bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graphics processing unit accelerated one‐dimensional blood flow computation in the human arterial tree
Authors: Itu Lucian , Sharma Puneet , Kamen Ali , Suciu Constantin , Comaniciu Dorin
Published: September 2013

One‐dimensional blood flow models have been used extensively for computing pressure and flow waveforms in the human arterial circulation. We propose an improved numerical implementation based on a graphics processing unit (GPU) for the acceleration of the execution time of one‐dimensional model. A novel parallel hybrid CPU–GPU algorithm with compact copy operations (PHCGCC) and a parallel GPU only (PGO) algorithm are developed, which are compared against previously introduced PHCG versions, a single‐threaded CPU only algorithm and a multi‐threaded CPU only algorithm. Different second‐order numerical schemes (Lax–Wendroff and Taylor series) are evaluated for the numerical solution of one‐dimensional model, and the computational setups include physiologically motivated non‐periodic (Windkessel) and periodic boundary conditions (BC) (structured tree) and elastic and viscoelastic wall laws. Both the PHCGCC and the PGO implementations improved the execution time significantly. The speed‐up values over the single‐threaded CPU only implementation range from 5.26 to 8.10 × , whereas the speed‐up values over the multi‐threaded CPU only implementation range from 1.84 to 4.02 × . The PHCGCC algorithm performs best for an elastic wall law with non‐periodic BC and for viscoelastic wall laws, whereas the PGO algorithm performs best for an elastic wall law with periodic BC. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heiße Bemessung von Mauerwerk nach Eurocode 6
Authors: Schlundt Andreas
Published: September 2013

Mit Veröffentlichung des Nationalen Anhangs zum Eurocode 6 Teil 1‐2 im Juni 2013 liegen nunmehr auch alle Grundlagen für die heiße Bemessung von Mauerwerk nach dem Eurocode vor. Der Eurocode 6 kann damit in der Praxis vollumfänglich auf Grundlage der Gleichwertigkeitserklärung der Fachkommission Bautechnik angewendet werden. Trotz der Umstellung auf das europäische Konzept mit Einführung neu benannter Feuerwiderstandsklassen sind die bekannten Tabellen zur Ermittlung der Feuerwiderstandsdauer in Abhängigkeit der Wanddicke nahezu unverändert die maßgebenden Parameter auch bei der heißen Bemessung von Mauerwerk nach Eurocode 6. Die wenigen Änderungen und An‐passungen an den aktuellen Stand der Technik werden nachfolgend dargestellt und erläutert.

Structural fire design of masonry according to Eurocode 6. Publicating the National Annex to Eurocode 6 Part 1‐2 in July 2013 all essentials of structural fire design of masonry due to Eurocode 6 are available now. In practice Eurocode 6 is now allowed to be used in full extent in accordance with the equivalent introduction of the Fachkommission Bautechnik. Despite the changes to the european concept with implementation of new fire resistance classifications the already known tables to determine the fire resistance class depending on the thickness of the wall are nearly unchanged the decisive parameters for structural fire design according to Eurocode 6 as well. In the following the few changes and conversions to the state of the art are illustrated and explained.
CD27 costimulation contributes substantially to the expansion of functional memory CD8+T cells after peptide immunization
Authors: Taraban Vadim Y. , Rowley Tania F. , Kerr Jonathan P. , Willoughby Jane E. , Johnson Peter M. W. , Al‐Shamkhani Aymen , Buchan Sarah L.
Published: September 2013

Naive T cells require signals from multiple costimulatory receptors to acquire full effector function and differentiate to long‐lived memory cells. The costimulatory receptor, CD27, is essential for optimal T‐cell priming and memory differentiation in a variety of settings, although whether CD27 is similarly required during memory CD8+ T‐cell reactivation remains controversial. We have used OVA and anti‐CD40 to establish a memory CD8+ T‐cell population and report here that their secondary expansion, driven by peptide and anti‐CD40, polyI:C, or LPS, requires CD27. Furthermore, antigenic peptide and a soluble form of the CD27 ligand, CD70 (soluble recombinant CD70 (sCD70)), is sufficient for secondary memory CD8+ T‐cell accumulation at multiple anatomical sites, dependent on CD80/86. Prior to boost, resting effector‐ and central‐memory CD8+ T cells both expressed CD27 with greater expression on central memory cells. Nonetheless, both populations upregulated CD27 after TCR engagement and accumulated in proportion after boosting with Ag and sCD70. Mechanistically, sCD70 increased the frequency of divided and cytolytic memory T cells, conferred resistance to apoptosis and enabled retardation of tumor growth in vivo. These data demonstrate the central role played by CD27/70 during secondary CD8+ T‐cell activation to a peptide Ag, and identify sCD70 as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant for antitumor immunity.
c‐Rel in GVHD biology: A missing link
Authors: Amarnath Shoba
Published: September 2013

Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is a major complication associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Recent advances in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies with BMT include exploring mechanisms that can inhibit GVHD while maintaining graft‐versus‐leukemic (GVL) effects. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Yu et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013.43: 2327–2337] demonstrate efficient separation of GVHD and GVL by abrogating c‐Rel in T cells. Intrinsic c‐Rel deficiency in T cells resulted in complete protection against GVHD in both major and minor histocompatibility mismatched murine models of BMT. Protection against GVHD was associated with a decreased presence of Th1 and Th17 cells with a concomitant increase in Treg‐cell numbers. Interestingly, an intrinsic defect of c‐Rel also resulted in decreased expression of the Th1‐associated chemokine receptor CXCR3. Finally, the absence of c‐Rel maintained GVL effects with significant tumor clearance in murine recipients. These data suggest that specific targeting of the T‐cell‐specific transcription factor c‐Rel can inhibit GVHD while maintaining GVL effects.
Aluminum Acetals in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Boussonnière Anne , Bénéteau Romain , Lebreton Jacques , Dénès Fabrice
Published: September 2013

Aluminum acetals are easily obtained from esters and lactones by reduction with aluminum hydrides. These thermally unstable tetrahedral intermediates have found applications in organic synthesis, with various methodologies taking advantage both of the stabilities of these aluminum species at low temperatures and of their tendencies to undergo rearrangement into the corresponding aldehydes. Efficient one‐pot transformations can be achieved from aluminum acetals under ionic and radical conditions. A comprehensive overview of the reactivity of these species, including the most recent advances in this field, is presented in this microreview.
Particles small angle forward‐scattered light measurement based on photovoltaic cell microflow cytometer
Authors: Chen Han‐Taw , Fu Lung‐Ming , Huang Hsing‐Hui , Shu Wei‐En , Wang Yao‐Nan
Published: September 2013

A method is proposed for detecting microparticles in a microflow cytometer by means of small angle forward‐scattered light measurements. The proposed cytometer comprises a commercial photovoltaic cell, an adjustable power laser module, and a PDMS microfluidic chip. The detection performance of the proposed device is evaluated using particles with dimensions of 5, 8, 10, and 15 μm, respectively, given forward‐light scattering angles of 5 and 8° and laser powers ranging from 15–25 mW. It is shown that for a constant laser power and particle size, the S/N of the detected light signal increases with a reducing forward‐scattering angle. Moreover, for a constant forward‐scattering angle and particle size, the S/N increases with an increasing laser power. The intensity of the forward‐scattered light signal is found to vary linearly with the particle size and has a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.967, 0.967, and 0.963 given laser powers of 15, 20, and 25 mW, respectively, and a forward‐scattering angle of 5°. Moreover, the CV of the forward‐scattered light intensity is found to lie within the range of 20–30% for both forward‐scattering angles. Overall, the present results suggest that the proposed device has significant potential for detection applications in the medical, environmental monitoring, and biological science fields
A rapid, straightforward, and print house compatible mass fabrication method for integrating 3D paper‐based microfluidics
Authors: Xiao Liangpin , Liu Xianming , Zhong Runtao , Zhang Kaiqing , Zhang Xiaodi , Zhou Xiaomian , Lin Bingcheng , Du Yuguang
Published: September 2013

Three‐dimensional (3D) paper‐based microfluidics, which is featured with high performance and speedy determination, promise to carry out multistep sample pretreatment and orderly chemical reaction, which have been used for medical diagnosis, cell culture, environment determination, and so on with broad market prospect. However, there are some drawbacks in the existing fabrication methods for 3D paper‐based microfluidics, such as, cumbersome and time‐consuming device assembly; expensive and difficult process for manufacture; contamination caused by organic reagents from their fabrication process. Here, we present a simple printing–bookbinding method for mass fabricating 3D paper‐based microfluidics. This approach involves two main steps: (i) wax‐printing, (ii) bookbinding. We tested the delivery capability, diffusion rate, homogeneity and demonstrated the applicability of the device to chemical analysis by nitrite colorimetric assays. The described method is rapid (<30 s), cheap, easy to manipulate, and compatible with the flat stitching method that is common in a print house, making itself an ideal scheme for large‐scale production of 3D paper‐based microfluidics.
Remediation of NORM and TENORM contaminated sites—Review article
Authors: Abdel Rahman R. O. , Elmesawy Mohamed , Ashour I. , Hung Yung‐Tse
Published: September 2013

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) present in many natural resources, human activities that exploit these resources enhance the concentrations, solubility, and subsequently the exposure to these materials. NORM and Technically Enhanced NORM (TENORM) dispersion in soil, groundwater, and surface water has induced different contamination problems. Dealing with such problems differs from site to site depending on the associated risk. The development of green and sustainable remediation project aims to restore the contaminated sites to productive use and conserves undeveloped areas, minimize or eliminate the pollution source, reduce waste generation, and reduce the associated costs. This work is intended to highlight recent advances in remediation activities for NORM contaminated sites. The main aim is to identify difficulties that affect the application of different remediation technology. This will be achieved by reviewing advances in regulating NORM and TENORM, and site contamination assessment. Then different remediation technologies, their applicability and factors that affect the efficiency of the remediation process will be identified. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 588–596, 2014
Roles for HB‐EGF and CD9 in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Schenk Geert J. , Dijkstra Sipke , van het Hof Albertus J. , van der Pol Susanne M. A. , Drexhage Joost A. R. , van der Valk Paul , Reijerkerk Arie , van Horssen Jack , de Vries Helga E.
Published: September 2013

