bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On-chip memory architecture exploration framework for DSP processor-based embedded system on chip
Authors: Kumar T.S. Rajesh , Govindarajan R. , Ravikumar C.P.
Published: April 2012

Today's SoCs are complex designs with multiple embedded processors, memory subsystems, and application specific peripherals. The memory architecture of embedded SoCs strongly influences the power and performance of the entire system. Further, the memory subsystem constitutes a major part (typically up to 70%) of the silicon area for the current day SoC. In this article, we address the on-chip memory architecture exploration for DSP processors which are organized as multiple memory banks, where banks can be single/dual ported with non-uniform bank sizes. In this paper we propose two different methods for physical memory architecture exploration and identify the strengths and applicability of these methods in a systematic way. Both methods address the memory architecture exploration for a given target application by considering the application's data access characteristics and generates a set of Pareto-optimal design points that are interesting from a power, performance and VLSI area perspective. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive work on memory space exploration at physical memory level that integrates data layout and memory exploration to address the system objectives from both hardware design and application software development perspective. Further we propose an automatic framework that explores the design space identifying 100's of Pareto-optimal design points within a few hours of running on a standard desktop configuration.
Expert testimony
Authors: Sani Ardalan Amiri
Published: April 2012

Welcome to the Expert Testimony series, where we interview the leading researchers in mobile computing and wireless networking to get their perspectives on their work, and their thoughts on the evolution of the field.
MobiCom 2011 poster
Authors: Kosba Ahmed E. , Saeed Ahmed , Youssef Moustafa
Published: April 2012

We present RASID: a system capable of detecting passive human motion using the already installed indoor wireless infrastructure. RASID applies a statistical anomaly detection technique to detect motion inside indoor environments by monitoring the changes in the wireless signal strength. The system also adapts to the environment changes and applies decision refinement procedures for enhancing the detection accuracy. Our results show that RASID can achieve an accurate detection capability, reaching 6% miss detection rate and 8% false alarm rate in a typical environment.
MobiCom 2011 poster
Authors: Uppoor Sandesh , Fiore Marco
Published: April 2012

Vehicles are envisioned to become real communication hubs in the near future, thanks to the growing presence of radio interfaces on the cars as well as to the increasing utilization of smartphones and tablets by their passengers. In such a context, simulation remains the mean of choice for the evaluation of large-scale deployments of new vehicular networking solutions. In order to evaluate the effect of high-speed, strongly-correlated and constrained movements of vehicles on vehicular network connectivity, we present a synthetic dataset of the car traffic over a typical 24 hours in a 400-km
2
region around Köln, Germany.
Micellar Effects on Nucleophilic Addition Reaction and Applicability of Enzyme Catalysis Model
Authors: Singh R. K. London
Published: April 2012

This study describes the effect of anionic and cationic micelles on nucleophilic addition reaction of rosaniline hydrochloride (RH) with hydroxide under pseudo‐first order condition. Strong inhibitory effect is observed due to SDS micelle, whereas CTAB catalysed the reaction. This is explained on the basis of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions which are simultaneously operating in the reaction system. The kinetic data obtained is quantitatively analysed by applying the positive cooperativity model of enzyme catalysis. Binding constants and influence of counterions on the reaction have also been investigated.
A Comparative Study of Inclusion Complexes of Orthosubstituted [Arylidenamino]‐1,3,4‐ thiadiazino[6,5b] Indole Derivatives
Authors: Panda Sunakar , Tripathy Jagat Krushna
Published: April 2012

Some[Arylidenamino]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazino[6,5b] indoles have been synthesized starting from indole‐2,3‐dione, thiosemicarbazide and aromatic aldehydes with activating and deactivating groups. Inclusion complexes of these compounds have been prepared with β‐cyclodextrin so as increase the solubility and bioaccessibility. Thermodynamic properties like change in free energy, change in enthalpy, change in entropy and stability constant of the inclusion complexes have been determined to know whether the inclusion complex formation is thermodynamically allowed or not. The compounds and their inclusion complexes are also screened againt S.aureus and E.coli.to know the antibacterial activity change after inclusion complex formation The antioxidant activities are also studied.
A New Approach to the RP‐HPLC Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Atorvastatin Calcium and Fenofibrate in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
Authors: Bhinge S. D. , Malipatil S. M. , Jondhale A. , Hirave R. , Savali A. S.
Published: April 2012

The present manuscript describes the development and validation of an isocratic reverse phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic (RP‐HPLC) method for the estimation of Atorvastatin calcium and Fenofibrate in raw material and tablet. Atorvastatin Calcium, Fenofibrate and Diclofenac (internal standard) were well separated using a reversed phase column and mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:KH2PO4 (50 mM) (72:28 v/v) (pH 4.1). The mobile phase was pumped at 1.0 mL/min flow rate and atorvastatin calcium and fenofibrate were detected by UV‐Vis detection at 260 nm. The retention time for atorvastatin calcium, Internal Standard and fenofibrate were 4.34, 5.35 and 12.05 min, respectively. The LOD and LOQ was found to be 1.95 and 4.80 µg/mL for atorvastatin calcium whereas for fenofibrate it was found to be 1.73 and 3.98 µg/mL in mobile phase. The developed method was validated by applying parameters as precision, accuracy, selectivity, reproducibility and system suitability tests.
Simultaneous Determination of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride and Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate in Eye Drops by HPLC
Authors: Katakam Prakash , Sireesha Karanam R.
Published: April 2012

A liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and dexamethasone sodium phosphate in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations. Optimum separation was achieved in less than 5 min using a C18 column (250 mmx4.6 mm i.d, 5μ particle size) by isocratic elution. The mobile phase consisting of a mixture of mixed phosphate buffer (pH 4) and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) was used. Column effluents were monitored at 254 nm at a flow rate of 1ml/min. Retention times of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and dexamethasone sodium phosphate were 2.0 and 3.16 min respectively. The linearity of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and dexamethasone sodium phosphate was in the range of 3‐18 μg/ml and 1‐6 μg/ml respectively. Developed method was economical in terms of the time taken and amount of solvent consumed for each analysis. The method was validated and successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and dexamethasone sodium phosphate in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations.
A Convenient and Efficient Protocol for the Synthesis of Adipic Acid Catalyzed by ACC/Silica Gel under Ultrasound Irradiation
Authors: Lin Zhi-Ping
Published: April 2012

Adipic acid was synthesized from cyclohexanol oxidized by ACC/silica gel in 89% yield within 3 h at 30°C under ultrasound irradiation.
Pulmonary Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in a Patient with Chronic Asthma Resembling Lung Cancer: A Case Report
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Massood , Omidifar Navid , Kumar Perikala Vijayananda , Rasekhi Alireza
Published: April 2012

Background. Extramedullary hematopoiesis is most often seen in reticuloendothelial organs specially spleen, liver, or lymph nodes, and it is rarely seen in lung parenchyma. Almost all reported cases of pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis occurred following myeloproliferative disorders specially myelofibrosis. Other less common underlying causes are thalassemia syndromes and other hemoglobinopathies. There was not any reported case of pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis in asthmatic patients in the medical literature.Case. Here we reported a 65-year-old lady who was a known case of bronchial asthma with recent developed right lower lobe lung mass. Chest X-ray and CT studies showed an infiltrating mass resembling malignancy. Fine needle aspiration cytology of mass revealed pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis. The patient followed for 10 months with serial physical examination and laboratory evaluations which were unremarkable.Conclusion.Extramedullary hematopoiesis of lung parenchyma can be mistaken for lung cancer radiologically. Although previous reported cases occurred with myelofibrosis or hemoglobinopathies, we are reporting the first case of asthma-associated extramedullary hematopoiesis.
Sarcoidosis: Psychotherapy and Long-Term Outcome—A Case Report
Authors: Trombini Giancarlo , Trombini Elena
Published: April 2012

Sarcoidosis is a systemic, inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology, influenced by stressful life events and associated with a high incidence of alexithymic personality traits, and of depressive symptoms. The medical literature on sarcoidosis has called for a psychotherapeutic intervention to modify the perceived state of disease, the influence of stressful events and the depressive condition. Few studies have described cases treated with psychotherapy, and no information is available on its long-term outcome. We present the case of a patient with chronic sarcoidosis and periodical reacutizations with constantly pathological ESR. Twenty-four years after the diagnosis, a dynamic supportive-expressive psychotherapy for psychosomatic alexithymic patients was added to the medical therapy. At the beginning and at the end of the psychotherapy, and for the long-term outcome evaluations, Kellner’s symptom questionnaire (SQ) was used to investigate psychological distress. The SQ scores, initially pathological, were normal at the end of the psychotherapy and for the following three years. Psychotherapy, without antidepressive drugs, resolved the depression. The depressive symptoms disappeared, along with the normalization and stabilization of the ESR. After three years, the outcome was positive. This is the first study describing a successful psychotherapy and its long-term outcome on a patient with sarcoidosis.
Uniqueness of Traveling Waves for a Two‐Dimensional Bistable Periodic Lattice Dynamical System
Authors: Wu Chin-Chin
Published: April 2012

We study traveling waves for a two‐dimensional lattice dynamical system with
bistable nonlinearity in periodic media. The existence and the monotonicity in time of
traveling waves can be derived in the same way as the one‐dimensional lattice case. In this
paper, we derive the uniqueness of nonzero speed traveling waves by using the comparison
principle and the sliding method.
Effects of Zinc Binding on the Structure and Stability of Glycylglycine Dipeptide: A Computational Study
Authors: Baei Mohammad T. , Sayyad-Alangi S. Zahra
Published: April 2012

Energies and structures of six different isomers resulted of complex between glycylglycine dipeptide and zinc cation were calculated at the BLYP and B3LYP levels of theory with 6‐311G** and 6‐311++G** basis sets. The energies of the glycylglycine‐Zn2+ different complexes at the BLYP/6‐311++G** obtained more stable than another methods. In this method, the most stable complex was zinc cation bound to the two oxygen sites of the glycylglycine zwitterion and acted as a bidentate ligand. The vibrational frequencies, thermodynamic and electronic properties, HOMO, LUMO, and energy gap for the most stable isomer in different solvents were calculated at the BLYP/6‐311++G** level of theory.
A Pair of Partially Overlapping Arabidopsis Genes with Antagonistic Circadian Expression
Authors: Kunova Andrea , Zubko Elena , Meyer Peter
Published: April 2012

