bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hospital inpatients: the role of antithrombotic drugs
Authors: Taha Ali S , Kelly Claire , McCloskey Caroline , Craigen Theresa , Angerson Wilson J
Published: June 2014

Background

Critically ill patients are considered to be most at risk from developing non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVGIB) while in hospital. The increasing prescription of low-dose aspirin and other antithrombotic drugs for protection against thromboembolism to many patients admitted to hospital may increase the vulnerability of a wider group to NVGIB.

Objective

This study compares two groups of patients with NVGIB: group I, inpatients cared for outside the intensive care unit; and group II, patients admitted with this condition, while considering the use of antithrombotic drugs.

Methods

We identified all patients who developed NVGIB in the two calendar years between 2008 and 2009 and compared group I with group II while taking into account their clinical details including Rockall scores and drug usage.

Results

Compared with group II (n=274), group I (n=96) were older (median age of 77 years vs 68; p<0.001), had fewer males (45.8% vs 60.6%; p=0.016), higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (52.1% vs 29.2%; p<0.001), more patients with complete Rockall score ≥3 (84.4% vs 66.7%; p=0.001) and more patients treated with aspirin or other antithrombotic drugs (64.6% vs 44.5%; p=0.001). After adjustment for age and sex, group I were still significantly more likely to be taking antithrombotic drugs than group II (OR (95% CIs), 2.15 (1.25 to 3.68); p=0.006). The endoscopic abnormalities in more than 80% of patients included erosive oesophagitis, gastric or duodenal ulcers or erosions.

Conclusions

Subjects who develop NVGIB as inpatients have higher Rockall scores are mainly older females with cardiovascular disease and using antithrombotic drugs. Secondary care clinicians should be mindful of this at-risk group of patients and consider giving them prophylactic antiulcer therapy.
Stream modifications to enhance system connectivity for fish habitat compensation: a case study in the Barrenlands region of Canada
Authors: Courtice Gregory , Baki Abul Basar M. , Zhu David Z. , Cahill Christopher , Tonn William M.
Published: June 2014

This study examines stream modification efforts to increase the productive capacity of an isolated system of three small lakes in the Barrenlands region of Arctic Canada by enhancing system connectivity. The lakes’ outlet streams were modified to create conditions favourable for fish passage and thereby promote migration among the lakes and the large lake into which they drain. Gabion step pools (in two streams) and a nature-like choke-and-pool structure (in one stream) were installed. Two years of post-construction hydraulics data were compared to data collected for two years prior to construction to determine the efficacy of the various stream modifications. Initial evaluations indicated unsuccessful performance of gabion step pools, so after the first year, they were retrofitted with boulders to increase flow depth, restrict discharge, improve flow duration, and create unimpeded connections rather than sudden drops. Variation of lake levels and duration, variability, and depth of stream flow indicated that outlet geometry and lake catchment area should be important considerations when enhancing connectivity for fish migration in ephemeral systems. A narrow, rectangular cross-section was deemed effective for increasing flow depth while decreasing discharge, resulting in increased duration of flows. Catchment area was an effective indicator of a headwater lake’s potential response to connectivity enhancements. Smaller catchments may provide inadequate runoff to sustain minimum storage requirements for enhanced connectivity. Our findings should advance the knowledge of headwater system hydraulics in the Barrenlands and assist in designing future fish habitat compensation projects on similar systems.
A constrained potential field data interpretation of the deep geometry of the Sudbury structure
Authors: Olaniyan Oladele , Smith Richard S. , Lafrance Bruno
Published: June 2014

Two coincident high-resolution airborne gravity and magnetic profiles of the Sudbury structure were forward modelled to better understand the geology of the structure at depth. A north–south profile was used to further investigate the deep geological setting of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) along Lithoprobe seismic transect, while an east–west profile was selected to examine a discontinuity in the magnetic and gravity fields near the centre of the SIC in the North Range. Constraints imposed on the best-fit model were the location of surface magnetic contacts, interpreted seismic and geological sections, and petrophysical data acquired from surface and borehole data. The constrained model computed for the north–south profile, elements of which are consistent with known Lithoprobe seismic reflectors, defines a north-verging fold in the deeper portion of the SIC. It may have developed during the modification of the initial geometry of the SIC by either a post-SIC thick-skinned basement shortening event, or by a compressive event that puts the tholeiitic basalts of the Elliot Lake Group against the SIC during the Penokean orogeny. The interpreted deep-seated basal folding explains the changes in dip of the seismic reflectors of the Archean basement and the SIC at about 4–8 km depth that were not fully accounted for in previous models of the Sudbury structure. This deformational event is interpreted to displace the base of the SIC rocks northwards to the depth of about 5 km, which is now reflected by a linear gravity high within the southern part of the Sudbury Basin. Lithological fence diagrams of the two interpreted sections, across and along a magnetic anomaly located in the northwest portion of the SIC, show that features of the observed anomaly pattern can be explained by a series of closely spaced deep-seated growth faults trending north around the Sandcherry fault, which has been previously interpreted as a reactivated pre-impact fault that affects the thickness and topography of both the SIC and highly magnetic Levack Gneiss Complex in that locality.
Primordial nucleosynthesis and finite temperature QED
Authors: Haseeb Mahnaz Q. , Jan Obaidullah , Sarfaraz Omair
Published: June 2014

