bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of B-mode imaging and acousto-photonic sensing using a commercial ultrasound scanner
Authors: Bossy Emmanuel , Sui Lei , Murray Todd W. , Roy Ronald A.
Published: September 2013

The acousto-photonic imaging (API) of a turbid medium is based on the interaction of multiply scattered coherent laser light with an ultrasonic field. The two waves mix and the photons emanating from the interaction region are phase modulated at the ultrasound frequency. This technique yields information on the optical and acoustical properties of the medium, with the interaction region defined by the dimension of the ultrasonic beam. We investigated the feasibility of combining conventional B-mode ultrasound imaging and API in vitro, using a commercial medical scanner (Analogic AN2300). The AN2300 was used to both generate the B-mode images and excite API signals. Gel-based acousto-optic phantoms were fabricated; these contained imbedded targets possessing acoustical and/or optical contrast. Analogous to power Doppler measurements, B-mode images were first acquired and then used to select regions of interest within which API signals were generated. API information was then color-coded and superimposed on top of the frozen B-mode image. Preliminary results show that API signals can be excited using a commercial scanner, and serve to augment conventional B-mode images with information related to the opto-acoustic properties of the medium. [Work supported by the Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems via NSF ERC Award Number EEC-9986821.]
Ultrasonic attenuation in Voronoi polycrystals
Authors: Turner Joseph A. , Ghoshal Goutam
Published: September 2013

Studies of elastic wave scattering in polycrystalline media are applicable to ultrasonic materials characterization and nondestructive evaluation. Ultrasonic attenuation is used to extract microstructural parameters such as grain size and grain texture. The relations between experimental data and microstructural information require ultrasonic scattering models that often oversimplify real microstructures. Here, these relations are examined in terms of numerical simulations of elastic waves through two-dimensional polycrystals. The numerical models, based on the Voronoi polycrystal, have been shown to model accurately the microstructure of polycrystalline metals and ceramics. Methods of creating Voronoi polycrystals with appropriate microstructure, including grain elongation and grain orientation, are first discussed followed by discussions of the wave propagation. The wave simulations are based on the discretization of these Voronoi cells, using finite elements, which are then integrated directly in time using ABAQUS/Explicit software. The material properties of the individual Voronoi cells are chosen according to appropriate material distributions. Here, the focus is on cubic crystals that are either statistically isotropic or transversely isotropic. Attenuation results for longitudinal waves are presented and compared with scattering theories for materials of common interest. These simulations provide insight into the attenuation models relevant for ultrasonic measurements involving polycrystalline materials.
Acoustic video streaming in a waveguide
Authors: Roux Philippe , Sarkar Jit , Kuperman W. A. , Hodgkiss W. S. , Song Hee Chun , Akal Tuncay , Stevenson Mark
Published: September 2013

The use of two vertical arrays (a source and a receiver array) yields the recording of the broadband tranfer matrix in a waveguide. Using time-reversal focusing in this geometry, we have experimentally demonstrated at sea the ability to focus on any receiver array element. Furthermore, we have also shown the possibility to achieve simultaneous multiple foci on different elements of the receiver array. Much like the old dot-matrix printers that used linear arrays of pins to create pixels on paper and thus form an image, we now investigate the use of multiple focal spots on the receiver array elements to create pixels in space-time. Vertical resolution is limited by the number of elements in the receiver array, while horizontal resolution is limited by the frequency bandwidth of the transducers. This acoustic TV opens up the possibility of transmitting full-motion video through an acoustic waveguide, which is a potentially robust form of communication as the human eye is able to recognize images even after considerable loss in quality.
A portable system for marine mammal auditory-evoked potential measurements
Authors: Finneran James J. , Houser Dorian S.
Published: September 2013

Limitations to behavioral measures of hearing sensitivity in marine mammals include the time and expense typically required to train subjects. These limitations have resulted in limited subjects and lingering questions regarding intraspecific variability. An alternative to behavioral methods is the electrophysiological method, where passive electrodes are used to measure auditory-evoked potentials (AEPs) generated by the brain in response to sound stimuli. Marine mammal AEP measurements have been limited by the complexity of the technique and the limited applicability of commercially available AEP systems. In this paper, a portable, laptop computer-based system for marine mammal AEP measurements will be presented. The system features commercial off-the-shelf components, including a data acquisition PC card, biopotential amplifier, and programmable attenuator. The system is housed in a rugged, shock-resistant case. Custom software is used to present sound stimuli, record evoked responses, and analyze the resulting data. The system has been used to measure auditory brainstem responses to clicks and tone pips and envelope following responses to amplitude-modulated tones in bottlenose dolphins. Preliminary data obtained with the system will be presented and compared to behavioral hearing measures. [Work supported by the ILIR at SPAWARSYSCEN-SD and the ONR.]
Ultrasonographic findings in adult cattle with chronic suppurative pneumonia
Authors: Scott Phil
Published: September 2013

