bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rocking Behavior of an Instrumented Unique Building on the MIT Campus Identified from Ambient Shaking Data
Authors: Çelebi Mehmet , Toksöz Nafi , Büyüköztürk Oral
Published: August 2013

A state-of-the-art seismic monitoring system comprising 36 accelerometers and a data-logger with real-time capability was recently installed at Building 54 on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Cambridge, MA, campus. The system is designed to record translational, torsional, and rocking motions, and to facilitate the computation of drift between select pairs of floors. The cast-in-place, reinforced concrete building is rectangular in plan but has vertical irregularities. Heavy equipment is installed asymmetrically on the roof. Spectral analyses and system identification performed on five sets of low-amplitude ambient data reveal distinct and repeatable fundamental translational frequencies in the structural NS and EW directions (0.75 Hz and 0.68 Hz, respectively), a torsional frequency of 1.49 Hz, a rocking frequency of 0.75 Hz, and very low damping. Such results from low-amplitude data serve as a baseline against which to compare the behavior and performance of the building during stronger shaking caused by future earthquakes in the region.
Provisions for the Seismic Risk Evaluation of Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings in Turkey under the Urban Renewal Law
Authors: Binici Baris , Yakut Ahmet , Ozcebe Guney , Erenler Atila
Published: August 2013

A law known as the “Urban Renewal Law” for risk mitigation was passed in Turkey in May 2012. The major focus of the law is to reduce the expected seismic risk due to the vulnerability of existing buildings. For this purpose, new provisions are set forth to investigate and to classify seismically vulnerable residential buildings as quickly as possible. Afterward, such deficient buildings are demolished, and new buildings are constructed through the financing options provided by the government. Although the strengthening of deficient buildings still remains an option, it is not encouraged, especially for older structures with critical deficiencies. In this article, the technical provisions for seismic risk assessment are presented. Special emphases are given to member ductility and deformation limits to be used in linear elastic assessment procedures. A simple procedure, given as an option, to consider the beneficial presence of infill walls at low deformations is presented. Finally, results are given for case study buildings.
Damage Detection Using High-Resolution SAR Imagery in the 2009 L'Aquila, Italy, Earthquake
Authors: Uprety Pralhad , Yamazaki Fumio , Dell'Acqua Fabio
Published: August 2013

Satellite remote sensing is being used to monitor disaster-affected areas for post-disaster reconnaissance and recovery. One of the special features of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is that it can operate day and night and penetrate the cloud cover because of which it is being widely used in emergency situations. Building damage detection for the 6 April 2009 L'Aquila, Italy, earthquake was conducted using high-resolution TerraSAR-X images obtained before and after the event. The correlation coefficient and the difference of backscatter coefficients of the pre- and post-event images were calculated in a similar way as Matsuoka and Yamazaki (2004) . The threshold value of the correlation coefficient was suggested and used in detecting building damage. The results were compared with ground truth data and a post-event optical image. Based on the study, building damage could be observed in an urban setting of L'Aquila with overall accuracy of 89.8% and Kappa coefficient of 0.45.
Seismic Demand Sensitivity of Reinforced Concrete Structures to Ground Motion Selection and Modification Methods
Authors: Cantagallo Cristina , Camata Guido , Spacone Enrico
Published: August 2013

The use of nonlinear dynamic analysis provides significant uncertainties on the seismic demand, especially when recorded ground motions are used. As these uncertainties strongly depend on ground motion selection and modification (GMSM) methods, a spectrum-compatibility criterion and a method based on the minimization of the scaling factor are compared in this work. The variability of a representative engineering demand parameter (EDP), obtained by subjecting ten reinforced concrete structures to different groups of records, is investigated through a sensitivity study based on the “Tornado diagram analysis.” The results show that the variability of the structural demand produced by the variation of the ground motion profile amplifies significantly with the increase in complexity and irregularity of the structures. More specifically, for regular structures, the selected GMSM criteria provide very similar variability while with the increase of irregularities, the spectrum-compatibility criterion produces a minimization of the demand uncertainty.
Sub-Paneling of Masonry Walls Using Precast Reinforced Concrete Elements for Earthquake Resistance
Authors: Rai Durgesh C. , Singhal Vaibhav , Paikara Samaresh , Mukherjee Debashis
Published: August 2013

Some traditional designs of masonry structures have shown acceptable structural performance during past earthquakes. In these structures, a grid of horizontal, vertical, and/or diagonal elements divide a large wall into smaller wall areas and provide confinement to masonry panels. In addition, grid elements provide a definite shearing plane along which masonry blocks can slide adding to deformability and energy-dissipation capacity. Inclined elements significantly add to lateral stiffness and strength depending on whether they can develop a complete truss action for lateral loads. Cyclic tests were conducted on five half-scaled wall specimens with different sub-paneling schemes using RC precast grid elements. Experimental results and finite element studies were used to develop simplified predictive relations for strength and stiffness response based on a confinement factor representing the grid element density. These relations can be used to configure the grid elements for desired performance levels with additional inputs about the global behavior.
Empirical Fragility Functions based on Remote Sensing and Field Data after the 12 January 2010 Haiti Earthquake
Authors: Hancilar Ufuk , Taucer Fabio , Corbane Christina
Published: August 2013

