bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonality of Tropical Instability Waves and Its Feedback to the Seasonal Cycle in the Tropical Eastern Pacific
Authors: Im Seul-Hee , An Soon-Il , Lengaigne Matthieu , Noh Yign
Published: November 2012

This study investigated the seasonality of tropical instability waves (TIWs) and its feedback to the seasonal cycle in the tropical eastern Pacific using a high-resolution ocean model covering 1958–2007. The climatological mean of the TIWs featured intraseasonal fluctuations, implying that TIWs are not occurring randomly, but their amplitude is partly in phase from one year to another. This seasonality of TIW activity is attributed to their dependency on the seasonal mean variation of current and temperature. Energy conversion analysis confirmed that the strong variability of TIWs near 4°N was due to the barotropic energy conversion associated with the large meridional shear of NECC and SEC and that at another pole near 2°N was due to the baroclinic energy conversion associated with the temperature front in the mixed layer. The former and latter poles are somehow largely responsible for amplifying the dynamic and thermal eddies of TIWs, respectively. The intensified TIWs during a boreal fall increase the tropical eastern Pacific SST by associating the warm thermal advection by anomalous currents, with a rate of up to 1°C/month in September. Therefore, this leads to interactive feedback between seasonal and intraseasonal variations, that is, TIWs in the tropical eastern Pacific.
Abnormalities in the Fiber Composition and Capillary Architecture in the Soleus Muscle of Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats
Authors: Murakami Shinichiro , Fujita Naoto , Kondo Hiroyo , Takeda Isao , Momota Ryusuke , Ohtsuka Aiji , Fujino Hidemi
Published: November 2012

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is linked to impaired skeletal muscle glucose uptake and storage. This study aimed to investigate the fiber type distributions and the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the capillary network in the skeletal muscles of type 2 diabetic rats. Muscle fiber type transformation, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, capillary density, and 3D architecture of the capillary network in the soleus muscle were determined in 36-week-old Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats as an animal model of nonobese type 2 diabetes and age-matched Wistar (Cont) rats. Although the soleus muscle of Cont rats comprised both type I and type IIA fibers, the soleus muscle of GK rats had only type I fibers. In addition, total SDH activity in the soleus muscle of GK rats was significantly lower than that in Cont rats because GK rats had no high-SDH activity type IIA fiber in the soleus muscle. Furthermore, the capillary diameter, capillary tortuosity, and microvessel volume in GK rats were significantly lower than those in Cont rats. These results indicate that non-obese diabetic GK rats have muscle fiber type transformation, low SDH activity, and reduced skeletal muscle capillary content, which may be related to the impaired glucose metabolism characteristic of type 2 diabetes.
Is the Linear Modeling Technique Good Enough for Optimal Form Design? A Comparison of Quantitative Analysis Models
Authors: Lin Yang-Cheng , Yeh Chung-Hsing , Wang Chen-Cheng , Wei Chun-Chun
Published: November 2012

How to design highly reputable and hot-selling products is an essential issue in product design. Whether consumers choose a product depends largely on their perception of the product image. A consumer-oriented design approach presented in this paper helps product designers incorporate consumers’ perceptions of product forms in the design process. The consumer-oriented design approach uses quantification theory type I, grey prediction (the linear modeling technique), and neural networks (the nonlinear modeling technique) to determine the optimal form combination of product design for matching a given product image. An experimental study based on the concept of Kansei Engineering is conducted to collect numerical data for examining the relationship between consumers’ perception of product image and product form elements of personal digital assistants (PDAs). The result of performance comparison shows that the QTTI model is good enough to help product designers determine the optimal form combination of product design. Although the PDA form design is used as a case study, the approach is applicable to other consumer products with various design elements and product images. The approach provides an effective mechanism for facilitating the consumer-oriented product design process.
In VitroAntibacterial and Time-Kill Evaluation of theErythrina caffraThunb. Extract against Bacteria Associated with Diarrhoea
Authors: Olajuyigbe Olufunmiso Olusola , Afolayan Anthony Jide
Published: November 2012

The antibacterial activities of stem bark ethanolic extract ofErythrina caffraThunb. against bacteria in diarrhoea was determinedin vitroby the agar diffusion and dilution, macrobroth dilution, and time-kill assay methods. The result showed that the extract produced inhibition zones ranging between15±1.0 mm and23±1.0 mm, and the bacteria were susceptible at concentrations ranging between ≤100 and ≤1000 μg/mL. While the MICs of the extract ranged between 39.1 and 625 μg/mL, and the MBCs ranged between 78.1 and 625μg/mL, the MICs ofMicrococcus luteus,Proteus vulgarisCSIR 0030,Enterococcus faecalisKZN, andStaphylococcus aureusOK3were less than 100 μg/mL, and the mechanisms of antibiosis indicated that the crude ethanolic extract was highly bactericidal against the entire test bacteria isolates. In the time-kill assay, the averagelogreduction of the viable cell count ranged between0.916log 10and1.851log 10 cfu/mL on incubating the bacteria for 4 h at the MICs, while the reduction ranged between0.183log 10and1.105log 10 cfu/mL after 8 h of incubation. Incubating the bacteria for 4 h at 2 × MICs resulted in the reduction of the viable cell count to between −0.264log 10and0.961log 10 cfu/mL, while the averagelogreduction ranged between −3.968log 10and −0.425log 10 cfu/mL after 8 h of incubation withMicrococcus luteus,Proteus vulgarisCSIR 0030, andStaphylococcus aureusOK3being the most highly affected bacteria. The result showed that the extract exhibited broader-spectrum antibacterial activity and justifies the use ofErythrina caffrain the folkloric medicine for treating gastrointestinal infections in South Africa.
CO2Mitigation Measures of Power Sector and Its Integrated Optimization in China
Authors: Dai Pan , Chen Guang , Zhou Hao , Su Meirong , Bao Haixia
Published: November 2012

