bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Australia's temperate carbonate coast: sources, depositional environments and implications
Authors: Short Andrew D.
Published: July 2013

The 30 000 km-long Australian open coast is located between tropical and temperate latitudes (9°–42°S), with humid north and east coasts, and generally semi-arid–arid south and west coasts. The 9000 km-long temperate arid coast is dominated by carbonate shelf and inshore sediments that have supplied contemporary carbonate beach and dune systems, as well as very extensive Pleistocene calcarenite barrier systems that dominate much of the inner shelf, coast and near interior, and which, in places, have contributed to a blanketing of the downwind interior with calcareous loess deposits. Much of the contemporary coastal landscape and, to varying degrees, the adjacent interior is therefore dominated by a legacy of carbonate marine sediments. This paper reviews the reasons for the dominance of carbonate along this section of coast. It begins by examining the sources, followed by the transport and depositional mechanisms, the nature of the onshore carbonate deposits, including their diagenesis, and their longer-term impact on the coast.
Distributed lifetime-maximized target coverage game
Authors: Yen Li-Hsing , Lin Che-Ming , Leung Victor C. M.
Published: July 2013

Wireless sensor nodes are usually densely deployed to completely cover (monitor) a set of targets. Consequently, redundant sensor nodes that are not currently needed in the covering task can be powered off to conserve energy. These sensors can take over the covering task later to prolong network lifetime. The coverage problem, concerns picking up a set of working sensors that collectively meet the coverage requirements. The problem is complicated by the possibility that targets may have different coverage requirements while sensor nodes may have different amounts of energy. This article proposes a game-theoretic approach to the coverage problem, where each sensor autonomously decides its state with a simple rule based on local information. We give rigorous proofs to show stability, correctness, and efficiency of the proposed game. Implementation variants of the game consider specific issues, such as game convergence time and different amounts of sensor energy. Simulation results show significant improvement in network lifetime by the proposed approach when compared with representative alternatives.
Success in introductory programming
Authors: Porter Leo , Guzdial Mark , McDowell Charlie , Simon Beth
Published: July 2013

How pair programming, peer instruction, and media computation have improved computer science education.
The antifragile organization
Authors: Tseitlin Ariel
Published: July 2013

Embracing failure to improve resilience and maximize availability.
SafeVchat
Authors: Liang Yu-Li , Xing Xinyu , Cheng Hanqiang , Dang Jianxun , Huang Sui , Han Richard , Liu Xue , Lv Qin , Mishra Shivakant
Published: July 2013

Online video chat services such as Chatroulette, Omegle, and vChatter that randomly match pairs of users in video chat sessions are quickly becoming very popular, with over a million users per month in the case of Chatroulette. A key problem encountered in such systems is the presence of flashers and obscene content. This problem is especially acute given the presence of underage minors in such systems. This article presents SafeVchat, a novel solution to the problem of flasher detection that employs an array of image detection algorithms. A key contribution of the article concerns how the results of the individual detectors are fused together into an overall decision classifying a user as misbehaving or not, based on Dempster-Shafer theory. The article introduces a novel, motion-based skin detection method that achieves significantly higher recall and better precision. The proposed methods have been evaluated over real-world data and image traces obtained from Chatroulette.com. SafeVchat has been deployed in Chatroulette. A combination of SafeVchat with human moderation has resulted in banning as many as 50,000 inappropriate users per day on Chatoulette. Furthermore, offensive content on Chatoulette has dropped significantly from 33.08% (before SafeVchat installation) to 3.49% (after SafeVchat installation).
In vivo imaging of intracellular Ca2+ after muscle contractions and direct Ca2+ injection in rat skeletal muscle in diabetes
Authors: Eshima Hiroaki , Tanaka Yoshinori , Sonobe Takashi , Inagaki Tadakatsu , Nakajima Toshiaki , Poole David C. , Kano Yutaka
Published: July 2013

The effects of muscle contractions on the profile of postcontraction resting intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) accumulation in Type 1 diabetes are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that, following repeated bouts of muscle contractions, the rise in resting [Ca2+]i evident in healthy rats would be increased in diabetic rats and that these changes would be associated with a decreased cytoplasmic Ca2+-buffering capacity. Adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into diabetic (DIA; streptozotocin, ip) and healthy control (CONT) groups. Four weeks later, animals were anesthetized and spinotrapezius muscle contractions (10 sets of 50 contractions) were elicited by electrical stimulation (100 Hz). Ca2+ imaging was achieved using Fura-2 AM in the spinotrapezius muscle in vivo (i.e., circulation intact). The ratio (340/380 nm) was determined from fluorescence images following each set of contractions for estimation of [Ca2+]i. Also, muscle Ca2+ buffering was studied in individual myocytes microinjected with 2 mM Ca2+ solution. After muscle contractions, resting [Ca2+]i in DIA increased earlier and more rapidly than in CONT ( P < 0.05 vs. precontraction). Peak [Ca2+]i in response to the Ca2+ injection was significantly higher in CONT (25.8 ± 6.0% above baseline) than DIA (10.2 ± 1.1% above baseline). Subsequently, CONT [Ca2+]i decreased rapidly (<15 s) to plateau 9–10% above baseline, whereas DIA remained elevated throughout the 60-s measurement window. No differences in SERCA1 and SERCA2 (Ca2+ uptake) protein levels were evident between CONT and DIA, whereas ryanodine receptor (Ca2+ release) protein level and mitochondrial oxidative enzyme activity (succinate dehydrogenase) were decreased in DIA ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, diabetes impairs resting [Ca2+]i homeostasis following muscle contractions. Markedly different responses to Ca2+ injection in DIA vs. CONT suggest fundamentally deranged Ca2+ handling.
Whole body heat loss is reduced in older males during short bouts of intermittent exercise
Authors: Larose Joanie , Wright Heather E. , Stapleton Jill , Sigal Ronald J. , Boulay Pierre , Hardcastle Stephen , Kenny Glen P.
Published: July 2013