In the immediate aftermath of the Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010, a joint study for the estimation of damage to the building stock based on aerial images was carried out by UNITAR-UNOSAT, the EC-JRC, and the World Bank/ImageCAT in support of the PDNA. A targeted field campaign was led to the areas affected by the disaster in collaboration with the CNIGS with the purpose of validating the remote sensing based damage assessment. These two methodologies for collecting data resulted in two data sets of the damaged buildings categorized according to the EMS-98 damage grades. In the present study, fragility functions for different urban zones of Haiti, that is, low-, medium-, and high-density built-up and shanty zones, are developed from the remote sensing damage assessment data. Structural fragilities for buildings grouped with respect to material type and number of stories are derived on the basis of field damage data.
Effect of Zinc Binding Residues in Growth Hormone (GH) and Altered Intracellular Zinc Content on Regulated GH Secretion
Authors: Petkovic Vibor , Miletta Maria Consolata , Eblé Andrée , Iliev Daniel I. , Binder Gerhard , Flück Christa E. , Mullis Primus E.
Published: August 2013

Endocrine cells store hormones in concentrated forms (aggregates) in dense-core secretory granules that are released upon appropriate stimulation. Zn2+ binding to GH through amino acid residues His18, His21, and Glu174 are essential for GH dimerization and might mediate its aggregation and storage in secretory granules. To investigate whether GH-1 gene mutations at these positions interfere with this process, GH secretion and intracellular production were analyzed in GC cells (rat pituitary cell line) transiently expressing wt-GH and/or GH Zn mutant (GH-H18A-H21A-E174A) in forskolin-stimulated vs nonstimulated conditions. Reduced secretion of the mutant variant (alone or coexpressed with wt-GH) compared with wt-GH after forskolin stimulation was observed, whereas an increased intracellular accumulation of GH Zn mutant vs wt-GH correlates with its altered extracellular secretion. Depleting Zn2+ from culture medium using N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylemethyl)ethylenediamine, a high-affinity Zn2+ chelator, led to a significant reduction of the stimulated wt-GH secretion. Furthermore, externally added Zn2+ to culture medium increased intracellular free Zn2+ levels and recovered wt-GH secretion, suggesting its direct dependence on free Zn2+ levels after forskolin stimulation. Confocal microscopy analysis of the intracellular secretory pathway of wt-GH and GH Zn mutant indicated that both variants pass through the regulated secretory pathway in a similar manner. Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that loss of affinity of GH to Zn2+ as well as altering intracellular free Zn2+ content may interfere with normal GH dimerization (aggregation) and storage of the mutant variant (alone or with wt-GH), which could possibly explain impaired GH secretion.
Protein Kinase D1 Is Essential for Bone Acquisition during Pubertal Growth
Authors: Ford Jeffery J. , Yeh Lee-Chuan C. , Schmidgal Eric C. , Thompson Jason F. , Adamo Martin L. , Lee John C.
Published: August 2013

Bone formation and maintenance represents the summation of the balance of local and endocrine hormonal stimuli within a complex organ. Protein kinase D (PKD) is a member of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase superfamily of serine/threonine kinases and has been described as the crossroads for the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-IGF-I signaling axis, which plays a major role in bone formation. The current study exploits the PKD1-deficient mouse model to examine the role of PKD in vivo in the skeleton. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan analysis of male and female pubescent mice demonstrated significantly decreased bone mineral density in the whole body and femoral bone compartments of PKD1 (+/−) mice, compared with their wild-type littermates. The body weight, nasal-anal length, and percentage body fat of the mice were not significantly different from their wild-type littermates. Cultured bone marrow stromal cells from PKD1 (+/−) mice demonstrated lower alkaline phosphatase activity in early differentiating osteoblasts and decreased mineralized nodule formation in mature osteoblasts. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of osteoblast differentiation markers and osteoclast markers exhibited lower levels of expression in PKD1 (+/−) male mice than wild type. In female mice, however, only markers of osteoblast differentiation were reduced. PKD1 (+/−) mice also demonstrated a profound reduction in mRNA expression levels of BMP type II receptor and IGF-I receptor and in BMP-7 responsiveness in vitro. Together these data suggest that in mice, PKD1 action contributes to the regulation of osteoblastogenesis by altering gene expression with gender-specific effects on osteoclastogenesis, subsequently affecting skeletal matrix acquisition during puberty.
The Bible as Literature? — Note on a Litigious Ferment of the Concept
Authors: Masuzawa Tomoko
Published: August 2013

