has been evaluated as low‐cost material for pollutants adsorption. But powdered fly ash is difficult to be separated from the adsorbate and solution after saturation. When it is made into granules, this problem can be solved. Granules with uniform diameter of 6 mm were prepared and used as adsorbents for phenol removal from aqueous solution. The physical and chemical characteristics of the granules were investigated. The data indicated that the granules were abundant with nanosize pores of 9.8 nm on average. The specific surface area and porosity reached 130.5 m2/g and 60.1%, respectively. The main components in the granules were SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, Fe2O3, CaO, K2O, and unburned carbon. The adsorption batch experiments showed that this granular material was an efficient adsorbent for phenol removal. Phenol adsorption on the granules was mainly influenced by dosage and contact time. Increase in the dosage could enhance phenol adsorption effectively. More than 90% phenol could be removed under normal temperature and neutral pH with initial concentration of 100 mg/L, contact time of 90 min, and dosage of 140 g/L. The adsorption of phenol on the granules was spontaneous and complied well with the pseudo‐second‐order model and Langmuir isotherm model.
Effect of Copper Nanoparticles Dispersion on Catalytic Performance of Cu/SiO2 Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Dimethyl Oxalate to Ethylene Glycol
Authors: Zhang Yajing , Zheng Na , Wang Kangjun , Zhang Sujuan , Wu Jing
Published: March 2013

Cu/SiO2 catalysts, for the synthesis of ethylene glycol (EG) from hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO), were prepared by ammonia‐evaporation and sol‐gel methods, respectively. The structure, size of copper nanoparticles, copper dispersion, and the surface chemical states were investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N2 adsorption. It is found the structures and catalytic performances of the catalysts were highly affected by the preparation method. The catalyst prepared by sol‐gel method had smaller average size of copper nanoparticles (about 3‐4 nm), better copper dispersion, higher Cu+/C0 ratio and larger BET surface area, and higher DMO conversion and EG selectivity under the optimized reaction conditions.
Investigations of Different Phases Responsible for Changes in Optical Properties of Organic Semiconducting Device Material Thin Films
Authors: Shukla Vivek Kumar , Maitra Jaya
Published: March 2013

The environment sensitivity of organic semiconductors may change their molecular structure and hence optical properties. Exploiting this concept, experiments were performed on a green light emitting material bis(8-hydroxy quinoline)Zinc, (Znq2) used in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Thin films were deposited at varying deposition parameters, and their properties were compared. We investigated that as deposited films have a significant component of Znq2 tetramer out of two known forms, that is, dihydrate and anhydrous tetramer (Znq2)4, the films deposited at lower deposition rates have higher anhydrous content. The degradation of thin film is shown, that changes the optical properties of film from green emission to blue which may be due to water adsorption and crystallization.
Production of Hydrocarbon Liquid by Thermal Pyrolysis of Paper Cup Waste
Authors: Biswal Bijayani , Kumar Sachin , Singh R. K.
Published: March 2013

The paper cup waste was pyrolysed in a stainless steel semibatch reactor at a temperature range of 325°C to 425°C and at a heating rate of 20°C min−1 with an aim to study the physical and chemical characteristics of the obtained hydrocarbon liquid and to determine its feasibility as a commercial fuel. The maximum liquid yield was 52% at 400°C. The functional groups present in the liquid are aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, alkenes, and alkanes. It was found that the pyrolytic liquid contains around 18 types of compounds having carbon chain length in the range of C6–C20. The obtained liquid can be used as valuable chemicals feedstock.
Numerical Solution of the 1D Advection-Diffusion Equation Using Standard and Nonstandard Finite Difference Schemes
Authors: Appadu A. R.
Published: March 2013