Studies in young adults show that a greater proportion of heat is gained shortly following the start of exercise and that temporal changes in whole body heat loss during intermittent exercise have a pronounced effect on body heat storage. The consequences of short-duration intermittent exercise on heat storage with aging are unclear. We compared evaporative heat loss (H E) and changes in body heat content (ΔHb) between young (20–30 yr), middle-aged (40–45 yr), and older males (60–70 yr) of similar body mass and surface area, during successive exercise (4 × 15 min) and recovery periods (4 × 15 min) at a fixed rate of heat production (400 W) and under fixed environmental conditions (35°C/20% relative humidity). H E was lower in older males vs. young males during each exercise (Ex1: 283 ± 10 vs. 332 ± 11 kJ, Ex2: 334 ± 10 vs. 379 ± 5 kJ, Ex3: 347 ± 11 vs. 392 ± 5 kJ, and Ex4: 347 ± 10 vs. 387 ± 5 kJ, all P < 0.02), whereas H E in middle-aged males was intermediate to that measured in young and older adults (Ex1: 314 ± 13, Ex2: 355 ± 13, Ex3: 371 ± 13, and Ex4: 365 ± 8 kJ). H E was not significantly different between groups during the recovery periods. The net effect over 2 h was a greater ΔHb in older (267 ± 33 kJ; P = 0.016) and middle-aged adults (245 ± 16 kJ; P = 0.073) relative to younger counterparts (164 ± 20 kJ). As a result of a reduced capacity to dissipate heat during exercise, which was not compensated by a sufficiently greater rate of heat loss during recovery, both older and middle-aged males had a progressively greater rate of heat storage compared with young males over 2 h of intermittent exercise.
Sex differences in angiotensin II- and aldosterone-induced hypertension: the central protective effects of estrogen
Authors: Xue Baojian , Johnson Alan Kim , Hay Meredith
Published: July 2013

Premenopausal women have lower blood pressure and a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease compared with age-matched men. Similar sex differences have been seen across species and in multiple animal models of hypertension. While important progress over the last decade has been made in elucidating some of the mechanisms underlying these differences, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for sex differences in hypertension will be important for developing sex-specific therapies targeted toward the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Female sex hormones, especially estrogen, have been demonstrated to modulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function through actions not only on the kidney, heart, and vasculature, but also on the central nervous system (CNS). This review primarily focuses on the central regulatory actions of estrogen on brain nuclei involved in blood pressure regulation and the interactions between estrogen and the RAAS in the CNS by which estrogen plays an important protective role against the development of hypertension.
High-protein diet selectively reduces fat mass and improves glucose tolerance in Western-type diet-induced obese rats
Authors: Stengel Andreas , Goebel-Stengel Miriam , Wang Lixin , Hu Eugenia , Karasawa Hiroshi , Pisegna Joseph R. , Taché Yvette
Published: July 2013

Obesity is an increasing health problem. Because drug treatments are limited, diets remain popular. High-protein diets (HPD) reduce body weight (BW), although the mechanisms are unclear. We investigated physiological mechanisms altered by switching diet induced obesity (DIO) rats from Western-type diet (WTD) to HPD. Male rats were fed standard (SD) or WTD (45% calories from fat). After developing DIO (50% of rats), they were switched to SD (15% calories from protein) or HPD (52% calories from protein) for up to 4 weeks. Food intake (FI), BW, body composition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and intestinal hormone plasma levels were monitored. Rats fed WTD showed an increased FI and had a 25% greater BW gain after 9 wk compared with SD ( P < 0.05). Diet-induced obese rats switched from WTD to HPD reduced daily FI by 30% on day 1, which lasted to day 9 (−9%) and decreased BW during the 2-wk period compared with SD/SD ( P < 0.05). During these 2 wk, WTD/HPD rats lost 72% more fat mass than WTD/SD ( P < 0.05), whereas lean mass was unaltered. WTD/HPD rats had lower blood glucose than WTD/SD at 30 min postglucose gavage ( P < 0.05). The increase of pancreatic polypeptide and peptide YY during the 2-h dark-phase feeding was higher in WTD/HPD compared with WTD/SD ( P < 0.05). These data indicate that HPD reduces BW in WTD rats, which may be related to decreased FI and the selective reduction of fat mass accompanied by improved glucose tolerance, suggesting relevant benefits of HPD in the treatment of obesity.
Thromboxane-induced renal vasoconstriction is mediated by the ADP-ribosyl cyclase CD38 and superoxide anion
Authors: Moss Nicholas G. , Vogel Paul A. , Kopple Tayler E. , Arendshorst William J.
Published: July 2013