Abundances of light nuclei formed during primordial nucleosynthesis are predicted by Standard Big Bang Model (SBBM). Here, we evaluate the second-order quantum electro dynamics (QED) corrections to the change in these parameters during primordial nucleosynthesis due to modifications to mass and coupling using finite temperature effects. These are the contributions from the dynamically generated masses for electrons and photons in the finite temperature background. Relative variations in neutron decay rate, total energy density of the universe, relative change in neutrino temperature etc. with two-loops corrections to electron mass, at the timescale when QED corrections were relevant, have been estimated.
Knowledge Management in the Petroleum Industry of Iran
Authors: Khodabakhshzadeh Saeed , Khodabakhshzadeh Taghi , Khodabakhshzadeh Soodeh , Tahamtan Iman
Published: June 2014

Knowledge managements (KM) increases the capability of organisations and companies in today's competitive environment. It is important that managers in petroleum companies proactively prepare their organisations and its members as they begin to implement KM systems. Then, as the first step, they should assess their organisations' readiness for KM implementation. Therefore, in this paper, we chose Iran as one of the main petroleum producers in the world to study the readiness of National Iranian Oil Company for KM implementation. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the company, based on stratified random sampling technique. The paper investigated the readiness of five variables including, management support, organisational culture, IT infrastructure, human resources and organisational structure for KM implementation in the company. Results revealed that the company lacked the necessary readiness to successfully implement KM. One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results indicated that there was a significant difference between the readiness levels of five KM variables. IT infrastructures and organisational structure were in higher readiness to implement KM in the company, followed by management support, human resources and organisational culture, respectively. Top management should plan to reduce weaknesses and implement a proper KM system in the company.
Evaluation of the convolution sums ∑l+36m=n σ(l)σ(m) and ∑4l+9m=n σ(l)σ(m)
Authors: Ye Dongxi
Published: June 2014

In this work, we evaluate the convolutions ∑l+36m=n σ(l)σ(m) and ∑4l+9m=n σ(l)σ(m) for all positive n. As an application, these evaluations are used to determine the number of representations of a positive integer by the forms [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Resistive-Pulse Analysis of Nanoparticles
Authors: Luo Long , German Sean R. , Lan Wen-Jie , Holden Deric A. , Mega Tony L. , White Henry S.
Published: June 2014

The development of nanopore fabrication methods during the past decade has led to the resurgence of resistive-pulse analysis of nanoparticles. The newly developed resistive-pulse methods enable researchers to simultaneously study properties of a single nanoparticle and statistics of a large ensemble of nanoparticles. This review covers the basic theory and recent advances in applying resistive-pulse analysis and extends to more complex transport motion (e.g., stochastic thermal motion of a single nanoparticle) and unusual electrical responses (e.g., resistive-pulse response sensitive to surface charge), followed by a brief summary of numerical simulations performed in this field. We emphasize the forces within a nanopore governing translocation of low-aspect-ratio, nondeformable particles but conclude by also considering soft materials such as liposomes and microgels.
Gamma-Ray Pulsar Revolution
Authors: Caraveo Patrizia A.
Published: June 2014

Isolated neutron stars (INSs) were the first sources identified in the field of high-energy gamma-ray astronomy. In the 1970s, only two sources had been identified, the Crab and Vela pulsars. However, although few in number, these objects were crucial in establishing the very concept of a gamma-ray source. Moreover, they opened up significant discovery space in both the theoretical and phenomenological fronts. The need to explain the copious gamma-ray emission of these pulsars led to breakthrough developments in understanding the structure and physics of neutron star (NS) magnetospheres. In parallel, the 20-year-long chase to understand the nature of Geminga unveiled the existence of a radio-quiet, gamma-ray-emitting INS, adding a new dimension to the INS family.

We are living through an extraordinary time of discovery. The current generation of gamma-ray detectors has vastly increased the population of known gamma-ray-emitting NSs. The 100 mark was crossed in 2011, and we are now over 150. The gamma-ray-emitting NS population exhibits roughly equal numbers of radio-loud and radio-quiet young INSs, plus an astonishing, and unexpected, group of isolated and binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs). The number of MSPs is growing so rapidly that they are on their way to becoming the most numerous members of the family of gamma-ray-emitting NSs. Even as these findings have set the stage for a revolution in our understanding of gamma-ray-emitting NSs, long-term monitoring of the gamma-ray sky has revealed evidence of flux variability in the Crab Nebula as well as in the pulsed emission from PSR J2021+4026, challenging a four-decades-old, constant-emission paradigm. Now we know that both pulsars and their nebulae can, indeed, display variable emission.
Solar Dynamo Theory
Authors: Charbonneau Paul
Published: June 2014