Power sector is responsible for about 40% of the total CO2emissions in the world and plays a leading role in climate change mitigation. In this study, measures that lower CO2emissions from the supply side, demand side, and power grid are discussed, based on which, an integrated optimization model of CO2mitigation (IOCM) is proposed. Virtual energy, referring to energy saving capacity in both demand side and the power grid, together with conventional energy in supply side, is unified planning for IOCM. Consequently, the optimal plan of energy distribution, considering both economic benefits and mitigation benefits, is figured out through the application of IOCM. The results indicate that development of demand side management (DSM) and smart grid can make great contributions to CO2mitigation of power sector in China by reducing the CO2emissions by 10.02% and 12.59%, respectively, in 2015, and in 2020.
Pediatric glioma-associated KIAA1549:BRAF expression regulates neuroglial cell growth in a cell type-specific and mTOR-dependent manner
Authors: Kaul Aparna , Chen Yi-Hsien , Emnett Ryan J. , Dahiya Sonika , Gutmann David H.
Published: November 2012

Tandem duplications involving the BRAF kinase gene have recently been identified as the most frequent genetic alteration in sporadic pediatric glioma, creating a novel fusion protein (f-BRAF) with increased BRAF activity. To define the role of f-BRAF in gliomagenesis, we demonstrate that f-BRAF regulates neural stem cell (NSC), but not astrocyte, proliferation and is sufficient to induce glioma-like lesions in mice. Moreover, f-BRAF-driven NSC proliferation results from tuberin/Rheb-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) hyperactivation, leading to S6-kinase-dependent degradation of p27. Collectively, these results establish mTOR pathway activation as a key growth regulatory mechanism common to both sporadic and familial low-grade gliomas in children.
Stable intronic sequence RNA (sisRNA), a new class of noncoding RNA from the oocyte nucleus of Xenopus tropicalis
Authors: Gardner Eugene J. , Nizami Zehra F. , Talbot C. Conover , Gall Joseph G.
Published: November 2012

To compare nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA from a single cell type, free of cross-contamination, we studied the oocyte of the frog Xenopus tropicalis, a giant cell with an equally giant nucleus. We isolated RNA from manually dissected nuclei and cytoplasm of mature oocytes and subjected it to deep sequencing. Cytoplasmic mRNA consisted primarily of spliced exons derived from ∼6700 annotated genes. Nearly all of these genes were represented in the nucleus by intronic sequences. However, unspliced nascent transcripts were not detected. Inhibition of transcription or splicing for 1–2 d had little or no effect on the abundance of nuclear intronic sequences, demonstrating that they are unusually stable. RT–PCR analysis showed that these stable intronic sequences are transcribed from the coding strand and that a given intron can be processed into more than one molecule. Stable intronic sequence RNA (sisRNA) from the oocyte nucleus constitutes a new class of noncoding RNA. sisRNA is detectable by RT–PCR in samples of total RNA from embryos up to the mid-blastula stage, when zygotic transcription begins. Storage of sisRNA in the oocyte nucleus and its transmission to the developing embryo suggest that it may play important regulatory roles during oogenesis and/or early embryogenesis.
SEL-10/Fbw7-dependent negative feedback regulation of LIN-45/Braf signaling in C. elegans via a conserved phosphodegron
Authors: de la Cova Claire , Greenwald Iva
Published: November 2012

The conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase component named SEL-10 in Caenorhabditis elegans and Fbw7 in mammals targets substrates for ubiquitin-mediated degradation through a high-affinity binding site called a Cdc4 phosphodegron (CPD). As many known substrates of Fbw7 are oncoproteins, the identification of new substrates may offer insight into cancer biology as well as aspects of proteome regulation. Here, we evaluated whether the presence of an evolutionarily conserved CPD would be a feasible complement to proteomics-based approaches for identifying new potential substrates. For functional assessments, we focused on LIN-45, a component of the signal transduction pathway underlying vulval induction and the ortholog of human Braf, an effector of Ras in numerous cancers. Our analysis demonstrates that LIN-45 behaves as a bona fide substrate of SEL-10, with mutation of the CPD or loss of sel-10 resulting in increased activity and protein stability in vivo. Furthermore, during vulval induction, the downstream kinase MPK-1/ERK is also required for LIN-45 protein degradation in a negative feedback loop, resulting in degradation of LIN-45 where ERK is highly active. As the CPD consensus sequence is conserved in human Braf, we propose that Fbw7 may also regulate Braf stability in some cell contexts. We discuss the implications of our findings for vulval development in C. elegans, the potential applicability to human Braf, and the value of a CPD-based predictive approach for human Fbw7 substrates.
Deficiency in a Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acid β-Ketoacyl-Coenzyme A Synthase of Tomato Impairs Microgametogenesis and Causes Floral Organ Fusion
Authors: Smirnova Anna , Leide Jana , Riederer Markus
Published: November 2012