The present renal hemodynamic study tested the hypothesis that CD38 and superoxide anion (O2·−) participate in the vasoconstriction produced by activation of thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptors in the mouse kidney. CD38 is the major mammalian ADP-ribosyl cyclase contributing to vasomotor tone through the generation of cADP-ribose, a second messenger that activates ryanodine receptors to release Ca2+from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in vascular smooth muscle cells. We evaluated whether the stable thromboxane mimetic U-46619 causes less pronounced renal vasoconstriction in CD38-deficient mice and the involvement of O2·−in U-46619-induced renal vasoconstriction. Our results indicate that U-46619 activation of TP receptors causes renal vasoconstriction in part by activating cADP-ribose signaling in renal resistance arterioles. Based on maximal renal blood flow and renal vascular resistance responses to bolus injections of U-46619, CD38 contributes 30–40% of the TP receptor-induced vasoconstriction. We also found that the antioxidant SOD mimetic tempol attenuated the magnitude of vasoconstriction by U-46619 in both groups of mice, suggesting mediation by O2·−. The degree of tempol blockage of U-46619-induced renal vasoconstriction was greater in wild-type mice, attenuating renal vasoconstriction by 40% compared with 30% in CD38-null mice. In other experiments, U-46619 rapidly stimulated O2·−production (dihydroethidium fluorescence) in isolated mouse afferent arterioles, an effect abolished by tempol. These observations provide the first in vivo demonstration of CD38 and O2·−involvement in the vasoconstrictor effects of TP receptor activation in the kidney and in vitro evidence for TP receptor stimulation of O2·−production by the afferent arteriole.
Adenosine inhibits renin release from juxtaglomerular cells via an A1 receptor-TRPC-mediated pathway
Authors: Ortiz-Capisano M. Cecilia , Atchison Douglas K. , Harding Pamela , Lasley Robert D. , Beierwaltes William H.
Published: July 2013

Renin is synthesized and released from juxtaglomerular (JG) cells. Adenosine inhibits renin release via an adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) calcium-mediated pathway. How this occurs is unknown. In cardiomyocytes, adenosine increases intracellular calcium via transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels. We hypothesized that adenosine inhibits renin release via A1R activation, opening TRPC channels. However, higher concentrations of adenosine may stimulate renin release through A2R activation. Using primary cultures of isolated mouse JG cells, immunolabeling demonstrated renin and A1R in JG cells, but not A2R subtypes, although RT-PCR indicated the presence of mRNA of both A2AR and A2BR. Incubating JG cells with increasing concentrations of adenosine decreased renin release. Different concentrations of the adenosine receptor agonist N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) did not change renin. Activating A1R with 0.5 μM N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) decreased basal renin release from 0.22 ± 0.05 to 0.14 ± 0.03 μg of angiotensin I generated per milliliter of sample per hour of incubation (AngI/ml/mg prot) ( P < 0.03), and higher concentrations also inhibited renin. Reducing extracellular calcium with EGTA increased renin release (0.35 ± 0.08 μg AngI/ml/mg prot; P < 0.01), and blocked renin inhibition by CHA (0.28 ± 0.06 μg AngI/ml/mg prot; P < 0. 005 vs. CHA alone). The intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM increased renin release by 55%, and blocked the inhibitory effect of CHA. Repeating these experiments in JG cells from A1R knockout mice using CHA or NECA demonstrated no effect on renin release. However, RT-PCR showed mRNA from TRPC isoforms 3 and 6 in isolated JG cells. Adding the TRPC blocker SKF-96365 reversed CHA-mediated inhibition of renin release. Thus A1R activation results in a calcium-dependent inhibition of renin release via TRPC-mediated calcium entry, but A2 receptors do not regulate renin release.
Age-related slowing of myosin actin cross-bridge kinetics is sex specific and predicts decrements in whole skeletal muscle performance in humans
Authors: Miller Mark S. , Bedrin Nicholas G. , Callahan Damien M. , Previs Michael J. , Jennings Mark E. , Ades Philip A. , Maughan David W. , Palmer Bradley M. , Toth Michael J.
Published: July 2013

We hypothesize that age-related skeletal muscle dysfunction and physical disability may be partially explained by alterations in the function of the myosin molecule. To test this hypothesis, skeletal muscle function at the whole muscle, single fiber, and molecular levels was measured in young (21–35 yr) and older (65–75 yr) male and female volunteers with similar physical activity levels. After adjusting for muscle size, older adults had similar knee extensor isometric torque values compared with young, but had lower isokinetic power, most notably in women. At the single-fiber and molecular levels, aging was associated with increased isometric tension, slowed myosin actin cross-bridge kinetics (longer myosin attachment times and reduced rates of myosin force production), greater myofilament lattice stiffness, and reduced phosphorylation of the fast myosin regulatory light chain; however, the age effect was driven primarily by women (i.e., age-by-sex interaction effects). In myosin heavy chain IIA fibers, single-fiber isometric tension and molecular level mechanical and kinetic indexes were correlated with whole muscle isokinetic power output. Collectively, considering that contractile dysfunction scales up through various anatomical levels, our results suggest a potential sex-specific molecular mechanism, reduced cross-bridge kinetics, contributes to the reduced physical capacity with aging in women. Thus these results support our hypothesis that age-related alterations in the myosin molecule contribute to skeletal muscle dysfunction and physical disability and indicate that this effect is stronger in women.
β-Adrenergic receptor antagonism in mice: a model for pediatric heart disease
Authors: Sucharov Carmen C. , Hijmans Jamie G. , Sobus Rebecca D. , Melhado William F. A. , Miyamoto Shelley D. , Stauffer Brian L.
Published: July 2013

