bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic value of cytology of bronchoalveolar fluid for lung diseases of sheep
Authors: Dawson S. , Else R. W. , Rhind S. M. , Collie D. D. S.
Published: October 2014

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected postmortem from the lungs of 113 sheep, and total and differential cell counts were analysed in relation to the presence of gross and microscopic lung pathology. The diffuse lung diseases, maedi and adenomatosis, were both characterised by an increase in overall cellularity and by increases in the percentages of lymphocytes and neutrophils, respectively. Focal parasitic lung disease was characterised by an increase in the percentage of eosinophils and mast cells. Consolidated lung lesions were characterised by a slight increase in cellularity but no change in the differential cell profile. In regions of parasitised and consolidated lungs without lesions the differential cell profile was consistent with focal lung pathology, although the slight increase in cellularity observed in the consolidated regions was not observed in the regions without lesions. A decision tree was developed to facilitate the interpretation and indicate the likely predictive capacity of the differential cytology of the fluid.
Surveillance of suspect animal toxicoses with potential food safety implications in England and Wales between 1990 and 2002
Authors: Sharpe R. T. , Livesey C. T.
Published: October 2014

The potential chemical contamination incidents investigated by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) between 1990 and 2002 are reviewed. Incidents were identified in the course of the VLA ’s surveillance of food animal disease and further investigations were carried out on behalf of the Food Standards Agency in order to identify and control the contamination of food animals and animal products with chemical hazards. In total 876 incidents were investigated, of which 588 involved the poisoning of cattle with heavy metals. There were 63 incidents involving the exposure of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry to the accidental misuse of veterinary medicines, pesticides or rodenticides, and 50 incidents involving their exposure to microbiological toxins, particularly botulism.
Further monitoring for Salmonella species and Escherichia coli O86 at a bird table in south‐west Scotland
Authors: Pennycott T. W. , Cinderey R. N. , Park A. , Mather H. A. , Foster G. , Grant D.
Published: October 2014

Pooled faeces collected from a garden bird table were screened for Salmonella species and Escherichia coli O86, two recognised causes of garden bird mortality. Dead birds found at the site were also screened for these organisms, and bird numbers and meteorological data were recorded. In the first year of the study, 48·5 per cent of the samples were positive for Salmonella Typhimurium DT56 (variant), decreasing to 38·9 per cent in the second year and 12·8 per cent in the third year. E coli O86 was not recovered from any of the 288 samples of pooled faeces tested. S Typhimurium DT56 (variant) was recovered from the carcases of eight birds found dead at the site, and E coli O86 was isolated from three carcases. The degree of contamination of the bird table with S Typhimurium DT56 (variant) was positively correlated with the number of house sparrows observed in the garden, but not with the number of blackbirds, chaffinches or greenfinches.
Review of 15 cases of pemphigus foliaceus in horses and a survey of the literature
Authors: Zabel S. , Mueller R. S. , Fieseler K. V. , Bettenay S. V. , Littlewood J. D. , Wagner R.
Published: October 2014

The records of 15 horses with pemphigus foliaceus diagnosed on the basis of their history, clinical signs, histopathology and the exclusion of differential diagnoses were evaluated with respect to the age of onset, the clinical signs and the diagnostic tests used. There was no apparent breed predisposition. The horses’ mean age was nine years, with a range from three months to 25·5 years, three were foals up to six months old and eight were nine years old or older. The most frequent lesions were scaling in 11, crusting in 10 and alopecia in 10, and they appeared most commonly on the face, neck and trunk, in 10 horses for each of these sites. The extremities were involved in nine of the horses, pruritus occurred in seven, and four of the horses had pustules. The clinical signs mostly corresponded with those described in previous reports, but signs of pain were not a prominent feature. Acantholytic cells were identified cytologically in four of six of the horses.
Observations on salpingitis, peritonitis and salpingoperitonitis in a layer breeder flock
Authors: Jordan F. T. W. , Williams N. J. , Wattret A. , Jones T.
Published: October 2014

A flock of 13,951 hens and 1379 cockerels was monitored from 26 to 58 weeks of age for the complex of salpingitis, peritonitis and salpingoperitonitis (SPS). Two hundred and forty‐three hens (78 per cent of the hens that died) were examined postmortem, and SPS was recognised by gross examination for inflammatory exudate, in the body cavity or oviduct in 111 (46 per cent) of them. Salpingoperitonitis was the most common form, followed by salpingitis and then peritonitis. There were acute and chronic cases in all three conditions, but only in peritonitis were acute cases more common than chronic cases. Seventeen birds that had died of SPS were cultured for aerobic bacteria within 12 hours of death. Escherichia coli was recovered from a variety of tissues from all of them, and other bacteria, including staphylococci, Mannheimia haemolytica and Streptococcus bovis, were isolated from a few carcases, either alone or together with E coli. Relatively few isolations of E coli were made from normal hens cultured 48, 72 and 96 hours after death.
Verminous pneumonia due to Filaroides hirthi in a Scottish terrier in Spain
Authors: Caro‐Vadillo A. , Martínez‐Merlo E. , García‐Real I. , Fermín‐Rodríguez M. L. , Mateo P.
Published: October 2014