Three numerical methods have been used to solve the one-dimensional advection-diffusion equation with constant coefficients. This partial differential equation is dissipative but not dispersive. We consider the Lax-Wendroff scheme which is explicit, the Crank-Nicolson scheme which is implicit, and a nonstandard finite difference scheme (Mickens 1991). We solve a 1D numerical experiment with specified initial and boundary conditions, for which the exact solution is known using all these three schemes using some different values for the space and time step sizes denoted byhandk, respectively, for which the Reynolds number is 2 or 4. Some errors are computed, namely, the error rate with respect to theL1norm, dispersion, and dissipation errors. We have both dissipative and dispersive errors, and this indicates that the methods generate artificial dispersion, though the partial differential considered is not dispersive. It is seen that the Lax-Wendroff and NSFD are quite good methods to approximate the 1D advection-diffusion equation at some values ofkandh. Two optimisation techniques are then implemented to find the optimal values ofkwhenh=0.02for the Lax-Wendroff and NSFD schemes, and this is validated by numerical experiments.
Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles by Chemically Modified Polyol Methods under Experimental Control
Authors: Viet Long Nguyen , Ohtaki Michitaka , Yuasa Masayoshi , Yoshida Satoshi , Kuragaki Taiga , Minh Thi Cao , Nogami Masayuki
Published: March 2013

In our present research, bottom‐up self‐assembly of gold (Au) nanoparticles on a flat copper (Cu) substrate is performed by a facile method. The very interesting evidence of self‐assembly of Au nanoparticles on the top of the thin assembled layer was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We had discovered one of the most general and simple methods for the self‐assembly of metal nanoparticles. The general physical and chemical mechanisms of the evaporation process of the solvents can be used for self‐assembly of the as‐prepared nanoparticles. The important roles of molecules of the used solvents are very critical to self‐assembly of the as‐prepared Au nanoparticles in the case without using any polymers for those processes. It is clear that self‐assembly of such one nanosystem of the uniform Au nanoparticles is fully examined. Finally, an exciting surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon of the pure Au nanoparticles in the solvent was fully discovered in their exciting changes of the narrow and large SPR bands according to synthesis time. The SPR was considered as the collective oscillation of valence electrons of the surfaces of the pure Au nanoparticles in the solvent by incident ultraviolet‐visible light. Then, the frequency of light photons matches the frequency of the oscillation of surface electrons of the Au nanoparticles that are excited.
The Assessment of Parameters Affecting the Quality of Cord Blood by the Appliance of the Annexin V Staining Method and Correlation with CFU Assays
Authors: Radke Teja Falk , Barbosa David , Duggleby Richard Charles , Saccardi Riccardo , Querol Sergio , Kögler Gesine
Published: March 2013

The assessment of nonviable haematopoietic cells by Annexin V staining method in flow cytometry has recently been published by Duggleby et al. Resulting in a better correlation with the observed colony formation in methylcellulose assays than the standard ISHAGE protocol, it presents a promising method to predict cord blood potency. Herein, we applied this method for examining the parameters during processing which potentially could affect cord blood viability. We could verify that the current standards regarding time and temperature are sufficient, since no significant difference was observed within 48 hours or in storage at4°Cup to26°C. However, the addition of DMSO for cryopreservation alone leads to an inevitable increase in nonviable haematopoietic stem cells from initially 14.8% ± 4.3% to at least 30.6% ± 5.5%. Furthermore, CFU-assays with varied seeding density were performed in order to evaluate the applicability as a quantitative method. The results revealed that only in a narrow range reproducible clonogenic efficiency (ClonE) could be assessed, giving at least a semiquantitative estimation. We conclude that both Annexin V staining method and CFU-assays with defined seeding density are reliable means leading to a better prediction of the final potency. Especially Annexin V, due to its fast readout, is a practical tool for examining and optimising specific steps in processing, while CFU-assays add a functional confirmation.
Quantum-Dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers: State Space Model versus Rate Equation Model
Authors: Taleb Hussein , Abedi Kambiz , Golmohammadi Saeed
Published: March 2013

A simple and accurate dynamic model for QD-SOAs is proposed. The proposed model is based on the state space theory, where by eliminating the distance dependence of the rate equation model of the QD-SOA; we derive a state space model for the device. A comparison is made between the rate equation model and the state space model under both steady state and transient regimes. Simulation results demonstrate that the derived state space model not only is much simpler and faster than the rate equation model, but also it is as accurate as the rate equation model.
Periodontal Regeneration Using Platelet-Derived Growth Factor in Infrabony Defects: A Series of Three Cases
Authors: Thakare Kaustubh , Bhongade M. L. , Charde Preeti , Jaiswal Priyanka , Shah Nachiket , Deshpande Aniruddha
Published: March 2013