The Sun's magnetic field is the engine and energy source driving all phenomena collectively defining solar activity, which in turn structures the whole heliosphere and significantly impacts Earth's atmosphere down at least to the stratosphere. The solar magnetic field is believed to originate through the action of a hydromagnetic dynamo process operating in the Sun's interior, where the strongly turbulent environment of the convection zone leads to flow-field interactions taking place on an extremely wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Following a necessarily brief observational overview of the solar magnetic field and its cycle, this review on solar dynamo theory is structured around three areas in which significant advances have been made in recent years: (a) global magnetohydrodynamical simulations of convection and magnetic cycles, (b) the turbulent electromotive force and the dynamo saturation problem, and (c) flux transport dynamos, and their application to model cycle fluctuations and grand minima and to carry out cycle prediction.
Reconstructing Folding Energy Landscapes by Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy
Authors: Woodside Michael T. , Block Steven M.
Published: June 2014

Folding may be described conceptually in terms of trajectories over a landscape of free energies corresponding to different molecular configurations. In practice, energy landscapes can be difficult to measure. Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), whereby structural changes are monitored in molecules subjected to controlled forces, has emerged as a powerful tool for probing energy landscapes. We summarize methods for reconstructing landscapes from force spectroscopy measurements under both equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. Other complementary, but technically less demanding, methods provide a model-dependent characterization of key features of the landscape. Once reconstructed, energy landscapes can be used to study critical folding parameters, such as the characteristic transition times required for structural changes and the effective diffusion coefficient setting the timescale for motions over the landscape. We also discuss issues that complicate measurement and interpretation, including the possibility of multiple states or pathways and the effects of projecting multiple dimensions onto a single coordinate.
Energetics of Membrane Protein Folding
Authors: Fleming Karen G.
Published: June 2014

Fundamental to the central goals of structural biology is knowledge of the energetics of molecular interactions. Because membrane proteins reside in a free energy minimum dictated by their sequences, their lipid environment, and water, one must understand the energetics of membrane protein folding to generate physical descriptions of cellular processes. Several technical obstacles have recently been overcome to enable folding measurements for membrane proteins in lipid and detergent micelle environments, and several new folding free energies have been published within the past ten years. This review discusses the challenges, successes, and novel insights into the physical basis underlying membrane protein folds.
p53 and ATF4 mediate distinct and additive pathways to skeletal muscle atrophy during limb immobilization
Authors: Fox Daniel K. , Ebert Scott M. , Bongers Kale S. , Dyle Michael C. , Bullard Steven A. , Dierdorff Jason M. , Kunkel Steven D. , Adams Christopher M.
Published: June 2014

Immobilization causes skeletal muscle atrophy via complex signaling pathways that are not well understood. To better understand these pathways, we investigated the roles of p53 and ATF4, two transcription factors that mediate adaptations to a variety of cellular stresses. Using mouse models, we demonstrate that 3 days of muscle immobilization induces muscle atrophy and increases expression of p53 and ATF4. Furthermore, muscle fibers lacking p53 or ATF4 are partially resistant to immobilization-induced muscle atrophy, and forced expression of p53 or ATF4 induces muscle fiber atrophy in the absence of immobilization. Importantly, however, p53 and ATF4 do not require each other to promote atrophy, and coexpression of p53 and ATF4 induces more atrophy than either transcription factor alone. Moreover, muscle fibers lacking both p53 and ATF4 are more resistant to immobilization-induced atrophy than fibers lacking only p53 or ATF4. Interestingly, the independent and additive nature of the p53 and ATF4 pathways allows for combinatorial control of at least one downstream effector, p21. Using genome-wide mRNA expression arrays, we identified p21 mRNA as a skeletal muscle transcript that is highly induced in immobilized muscle via the combined actions of p53 and ATF4. Additionally, in mouse muscle, p21 induces atrophy in a manner that does not require immobilization, p53 or ATF4, and p21 is required for atrophy induced by immobilization, p53, and ATF4. Collectively, these results identify p53 and ATF4 as essential and complementary mediators of immobilization-induced muscle atrophy and discover p21 as a critical downstream effector of the p53 and ATF4 pathways.
Negative regulation of HIF in skeletal muscle of elite endurance athletes: a tentative mechanism promoting oxidative metabolism
Authors: Lindholm M. E. , Fischer H. , Poellinger L. , Johnson R. S. , Gustafsson T. , Sundberg C. J. , Rundqvist H.
Published: June 2014