A large number of plant genes are aligned with partially overlapping genes in antisense orientation. Transcription of both genes would therefore favour the formation of double-stranded RNA, providing a substrate for the RNAi machinery, and enhanced antisense transcription should therefore reduce sense transcript levels. We have identified a gene pair that resembles a model for antisense-based gene regulation as a T-DNA insertion into the antisense gene causes a reduction in antisense transcript levels and an increase in sense transcript levels. The same effect was, however, also observed when the two genes were inserted as transgenes into different chromosomal locations, independent of the sense and antisense gene being expressed individually or jointly. Our results therefore indicate that antagonistic changes in sense/antisense transcript levels do not necessarily reflect antisense-mediated regulation. More likely, the partial overlap of the two genes may have favoured the evolution of antagonistic expression patterns preventing RNAi effects.
Stability Indicating RP‐HPLC Method for Estimation of Fexofenadine Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Formulation
Authors: Nimje H. M. , Nimje Shital T. , Oswal R. J. , Bhamre S. T.
Published: April 2012

A stability‐indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of fexofenadine in tablet dosage forms. An isocratic seperation was achieved using a Zorbax, Eclipse XBD, C‐8 Column having 150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle size column with flow rate of 1.2 ml/min and using UV detector to monitor the eluate at 210 nm. The mobile phase consist of phosphate buffer: acetonitrile: methanol (60:20:20; v/v/v) with pH 3.7 adjusted with o‐phosphoric acid. The drug was subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and thermal degradation. Fexofenadine was found to degrate in acidic, basic and oxidation condition. Complete seperation of degraded product was achieved from parent compound. All degradation products in an overall analytical run time of approximately 60 min with the parent compound fexofenadine eluting at approximately 12.1 ±0.9 min. The method was linear over the concentration range of 1‐100 µg/ml (r2= 0.9970) with limit of detection and quatification of 0.2 µg/ml and 0.6 µg/ml, respectively. The method has the requisite accuracy, selectivity, sencitivity, precision and robustness to assay fexofenadine in tablets. Degradation products resulting from stress studies did not interfere with the detection of fexofenadine and the assay is thus stability indicating.
Early Response to Dexamethasone as Prognostic Factor: Result from Indonesian Childhood WK-ALL Protocol in Yogyakarta
Authors: Widjajanto Pudjo H. , Sutaryo Sutaryo , Purwanto Ignatius , Ven Peter M. vd , Veerman Anjo J. P.
Published: April 2012

Early response to treatment has been shown to be an important prognostic factor of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in Western studies. We studied this factor in the setting of a low-income province in 165 patients treated on Indonesian WK-ALL-2000 protocol between 1999 and 2006. Poor early response, defined as a peripheral lymphoblasts count of ≥1000/μL after 7 days of oral dexamethasone plus one intrathecal methotrexate (MTX), occurred in 19.4% of the patients. Poor responders showed a higher probability of induction failures compared to good responders (53.1% versus 23.3%,P<0.01), higher probability of resistant disease (15.6% versus 4.5%,P=0.02), shorter disease-free survival (P=0.034; 5-year DFS: 24.9% ± 12.1% versus 48.6% ± 5.7%), and shorter event-free survival (P=0.002; 5-year EFS: 9.7% ± 5.3% versus 26.3% ± 3.8%). We observed that the percentage of poor responders in our setting was higher than reported for Western countries with prednisone or prednisolone as the steroids. The study did not demonstrate a significant additive prognostic value of early response over other known risk factors (age and white blood cell count) for DFS and only a moderately added value for EFS.
A New Type of Synthesis of 1,2,3‐Thiadiazole and 1,2,3‐Diazaphosphole Derivatives Via‐Hurd‐Mori Cyclization
Authors: A. Hosny Mona , El-Sayed Taghreed H. , El-Sawi Emtithal
Published: April 2012

We present a short and efficient synthesis of the title compounds starting with cheap and readily available camphor and derivatives of acetophenone. The optimized sequence allows the large‐scale preparation of this new type of synthesis in a few steps. New 1,2,3‐thiadiazole and 1,2,3‐diazaphosphole derivatives 11‐20, were prepared from the ketones 1‐5 via the corresponding semicarbazones 6‐10. The Hurd‐Mori and Lalezari methods were used, respectively, for the preparation of these 1,2,3‐thiadiazole and 1,2,3‐diazaphospholene derivatives. These derivatives exhibit anticancer effect due to their high potential biological activity.
Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Biodegradable Poly(L‐lactic acid)/Talc Composites
Authors: Cai Yan-Hua
Published: April 2012

Crystallization and melting behavior of Poly(L‐lactic acid)(PLLA)/Talc composites with different talc content were investigated in detail. The addition of talc can increase the overall crystallization rate of PLLA, 5%talc makes the melt‐crystallization peak temperature of PLLA increase from 96.28 °C to 105.22 °C, and the crystallization enthalpy increases from 1.379 J•g-1 to 28.99 J•g-1. The melting behavior of PLLA/5%talc composites at a different heating rate during non‐isothermal crystallization at different cooling rate shows that heating rate can affect the melting behavior of PLLA, with increasing of heating rate, the double melting peak degenerates to single melting peak. Melting behavior after isothermal crystallization and after cold isothermal crystallization and hot isothermal crystallization indicates that the double‐melting peak of PLLA/5%talc composites results from melting‐recrystallization.
Review of Robust Data Exchange Using Optical Nonlinearities
Authors: Wang Jian , Willner Alan E.
Published: April 2012