The periodontal researchers and clinicians, in an effort to develop effective regenerative therapies, have sought to understand key events involved in the regeneration of periodontium. Polypeptide growth factors are a class of natural biological mediators which regulate key cellular events in tissue repair. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is the most thoroughly studied growth factor in periodontal regeneration. The present case series evaluate the effectiveness of platelet-derived growth factor (rh-PDGF-BB) in combination with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) to achieve periodontal regeneration in 3 infrabony defects.
Modeling Neural Activity
Authors: van Drongelen Wim
Published: March 2013

This paper provides an overview of different types of models for studying activity of nerve cells and their networks with a special emphasis on neural oscillations. One part describes the neuronal models based on the Hodgkin and Huxley formalism first described in the 1950s. It is discussed how further simplifications of this formalism enable mathematical analysis of the process of neural excitability. The focus of the paper’s second component is on network activity. Understanding network function is one of the important frontiers remaining in neuroscience. At present, experimental techniques can only provide global recordings or samples of the activity of the huge networks that form the nervous system. Models in neuroscience can therefore play a critical role by providing a framework for integration of necessarily incomplete datasets, thereby providing insight into the mechanisms of neural function. Network models can either explicitly contain individual network nodes that model the neurons, or they can be based on representations of compound population activity. The latter approach was pioneered by Wilson and Cowan in the 1970s. Finally I provide an overview and discuss how network models are employed in the study of neuronal network pathology such as epilepsy.
Epigenetically Mediated Pathogenic Effects of Phenanthrene on Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Liu Jing , Zhang Luhua , Winterroth Lisa C. , Garcia Marco , Weiman Shannon , Wong Jillian W. , Sunwoo John B. , Nadeau Kari C.
Published: March 2013

Phenanthrene (Phe), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), is a major constituent of urban air pollution. There have been conflicting results regarding the role of other AhR ligands 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 6-formylindolo [3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) in modifying regulatory T cell populations (Treg) or T helper (Th)17 differentiation, and the effects of Phe have been understudied. We hypothesized that different chemical entities of PAH induce Treg to become either Th2 or Th17 effector T cells through epigenetic modification of FOXP3. To determine specific effects on T cell populations by phenanthrene, primary human Treg were treated with Phe, TCDD, or FICZ and assessed for function, gene expression, and phenotype. Methylation of CpG sites within theFOXP3locus reducedFOXP3expression, leading to impaired Treg function and conversion of Treg into a CD4+CD25loTh2 phenotype in Phe-treated cells. Conversely, TCDD treatment led to epigenetic modification of IL-17A and conversion of Treg to Th17 T cells. These findings present a mechanism by which exposure to AhR-ligands mediates human T cell responses and begins to elucidate the relationship between environmental exposures, immune modulation, and initiation of human disease.
Arkadia Regulates Tumor Metastasis by Modulation of the TGF-β Pathway
Authors: Briones-Orta Marco A. , Levy Laurence , Madsen Chris D. , Das Debipriya , Erker Yigit , Sahai Erik , Hill Caroline S.
Published: March 2013

TGF-β can act as a tumor suppressor at early stages of cancer progression and as a tumor promoter at later stages. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Arkadia (RNF111) is a critical component of the TGF-β signaling pathway, being required for a subset of responses, those mediated by Smad3–Smad4 complexes. It acts by mediating ligand-induced degradation of Ski and SnoN (SKIL), which are 2 potent transcriptional repressors. Here, we investigate the role of Arkadia in cancer using model systems to address both potential tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting roles. Stable reexpression of Arkadia in lung carcinoma NCI-H460 cells, which we show contain a hemizygous nonsense mutation in the Arkadia/RNF111 gene, efficiently restored TGF-β–induced Smad3-dependent transcription, and substantially decreased the ability of these cells to grow in soft agar in vitro. However, it had no effect on tumor growth in vivo in mouse models. Moreover, loss of Arkadia in cancer cell lines and human tumors is rare, arguing against a prominent tumor-suppressive role. In contrast, we have uncovered a potent tumor-promoting function for Arkadia. Using 3 different cancer cell lines whose tumorigenic properties are driven by TGF-β signaling, we show that loss of Arkadia function, either by overexpression of dominant negative Arkadia or by siRNA-induced knockdown, substantially inhibited lung colonization in tail vein injection experiments in immunodeficient mice. Our findings indicate that Arkadia is not critical for regulating tumor growth per se, but is required for the early stages of cancer cell colonization at the sites of metastasis. Cancer Res; 73(6); 1800–10. ©2012 AACR.
Alkaline Phosphatase ALPPL-2 Is a Novel Pancreatic Carcinoma-Associated Protein
Authors: Dua Pooja , Kang Hye Suk , Hong Seung-Mo , Tsao Ming-Sound , Kim Soyoun , Lee Dong-ki
Published: March 2013