Chronic suppurative pneumonia is a common condition affecting cattle. Accurate diagnosis and delineation of pathology prove difficult when based on lung auscultation. Ultrasonography has been used in bovine fertility management for over 25 years, but it is less commonly used to examine the lungs and pleurae of cattle with suspected respiratory disease. This article presents a series of sonograms obtained from the same animals using both 5MHz linear and 5MHz sector scanners, and correlates the findings with postmortem examination material wherever possible.
STUDY OF THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PIEZOELECTRIC MICROCANTILEVER PROBE
Authors: LIU AN-PING , SUN XIAO-NAN , YAO XING-XING
Published: September 2013

A piezoelectric microcantilever probe is designed for the scanning probe microscope working in tapping mode, and the dynamic characteristics of the piezoelectric microcantilever probe are tested by experiments. The results indicate that due to the resonance effect, induced voltage and sensitivity of microcantilever are not only associated with force magnitude, but also with the force frequency. When the frequency is close to the first natural frequency 97.04 Hz, the output voltage rapidly increases and reaches a maximum value 62.0 mV. The peak voltage value and its position change as the structure size changes. In dynamic mode, the peak voltage is an order of magnitude higher than that in the static mode, and the dynamic mode is more sensitive. Selecting a reasonable size for the device can help to improve the first-order natural frequency and improve the response speed of piezoelectric microcantilever probe during nanomicro detecting.
A THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF ZnMgO/ZnO HETEROJUNCTION FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR
Authors: AMIRABBASI MOHAMMAD
Published: September 2013

In this paper, I have tried to analyze the electrical properties and the experimental data related to drain current–drain voltage of the Zn 0.7 Mg 0.3 O / ZnO / Zn 0.7 Mg 0.3 O heterojunction field effect transistor by use of Hoffman nonideal model theoretically. Also by use of different scattering mechanisms in two-dimensional electron gas structures, I have studied the electrical transport properties of this structure and most important effective parameters for controlling electron mobility in the range of 75 to 300 K have been studied theoretically.
AN IMPRECISE BOOSTING-LIKE APPROACH TO CLASSIFICATION
Authors: UTKIN LEV V.
Published: September 2013

A new approach for ensemble construction based on restricting a set of weights of examples in training data to avoid overfitting is proposed in the paper. The algorithm called EPIBoost (Extreme Points Imprecise Boost) applies imprecise statistical models to restrict the set of weights. The updating of the weights within the restricted set is carried out by using its extreme points. The approach allows us to construct various algorithms by applying different imprecise statistical models for producing the restricted set. It is shown by various numerical experiments with real data sets that the EPIBoost algorithm may outperform the standard AdaBoost for some parameters of imprecise statistical models.
A 3.1 GB/s, 8 Kb, ZERO PRECHARGE, PIPELINED, HIGHLY STABLE 2-PORT 8T SRAM DESIGN IN 65 nm
Authors: SIL ABHIJIT , BALUSU KRISHNA PRASAD , GURRAM CHANDRA SEKHAR , BAYOUMI MAGDY
Published: September 2013

As the supply voltage is reducing with feature size, SRAM cell design is going through severe stability issues. The issue becomes worse due to increased variability in below sub-100 nm technology. In this paper, we present a highly stable 2-port 8T SRAM cell for high speed application in 65 nm technology. The proposed design provides high stability under simultaneous read/write disturbed access without reducing the I cell . The cell characteristic is extensively examined under random variation. The dynamic read noise margin is improved by 95% over conventional dual port SRAM. The zero-precharge sensing and virtual ground scheme reduce read path leakage current by 95% over conventional high precharge 2-port SRAM cell. The cell current is improved by 52% over conventional design. Finally, an 8 Kb bit-interleaved 2-stage pipelined SRAM architecture is presented using proposed cell. The 2-stage pipeline architecture provides data transfer bandwidth of 3.1 GB/s. Area-efficient 2-stage decoder layout helps to avoid pseudo read problem in unselected cells without sacrificing memory access time.
RESOURCE ORIENTED WORKFLOW NETS AND WORKFLOW RESOURCE REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS
Authors: WANG JIACUN , LI DEMIN
Published: September 2013

Petri nets are a powerful formalism in modeling workflows. A workflow determines the flow of work according to pre-defined business process. In many situations, business processes are constrained by scarce resources. The lack of resources can cause contention, the need for some tasks to wait for others to complete, which slows down the accomplishment of larger goals. In our previous work, a resource-constrained workflow model was introduced and a resource requirement analysis approach was developed for emergency response workflows, in which support of on-the-fly workflow change is critical [14]. In this paper, we propose a Petri net based approach for recourse requirements analysis, which can be used for more general purposes. The concept of resource-oriented workflow nets (ROWN) is introduced and the transition firing rules of ROWN are presented. Resource requirements for general workflows can be done through reachability analysis. An efficient resource analysis algorithm is developed for a class of well-structured workflows, in which when a task execution is started it is guaranteed to finish successfully. For a task that may fail in the middle of execution, an equivalent non-failing task model in terms of resource consumption is developed.
Internal Wave Breaking and Dissipation Mechanisms on the Continental Slope/Shelf
Authors: Lamb Kevin G.
Published: September 2013