Previously, it was shown that β-ketoacyl-coenzyme A synthase ECERIFERUM6 (CER6) is necessary for the biosynthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids with chain lengths beyond C28 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits and C26 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves and the pollen coat. CER6 loss of function in Arabidopsis resulted in conditional male sterility, since pollen coat lipids are responsible for contact-mediated pollen hydration. In tomato, on the contrary, pollen hydration does not rely on pollen coat lipids. Nevertheless, mutation in SlCER6 impairs fertility and floral morphology. Here, the contribution of SlCER6 to the sexual reproduction and flower development of tomato was addressed. Cytological analysis and cross-pollination experiments revealed that the slcer6 mutant has male sterility caused by (1) hampered pollen dispersal and (2) abnormal tapetum development. SlCER6 loss of function provokes a decrease of n- and iso-alkanes with chain lengths of C27 or greater and of anteiso-alkanes with chain lengths of C28 or greater in flower cuticular waxes, but it has no impact on flower cuticle ultrastructure and cutin content. Expression analysis confirmed high transcription levels of SlCER6 in the anther and the petal, preferentially in sites subject to epidermal fusion. Hence, wax deficiency was proposed to be the primary reason for the flower fusion phenomenon in tomato. The SlCER6 substrate specificity was revisited. It might be involved in elongation of not only linear but also branched very-long-chain fatty acids, leading to production of the corresponding alkanes. SlCER6 implements a function in the sexual reproduction of tomato that is different from the one in Arabidopsis: SlCER6 is essential for the regulation of timely tapetum degradation and, consequently, microgametogenesis.
Optimizing the input parameters for powder charge flipping
Authors: Šišak Dubravka , Baerlocher Christian , McCusker Lynne B. , Gilmore Christopher J.
Published: November 2012

Over the past few years, the powder charge-flipping algorithm has proved to be a useful one for structure solution from powder diffraction data, so a semi-systematic study of the effect of the different input parameters on its success has been performed. Two data sets were studied in these tests: a zirconium phosphate framework material and D-ribose. TheSuperflipinput parameters tested were the reflection overlap factor, the intensity repartitioning frequency, the isotropic displacement parameter, the threshold for charge flipping and the number of cycles/runs. By varying the values of these parameters within sensible ranges, an optimized set could be found for the zirconium phosphate case, but no combination of parameters allowed the D-ribose structure to be solved. Reasoning that starting with nonrandom phases might help, an approximate (but incorrect) structure was generated using the direct-space global-optimization method implemented in the programFOX. This structure was then used to calculate initial phase sets forSuperflipby allowing the calculated phases to vary in a random fashion by a user-defined percentage. With such phases and reoptimized input parameters, some fully interpretable solutions with the correct symmetry could be produced, even with fairly low resolution data. Unfortunately, it was not possible to recognize these solutions using theSuperflip Rvalues, so other criteria were sought. Both cluster analyses and maximum entropy calculations of the solutions were performed, and the latter, in particular, look very promising. A set of guidelines derived from these two structures could be applied successfully to a further two inorganic and seven organic structures.
Special directions in momentum space. II. Hexagonal, tetragonal and trigonal symmetries
Authors: Kontrym-Sznajd G. , Samsel-Czekała M.
Published: November 2012

This paper is a continuation of a previous one,Special directions in momentum space. I. Cubic symmetries[Kontrym-Sznajd & Samsel-Czekała (2011).J. Appl. Cryst.44, 1246–1254], where new sets of special directions (SDs), having the full symmetry of the Brillouin zone, were proposed for cubic lattices. In the present paper, such directions are derived for structures with unique six-, four- and threefold axes,i.e.hexagonal, tetragonal and trigonal lattices, for both two- and three-dimensional space. The SDs presented here allow for construction, in the whole space, of anisotropic quantities from the knowledge of such quantities along a limited number of SDs. The task at hand is to determine as many anisotropic components as the number of available sampling directions. Also discussed is a way of dealing with data when the number of anisotropic components is restricted by a non-optimal set of SDs.
Optimizing the experimental design of texture goniometry
Authors: Bachmann Florian , Schaeben Helmut , Hielscher Ralf
Published: November 2012

Pole figure measurements with an X-ray texture goniometer equipped with a point detector are rather time consuming: depending on the angular resolution to be recorded, of the order of several hours per pole figure. Conventionally, the pole hemisphere is scanned along latitudinal small circles according to a regular grid of constant step sizes in both the azimuthal and the polar angle. In the case of sharp textures an adaptive successive local refinement strategy of the pole hemisphere may offer a better performance in less time. Then the measurement positions of the grid are highly irregularly distributed over the pole hemisphere. To avoid erratic movements when turning the specimen, the scanning order is optimized by means of resolving a travelling salesman problem such that the total travelling time is minimized. Several algorithms are described resolving the travelling salesman problem with respect to the irregular grid to be applied for each pole figure and for each step of successive refinement. A practical application to pole figure measurements exposes total savings of about 1/8 compared to the conventional scanning order. Successive local refinement of the experimental design and optimization of the order of its measurement positions are well suited to the purpose of controlling a texture goniometer.
PASCal: a principal axis strain calculator for thermal expansion and compressibility determination
Authors: Cliffe Matthew J. , Goodwin Andrew L.
Published: November 2012