The Bible has been considered one of the Great Books of Western Literature, and “the Bible as Literature” is regularly found in the curriculum of English departments in American colleges and universities. An underlying assumption is that the Bible possesses great literary value and cultural assets, and therefore its general educational employment within public institutions, as opposed to its religious or liturgical use, causes no offense to anyone's freedom of conscience guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Confidence in this idea, however, set in only after a long series of litigation and legislation. This essay recounts a lawsuit that came before the Supreme Court of Maine in the mid-nineteenth century (Donahoe v. Richards) wherein the traditional practice of reading from the Bible in common schools was challenged and, perhaps for the first time, the idea of the Bible as literature was publicly articulated. At that time, the Bible — specifically, the King James Version (1611) favored by the majority Protestants, styled the “Common English Bible” — had been regularly used in the quotidian practice of piety, including in schools, as this practice was considered essential for the welfare of both the individual and the commonwealth. At the backdrop of the lawsuit was the emergence of the public school system and also a surge in the Catholic immigrant population, which began to challenge the de facto Protestant establishment of many American communities. The essay suggests that the hyperbolic estimation of the literary excellence of the King James Version, often voiced to this day, may be a reaction-formation, a symptom of the deeply troubling legacy of bitter quarrels yet unresolved.
“On the Right Side of the Barricades”: Walter Benjamin, Gershom Scholem, and Zionism
Authors: Raz-Krakotzkin Amnon
Published: August 2013

The main intention of this essay is to use Walter Benjamin's insights in his “On the Concept of History” as a critical tool for examining Zionist discourse. Specifically, the theses provide a vector for reading the perception of Zionism as reflected in the writings of Benjamin's close friend Gershom Scholem, the great scholar of Jewish mysticism and messianism. Scholem may be seen both as the object of the critical reading offered in this essay and its inspiration. On the one hand, Scholem was among those who participated in the construction of the Zionist metahistorical narrative, even if his contribution took a uniquely complex and sophisticated form. I read Benjamin's theses against Scholem's perspective, particularly his attempt to distinguish Zionism as a manifestation of “redemption,” the “utopian return,” and messianism. On the other hand, Scholem himself signals towards this critical stance. His writings from the 1920s, in which he advanced the idea of bi-nationalism in Palestine, suggest an alternative discourse that gives a concrete meaning to Benjamin's reflections written more than a decade later. An exilic perception of Benjamin can be actualized according to Scholem's early principles, for a process of remembrance oriented towards the Palestinian victims of redemption. In this context, the way to reveal the Jewish exilic consciousness is through the words of the victim of the “utopian return,” through the words of Mahmoud Darwish, the great Palestinian poet.
DNA asymmetry in stem cells – immortal or mortal?
Authors: Yadlapalli Swathi , Yamashita Yukiko M.
Published: August 2013

The immortal strand hypothesis proposes that stem cells retain a template copy of genomic DNA (i.e. an ‘immortal strand’) to avoid replication-induced mutations. An alternative hypothesis suggests that certain cells segregate sister chromatids non-randomly to transmit distinct epigenetic information. However, this area of research has been highly controversial, with conflicting data even from the same cell types. Moreover, historically, the same term of ‘non-random sister chromatid segregation’ or ‘biased sister chromatid segregation’ has been used to indicate distinct biological processes, generating a confusion in the biological significance and potential mechanism of each phenomenon. Here, we discuss the models of non-random sister chromatid segregation, and we explore the strengths and limitations of the various techniques and experimental model systems used to study this question. We also describe our recent study on Drosophila male germline stem cells, where sister chromatids of X and Y chromosomes are segregated non-randomly during cell division. We aim to integrate the existing evidence to speculate on the underlying mechanisms and biological relevance of this long-standing observation on non-random sister chromatid segregation.
Syndecan-4 signaling at a glance
Authors: Elfenbein Arye , Simons Michael
Published: August 2013

Syndecan-4, a ubiquitous cell surface proteoglycan, mediates numerous cellular processes through signaling pathways that affect cellular proliferation, migration, mechanotransduction and endocytosis. These effects are achieved through syndecan-4 functioning as both a co-receptor for the fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1–FGFR4) and its ability to independently activate signaling pathways upon ligand binding. As an FGFR co-receptor, syndecan-4 strengthens the duration and intensity of downstream signaling upon ligand binding; this is particularly evident with regard to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In contrast, syndecan-4 also functions as an independent receptor for heparin-binding growth factors, such as fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs). These signaling cascades affect canonical signaling components, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), AKT1 and the Rho family of GTPases. In combination with the integrin family of proteins, syndecan-4 is also able to form physical connections between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cytoskeletal signaling proteins, and it has a key role in regulation of integrin turnover. This unique versatility of the interactions of syndecan-4 is characterized in this Cell Science at a Glance article and illustrated in the accompanying poster.
trans-Bisglycoconjugation is an Efficient and Robust Architecture for PDT Photosensitizers Based on 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin Derivatives
Authors: Hirohara Shiho , Sharyo Kohei , Kawasaki Yuji , Totani Masayasu , Tomotsuka Ayumi , Funasako Ryota , Yasui Nobutaka , Hasegawa Yasuchika , Yuasa Junpei , Nakashima Takuya , Kawai Tsuyoshi , Oka Chio , Kawaichi Masashi , Obata Makoto , Tanihara Masao
Published: August 2013