Early events in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion formation are loss of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, immune cell trafficking into the central nervous system, and demyelination. To date, the molecular mechanisms underlying these pathogenic events are poorly understood. Heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor (HB‐EGF) is a trophic factor that is induced by inflammatory stimuli and has previously been shown to interact with tetraspanins (TSPs), a family of transmembrane proteins that are involved in cellular migration and adhesion. Given the known roles of TSPs and HB‐EGF, we hypothesized that HB‐EGF and TSPs may play a role in the processes that underlie MS lesion formation. We examined the expression of HB‐EGF and the TSPs CD9 and CD81 in MS brain and found that HB‐EGF was highly induced in reactive astrocytes in active lesions. TSPs were constitutively expressed throughout normal appearing white matter and control white matter. In contrast, CD9 was reduced in demyelinated lesions and increased on blood vessels in lesion areas. In vitro studies revealed that expression of HB‐EGF and TSPs is regulated during inflammation. Importantly, blocking either HB‐EGF or CD9 significantly reduced the migration of monocytes across brain endothelial cell monolayers. Moreover, blocking CD9 strongly enhanced the barrier function of the BBB in vitro. Together, we demonstrate that these molecules are likely implicated in processes that are highly relevant for MS lesion formation, and therefore, HB‐EGF and TSPs are promising therapeutic targets. GLIA 2013;61:1890–1905
A review of current information and communication technologies: can they be used to assess apathy?
Authors: König Alexandra , Aalten Pauline , Verhey Frans , Bensadoun Gregory , Petit Pierre‐David , Robert Philippe , David Renaud
Published: September 2013

Background

Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as apathy, have an important impact on the quality of life of both patients diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers and represent a strong predictor of progression of the illness. Current clinical assessment methods risk bias resulting from the assessor's subjectivity, pointing to a need for additional objective and systematic assessment tools. Therefore, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) such as actigraphy and automatized video monitoring are of interest in addition to current assessment methods.

Aim

The goal of this study is to give an overview of current assessment tools for apathy in clinical practice and new approaches to assessment methods with the help ICT.

Methods

This study was conducted with the use of narrative literature overview.

Results

There is evidence that apart from the currently used assessment methods for apathy, new ICT approaches could provide clinicians with valuable additional information for an earlier detection and therefore more accurate diagnosis of apathy.

Conclusions

There are no ICT techniques specifically designed for the assessment of apathy, but nevertheless several techniques seem to be promising and deserve more study. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Event‐related fMRI at 7T reveals overlapping cortical representations for adjacent fingertips in S1 of individual subjects
Authors: Besle Julien , Sánchez‐Panchuelo Rosa‐Maria , Bowtell Richard , Francis Susan , Schluppeck Denis
Published: September 2013

Recent fMRI studies of the human primary somatosensory cortex have been able to differentiate the cortical representations of different fingertips at a single‐subject level. These studies did not, however, investigate the expected overlap in cortical activation due to the stimulation of different fingers. Here, we used an event‐related design in six subjects at 7 Tesla to explore the overlap in cortical responses elicited in S1 by vibrotactile stimulation of the five fingertips. We found that all parts of S1 show some degree of spatial overlap between the cortical representations of adjacent or even nonadjacent fingertips. In S1, the posterior bank of the central sulcus showed less overlap than regions in the post‐central gyrus, which responded to up to five fingertips. The functional properties of these two areas are consistent with the known layout of cytoarchitectonically defined subareas, and we speculate that they correspond to subarea 3b (S1 proper) and subarea 1, respectively. In contrast with previous fMRI studies, however, we did not observe discrete activation clusters that could unequivocally be attributed to different subareas of S1. Venous maps based on T2*‐weighted structural images suggest that the observed overlap is not driven by extra‐vascular contributions from large veins. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2027–2043, 2014. © 2013 The Authors Human Brain Mapping published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dopamine‐agonists and impulsivity in Parkinson's disease: Impulsive choices vs. impulsive actions
Authors: Antonelli Francesca , Ko Ji Hyun , Miyasaki Janis , Lang Anthony E. , Houle Sylvain , Valzania Franco , Ray Nicola J. , Strafella Antonio P.
Published: September 2013

The control of impulse behavior is a multidimensional concept subdivided into separate subcomponents, which are thought to represent different underlying mechanisms due to either disinhibitory processes or poor decision‐making. In patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), dopamine‐agonist (DA) therapy has been associated with increased impulsive behavior. However, the relationship among these different components in the disease and the role of DA is not well understood. In this imaging study, we investigated in PD patients the effects of DA medication on patterns of brain activation during tasks testing impulsive choices and actions. Following overnight withdrawal of antiparkinsonian medication, PD patients were studied with a H2 (15)O PET before and after administration of DA (1 mg of pramipexole), while they were performing the delay discounting task (DDT) and the GoNoGo Task (GNG). We observed that pramipexole augmented impulsivity during DDT, depending on reward magnitude and activated the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex and deactivated ventral striatum. In contrast, the effect of pramipexole during the GNG task was not significant on behavioral performance and involved different areas (i.e., lateral prefrontal cortex). A voxel‐based correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between the discounting value (k) and the activation of medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate suggesting that more impulsive patients had less activation in those cortical areas. Here we report how these different subcomponents of inhibition/impulsivity are differentially sensitive to DA treatment with pramipexole influencing mainly the neural network underlying impulsive choices but not impulsive action. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2499–2506, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The representation of oral fat texture in the human somatosensory cortex
Authors: Grabenhorst Fabian , Rolls Edmund T.
Published: September 2013