This article describes a web-based tool (PASCal; principal axis strain calculator; http://pascal.chem.ox.ac.uk) designed to simplify the determination of principal coefficients of thermal expansion and compressibilities from variable-temperature and variable-pressure lattice parameter data. In a series of three case studies,PASCalis used to reanalyse previously published lattice parameter data and show that additional scientific insight is obtainable in each case. First, the two-dimensional metal–organic framework [Cu2(OH)(C8H3O7S)(H2O)]·2H2O is found to exhibit the strongest area negative thermal expansion (NTE) effect yet observed; second, the widely used explosive HMX exhibits much stronger mechanical anisotropy than had previously been anticipated, including uniaxial NTE driven by thermal changes in molecular conformation; and third, the high-pressure form of the mineral malayaite is shown to exhibit a strong negative linear compressibility effect that arises from correlated tilting of SnO6and SiO4coordination polyhedra.
Phase I/II trial assessing bendamustine plus bortezomib combination therapy for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Berenson James R. , Yellin Ori , Bessudo Alberto , Boccia Ralph V. , Noga Stephen J. , Gravenor Donald S. , Patel‐Donnelly Dipti , Siegel Robert S. , Kewalramani Tarun , Gorak Edward J. , Nassir Youram , Swift Regina A. , Mayo Debra
Published: November 2012

Bendamustine, active in multiple myeloma (MM), is a bifunctional mechlorethamine derivative with alkylating properties. Bortezomib, approved to treat MM, is effective in combination with alkylators. The tolerability and efficacy of bendamustine plus bortezomib in relapsed/refractory MM was assessed in an open‐label, dose‐escalating, phase I/II study. Patients aged ≥18 years received intravenous bendamustine 50, 70, or 90 mg/m2 (days 1 and 4) plus bortezomib 1·0 mg/m2 (days 1, 4, 8, and 11) for up to eight 28‐day cycles. No dose‐limiting toxicity was observed after cycle 1; bendamustine 90 mg/m2 plus bortezomib 1·0 mg/m2 was designated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were leucopenia (58%), neutropenia (50%), lymphopenia (45%), and thrombocytopenia (30%). Primary efficacy measure was overall response rate (ORR), which was the combined complete response (CR), very good partial response (VGPR), partial response (PR), and minimal response (MR). ORR was 48% (one CR, two VGPR, nine PR, and seven MR) for all 40 enrolled patients, 52% (16/31) at the MTD (90 mg/m2), and 42% and 46% for prior use of bortezomib (n = 31) or alkylators (n = 28) respectively. Bendamustine plus bortezomib was well tolerated with promising efficacy in this heavily pretreated population.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms and the risk of venous thrombosis: results from a Danish case‐cohort study
Authors: El‐Galaly Tarec C. , Severinsen Marianne T. , Overvad Kim , Steffensen Rudi , Vistisen Anders K. , Tjønneland Anne , Kristensen Søren R.
Published: November 2012

A number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have been linked to higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We investigated the VTE risk associated with SNPs in the GP6 (rs1613662), SERPINC1 (rs2227589), F11 (rs2036914 and rs2289252), FGG (rs2066865), and F12 (rs1801020) genes. In F11, the CC genotype for rs2036914 and the CT and TT genotypes for rs2289252 were associated with a significantly higher VTE risk. A trend toward a thrombogenic effect was observed for the risk alleles of the GP6 and FGG SNPs. Risk estimates were unaffected by adjustments for blood type and F5 rs6025 (Factor V Leiden) mutation.
Influence of chronic amphetamine treatment and acute withdrawal on serotonin synthesis and clearance mechanisms in the rat ventral hippocampus
Authors: Barr Jeffrey L. , Scholl Jamie L. , Solanki Rajeshwari R. , Watt Michael J. , Lowry Christopher A. , Renner Kenneth J. , Forster Gina L.
Published: November 2012

Amphetamine withdrawal in both humans and rats is associated with increased anxiety states, which are thought to contribute to drug relapse. Serotonin in the ventral hippocampus mediates affective behaviors, and reduced serotonin levels in this region are observed in rat models of high anxiety, including during withdrawal from chronic amphetamine. This goal of this study was to understand the mechanisms by which reduced ventral hippocampus serotonergic neurotransmission occurs during amphetamine withdrawal. Serotonin synthesis (assessed by accumulation of serotonin precursor as a measure of the capacity of in vivo tryptophan hydroxylase activity), expression of serotonergic transporters, and in vivo serotonergic clearance using in vivo microdialysis were assessed in the ventral hippocampus in adult male Sprague Dawley rats at 24 h withdrawal from chronic amphetamine. Overall, results showed that diminished extracellular serotonin at 24 h withdrawal from chronic amphetamine was not accompanied by a change in capacity for serotonin synthesis (in vivo tryptophan hydroxylase activity), or serotonin transporter expression or function in the ventral hippocampus, but instead was associated with increased expression and function of organic cation transporters (low‐affinity, high‐capacity serotonin transporters). These findings suggest that 24 h withdrawal from chronic amphetamine reduces the availability of extracellular serotonin in the ventral hippocampus by increasing organic cation transporter‐mediated serotonin clearance, which may represent a future pharmacological target for reversing anxiety states during drug withdrawal.
Environmental changes impacting Echinococcus transmission: research to support predictive surveillance and control
Authors: Atkinson Jo‐An M. , Gray Darren J. , Clements Archie C.A. , Barnes Tamsin S. , McManus Donald P. , Yang Yu R.
Published: November 2012