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a very low median survival rate. The lack of early sensitive diagnostic markers is one of the main causes of PDAC-associated lethality. Therefore, to identify novel pancreatic cancer biomarkers that can facilitate early diagnosis and also help in the development of effective therapeutics, we developed RNA aptamers targeting pancreatic cancer by Cell-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) approach. Using a selection strategy that could generate aptamers for 2 pancreatic cancer cell lines in one selection scheme, we identified an aptamer SQ-2 that could recognize pancreatic cancer cells with high specificity. Next, by applying 2 alternative approaches: (i) aptamer-based target pull-down and (ii) genome-wide microarray-based identification of differentially expressed mRNAs in aptamer-positive and -negative cells, we identified alkaline phosphatase placental-like 2 (ALPPL-2), an oncofetal protein, as the target of SQ-2. ALPPL-2 was found to be ectopically expressed in many pancreatic cancer cell lines at both mRNA and protein levels. RNA interference-mediated ALPPL-2 knockdown identified novel tumor-associated functions of this protein in pancreatic cancer cell growth and invasion. In addition, the aptamer-mediated identification of ALPPL-2 on the cell surface and cell secretions of pancreatic cancer cells supports its potential use in the serum- and membrane-based diagnosis of PDAC. Cancer Res; 73(6); 1934–45. ©2012 AACR.
Small-Molecule Inhibitor BMS-777607 Induces Breast Cancer Cell Polyploidy with Increased Resistance to Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Agents
Authors: Sharma Sharad , Zeng Jun-Ying , Zhuang Chun-Mei , Zhou Yong-Qing , Yao Hang-Ping , Hu Xing , Zhang Ruiwen , Wang Ming-Hai
Published: March 2013

The RON receptor tyrosine kinase is a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Here, we report therapeutic effect and phenotypic change of breast cancer cells in response to BMS-777607, a RON tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Treatment of breast cancer cells with BMS-777607 at therapeutic doses inhibited cancerous clonogenic growth but had only minimal effect on cell apoptosis. Significantly, BMS-777607 induced extensive polyploidy with multiple sets of chromosomes in cancer cells. This effect is independent of RON expression. Knockdown of RON in T-47D and ZR-75-1 cells by specific siRNA did not prevent polyploid formation. Immunofluorescent analysis of α-tubulin and γ-tubulin expression in polyploid cells revealed that BMS-777607 disrupts bipolar spindle formation and causes multipolar-like microtubule assembly. Also, both metaphase equatorial alignment and chromosomal segregation were absent in polyploid cells. These results suggest that cellular mitosis arrests at prophase/pro-metaphase and fails to undergo cytokinesis. By analyzing kinase-inhibitory profiles, aurora kinase B was identified as the target molecule inhibited by BMS-777607. In BMS-777607–treated cells, aurora kinase B was inhibited followed by protein degradation. Moreover, BMS-777607 inhibited Ser10 phosphorylation of histone H3, a substrate of aurora kinase B. Chemosensitivity analysis indicated the resistance of polyploid cells toward chemotherapeutics. Treatment with doxorubicin, bleomycin, methotrexate, and paclitaxel significantly increased cellular IC50 values. These findings highlight the theory that BMS-777607 acts as a multikinase inhibitor at therapeutic doses and is capable of inducing polyploidy by inhibiting aurora kinase B. Increased resistance of polyploid cells to cytotoxic chemotherapeutics could have a negative impact on targeted cancer therapy using BMS-777607. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(5); 725–36. ©2013 AACR.