Children with heart failure are treated with similar medical therapy as adults with heart failure. In contrast to adults with heart failure, these treatment regiments are not associated with improved outcomes in children. Recent studies have demonstrated age-related pathophysiological differences in the molecular mechanisms of heart failure between children and adults. There are no animal models of pediatric cardiomyopathy to allow mechanistic studies. The purpose of the current experiments was to develop a mouse model of pediatric heart disease and test whether the influence of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) antagonism could be modeled in this system. We hypothesized that isoproterenol treatment of young mice would provide a model system of cardiac pathology, and that nonselective β-AR blockade would provide benefit in adult, but not young, mice, similar to clinical trial data. We found that isoproterenol treatment (through osmotic minipump implantation) of young and adult mice produced similar degrees of cardiac hypertrophy and recapitulated several age-related molecular abnormalities in human heart failure, including phospholamban phosphorylation and β-AR expression. We also found that nonselective β-AR blockade effectively prevented pathological cardiac growth and collagen expression in the adult but not young mice, and that selective β1-AR blockade was effective in both young and adult isoproterenol-treated mice. In conclusion, we have developed the first model system for β-AR-mediated pediatric heart disease. Furthermore, we have generated novel data suggesting beneficial effects of selective β1-AR blockade in the pediatric heart.
A Study on the Effect of Plasma Treatment for Waste Wood Biocomposites
Authors: Kim MiMi , Kim Heung Soo , Lim Joong Yeon
Published: July 2013

The surface modification of wood powder by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment was investigated. The composites were manufactured using wood powder and polypropylene (wood powder: polypropylene = 55 wt% : 45 wt%). Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment was applied under the condition of 3 KV, 17 ± 1 KHz, 2 g/min. Helium was used as the carrier gas and hexamethyl‐disiloxane (HMDSO) as the monomer to modify the surface property of the waste wood biocomposites by plasma polymerization. The tensile strengths of untreated waste wood powder (W3) and single species wood powder (S3) were about 18.5 MPa and 21.5 MPa while those of plasma treated waste wood powder (PW3) and plasma treated single species wood powder (PS3) were about 21.2 MPa and 23.4 MPa, respectively. Tensile strengths of W3 and S3 were improved by 14.6% and 8.8%, respectively. From the analyses of mechanical properties and morphology, we conclude that the interfacial bonding of polypropylene and wood powder can be improved by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.
Study on Parameter Optimization for Support Vector Regression in Solving the Inverse ECG Problem
Authors: Jiang Mingfeng , Jiang Shanshan , Zhu Lingyan , Wang Yaming , Huang Wenqing , Zhang Heng
Published: July 2013

The typical inverse ECG problem is to noninvasively reconstruct the transmembrane potentials (TMPs) from body surface potentials (BSPs). In the study, the inverse ECG problem can be treated as a regression problem with multi-inputs (body surface potentials) and multi-outputs (transmembrane potentials), which can be solved by the support vector regression (SVR) method. In order to obtain an effective SVR model with optimal regression accuracy and generalization performance, the hyperparameters of SVR must be set carefully. Three different optimization methods, that is, genetic algorithm (GA), differential evolution (DE) algorithm, and particle swarm optimization (PSO), are proposed to determine optimal hyperparameters of the SVR model. In this paper, we attempt to investigate which one is the most effective way in reconstructing the cardiac TMPs from BSPs, and a full comparison of their performances is also provided. The experimental results show that these three optimization methods are well performed in finding the proper parameters of SVR and can yield good generalization performance in solving the inverse ECG problem. Moreover, compared with DE and GA, PSO algorithm is more efficient in parameters optimization and performs better in solving the inverse ECG problem, leading to a more accurate reconstruction of the TMPs.
Online Monitoring Oxidative Products and Metabolites of Nicotine by Free Radicals Generation with Fenton Reaction in Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Liang Shih-Shin , Shiue Yow-Ling , Kuo Chao-Jen , Guo Su-Er , Liao Wei-Ting , Tsai Eing-Mei
Published: July 2013

In general, over 70% absorbed nicotine is metabolized to cotinine and trans‐3′‐hydroxycotinine by cytochrome oxidase P450, and nicotine is also a major addictive and the psychoactive component in cigarettes. As a xenobiotic metabolism, hydrophobic compounds are usually converted into more hydrophilic products through enzyme systems such as cytochrome oxidase P450, sulfotransferases, and UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases to deliver drug metabolites out of the cell during the drug metabolic process. In this study, an electrodeless electrochemical oxidation (EEO) reaction via Fenton reaction by producing free radical to react with nicotine to immediately monitor the oxidative products and metabolic derivatives of nicotine by tandem mass spectrometer (MS) is done. Fenton reaction generates free radicals via ferrous ion (Fe2+) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to oxidize DNA and to degrade proteins in cells. In the EEO method, the oxidative products of nicotine including cotinine, cotinine‐N‐oxide, trans‐3′‐hydroxycotinine, nornicotine, norcotinine, 4‐oxo‐4‐(3‐pyridyl)‐butanoic acid, 4‐hydroxy‐4‐(3‐pyridyl)‐butanoic acid, and nicotine‐N′‐oxide were detected by tandem mass spectrometer to simulate the changes of nicotine and its derivatives in a time‐dependent manner.
Multiple Active Contours Guided by Differential Evolution for Medical Image Segmentation
Authors: Cruz-Aceves I. , Avina-Cervantes J. G. , Lopez-Hernandez J. M. , Rostro-Gonzalez H. , Garcia-Capulin C. H. , Torres-Cisneros M. , Guzman-Cabrera R.
Published: July 2013