To examine the versatility of the trans-bisglycoconjugation architecture for 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) derivative-based photodynamic therapy (PDT), 25 porphyrin derivatives bearing d-glucopyranose moieties were prepared, and their in vitro photocytotoxicities were examined. trans-Bisglycoconjugated TFPP derivatives exerted the best photocytotoxicity among TFPP derivatives in the same category, regardless of the central metal ion and the type of glycoconjugation. trans-Bisglycoconjugated free-base TFPP bearing β-d-glucopyranosylthio groups (trans-H22SGlc) was found to be the most potent photosensitizer, not only in HeLa cells (EC50 < 5 nM), but also in highly metastatic cancer cell lines such as B16-BL6 melanoma cells (EC50 < 10 nM). UV–vis and dynamic light-scattering measurements suggested that trans-bisglycoconjugated TFPP derivatives formed relatively large J-aggregates in an aqueous solution. trans-Bisglycoconjugated TFPP derivatives exhibited greater uptake by HeLa cells than those with different glycoconjugation patterns, with the exception of Zn(II) complexes. trans-Bisglycoconjugated TFPP derivatives efficiently generated hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical by a type I photoreaction, while no significant differences were found in the efficiency of singlet oxygen generation by a type II photoreaction. These unique characteristics of trans-bisglycoconjugated TFPP derivatives support the conclusion that trans-bisglycoconjugation is a highly efficient and robust architecture for TFPP-based PDT development.
Solid Exfoliation of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Crystals for the Synthesis of Few-layer Boron Nitride Nanosheets
Authors: Liu Lin , Xiong Zhitao , Hu Daqiang , Wu Guotao , Liu Bin , Chen Ping
Published: August 2013

Two-dimensional boron nitride (BN) nanosheets have attracted increasing attention owing to their diverse functionalities. Here, we developed, for the first time, a solid exfoliation method to prepare few-layer BN nanosheets by ball milling of hexagonal BN (h-BN) with ammonia–borane. We believe this facile and efficient method will pave the way for large-scale fabrication of few-layer BN nanosheets.
Cosensitization of Cyclometalated Ruthenium Complex and Organic Dyes for High-efficiency Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Funaki Takashi , Koumura Nagatoshi , Sayama Kazuhiro
Published: August 2013

Cosensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 film with the cyclometalated ruthenium complex (FT89) and organic dyes (MK-45 and MK-111) improves the light-harvesting efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The anchor group of the organic dyes has a large influence on the effective cosensitization. MK-45 and MK-111 can work not only as a sensitizer but also as a coadosorbent for FT89. The significant improvement in the conversion efficiency was obtained by cosensitization with FT89 and MK-111, and an efficiency of 11.1% was attained under 100 mW cm−2 of AM1.5G filtered light.
Fully Screen-printed Paper-based Electrode Chip for Glucose Detection
Authors: Shitanda Isao , Yamaguchi Tasuku , Hoshi Yoshinao , Itagaki Masayuki
Published: August 2013

A fully screen-printed electrode chip was fabricated for glucose detection. The utility of the screen-printed electrode chip based on a Japanese paper was demonstrated through the determination of glucose using the reaction of glucose oxidase with tetrathiafulvalene. The calibration curve showed good linearity in the concentration range 10 to 100 mM, with a slope of 0.055 µA mM−1. The paper-based electrode chip is potentially applicable for point-of-care monitoring because it is easy to use, inexpensive, and readily disposable.
Zigzag Arrangement of Bromo-substituted 2,5-Di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3-dithiolane-4-thione Derivatives and Their Physical Properties
Authors: Ueda Kazumasa , Kunimoto Kei , Henmi Kousuke , Miyabayashi Keiko , Yoza Kenji
Published: August 2013

Four bromine-substituted 2,5-di(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3-dithiolane-4-thione derivatives, 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, were synthesized, and their physical properties were investigated. These compounds were obtained from the reaction of a corresponding zinc complex of 2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-bis(thiolate) derivatives and corresponding tetrafluoroborate salts of 1,3-dithiol-2-ylium derivatives. Recrystallization of 1a from carbon disulfide and n-hexane gave single crystals suitable for X-ray structure analysis. In the crystal, 1a molecules are one-dimensionally stacked and one molecule is rotated relative to the neighboring molecules by an angle of 92° about its longer molecular axis. On the (010) plane, the molecules were arranged in a zigzag manner along the a axis. This interesting feature is accomplished by intermolecular S···Br halogen bonds.
An Extension of the Talbot–Ogden Hydrology Model to an Affine Multi-Dimensional Moisture Content Domain
Authors: Yu Han , Deng Li , Douglas Craig C.
Published: August 2013

The Talbot–Ogden hydrology model provides a fast mass conservative method to compute infiltration in unsaturated soils. As a replacement for a model based on Richards equation, it separates the groundwater movement into infiltration and redistribution for every time step. The typical feature making this method fast is the discretization of the moisture content domain rather than the spatial one. The Talbot-Ogden model rapidly determines how well ground water and aquifers are recharged only. Hence, it differs from models based on advanced reservoir modeling that are uniformly far more expensive computationally since they determine where the water moves in space instead, a completely different and more complex problem.