Data exchange, namely bidirectional information swapping, provides enhanced flexibility compared to the unidirectional information transfer. To fulfill the rapid development of high-speed large-capacity optical communications with emerging multiplexing/demultiplexing techniques and advanced modulation formats, a laudable goal would be to achieve data exchange in different degrees of freedom (wavelength, time, polarization), for different modulation formats (OOK, DPSK, DQPSK, pol-muxed), and at different granularities (entire data, groups of bits, tributary channels). Optical nonlinearities are potentially suitable candidates to enable data exchange in the wavelength, time, and polarization domains. In this paper, we will review our recent works towards robust data exchange by exploiting miscellaneous optical nonlinearities, including the use of cSFG/DFG in a PPLN waveguide for time- (groups of bits) and channel-selective data exchange and tributary channel exchange between two WDM+OTDM signals, nondegenerate FWM in an HNLF for phase-transparent data exchange (DPSK, DQPSK), bidirectional degenerate FWM in an HNLF for multi-channel data exchange, and Kerr-induced nonlinear polarization rotation in an HNLF for tributary channel exchange of a pol-muxed DPSK OTDM signal. The demonstrated data exchanges in different degrees of freedom, for different modulation formats, and at different granularities, open the door for alternative approaches to achieve superior network performance.
A Study of Some General Problems of Dieudonné‐Rashevski Type
Authors: Pitea Ariana
Published: April 2012

We use a method of investigation based on employing adequate variational calculus techniques in the study of some generalized Dieudonné‐Rashevski problems. This approach allows us to state and prove optimality conditions for such kind of vector multitime variational problems, with mixed isoperimetric constraints. We state and prove efficiency conditions and develop a duality theory.
Functionalization and Chemical Modification of 2‐Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate with Carboxylic Acid
Authors: Nasirtabrizi Mohammad Hossein , Zargin L. , Khodabandlou S. , Mansour S. Rostamzadeh
Published: April 2012

Free radical polymerization of the resulting monomers methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA), methylacrylate (MA) and ethylacrylate (EA) with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) (in 1:1 mole ratio) were carried out using azobis(isoboutyronitrile) (AIBN) as initiator at the temperature ranges 60‐70°C. The modification of polymers were carried out by 9‐anthracenecarboxylic acid (9‐ACA) via the esterification reaction between —OH of poly(HEMA) and —COOH of 9‐ACA, in presence of N,N′‐dicyclohexyl‐carbodiimide (DCC), 4‐(dimethylamino) pyridine (DMAP) and N,N‐dimethyl formamid (DMF). It was found that the molar ratio acid/alcohol/catalysts= 0.02: 0.02: 0.02 and 0.002, optimal for preparation of the ester. As demonstrated by FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The Tg value of methacrylate and acrylate copolymers containing 9‐ACA groups was found to increase with incorporation of 9‐ACA groups in polymer structures. The presence of 9‐ACA groups in the polymer side chains created new polymers with novel modified properties that find some applications in polymer industry. These anthracenic factors could take part in cyclo addition reaction with other factors such as anhydrides and kinons.
Evaluation of Nano‐Fe3O4 as a Green Catalyst for the Synthesis of Mono, bis and tris Diindolyl Methanes
Authors: Zare Leila , Nikpassand Mohammad
Published: April 2012

Fast and clean synthesis of mono, bis and tris diindolylmethanes from various aldehydes and indoles in the presence of an efficient reusable catalyst, nano‐Fe3O4, in high yield and short reaction time is reported.
Kinetic Determination of Paracetamol using a Novel Belousov‐Zhabotinskii Oscillating System Catalyzed by a Tetraazamacrocyclic Complex
Authors: Hu Gang , Wang Qin , Meng Min , Lu Ming Ying , Zhao Fu Sheng , Hu Lin
Published: April 2012

A new analytical method for determination of paracetamol is proposed. This method is based on a novel B‐Z oscillating system, which involves a Tetraazamacrocyclic Complex [CuL](ClO4)2 as catalyst and malic acid as the substrate. The ligand L in the complex is 5,7,7,12,14,14‐hexamethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradeca‐4,11‐diene. By perturbation mount of paracetamol on the B‐Z system, there is a linear relationship between the changes in the oscillation amplitude and the logarithm of paracetamol concentration in the range 5×10-7 to 2×10-4 M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99743. The effects of influential variables, such as the concentration of reaction components, temperature and on the determinations were studied. The probable mechanism involving the perturbation of paracetamol on the oscillating chemical system was also discussed.
Expedient Protocols for the Installation of Pyrimidine Based Privileged Templates on 2‐Position of Pyrrolo[2,1‐c][1,4]‐benzodiazepine Nucleus Linked Through a p‐phenoxyl Spacer
Authors: Agarwal Anshu , Sharma Meenakshi , Agrawal Meenakshi , Kishore D.
Published: April 2012

Exceedingly facile single step expedient protocols based on the versatility and reactivity of corresponding intermediates : [2‐(dimethylaminomethylene) ketone] (5) and chalcone (6), derived from 2‐(p‐acetyl phenoxyl) substituted analogue of pyrrolo[2,1‐c][1,4]‐benzodiazepine (4), have been developed to provide an easy installation of the pyrimidine based privileged templates at 2‐position of pyrrolo[2,1‐c][1,4]‐benzodiazepine through a p‐phenoxyl spacer, by utilizing the synthetic strategy depicted in schemes‐1 and 2.
Synthesis, Thermal Properties and Nucleating Effect of N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid Dihydrazide as Nucleating Agent of Poly(L‐lactic acid)
Authors: Cai Yan-Hua
Published: April 2012