The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) has been suggested as a candidate for mediating training adaptation in skeletal muscle. However, recent evidence rather associates HIF attenuation with a trained phenotype. For example, a muscle-specific HIF deletion increases endurance performance, partly through decreased levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK-1). HIF activity is regulated on multiple levels: modulation of protein stability, transactivation capacity, and target gene availability. Prolyl hydroxylases (PHD1–3) induces HIF degradation, whereas factor-inhibiting HIF (FIH) and the histone deacetylase sirtuin-6 (SIRT6) repress its transcriptional activity. Together, these negative regulators introduce a mechanism for moderating HIF activity in vivo. We hypothesized that long-term training induces their expression. Negative regulators of HIF were explored by comparing skeletal muscle tissue from moderately active individuals (MA) with elite athletes (EA). In elite athletes, expression of the negative regulators PHD2 (MA 73.54 ± 9.54, EA 98.03 ± 6.58), FIH (MA 4.31 ± 0.25, EA 30.96 ± 7.99) and SIRT6 (MA 0.24 ± 0.07, EA 11.42 ± 2.22) were all significantly higher, whereas the response gene, PDK-1 was lower (MA 0.12 ± 0.03, EA 0.04 ± 0.01). Similar results were observed in a separate 6-wk training study. In vitro, activation of HIF in human primary muscle cell culture by PHD inactivation strongly induced PDK-1 (0.84 ± 0.12 vs 4.70 ± 0.63), providing evidence of a regulatory link between PHD activity and PDK-1 levels in a relevant model system. Citrate synthase activity, closely associated with aerobic exercise adaptation, increased upon PDK-1 silencing. We suggest that training-induced negative regulation of HIF mediates the attenuation of PDK-1 and contributes to skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise.
Hepatic FGF21 production is increased in late pregnancy in the mouse
Authors: Cui Yingjun , Giesy Sarah L. , Hassan Mahmoud , Davis Kristen , Zhao Shuhong , Boisclair Yves R.
Published: June 2014

Female mammals call on hormonally driven metabolic adaptations to meet the energy demand of late pregnancy and lactation. These maternal adaptations preserve limiting nutrients and promote their transfer to the uterus during pregnancy or mammary gland during lactation. The novel metabolic hormone fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) was recently shown to increase suddenly at the onset of lactation in dairy cows, but whether FGF21 is induced during the reproductive cycle of other mammals is unknown. To start addressing this question, we studied subsets of mice when virgin (V), on day 18 of pregnancy (P18) and on lactation day 1 (L1), L5 and L14. Plasma FGF21 increased from nearly undetectable levels to over 8 ng/ml between V and P18 and returned to V levels by L1. Gene expression studies showed that liver was the major source of plasma FGF21 at P18 with little or no contribution from other known expressing tissues or from the developing placenta and mammary epithelial cells. The increased FGF21 production at P18 was dissociated from plasma nonesterified fatty acids and liver lipids, unlike that seen in fasted V mice. Changes in FGF21 signaling components in target tissues were modest except for reduced β-Klotho and FGFR1c expression in P18 adipose tissue. The placenta expressed both β-Klotho and FGFR1c, raising the possibility that it responds to FGF21. In conclusion, maternal FGF21 is increased when products of conception account for ∼40% of maternal weight, suggesting that FGF21 orchestrates some of the adaptations needed to meet the energy demand of late pregnancy.
Normalization of neuronal responses in cortical area MT across signal strengths and motion directions
Authors: Xiao Jianbo , Niu Yu-Qiong , Wiesner Steven , Huang Xin
Published: June 2014

Multiple visual stimuli are common in natural scenes, yet it remains unclear how multiple stimuli interact to influence neuronal responses. We investigated this question by manipulating relative signal strengths of two stimuli moving simultaneously within the receptive fields (RFs) of neurons in the extrastriate middle temporal (MT) cortex. Visual stimuli were overlapping random-dot patterns moving in two directions separated by 90°. We first varied the motion coherence of each random-dot pattern and characterized, across the direction tuning curve, the relationship between neuronal responses elicited by bidirectional stimuli and by the constituent motion components. The tuning curve for bidirectional stimuli showed response normalization and can be accounted for by a weighted sum of the responses to the motion components. Allowing nonlinear, multiplicative interaction between the two component responses significantly improved the data fit for some neurons, and the interaction mainly had a suppressive effect on the neuronal response. The weighting of the component responses was not fixed but dependent on relative signal strengths. When two stimulus components moved at different coherence levels, the response weight for the higher-coherence component was significantly greater than that for the lower-coherence component. We also varied relative luminance levels of two coherently moving stimuli and found that MT response weight for the higher-luminance component was also greater. These results suggest that competition between multiple stimuli within a neuron's RF depends on relative signal strengths of the stimuli and that multiplicative nonlinearity may play an important role in shaping the response tuning for multiple stimuli.
Identification of reference genes for RT-qPCR in ovine mammary tissue during late pregnancy and lactation and in response to maternal nutritional programming
Authors: Paten A. M. , Pain S. J. , Peterson S. W. , Blair H. T. , Kenyon P. R. , Dearden P. K. , Duncan E. J.
Published: June 2014