This paper presents a new image segmentation method based on multiple active contours guided by differential evolution, called MACDE. The segmentation method uses differential evolution over a polar coordinate system to increase the exploration and exploitation capabilities regarding the classical active contour model. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, a set of synthetic images with complex objects, Gaussian noise, and deep concavities is introduced. Subsequently, MACDE is applied on datasets of sequential computed tomography and magnetic resonance images which contain the human heart and the human left ventricle, respectively. Finally, to obtain a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the medical image segmentations compared to regions outlined by experts, a set of distance and similarity metrics has been adopted. According to the experimental results, MACDE outperforms the classical active contour model and the interactive Tseng method in terms of efficiency and robustness for obtaining the optimal control points and attains a high accuracy segmentation.
Low‐Temperature Rapid Fabrication of ZnO Nanowire UV Sensor Array by Laser‐Induced Local Hydrothermal Growth
Authors: Hong Sukjoon , Yeo Junyeob , Manorotkul Wanit , Kim Gunho , Kwon Jinhyeong , An Kunsik , Ko Seung Hwan
Published: July 2013

We demonstrate ZnO nanowire based UV sensor by laser‐induced hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanowire. By inducing a localized temperature rise using focused laser, ZnO nanowire array at ~15 μm size consists of individual nanowires with ~8 μm length and 200~400 nm diameter is readily synthesized on gold electrode within 30 min at the desired position. The laser‐induced growth process is consecutively applied on two different points to bridge the micron gap between the electrodes. The resultant photoconductive ZnO NW interconnections display 2~3 orders increase in the current upon the UV exposure at a fixed voltage bias. It is also confirmed that the amount of photocurrent can be easily adjusted by changing the number of ZnO NW array junctions. The device exhibits clear response to the repeated UV illumination, suggesting that this process can be usefully applied for the facile fabrication of low‐cost UV sensor array.
On Weak Exponential Expansiveness of Evolution Families in Banach Spaces
Authors: Yue Tian , Song Xiao-qiu , Li Dong-qing
Published: July 2013

The aim of this paper is to give several characterizations for the property of weak exponential expansiveness for evolution families in Banach spaces. Variants for weak exponential expansiveness of some well‐known results in stability theory (Datko (1973), Rolewicz (1986), Ichikawa (1984), and Megan et al. (2003)) are obtained.
Protective Effect of 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol (Sesamol) on Stress-Related Mucosal Disease in Rats
Authors: Hsu Dur-Zong , Chen Yi-Wei , Chu Pei-Yi , Periasamy Srinivasan , Liu Ming-Yie
Published: July 2013

Stress-related mucosal disease (SRMD) causes considerable morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol (sesamol) has been reported to have potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sesamol on water immersion restraint- (WIR-) induced SRMD in rats. Rat gastric ulcer and hemorrhage were induced by WIR. Rats were pretreated orally with various doses of sesamol (0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg/kg, resp.) 30 min before WIR. Gastric mucosal ulceration, hemoglobin, lipid peroxidation, mucus secretion, proinflammatory cytokines, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB levels were determined 4 h after WIR. In addition, the infiltration of neutrophil and macrophage into gastric mucosa was also determined after WIR. Water immersion restraint increased gastric mucosal ulcer and hemorrhage, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 levels but failed to affect mucosal lipid peroxidation and mucus secretion compared with non-WIR. Sesamol significantly decreased gastric ulceration and hemorrhage and inhibited mucosal TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production and NF-κB activity in WIR-treated rats. In addition, increased myeloperoxidase and CD68 levels in gastric mucosa were found in WIR-treated rats compared to non-WIR rats. Sesamol did not affect myeloperoxidase but decreased CD68 levels in mucosa in WIR-treated rats. Sesamol may protect against SRMD by inhibiting gastric mucosal proinflammatory cytokines in rats.
Genetic Transformation in Citrus
Authors: Donmez Dicle , Simsek Ozhan , Izgu Tolga , Aka Kacar Yildiz , Yalcin Mendi Yesim
Published: July 2013

Citrus is one of the world’s important fruit crops. Recently, citrus molecular genetics and biotechnology work have been accelerated in the world. Genetic transformation, a biotechnological tool, allows the release of improved cultivars with desirable characteristics in a shorter period of time and therefore may be useful in citrus breeding programs. Citrus transformation has now been achieved in a number of laboratories by various methods. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used mainly in citrus transformation studies. Particle bombardment, electroporation, A. rhizogenes, and a new method called RNA interference are used in citrus transformation studies in addition to A. tumefaciens. In this review, we illustrate how different gene transformation methods can be employed in different citrus species.
Survivability ofVibrio choleraeO1 in Cooked Rice, Coffee, and Tea
Authors: Tang John Yew Huat , Izenty Bariah Ibrahim , Nur’ Izzati Ahmad Juanda , Masran Siti Rahmah , Yeo Chew Chieng , Roslan Arshad , Abu Bakar Che Abdullah
Published: July 2013