Echinococcosis, resulting from infection with tapeworms Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis, has a global distribution with 2–3 million people affected and 200,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Costs of treatment for humans and economic losses to the livestock industry have been estimated to exceed $2 billion. These figures are likely to be an underestimation given the challenges with its early detection and the lack of mandatory official reporting policies in most countries. Despite this global burden, echinococcosis remains a neglected zoonosis. The importance of environmental factors in influencing the transmission intensity and distribution of Echinococcus spp. is increasingly being recognized. With the advent of climate change and the influence of global population expansion, food insecurity and land‐use changes, questions about the potential impact of changing temperature, rainfall patterns, increasing urbanization, deforestation, grassland degradation and overgrazing on zoonotic disease transmission are being raised. This study is the first to comprehensively review how climate change and anthropogenic environmental factors contribute to the transmission of echinococcosis mediated by changes in animal population dynamics, spatial overlap of competent hosts and the creation of improved conditions for egg survival. We advocate rigorous scientific research to establish the causal link between specific environmental variables and echinococcosis in humans and the incorporation of environmental, animal and human data collection within a sentinel site surveillance network that will complement satellite remote‐sensing information. Identifying the environmental determinants of transmission risk to humans will be vital for the design of more accurate predictive models to guide cost‐effective pre‐emptive public health action against echinococcosis.
Metabolism and Acid‐base Physiology
Authors: Halperin Mitchell L.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this paper is to review the pathways of hydrogen ion production and removal due to intermediary metabolism. The principal method of analysis employed was one based on a theoretical approach because it is the most accurate and has the broadest application. In the absence of hypoxia and insulin deficiency, carbohydrates and neutral lipids will not make significant contributions to acid‐base balance. During normal metabolism, the oxidation of proteins leads to an acid load. The majority of protons are produced from the oxidation of cationic plus sulfur‐containing amino acids, whereas they are removed when anionic amino acids are oxidized. Organic anions, if they can be metabolized in vivo, lead to an equivalent degree of proton removal. Small contributions to acid‐base metabolism are made by phospholipid and purine oxidations. Special reactions involving calcium contribute to the acid load in that the precipitation of calcium carbonate or phosphate in bone or in the gastrointestinal tract will result in proton liberation. When all of the above are considered, the clinician can make a reasonably accurate estimate of the rate of acid production.
SNAP Participation in Preschool‐Aged Children and Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity
Authors: Simmons Shannon , Alexander Jeffrey L. , Ewing Helen , Whetzel Stephanie
Published: November 2012

BACKGROUND: An increased prevalence of overweight and obesity for adults on government‐funded nutrition assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has been observed; however, this association among preschool‐aged children is not well understood. Longitudinal research designs tracking changes in body mass index‐for‐age (BMI) in children of low‐income households may provide a clearer picture of the association between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity among this age group. To determine if there is a relationship between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity prevalence in low‐income, preschool children, we conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of children in a Head Start program, and a longitudinal analysis of those children who were enrolled for 2 years.

METHODS: Height and weight data and SNAP participation of 386 students (207 male, 179 female, 4.2 ± 0.5 years) enrolled in a Head Start program were analyzed; data for 2 years were available for 167 of the students. Height and weight measures were used to determine BMI percentile per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. SNAP participation was obtained through a nutritional questionnaire given to parents at time of Head Start Program enrollment.

RESULTS: No significant differences were found between SNAP and non‐SNAP participants for BMI percentile in either the cross‐sectional or longitudinal analysis. BMI percentile increased for both groups over time, but failed to reach significance (p = .13).

CONCLUSION: Future studies are warranted with an inclusion of a larger and more geographically diverse sample to further determine the association between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity in preschool‐aged children.
Some Studies on Forming Optimization with Genetic Algorithm
Authors: KAKANDIKAR Ganesh Marotrao , NANDEDKAR Vilas M.
Published: November 2012

Forming is a compression-tension process involving wide spectrum of operations and flow conditions. The result of the process depends on the large number of parameters and their interdependence. The selection of various parameters is still based on trial and error methods. In this paper the authors presents a new approach to optimize the geometry parameters of circular components, process parameters such as blank holder pressure and coefficient of friction etc. The optimization problem has been formulated with the objective of optimizing the maximum forming load required in Forming. Genetic algorithm is used for the optimization purpose to minimize the drawing load and to optimize the process parameters. A finite element analysis simulation software Fast Form Advanced is used for the validations of the results after optimization.
Optimization of Fleet Assignment: A Case Study in Turkey
Authors: OZDEMIR Yavuz , BASLIGIL Huseyin , NALBANT Kemal Gokhan
Published: November 2012