The mammary gland is a complex tissue consisting of multiple cell types which, over the lifetime of an animal, go through repeated cycles of development associated with pregnancy, lactation and involution. The mammary gland is also known to be sensitive to maternal programming by environmental stimuli such as nutrition. The molecular basis of these adaptations is of significant interest, but requires robust methods to measure gene expression. Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is commonly used to measure gene expression, and is currently the method of choice for validating genome-wide expression studies. RT-qPCR requires the selection of reference genes that are stably expressed over physiological states and treatments. In this study we identify suitable reference genes to normalize RT-qPCR data for the ovine mammary gland in two physiological states; late pregnancy and lactation. Biopsies were collected from offspring of ewes that had been subjected to different nutritional paradigms during pregnancy to examine effects of maternal programming on the mammary gland of the offspring. We evaluated eight candidate reference genes and found that two reference genes ( PRPF3 and CUL1) are required for normalising RT-qPCR data from pooled RNA samples, but five reference genes are required for analyzing gene expression in individual animals ( SENP2, EIF6, MRPL39, ATP1A1, CUL1). Using these stable reference genes, we showed that TET1, a key regulator of DNA methylation, is responsive to maternal programming and physiological state. The identification of these novel reference genes will be of utility to future studies of gene expression in the ovine mammary gland.
Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Efficiently Rescue Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Failure in Mouse
Authors: Deng Lisi , Liu Guangze , Wu Xin , Wang Yaping , Tong Minghua , Liu Bing , Wang Kuidong , Peng Yuting , Kong Xiangping
Published: June 2014

Background and Aim.Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) may be an attractive source for acute and chronic liver injury because they are abundant and easy to obtain. We aim to investigate the efficacy of ADMSCs transplantation in the acute liver failure (ALF) caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice.Methods.ADMSCs were isolated from inguinal fat pads of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic mice and their surface markers and differentiation potential were analyzed. ALF models were established by infusion of CCl4and divided into two groups: control group; EGFP-ADMSCs transplantation group. The restoration of biological functions of the livers receiving transplantation was assessed via a variety of approaches such as survival rates, live function parameters, histological localization of EGFP-ADMSCs, and Immunofluorescence analysis.Results.ADMSCs were positive for CD105, CD44 but negative for CD45, CD34 and had adipogenic, osteogenic differentiation potential. The survival rate of transplantation group significantly increased compared to PBS group. Furthermore, the transplanted cells were well integrated into injured livers and produced albumin, cytokeratin-18.Conclusion.Direct transplantation of ADMSCs is an effective treatment for ALF. The transplanted ADMSCs exhibit the potential to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in the injured livers.
Control of Hopf Bifurcation and Chaos in a Delayed Lotka-Volterra Predator-Prey System with Time-Delayed Feedbacks
Authors: Zhao Huitao , Sun Yaowei , Wang Zhen
Published: June 2014

A delayed Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system with time delayed feedback is studied by using the theory of functional differential equation and Hassard’s method. By choosing appropriate control parameter, we investigate the existence of Hopf bifurcation. An explicit algorithm is given to determine the directions and stabilities of the bifurcating periodic solutions. We find that these control laws can be applied to control Hopf bifurcation and chaotic attractor. Finally, some numerical simulations are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the results found.
Carvedilol Ameliorates Early Diabetic Nephropathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Morsy Mohamed A. , Ibrahim Salwa A. , Amin Entesar F. , Kamel Maha Y. , Abdelwahab Soha A. , Hassan Magdy K.
Published: June 2014

Diabetic nephropathy results in end-stage renal disease. On the other hand, carvedilol has been reported to have various pharmacological properties. The aim of this study therefore is to evaluate the possible protective effect of carvedilol on streptozotocin-induced early diabetic nephropathy and various mechanisms underlie this effect in rats. Single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) was administered to induce early diabetic nephropathy in Wistar rats. Oral administration of carvedilol at a dose level of 1 and 10 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks resulted in nephroprotective effect as evident by significant decrease in serum creatinine level, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, and kidney index as well as renal levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cyclooxygenase-2 with a concurrent increase in creatinine clearance and renal reduced glutathione level compared to diabetic untreated rats. The protective effect of carvedilol was confirmed by renal histopathological examination. The electron microscopic examination indicated that carvedilol could effectively ameliorate glomerular basement membrane thickening and podocyte injury. In conclusion, carvedilol protects rats against streptozotocin-induced early diabetic nephropathy possibly, in part, through its antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory activities, and ameliorating podocyte injury.
Sildenafil Attenuates Hepatocellular Injury after Liver Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Savvanis Spyridon , Nastos Constantinos , Tasoulis Marios-Konstantinos , Papoutsidakis Nikolaos , Demonakou Maria , Karmaniolou Iosifina , Arkadopoulos Nikolaos , Smyrniotis Vassilios , Theodoraki Kassiani
Published: June 2014

