bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Envelope Glycoprotein Binding to the Integrin α
4
β
7
Is Not a General Property of Most HIV-1 Strains
Authors: Perez Lautaro G. , Chen Haiyan , Liao Hua-Xin , Montefiori David C.
Published: July 2014

The HIV-1 surface glycoprotein gp120 has been reported to bind and signal through α
4
β
7
by means of a tripeptide motif in the V2 loop that mimics structures present in the natural ligands for α
4
β
7
, suggesting that α
4
β
7
may facilitate HIV-1 infection of CD4
+
T cells in the gut. Furthermore, immune correlates in the RV144 vaccine efficacy trial generated the hypothesis that V1V2 antibodies to an epitope near the putative α
4
β
7
binding motif may play a role in protection against HIV-1 infection. In the interest of developing an assay to detect antibodies that block gp120 binding to α
4
β
7
, we used retinoic acid (RA)-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and transfected HEK293T (293T) cells expressing the integrin complex to study the α
4
β
7
binding properties of 16 HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. The natural ligand for α
4
β
7
, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), bound efficiently to RA-activated PBMCs and transfected 293T cells, and this binding was blocked by antibodies to α
4
. gp120 from multiple HIV-1 subtypes bound to RA-activated PBMCs from three donors in a CD4-dependent manner, but little or no α
4
β
7
binding was detected. Similarly, little or no binding to α
4
β
7
on transfected 293T cells was detected with multiple gp120s and gp140s, including gp120s from transmitted/founder strains, or when gp120 was produced in CHO, 293T, and 293S/GnT1
−/−
cells. Finally, we found no evidence that infectious HIV-1 virions produced in either PBMCs or 293T cells could bind α
4
β
7
on transfected 293T cells. Infectious HIV-1 virions and most gp120s/gp140s appear to be poor ligands for the α
4
β
7
integrin complex under the conditions tested here.

IMPORTANCE
Certain HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoproteins have been shown to bind the gut-homing receptor α
4
β
7
, and it has been suggested that this binding facilitates mucosal transmission and virus replication in the gut mucosa. Additional evidence has generated the hypothesis that antibodies that bind near the putative α
4
β
7
binding motif in the V2 loop of gp120, possibly disrupting gp120-α
4
β
7
binding, may be important for HIV-1 vaccines. Our evidence indicates that infectious HIV-1 virions and many gp120s lack detectable α
4
β
7
binding activity, suggesting that this homing receptor may play a limited role in direct HIV-1 infection of cells.
Bilateral transient osteoporosis of the hip in a 20-year-old man
Authors: Dhaliwal Jagwinder , McConnell Jamie S , Greer Tony
Published: July 2014

Transient osteoporosis is a rare musculoskeletal condition that has been reported in pregnant women and middle-aged men. We present a bilateral case in a young man. A 20-year-old man presented with spontaneous onset left hip pain. Investigations excluded other differential diagnoses such as infection or fracture. The pain resolved completely; 6 months later the patient presented with a similar episode of pain in the contralateral hip. This also resolved spontaneously. Doctors need to be aware of the possibility of spontaneous onset musculoskeletal pain due to transient osteoporosis occurring in young men. The typical presentation is of spontaneous onset progressive pain, often affecting the hip. Other pathology must be excluded. The investigation of choice is MRI, and the treatment is simple analgesia.
Missing outcome data in meta-analysis
Authors: Mavridis Dimitris , Chaimani Anna , Efthimiou Orestis , Salanti Georgia
Published: July 2014

Missing outcome data is a common problem in mental health trials compromising the validity of results and leading to the loss of precision. The problem is accumulated in a meta-analysis of clinical trials with missing outcome data.
Supramolecular p-sulfonated calix[4,6,8]arene for tryptophan detection
Authors: Pang Tao-Tao , Du Li-Ming , Liu Hai-Long , Fu Yun-Long
Published: July 2014

Numerous techniques have focused on the ability of p-sulfonated calix[n]arene to form complexes with tryptophan. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were utilized to study the organization and molecular structure of different layers of the electrode surface. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that SC4A displayed a cubic structure whereas SC6A and SC8A displayed dendrite structures. The electrochemical properties and potential complex formation between SCnA and tryptophan were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry experiments showed that the gold electrode was successfully functionalized by self-assembled cysteamine and SC4A. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results showed the observation of the tryptophan–SCnA interaction and indicated that SC4A had the highest sensitivity to tryptophan and allowed 2.04 μg L−1 tryptophan to be detected. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis and molecular modeling calculation confirmed that SC4A has higher tryptophan sensitivity than SC6A and SC8A.
The Cambrian Basal Sandstone Unit in central Alberta — an investigation of temperature distribution, petrography, and hydraulic and geomechanical properties of a deep saline aquifer
Authors: Weides Simon , Moeck Inga , Majorowicz Jacek , Grobe Matthias
Published: July 2014