How fat is sensed in the mouth and represented in the brain is important in relation to the pleasantness of food, appetite control, and the design of foods that reproduce the mouthfeel of fat yet have low energy content. We show that the human somatosensory cortex (SSC) is involved in oral fat processing via functional coupling to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), where the pleasantness of fat texture is represented. Using functional MRI, we found that activity in SSC was more strongly correlated with the OFC during the consumption of a high fat food with a pleasant (vanilla) flavor compared to a low fat food with the same flavor. This effect was not found in control analyses using high fat foods with a less pleasant flavor or pleasant‐flavored low fat foods. SSC activity correlated with subjective ratings of fattiness, but not of texture pleasantness or flavor pleasantness, indicating a representation that is not involved in hedonic processing per se. Across subjects, the magnitude of OFC‐SSC coupling explained inter‐individual variation in texture pleasantness evaluations. These findings extend known SSC functions to a specific role in the processing of pleasant‐flavored oral fat, and identify a neural mechanism potentially important in appetite, overeating, and obesity. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2521–2530, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modeling activation and effective connectivity of VWFA in same script bilinguals
Authors: Boukrina Olga , Hanson Stephen Jose , Hanson Catherine
Published: September 2013

Previous neuroimaging research revealed a small area in the inferior occipito–temporal cortex (VWFA), which seems to be involved in recognition of written words. The specialized response of the VWFA to words could result from repeated exposure to print in the course of functional fine‐tuning of the brain. Research with bilingual speakers holds promise in helping to reveal response properties of the VWFA by assessing its sensitivity to language proficiency, word‐form similarity, and meaning overlap across two languages. Using fMRI, we compared VWFA activity for cognate and homograph prime‐target pairs in a group of fluent Spanish–English speakers. Cognates share form and meaning in two languages, while homographs only share form. Relative to baseline, the VWFA showed repetition suppression to pairs of homographs, but not to pairs of cognates, suggesting that this area is sensitive to word meaning. The different response to cognates and homographs was only observed when English was the prime language and Spanish was the target language. To help explain this result we compared patterns of effective connectivity between the VWFA and other parts of the reading network implicated in semantic and phonological processing. Our neural models showed that English targets engaged a direct ventral route from the VWFA to the frontal lobe and Spanish targets engaged an indirect dorsal route. Considering that frontal cortex has been implicated in semantic processing, a direct connection to this area could signal a fast and automatic access to meaning and would facilitate early semantic influences in visual word recognition. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2543–2560, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of ethnicity and improved outcome of acute myeloid leukaemia: two decades of follow‐up of Israeli patient cohort
Authors: Goldschmidt Neta , Cohen Sara B. , Gatt Moshe E. , Safrai Myriam , Rund Deborah
Published: September 2013

Acute myeloid leukaemia is a disease with unfavourable prognosis. The significance of various prognostic parameters is not fully understood. We studied 293 patients to examine the influence of ethnicity and molecular markers. The median survival for all patients was correlated with age, white blood cell count and karyotype, and marginally with FLT3 internal tandem duplication. Arab patients were younger than Jewish patients; however, their survival was poorer albeit being treated with the same protocols and having more favourable cytogenetics. Survival rates improved over time but only for patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT). We conclude that in our young patient cohort, recent improvement in survival is attributed to alloBMT therapy and that ethnicity affected treatment outcome. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of self‐regulated decision making on career path and major‐related career choice satisfaction
Authors: Eun HaeYoung , Sohn Young Woo , Lee Suran
Published: September 2013

The present research examined the influence of self‐regulated decision making on satisfaction in career path (college major for Study 1, job for Study 2) and major‐related career choice. Results indicate a full mediating effect of fit in the relationship between self‐regulated decision making and satisfaction in career path. Self‐regulated decision making also influenced major–job congruence via satisfaction with a participant's college major. Findings suggest that individuals who possess self‐regulatory ability in decision‐making contexts were more likely to choose majors and jobs of good fit, experience satisfaction from their career decisions, and choose careers relevant to their college majors.
Two‐dimensional replica‐exchange method for predicting protein–ligand binding structures
Authors: Kokubo Hironori , Tanaka Toshimasa , Okamoto Yuko
Published: September 2013

We have developed a two‐dimensional replica‐exchange method for the prediction of protein–ligand binding structures. The first dimension is the umbrella sampling along the reaction coordinate, which is the distance between a protein binding pocket and a ligand. The second dimension is the solute tempering, in which the interaction between a ligand and a protein and water is weakened. The second dimension is introduced to make a ligand follow the umbrella potential more easily and enhance the binding events, which should improve the sampling efficiency. As test cases, we applied our method to two protein‐ligand complex systems (MDM2 and HSP 90‐alpha). Starting from the configuration in which the protein and the ligand are far away from each other in each system, our method predicted the ligand binding structures in excellent agreement with the experimental data from Protein Data Bank much faster with the improved sampling efficiency than the replica‐exchange umbrella sampling method that we have previously developed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale: Factor Structure in Chronic Pain Patients
Authors: Kökönyei Gyöngyi , Urbán Róbert , Reinhardt Melinda , Józan Anna , Demetrovics Zsolt
Published: September 2013

Objective

Research suggests that emotions and emotion regulation processes can influence both the sensory (e.g., intensity) and the affective (unpleasantness) components of pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure and validity of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz and Roemer, 2004) in medical sample with persistent pain.

Method

Data were collected from 207 chronic pain patients (82.6% female; mean age = 51.96). We applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test measurement model of emotion dysregulation and CFA with covariates to test construct and convergent validity of the DERS.

Results

The original factor structure of the DERS was not supported in our medical sample. However, after some modifications the DERS yielded good fit. Validity of the DERS was confirmed. All the subscales had significant relationship with depression measure, and all the subscales except one correlated with Difficulties in Identifying Feelings component of alexithymia.

Conclusions

The DERS proved to be an adequate measure of clinically relevant dimensions of emotional dysregulation in chronic pain patients.
Wnt16 is Involved in Intramembranous Ossification and Suppresses Osteoblast Differentiation Through the Wnt/β‐Catenin Pathway
Authors: Jiang Zheng , Von den Hoff Johannes W. , Torensma Ruurd , Meng Liuyan , Bian Zhuan
Published: September 2013

In the course of embryonic development skeletal elements form either through intramembranous or endochondral ossification. Wnt proteins play diverse roles during vertebrate skeletal development. Wnt16 is a key factor in developing long bones, but its exact role in craniofacial bone formation remains unclear. This study was initially undertaken to investigate the expression of Wnt16 during craniofacial bone development in mouse embryos. Wnt16 expression in the osteoid of calvaria, maxilla, and mandible started later than that of ALP and osteocalcin (OCN), but before mineralization of the craniofacial bones, suggesting that Wnt16 is involved in intramembranous ossification in the head. To confirm this, MC3T3‐E1 cells were transfected with an adenovirus containing Wnt16 (Ad‐Wnt16). Ad‐Wnt16 cells showed decreased ALP activity and less mineralized nodule formations compared with control cells. In addition, the mRNA levels of osteogenic markers were reduced. Moreover, Wnt16 activated β‐catenin signaling in MC3T3‐E1 cells at both transcription and protein levels as shown by a TOPflash luciferase reporter gene assay and western blot analysis. On the other hand, Wnt/β‐catenin pathway blockade by Dickkopf 1 abrogated the suppression of mineralization by Wnt16. Our findings suggest that Wnt16 is involved in intramembranous ossification and suppresses osteoblast differentiation through the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 384–392, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Angiotensin II Activation of TRPC6 Channels in Rat Podocytes Requires Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Anderson Marc , Roshanravan Hila , Khine Justin , Dryer Stuart E.
Published: September 2013

Angiotensin II (AII) plays a major role in the progression of chronic kidney diseases. Podocytes are essential components of the ultrafiltration apparatus, and are targets for AII signaling. AII has been shown to increase generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in podocytes. Canonical transient receptor potential‐6 (TRPC6) channels stimulate Ca2+ influx in podocytes, and have been implicated in glomerular disease. We observed that AII increased cationic currents in rat podocytes in an isolated glomerulus preparation in which podocytes are still attached to the underlying capillary. This effect was completely blocked by SKF‐96365, by micromolar La3+, and by siRNA knockdown of TRPC6, indicating that TRPC6 is the primary source of Ca2+ influx mobilized by endogenously expressed angiotensin II receptors in these cells. These responses were also blocked by the AT1R antagonist losartan, the phospholipase C inhibitor D‐609, and by inhibition of G protein signaling. The pan‐protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine had no effect. Importantly, pretreating podocytes with the ROS quencher manganese (III) tetrakis (4‐benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP) eliminated AII activation of TRPC6. Significant reductions of AII effects on podocyte TRPC6 were also observed after pretreatment with NADPH oxidase inhibitors apocynin or diphenylene iodonium (DPI). These data suggest that ROS production permits activation of TRPC6 channels by G protein and PLC‐dependent cascades initiated by AII acting on AT1Rs in podocytes. This pathway also provides a basis whereby two forms of cellular stress—oxidative stress and Ca2+ overload—converge on common pathways relevant to disease. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 434–442, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Estrogen favors the differentiation of ovarian tissues in the ambisexual gonads of anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii
Authors: Miura Saori , Kobayashi Yasuhisa , Bhandari Ramji Kumar , Nakamura Masaru
Published: September 2013

All undifferentiated gonads of anemonefish first differentiate into ovaries, and then testicular tissue appear among ovarian tissue, and finally form ambisexual gonads with both ovarian and testicular tissues. The role of estradiol‐17beta (E2) in differentiation of ovarian cells is well conserved across phyla; however, its role in development of ambisexual gonads is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the E2 produced during the differentiation of ovarian cells does not allow testicular cells to differentiate in the prospective ambisexual gonad. We examined the immunolocalization of the steroidogenic enzyme cytochrome aromatase (P450arom), which is involved in E2 production. In the gonads, numbers of the P450arom‐positive cells increased during ovarian differentiation. However, immunopositive cells with weak signal intensity were seen in the interstitial areas among oocytes and between oocytes and testicular tissue undergoing testicular differentiation. In contrast, P450arom‐positive cells were not found in any testicular tissues of the ambisexual gonads. We also examined changes in E2 production in vitro in the gonads during testicular differentiation. E2 was high in the ovaries before the appearance all of testicular tissue, and decreased accompanying the differentiation of testicular tissue. These results suggest a balance of estrogen/androgen seems to be important during sex differentiation, and then a shift from estrogen to androgen production may induce testicular differentiation in the ovary. Further, exogenous E2 treatment suppressed naturally occurring differentiation of testicular cells forming exclusively ovarian tissues in the gonad in vivo, suggesting the increase of estrogen blocks the differentiation of testicular tissue and the formation of ambisexual gonad. J. Exp. Zool. 319A: 560–568, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alaska megathrust 1: Seismicity 43 years after the great 1964 Alaska megathrust earthquake
Authors: Li Jiyao , Abers Geoffrey A. , Kim YoungHee , Christensen Douglas
Published: September 2013

The largest moment release during the 1964 Mw 9.2 Alaska earthquake was on the portion of the megathrust under the eastern Kenai Peninsula and the Prince William Sound. The area is currently locked geodetically and corresponds to where the Yakutat terrane is subducting. In 2006–2009, a seismic array consisting of 34 broadband seismometers was deployed in the region. An automatic algorithm was used to detect 12,563 local earthquakes using 13 months of data from the experiment. Of these, 9427 good quality earthquakes could be relocated in a joint inversion for hypocenters and velocity structure. They were then relocated by double difference to generate a final catalog of 8308 hypocenters. These microearthquakes delineate a deeper steeply dipping Wadati‐Benioff zone contiguous with an 11 km wide seismic zone dipping at 3° between 20 km and 40 km depth along the 1964 earthquake's rupture zone. Focal mechanisms do not show interplate thrust faulting events, but mostly normal faulting events with T axes generally parallel the slab dip direction, indicating them to be intraslab seismicity. The shallow narrow band of seismicity lies within the subducting Yakutat terrane and right below the thrust zone. Possibly, thrust faulting has not yet resumed yet in this early phase of the earthquake cycle. Thick subducted sediments overlying the Yakutat terrane could also form a large strong contact zone on a relatively smooth plate boundary, which does not favor seismic sliding on small patches but ruptures homogenously in great earthquakes.
Moho interface beneath Yakutat terrane, southern Alaska
Authors: Christeson G. L. , Van Avendonk H. J. A. , Gulick S. P. S. , Reece R. S. , Pavlis G. L. , Pavlis T. L.
Published: September 2013

We use air gun shots recorded by ocean‐bottom and land seismometers to constrain a 3‐D velocity structure and a Moho interface depth for the Yakutat terrane in southern Alaska. We use a tomographic inversion of ~61,000 first‐arrival picks from 64 receivers to create a 3‐D velocity model. The average velocity‐depth function north of the coastline has velocities at the surface of ~4–5 km/s, increasing to velocities of >6 km/s at ~12–13 km below the surface. Average velocities at the surface are slower near the coast (3.8 km/s) than under the highest topography (4.7 km/s). We carry out an interface inversion of ~19,000 PmP reflection picks from 50 receivers to constrain a 2‐D Moho interface model. The average Moho depth of the Yakutat terrane in the marine portion of our study area is ~30 km, but depth rapidly increases onshore to 40–45 km beneath the high topography of the Chugach‐St. Elias Mountains. Moho depths are consistent with Airy isostasy beneath the orogen. Our data set supports a continuous Moho at the base of the Yakutat terrane, with no evidence for Pacific oceanic crust underthrusting the Yakutat terrane. We present several geologic models for crustal thickening beneath the Chugach‐St. Elias orogen that are consistent with the seismic observations and surface geology and compare these models with geologic mapping in the region. We argue that crustal thickening and topography at the Chugach‐St. Elias Mountains is obtained via a duplex system that produces a vertically growing antiformal stack of sedimentary and metasedimentary material.
Chordal 2‐Connected Graphs and Spanning Trees
Authors: Bogdanowicz Zbigniew R.
Published: September 2013

We present a transformation on a chordal 2‐connected simple graph that decreases the number of spanning trees. Based on this transformation, we show that for positive integers n, m with , the threshold graph having n vertices and m edges that consists of an ‐clique and vertices of degree 2 is the only graph with the fewest spanning trees among all 2‐connected chordal graphs on n vertices and m edges.
Marked induction of matrix metalloproteinase‐10 by respiratory syncytial virus infection in human nasal epithelial cells
Authors: Hirakawa Satoshi , Kojima Takashi , Obata Kazufumi , Okabayashi Tamaki , Yokota Shin‐ichi , Nomura Kazuaki , Obonai Toshimasa , Fuchimoto Jun , Himi Tetsuo , Tsutsumi Hiroyuki , Sawada Norimasa
Published: September 2013

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important pathogen of bronchiolitis, asthma, and severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play key roles in viral infection, inflammation and remodeling of the airway. However, the roles and regulation of MMPs in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) after RSV infection remain unclear. To investigate the regulation of MMP induced after RSV infection in HNECs, an RSV‐infected model of HNECs in vitro was used. It was found that mRNA of MMP‐10 was markedly increased in HNECs after RSV infection, together with induction of mRNAs of MMP‐1, ‐7, ‐9, and ‐19. The amount of MMP‐10 released from HNECs was also increased in a time‐dependent manner after RSV infection as was that of chemokine RANTES. The upregulation of MMP‐10 in HNECs after RSV infection was prevented by inhibitors of NF‐κB and pan‐PKC with inhibition of RSV replication, whereas it was prevented by inhibitors of JAK/STAT, MAPK, and EGF receptors without inhibition of RSV replication. In lung tissue of an infant with severe RSV infection in which a few RSV antibody‐positive macrophages were observed, MMP‐10 was expressed at the apical side of the bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells. In conclusion, MMP‐10 induced by RSV infection in HNECs is regulated via distinct signal transduction pathways with or without relation to RSV replication. MMP‐10 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RSV diseases and it has the potential to be a novel marker and therapeutic target for RSV infection. J. Med. Virol. 85:2141–2150, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recurrence of another hepatitis B virus escape mutant comes back in a patient infected with HIV and low CD4+ count
Authors: Milazzo Laura , Ebranati Erika , Cattaneo Dario , Gabanelli Elena , Lai Alessia , Zehender Gianguglielmo , Gervasoni Cristina
Published: September 2013

The case of an HIV‐positive patient who cleared formerly acute HBV infection and experienced HBV exacerbation before starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) followed by a severe elevation of liver enzymes one month after the introduction of ART is reported. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of a subgenotype A2 carrying at least seven different mutations within the S protein and high lopinavir plasma concentrations. Irrespectively of the many possible mechanisms of HBV reactivation in patients infected with HIV (escape mutants selection, host immune deficiency progression, antiretroviral‐related immune reconstitution, glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapy), the message is that HIV patients should be monitored strictly not only by serological and virological assays to recognize early HBV reactivation, but also for drug over‐exposure. J. Med. Virol. 86:97–101, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular identification and characterization ofFusariumspp. associated with sorghum seeds
Authors: Divakara Shetty Thimmappa , Santosh Parthasarathy , Aiyaz Mohammed , Venkata Ramana Mudili , Hariprasad Puttaswamy , Nayaka Siddaih Chandra , Niranjana Siddapura Ramachandrappa
Published: September 2013

BACKGROUND

Fusariumspp. are not only pathogenic to plants but are also known as toxin producers that negatively affect animal and human health. The identification ofFusariumspp. remains one of the most critical issues in fungal taxonomy. In this study, different strains ofFusariumspp. were isolated from sorghum seed samples and identified at the molecular level bytef‐1αgene amplification. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay was developed to differentiate toxigenic and non‐toxigenicFusariumspp. by designing a primer for theFum21gene along with theFum1andFum8genes. A competitive direct enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (CD‐ELISA) was employed to assess the fumonisin‐producing ability ofFusariumspp. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using partial sequences oftef‐1αand inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers of differentFusariumspp.

RESULTS

All 27 isolates ofFusariumspp. were positive for thetef‐1αgene and revealed the presence ofF. verticillioides,F. thapsinaandF. cf.incarnatum‐equiseticomplex. The standardizedmPCRassay distinguished toxigenic and non‐toxigenicF. verticillioides. Further,mPCRfumonisin‐positiveF. verticillioidesisolates were also positive byCD‐ELISA. Thetef‐1αgene sequence was found to be useful in revealing intraspecific polymorphism to some extent.ISSRmarkers revealed a high level of polymorphism among different isolates ofFusariumspp., and the dendrogram ofISSRanalyses grouped the 27 isolates into two major clusters.

CONCLUSION

The present method provided rapid and reliable detection of fumonisin‐producingFusariumspp. ThemPCRassay could be an alternative strategy to current conventional mycotoxin analytical techniques and a reliable tool for high‐throughput monitoring of major mycotoxin‐producing fungi during the processing steps of food and feed commodities. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Mechanisms of Multiple Types of Lamellae and Spherulites in Poly(l‐lactic acid) Interacting with Poly(4‐vinyl phenol)
Authors: Nurkhamidah Siti , Woo Eamor M.
Published: September 2013

Multiple types of crystalline morphology are present in low‐molecular‐weight poly(l‐lactic acid) (LMw‐PLLA) upon blending with poly(vinyl phenol) (PVPh) with 70/30 composition. In such a mixture, three different types of spherulite co‐exist at the same crystallization temperature (Tc = 120 °C), code‐named as Type‐1, Type‐2, and Type‐3, as distinguished from their shape, birefringence, and optical signs. The PLLA molecular weights, the presence of amorphous PVPh, and Tc, etc., are factors for the formation of three uniquely different types of spherulite in PLLA. On increasing Tc from 120 to 130 °C, only hexagonal crystals (Type‐1), can be observed. Spherical‐shape lamellar plates at Tc = 120 °C undergo transformation to stretched‐lamellae plates, Tc = 130 °C, due to the increasing growth rate with increasing Tc.

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Synthetic Glycopolypeptides as Potential Inhibitory Agents for Dendritic Cells and HIV‐1 Trafficking
Authors: Huang Jin , Zhang Qiang , Li Guang‐Zhao , Haddleton David M. , Wallis Russell , Mitchell Daniel , Heise Andreas , Becer C. Remzi
Published: September 2013

Multivalent binding is a key for many critical biological processes and unique recognition and specificity in binding enables many of different glycans and proteins to work in a great harmony within the human body. In this study, the binding kinetics of synthetic glycopolypeptides to the dendritic cell lectin DC‐SIGN and their inhibition potential for DC‐SIGN interactions with the gp120 envelope glycoprotein of HIV‐1 (gp120) are investigated.

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Single versus dual venous anastomoses of the free fibula osteocutaneous flap in mandibular reconstruction: A retrospective study
Authors: Han Zhengxue , Li Jinzhong , Li Hua , Su Ming , Qin Lizheng
Published: September 2013

Objective

The present study was to compare the success rates of single venous anastomosis with dual venous anastomoses of the free fibula osteocutaneous flap in mandibular reconstruction.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective review of all cases of mandibular reconstruction using free fibula osteocutaneous flaps performed by a single surgeon in our department during the period January 2005 to April 2012. All the flaps were harvested and transplanted by the standard protocols. Microvascular anastomosis of either one or two veins was performed. In addition to routine clinical evaluation, the viability of the flap was evaluated by a portable Doppler at the tenth day after surgery.

Results

Two hundred and one free fibula osteocutaneous flaps were performed during this time period. Single venous anastomosis was performed in 112 flaps and dual venous anastomoses were performed in 89 flaps. The overall incidence of vascular thrombosis was 3%, and the success rate of the transplantation was 98.5%. Six cases developed vascular thrombosis postoperatively. One was arterial thrombosis that occurred 12 hours after initial operation in the dual venous anastomoses group. Three venous thrombosis occurred 24 hr after the operation in the single venous anastomosis group. In dual venous anastomoses group, two venous thrombosis occurred 3–4 days after initial operation and attempt to salvage failed in both the cases. Fisher's exact test showed that there was no significant difference of the success rate between single and dual anastomoses groups (P = 0.59).

Conclusions

There is no difference in success rates between single venous anastomosis and dual venous anastomoses for mandibular reconstruction with free fibula osteocutaneous flap. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 33:652–655, 2013.
Rapid hybrid encoding for high‐resolution whole‐brain fluid‐attenuated imaging
Authors: Lee Hoonjae , Sohn Chul‐Ho , Park Jaeseok
Published: September 2013

Single‐slab three‐dimensional (3D) turbo spin‐echo (TSE) imaging combined with inversion recovery (IR), which employs short, spatially non‐selective refocusing pulses and signal prescription based variable refocusing flip angles (VFA) to increase imaging efficiency, was recently introduced to produce fluid‐attenuated brain images for lesion detection. Despite the advantages, the imaging efficiency in this approach still remains limited because a substantially long time of inversion is needed to selectively suppress the signal intensity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) while fully recovering that of brain tissues. The purpose of this work is to develop a novel, rapid hybrid encoding method for highly efficient whole‐brain fluid‐attenuated imaging. In each time of repetition, volumetric data are continuously encoded using the hybrid modular acquisition in a sequential fashion even during IR signal transition, wherein reversed fast imaging with steady‐state free precession (PSIF) is employed to encode intermediate‐to‐high spatial frequency signals prior to CSF nulling, while VFA–TSE is used to collect low‐to‐intermediate spatial frequency signals afterwards. Gradient‐induced spin de‐phasing between a pair of neighboring radio‐frequency (RF) pulses in both PSIF and TSE modules is kept identical to avoid the occurrence of multiple echoes in a single acquisition window. Additionally, a two‐step, alternate RF phase‐cycling scheme is employed in the low spatial frequency region to eliminate free induction decay induced edge artifacts. Numerical simulations of the Bloch equations were performed to evaluate signal evolution of brain tissues along the echo train while optimizing imaging parameters. In vivo studies demonstrate that the proposed technique produces high‐resolution isotropic fluid‐attenuated whole‐brain images in a clinically acceptable imaging time with substantially high signal‐to‐noise ratio for white matter while retaining lesion conspicuity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.