Internal waves are important physical phenomena on the continental shelf/slope. They are often very energetic, and their breaking provides an important dissipation and mixing mechanism, with implications for biological productivity and sediment transport. Internal waves appear in a variety of forms and can break in a variety of ways. A consequence of their dispersion properties is the breaking of waves reflecting from, or being generated at, near-critical slopes. Breaking mechanisms associated with internal solitary waves include bottom boundary layer instabilities, shear instabilities in the interior of the water column, and wave overturning as they shoal. Shoaling can result in the formation of waves with trapped cores either at the surface or at the bottom. Theoretical, numerical, and laboratory studies have largely focused on simple geometries, whereas recent work has shown that the situation in the ocean is often much more complicated because of more complex geometries and the presence of a full hierarchy of fluid motions.
SIR Proteins and the Assembly of Silent Chromatin in Budding Yeast
Authors: Kueng Stephanie , Oppikofer Mariano , Gasser Susan M.
Published: September 2013

Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides a well-studied model system for heritable silent chromatin in which a histone-binding protein complex [the SIR (silent information regulator) complex] represses gene transcription in a sequence-independent manner by spreading along nucleosomes, much like heterochromatin in higher eukaryotes. Recent advances in the biochemistry and structural biology of the SIR-chromatin system bring us much closer to a molecular understanding of yeast silent chromatin. Simultaneously, genome-wide approaches have shed light on the biological importance of this form of epigenetic repression. Here, we integrate genetic, structural, and cell biological data into an updated overview of yeast silent chromatin assembly.
Expanding Horizons: Ciliary Proteins Reach Beyond Cilia
Authors: Yuan Shiaulou , Sun Zhaoxia
Published: September 2013

Once obscure, the cilium has come into the spotlight during the past decade. It is now clear that aside from generating locomotion by motile cilia, both motile and immotile cilia serve as signaling platforms for the cell. Through both motility and sensory functions, cilia play critical roles in development, homeostasis, and disease. To date, the cilium proteome contains more than 1,000 different proteins, and human genetics is identifying new ciliopathy genes at an increasing pace. Although assigning a function to immotile cilia was a challenge not so long ago, the myriad of signaling pathways, proteins, and biological processes associated with the cilium have now created a new obstacle: how to distill all these interactions into specific themes and mechanisms that may explain how the organelle serves to maintain organism homeostasis. Here, we review the basics of cilia biology, novel functions associated with cilia, and recent advances in cilia genetics, and on the basis of this framework, we further discuss the meaning and significance of ciliary connections.
The Digestive Tract of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Lemaitre Bruno , Miguel-Aliaga Irene
Published: September 2013

The digestive tract plays a central role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Far from being a passive tube, it provides the first line of defense against pathogens and maintains energy homeostasis by exchanging neuronal and endocrine signals with other organs. Historically neglected, the gut of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has recently come to the forefront of Drosophila research. Areas as diverse as stem cell biology, neurobiology, metabolism, and immunity are benefitting from the ability to study the genetics of development, growth regulation, and physiology in the same organ. In this review, we summarize our knowledge of the Drosophila digestive tract, with an emphasis on the adult midgut and its functional underpinnings.
Is Adolescence a Sensitive Period for Sociocultural Processing?
Authors: Blakemore Sarah-Jayne , Mills Kathryn L.
Published: September 2013

Adolescence is a period of formative biological and social transition. Social cognitive processes involved in navigating increasingly complex and intimate relationships continue to develop throughout adolescence. Here, we describe the functional and structural changes occurring in the brain during this period of life and how they relate to navigating the social environment. Areas of the social brain undergo both structural changes and functional reorganization during the second decade of life, possibly reflecting a sensitive period for adapting to one's social environment. The changes in social environment that occur during adolescence might interact with increasing executive functions and heightened social sensitivity to influence a number of adolescent behaviors. We discuss the importance of considering the social environment and social rewards in research on adolescent cognition and behavior. Finally, we speculate about the potential implications of this research for society.
Covering-Based Rough Sets on Eulerian Matroids
Authors: Yang Bin , Lin Ziqiong , Zhu William
Published: September 2013

Rough set theory is an efficient and essential tool for dealing with vagueness and granularity in information systems. Covering-based rough set theory is proposed as a significant generalization of classical rough sets. Matroid theory is a vital structure with high applicability and borrows extensively from linear algebra and graph theory. In this paper, one type of covering-based approximations is studied from the viewpoint of Eulerian matroids. First, we explore the circuits of an Eulerian matroid from the perspective of coverings. Second, this type of covering-based approximations is represented by the circuits of Eulerian matroids. Moreover, the conditions under which the covering-based upper approximation operator is the closure operator of a matroid are presented. Finally, a matroidal structure of covering-based rough sets is constructed. These results show many potential connections between covering-based rough sets and matroids.
Automatic Evaluation of Progression Angle and Fetal Head Station through Intrapartum Echographic Monitoring
Authors: Casciaro Sergio , Conversano Francesco , Casciaro Ernesto , Soloperto Giulia , Perrone Emanuele , Di Renzo Gian Carlo , Perrone Antonio
Published: September 2013