The fleet assignment problem which causes great increasing in costs is necessary for a solution of “right fleet to the right flight” for airline companies. In this paper, a fleet assignment model is set up using the data of the biggest Turkish airline company, Turkish Airlines. The aim of this model is to assign most appropriate fleet type to flights while minimizing the cost and determine optimal number of aircraft grounded overnight at each airport. We set up a model with constraints and determination of all airline operations and solve our problem using integer linear programming. Finally, we get an optimum solution which minimizes the total cost while assigning the fleet type to the flight leg. Using optimization software, the solution to this problem generates a minimum daily cost of fleet assignment and it aims to assign most appropriate fleet type to flights while minimizing the cost and determine optimal number of aircraft grounded overnight at each airport.
Anti-Synchronization of Tigan and Li Systems with Unknown Parameters via Adaptive Control
Authors: SUNDARAPANDIAN Vaidyanathan , RAJAGOPAL Karthikeyan
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we apply adaptive control method toderive new results for the anti-synchronization of identical Tigansystems (2008), identical Li systems (2009) and non-identical Tiganand Li systems. In adaptive anti-synchronization of identical chaoticsystems, the parameters of the master and slave systems are unknownand we devise feedback control law using the estimates of the systemparameters. In adaptive anti-synchronization of non-identical chaoticsystems, the parameters of the master system are known, but theparameters of the slave system are unknown and we devise feedbackcontrol law using the estimates of the parameters of the slave system.Our adaptive synchronization results derived in this paper for theuncertain Tigan and Li systems are established using Lyapunovstability theory. Since the Lyapunov exponents are not required forthese calculations, the adaptive control method is very effective andconvenient to achieve anti-synchronization of identical and nonidenticalTigan and Li systems. Numerical simulations are shown todemonstrate the effectiveness of the adaptive anti-synchronizationschemes for the uncertain chaotic systems addressed in this paper.
Economic Order Quantity for Items with Two Types of Imperfect Quality
Authors: AL-SALAMAH Muhammad , ALSAWAFY Omar
Published: November 2012

The classical economic order quantity considers that the ordered items are of perfect quality. In this research, a model for the economic order quantity of imperfect quality items is developed, where the incoming lot has fractions of scrap and reworkable items. These fractions are considered to be random variables with known probability density functions. The demand is satisfied from perfect items and reworked items; whereas the scrap items are sold in a single batch at the end of the cycle with a salvage cost. A numerical analysis is provided to illustrate the sensitivity of the model to the fractions of scrap and reworked items.
Optimizing Human Diet Problem Based on Price and Taste Using Multi-Objective Fuzzy Linear Programming Approach
Authors: EGHBALI Hossein , EGHBALI Mohammad Ali , VAHIDIAN KAMYAD Ali
Published: November 2012

Low price and good taste of foods are regarded as two major factors for optimal human nutrition. Due to price fluctuations and taste diversity, these two factors cannot be certainly and determinately evaluated. This problem must be viewed from another perspective because of the uncertainty about the amount of nutrients per unit of foods and also diversity of people’s daily needs to receive them.This paper discusses human diet problem in fuzzy environment. The approach deals with multi-objective fuzzy linear programming problem using a fuzzy programming technique for its solution. By prescribing a diet merely based on crisp data, some ofthe realities are neglected. For the same reason, we dealt with human diet problem through fuzzy approach. Results indicated uncertainty about factors of nutrition diet -including taste and price, amount of nutrients and their intake- would affect diet quality, making the proposed diet more realistic.
Unlike Bone, Cartilage Regeneration Remains Elusive
Authors: Huey Daniel J. , Hu Jerry C. , Athanasiou Kyriacos A.
Published: November 2012

Articular cartilage was predicted to be one of the first tissues to successfully be regenerated, but this proved incorrect. In contrast, bone (but also vasculature and cardiac tissues) has seen numerous successful reparative approaches, despite consisting of multiple cell and tissue types and, thus, possessing more complex design requirements. Here, we use bone-regeneration successes to highlight cartilage-regeneration challenges: such as selecting appropriate cell sources and scaffolds, creating biomechanically suitable tissues, and integrating to native tissue. We also discuss technologies that can address the hurdles of engineering a tissue possessing mechanical properties that are unmatched in human-made materials and functioning in environments unfavorable to neotissue growth.
Evidence for a Dynamo in the Main Group Pallasite Parent Body
Authors: Tarduno John A. , Cottrell Rory D. , Nimmo Francis , Hopkins Julianna , Voronov Julia , Erickson Austen , Blackman Eric , Scott Edward R.D. , McKinley Robert
Published: November 2012

Magnetic Pallasites

The origin of pallasite meteorites seems to defy explanation because their main constituents—iron and olivine—should have segregated into layers inside their parent body. The generally accepted model suggests that they formed at the coremantle boundary of an asteroid.

Tarduno
et al.

(p.
939
; see the Perspective by

Weiss

) measured a remnant magnetization in olivine crystals of two pallasite meteorites and conclude that a dynamo must have operated in their parent body, providing further evidence that some asteroids were capable of dynamo generation. The data, together with thermal modeling, suggest that some pallasites could have formed when liquid FeNi from the core of an impacting asteroid was injected into the mantle of a large protoplanet.
Coherent Phonon Heat Conduction in Superlattices
Authors: Luckyanova Maria N. , Garg Jivtesh , Esfarjani Keivan , Jandl Adam , Bulsara Mayank T. , Schmidt Aaron J. , Minnich Austin J. , Chen Shuo , Dresselhaus Mildred S. , Ren Zhifeng , Fitzgerald Eugene A. , Chen Gang
Published: November 2012

Coherent Heat Flow

Typically, heat in solids is transported incoherently because phonons scatter at interfaces and defects.

Luckyanova
et al.