According to the pore-size distribution curve for many soils, this paper extends the one dimensional moisture content domain into a two dimensional one by keeping the vertical spatial axis. The proposed extension can describe any pore-size or porosity distribution as an important soil feature. Based on this extension, infiltration and redistribution are restudied. The unconditional conservation of mass in the Talbot–Ogden model is inherited in this extended model. A numerical example is given for the extended model.
Autonomy or Control? Organizational Architecture and Corporate Attention to Stakeholders
Authors: Crilly Donal , Sloan Pamela
Published: August 2013

Existing explanations of corporate attention to stakeholders overlook how organizations distribute the attention of their members. Combining interview and survey data at two levels of analysis, we show that executives’ assumptions about how best to configure their organizations have important implications for how their firms attend to stakeholders. We identify two types of organizational architecture: guided autonomy and cascaded control. The former enables specialized attention at the level of the individual manager and facilitates simultaneous attention to a large number of stakeholders; the latter restricts the autonomy of individual managers and leads to redundancy in attention. Our contribution is a framework that takes account of top manager frames and organizational architecture to articulate the relationship between individual- and organizational-level attention and to explain why some firms can address the concerns of multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
Diffusion as Classification
Authors: Etzion Dror
Published: August 2013

An overlooked aspect of the diffusion of a practice in a population is the emergence of a de facto classificatory schema, distinguishing between actors that adopt a practice and those that do not. To investigate diffusion as classification, I develop a simulation model that highlights the conditions under which limited diffusion of practices leads to the emergence and entrenchment of classificatory schemas. The model depicts classification as a systemic phenomenon resulting from the interplay of actor-level micromotives and field-level macrobehaviors that jointly drive diffusion. Whereas extant theory on the origin of classificatory schemas emphasizes the role of agency, results from the model suggest that classificatory schemas can emerge somewhat unintentionally as practices diffuse. Moreover, by conceptualizing diffusion as classification, I suggest a means for disentangling the closely related and often conflated concepts of diffusion and institutionalization.
Moving To A User-Driven Research Paradigm
Authors: Randhawa Gurvaneet
Published: August 2013

The traditional bench-to-bedside paradigm for clinical research has been
successfully used for many decades. This model of knowledge generation has led to
discoveries that have enhanced the quality and length of life. The combination of
changes in research practice and in healthcare delivery, growing complexity in
decisionmaking, increasing use of Electronic Health Records, and growing resource
constraints, necessitate a shift to a user-driven research paradigm to generate new
knowledge. This conceptual framework was created to clarify the perspective of the
decision-makers, and the range of factors and the variability in thresholds used to make
decisions. This framework may help researchers in creating actionable information to
meet the needs of decision-makers, which is needed for the transition to a user-driven
research paradigm. Further, it is important to create an appropriate set of incentives
to facilitate this transition to a user-driven research paradigm.
Quantitative PCR Measurement of tRNA 2-Methylthio Modification for Assessing Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Authors: Xie Peiyu , Wei Fan-Yan , Hirata Shoji , Kaitsuka Taku , Suzuki Tsutomu , Suzuki Takeo , Tomizawa Kazuhito
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND

Genetic variants in the human CDKAL1 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1–like 1) gene have been associated with reduced insulin secretion and type 2 diabetes (T2D). CDKAL1 is a methylthiotransferase that catalyzes 2-methylthio (ms2) modification of the adenine at position 37 (A37) of cytoplasmic tRNALys(UUU). We investigated the ms2-modification level of tRNALys(UUU) as a direct readout of CDKAL1 enzyme activity in human samples.

METHOD

We developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based method to measure ms2 modification. tRNALys(UUU) was reverse-transcribed with 2 unique primers: Reverse primer r1 was designed to anneal to the middle of this tRNA, including the nucleotide at A37, and reverse primer r2 was designed to anneal to the region downstream (3′) of A37. Subsequent qPCR was performed to detect the corresponding transcribed cDNAs.

RESULTS

The efficiency of reverse transcription of tRNALys(UUU) was ms2-modification dependent. The relative difference in threshold cycle number obtained with the r1 or r2 primer yielded the ms2-modification level in tRNALys(UUU) precisely as predicted by an original mathematical model. The method was capable of measuring ms2-modification levels in tRNALys(UUU) in total RNA isolated from human peripheral blood samples, revealing that the ms2-modification rate in tRNALys(UUU) was decreased in individuals carrying the CDKAL1 genotype associated with T2D. In addition, the ms2-modification level was correlated with insulin secretion.