Labor progression is routinely assessed through transvaginal digital inspections, meaning that the clinical decisions taken during the most delicate phase of pregnancy are subjective and scarcely supported by technological devices. In response to such inadequacies, we combined intrapartum echographic acquisitions with advanced tracking algorithms in a new method for noninvasive, quantitative, and automatic monitoring of labor. Aim of this work is the preliminary clinical validation and accuracy evaluation of our automatic algorithm in assessing progression angle (PA) and fetal head station (FHS). A cohort of 10 parturients underwent conventional labor management, with additional translabial echographic examinations after each uterine contraction. PA and FHS were evaluated by our automatic algorithm on the acquired images. Additionally, an experienced clinical sonographer, blinded regarding the algorithm results, quantified on the same acquisitions of the two parameters through manual contouring, which were considered as the standard reference in the evaluation of automatic algorithm and routine method accuracies. The automatic algorithm (mean error ± 2SD) provided a global accuracy of0.9±4.0 mm for FHS and 4° ± 9° for PA, which is far above the diagnostic ability shown by the routine method, and therefore it resulted in a reliable method for earlier identification of abnormal labor patterns in support of clinical decisions.
Tamarind Seed Xyloglucans Promote Proliferation and Migration of Human Skin Cells through Internalization via Stimulation of Proproliferative Signal Transduction Pathways
Authors: Nie W. , Deters A. M.
Published: September 2013

Xyloglucans (XGs) ofTamarindus indicaL. Fabaceae are used as drug vehicles or as ingredients of cosmetics. Two xyloglucans were extracted fromT. indicaseed with cold water (TSw) and copper complex precipitation (TSc). Both were analyzed in regard to composition and influence on cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, MAPK phosphorylation, and gene expression of human skin keratinocytes (NHEK and HaCaT) and fibroblasts (NHDF)in vitro. TSw and TSc differed in molecular weight, rhamnose content, and ratios of xylose, arabinose, galactose, and glucose. Both XGs improved keratinocytes and fibroblast proliferation, promoted the cell cycle, and stimulated migration and intracellular enzyme activity of NHDF after endosomal uptake. Only TSw significantly enhanced HaCaT migration and extracellular enzyme activity of NHDF and HaCaT. TSw and TSc predominantly enhanced the phosphorylation of molecules that referred to Erk signaling in NHEK. In NHDF parts of the integrin signaling and SAPK/JNK pathway were affected. Independent of cell type TSw marginally regulated the expression of genes, which referred to membrane proteins, cytoskeleton, cytokine signaling, and ECM as well as to processes of metabolism and transcription. Results show thatT. indicaxyloglucans promote skin regeneration by a direct influence on cell proliferation and migration.
Plasma Homocysteine Is Associated with Increased Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Welders
Authors: Liu Hung-Hsin , Shih Tung-Sheng , Huang Hsin-Ru , Huang Shih-Chien , Lee Lien-Hsiung , Huang Yi-Chia
Published: September 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of vitamin B6 status and plasma homocysteine with oxidative stress and antioxidant capacities in welders. Workers were divided into either the welding exposure group (n  =  57) or the nonexposure controls (n  =  42) based on whether they were employed as welders. There were no significant differences in vitamin B6 status and plasma homocysteine concentration between the welding exposure group and the nonexposure controls. The welding exposure group had significantly higher levels of oxidized low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower erythrocyte glutathione concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities when compared to nonexposure controls. Plasma pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate concentration did not correlate with oxidative stress indicators or antioxidant capacities in either group. However, plasma homocysteine significantly correlated with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (partial rs =   − 0.34, P  <  0.05) and erythrocyte SOD activities (partial rs =  0.29, P  <  0.05) after adjusting for potential confounders in the welding exposure group. In the welding exposure group, adequate vitamin B6 status was not associated with oxidative stress or antioxidant capacities. However, elevated plasma homocysteine seemed to be a major contributing factor to antioxidant capacities (TAC and erythrocyte SOD activities) in welders.
Boundary Value Problem for Analysis of Portal Double-Row Stabilizing Piles
Authors: Huang Cheng
Published: September 2013

This paper presents a new numerical approach for computing the internal force and displacement of portal double-row piles used to stabilize potential landslide. First, the new differential equations governing the mechanical behaviour of the stabilizing pile are formulated and the boundary conditions are mathematically specified. Then, the problem is numerically solved by the high-accuracy Runge-Kutta finite difference method. A program package has been developed in MATLAB depending on the proposed algorithm. Illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the developed program. In short, the proposed approach is a practical new idea for analyzing the portal double-row stabilizing pile as a useful supplement to traditional methods such as FEM.
Mesh Regeneration Method for Jig-Shape Optimization Design of the High-Aspect-Ratio Wing
Authors: Huo S. H. , Wang F. S. , Yuan Z. , Yue Z. F.
Published: September 2013