(p.
936
) grew super-lattice films made from one to nine repeats of layers of GaAs and AlAs, each 12-nm thick. Thermal conductivity through this sandwich structure increased linearly with the number of superlattice repeats, which is consistent with theoretical simulations of coherent heat transport.
Salmonella
Inhibits Retrograde Trafficking of Mannose-6-Phosphate Receptors and Lysosome Function
Authors: McGourty Kieran , Thurston Teresa L. , Matthews Sophie A. , Pinaud Laurie , Mota Luís Jaime , Holden David W.
Published: November 2012

Subversive
Salmonella

Salmonella
is one of the most intensively studied bacterial pathogens. The
Salmonella
-containing vacuole (SCV) has a paradoxical lysosome-like composition: On one hand, the SCV membrane is highly enriched in lysosomal membrane glycoproteins and SCVs are accessible to endolysosomal content, but on the other hand, SCV lumen is relatively devoid of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes that are delivered by the mannose-6-phosphate receptor pathway.

McGourty
et al.

(p.
963
) resolve this paradox by showing that the
Salmonella
effector SifA interferes with the trafficking of mannose-6-phosphate receptors. This causes misrouting and secretion of lysosomal enzymes and reduces the hydrolytic activity of lysosomes. Intracellular growth of
Salmonella
was reduced in cells with enhanced lysosomal enzyme activity.
Promoting Tumorigenesis by Suppressing Autophagy
Authors: Koren Itay , Kimchi Adi
Published: November 2012

Tumorigenesis is controlled by the sequestration of an autophagy machinery component to the cytoskeleton.
Convergent Evolution of Hearing
Authors: Hoy Ronald R.
Published: November 2012

The functional and anatomical aspects of hearing in a rainforest insect are remarkably similar to those in humans.
Identification of Gold Nanoparticle-Resistant Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Suggests a Role for Respiratory Metabolism in Mediating Toxicity
Authors: Smith Mark R. , Boenzli Matthew G. , Hindagolla Vihangi , Ding Jun , Miller John M. , Hutchison James E. , Greenwood Jeffrey A. , Abeliovich Hagai , Bakalinsky Alan T.
Published: November 2012

Positively charged gold nanoparticles (0.8-nm core diameter) reduced yeast survival, but not growth, at a concentration of 10 to 100 μg/ml. Among 17 resistant deletion mutants isolated in a genome-wide screen, highly significant enrichment was observed for respiration-deficient mutants lacking genes encoding proteins associated with the mitochondrion.
Physiological and Metabolic Effects of Carbon Monoxide Oxidation in the Model Marine Bacterioplankton Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3
Authors: Cunliffe Michael
Published: November 2012

Ruegeria pomeroyi
expresses carbon monoxide (CO) dehydrogenase and oxidizes CO; however, CO has no effect on growth. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra showed that CO has no effect on cellular metabolite profiles. These data support ecosystem models proposing that, even though bacterioplankton CO oxidation is biogeochemically significant, it has an insignificant effect on bacterioplankton productivity.
Heterologous Carotenoid-Biosynthetic Enzymes: Functional Complementation and Effects on Carotenoid Profiles in Escherichia coli
Authors: Song Gyu Hyeon , Kim Se Hyeuk , Choi Bo Hyun , Han Se Jong , Lee Pyung Cheon
Published: November 2012

A limited number of carotenoid pathway genes from microbial sources have been studied for analyzing the pathway complementation in the heterologous host
Escherichia coli
. In order to systematically investigate the functionality of carotenoid pathway enzymes in
E. coli
, the pathway genes of carotenogenic microorganisms (
Brevibacterium linens
,
Corynebacterium glutamicum
,
Rhodobacter sphaeroides
,
Rhodobacter capsulatus
,
Rhodopirellula baltica
, and
Pantoea ananatis
) were modified to form synthetic expression modules and then were complemented with
Pantoea agglomerans
pathway enzymes (CrtE, CrtB, CrtI, CrtY, and CrtZ). The carotenogenic pathway enzymes in the synthetic modules showed unusual activities when complemented with
E. coli
. For example, the expression of heterologous CrtEs of
B. linens
,
C. glutamicum
, and
R. baltica
influenced
P. agglomerans
CrtI to convert its substrate phytoene into a rare product—3,4,3′,4′-tetradehydrolycopene—along with lycopene, which was an expected product, indicating that CrtE, the first enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, can influence carotenoid profiles. In addition, CrtIs of
R. sphaeroides
and
R. capsulatus
converted phytoene into an unusual lycopene as well as into neurosporene. Thus, this study shows that the functional complementation of pathway enzymes from different sources is a useful methodology for diversifying biosynthesis as nature does.
Induction of Nitrate-Dependent Fe(II) Oxidation by Fe(II) in Dechloromonas sp. Strain UWNR4 and Acidovorax sp. Strain 2AN
Authors: Chakraborty Anirban , Picardal Flynn
Published: November 2012

We evaluated the inducibility of nitrate-dependent Fe(II)-EDTA oxidation (NDFO) in non-growth, chloramphenicol-amended, resting-cell suspensions of
Dechloromonas
sp. strain UWNR4 and
Acidovorax
sp. strain 2AN. Cells previously incubated with Fe(II)-EDTA oxidized ca. 6-fold more Fe(II)-EDTA than cells previously incubated with Fe(III)-EDTA. This is the first report of induction of NDFO by Fe(II).
Predation Response of Vibrio fischeri Biofilms to Bacterivorus Protists
Authors: Chavez-Dozal Alba , Gorman Clayton , Erken Martina , Steinberg Peter D. , McDougald Diane , Nishiguchi Michele K.
Published: November 2012