CONCLUSIONS

The results point to the critical role of ms2 modification in T2D and to a potential clinical use of a simple and high-throughput method for assessing T2D risk.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Poly(amide-imide)/organoclay Nanocomposites Derived from N,N′-(4,4′-diphtaloyl)-bis-L-α-aminophenyl Acetic Diacid and 1,2-Bis(4-aminophenoxy)ethane
Authors: Feyzi Akram , Faghihi Khalil
Published: August 2013

In this study, a series of polymer/clay nanocomposites (PCNs) materials consisting of organic poly(amide-imide) (PAI) and organo-modified clay content varying from 0 to 10 mass%, were successfully prepared by solution dispersion technique. At first, the reactive organoclay was prepared by using protonated L-phenylalanine amino acid as a swelling agent for silicate layers of montmorillonite/Na+ (MMT/Na+) via ion-exchange reaction. Then, poly(amide-imide) used as a matrix of nanocomposite was prepared through the polymerization reaction of N,N′-(4,4′-diphtaloyl)-bis-L-α-aminophenyl acetic diacid and 1,2-bis(4-aminophenoxy)ethane in a medium of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) / triphenyl phosphite (TPP) / calcium chloride (CaCl2) / pyridine (py). This polymer was end-capped with amine end groups near the completion of the reaction to interact chemically with organoclay. Finally, PAI/organoclay nanocomposite films containing 1%, 3%, 5% and 10% of organoclay were prepared via solution intercalation method through blending of organoclay with the PAI solution. The resulting nanocomposite films were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD and TEM results revealed the formation of exfoliated and intercalated organoclay platelets in the PAI matrix. TGA results indicated that the addition of organoclay into the PAI matrix increases in the thermal decomposition temperatures of the resulted nanocomposites.
Kalb’s Leber und Dienstag’s Schnitzeltag: Zur funktionalen Ausdifferenzierung des Apostrophs im Deutschen
Authors: Scherer Carmen
Published: August 2013

This paper analyzes the non-standard use of the apostrophe in
modern German texts. Traditionally, it is assumed that the apostrophe has a
purely phonographic function in German, even though the first examples of
non-phonographic apostrophes date back to the 17th century. Still today, spellings
with non-phonographic apostrophes, such as die Pizza’s, are considered
as mistakes or misspellings. However, the in-depth analysis of these spellings
reveals that the vast majority of non-phonographic apostrophes are not used at
haphazard. They rather indicate information about the morphological structure
of words: they either mark the right border of their left context, the left border
of their right context or the morphological border as such.

Interestingly, the number of morphologically motivated spellings has increased
considerably during the last decades. This can be explained by an extension
of possible contexts. In this paper, I argue that the morphographic apostrophe
spreads from a prototypical construction, namely the s-genitive of person
names, to other contexts, such as nominal plural or denominal adverbs. I furthermore
illustrate that both the left and the right context of the apostrophe
may serve as a starting point for the propagation of the morphographic apostrophe.
Behavior of Foreign-Object-Damaged WC/C-Coated 7075-T6 Aluminum Alloy Under Fatigue Loading
Authors: Baragetti S. , Gerosa R. , Rivolta B.
Published: August 2013

Solution heat treated and aged, 7075 is one of the most employed aluminum alloys because of its high mechanical resistance. A PVD WC/C coating is usually required to improve the wear resistance, but little information is available about its influence on fatigue life. Rotating bending fatigue tests were, hence, planned on smooth and coated samples. In many applications the components can be damaged by foreign objects. For this reason, some specimens belonging to both coated and uncoated series were damaged by an hardened steel sphere launched at high speed against the minimum cross section of the fatigue samples. The obtained samples series were, hence, tested for 104, 105, and 106 cycles. Finally, to study the effect of the coating from the static and the corrosion points of view, tensile and intergranular corrosion tests were performed, too.
Novel Fluorido-Oxoanions via Lewis Acid-Base Reactions – Synthesis and Crystal Structure Determination of Na3B2PO5F4
Authors: Jansen Martin , Pilz Thomas
Published: August 2013

Na
Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal expansion of a novel borate, Ba3Bi2(BO3)4
Authors: Volkov Sergey N. , Bubnova Rimma S. , Filatov Stanislav K. , Krivovichev Sergey V.
Published: August 2013

Single crystals of novel metastable borate Ba
Lipopolysaccharide inhibits the expression of resistin in adipocytes
Authors: Xiang Xinxin , An Wenjiao , Jiang Changtao , Zhao Jing , Wang Xian , Sun Guang , Li Yin , Zhang Weizhen
Published: August 2013