We evaluated the role of sildenafil in a rat liver ischemia-reperfusion model. Forty male rats were randomly allocated in four groups. The sham group underwent midline laparotomy only. In the sildenafil group, sildenafil was administered intraperitoneally 60 minutes before sham laparotomy. In the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, rats were subjected to 45 minutes of hepatic ischemia followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion, while in the sild+I/R group rats were subjected to a similar pattern of I/R after the administration of sildenafil, 60 minutes before ischemia. Two hours after reperfusion, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured and histopathological examination of the lobes subjected to ischemia as well as TUNEL staining for apoptotic bodies was performed. Additionally, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were analyzed. Serum markers of hepatocellular injury were significantly lower in the sild+I/R group, which also exhibited lower severity of histopathological lesions and fewer apoptotic bodies, as compared to the I/R group. The I/R group showed significantly higher MPO activity and higher expression of ICAM-1, as compared to the sild+I/R group. Use of sildenafil as a preconditioning agent in a rat model of liver I/R exerted a protective effect.
Electrochemical Drilling of Deep Small Holes in Titanium Alloys with Pulsating Electrolyte Flow
Authors: Zeng Yongbin , Fang Xiaolong , Zhang Yudong , Qu Ningsong
Published: June 2014

Inherent characteristics of electrochemical drilling (ECD) mean that it is a major solution to the machining of deep small holes in difficult-to-cut materials. The removal of insoluble by-products from the machining gap determines the accuracy of control and limits process capacity. Pulsating electrolyte flow is introduced to enhance the removal rate of insoluble products by reducing the hold-down pressure caused by the electrolyte. Experiments are conducted to optimize a stimulus signal for the pulsation and to investigate the electrolyte pulsation frequency, pulsation amplitude, applied voltage, and electrode feed rate in the machining of deep small holes. The results indicate that optimized pulsating flow is effective in accelerating by-product removal and enhancing machining accuracy and maximum machining depth. With the optimized parameters of 5 Hz in frequency, 0.2 MPa in amplitude, and 0.5 MPa in average pressure, a deep hole was machined in titanium alloys of 20 mm depth and 1.97 mm averaged diameter.
Computation and Evaluation of Features of Surface Electromyogram to Identify the Force of Muscle Contraction and Muscle Fatigue
Authors: Arjunan Sridhar P. , Kumar Dinesh K. , Naik Ganesh
Published: June 2014

The relationship between force of muscle contraction and muscle fatigue with six different features of surface electromyogram (sEMG) was determined by conducting experiments on thirty-five volunteers. The participants performed isometric contractions at 50%, 75%, and 100% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Six features were considered in this study:normalised spectral index (NSM5), median frequency, root mean square, waveform length, normalised root mean square (NRMS), and increase in synchronization (IIS) index. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression analysis were performed to determine the significance of the feature with respect to the three factors: muscle force, muscle fatigue, and subject. The results show that IIS index of sEMG had the highest correlation with muscle fatigue and the relationship was statistically significant (P<0.01), while NSM5 associated best with level of muscle contraction (%MVC) (P<0.01). Both of these features were not affected by the intersubject variations (P>0.05).
Methodological Issues and Evidence of Malfeasance in Research Purporting to Show Thimerosal in Vaccines Is Safe
Authors: Hooker Brian , Kern Janet , Geier David , Haley Boyd , Sykes Lisa , King Paul , Geier Mark
Published: June 2014

There are over 165 studies that have focused on Thimerosal, an organic-mercury (Hg) based compound, used as a preservative in many childhood vaccines, and found it to be harmful. Of these, 16 were conducted to specifically examine the effects of Thimerosal on human infants or children with reported outcomes of death; acrodynia; poisoning; allergic reaction; malformations; auto-immune reaction; Well’s syndrome; developmental delay; and neurodevelopmental disorders, including tics, speech delay, language delay, attention deficit disorder, and autism. In contrast, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that Thimerosal is safe and there is “no relationship between [T]himerosal[-]containing vaccines and autism rates in children.” This is puzzling because, in a study conducted directly by CDC epidemiologists, a 7.6-fold increased risk of autism from exposure to Thimerosal during infancy was found. The CDC’s current stance that Thimerosal is safe and that there is no relationship between Thimerosal and autism is based on six specific published epidemiological studies coauthored and sponsored by the CDC. The purpose of this review is to examine these six publications and analyze possible reasons why their published outcomes are so different from the results of investigations by multiple independent research groups over the past 75+ years.
Research of Smart Car’s Speed Control Based on the Internal Model Control
Authors: Yu Han , Karimi Hamid Reza , Zhu Xuemei
Published: June 2014

Based on analyzing principle about the smart car’s speed control system, the system mathematical model is built. Considering the control optimization, a novel control scheme is proposed based on internal model control, and the internal model controller of speed control system is established. Regarding this subject, the internal control theory is introduced to verify the control performance; the traditional PID control method is employed in the experiment. The experiment indicates that the proposed method based on internal model control is easier to determine parameter and has a well robust and good control result of smart car’s speed.
Measuring Physical Inactivity: Do Current Measures Provide an Accurate View of “Sedentary” Video Game Time?
Authors: Fullerton Simon , Taylor Anne W. , Dal Grande Eleonora , Berry Narelle
Published: June 2014