Recent geothermal exploration indicated that the Cambrian Basal Sandstone Unit (BSU) in central Alberta could be a potential target formation for geothermal heat production, due to its depth and extent. Although several studies showed that the BSU in the shallower Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) has good reservoir properties, almost no information exists from the deeper WCSB. This study investigated the petrography of the BSU in central Alberta with help of drill cores and thin sections from six wells. Porosity and permeability as important reservoir parameters for geothermal utilization were determined by core testing. The average porosity and permeability of the BSU is 10% and <1 × 10−14 m2, respectively. A zone of high porosity and permeability was identified in a well located in the northern part of the study area. This study presents the first published geomechanical tests of the BSU, which were obtained as input parameters for the simulation of hydraulic stimulation treatments. The BSU has a relatively high unconfined compressive strength (up to 97.7 MPa), high cohesion (up to 69.8 MPa), and a remarkably high friction coefficient (up to 1.22), despite a rather low tensile strength (<5 MPa). An average geothermal gradient of 35.6 °C/km was calculated from about 2000 temperature values. The temperature in the BSU ranges from 65 to 120 °C. Results of this study confirm that the BSU is a potential geothermal target formation, though hydraulic stimulation treatments are required to increase the permeability of the reservoir.
A simple method to assess the marine environment residence duration of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) using laser ablation
Authors: Stocks Allison P. , Pakhomov Evgeny A. , Hunt Brian P.V.
Published: July 2014

Monitoring habitat utilization and early marine growth of sockeye salmon juveniles (Oncorhynchus nerka) in fjords of the Pacific Northwest is currently hampered by difficulties in estimating residence times, limiting scientific advances in certain aspects of this species’ fisheries management and conservation. Combining otolith microchemistry and conventional daily ring counts, we were able to obtain the date of first entry and the residence time of sockeye juveniles in Rivers Inlet, British Columbia. This operationally inexpensive method builds upon variable microelement concentrations in fresh- and saltwater environments: barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) concentrations within the sockeye otoliths differed between the freshwater and seawater growth zones; Ba concentrations in the freshwater growth zone were significantly higher than those in the seawater growth zone, while Sr concentrations in the former were significantly lower than in the latter. The concentrations of these elements within otoliths were determined quantitatively at high spatial resolution using in situ laser ablation inductively coupled with a plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS) providing a record of the ambient environmental conditions experienced by individual fish. Exploratory analysis of a 3-year data set showed that the mean residence time of sockeye juveniles in Rivers Inlet varied between 3 and 6 weeks between years.
Performance Analysis of the "Intelligent" Kirchhoff-Law–Johnson-Noise Secure Key Exchange
Authors: Smulko Janusz
Published: July 2014

The Kirchhoff-law–Johnson-noise (KLJN) secure key distribution system provides a way of exchanging theoretically secure keys by measuring random voltage and current through the wire connecting two different resistors at Alice's and Bob's ends. Recently new advanced protocols for the KLJN method have been proposed with enhanced performance. In this paper, we analyze the KLJN system and compare with the "intelligent" KLJN (iKLJN) scheme. That task requires determination of the applied resistors and identification of various superpositions of known and unknown noise components. Some statistical tools will be explored to determine how the duration of the bit exchange window (averaging time) influences the performance of the secure bit exchange.
Information-Theoretic Modeling of Trichromacy Coding of Light Spectrum
Authors: Benoit Landry , Belin Étienne , Rousseau David , Chapeau-Blondeau François
Published: July 2014

Trichromacy is the representation of a light spectrum by three scalar coordinates. Such representation is universally implemented by the human visual system and by RGB (Red Green Blue) cameras. We propose here an informational model for trichromacy. Based on a statistical analysis of the dynamics of individual photons, the model demonstrates a possibility for describing trichromacy as an information channel, for which the input–output mutual information can be computed to serve as a measure of performance. The capabilities and significance of the informational model are illustrated and motivated in various situations. The model especially enables an assessment of the influence of the spectral sensitivities of the three types of photodetectors realizing the trichromatic representation. It provides a criterion to optimize possibly adjustable parameters of the spectral sensitivities such as their center wavelength, spectral width or magnitude. The model shows, for instance, the usefulness of some overlap with smooth graded spectral sensitivities, as observed for instance in the human retina. The approach also, starting from hyperspectral images with high spectral resolution measured in the laboratory, can be used to devise low-cost trichromatic imaging systems optimized for observation of specific spectral signatures. This is illustrated with an example from plant science, and demonstrates a potential of application especially to life sciences. The approach particularizes connections between physics, biophysics and information theory.
Some remarks on contact manifolds, Monge–Ampère equations and solution singularities
Authors: Vinogradov A. M.
Published: July 2014

We describe some natural relations connecting contact geometry, classical Monge–Ampère equations (MAEs) and theory of singularities of solutions to nonlinear PDEs. They reveal the hidden meaning of MAEs and sheds new light on some aspects of contact geometry.
AUTOCORRELATION IN SHORT TIME SERIES WITH TRENDS: A SIMULATION STUDY OF ESTIMATION AND SIGNIFICANCE TESTING WITH APPLICATION TO AIR QUALITY DATA
Authors: WONG RAYMOND K. W.
Published: July 2014