Resistin is an adipocytokine leading to insulin resistance. Endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to decrease the expression of resistin mRNA and protein in both lean anddb/dbobese mice, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Several models such asex vivoculture of adipose tissues, primary rat adipocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used to further characterize the effect of LPS on the expression of resistin. LPS attenuated both the resistin mRNA and protein in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In the presence of actinomycin D, LPS failed to reduce the half-life of resistin mRNA, suggesting a transcriptional mechanism. The lipid A fraction is crucial for the inhibition of resistin expression induced by LPS. Pharmacological intervention of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) reversed the inhibitory effect of LPS. LPS down-regulated CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBP-α; CEBPA) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ; PPARG), while activation of C/EBP-α or PPAR-γ by either over-expressing these transcriptional factors or by rosiglitazone, an agonist of PPAR-γ, blocked the inhibitory effect of LPS on resistin. C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP-10; DDIT3) was up-regulated by LPS, while a CHOP-10 antisense oligonucleotide reversed the decrement of resistin protein induced by LPS. Taken together, these results suggest that LPS inhibits resistin expression through a unique signaling pathway involving toll-like receptor 4, JNK, CHOP-10 and C/EBP-α/PPAR-γ.
PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITISM AND ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMATOLOGY AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS
Authors: Gil Frederico F. , Barros Maxlene J. , Macedo Nazaré A. , G. E. Júnior Carmelino , Redoan Roseli , Busatti Haendel , Gomes Maria A. , Santos Joseph F. G.
Published: August 2013

Intestinal parasites are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Immunocompromised individuals may develop more severe forms of these infections. Taking into account the immunity impairment in patients suffering from chronic renal failure (CRF), we will determine the prevalence and associated symptoms of intestinal parasites in these patients. Controls without CRF were used for comparison. Stool samples were collected and processed for microscopic identification of parasites using the Formalin-ether concentration method. For Cryptosporidium diagnosis, the ELISA technique was used. One hundred and ten fecal samples from hemodialysis patients were analyzed, as well as 86 from a community group used as control group. A result of 51.6% of intestinal parasites was observed in hemodialysis patients and 61.6% in the control group. Cryptosporidium and Blastocystis were the most common infections in patients with CRF (26.4% and 24.5%, respectively). Blastocystis was the most common infection in the control group (41.9%), however no individual was found positive for Cryptosporidium. Among the CRF patients, 73.6% were symptomatic, 54.3% of these tested positive for at least one parasite, in contrast to 44.8% in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.38). The most common symptoms in this group were flatulence (36.4%), asthenia (30.0%) and weight loss (30.0%). In the control group, 91.9% were symptomatic, 60.8% of these tested positive for at least one parasite, in contrast to 71.4% in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.703). A significant difference between the two groups was observed with regard to symptoms, with bloating, postprandial fullness, and abdominal pain being more frequent in the control group than in the hemodialysis group (all p < 0.05). Comparing symptomatic with asymptomatic, there was no association in either group between symptoms or the prevalence of parasitic infection, nor with the type of parasite or with multiple parasitic infections. Patients with chronic renal failure are frequent targets for renal transplantation, which as well as the inherent immunological impairment of the disease itself, results in immunosuppression by medication. For this reason, carriers of intestinal parasites with pathogenic potential can develop serious clinical complications influencing the success of transplantation. This fact, coupled with the high prevalence of intestinal parasites and the dissociation between symptoms and infection in CRF patients, suggests that the stool test should be incorporated in routine propedeutics. Furthermore, preventive measures for the acquisition of parasites through the fecal-oral contamination route should be introduced.
SURVEY OF SANDFLY FAUNA (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE) IN UBERLÂNDIA, MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL, 2003-2004
Authors: Paula Márcia Beatriz Cardoso de , Souza Amaral Alves de , Reis Alessandro Ambrósio dos , Limongi Jean Ezequiel , Pajuaba Neto Adalberto de Albuquerque , Rodrigues Elisângela de Azevedo Silva
Published: August 2013

We analyzed the sandflies around houses and domestic animal shelters located in residences close to forests in localities on the banks of the Araguari River, Uberlândia, MG, from February 2003 to November 2004. The phlebotomines were captured in the peridomiciliary area, where Shannon traps were utilized in the peridomicile and CDC traps in animal shelters. 2,783 specimens of sandflies were captured, 2,140 females (76.9%) and 643 males (23.1%), distributed between 17 species. The most abundant species was Nyssomyia neivai (88.1%), followed by Nyssomyia whitmani (3.1%). The presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis was also confirmed, it is the main vector of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi which causes visceral leishmaniasis. The presence of species involved in the transmission of leishmaniases in the municipality of Uberlândia is cause for concern. The presence of L. longipalpis indicates that its urbanization may not have been aleatory and instead occurred through the destruction of wild ecotopes. More studies of their occupation in anthropic environments need to be made.
USE OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ASYMPTOMATIC Leishmania INFECTION IN A VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS-ENDEMIC AREA
Authors: Silva Luciana Almeida , Romero Héctor Dardo , Fagundes Aline , Nehme Nédia , Fernandes Otávio , Rodrigues Virmondes , Costa Roberto Teodoro , Prata Aluízio
Published: August 2013