Background. Measures of screen time are often used to assess sedentary behaviour. Participation in activity-based video games (exergames) can contribute to estimates of screen time, as current practices of measuring it do not consider the growing evidence that playing exergames can provide light to moderate levels of physical activity. This study aimed to determine what proportion of time spent playing video games was actually spent playing exergames.Methods. Data were collected via a cross-sectional telephone survey in South Australia. Participants aged 18 years and above (n=2026) were asked about their video game habits, as well as demographic and socioeconomic factors. In cases where children were in the household, the video game habits of a randomly selected child were also questioned.Results. Overall, 31.3% of adults and 79.9% of children spend at least some time playing video games. Of these, 24.1% of adults and 42.1% of children play exergames, with these types of games accounting for a third of all time that adults spend playing video games and nearly 20% of children’s video game time.Conclusions. A substantial proportion of time that would usually be classified as “sedentary” may actually be spent participating in light to moderate physical activity.
Human Cytomegalovirus Latency: Targeting Differences in the Latently Infected Cell with a View to Clearing Latent Infection
Authors: Poole Emma , Wills Mark , Sinclair John
Published: June 2014

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a human herpesvirus which causes little or no disease in the immunocompetent. However, in immunocompromised individuals, neonates, or patients on immune suppressive therapies, HCMV can cause significant morbidity and mortality in some patient groups. As with all herpesviruses, HCMV has two life cycle phases: a productive phase, where new virions are produced and a latent phase where there is a restricted gene transcription profile and no new virion production. Currently available antivirals target the productive phase of HCMV infection and, although these have greatly decreased the severity of HCMV-induced disease in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals, they often have associated toxicities, routinely result in selection of drug resistant viral mutants, and, importantly, they do not target cells latently infected with virus. Thus, there is a real need to derive novel antiviral therapies which, not least, are also able to target latent infection. In this paper, we describe recent work which has begun to analyse changes in the cell associated with latent infection and the possibility that these latency-associated changes in cell phenotype could be targeted by novel chemo- or immunotherapeutic strategies in order to diminish, or even clear, latent infection at least in some specific clinical settings.
Study on the Effect of Electrochemical Dechlorination Reduction of Hexachlorobenzene Using Different Cathodes
Authors: Wang Yingru , Lu Xiaohua
Published: June 2014

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a persistent organic pollutant and poses great threat on ecosystem and human health. In order to investigate the degradation law of HCB, a RuO2/Ti material was used as the anode, meanwhile, zinc, stainless steel, graphite, and RuO2/Ti were used as the cathode, respectively. The gas chromatography (GC) was used to analyze the electrochemical products of HCB on different cathodes. The results showed that the cathode materials significantly affected the dechlorination efficiency of HCB, and the degradation of HCB was reductive dechlorination which occurred only on the cathode. During the reductive process, chlorine atoms were replaced one by one on various intermediates such as pentachlorobenzene, tetrachlorobenzene, and trichlorobenzene occurred; the trichlorobenzene was obtained when zinc was used as cathode. The rapid dechlorination of HCB suggested that the electrochemical method using zinc or stainless steel as cathode could be used for remediation of polychlorinated aromatic compounds in the environment. The dechlorination approach of HCB by stainless steel cathode could be proposed.
Correlation between Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Alzheimer Type Dementia and Plasma Homocysteine Concentration
Authors: Zheng Zhanjie , Wang Jindong , Yi Lei , Yu Hui , Kong Lingli , Cui Weizhen , Chen Hong , Wang Chunxia
Published: June 2014

The relationship between plasma homocysteine and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) has not been specifically investigated in previous research. In this study, we compared plasma homocysteine (Hcy) among 40 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients with BPSD, 37 AD patients without BPSD, and 39 healthy controls. Our results evidenced that the plasma homocysteine levels in AD patients with BPSD and without BPSD were higher than healthy controls and that the plasma homocysteine concentration in AD patients with BPSD was the highest among the three groups. Significant correlation between plasma homocysteine concentration and cognitive decline and duration of dementia was observed, but there was no correlation between BPSD and cognitive dysfunction or duration of dementia. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that BPSD were associated with plasma homocysteine concentration in Alzheimer's dementia, and the results supported that hyperhomocysteine may take part in the pathogenesis of BPSD.
Optimal Coordinated Strategy Analysis for the Procurement Logistics of a Steel Group
Authors: Deng Lianbo , Qiu Zhuqiang , Liu Pengfei , Xiao Wenzhong
Published: June 2014

This paper focuses on the optimization of an internal coordinated procurement logistics system in a steel group and the decision on the coordinated procurement strategy by minimizing the logistics costs. Considering the coordinated procurement strategy and the procurement logistics costs, the aim of the optimization model was to maximize the degree of quality satisfaction and to minimize the procurement logistics costs. The model was transformed into a single‐objective model and solved using a simulated annealing algorithm. In the algorithm, the supplier of each subsidiary was selected according to the evaluation result for independent procurement. Finally, the effect of different parameters on the coordinated procurement strategy was analysed. The results showed that the coordinated strategy can clearly save procurement costs; that the strategy appears to be more cooperative when the quality requirement is not stricter; and that the coordinated costs have a strong effect on the coordinated procurement strategy.
Command Filtered Adaptive Fuzzy Neural Network Backstepping Control for Marine Power System
Authors: Zhang Xin , Mu Longhua
Published: June 2014