This study aimed to investigate the survival ofVibrio choleraeO1 in 3 types of preparation for cooked rice,Oryza sativaL., (plain rice, rice with coconut milk, and rice with ginger); coffee,Coffea canephora, (plain coffee, coffee with sugar, and coffee with sweetened condensed milk); and tea,Camellia sinensis, (plain tea, tea with sugar, and tea with sweetened condensed milk) held at room temperature (27°C). The survival ofV. choleraeO1 was determined by spread plate method on TCBS agar. Initial cultures of 8.00 log CFU/mL were inoculated into each food sample. After 6 h incubation, significant growth was only detected in rice with coconut milk (9.67 log CFU/mL;P<0.05). However, all 3 types of rice preparation showed significant growth ofV. choleraeafter 24 h (P<0.05). For coffee and tea preparations,V. choleraesurvived up to 6 h in tea with condensed milk (4.72 log CFU/mL) but not in similar preparation of coffee. This study showed evidence for the survivability ofV. choleraein rice, coffee, and tea. Thus, holding these food and beverages for an extended period of time at room temperature should be avoided.
Bisphenol A Modifies the Regulation Exerted by Testosterone on 5α-Reductase Isozymes in Ventral Prostate of Adult Rats
Authors: Sánchez Pilar , Castro Beatriz , Torres Jesús M. , Olmo Asunción , del Moral Raimundo G. , Ortega Esperanza
Published: July 2013

The development, growth, and function of the prostate gland depend on androgen stimulation. The primary androgen in prostate is 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is synthesized from circulating testosterone (T) through the action of 5α-reductase (5α-R). Although 5α-R occurs as five isozymes, only 5α-R1 and 5α-R2 are physiologically involved in steroidogenesis. The endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) alters sexual organs, including the prostate. Our previous findings indicated that BPA decreased the expression of 5α-R1 and 5α-R2 in rat prostate but also circulating T. Thus, it is unclear whether BPA exerts this effect on 5α-R isozymes by reducing circulating T or by any other mechanism. In this study, we examine the effects of short-term exposure to BPA at doses below 25 μg/Kg/d and above 300 μg/Kg/d of the TDI on mRNA levels of 5α-R1 and 5α-R2 in prostate of adult castrated rats supplemented with T to achieve constant circulating T levels. mRNA levels were measured by absolute quantitative RT-PCR, T levels by RIA, and DHT levels by ELISA. Our results indicated that in castrated rats treated with T BPA at the two doses studied significantly decreased the mRNA levels of both 5α-R isozymes in a dose-dependent manner without modifications in circulating T.
Add-On Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine Bath to Phototherapy for Psoriasis Vulgaris: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yu Jason Jingjie , Zhang Claire Shuiqing , Zhang Anthony Lin , May Brian , Xue Charlie Changli , Lu Chuanjian
Published: July 2013

Psoriasis vulgaris is the most common form of psoriasis. Phototherapy has been proven effective for psoriasis, but side effects have become a concern. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) bath combined with phototherapy has been used in clinical settings, but the additional benefit requires evaluation. This review aims to evaluate the additional benefit and safety of adding CHM bath to phototherapy for psoriasis vulgaris. Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and CQVIP were searched from their inceptions to 6 August 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CHM bath plus phototherapy to phototherapy alone for psoriasis vulgaris were included. Data was analyzed using Review Manager 5.1.0. Thirteen RCTs were included in the review, and eight were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed higher efficacy of CHM bath plus phototherapy when compared with phototherapy alone in terms of PASI 60 (RR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.18–1.32). Mild adverse events were reported in ten studies, but these could be alleviated by reducing UV dosage or applying emollient. In conclusion, CHM bath appears to be a beneficial and safe adjunctive therapy to phototherapy for psoriasis vulgaris. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the low methodological quality of the included studies.
Child with Deletion 9p Syndrome Presenting with Craniofacial Dysmorphism, Developmental Delay, and Multiple Congenital Malformations
Authors: Sirisena Nirmala D. , Wijetunge U. Kalpani S. , de Silva Ramya , Dissanayake Vajira H. W.
Published: July 2013

A 4-month-old Sri Lankan male child case with ade novoterminal deletion in the p22→pter region of chromosome 9 is described. The child presented with craniofacial dysmorphism, developmental delay, and congenital malformations in agreement with the consensus phenotype. A distinctive feature observed in this child was complete collapse of the left lung due to malformation of lung tissue. Cytogenetic studies confirmed terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 9 distal to band p22 [46,XY,del(9)(p22→pter)]. This is the first reported case of ade novodeletion 9p syndrome associated with pulmonary hypoplasia. This finding contributes to the widening of the spectrum of phenotypic features associated with deletion 9p syndrome.
Association between Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Control in Peruvian School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Padilla Justo , Uceda Mónica , Ziegler Otto , Lindo Felipe , Herrera-Pérez Eder , Huicho Luis
Published: July 2013

Background. Asthma and allergic rhinitis are highly prevalent conditions that cause major illness worldwide. This study aimed to assess the association between allergic rhinitis and asthma control in Peruvian school children.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 256 children with asthma recruited in 5 schools from Lima and Callao cities. The outcome was asthma control assessed by the asthma control test. A score test for trend of odds was used to evaluate the association between allergic rhinitis severity and the prevalence of inadequate asthma control. A generalized linear regression model was used to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratios of inadequate asthma control.Results. Allergic rhinitis was present in 66.4% of the population with asthma. The trend analysis showed a positive association between allergic rhinitis and the probability of inadequate asthma control (). It was associated with an increased prevalence of inadequate asthma control, with adjusted prevalence ratios of 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 1.19−1.98).Conclusion. This study indicates that allergic rhinitis is associated with an inadequate level of asthma control, giving support to the recommendation of evaluating rhinitis to improve asthma control in children.
Catalase Abrogates β-Lapachone–Induced PARP1 Hyperactivation–Directed Programmed Necrosis in NQO1-Positive Breast Cancers
Authors: Bey Erik A. , Reinicke Kathryn E. , Srougi Melissa C. , Varnes Marie , Anderson Vernon E. , Pink John J. , Li Long Shan , Patel Malina , Cao Lifen , Moore Zachary , Rommel Amy , Boatman Michael , Lewis Cheryl , Euhus David M. , Bornmann William G. , Buchsbaum Donald J. , Spitz Douglas R. , Gao Jinming , Boothman David A.
Published: July 2013

Improving patient outcome by personalized therapy involves a thorough understanding of an agent's mechanism of action. β-Lapachone (clinical forms, Arq501/Arq761) has been developed to exploit dramatic cancer-specific elevations in the phase II detoxifying enzyme NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). NQO1 is dramatically elevated in solid cancers, including primary and metastatic [e.g., triple-negative (ER−, PR−, Her2/Neu−)] breast cancers. To define cellular factors that influence the efficacy of β-lapachone using knowledge of its mechanism of action, we confirmed that NQO1 was required for lethality and mediated a futile redox cycle where ∼120 moles of superoxide were formed per mole of β-lapachone in 2 minutes. β-Lapachone induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), stimulated DNA single-strand break-dependent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) hyperactivation, caused dramatic loss of essential nucleotides (NAD+/ATP), and elicited programmed necrosis in breast cancer cells. Although PARP1 hyperactivation and NQO1 expression were major determinants of β-lapachone–induced lethality, alterations in catalase expression, including treatment with exogenous enzyme, caused marked cytoprotection. Thus, catalase is an important resistance factor and highlights H2O2 as an obligate ROS for cell death from this agent. Exogenous superoxide dismutase enhanced catalase-induced cytoprotection. β-Lapachone–induced cell death included apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation from mitochondria to nuclei, TUNEL+ staining, atypical PARP1 cleavage, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase S-nitrosylation, which were abrogated by catalase. We predict that the ratio of NQO1:catalase activities in breast cancer versus associated normal tissue are likely to be the major determinants affecting the therapeutic window of β-lapachone and other NQO1 bioactivatable drugs. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(10); 2110–20. ©2013 AACR.
Temporal Analysis of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sickness Behavior in Virgin and Lactating Female Rats
Authors: Nascimento Amanda , Bernardi Maria , Pecorari Vanessa , Massoco Christina , Felicio Luciano
Published: July 2013

Objectives: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin that originates from the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, activates the immune system to release proinflammatory cytokines and to induce sickness behavior. The present study sought to characterize the time-dependent effects of LPS on fever, body weight, and food and water consumption in female virgin and lactating rats exposed to an LPS dose previously reported to induce sickness behavior in pregnant female rats. Methods: Virgin female Wistar rats in the estrous phase and lactating female Wistar rats on the third day of lactation received 100 µg/kg LPS or saline solution. Tympanic temperature, body weight, and food and water consumption were assessed 0, 2, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after treatment. Results: In lactating female rats, tympanic temperature was attenuated compared with virgin females. Food consumption and body weight gain in both groups decreased, but lactating rats consumed more food than virgin rats. Water consumption increased at different time points. Conclusion: LPS exposure induced several signs of sickness behavior, including decreases in food consumption and body weight gain, and induced adipsia in both virgin and lactating female rats. Because the time course and profile of fever varied between lactating and nonlactating animals, these responses appeared to depend on the physiological state of female animals.
Ectopic fat: the true culprit linking obesity and cardiovascular disease?
Authors: Morelli Mariangela , Gaggini Melania , Daniele Giuseppe , Marraccini Paolo , Sicari Rosa , Gastaldelli Amalia
Published: July 2013

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and its complications. However, not all fat depots share the same characteristics. Recent studies have found that ectopic rather than subcutaneous fat accumulation is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. However, ectopic fat accumulation can be seen initially as a protective mechanism against lipotoxicity. Subsequently the adipose tissue becomes dysfunctional, thus inducing systemic metabolic alterations (through release of cytokines) or specific organ dysfunctions. The purpose of this review is to summarise the current available data on the impact of excess adiposity vs ectopic fat in the development of cardiometabolic diseases.
Two new species of moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from the semi-arid region of Brazil
Authors: BRAVO FREDDY , ARAÚJO MAÍRA XAVIER
Published: July 2013

Two new species of Psychodinae, Psychodidae, from the semi-arid region of Brazil are described and illustrated: Arisemus rubeni sp. nov. and Lepidiella olgae sp. nov. Only nine psychodid species were previously known from that region.
A new species of Caissa Hering, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae) from China
Authors: SOLOVYEV ALEXEY V. , SALDAITIS AIDAS
Published: July 2013