The estimation and significance testing of the first-order autoregressive (AR1) coefficient in short time series with trends are examined. The purpose is to identify the difficulties to which analysis procedures need to adjust for better results. The delta recursive AR1 estimator rδand the Sen–Theil trend estimator are viable for short sequence application. Significance testing for rδhas low power. But the existence of trend has negligible influence in estimation and testing. The common practice of trend removal before AR1 estimation gives poorer results. Application to air quality data showed this could greatly change conclusions. Implication to analysis is discussed.
Palaeohydrographic reconstructions from strandplains of beach ridges in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Authors: Johnston John W. , Thompson Todd A. , Wilcox Douglas A.
Published: July 2014

The current temporal and spatial context of water-level change, drivers of change, and possible future scenarios of the Laurentian Great Lakes is controversial. Palaeohydrographs are being constructed from measured subsurface elevations of palaeo-swash zones and modelled ages in strandplains of beach ridges that are preserved in embayments along the lakes’ edge. More than 800 elevations and 200 ages have been collected from 15 strandplains to construct site strandplain palaeohydrographs. Palaeo-beach elevations from whole strandplains or sets of correlative palaeo-beaches within strandplains are then used to establish an outlet palaeohydrograph for each lake. Adjusting strandplain palaeohydrograph elevations to account for glacial isostatic adjustment and refining age models help define the outlet palaeohydrograph. Common basin-wide water-level patterns and changes in outlet location or conveyance can then be interpreted. Systematic patterns of elevation and geomorphic/sedimentologic properties in individual, groups and sets of beach ridges in strandplains suggest that long-term patterns of water-level change and sediment supply occurred on decadal, centennial and millennial scales. Outlet palaeohydrograph construction for Lake Superior revealed discrepancies between geological and historical rates of glacial isostatic adjustment. These differences are currently being investigated using new data from Lake Huron.
The Association between IGF-1 Polymorphisms, IGF-1 Serum Levels, and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study
Authors: Licht Carmilla M. M. , van Turenhout Lise C. , Deijen Jan Berend , Koppes Lando L. J. , van Mechelen Willem , Twisk Jos W. R. , Drent Madeleine L.
Published: July 2014

Several studies have demonstrated an association between polymorphisms in the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene and IGF-1 serum levels. IGF-1 levels have been associated with cognitive functioning in older persons and growth hormone deficient patients. The present study investigates whether IGF-1 polymorphisms, IGF-1 levels, and cognition are interconnected in healthy adults. Data of 277 participants (mean age: 42.4 years) of the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study on IGF-1 promoter polymorphisms, IGF-1 serum level, spatial working memory (SWM), paired associate learning (PAL), and IQ tests were analyzed. (M)ANOVAs were applied to confirm the associations between IGF-1 polymorphisms and IGF-1 levels and between IGF-1 levels and cognition. Three groups were distinguished based on specific IGF-1 polymorphism alleles: a homozygote 192 bp/192 bp genotype, a heterozygote 192 bp/x genotype, and a noncarrier x/x genotype. Although different IGF-1 levels were found for the three genotypes, performance on all cognitive tasks and IQ measures was similar. Despite the associations between IGF-1 polymorphisms and IGF-1 levels, no association was found between cognition and IGF-1 levels. It seems that IGF-1 does not play a role in the cognitive performance of healthy middle-aged adults. Possible, IGF-1 fulfills a more developmental and protective role in cognition which becomes apparent during childhood, old-age, or disease.
New Acquisition Protocol of18F-Choline PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Patients: Review of the Literature about Methodology and Proposal of Standardization
Authors: Chondrogiannis Sotirios , Marzola Maria Cristina , Grassetto Gaia , Maffione Anna Margherita , Rampin Lucia , Veronese Emma , Massaro Arianna , Rubello Domenico
Published: July 2014

Purpose. (1) To evaluate a new acquisition protocol of18F-choline (FCH) PET/CT for prostate cancer patients (PC), (2) to review acquisition18F-choline PET/CT methodology, and (3) to propose a standardized acquisition protocol on FCH PET/CT in PC patients.Materials. 100 consecutive PC patients (mean age 70.5 years, mean PSA 21.35 ng/mL) were prospectively evaluated. New protocol consisted of an early scan of the pelvis immediately after the injection of the tracer (1 bed position of 4 min) followed by a whole body scan at one 1 hour. Early and 1 hour images were compared for interfering activity and pathologic findings.Results. The overall detection rate of FCH PET/CT was 64%. The early static images of the pelvis showed absence of radioactive urine in ureters, bladder, or urethra which allowed a clean evaluation of the prostatic fossae. Uptake in the prostatic region was better visualized in the early phase in 26% (7/30) of cases. Other pelvic pathologic findings (bone and lymph nodes) were visualized in both early and late images.Conclusion. Early18F-choline images improve visualization of abnormal uptake in prostate fossae. All pathologic pelvic deposits (prostate, lymph nodes, and bone) were visualized in both early and late images.
Numerical Solution of High Order Bernoulli Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Costabile F. , Napoli A.
Published: July 2014