In order to retrain chaotic oscillation of marine power system which is excited by periodic electromagnetism perturbation, a novel command‐filtered adaptive fuzzy neural network backstepping control method is designed. First, the mathematical model of marine power system is established based on the two parallel nonlinear model. Then, main results of command‐filtered adaptive fuzzy neural network backstepping control law are given. And the Lyapunov stability theory is applied to prove that the system can remain closed‐loop asymptotically stable with this controller. Finally, simulation results indicate that the designed controller can suppress chaotic oscillation with fast convergence speed that makes the system return to the equilibrium point quickly; meanwhile, the parameter which induces chaotic oscillation can also be discriminated.
Peripheral Injection of SB203580 Inhibits the Inflammatory-Dependent Synthesis of Proinflammatory Cytokines in the Hypothalamus
Authors: Herman Andrzej P. , Krawczyńska Agata , Bochenek Joanna , Antushevich Hanna , Herman Anna , Tomaszewska-Zaremba Dorota
Published: June 2014

The study was designed to determine the effects of peripheral injection of SB203580 on the synthesis of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)αin the hypothalamus of ewes during prolonged inflammation. Inflammation was induced by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (400 ng/kg) over 7 days. SB203580 is a selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which is involved in the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFαsynthesis. Intravenous injection of SB203580 successfully inhibited (P<0.01) synthesis of IL-1βand reduced (P<0.01) the production of IL-6 in the hypothalamus. The p38 MAPK inhibitor decreased (P<0.01) gene expression of TNFαbut its effect was not observed at the level of TNFαprotein synthesis. SB203580 also reduced (P<0.01) LPS-stimulated IL-1 receptor type 1 gene expression. The conclusion that inhibition of p38 MAPK blocks LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine synthesis seems to initiate new perspectives in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases also within the central nervous system. However, potential proinflammatory effects of SB203580 treatment suggest that all therapies using p38 MAPK inhibitors should be introduced very carefully with analysis of all expected and unexpected consequences of treatment.
The Impact of “Unseasonably” Warm Spring Temperatures on Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospital Admissions in Melbourne, Australia: A City with a Temperate Climate
Authors: Loughnan Margaret , Tapper Nigel , Loughnan Terence
Published: June 2014

The effects of extreme temperatures on human health have been well described. However, the adverse health effects of warm weather that occurs outside the summer period have had little attention. We used daily anomalous AMI morbidity and daily anomalous temperature to determine the impact of “unseasonable” temperature on human health. The “unseasonably” warm weather was attributed to a slow moving high pressure system to the east of Melbourne. No morbidity displacement was noted during either of these periods suggesting that morbidity due to “unseasonable” temperatures is avoidable. An increase in warmer weather during the cooler months of spring may result in increased morbidity, and an alert system based on summer thresholds may not be appropriate for early season heat health warnings. A straightforward alert system based on calculating anomalous temperature from daily weather forecasts may reduce the public health impact of “unseasonably” warm weather.
Plasma Levels of Osteopontin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Association with Clinical Features and Parameters of Tumor Burden in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Valković Toni , Babarović Emina , Lučin Ksenija , Štifter Sanja , Aralica Merica , Pećanić Sanja , Seili-Bekafigo Irena , Duletić-Načinović Antica , Nemet Damir , Jonjić Nives
Published: June 2014

The aim of this pilot study was to determine the plasma levels of osteopontin (OPN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and find possible association between them and main clinical features and parameters of tumor burden in patient with multiple myeloma (MM). Plasma levels of OPN and VEGF were determined in 44 newly diagnosed MM patients and 24 healthy persons by ELISA method. These values were compared with the presence of anemia, renal dysfunction, and bone lesions as myeloma related clinical manifestations and with serum beta-2 microglobulin and Durie-Salmon clinical stage as prognosticators related to tumor mass. The value of OPN was significantly higher in MM patients with evident bone lesions (P=0.03) and there was also a positive correlation with serum beta-2 microglobulin (r=0.366;P=0.04). Furthermore, patients with lower Durie-Salmon stage had significantly lower OPN and VEGF levels (P=0.05;P=0.04, resp.). Our preliminary results found positive association between plasma level of OPN, tumor burden, and bone destruction. Further analysis should provide information about the possible use of OPN as useful clinical biomarker for monitoring bone disease and tumor mass, as well as a prognostic factor, or a possible target for pharmacological intervention.
MicroRNAs in Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Qu Zigang , Li Wenhui , Fu Baoquan
Published: June 2014

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are featured by body's immune responses being directed towards its own specific target organs or multiple organ systems, causing persistent inflammation and consequent tissue damage. miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs in a size of approximately 22 nt that play important regulatory roles in many organisms by cleavage or translational inhibition of targeted mRNAs. Many miRNAs are reported to be differentially expressed in ADs and may play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses and autoimmunity. In this review, current research progress in the miRNAs in ADs was elucidated.