A mesh regeneration method was put forward, and its application on the jig-shape optimization design of a high-aspect-ratio wing was carried out in the present study. In the mesh regeneration method, some control lines were selected based on configuration characters of the wing structure firstly. And then a new aerodynamic model was built according to the new control lines distribution which always keeps the same outline. Finally, mesh generation and quality optimization were carried out. Three different jig-shape optimizations based on mesh regeneration method were carried out on a high-aspect-ratio wing. All of them can obtain the designed jig-shapes which have excellent agreement with the expectant one under the impact of static aeroelasticity. Lift coefficients of all the three jig-shape optimization were larger than that of the original flat wing. The results of integrated jig-shape optimization which considered both flexure and torsion were not as well as those in their own independent optimization. An appropriate jig-shape optimization method needs to be selected according to the practical high-aspect-ratio wing design.
Development and Validation of Stability Indicating HPTLC and HPLC Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Telmisartan and Atorvastatin in Their Formulations
Authors: Ilango Kaliappan , Shiji Kumar Pushpangadhan S.
Published: September 2013

The present study describes development and subsequent validation of stability indicating HPLC and HPTLC methods for simultaneous estimation of Telmisartan (TLM) and Atorvastatin (ATV) in their combined formulation. The proposed RP‐HPLC method utilizes a Phenomenex Luna C18 column using acetonitrile: 0.025 M ammonium acetate (38 : 52%, v/v) as mobile phase (pH 3.8), flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Quantification was achieved with UV detection at 281 nm over concentration range of 12 to 72 μg/mL for TLM and 3 to 18 μg/mL for ATV respectively. In HPTLC, separations were performed on silica gel 60 F254 using toluene‐methanol‐ethyl acetate‐acetic acid (5 : 1 : 1 : 0.3, v/v) as mobile phase. The compact bands of TLM and ATV at Rf 0.37 ± 0.02 and 0.63 ± 0.01 respectively were scanned at 279 nm. Linear regression analysis revealed linearity in the range of 40 to 240 ng/band for TLM and 10 to 60 ng/band for ATV respectively. For both the methods, dosage form was exposed to thermal, photolytic, acid, alkali and oxidative stress. The methods distinctly separated the drugs and degradation products even in actual samples. In conclusion, the proposed HPLC and HPTLC methods were appropriate for routine quantification of TLM and ATV in tablet formulation.
Elevation in Serum Concentration of Bone-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase without Elevation in Serum Creatinine Concentration Secondary to Adefovir Dipivoxil Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors: Abe Hiroshi , Seki Nobuyoshi , Sugita Tomonori , Aida Yuta , Ishiguro Haruya , Miyazaki Tamihiro , Itagaki Munenori , Sutoh Satoshi , Aizawa Yoshio
Published: September 2013

Of 168 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection-related liver disease, 20 patients who had received 100 mg of lamivudine plus 10 mg/day of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) (ADV group) and 124 patients who had received 0.5 mg/day of entecavir or 100 mg/day of lamivudine (non-ADV group) for >1 year were enrolled. For comparative analyses, 19 well-matched pairs were obtained from the groups by propensity scores. At the time of enrollment, serum creatinine and phosphate concentrations were similar between the ADV and non-ADV groups; however, urinary phosphate () and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) () concentrations were significantly higher in the ADV group than in the non-ADV group. Serum BAP was significantly higher at the time of enrollment than before ADV administration in the ADV group (), although there was no significant change in serum BAP concentration in the non-ADV group. There was a significant positive correlation between the period of ADV therapy and ΔBAP (, ). Serum BAP concentration increased before increase in serum creatinine concentration and was useful for early detection of adverse events and for developing adequate measures for continuing ADV for chronic HBV infection-related liver disease.
Monitoring of Civil Infrastructures by Interferometric Radar: A Review
Authors: Pieraccini Massimiliano
Published: September 2013

Ground‐based radar interferometry is an increasingly popular technique for monitoring civil infrastructures. Many research groups, professionals, and companies have tested it in different operative scenarios, so it is time for a first systematic survey of the case studies reported in the literature. This review is addressed especially to the engineers and scientists interested to consider the applicability of the technique to their practice, so it is focused on the issues of the practical cases rather than on theory and principles, which are now well consolidated.
Heat Treatment Effects on the Mechanical Properties and Morphologies of Poly (Lactic Acid)/Poly (Butylene Adipate-co-terephthalate) Blends
Authors: Chiu Hsien-Tang , Huang Szu-Yuan , Chen Yan-Fu , Kuo Ming-Tai , Chiang Tzong-Yiing , Chang Chi-Yung , Wang Yu-Hsiang
Published: September 2013

In this study the relationships between mechanicals properties and morphology of the poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends with or without heat treatment were investigated. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that blends have a two-phase structure indicating that they are immiscible. On the other hand, the PLA/PBAT (30/70) blend achieved the best tensile and impact strength because of its sea-island morphology, except for high PBAT content. The PLA/PBAT (70/30) and PLA/PBAT (50/50) blends showed irregular and directive-layer morphologies, in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, producing a break cross-section with various fiber shapes. Both blends showed lower tensile strength and impact strength than the PLA/PBAT (30/70). After heat treatment, the PLA/PBAT blends showed high modulus of tensile and HDT because of a high degree of crystallization. The high degree of crystallization in the blends, which originated in the heat treatment, reduced their impact strength and elongation. However, the effect of high degree of crystallization on the PLA/PBAT (30/70) blend was small because of its sea-island morphology.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Different Lengths of Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation
Authors: Abdullah Abu S. , Hedley Anthony J. , Chan Sophia S. C. , Lam Tai-Hing
Published: September 2013

This study examined if 2-week free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) would be more effective than 1-week free NRT to help smokers quit smoking at 6 and 12 months. In a single-blinded randomized controlled trial design, 562 Chinese smokers who attended a smoking cessation clinic in Hong Kong, China, were randomly allocated into two groups (A1 and A2): A1 (n=284) received behavioural counselling with free NRT for 1 week; A2 (n=278) received similar counselling with free NRT for 2 weeks. All subjects received printed self-help materials to support their quitting efforts. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, including pattern of NRT use and self-reported 7-day point prevalence quit rate at 6 months and 12 months. Among the participants, the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 18.8 (SD=10.9). By intention-to-treat analysis, 7-day point prevalence quit rates were not significantly different between A1 and A2 groups at 6-month (27.5% versus 27.3%;P=0.97) and 12-month (21.1% versus 21.2%;P=0.98) followup. The findings suggest that two-week free NRT was not more effective than 1-week free NRT to increase smoking cessation rate among Chinese smokers.
Modeling of Thermal Distributions around a Barrier at the Interface of Coating and Substrate
Authors: Sahin Ali
Published: September 2013

Due to constant heat flux, the thermal distribution around an insulated barrier at the interface of substrate and functionally graded material (FGM) which are essentially two-phase particulate composites is examined in such a way that the volume fractions of the constituents vary continuously in the thickness direction. Using integral transform method, two-dimensional steady-state diffusion equation with variable conductivity is turned into constant coefficient differential equation. Reducing that equation to a singular integral equation with Cauchy type, the temperature distribution around the barrier is obtained by defining an unknown function, which is called density function, as a series expansion of orthogonal polynomials. Results are shown for different thickness and nonhomogeneity parameters of FGM.
Increased IL-33 in Synovial Fluid and Paired Serum Is Associated with Disease Activity and Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Tang Sumei , Huang Heqing , Hu Fanlei , Zhou Wei , Guo Jianping , Jiang Huirong , Mu Rong , Li Zhanguo
Published: September 2013

Objectives. IL-33, a newly found cytokine which is involved in joint inflammation, could be blocked by a decoy receptor—sST2. The expression and correlation of IL-33 and sST2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are of great interest.Methods. Synovial fluid (SF) was obtained from 120 RA and 30 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and paired sera were collected from 54 of these RA patients. The levels of IL-33 and sST2 were measured by ELISA.Results. SF IL-33 was significantly higher in RA than in OA, which was correlated with disease activity score 28, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor (RF)-IgM, RF-IgG, glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), and immunoglobulin. Serum IL-33 was correlated positively with SF IL-33 in RA. Furthermore, it was correlated with RF-IgM and GPI. sST2 was partly detectable in RA (13 out of 54, 24.1%), while not in OA. Serum sST2 in RA had no significant correlation with serum IL-33 or SF IL-33. However, SFs from both RA and OA patients did not express sST2.Conclusions. This study supported that IL-33 played an important role in the local pathogenesis of RA. Considering the tight correlation between IL-33 and clinical features, it may become a new target of local treatment.
Enhanced Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens of Juvenile Rats
Authors: Perreault Melissa L. , Fan Theresa , O'Dowd Brian F. , George Susan R.
Published: September 2013

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling through its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), plays a critical role in neural plasticity and its dysregulation in striatum and prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated in the etiology of mental health disorders such schizophrenia and drug addiction. In the present study, we characterized age-dependent differences in BDNF signaling and TrkB expression within the nucleus accumbens (NAc), caudate putamen (CP) and PFC in rats and determined the effects of administration of the dopamine agonist, SKF 83959, which activates the Gq-coupled dopamine receptors, the dopamine D5 receptor and the D1-D2 receptor heteromer. As proBDNF binds with high affinity to the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), expression levels of these proteins were also assessed. The present findings showed that juvenile rats (aged 26-28 days) exhibited significantly elevated basal BDNF expression and activation of full-length TrkB (TrkBfull) in NAc compared to their adult counterparts, as evidenced by increased TrkBfull phosphorylation. These changes were concomitant with an increase in the relative expression of TrkBfull compared to the truncated isoform, TrkB.T1, in NAc and CP. Conversely, in PFC the basal expression of BDNF in juvenile rats was significantly lower than in adult rats with an elevated relative expression of TrkBfull. Acute administration of SKF 83959 to juvenile rats abolished the age-dependent differences in BDNF expression in NAc and PFC, and in the relative expression of TrkBfull in NAc and CP. Together these findings indicate that the expression and/or signaling of BDNF and TrkB in striatum and PFC of juvenile rats is fundamentally different from that of adult rats, a finding that may have implications in neuropsychiatric disorders that exhibit age-dependent susceptibility such as schizophrenia and drug addiction.
Smoking Cessation Practices in Kuwaiti General Dental Clinics
Authors: Khalaf Mai
Published: September 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the degree of involvement of general dental practitioners working in primary health care centers of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Kuwait in tobacco cessation activities. Subjects and Methods: A survey questionnaire composed of 48 structured multiple choice questions aimed at assessing practitioner knowledge, attitudes, perceived expectations, confidence, and perceived barriers preventing them from performing these activities was distributed to 150 general dentists working in MOH dental clinics. Results: One hundred forty-five dentists responded to the survey questionnaire. Twelve (12%) surveyed practitioners always or almost always incorporated overall tobacco cessation activities into their practice. Forty-one (3%) of the respondents felt that they had excellent cessation knowledge. One (1%) felt barriers prohibited their performance of cessation activities. One hundred (76%) participants strongly agreed that there was an expectation for them to perform cessation activities in their clinics. Fourteen (10%) respondents felt very confident about their cessation counseling skills. Conclusions: Findings showed that smoking cessation practices are not performed on a routine basis in MOH dental clinics. Practitioner knowledge and confidence showed the most significant association with the performance of cessation activities.
Cytological Assessment of Barr Bodies Using Aceto-Orcein and Papanicolaou Stains in Buccal Mucosal Smears and Their Sex Estimation Efficacy in an Indian Sample
Authors: Datar Uma , Angadi Punnya V. , Hallikerimath Seema , Kale Alka D.
Published: September 2013

Objective: Buccal epithelial cells in saliva traces found at a crime scene can be used for sex determination by examining the presence of Barr bodies in the nucleus. Papanicolaou (PAP) and fluorescent stains, among others, have been used in the past. Aceto-orcein (AO) is a relatively unexplored staining technique for this purpose. This study aims to assess the efficacy of sex determination using AO and PAP stains for the detection of Barr bodies in buccal mucosal scrapes. Study Design: Buccal scrapings were collected from 120 healthy individuals (60 males and 60 females). They were stained with AO and PAP. Fifty cells in each sample were analyzed for identification of Barr bodies. Samples with a presence of Barr bodies ≤5% were recorded as male and those with >5% were recorded as female. The percentage accuracy in determining sex using both stains was evaluated. Results: The percentage of Barr bodies in AO-stained slides ranged from 5 to 32 among females and from 0 to 8 in males, while with PAP the ranges recorded were 4-20 in females and 0-5 in males (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of AO for detecting sex accurately was around 98.3 and 95% for PAP. Conclusion: Sex determination using Barr bodies in the buccal cells is a simple method that provides up to 95-98% accuracy; making it a significant accessory for sex determination. AO proved to be a better stain than PAP for visualizing nuclear details, and its staining time was remarkably shorter. It also demonstrated enhanced sex estimation efficacy compared to PAP.
Serotonin Transporter in Lymphocytes of Rats Exposed to Physical Restraint Stress
Authors: Medina-Martel Matilde , Urbina Mary , Fazzino Fili , Lima Lucimey
Published: September 2013

Objectives: Glucocorticoids and stress cause transcriptional and functional changes on the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the central nervous system. Stress can produce specific modifications of SERT in lymphocytes, which could be associated with alterations in immune response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a physical restraint stress protocol on (1) rat lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine and (2) SERT kinetic parameters, i.e. binding capacity (Bmax), affinity (Kd) and Hill coefficient (nH). Methods: Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Plexiglass boxes (5 h daily for 5 days), and blood was obtained by cardiac puncture on day 6. Serum corticosterone was quantitated by an immunoenzymatic assay. Lymphocytes were isolated by density gradients and adhesion to plastic, of which there was sufficient material for further experiments, then cultured with or without the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A, 2 μg/ml) and fluoxetine (1-50 μM). Cell proliferation was measured with tetrazolium salts, and [3H]paroxetine was used as a SERT-specific ligand for binding assays. Results: Restraint produced a significant increase in serum corticosterone of stressed rats. The proliferative response to Con A was similar in the controls and stressed animals. Fluoxetine reduced cell proliferation with and without Con A. Restraint diminished the inhibitory effect of fluoxetine on proliferation. Restraint also increased Bmax and Kd, but decreased nH. Treatment of rats with actinomycin D, a transcription inhibitor, reduced Bmax in stressed animals. Conclusions: Restraint stress modulated the effect of fluoxetine on cell proliferation, probably through the modification of the presence and the function of SERT.
Crush Cytology of a Primary Intraspinal Rhabdoid Papillary Meningioma: A Case Report
Authors: Jeong Juhyeon , Kim Na Rae , Lee Sang Gu
Published: September 2013

Background: Both rhabdoid and papillary meningioma are rare variants of meningioma categorized as WHO grade III. Here, we report a rare case of combined rhabdoid papillary meningioma with discussion of its differential intraoperative cytologic diagnoses. Case: The patient was a 72-year-old female who presented with a huge mass at the cervical spine on MRI. The crush smears showed a radially arranged pattern of elongated tumor cells centered around the vessels, which formed a pseudorosette-like papillary structure, as well as singly scattered large gemistocyte-like rhabdoid cells with distinct cell borders. Rhabdoid cells had eccentrically placed vesicular nuclei with plump, fibrillary-to-hyaline cytoplasm with short broad processes. Nuclei had occasional nuclear inclusions with no nuclear grooves. Conclusion: Rhabdoid papillary meningiomas, encountered less often, should be distinguished from metastatic tumors of rhabdoid or papillary configuration, astrocytomas, ependymomas and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor. Search for eosinophilic hyaline cytoplasm, rather than a fibrillary one, is critical for distinguishing it from other commonly encountered spinal cord tumors in the total absence of meningothelial whorls, like the present case. We also emphasize that the present case is the first case of rhabdoid papillary meningioma with primary manifestation in the spinal cord.
5-Aminosalicylic Acid and Chemoprevention: Does It Work?
Authors: Lopez Anthony , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent
Published: September 2013

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA)-containing drugs are the mainstay of therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Intestinal inflammation is the main risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) in IBD. Hence, all drugs that are able to induce and maintain mucosal healing (MH) may prevent CRC risk in IBD. In patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC), a recent systematic review of 5-ASA trials demonstrated that MH was achieved in nearly 50% of patients. A systematic review including 48 studies linked 5-ASA chemopreventive properties to five distinct pathways: cell cycle progression, scavenging of reactive oxygen- or nitrogen-derived metabolites, TNF-α/TGF-ss signaling, WNT/β-catenin signaling and antibacterial properties. Therefore, in addition to their overall anti-inflammatory activity on the intestinal mucosa, 5-ASA compounds have specific effects on colorectal carcinogenesis at the molecular level. In 2005, a landmark meta-analysis of observational studies found a protective association between 5-ASA and CRC or a combined end point of CRC/dysplasia in UC patients. More recently, a meta-analysis failed to identify a protective effect of 5-ASA on CRC risk in non-referral populations, but in a separate analysis of 9 clinic-based studies, the pooled odds ratio was 0.58 (95% confidence interval: 0.45-0.75), further highlighting the chemopreventive effect of 5-ASA on CRC risk. In conclusion, 5-ASA therapy may reduce CRC risk by healing the mucosa of UC patients and via specific mechanisms of action at the molecular level. Conducting a clinical trial providing the best level of evidence by comparing UC patients receiving 5-ASA treatment versus those included in a placebo arm would be unethical.
Can the Tall Cell Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Be Distinguished from the Conventional Type in Fine Needle Aspirates? A Cytomorphologic Study with Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Guan Hui , VandenBussche Christopher J. , Erozan Yener S. , Rosenthal Dorothy L. , Tatsas Armanda D. , Olson Matthew T. , Zheng Rui , Auger Manon , Ali Syed Z.
Published: September 2013

Objectives: The tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (TCV-PTC) is an aggressive variant of PTC requiring accurate cytopathologic diagnosis for early aggressive management. Study Design: Twenty-five cases of TCV-PTC in which the tall cells comprised at least 30% of surgically resected tumor were included in the study. The direct smears from a preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) and available hematoxylin and eosin cell block sections were reviewed. Ten cases of TCV-PTC were randomly selected and blinded with an equal number of conventional PTC cases. Representative slides were independently reviewed by 7 cytologists. Results: In a majority of the cases, the FNA direct smears were hypercellular and displayed flat monolayer sheets of cells. Tall columnar cells with cytoplasmic tails were seen in 56% of cases. The presence of large polygonal follicular cells with abundant granular oncocytic cytoplasm and distinct cell borders was the most common feature seen in all cases. Seventeen (68%) cases displayed intranuclear pseudoinclusions in cells with abundant granular cytoplasm. A correct diagnosis of TCV-PTC was made in 30-40% of cases by 7 study participants. Conclusions: The correct recognition of TCV-PTC features in preoperative FNA is important for clinical management, and reporting these features in a cytopathology report is suggested.
Putative Corneal Neuralgia Responding to Vitamin D Supplementation
Authors: Singman Eric L. , Poon David , Jun Albert S.
Published: September 2013

A patient with putative corneal neuralgia was incidentally discovered to have hypovitaminosis D. Supplementation of vitamin D appears to have led to a resolution of the patient's pain, whereas other efforts to treat the patient were unsuccessful.
A new genus of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) collected from Pandanus in Japan, Malaysia and Australia, with three new species
Authors: MASUMOTO MASAMI , NG Y. F. , OKAJIMA SHÛJI
Published: September 2013

Pandanothrips gen. n. is described, with three new species inhabiting Pandanus: P. ryukyuensis sp. n. from Japan, P. wangi sp. n. from Malaysia, and P. hallingi sp. n. from Australia. This new genus shows no relationship to Projectothrips Moulton, the only other Thripinae genus known to be associated with Pandanus. Pandanothrips is superficially similar to Danothrips Bhatti, a genus of leaf feeding thrips. The morphological relationships among these genera are discussed, and an illustrated key to the species of Pandanothrips is provided.