The genus Caissa Hering, 1931 includes medium-sized limacodids with forewing lengths of 10–15 mm in males and 13–15 mm in females. Members of this genus can be clearly determined by differences in wing pattern. Caissa have antemedial, postmedial and subterminal fasciae characteristic of an Apoda forewing pattern but there are significant deviations (Wu & Fang 2008; Solovyev & Witt 2009). Based on forewing pattern and male genitalia, three groups of species were previously distinguished within the genus (Solovyev & Witt 2009). The hindwings always have a dark brown, sometimes slightly fuzzy, spot near the tornus; this spot is more compact in Caissa than in other limacodids. The genus ranges across Southeast Asia, India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Thailand and Vietnam. Irene and Alessandro Floriani collected a series of a new Caissa species while blacklighting in the Sichuan Province of China during the summers of 2009 and 2011. With the new species described herein Caissa now includes eleven species: C. caissa Hering, 1931, C. fasciatum (Hampson, 1893), C. gambita Hering, 1931, C. longisaccula Wu & Fang, 2008, C. aurea Solovyev & Witt, 2009, C. medialis Yoshimoto, 1994, C. caii Wu & Fang, 2008, C. bezverkhovi Solovyev & Witt, 2009, C. parenti Orhant, 2000, C. staurognatha Wu, 2011, and C. kangdinga sp. nov. The systematic position of C. staurognatha Wu, 2011 is not evident and needs special investigation (perhaps it should be placed in the genus Microleon Butler, 1885).
Is Tropical Cyclone Intensity Guidance Improving?
Authors: DeMaria Mark , Sampson Charles R. , Knaff John A. , Musgrave Kate D.
Published: July 2013

The mean absolute error of the official tropical cyclone (TC) intensity forecasts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) shows limited evidence of improvement over the past two decades. This result has sometimes erroneously been used to conclude that little or no progress has been made in the TC intensity guidance models. This article documents statistically significant improvements in operational TC intensity guidance over the past 24 years (1989–2012) in four tropical cyclone basins (Atlantic, eastern North Pacific, western North Pacific, and Southern Hemisphere). Errors from the best available model have decreased at 1%–2% yr−1 at 24–72 h, with faster improvement rates at 96 and 120 h. Although these rates are only about one-third to one-half of the rates of reduction of the track forecast models, most are statistically significant at the 95% level. These error reductions resulted from improvements in statistical–dynamical intensity models and consensus techniques that combine information from statistical–dynamical and dynamical models. The reason that the official NHC and JTWC intensity forecast errors have decreased slower than the guidance errors is because in the first half of the analyzed period, their subjective forecasts were more accurate than any of the available guidance. It is only in the last decade that the objective intensity guidance has become accurate enough to influence the NHC and JTWC forecast errors.
The Relationships among Wind, Horizontal Pressure Gradient, and Turbulent Momentum Transport during CASES-99
Authors: Sun Jielun , Lenschow Donald H. , Mahrt Larry , Nappo Carmen
Published: July 2013

Relationships among the horizontal pressure gradient, the Coriolis force, and the vertical momentum transport by turbulent fluxes are investigated using data collected from the 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere–Surface Exchange Study (CASES-99). Wind toward higher pressure (WTHP) adjacent to the ground occurred about 50% of the time. For wind speed at 5 m above the ground stronger than 5 m s−1, WTHP occurred about 20% of the time. Focusing on these moderate to strong wind cases only, relationships among horizontal pressure gradients, Coriolis force, and vertical turbulent transport in the momentum balance are investigated. The magnitude of the downward turbulent momentum flux consistently increases with height under moderate to strong winds, which results in the vertical convergence of the momentum flux and thus provides a momentum source and allows WTHP.

In the along-wind direction, the horizontal pressure gradient is observed to be well correlated with the quadratic wind speed, which is demonstrated to be an approximate balance between the horizontal pressure gradient and the vertical convergence of the turbulent momentum flux. That is, antitriptic balance occurs in the along-wind direction when the wind is toward higher pressure. In the crosswind direction, the pressure gradient varies approximately linearly with wind speed and opposes the Coriolis force, suggesting the importance of the Coriolis force and approximate geotriptic balance of the airflow. A simple one-dimensional planetary boundary layer eddy diffusivity model demonstrates the possibility of wind directed toward higher pressure for a baroclinic boundary layer and the contribution of the vertical turbulent momentum flux to this phenomenon.
Shared Paths to the Lab
Authors: Kabo Felichism , Hwang Yongha , Levenstein Margaret , Owen-Smith Jason
Published: July 2013

Spatial layouts can significantly influence the formation and outcomes of social relationships. Physical proximity is thus essential to understanding the elemental building blocks of social networks, dyads. Situating relationships in space is instrumental to formulating better models of collaboration and information sharing in organizations and more robust theories of networks and their effects. We propose, develop, and test a concept, the functional zone, which effectively captures Festinger et al.’s classic description of “functional distance” as it pertains to social interactions. We operationalize functional zone with measures of path and areal zone overlap. At two biomedical research buildings with different layouts (compact versus linear), regression analyses of collaboration rates show that increasing path overlap increases collaboration. More traditional distance measures influence collaboration only in the more linear building. The functional zone concept improves our ability to understand relationships and their attendant organizational outcomes.