The diagnosis of asymptomatic infection with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi has become more important over recent years. Expansion of visceral leishmaniasis might be associated with other routes of transmission such as transfusion, congenital or even vector transmission, and subjects with asymptomatic infection are potential reservoirs. Moreover, the identification of infection may contribute to the management of patients with immunosuppressive conditions (HIV, transplants, use of immunomodulators) and to the assessment of the effectiveness of control measures. In this study, 149 subjects living in a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area were evaluated clinically and submitted to genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serological testing, and the Montenegro skin test. Forty-nine (32.9%) of the subjects had a positive PCR result and none of them developed the disease within a follow-up period of three years. No association was observed between the results of PCR, serological and skin tests. A positive PCR result in subjects from the endemic area did not indicate a risk of progression to visceral leishmaniasis and was not associated with a positive result in the serological tests.
THE SERO-CONVERSION AND EVALUATION OF RENAL ALTERATIONS IN DOGS INFECTED BY Leishmania (Infantum) chagasi
Authors: Alves Georgia Brenda Barros , Silva Lucilene dos Santos , Batista Joilson Ferreira , Campos Ângela Piauilino , Prianti Maria das Graças , Costa Francisco Assis Lima
Published: August 2013

This study investigated the sero-conversion period in which dogs from endemic areas test positive for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as well as the early post-infection period in which renal alterations are observed. Dogs that were initially negative for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) were clinically evaluated every three months by serological, parasitological and biochemical tests until sero-conversion was confirmed, and six months later a subsequent evaluation was performed. Samples of kidney tissues were processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and Masson’s trichrome stain and lesions were classified based on the WHO criteria. Of the 40 dogs that initially tested negative for VL, 25 (62.5%) exhibited positive serological tests during the study period. Of these 25 dogs, 15 (60%) tested positive within three months, five (20%) tested positive within six months and five (20%) tested positive within nine months. The dogs exhibited antibody titers between 1:40 and 1:80 and 72% of the dogs exhibited clinical symptoms. The Leishmania antigen was present in the kidneys of recently infected dogs. We found higher levels of total protein and globulin as well as lower levels of albumin in the infected dogs when compared to the control dogs. Additionally, infected dogs presented levels of urea and creatinine that were higher than those of the uninfected dogs. Glomerulonephritis was detected in some of the dogs examined in this study. These data suggest that in Teresina, the sero-conversion for VL occurs quickly and showed that the infected dogs presented abnormal serum proteins, as well as structural and functional alterations in the kidneys during the early post-infection period.
THE COPPER INTERFERENCE WITH THE MELANOGENESIS OF Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Mauch Renan Marrichi , Cunha Vinícius de Oliveira , Dias Amanda Latercia Tranches
Published: August 2013

Melanin is a pigment produced by laccase, a phenoloxydase enzyme, and is related to the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans as it is also considered an adaption mechanism to environmental conditions and protection against UV radiation, phagocytic system attack and antifungal drugs. Laccase synthesis is stimulated by several factors, including copper metabolism. The current study shows C. neoformans strains with higher melanization intensity when grown in L-dopa medium supplemented with different concentrations of copper sulfate. This increase shows that melanization rates may be enhanced in the presence of copper ions and may also enhance the virulence of C. neoformans in infected patients that present increasing copper concentrations in serum, such as those with HIV. The virulence of these strains may also be increased in the environment, where this metal is available as CuSO4 in algicidal and fungicidal compounds.
EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF SWISS AND AKR/J MICE WITH Centrocestus formosanus (TREMATODA: HETEROPHYIDAE)
Authors: Mati Vitor Luís Tenório , Pinto Hudson Alves , Melo Alan Lane de
Published: August 2013

In order to better understand the biology of Centrocestus formosanus in a definitive host model, mice of Swiss and AKR/J strains were experimentally infected with 100 metacercariae of the parasite. Fourteen days post-infection, the rodents were killed and adult trematodes were recovered from the small intestine. The percentage of parasite recovery from AKR/J mice (11.4%) was significantly higher than that from Swiss mice (5.3%). Moreover, trematodes recovered from the AKR/J strain were more developed and had greater fecundity. Peculiarities concerning the mice’s immune system could explain the difference in susceptibility and in worm development seen in the present study. The data obtained confirm that mice are susceptible to infection with C. formosanus and indicate that the AKR/J strain provides a more favorable environment for parasite development.
Prevalence and genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora belli in HIV-infected patients
Authors: Assis Dnieber Chagas , Resende Deisy Vivian , Cabrine-Santos Marlene , Correia Dalmo , Oliveira-Silva Márcia Benedita
Published: August 2013

Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora belli are monoxenic protozoa that have been recognized as the causative agents of chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals, especially HIV-infected subjects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of these intestinal protozoa in HIV-positive patients in the Triângulo Mineiro region of Brazil and to correlate the presence of these infections with clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data of the patients. Oocysts were detected in stool samples of 10 (16.9%) of the 59 patients studied, while Cryptosporidium spp. were present in 10.1% (6/59) and C. belli in 6.7% (4/59). The frequency of these parasites was higher among patients with diarrheic syndrome and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts < 200 cells/mm 3 , demonstrating the opportunistic characteristic of these infections. A significant association was observed between the lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. and/or C. belli. Parasitism with Cryptosporidium spp. was more frequent in February and April, the months following the period of high rainfall. The same was not observed for C. belli. Genetic characterization of two isolates led to the identification of Cryptosporidium parvum, one of the main species associated with the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis.