bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stem Cells for Augmenting Tendon Repair
Authors: Gulotta Lawrence V. , Chaudhury Salma , Wiznia Daniel
Published: December 2011

Tendon healing is fraught with complications such as reruptures and adhesion formation due to the formation of scar tissue at the injury site as opposed to the regeneration of native tissue. Stem cells are an attractive option in developing cell-based therapies to improve tendon healing. However, several questions remain to be answered before stem cells can be used clinically. Specifically, the type of stem cell, the amount of cells, and the proper combination of growth factors or mechanical stimuli to induce differentiation all remain to be seen. This paper outlines the current literature on the use of stem cells for tendon augmentation.
Early Oral Ovalbumin Exposure during Maternal Milk Feeding Prevents Spontaneous Allergic Sensitization in Allergy-Prone Rat Pups
Authors: El-Merhibi Adaweyah , Lymn Kerry , Kanter Irene , Penttila Irmeli A.
Published: December 2011

There are conflicting data to support the practice of delaying the introduction of allergenic foods into the infant diet to prevent allergy development. This study investigated immune response development after early oral egg antigen (Ovalbumin; OVA) exposure in a rat pup model. Brown Norway (BN) rat pups were randomly allocated into groups: dam reared (DR), DR pups challenged daily (days 4–13) with oral OVA (DR + OVAc), DR pups challenged intermittently (on day 4, 10, 12, and 13) with oral OVA (DR + OVAi), formula-fed pups (FF), and FF pups challenged daily with oral OVA (FF + OVA). Immune parameters assessed included OVA-specific serum IgE, IgG1, and IgA. Ileal and splenic messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1), mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) 2/4/7, and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) were determined. Ileum was stained for TGF-β1 and Smad4.Results. Feeding OVA daily to DR pups maintained systemic and local gut antibody and immunoregulatory marker mRNA responses. Systemic TGF-β1 was lower in DR + OVAipups compared to DR and DR + OVAcpups. Feeding OVA to FF pups resulted in significantly greater OVA-specific IgE and IgG1, and lower IgA and TGF-β1 and Smad expression compared to DR pups.Conclusions. Early daily OVA exposure in the presence of maternal milk maintains immune markers associated with a regulated immune response, preventing early allergic sensitization.
Adenosine Receptor Antagonists Do Not Disrupt Rodent Prepulse Inhibition: An Improved Side Effect Profile in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Bleickardt Carina J. , LaShomb Abigail L. , Merkel Carrie E. , Hodgson Robert A.
Published: December 2011

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Current treatments for PD focus on dopaminergic therapies, including L-dopa and dopamine receptor agonists. However, these treatments induce neuropsychiatric side effects. Psychosis, characterized by delusions and hallucinations, is one of the most serious such side effects. Adenosine receptor antagonism is a nondopaminergic treatment for PD with clinical and preclinical efficacy. The present studies assessed antagonists SCH 412348 and istradefylline in rodent prepulse inhibition (PPI), a model of psychosis. Dopamine receptor agonists pramipexole (0.3–3 mg/kg), pergolide (0.3–3 mg/kg), and apomorphine (0.3–3 mg/kg) significantly disrupted PPI; ropinirole (1–30 mg/kg) had no effect; L-dopa (100–300 mg/kg) disrupted rat but not mouse PPI. SCH 412348 (0.3–3 mg/kg) did not disrupt rodent PPI; istradefylline (0.1–1 mg/kg) marginally disrupted mouse but not rat PPI. These results suggest that antagonists, unlike dopamine agonists, have an improved neuropsychiatric side effect profile.
Network-Coding-Based Cooperative ARQ Medium Access Control Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Antonopoulos Angelos , Verikoukis Christos
Published: December 2011

We introduce a novel Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol for Automatic Repeat reQuest-based (ARQ-based) cooperative wireless sensor networks. Using network coding techniques, we achieve a better network performance in terms of energy efficiency without compromising the offered Quality of Service (QoS). The proposed solution is compared to other cooperative schemes, while analytical and simulation results are provided to evaluate our protocol.
Iterative Methods for the Sum of Two Monotone Operators
Authors: Liou Yeong-Cheng
Published: December 2011

We introduce an iterative for finding the zeros point of the sum of two monotone operators. We prove that the suggested method converges strongly to the zeros point of the sum of two monotone operators.
Gestational Medication Use, Birth Conditions, and Early Postnatal Exposures for Childhood Asthma
Authors: Chen Yang-Ching , Tsai Ching-Hui , Lee Yungling
Published: December 2011

Our aim is to explore (1) whether gestational medication use, mode of delivery, and early postnatal exposure correlate with childhood asthma, (2) the dose responsiveness of such exposure, and (3) their links to early- and late-onset asthma. We conducted a matched case-control study based on the Taiwan Children Health Study, which was a nationwide survey that recruited 12-to-14-year-old school children in 14 communities. 579 mothers of the participants were interviewed by telephone. Exclusive breastfeeding protected children from asthma. Notably, childhood asthma was significantly associated with maternal medication use during pregnancy, vacuum use during vaginal delivery, recurrent respiratory tract infections, hospitalization, main caregiver cared for other children, and early daycare attendance. Exposure to these factors led to dose responsiveness in relationships to asthma. Most of the exposures revealed a greater impact on early-onset asthma, except for vacuum use and daycare attendance.
Reactive Oxygen Species in Skeletal Muscle Signaling
Authors: Barbieri Elena , Sestili Piero
Published: December 2011

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a ubiquitous phenomenon in eukaryotic cells' life. Up to the 1990s of the past century, ROS have been solely considered as toxic species resulting in oxidative stress, pathogenesis and aging. However, there is now clear evidence that ROS are not merely toxic species but also—within certain concentrations—useful signaling molecules regulating physiological processes. During intense skeletal muscle contractile activity myotubes' mitochondria generate high ROS flows: this renders skeletal muscle a tissue where ROS hold a particular relevance. According to their hormetic nature, in muscles ROS may trigger different signaling pathways leading to diverging responses, from adaptation to cell death. Whether a “positive” or “negative” response will prevail depends on many variables such as, among others, the site of ROS production, the persistence of ROS flow or target cells' antioxidant status. In this light, a specific threshold of physiological ROS concentrations above which ROS exert negative, toxic effects is hard to determine, and the concept of “physiologically compatible” levels of ROS would better fit with such a dynamic scenario. In this review these concepts will be discussed along with the most relevant signaling pathways triggered and/or affected by ROS in skeletal muscle.
Deriving Valid Population–Based Cancer Survival Estimates in the Presence of Nonnegligible Proportions of Cancers Notified by Death Certificates Only
Authors: Brenner Hermann , Holleczek Bernd
Published: December 2011

Background: Studies of cancer survival by population-based cancer registries are a key component in monitoring progress against cancer. Patients notified by death certificates only (DCO) are commonly excluded from such studies. The validity of this “exclude DCO” approach has been questioned and an alternative “correct for DCO” approach has been proposed.

Methods: We assess the validity of both the “exclude DCO” approach and the “correct for DCO” approach using model calculations. We illustrate implications for population-based cancer survival analyses by analyses of 5-year relative survival of cancer patients in Saarland, Germany.

Results: The “exclude DCO” approach provides (too) optimistic survival estimates and the “correct for DCO” approach provides (too) pessimistic survival estimates under plausible assumptions. For example, in case of true survival of 50%, underascertainment of 5% of surviving patients and of 15% of dying patients (yielding a proportion of DCO cases of 7.7%), the two approaches would provide survival rate estimates of 52.8% and 48.8%, respectively. The difference of survival estimates obtained with both approaches increases with incompleteness of registration and the proportion of DCO cases. Trace back of DCO cases shifts survival estimates from the former toward the latter estimate.

Conclusions: In case of nonnegligible DCO proportions, cancer survival studies should not be exclusively based on either the “exclude DCO” or the “correct for DCO” approach. A combination of estimates from both approaches may be useful to delineate a plausibility range for true survival.

Impact: Our results may help to enhance validity and comparability of population-based cancer survival estimates. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(12); 2480–6. ©2011 AACR.
Detection of hydrate and other blockages in gas pipelines using acoustic reflectometry
Authors: Wang Xuesong , Lewis Keith M , Papadopoulou Kassandra A , Lennox Barry , Turner John T
Published: December 2011

This article describes the application of an acoustic reflectometry technique to detect blockages in long lengths of gas-filled pipelines. The use of the technique in laboratory pipelines has been previously reported. However, in this article, the technique is applied to a series of pipelines that provide the ideal test bed to thoroughly assess the capabilities of using acoustic reflectometry to detect and locate defects in industrial gas-filled pipelines. In particular, the use of the technique for detecting the early formation of hydrates in subsea pipelines is evaluated. Four very different pipelines were used for this evaluation. These pipelines varied in inside diameter from 0.06 to 0.6 m, were operated at pressures of up to 10 MPa and contained both flowing and static gases. In all tests, the acoustic reflectometry technique was able to accurately detect and locate the blockages within the pipeline. The results suggest that acoustic reflectometry is capable of detecting full and partial blockages in pipelines with lengths of up to 10 km.
Characterisation and modelling of a transversely isotropic melt-extruded low-density polyethylene closed cell foam under uniaxial compression
Authors: Jebur Qusai Hatem , Harrison Philip , Guo Zaoyang , Schubert Gerlind , Ju Xiangyang , Navez Vincent
Published: December 2011

This article describes uniaxial compression tests on a melt-extruded closed-cell low-density polyethylene foam. The stress–strain response shows that the mechanical behaviour of the foam is predominantly transversely isotropic viscoelastic and compressible. Image analysis is used to estimate the Poisson’s ratio under large strains. When the deformation is less than 5%, the compression kinematics and mechanical response of the polymer foam can be well described by a linear compressible transversely isotropic elastic model. For large strain, a simple method is proposed to estimate the uniaxial compression response of the foam at any arbitrary orientation by manipulating experimental data obtained from compression tests in the principal and transverse directions (stress vs. strain and Poisson’s ratio) and a simple shear test. An isotropic compressible hyperfoam model is then used to implement this behaviour in a finite element code.
Using bogie-mounted sensors to measure wheel rolling and sliding on railway tracks
Authors: Monje Pedro , Aranguren Gerardo , Martínez Borja , Casado Luciano
Published: December 2011

The goal of this paper is to present both the development of an intelligent sensor that can be used to obtain information about the existence of rolling contact fatigue cracks created by wheel–rail interactions and also the data obtained in a real-world study performed for its validation. The design of a bogie-mounted instrumentation system to detect and measure wheel rolling in railway units is introduced, and experimental results are presented. The system is designed to analyse and compare the angular velocity of the wheels of a railway unit. It uses photodiodes to acquire information about rolling conditions and a radio frequency link to send that information to a data logger, which acquires and saves the data for post-processing and analysis.
Optimal underground timetable design based on power flow for maximizing the use of regenerative-braking energy
Authors: Peña-Alcaraz Maite , Fernández Antonio , Cucala Asunción Paloma , Ramos Andres , Pecharromán Ramon R
Published: December 2011

This paper deals with the design of underground rail system timetables that synchronize the movement of trains to allow the energy consumption from substations to be reduced by maximizing the use of regenerative-braking energy. Nowadays, most trains are equipped with regenerative-braking systems and any of this recovered energy not used by on-board auxiliary services can be consumed by other trains in the same rail section. A mathematical programming optimization model has been designed to synchronize the braking of trains arriving at station with the acceleration of trains exiting from the same or another station. In addition, a power flow model of the electrical network has been developed to calculate the power-saving factor for each synchronization event in order to encourage better synchronizations, particularly those which have fewer energy losses. These models were applied in the design of a schedule for line 3 of the Madrid underground system. This schedule was then trialled for a week. Energy savings were measured and a significant correlation with the synchronization of train movements was observed. It was concluded that a modification in the published timetables would result in energy savings, with no effect on the quality of service for passengers and low associated investment costs.
The Ethics of Insecurity
Authors: Lee David
Published: December 2011

This article discusses the working lives of individuals working in the British independent television production sector. It focuses on the material reality of their individualised, precarious working environment, investigating the disjuncture between the precarious, insecure nature of creative labour within this industry, which engenders stress and anxiety, and the intense emotional pleasure associated with such work. While the tension between ‘pleasure’ and ‘pain’ within creative occupations has been well documented (e.g. McRobbie, 2002b; Ursell, 2000), this article argues that in order to fully understand the subjective responses to creative work we need to look beyond the dominant post-Foucauldian approach in this field and attempt to understand cultural work as a site for moral work (Banks, 2006). Creative occupations are sites of exploitation and intense insecurity fuelled by the desire for self-actualisation. However, they are also spaces where workers have an ethical commitment to, and passion for, their cultural work.
Applying Bourdieu’s theory to accounts of living with multimorbidity
Authors: Townsend Anne
Published: December 2011

Objectives: Chronic illness is well researched. Broadly, empirical enquiry has focused on either determinants of behaviors or exploring lived experiences. This paper attempts to advance understandings of the lived experience of multimorbidity in broader cultural and structural settings.

Methods: Twenty-three people in their early 50s were recruited from a community health survey in Scotland. The participants had 4 or more chronic illnesses and were interviewed twice. Key concepts of Bourdieu were applied to the data set

Results: The analysis presented here is organized around 4 sections: 1) Habitus, capitals and the ill body; 2) Relational positioning; 3) Illness and symbolic violence; 4) The GP as dispenser of capitals. Applying Bourdieu’s theory to the accounts highlighted how broader cultural structures worked their way into personal illness narratives and illustrated how living with multimorbidity is a dialectic of structure and agency.

Discussion: Interventions and support for those with multimorbidity need to take into account the tensions of opposing habitus underpinning medical encounters and the ongoing negotiation of structure and agency which is integral to living with chronic illness and underpins illness actions such as help-seeking and self-managing.
Management of Myelofibrosis
Authors: Vannucchi Alessandro M.
Published: December 2011

Myelofibrosis (MF), either primary or arising from previous polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET), is the worst among the chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms in terms of survival and quality of life. Patients with MF have to face several clinical issues that, because of the poor effectiveness of medical therapy, surgery or radiotherapy, represent largely unmet clinical needs. Powerful risk stratification systems, applicable either at diagnosis using the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) or during the variable course of illness using the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) and DIPSS Plus, allow recognition of categories of patients with survival times ranging from decades to < 2 years. These scores are especially important for therapeutic decisions that include allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic SCT), the only curative approach that still carries a nonnegligible risk of morbidity and mortality even with newest reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens. Discovery of JAK2V617F mutation prompted the development of clinical trials using JAK2 inhibitors; these agents overall have resulted in meaningful symptomatic improvement and reduction of splenomegaly that were otherwise not achievable with conventional therapy. Intriguing differences in the efficacy and tolerability of JAK2 inhibitors are being recognized, which could lead to a nonoverlapping spectrum of activity/safety. Other agents that do not directly target JAK2 and have shown symptomatic efficacy in MF are represented by inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Pomalidomide appears to be particularly active against MF-associated anemia. However, because these agents are all poorly effective in reducing the burden of mutated cells, further advancements are needed to move from enhancing our ability to palliate the disease to arriving at an actual cure for MF.
Costs of Care in Hemophilia and Possible Implications of Health Care Reform
Authors: Johnson Kathleen A. , Zhou Zheng-Yi
Published: December 2011

Economic evaluation in health care is increasingly used to assist policy makers in their difficult task of allocating limited resources. The high cost of care, including that for clotting factor concentrates, makes hemophilia a potential target for cost-cutting efforts by health care payers. Although the appropriate management of hemophilia is key to minimizing and preventing long-term morbidity, comparative effectiveness studies regarding the relative benefit of different treatment options are lacking. Cost-of-illness (COI) analysis, which includes direct and indirect costs from a societal perspective, can provide information to be used in cost-effectiveness and other economic analyses. Quality-of-life assessment provides another methodology with which to measure outcomes and benefits of appropriate disease management. Health care reform has implications for individuals with hemophilia and their families through changes in payment, insurance coverage expansion, and health care delivery system changes that reward quality and stimulate cooperative, team-based care. Providers will benefit from the expansion of insurance coverage and some financial benefits in rural areas, and from the expansion of coverage for preventive services. Accountable care organizations will potentially change the way providers are paid and financial incentives under reform will reward high quality of care.
Immunogenicity of panitumumab in combination chemotherapy clinical trials
Authors: Weeraratne Dohan , Chen Alin , Pennucci Jason J , Wu Chi-Yuan , Zhang Kathy , Wright Jacqueline , Pérez-Ruixo Juan José , Yang Bing-Bing , Kaliyaperumal Arunan , Gupta Shalini , Swanson Steven J , Chirmule Narendra , Starcevic Marta
Published: December 2011

Background

Panitumumab is a fully human antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor that is indicated for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after disease progression on standard chemotherapy. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the immunogenicity of panitumumab and to evaluate the effect of anti-panitumumab antibodies on pharmacokinetic and safety profiles in patients with mCRC receiving panitumumab in combination with oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapies.

Methods

Three validated assays (two screening immunoassays and a neutralizing antibody bioassay) were used to detect the presence of anti-panitumumab antibodies in serum samples collected from patients enrolled in four panitumumab combination chemotherapy clinical trials. The impact of anti-panitumumab antibodies on pharmacokinetic and safety profiles was analyzed using population pharmacokinetic analysis and descriptive statistics, respectively.

Results

Of 1124 patients treated with panitumumab in combination with oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy with postbaseline samples available for testing, 20 (1.8%) patients developed binding antibodies and 2 (0.2%) developed neutralizing antibodies. The incidence of anti-panitumumab antibodies was similar in patients with tumors expressing wild-type or mutant KRAS and in patients receiving oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapies. No evidence of an altered pharmacokinetic or safety profile was found in patients who tested positive for anti-panitumumab antibodies.

Conclusions

The immunogenicity of panitumumab in the combination chemotherapy setting was infrequent and similar to the immunogenicity observed in the monotherapy setting. Panitumumab immunogenicity did not appear to alter pharmacokinetic or safety profiles. This low rate of immunogenicity may be attributed to the fully human nature of panitumumab.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00339183 (study 20050181), NCT00411450 (study 20060277), NCT00332163 (study 20050184), and NCT00364013 (study 20050203).
The impact of phosphate scarcity on pharmaceutical protein production in S. cerevisiae: linking transcriptomic insights to phenotypic responses
Authors: Kazemi Seresht Ali , Palmqvist Eva Akke , Olsson Lisbeth
Published: December 2011

Background

The adaptation of unicellular organisms like Saccharomyces cerevisiae to alternating nutrient availability is of great fundamental and applied interest, as understanding how eukaryotic cells respond to variations in their nutrient supply has implications spanning from physiological insights to biotechnological applications.

Results

The impact of a step-wise restricted supply of phosphate on the physiological state of S. cerevisiae cells producing human Insulin was studied. The focus was to determine the changes within the global gene expression of cells being cultured to an industrially relevant high cell density of 33 g/l cell dry weight and under six distinct phosphate concentrations, ranging from 33 mM (unlimited) to 2.6 mM (limited). An increased flux through the secretory pathway, being induced by the PHO circuit during low Pi supplementation, proved to enhance the secretory production of the heterologous protein. The re-distribution of the carbon flux from biomass formation towards increased glycerol production under low phosphate led to increased transcript levels of the insulin gene, which was under the regulation of the TPI1 promoter.

Conclusions

Our study underlines the dynamic character of adaptive responses of cells towards a change in their nutrient access. The gradual decrease of the phosphate supply resulted in a step-wise modulated phenotypic response, thereby alternating the specific productivity and the secretory flux. Our work emphasizes the importance of reduced phosphate supply for improved secretory production of heterologous proteins.
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in relation to atherosclerotic lipid profiles in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients
Authors: Chang Jin-Biou , Chu Nain-Feng , Syu Jhu-Ting , Hsieh An-Tsz , Hung Yi-Ren
Published: December 2011

Objectives

To evaluate the association between AGEs and atherosclerotic lipid profiles among aging diabetic patients in Taiwan.

Design and Methods

After age and gender matching, we selected 207 diabetic subjects and 174 diabetic subjects with proteinuria. Lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density cholesterol-lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured using standard methods. AGEs were measured with the immunoassay method.

Results

In general, males were heavier; however, females had higher AGEs, fasting glucose (GLU), TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels than males, and had higher TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C ratios compared to males. AGEs were more strongly correlated with TG levels and TCL/LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios when compared to glucose or hemoglobin A1c. Subjects had higher AGEs levels (≧ 2.0 AU) with more adverse lipid profiles.

Conclusion

AGEs seem to be a good biomarker to evaluate the association between diabetes and atherosclerotic disorders in aging diabetes.
Zinc supplementation alters airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness to a common allergen
Authors: Morgan Carrie I , Ledford John R , Zhou Ping , Page Kristen
Published: December 2011

Background

Zinc supplementation can modulate immunity through inhibition of NF-κB, a transcription factor that controls many immune response genes. Thus, we sought to examine the mechanism by which zinc supplementation tempers the response to a common allergen and determine its effect on allergic airway inflammation.

Methods

Mice were injected with zinc gluconate prior to German cockroach (GC) feces (frass) exposure and airway inflammation was assessed. Primary bone marrow-derived neutrophils and DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells were used to assess the role of zinc gluconate on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α expression. NF-κB:DNA binding and IKK activity were assessed by EMSA and in vitro kinase assay. Protein levels of A20, RIP1 and TRAF6 were assessed by Western blot analysis. Establishment of allergic airway inflammation with GC frass was followed by administration of zinc gluconate. Airway hyperresponsiveness, serum IgE levels, eosinophilia and Th2 cytokine production were assessed.

Results

Administration of zinc gluconate prior to allergen exposure resulted in significantly decreased neutrophil infiltration and TNFα cytokine release into the airways. This correlated with decreased NF-κB activity in the whole lung. Treatment with zinc gluconate significantly decreased GC frass-mediated TNFα production from bone-marrow derived neutrophils and HL-60 cells. We confirmed zinc-mediated decreases in NF-κB:DNA binding and IKK activity in HL-60 cells. A20, a natural inhibitor of NF-κB and a zinc-fingered protein, is a potential target of zinc. Zinc treatment did not alter A20 levels in the short term, but resulted in the degradation of RIP1, an important upstream activator of IKK. TRAF6 protein levels were unaffected. To determine the application for zinc as a therapeutic for asthma, we administered zinc following the establishment of allergic airway inflammation in a murine model. Zinc supplementation decreased airway hyperresponsiveness and serum IgE levels, but had no effect on Th2 cytokine expression.

Conclusions

This report suggests that the mechanism by which zinc supplementation alters NF-κB activity is via the alteration of A20 activity. In addition, this study provides evidence that supplementation of zinc to asthmatics may alter airway reactivity and serum IgE levels, suggesting zinc supplementation as a potential treatment for asthmatics.
Fabrication and ultraviolet photoresponse characteristics of ordered SnO
x
(x ≈ 0.87, 1.45, 2) nanopore films
Authors: Li Changli , Zheng Maojun , Wang Xianghu , Yao Lujun , Ma Li , Shen Wenzhong
Published: December 2011

Based on the porous anodic aluminum oxide templates, ordered SnO
x
nanopore films (approximately 150 nm thickness) with different x (x ≈ 0.87, 1.45, 2) have been successfully fabricated by direct current magnetron sputtering and oxidizing annealing. Due to the high specific surface area, this ordered nanopore films exhibit a great improvement in recovery time compared to thin films for ultraviolet (UV) detection. Especially, the ordered SnO
x
nanopore films with lower x reveal higher UV light sensitivity and shorter current recovery time, which was explained by the higher concentration of the oxygen vacancies in this SnO
x
films. This work presents a potential candidate material for UV light detector.

PACS: 81.15.Cd, 81.40.Ef, 81.70.Jb, 85.60.Gz.
CXCR7 antagonism prevents axonal injury during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as revealed by in vivoaxial diffusivity
Authors: Cruz-Orengo Lillian , Chen Ying-Jr , Kim Joong Hee , Dorsey Denise , Song Sheng-Kwei , Klein Robyn S
Published: December 2011

Background

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is characterized by the pathological trafficking of leukocytes into the central nervous system (CNS). Using the murine MS model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we previously demonstrated that antagonism of the chemokine receptor CXCR7 blocks endothelial cell sequestration of CXCL12, thereby enhancing the abluminal localization of CXCR4-expressing leukocytes. CXCR7 antagonism led to decreased parenchymal entry of leukocytes and amelioration of ongoing disease during EAE. Of note, animals that received high doses of CXCR7 antagonist recovered to baseline function, as assessed by standard clinical scoring. Because functional recovery reflects axonal integrity, we utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate axonal injury in CXCR7 antagonist- versus vehicle-treated mice after recovery from EAE.

Methods

C57BL6/J mice underwent adoptive transfer of MOG-reactive Th1 cells and were treated daily with either CXCR7 antagonist or vehicle for 28 days; and then evaluated by DTI to assess for axonal injury. After imaging, spinal cords underwent histological analysis of myelin and oligodendrocytes via staining with luxol fast blue (LFB), and immunofluorescence for myelin basic protein (MBP) and glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π). Detection of non-phosphorylated neurofilament H (NH-F) was also performed to detect injured axons. Statistical analysis for EAE scores, DTI parameters and non-phosphorylated NH-F immunofluorescence were done by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test. For all statistical analysis a p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

In vivoDTI maps of spinal cord ventrolateral white matter (VLWM) axial diffusivities of naïve and CXCR7 antagonist-treated mice were indistinguishable, while vehicle-treated animals exhibited decreased axial diffusivities. Quantitative differences in injured axons, as assessed via detection of non-phosphorylated NH-F, were consistent with axial diffusivity measurements. Overall, qualitative myelin content and presence of oligodendrocytes were similar in all treatment groups, as expected by their radial diffusivity values. Quantitative assessment of persistent inflammatory infiltrates revealed significant decreases within the parenchyma of CXCR7 antagonist-treated mice versus controls.

Conclusions

These data suggest that CXCR7 antagonism not only prevents persistent inflammation but also preserves axonal integrity. Thus, targeting CXCR7 modifies both disease severity and recovery during EAE, suggesting a role for this molecule in both phases of disease.
High-fat diet accelerates progression of osteoarthritis after meniscal/ligamentous injury
Authors: Mooney Robert A , Sampson Erik R , Lerea Jaclyn , Rosier Randy N , Zuscik Michael J
Published: December 2011

Introduction

Increasing obesity and type 2 diabetes, in part due to the high-fat (HF) Western diet, parallels an increased incidence of osteoarthritis (OA). This study was undertaken to establish a causal relation between the HF diet and accelerated OA progression in a mouse model and to determine the relative roles of weight gain and metabolic dysregulation in this progression.

Methods

Five-week-old C57BL/6 mice were placed on HF (60% kcal) or low-fat (lean, 10% kcal) diets for 8 or 12 weeks before transecting the medial collateral ligament and excising a segment of the medial meniscus of the knee to initiate OA. One group was switched from lean to HF diet at the time of surgery.

Results

Body weight of mice on the HF diet peaked at 45.9 ± 2.1 g compared with 29.9 ± 1.8 g for lean diets, with only those on the HF becoming diabetic. Severity of OA was greater in HF mice, evidenced by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) histopathology initiative scoring method for mice and articular cartilage thickness and area. To assess the importance of weight gain, short- and long-term HF diets were compared with the lean diet. Short- and long-term HF groups outweighed lean controls by 6.2 g and 20.5 g, respectively. Both HF groups became diabetic, and OA progression, evidenced by increased OARSI score, decreased cartilage thickness, and increased osteophyte diameter, was comparably accelerated relative to those of lean controls.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that the HF diet accelerates progression of OA in a type 2 diabetic mouse model without correlation to weight gain, suggesting that metabolic dysregulation is a comorbid factor in OA-related cartilage degeneration.
Identification of urinary metabolites that distinguish membranous lupus nephritis from proliferative lupus nephritis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Romick-Rosendale Lindsey E , Brunner Hermine I , Bennett Michael R , Mina Rina , Nelson Shannen , Petri Michelle , Kiani Adnan , Devarajan Prasad , Kennedy Michael A
Published: December 2011

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease, and kidney involvement with SLE, a.k.a. lupus nephritis (LN), is a frequent and severe complication of SLE that increases patient morbidity and mortality. About 50% of patients with SLE encounter renal abnormalities which, if left untreated, can lead to end-stage renal disease. Kidney biopsy is considered the criterion standard for diagnosis and staging of LN using the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification, which was developed to help predict renal outcomes and assist with medical decision-making. However, kidney biopsy-based classification of LN is highly invasive and impractical for real-time monitoring of LN status. Here, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolic profiling was used to identify urinary metabolites that discriminated between proliferative and pure membranous LN as defined by the ISN/RPS classification, and between LN and primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Methods

Metabolic profiling was conducted using urine samples of patients with proliferative LN without membranous features (Class III/IV; n = 7) or pure membranous LN (Class V; n = 7). Patients with primary FSGS and proteinuria (n = 10) served as disease controls. For each patient, demographic information and clinical data was obtained and a random urine sample collected to measure NMR spectra. Data and sample collection for patients with LN occurred around the time of kidney biopsy. Metabolic profiling analysis was done by visual inspection and principal component analysis.

Results

Urinary citrate levels were 8-fold lower in Class V LN compared to Class III/IV patients, who had normal levels of urinary citrate (P < 0.05). Class III/IV LN patients had > 10-fold lower levels of urinary taurine compared to Class V patients, who had mostly normal levels (P < 0.01). Class V LN patients had normal urinary hippurate levels compared to FSGS patients, who completely lacked urinary hippurate (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This pilot study indicated differences in urinary metabolites between proliferative LN and pure membranous LN patients, and between LN and FSGS patients. If confirmed in larger studies, these urine metabolites may serve as biomarkers to help discriminate between different classes of LN, and between LN and FSGS.
Unmanipulated Donor Lymphocytes for EBV-Related PTLD After T-Cell Depleted HLA-Haploidentical Transplantation
Authors: De Pasquale Maria Debora , Mastronuzzi Angela , De Vito Rita , Cometa Angela , Inserra Alessandro , Russo Cristina , De Ioris Maria Antonietta , Locatelli Franco
Published: December 2011

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–related post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a life-threatening complication in patients given T-cell-depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an HLA-haploidentical relative (haplo-HSCT). We report the case of a child who developed severe EBV-related PTLD after haplo-HSCT from his mother. Despite receiving the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, the patient presented with intestinal obstruction due to huge abdominal lymphadenopathy, hematemesis, and nodulary pulmonary lesions. Histology showed that the lesions were due to CD20−/CD19+ large neoplastic B cells. The patient underwent double intestinal resection with partial abdominal lymphadenectomy and then received 3 monthly doses of donor-derived unmanipulated mononuclear cells. The initial dose of CD3+ cells was 3 × 105/kg recipient body weight. The 2 additional doses consisted of 5 × 105 CD3+ cells/kg. No sign or symptom attributable to graft-versus-host disease was observed, and the patient completely cleared EBV-related lesions. The child was disease-free for 13 months after the first lymphocyte infusion. This case demonstrates that repeated infusions of controlled numbers of donor CD3+ cells cure EBV-related PTLD in haplo-HSCT without inducing graft-versus-host disease.
Educação permanente nos serviços de saúde: um estudo sobre as experiências realizadas no Brasil
Authors: Stroschein Karina Amadori , Zocche Denise Antunes Azambuja
Published: December 2011

A Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde (Pneps) tem o intuito de realizar mudanças nas práticas pedagógicas e de saúde, alcançando, consequentemente, o aprimoramento dos profissionais. Este estudo teve o objetivo de analisar as seis experiências de educação permanente nos serviços de saúde no Brasil a partir da Pneps, por meio de uma revisão integrativa, propondo analisar de forma crítica as etapas dos estudos encontrados. Metodologia: pesquisa bibliográfica, nas bases de dados Bireme, Capes e BDTD, no período de 2004 a 2010. Foram analisadas apenas as experiências de educação permanente nos serviços de saúde no Brasil que abordam o conceito de educação permanente, os atores envolvidos, a metodologia da problematização e o financiamento, relacionados com a Pneps. As experiências publicadas estão de acordo com a Pneps, demonstrando que é fundamental problematizar a prática do trabalho, integrando os atores do quadrilátero da formação para a área da saúde: a gestão, a atenção, o controle social e o ensino. Este estudo poderá fomentar a publicação de outras experiências, transformando também os serviços de saúde em espaços de produção de conhecimento.
Evaluating scour at marine gravity foundations
Authors: Whitehouse Richard J. S. , Sutherland James , Harris John M.
Published: December 2011

This paper analyses scour at offshore foundations, with special reference to gravity base foundations which are used in a range of applications including oil and gas production, wind farm foundations and subsea infrastructure protection, such as concrete covers to pipelines. Two published empirical methods available for evaluating scour are reviewed and compared with laboratory and field data. The methods that are presented are reasonable for first-order assessment although they do not represent the inclusion of skirts. In a vigorous scour environment the foundation is liable to be undermined and scour protection will be required. A flow chart for a scour management plan is proposed to integrate scour considerations into the life cycle management of the gravity base foundations and some improvements that can be made to the predictive capabilities are outlined.
Sinking of armour layer around a cylinder exposed to a current
Authors: Nielsen Anders W. , Mutlu Sumer B. , Fredsøe Jørgen , Christensen Erik D.
Published: December 2011

The flow processes in a scour protection around a monopile in steady current are described in relation to transport of sediment in the scour protection based on physical model tests. The scour protection consisted of uniformly distributed coarse stones without filter layer. Transport of sediment in the scour protection may cause sinking of the scour protection. This may reduce the stability of the monopile and change for instance the natural frequency of the dynamic response of an offshore wind turbine in an unfavourable manner. The most important flow process with regard to transport of sediment and sinking of the scour protection is found to be the horseshoe vortex. It is found that a larger pile diameter relative to the size of the protection stones will cause a larger sinking and that two layers of stones will decrease the sinking relative to one layer of stones with the same size.
Long- and short-crested random wave-induced scour below pipelines
Authors: Myrhaug Dag , Muk Chen Ong
Published: December 2011

This paper provides a stochastic method by which the maximum scour depth and the maximum scour width below pipelines exposed to long-crested (2-D) and short-crested (3-D) non-linear random waves can be derived. The approach is based on assuming the waves to be a stationary narrow-band random process and adopting the Forristall wave crest height distribution representing both 2-D and 3-D non-linear random waves, and by using the regular wave formulae for scour depth and scour width derived in earlier research studies. An example calculation is provided. Tentative approaches to related random wave-induced scour cases are also suggested.
Jet scour
Authors: Hoffmans Gijs , Verheij Henk
Published: December 2011

This paper discusses scour without bed protection, such as propeller scour, two-dimensional horizontal, three-dimensional horizontal scour generated by free jets downstream of gates and outlets, two-dimensional vertical and three-dimensional vertical scour. The flow velocities in two- and three-dimensional propeller and free jets are briefly summarised where special attention is paid to the Dutch and German approaches for calculating the near-bed load caused by propellers. The time scale of propeller scour is approximated by applying the Breusers' time-dependent scour equation. For the maximum scour depth in the equilibrium phase Newton's second law is used.
Evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking purpose in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh
Authors: Helal Uddin S. M. , Mostafa M. G. , Haque A. B. M. H.
Published: December 2011

A study was conducted to evaluate the hydrochemical processes controlling the water quality variations and to determine the water type of groundwater in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh, for drinking purposes. A total of 120 shallow and deep tubewell water samples were collected in pre- and post-monsoon seasons during the year 2008–2009 and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters. The results of the analyses show that water samples were slightly alkaline to neutral pH. The average concentrations of Pb in all samples for the post-monsoon season were above the WHO's guideline for drinking water. For both seasons, arsenic levels exceeded the drinking water standard in 25% of groundwater samples and lead (Pb) levels exceeded in about 60% samples which contained elevated levels (>0.01 mg/L). The major cationic and anionic orders of dominance were unusual, being Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K2 > Fe3+ > Pb2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+ > As (total) > Cd2+ and HCO3− > Cl−> SO42− > NO3−, respectively. The study reveals that the water type of the groundwater was calcium bicarbonate (Ca-HCO3). Thus overall results suggest that groundwater quality of the study area was not suitable for drinking purposes without treatment especially for Pb and As.
Numerical Investigation of Response of Widened Pavement System
Authors: Liu X. , Scarpas A. (Tom) , van Gurp C. A. P. M. , Venmans Arjan A. M.
Published: December 2011

Road widening can cause problems because the new shoulder will be much narrower than the existing one and truck traffic will travel close to the slope of the embankment. This design aspect can cause considerable deterioration in pavements consisting of granular base materials and thin asphalt surfacing. The outcome is often premature cracking and permanent deformation along the pavement edge. This paper presents the results of full three-dimensional (3-D) material and structural modeling and finite element analyses of road widening performed within the framework of the Delft Cluster program Predictable Subsoil for Infrastructure, in the Netherlands. Much attention has been paid to realistic modeling of the material behavior and performance and the 3-D interaction between various components of the structure. The finite element simulations show the development of strains and stresses inside the body of the pavement. The importance of the damage distribution in the asphalt concrete and the road foundation materials is demonstrated. The results of the analyses indicate the main issues with widening old roads on soft subgrades, so that the development of longitudinal or transverse cracks or both during the service life of the pavement can be avoided.
Field Evaluation and Cost-Effectiveness of Saw and Seal Method to Control Reflection Cracking in Composite Pavements
Authors: Elseifi Mostafa A. , Bandaru Rakesh , Zhang Zhongjie , Ismail Said
Published: December 2011

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has tested various techniques and treatments to control reflection cracking in composite pavements since the 1970s. However, the performance and cost-effectiveness of these methods have not been consistently evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlays of portland cement concrete pavement sections built with the saw and seal method across the state and to assess the cost-effectiveness of this treatment method. To achieve this objective, projects with sufficient years in service and with available untreated segments were selected for detailed performance and economic evaluation. The performance of 15 different pavement sections constructed with the saw and seal method was monitored for 6 to 14 years. From the results of the analysis, it was concluded that the majority of the sites showed a positive improvement with use of the saw and seal method: 40% of the sections showed an improvement in service life from 1 to 3 years and 47% of the evaluated sections showed an improvement ranging from 4 to 12 years. The average level of improvement to the pavement service life was 4 years. The vast majority of sections (80%) indicated that the saw and seal method was cost-effective as compared with regular HMA overlays. This treatment method appeared to be more cost-effective for low to medium traffic volumes. Finite element results validated that joints constructed in the HMA overlay allowed it to move with the underlying layer and to dissipate energy generated from expansion and contraction in the concrete layer and from wheel loading without cracking.