For the numerical solution of high order boundary value problems with special boundary conditions a general procedure to determine collocation methods is derived and studied. Computation of the integrals which appear in the coefficients is generated by a recurrence formula and no integrals are involved in the calculation. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the practical usefulness of the proposed method.
The Shifts of Band Gap and Binding Energies of Titania/Hydroxyapatite Material
Authors: Linh Nguyen Thi Truc , Tuan Phan Dinh , Dzung Nguyen Van
Published: July 2014

The titania/hydroxyapatite (TiO2/HAp) product was prepared by precipitating hydroxyapatite in the presence of TiO(OH)2 gel in the hydrothermal system. The characteristics of the material were determined by using the measurements such as X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XPS analysis showed that the binding energy values of Ca (2p1/2, 2p3/2), P (2p1/2, 2p3/2), and O 1s levels related to hydroxyapatite phase whereas those of Ti (2p3/2, 2p1/2) levels corresponded with the characterization of titanium (IV) in TiO2. The XRD result revealed that TiO2/HAp sample had hydroxyapatite phase, but anatase or rutile phases were not found out. TEM image of TiO2/HAp product showed that the surface of the plate-shaped HAp particles had a lot of smaller particles which were considered as the compound of Ti. The experimental band gap of TiO2/HAp material calculated by the DRS measurement was 3.6 eV, while that of HAp pure was 5.3 eV and that of TiO2 pure was around 3.2 eV. The shift of the band gap energy of TiO2 in the range of 3.2–3.6 eV may be related to the shifts of Ti signals of XPS spectrum.
ATP Synthaseβ-Chain Overexpression in SR-BI Knockout Mice Increases HDL Uptake and Reduces Plasma HDL Level
Authors: Song Kexiu , Han Yingchun , Zhang Linhua , Liu Guoqing , Yang Peng , Cheng Xiaoyun , Bu Le , Sheng Hui , Qu Shen
Published: July 2014

HDL cholesterol is known to be inversely correlated with cardiovascular disease due to its diverse antiatherogenic functions. SR-BI mediates the selective uptake of HDL-C. SR-BI knockout diminishes but does not completely block the transport of HDL; other receptors may be involved. Ectopic ATP synthaseβ-chain in hepatocytes has been previously characterized as an apoA-I receptor, triggering HDL internalization. This study was undertaken to identify the overexpression of ectopic ATP synthaseβ-chain on DIL-HDL uptake in primary hepatocytes in vitro and on plasma HDL levels in SR-BI knockout mice. Human ATP synthaseβ-chain cDNA was delivered to the mouse liver by adenovirus and GFP adenovirus as control. The adenovirus-mediated overexpression ofβ-chain was identified at both mRNA and protein levels on mice liver and validated by its increasing of DiL-HDL uptake in primary hepatocytes. In response to hepatic overexpression ofβ-chain, plasma HDL-C levels and cholesterol were reduced in SR-BI knockout mice, compared with the control. The present data suggest that ATP synthaseβ-chain can serve as the endocytic receptor of HDL, and its overexpression can reduce plasma HDL-C.
Novel Terthiophene-Substituted Fullerene Derivatives as Easily Accessible Acceptor Molecules for Bulk-Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Nisic Filippo , Colombo Alessia , Dragonetti Claudia , Cominetti Alessandra , Pellegrino Andrea , Perin Nicola , Po Riccardo , Tacca Alessandra
Published: July 2014

Five fulleropyrrolidines and methanofullerenes, bearing one or two terthiophene moieties, have been prepared in a convenient way and well characterized. These novel fullerene derivatives are characterized by good solubility and by better harvesting of the solar radiation with respect to traditional PCBM. In addition, they have a relatively high LUMO level and a low band gap that can be easily tuned by an adequate design of the link between the fullerene and the terthiophene. Preliminary results show that they are potential acceptors for the creation of efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells based on donor polymers containing thiophene units.
Seismic Behavior of Steel Off-Diagonal Bracing System (ODBS) Utilized in Reinforced Concrete Frame
Authors: Ramin Keyvan
Published: July 2014

The introduction of an eccentricity in this system results in a geometric nonlinearity behavior. The midpoint of the diagonal member is connected to the corner joint using a brace member with a relatively low stiffness, thus forming a three-member bracing system in each braced panel. An iterative method of analysis has been developed to study the nonlinear load-deflection behavior of ODBS. The results indicate that the load-deflection behavior of this system follows a nonlinear stiffness-hardening pattern with two yielding points, which reflect the tensile failure of different bracings; the present study aims to investigate the efficiency of applying off-diagonal steel braces to reinforced concrete frames. To achieve this, three types of 2-story, 6-story, and 15-story structures without and with X-bracing and off-center bracing systems were modeled using SAP2000 software, and for micromodeling ANSYS software was used to achieve finite element results for an exact comparison between various retrofitting systems. The results showed that the structures strengthened by toggle bracing system revealed better behavior for low oscillation periods. Moreover, this type of bracing system is quite suitable for 10-story structures but not for higher ones. Its main problem, which requires special contrivances to solve, is the existence of a soft ground floor.
Forest Fire Smoke Layers Observed in the Free Troposphere over Portugal with a Multiwavelength Raman Lidar: Optical and Microphysical Properties
Authors: Nepomuceno Pereira Sérgio , Preißler Jana , Guerrero-Rascado Juan Luis , Silva Ana Maria , Wagner Frank
Published: July 2014

Vertically resolved optical and microphysical properties of biomass burning aerosols, measured in 2011 with a multiwavelength Raman lidar, are presented. The transportation time, within 1-2 days (or less), pointed towards the presence of relatively fresh smoke particles over the site. Some strong layers aloft were observed with particle backscatter and extinction coefficients (at 355 nm) greater than 5 Mm−1 sr−1and close to 300 Mm−1, respectively. The particle intensive optical properties showed features different from the ones reported for aged smoke, but rather consistent with fresh smoke. The Ångström exponents were generally high, mainly above 1.4, indicating a dominating accumulation mode. Weak depolarization values, as shown by the small depolarization ratio of 5% or lower, were measured. Furthermore, the lidar ratio presented no clear wavelength dependency. The inversion of the lidar signals provided a set of microphysical properties including particle effective radius below 0.2 μm, which is less than values previously observed for aged smoke particles. Real and imaginary parts of refractive index of about 1.5-1.6 and 0.02i, respectively, were derived. The single scattering albedo was in the range between 0.85 and 0.93; these last two quantities indicate the nonnegligible absorbing characteristics of the observed particles.
Lifestyle and Dietary Behaviors among Saudi Preschool Children Attending Primary Health Care Centers, Eastern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Darwish Magdy A. , Al-Saif Ghadeer , Albahrani Suha , Sabra Amr A.
Published: July 2014

Objective. To study life styles and dietary behaviors among Saudi preschool children (1–5 years) attending primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Dammam and Qatif areas, eastern province, Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods. Cross-sectional study. Data were collected using structured, interviewer-filled questionnaire. Children and their mothers were encountered during their well-baby clinic visits. A total number of 300 preschool children and their mothers were interviewed during study period. Results. Unsatisfactory areas include smoking fathers (32%), smoking in front of children (11.3%), overweight and obesity among mothers (60.3%), noncompliance using seat belts for both parents (56.3%) and children (68%), children watching television (T.V) more than 2 hours (50%), adherence to exclusive breast feeding (only 20.7%), and late solid food introduction (65.3%). Frequent intake of unhealthy food items was 26%, 25%, and 24% for pizza, burger, and soft drinks. Unfortunately frequent intake of the following unhealthy food items was high: biscuits, deserts/chocolates, and chips which was 78%, 67%, and 72%, respectively. Conclusion. This study provides benchmark about the current situation. It provides health care workers and decision makers with important information that may help to improve health services.
Exploring a QoS Driven Scheduling Approach for Peer-to-Peer Live Streaming Systems with Network Coding
Authors: Cui Laizhong , Lu Nan , Chen Fu
Published: July 2014

Most large-scale peer-to-peer (P2P) live streaming systems use mesh to organize peers and leverage pull scheduling to transmit packets for providing robustness in dynamic environment. The pull scheduling brings large packet delay. Network coding makes the push scheduling feasible in mesh P2P live streaming and improves the efficiency. However, it may also introduce some extra delays and coding computational overhead. To improve the packet delay, streaming quality, and coding overhead, in this paper are as follows. we propose a QoS driven push scheduling approach. The main contributions of this paper are: (i) We introduce a new network coding method to increase the content diversity and reduce the complexity of scheduling; (ii) we formulate the push scheduling as an optimization problem and transform it to a min-cost flow problem for solving it in polynomial time; (iii) we propose a push scheduling algorithm to reduce the coding overhead and do extensive experiments to validate the effectiveness of our approach. Compared with previous approaches, the simulation results demonstrate thatpacket delay,continuity index,andcoding ratioof our system can be significantly improved, especially in dynamic environments.
Analysis and Determination of Trace Metals (Nickel, Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead) in Tissues ofPampus argenteusandPlatycephalus indicusin the Hara Reserve, Iran
Authors: Mohammadnabizadeh Sahar , Pourkhabbaz Alireza , Afshari Reza
Published: July 2014

The accumulations of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr were measured in muscle, gill, kidney, and liver ofPlatycephalus indicusandPampus argenteus. Our results indicated that all metals were found to be the highest in tissues inP. indicus(benthic species). Except Ni inP. indicus, concentrations of metals and bioaccumulation factor were in the following sequence: liver > kidney > gill > muscle. The data revealed that there is a significant negative correlation between concentrations of metals and size and age factors. The Ni and Cr levels in the muscles were higher than the maximum acceptable limit recommended by WHO and FEPA. Similarly, the concentration of Pb measured inP. indicusmuscle exceeded the FAO standard limit.
Service Capacity Reserve under Uncertainty by Hospital’s ER Analogies: A Practical Model for Car Services
Authors: Pérez Salaverría Miguel Ángel , Mira McWilliams José Manuel
Published: July 2014

We define a capacity reserve model to dimension passenger car service installations according to the demographic distribution of the area to be serviced by using hospital’s emergency room analogies. Usually, service facilities are designed applying empirical methods, but customers arrive under uncertain conditions not included in the original estimations, and there is a gap between customer’s real demand and the service’s capacity. Our research establishes a valid methodology and covers the absence of recent researches and the lack of statistical techniques implementation, integrating demand uncertainty in a unique model built in stages by implementing ARIMA forecasting, queuing theory, and Monte Carlo simulation to optimize the service capacity and occupancy, minimizing the implicit cost of the capacity that must be reserved to service unexpected customers. Our model has proved to be a useful tool for optimal decision making under uncertainty integrating the prediction of the cost implicit in the reserve capacity to serve unexpected demand and defining a set of new process indicators, such us capacity, occupancy, and cost of capacity reserve never studied before. The new indicators are intended to optimize the service operation. This set of new indicators could be implemented in the information systems used in the passenger car services.
Train Repathing in Emergencies Based on Fuzzy Linear Programming
Authors: Meng Xuelei , Cui Bingmou
Published: July 2014

Train pathing is a typical problem which is to assign the train trips on the sets of rail segments, such as rail tracks and links. This paper focuses on the train pathing problem, determining the paths of the train trips in emergencies. We analyze the influencing factors of train pathing, such astransferring cost, running cost, and social adverse effect cost. With the overall consideration of the segment and station capability constraints, we build the fuzzy linear programming model to solve the train pathing problem. We design the fuzzy membership function to describe the fuzzy coefficients. Furthermore, the contraction-expansion factors are introduced to contract or expand the value ranges of the fuzzy coefficients, coping with the uncertainty of the value range of the fuzzy coefficients. We propose a method based on triangular fuzzy coefficient and transfer the train pathing (fuzzy linear programming model) to a determinate linear model to solve the fuzzy linear programming problem. An emergency is supposed based on the real data of the Beijing-Shanghai Railway. The model in this paper was solved and the computation results prove the availability of the model and efficiency of the algorithm.
The Enzymatic Antioxidant System of Human Spermatozoa
Authors: O’Flaherty Cristian
Published: July 2014

The ejaculated spermatozoon, as an aerobic cell, must fight against toxic levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by its own metabolism but also by other sources such as abnormal spermatozoa, chemicals and toxicants, or the presence of leukocytes in semen. Mammalian spermatozoa are extremely sensitive to oxidative stress, a condition occurring when there is a net increase in ROS levels within the cell. Opportunely, this specialized cell has a battery of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxins, thioredoxins, thioredoxins reductases, and glutathione s-transferases) working in concert to assure normal sperm function. Any impairment of the antioxidant enzymatic activities will promote severe oxidative damage which is observed as plasma membrane lipid peroxidation, oxidation of structural proteins and enzymes, and oxidation of DNA bases that lead to abnormal sperm function. Altogether, these damages occurring in spermatozoa are associated with male infertility. The present review contains a description of the enzymatic antioxidant system of the human spermatozoon and a reevaluation of the role of its different components and highlights the necessity of sufficient supply of reducing agents (NADPH and reduced glutathione) to guarantee normal sperm function.
Do Improvements in Balance Relate to Improvements in Long-Distance Walking Function after Stroke?
Authors: Awad Louis N. , Reisman Darcy S. , Binder-Macleod Stuart A.
Published: July 2014

Stroke survivors identify a reduced capacity to walk farther distances as a factor limiting their engagement at home and in community. Previous observational studies have shown that measures of balance ability and balance self-efficacy are strong predictors of long-distance walking function after stroke. Consequently, recommendations to target balance during rehabilitation have been put forth. The purpose of this study was to determine if the changes in balance and long-distance walking function observed following a 12-week poststroke walking rehabilitation program were related. For thirty-one subjects with hemiparesis after stroke, this investigation explored the cross-sectional (i.e., before training) and longitudinal (i.e., changes due to intervention) relationships between measures of standing balance, walking balance, and balance self-efficacy versus long-distance walking function as measured via the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). A regression model containing all three balance variables accounted for 60.8% of the variance in 6MWT performance (R2=.584;F(3,27)=13.931;P<.001); however, only dynamic balance (FGA) was an independent predictor (β=.502) of 6MWT distance. Interestingly, changes in balance were unrelated to changes in the distance walked (each correlation coefficient<.17,P>.05). For persons after stroke similar to those studied, improving balance may not be sufficient to improve long-distance walking function.
Accelerometer-Based Method for Extracting Respiratory and Cardiac Gating Information for Dual Gating during Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Authors: Jafari Tadi Mojtaba , Koivisto Tero , Pänkäälä Mikko , Paasio Ari
Published: July 2014

Both respiratory and cardiac motions reduce the quality and consistency of medical imaging specifically in nuclear medicine imaging. Motion artifacts can be eliminated by gating the image acquisition based on the respiratory phase and cardiac contractions throughout the medical imaging procedure. Electrocardiography (ECG), 3-axis accelerometer, and respiration belt data were processed and analyzed from ten healthy volunteers. Seismocardiography (SCG) is a noninvasive accelerometer-based method that measures accelerations caused by respiration and myocardial movements. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of the accelerometer-based method in dual gating technique. The SCG provides accelerometer-derived respiratory (ADR) data and accurate information about quiescent phases within the cardiac cycle. The correct information about the status of ventricles and atria helps us to create an improved estimate for quiescent phases within a cardiac cycle. The correlation of ADR signals with the reference respiration belt was investigated using Pearson correlation. High linear correlation was observed between accelerometer-based measurement and reference measurement methods (ECG and Respiration belt). Above all, due to the simplicity of the proposed method, the technique has high potential to be applied in dual gating in clinical cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) to obtain motion-free images in the future.
Overexpression of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products and High-Mobility Group Box 1 in Human Dental Pulp Inflammation
Authors: Tancharoen Salunya , Tengrungsun Tassanee , Suddhasthira Theeralaksna , Kikuchi Kiyoshi , Vechvongvan Nuttavun , Tokuda Masayuki , Maruyama Ikuro
Published: July 2014

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nonhistone DNA-binding protein, is released into the extracellular space and promotes inflammation. HMGB1 binds to related cell signaling transduction receptors, including receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), which actively participate in vascular and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether RAGE and HMGB1 are involved in the pathogenesis of pulpitis and investigate the effect of Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on RAGE and HMGB1 expression in odontoblast-like cells (OLC-1). RAGE and HMGB1 expression levels in clinically inflamed dental pulp were higher than those in healthy dental pulp. Upregulated expression of RAGE was observed in odontoblasts, stromal pulp fibroblasts-like cells, and endothelial-like cell lining human pulpitis tissue. Strong cytoplasmic HMGB1 immunoreactivity was noted in odontoblasts, whereas nuclear HMGB1 immunoreactivity was seen in stromal pulp fibroblasts-like cells in human pulpitis tissue. LPS stimulated OLC-1 cells produced HMGB1 in a dose-dependent manner through RAGE. HMGB1 translocation towards the cytoplasm and secretion from OLC-1 in response to LPS was inhibited by TPCA-1, an inhibitor of NF-κB activation. These findings suggest that RAGE and HMGB1 play an important role in the pulpal immune response to oral bacterial infection.
Impaired Resolution of Inflammation in theEndoglinHeterozygous Mouse Model of Chronic Colitis
Authors: Peter Madonna R. , Jerkic Mirjana , Sotov Valentin , Douda David N. , Ardelean Daniela S. , Ghamami Niousha , Lakschevitz Flavia , Khan Meraj A. , Robertson Susan J. , Glogauer Michael , Philpott Dana J. , Palaniyar Nades , Letarte Michelle
Published: July 2014

Endoglin is a coreceptor of the TGF-βsuperfamily predominantly expressed on the vascular endothelium and selective subsets of immune cells. We previously demonstrated thatEndoglinheterozygous (Eng+/−) mice subjected to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) developed persistent gut inflammation and pathological angiogenesis. We now report that coliticEng+/−mice have low colonic levels of active TGF-β1, which was associated with reduced expression of thrombospondin-1, an angiostatic factor known to activate TGF-β1. We also demonstrate dysregulated expression of BMPER and follistatin, which are extracellular regulators of the TGF-βsuperfamily that modulate angiogenesis and inflammation. Heightened colonic levels of the neutrophil chemoattractant and proangiogenic factor, CXCL1, were also observed in DSS-treatedEng+/−mice. Interestingly, despite increased macrophage and neutrophil infiltration, a gut-specific reduction in expression of the key phagocytic respiratory burst enzymes, NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox-2) and myeloperoxidase, was seen inEng+/−mice undergoing persistent inflammation. Taken together, these findings suggest that endoglin is required for TGF-βsuperfamily mediated resolution of inflammation and fully functional myeloid cells.
Spectral Perspective on the Stability of Discrete‐Time Markov Jump Systems with Multiplicative Noise
Authors: Hou Ting , Zhang Weihai , Ma Hongji
Published: July 2014

We apply the spectrum analysis approach to address the stability of discrete‐time Markov jump systems with state‐multiplicative noise. In terms of the spectral distribution of a generalized Lyapunov operator, spectral criteria are presented to testify three different kinds of stochastic stabilities: asymptotic mean square stability, critical stability, and essential instability.
Uplifting Behavior of Shallow Buried Pipe in Liquefiable Soil by Dynamic Centrifuge Test
Authors: Huang Bo , Liu Jingwen , Lin Peng , Ling Daosheng
Published: July 2014

Underground pipelines are widely applied in the so-called lifeline engineerings. It shows according to seismic surveys that the damage from soil liquefaction to underground pipelines was the most serious, whose failures were mainly in the form of pipeline uplifting. In the present study, dynamic centrifuge model tests were conducted to study the uplifting behaviors of shallow-buried pipeline subjected to seismic vibration in liquefied sites. The uplifting mechanism was discussed through the responses of the pore water pressure and earth pressure around the pipeline. Additionally, the analysis of force, which the pipeline was subjected to before and during vibration, was introduced and proved to be reasonable by the comparison of the measured and the calculated results. The uplifting behavior of pipe is the combination effects of multiple forces, and is highly dependent on the excess pore pressure.
The Dynamic Interactions between Salmonella and the Microbiota, within the Challenging Niche of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Khan C. M. Anjam
Published: July 2014

Understanding how Salmonella species establish successful infections remains a foremost research priority. This gastrointestinal pathogen not only faces the hostile defenses of the host’s immune system, but also faces fierce competition from the large and diverse community of microbiota for space and nutrients. Salmonella have solved these challenges ingeniously. To jump-start growth, Salmonella steal hydrogen produced by the gastrointestinal microbiota. Type 3 effector proteins are subsequently secreted by Salmonella to trigger potent inflammatory responses, which generate the alternative terminal electron acceptors tetrathionate and nitrate. Salmonella exclusively utilize these electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration, permitting metabolic access to abundant substrates such as ethanolamine to power growth blooms. Chemotaxis and flagella-mediated motility enable the identification of nutritionally beneficial niches. The resulting growth blooms also promote horizontal gene transfer amongst the resident microbes. Within the gastrointestinal tract there are opportunities for chemical signaling between host cells, the microbiota, and Salmonella. Host produced catecholamines and bacterial autoinducers form components of this chemical dialogue leading to dynamic interactions. Thus, Salmonella have developed remarkable strategies to initially shield against host defenses and to transiently compete against the intestinal microbiota leading to successful infections. However, the immunocompetent host is subsequently able to reestablish control and clear the infection.
Simultaneous Topology and Size Optimization of 2D and 3D Trusses Using Evolutionary Structural Optimization with regard to Commonly Used Topologies
Authors: Tomšič Pavel , Duhovnik Jože
Published: July 2014

One of many optimization techniques is the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO), based on the idea that an optimal structure can be achieved by gradually removing ineffectively used materials from the design domain. Production of a multistage optimization is often proposed to reach the best overall solution. In the first stage, the structure is optimized according to a topology criterion, and, in the second stage, sizing optimization is carried out. The efficiency of such an approach is questionable as a fixed topology, for the second stage optimization may not be the most favorable before sizing optimization is carried out. In this paper, the simultaneous topology and size optimization of trusses using the ESO algorithm are discussed. A number of numerical examples are presented to research capacity to achieve optimal solutions for a structural problem. The topology design of the initial design domain is based on commonly used designs for multistorey trusses constructed from straight members. Therefore, the cases are of a slender shape and made from a combination of presented internal designs. The case studies will present an evaluation to show whether the described optimization approach can be beneficial in structural design for the purpose of steel framework designs.
Improving Regional Dynamic Downscaling with Multiple Linear Regression Model Using Components Principal Analysis: Precipitation over Amazon and Northeast Brazil
Authors: da Silva Aline Gomes , e Silva Claudio Moises Santos
Published: July 2014

In the current context of climate change discussions, predictions of future scenarios of weather and climate are crucial for the generation of information of interest to the global community. Due to the atmosphere being a chaotic system, errors in predictions of future scenarios are systematically observed. Therefore, numerous techniques have been tested in order to generate more reliable predictions, and two techniques have excelled in science: dynamic downscaling, through regional models, and ensemble prediction, combining different outputs of climate models through the arithmetic average, in other words, a postprocessing of the output data species. Thus, this paper proposes a method of postprocessing outputs of regional climate models. This method consists in using the statistical tool multiple linear regression by principal components for combining different simulations obtained by dynamic downscaling with the regional climate model (RegCM4). Tests for the Amazon and Northeast region of Brazil (South America) showed that the method provided a more realistic prediction in terms of average daily rainfall for the analyzed period prescribed, after comparing with the prediction made by set through the arithmetic averages of the simulations. This method photographed the extreme events (outlier) that the prediction by averaging failed. Data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) were used to evaluate the method.
In Vitro Conservation of Some Threatened and Economically Important Ferns Belonging to the Indian Subcontinent
Authors: Shukla Shastri P. , Khare P. B.
Published: July 2014

This study was undertaken to identify methods of mass multiplication for five ornamental, economically important ferns (Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott., N. cordifolia cv. ‘‘duffii’’ (L.) Presl., N. exaltata cv. bostoniensis (L.) Schott., Pteris vittata L., and Cyclosorus dentatus Link.,) and three threatened ferns, namely, Cyathea spinulosa Wall. ex. Hook, Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link., and Microsorum punctatum (L.) Schott., through in vitro techniques. Collections were made from different biodiversity zones of India including Northeast Himalayas, Kumaon Himalayas, and Western Ghat and successfully introduced and grown in a fern-house. Aseptic cultures were raised at the morphogenic level of callus, axillary shoot, multiple shoot, and rooted plants. An optimized medium is described for each fern species. Plantlets were also produced from spore culture of Cyathea spinulosa and successfully hardened under fern house conditions.