N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid dihydrazide as nucleating agent of Poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) was synthesized from benzoyl hydrazine and tetraacetic acid by acylation and ammoniation. and the structure of this novel tetraamide compound had been characterized by FT‐IR. The thermal stability of N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid dihydrazide was investigated by TGA thermal analyzer. The result showed good thermal stability of N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid dihydrazide under 170 °C. N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid dihydrazide modified PLLA sample was prepared by a melt‐mixing technique. With incorporation of 0.5% N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid dihydrazide, Non‐isothermal crystallization behavior at different cooling rate showed the crystallization peak of PLLA became sharper and shift to higher temperature, and indicated that the presence of N, N, N, N′‐Tetra(benzoyl) ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid dihydrazide accelerated the overall PLLA crystallization.
Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Analysis of Brimonidine in Ophthalmic Formulations
Authors: Narendra A. , Deepika D. , Annapurna M. Mathrusri
Published: April 2012

A reverse phase LC method was developed for the determination of Brimonidine in eye drops. Chromatography was carried on an Inertsil ODS 3V column (C18) using a mixture of Octane 1‐ sulfonic acid sodium salt (0.02M) (pH 3.5 ± 0.05) and acetonitrile (64:36 v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with UV detection at 254 nm. The drug was eluted at 4.636 min. The detector response was linear in the concentration range of 0.4–72 μg/mL. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 0.0561 and 0.1848 μg/mL respectively. The proposed method was validated as per the ICH guidelines and can be applied for the routine analysis of Brimonidine in eye drops.
Preparation and Characterization of Nano‐size Polyreactive Blue MXR
Authors: Suresh Joghee , Gandhi Raja Gopal Rajiv , Gowri Sundaram , Selvam Samayanan , Sundrarajan Mahalingam
Published: April 2012

Nanosize Polyreactive blue MXR dye was synthesized from reactive blue MXR dye in presence of potassium persulfate as catalyst. The formation of polyreactive blue MXR was indicated by colour change from blue to brown. The characterization techniques such as, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X‐ray diffractrometry (XRD) were used to characterize the formation of nanosize polyreactive blue MXR. The absence of asymmetric stretching of NH2 group in polymer dye FTIR spectrum confirmed the polymerization of dye was occurring. The average particle size of the polymer dye was found to be 18.11 nm according to Scherer formula.AFM analysis shows the three dimensional structure of polyreactive blue MXR.
Giant Cell Tumor of the Temporal Bone with Direct Invasion into the Middle Ear and Skull Base: A Case Report
Authors: Iizuka Takashi , Furukawa Masayuki , Ishii Hisato , Kasai Misato , Hayashi Chieri , Arai Hajime , Ikeda Katsuhisa
Published: April 2012

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is classified as a benign bone tumor, and it is frequently identified at the epiphysis of long bones and relatively rare in the temporal bone. For orthopedists expert at recognizing bone and soft tissue tumors, the diagnosis of GCT is relatively easy; however, since head and neck surgeons experience few cases of GCT, it may be difficult to diagnose when it occurs in the temporal bone. A 32-year-old man complained of left hearing loss, aural fullness, and tinnitus. Examination of the ear revealed a bulging tumor. Audiologic examination demonstrated conductive hearing loss of the left ear. Computer tomograph of the temporal bone showed a soft-tissue-density specification indicating bone destruction at the left temporal bone. The tumor invaded the skull base. Imaging examinations using magnetic resonance imaging revealed a nonhomogenous isosignal intensity area on T1 at the left temporal bone. After intravenous gadolinium, the mass showed unequal enhancement. This patient subsequently underwent surgery to remove the lesion using transmastoid and middle fossa approach. Pathological examinations from specimens of the tumor revealed characteristic of GCT. No clinical or radiological evidence of tumor recurrence was detected for 4 years.
Endometrial Cancer and Hypermethylation: Regulation of DNA and MicroRNA by Epigenetics
Authors: Banno Kouji , Kisu Iori , Yanokura Megumi , Masuda Kenta , Kobayashi Yusuke , Ueki Arisa , Tsuji Kosuke , Yamagami Wataru , Nomura Hiroyuki , Susumu Nobuyuki , Aoki Daisuke
Published: April 2012

Endometrial cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women worldwide. Therefore elucidation of the pathogenesis and development of effective treatment for endometrial cancer are important. However, several aspects of the mechanism of carcinogenesis in the endometrium remain unclear. Associations with genetic variation and mutations of cancer-related genes have been shown, but these do not provide a complete explanation. Therefore, in recent years, epigenetic mechanisms that do not involve changes in DNA sequences have been examined. Studies aimed at detection of aberrant DNA hypermethylation in cancer cells present in microscopic amountsin vivoand application of the results to cancer diagnosis have also started. Breakdown of the DNA mismatch repair mechanism is thought to play a large role in the development of endometrial cancer, with changes in the expression of thehMLH1gene being particularly important. Silencing of genes such asAPCandCHFR,Sprouty 2,RASSF1A,GPR54,CDH1, andRSK4by DNA hypermethylation, onset of Lynch syndrome due to hereditary epimutation ofhMLH1andhMSH2mismatch repair genes, and regulation of gene expression by microRNAs may also underlie the carcinogenic mechanisms of endometrial cancer. Further understanding of these issues may permit development of new therapies.
Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Studies on the Interaction of Epirubicin with Fish Sperm DNA
Authors: Hajian R. , Ekhlasi E. , Daneshvar R.
Published: April 2012

The interactions between epirubicin (EPR) and double stranded DNA (ds‐DNA) have been studied by UV‐Vis spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry, fluorescence spectroscopy and viscometery. The apparent binding constant of epirubicin with DNA was found to be 3.8 × 105 mol-1 L and was studied at different temperatures. It indicated that the former method could be successfully applied to the determination of epirubicin. Also, the voltammetric behavior of EPR was investigated at glassy carbon electrode using cyclic voltammetry. Thermodynamic parameters including ∆H0, ∆G0 and ∆S0 were determined as ‐5.7×104, ‐3.13×104 J mol-1 and ‐87.96 J mol-1 K‐1 respectively. One indication of the strong interaction between DNA and EP was increasing of viscosity. The diffusion coefficients of EP in the absence (D0)f and presence of ds‐DNA (D0)b was calculated as 5.04×10-6 and 1.13×10‐6 Cm2 s-1 respectively. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the main binding force could be judged. The experimental results revealed that EPR and ds‐DNA had strong interactions. The mechanism of quenching belonged to static quenching and the main sort of binding force was intercalation.
Simultaneous Determination of Cobalt (II) and Nickel (II) By First Order Derivative Spectrophotometry in Micellar Media
Authors: Rohilla Rajni , Gupta Usha
Published: April 2012

A first‐derivative spectrophotometry method for the simultaneous determination of Co (II) and Ni (II) with Alizarin Red S in presence of Triton X‐100 is described. Measurements were made at the zero‐crossing wavelengths at 549.0 nm for Co (II) and 546.0 nm for Ni (II). The linearity is obtained in the range of 0.291‐ 4.676 μg/ml of Ni (II) and 0.293‐ 4.124 μg/ml of Co (II) in the presence of each other by using first derivative spectrophotometric method. The possible interfering effects of various ions were studied. The validity of the method was examined by using synthetic mixtures of Co (II) and Ni (II). The developed derivative procedure, using the zero crossing technique, has been successfully applied for the simultaneous analysis of Co (II) and Ni (II) in spiked water samples.
Highly Selective Hg (II) Ion Detection Based on Linear Blue-Shift of the Maximum Absorption Wavelength of Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Wu Li Ping , Zhao Hua Wen , Qin Zhu Hong , Zhao Xian Ying , Pu Wen Dan
Published: April 2012

A new method of detecting Hg (II) ion with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is developed in this contribution. When Hg (II) ions were added into AgNPs solution, the solution displayed rapid color change and blue shift of the maximum absorption wavelength (Δλ), which was in proportion to the Hg (II) ion concentration over the range of 2.0 × 10−7–6.0 × 10−6 mol/L, with detection limit (3σ) of 6.6 × 10−9 mol/L. Under the same experimental conditions, other metal ions did not interfere. Thus, we propose a rapid, simple and highly selective method for detecting Hg (II) ion.
Characterization of Extracellular Dextranase from a Novel Halophilic Bacillus subtilis NRC-B233b a Mutagenic Honey Isolate under Solid State Fermentation
Authors: Esawy Mona A. , Mansour Sara H. , Ahmed Eman F. , Hassanein Naziha M. , El Enshasy Hesham A.
Published: April 2012

Bacillus subtilis NRC-B233b was isolated from Libyan honey sample proved to be a potent dextranase producer by applying solid state fermentation and utilizing corn flour as the sole carbon source. The optimized culture conditions for dextranase productions were 37°C, pH 10, 32 h, and 20% (v/w) moisture content. A unique character of this isolate is its ability to produce steady dextranase irrespective to the presence of NaCl in the medium. The addition of 0.175 Mm CrCl3 increased the enzyme production by about 4.5 fold. Further improvement in enzyme production was achieved by simple UV mutation which increased the enzyme production up to about 2842 U/g. The crude extract has been partially purified about 112‐fold from crude extract by only two purification steps involving ultra‐filtration. The partially purified dextranase showed its maximum activity at pH 9.2 and 70°C. It retained full activity (100%) at 75°C for one hour. Dextranase activity increased about 4 fold in the presence of 10% NaCl. This enzyme showed variable degradation effect on different types of dextran and its derivatives. The treatment of viscous sugar cane juice with the enzyme preparation resulted in clear visual dextran hydrolysis. These results suggest that the dextranase produced by Bacillus subtilis NRC-B233b is industrially applicable.
Encrusted Ureteral Stent Retrieval Using Flexible Ureteroscopy with a Ho: YAG Laser
Authors: Kawahara Takashi , Ito Hiroki , Terao Hideyuki , Ogawa Takehiko , Uemura Hiroji , Kubota Yoshinobu , Matsuzaki Junichi
Published: April 2012

A 23-year-old female had bilateral ureteral stents placed due to bilateral renal stones and hydronephrosis. The bilateral ureteral stents were changed every 3 months. A kidney ureter bladder (KUB) film showed left encrustation along the ureteral stent thus necessitating removal; however, the ureteral stent could not be removed cystoscopically. The ureteral stent was, therefore, extracted using flexible ureteroscopy (URS) with a holmium (Ho): yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser.
Kinetics and Isotherm Studies of Copper Removal by Brushite Calcium Phosphate: Linear and Non‐Linear Regression Comparison
Authors: El Hamidi Adnane , Arsalane Said , Halim Mohamed
Published: April 2012

Interactions of Cu(II) ions with calcium phosphate Brushite (DCPD) in aqueous solutions were investigated by batch conditions and under several sorption parameters like contact time, pH of solution and initial metal concentration. The retention of copper was found maximum and dominated by exchange reaction process in the pH range 4‐6. The reaction process was found initially fast and more than 98% was removed at equilibrium. The kinetics data of batch interaction was analyzed with various kinetic models. It was found that the pseudo‐first order model using the non‐linear regression method predicted best the experimental data. Furthermore, the adsorption process was modeled by Langmuir isotherm and the removal capacity was 331.64 mg.g-1. Consequently, Cu2+ concentration independent kinetics and single surface layer sorption isotherm are then suggested as appropriate mechanisms for the whole process.
Synthesis of Fe-MCM-41 Using Iron Ore Tailings as the Silicon and Iron Source
Authors: Li Xin , Yu Honghao , He Yan , Xue Xiangxin
Published: April 2012

Highly ordered Fe-MCM-41 molecular sieve was successfully synthesized by usingn-hexadecyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as the template and the iron ore tailings (IOTs) as the silicon and iron source. X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy,29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption were used to characterize the samples. The results showed that the mesoporous materials had highly ordered 2-dimensional hexagonal structure. The synthesized sample had high surface area, and part of iron atoms is retained in the framework with formation of tetrahedron after removal of the template by calcinations. The results obtained in the present work demonstrate the feasibility of employing iron ore tailings as a potential source of silicon and iron to produce Fe-MCM-41 mesoporous materials.
Diagnostic Aspects and Retinal Imaging in Ocular Toxocariasis: A Case Report from Italy
Authors: Verallo Onelia , Fragiotta Serena , Verboschi Francesca , Vingolo Enzo Maria
Published: April 2012

Toxocara canisis a nematode parasite, commonly found in dogs. This roundworm parasite can invade the eye, causing visual impairment.Toxocarashould be considered as a possible causative agent of posterior and diffuse uveitis, and it could be considered in the differential diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Ocular manifestations vary from severe endophthalmitis to silent incidental findings on a routine examination. We report a case of ocular toxocariasis in a 24-year-old Asiatic female that presented to us complaining of visual impairment. Fundoscopic examination revealed a posterior pole granuloma and exudative retinal detachment along with exudates. Presentation, clinical findings, morphological changes, and treatment are discussed. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serology forToxocara caniswas performed, demonstrating the positivity for IgG and IgE. Treatment with the antihelminthic albendazole was initiated. Fluorescein angiography (FA; HRA 2, Heidelberg engineering) and optical coherence tomography (OCT; Spectralis, Heidelberg tomography) were performed, and results have been reported.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Celiac Disease: From the Perspectives of Children and Parents
Authors: Byström Ing-Marie , Hollén Elisabet , Fälth-Magnusson Karin , Johansson AnnaKarin
Published: April 2012

Aim. To examine how celiac children and adolescents on gluten-free diet valued their health-related quality of life, and if age and severity of the disease at onset affected the children’s self-valuation later in life. We also assessed the parents’ valuation of their child’s quality of life.Methods. The DISABKIDS Chronic generic measure, short versions for both children and parents, was used on 160 families with celiac disease. A paediatric gastroenterologist classified manifestations of the disease at onset retrospectively.Results. Age or sex did not influence the outcome. Children diagnosed before the age of five scored higher than children diagnosed later. Children diagnosed more than eight years ago scored higher than more recently diagnosed children, and children who had the classical symptoms of the disease at onset scored higher than those who had atypical symptoms or were asymptomatic. The parents valuated their children’s quality of life as lower than the children did.Conclusion. Health-related quality of life in treated celiac children and adolescents was influenced by age at diagnosis, disease severity at onset, and years on gluten-free diet. The disagreement between child-parent valuations highlights the importance of letting the children themselves be heard about their perceived quality of life.
Molecular Pathways: Vasculogenic Mimicry in Tumor Cells: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Kirschmann Dawn A. , Seftor Elisabeth A. , Hardy Katharine M. , Seftor Richard E.B. , Hendrix Mary J.C.
Published: April 2012

Tumor cell vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes the functional plasticity of aggressive cancer cells forming de novo vascular networks, thereby providing a perfusion pathway for rapidly growing tumors, transporting fluid from leaky vessels, and/or connecting with endothelial-lined vasculature. The underlying induction of VM seems to be related to hypoxia, which may also promote the plastic, transendothelial phenotype of tumor cells capable of VM. Since its introduction in 1999 as a novel paradigm for melanoma tumor perfusion, many studies have contributed new insights into the underlying molecular pathways supporting VM in a variety of tumors, including melanoma, glioblastoma, carcinomas, and sarcomas. In particular, critical VM-modulating genes are associated with vascular (VE-cadherin, EphA2, VEGF receptor 1), embryonic and/or stem cell (Nodal, Notch4), and hypoxia-related (hypoxia-inducible factor, Twist1) signaling pathways. Each of these pathways warrants serious scrutiny as potential therapeutic, vascular targets, and diagnostic indicators of plasticity, drug resistance, and the aggressive metastatic phenotype. Clin Cancer Res; 18(10); 2726–32. ©2012 AACR.
Finite element simulation of fatigue life prediction in carbon/epoxy laminates
Authors: Naderi M , Maligno AR
Published: April 2012