Vibrio fischeri
proliferates in a sessile, stable community known as a biofilm, which is one alternative survival strategy of its life cycle. Although this survival strategy provides adequate protection from abiotic factors, marine biofilms are still susceptible to grazing by bacteria-consuming protozoa. Subsequently, grazing pressure can be controlled by certain defense mechanisms that confer higher biofilm antipredator fitness. In the present work, we hypothesized that
V. fischeri
exhibits an antipredator fitness behavior while forming biofilms. Different predators representing commonly found species in aquatic populations were examined, including the flagellates
Rhynchomonas nasuta
and
Neobodo designis
(early biofilm feeders) and the ciliate
Tetrahymena pyriformis
(late biofilm grazer).
V. fischeri
biofilms included isolates from both seawater and squid hosts (
Euprymna
and
Sepiola
species). Our results demonstrate inhibition of predation by biofilms, specifically, isolates from seawater. Additionally, antiprotozoan behavior was observed to be higher in late biofilms, particularly toward the ciliate
T. pyriformis
; however, inhibitory effects were found to be widespread among all isolates tested. These results provide an alternative explanation for the adaptive advantage and persistence of
V. fischeri
biofilms and provide an important contribution to the understanding of defensive mechanisms that exist in the out-of-host environment.
Clostridium carboxidivorans Strain P7T Recombinant Formate Dehydrogenase Catalyzes Reduction of CO
2
to Formate
Authors: Alissandratos Apostolos , Kim Hye-Kyung , Matthews Hayden , Hennessy James E. , Philbrook Amy , Easton Christopher J.
Published: November 2012

Recombinant formate dehydrogenase from the acetogen
Clostridium carboxidivorans
strain P7
T
, expressed in
Escherichia coli
, shows particular activity towards NADH-dependent carbon dioxide reduction to formate due to the relative binding affinities of the substrates and products. The enzyme retains activity over 2 days at 4°C under oxic conditions.
Multiplex PCR Assay Targeting a Diguanylate Cyclase-Encoding Gene,
cgcA
, To Differentiate Species within the Genus Cronobacter
Authors: Carter L. , Lindsey L. A. , Grim C. J. , Sathyamoorthy V. , Jarvis K. G. , Gopinath G. , Lee C. , Sadowski J. A. , Trach L. , Pava-Ripoll M. , McCardell B. A. , Tall B. D. , Hu L.
Published: November 2012

In a comparison to the widely used
Cronobacter rpoB
PCR assay, a highly specific multiplexed PCR assay based on
cgcA
, a diguanylate cyclase gene, that identified all of the targeted six species among 305
Cronobacter
isolates was designed. This assay will be a valuable tool for identifying suspected
Cronobacter
isolates from food-borne investigations.
An Adenovirus-Based Vaccine with a Double-Stranded RNA Adjuvant Protects Mice and Ferrets against H5N1 Avian Influenza in Oral Delivery Models
Authors: Scallan Ciaran D. , Tingley Debora W. , Lindbloom Jonathan D. , Toomey James S. , Tucker Sean N.
Published: November 2012

An oral gene-based avian influenza vaccine would allow rapid development and simplified distribution, but efficacy has previously been difficult to achieve by the oral route. This study assessed protection against avian influenza virus challenge using a chimeric adenovirus vector expressing hemagglutinin and a double-stranded RNA adjuvant. Immunized ferrets and mice were protected upon lethal challenge. Further, ferrets immunized by the peroral route induced cross-clade neutralizing antibodies, and the antibodies were selective against hemagglutinin, not the vector. Similarly, experiments in mice demonstrated selective immune responses against HA with peroral delivery and the ability to circumvent preexisting vector immunity.
Are There Acyl-Homoserine Lactones within Mammalian Intestines?
Authors: Swearingen Matthew C. , Sabag-Daigle Anice , Ahmer Brian M. M.
Published: November 2012

ManyProteobacteriaare capable of quorum sensing usingN-acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) signaling molecules that are synthesized by LuxI or LuxM homologs and detected by transcription factors of the LuxR family. Most quorum-sensing species have at least one LuxR and one LuxI homolog. However, members of theEscherichia,Salmonella,Klebsiella, andEnterobactergenera possess only a single LuxR homolog, SdiA, and no acyl-HSL synthase. The most obvious hypothesis is that these organisms are eavesdropping on acyl-HSL production within the complex microbial communities of the mammalian intestinal tract. However, there is currently no evidence of acyl-HSLs being produced within normal intestinal communities. A few intestinal pathogens, includingYersinia enterocolitica, do produce acyl-HSLs, andSalmonellacan detect them during infection. Therefore, a more refined hypothesis is that SdiA orthologs are used for eavesdropping on other quorum-sensing pathogens in the host. However, the lack of acyl-HSL signaling among the normal intestinal residents is a surprising finding given the complexity of intestinal communities. In this review, we examine the evidence for and against the possibility of acyl-HSL signaling molecules in the mammalian intestine and discuss the possibility that related signaling molecules might be present and awaiting discovery.