In this work, a finite element model is developed to predict the progressive fatigue damage and the life of the composite laminate with different layup sequences based on the longitudinal, transverse, and in-plane shear fatigue characteristic of a carbon/epoxy laminate. In order to consider the stochastic laminate’s properties from element-to-element in the model and due to probable initial flaws and impurities, the laminate’s stiffness and strength are randomly generated using a Gaussian distribution function. Sudden and gradual material properties degradation are applied during fatigue. The procedure of stress analysis, failure analysis, and material property degradation are programmed using UMAT (user-defined material) and USDFLD (user-defined field variables) subroutines in ABAQUS. The predicted fatigue life of the finite element analysis for different layups is in good agreement with the experimental results.
Individual Offending, Routine Activities, and Activity Settings: Revisiting the Routine Activity Theory of General Deviance
Authors: Miller Joel
Published: April 2012

Objectives:

To examine whether a diverse range of both structured and unstructured routine activities is associated with offending, and whether activities have crime-specific effects.

Method:

Data on 15-year-olds from the fourth wave of the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime were analyzed (minimum n = 3,064). Principal components analyses identified core routine activities. Random intercepts logistic regression models examined their associations with assault, fare evasion, shoplifting, vandalism, and drug use.

Results:

Core routine activities identified were hanging around with friends locally, hanging around away from home, nightlife, cultural and consumer activities, and involvement in youth clubs and sports. All had associations with offending, though effects varied by offense. For example, involvement in youth clubs and sports was positively associated with assault and fare evasion; involvement in nightlife was positively associated with assault and drug use; and hanging out with friends locally was positively associated with assault, shoplifting, and vandalism.

Conclusions:

It is theorized that the varied targets and facilitators present in different activity settings help account for study results. Findings are limited by the cross-sectional character of data analyzed and may be influenced by selection effects. They would benefit from further testing with longitudinal data.
“You Either Pay More Advance Rent or You Move Out”: Landlords/Ladies’ and Tenants’ Dilemmas in the Low-income Housing Market in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Arku Godwin , Luginaah Isaac , Mkandawire Paul
Published: April 2012

Policy-makers world-wide are concerned about severe housing problems experienced in cities of the developing world. This paper examines the rental housing situation in Accra, Ghana. It presents findings of a qualitative investigation of the experiences of property owners ( n = 21) and tenants ( n = 23) in an informal private housing market that caters to the housing needs of an expanding section of Accra residents but lacks an institutional framework for regulating landlord/lady–tenant relations. The specific focus of the investigation is on perceptions of an intensifying tenancy management practice called the advance rent system. Overall, the findings reveal severe rental housing pressures and conflicting relations between renters and property owners rooted in asymmetrical perceptions regarding this system. The paper describes the conditions that shape landlords/ladies’ behaviours towards renters and their reactions to what are generally perceived as fraudulent tenure terms that property owners arbitrarily impose on tenants in this market. The paper concludes by suggesting policy recommendations to mitigate constraints plaguing a dysfunctional rental market system.
Removal of Biofilms from Tracheoesophageal Speech Valves Using a Novel Marine Microbial Deoxyribonuclease
Authors: Shakir Adam , ElBadawey Mohamed Reda , Shields Robert Colquhoun , Jakubovics Nicholas Stephen , Burgess James Grant
Published: April 2012

Objective

The growth of biofilms on tracheoesophageal speech valves shortens their life span and produces a reservoir of pathogens that may infect the respiratory tract. The authors have discovered a novel nontoxic deoxyribonuclease, NucB, from a marine isolate of Bacillus licheniformis that is effective at dispersing a variety of mono and mixed‐species bacterial biofilms. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine whether NucB could also disrupt and remove mixed‐species biofilms from tracheoesophageal speech valves.

Study Design

Laboratory‐based treatment and analysis of discarded tracheoesophageal speech valves.

Setting

University human biology laboratory and the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at a tertiary referral hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Seventeen ex vivo tracheoesophageal speech valves fouled with natural human biofilms were collected and divided into 2 equal parts. One half was treated with NucB and the other half with a control buffer solution. Biofilm removal was measured by microscopy and by culture of dispersed biofilm organisms on agar plates.

Results

Significantly more organisms were released from biofilms using NucB than with buffer solution alone. On nonselective medium, more organisms were cultured in 11 samples (65%, n = 17, P <. 05). Using growth media favoring fungi, more organisms were cultured in 14 samples (82%, n = 17, P <. 05).

Conclusion

The nontoxic deoxyribonuclease NucB was effective in releasing more microorganisms from biofilms on tracheoesophageal speech valves. This reflects its potential ability to break up and disperse these biofilms. Future studies will aim to develop NucB as a novel agent to prolong the life span of tracheoesophageal speech valves, thus reducing health care costs.