A previously healthy Scottish terrier developed verminous pneumonia due to Filaroides hirthi. The disease was diagnosed on the basis of cytology of a transtracheal wash, which contained 17 per cent eosinophils and a large number of parasite larvae. Treatment with 50 mg/kg bodyweight fenbendazole daily for three weeks eliminated the parasites and improved the clinical condition of the dog.
Epidemiological characteristics of rabies in South Korea from 1993 to 2001
Authors: Kim J‐H. , Hwang E‐K. , Sohn H‐J. , Kim D‐Y. , So B‐J. , Jean Y‐H.
Published: October 2014

In the nine years from 1993 to 2001, 210 cases of rabies were recorded in domestic animals in South Korea; 115 cattle, 94 dogs and one farmed deer were affected. The annual incidence of rabies cases increased to a peak of 64 in 1998, and then decreased to about 30 cases per year. The cases were confined to the northern part of Kyounggi and Kangwon provinces. One hundred and forty‐six cases (69·5 per cent) occurred in Kyounggi and 64 cases (30·5 per cent) in Kangwon province, and about 82 per cent of them were confined to two counties in Kyounggi province (29 per cent in Paju and 28·1 per cent in Younchun) and to Chulwon county in Kangwon province (25·2 per cent). However, over several years the outbreaks gradually moved south and east in both Kyounggi and Kangwon provinces. There were more rabies cases in cattle than in dogs, suggesting that the disease is transmitted by the sylvatic cycle. To investigate the relationship between rabies in domestic animals and wild animals, 107 wild animals, including Korean raccoon dogs, badgers, weasels and feral cats, were tested for rabies; 21 of the 67 Korean raccoon dogs tested (31 per cent) were infected. The cases in domestic animals were most common in winter, from December to February, and least common in summer, from June to September.
Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005
Authors: Dean S.
Published: October 2014

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005 came into force on October 30. There are a number of key changes that directly impact on the work of veterinary surgeons. These are detailed below by Mr Steve Dean, chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, as information for veterinary colleagues
Variability in the eruption of the permanent incisor teeth in sheep
Authors: Cocquyt G. , Driessen B. , Simoens P.
Published: October 2014

The incisor teeth of 176 sheep of six breeds were inspected every two to three months for a year to record the shedding of the deciduous teeth and the eruption of the permanent teeth. In all the breeds the permanent central incisors erupted at between 12 and 18 months of age. In 96 per cent of the sheep the permanent middle incisors erupted at between 18 and 26 months; and in 92 per cent the permanent lateral incisors erupted at between 24 and 36 months of age. The permanent corner teeth erupted at between 32 and 44 months in 96 per cent of the sheep. The gingival redness and swelling accompanying the eruption of a permanent tooth disappeared within two months. In 14 cases two pairs of incisors erupted during the year, in 18 cases the incisors erupted asymmetrically, and in 22 cases no incisors erupted. Rotation of one incisor was observed in five sheep and was combined with dental deviation in one.
Ultrasonographic assessment of the rate of solid‐phase gastric emptying in dogs
Authors: Chalmers A. F. , Kirton R. , Wyse C. A. , Dickie A. , Cumming D. , Cooper J. M. , Preston T. , Yam P. S.
Published: October 2014

Twelve healthy dogs were used in an ultrasonographic assessment of the effect of the composition of a solid meal on the rate of gastric emptying. The dogs were fasted for nine hours before they were fed either a standard or a high energy density test meal, in a cross‐over study design. The gastric antrum was visualised with a 6·5 MHz microconvex transducer, and the area inside the elliptical shape defined by the craniocaudal and ventrodorsal diameters of the stomach was measured. Antral images were acquired at regular intervals for six hours after the ingestion of the test meal. Three indices to describe the rate of gastric emptying were computed: the gastric half‐emptying time (t1/2), the time to 50 per cent maximal antral area (t50%), and the time of maximal antral area (tmax). The values of t50% and t1/2 calculated for the high energy density meals were significantly longer than for the standard meals, but there was no significant difference between the tmax values.
Japanese encephalitis in a racing thoroughbred gelding in Hong Kong
Authors: Lam K. H. K. , Ellis T. M. , Williams D. T. , Lunt R. A. , Daniels P. W. , Watkins K. L. , Riggs C. M.
Published: October 2014

A horse in Hong Kong that had been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis suffered a pyrexic episode that culminated in a hyperexcitable state and self‐inflicted trauma. Japanese encephalitis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical, pathological and serological observations, and confirmed by the detection of genomic sequences of the virus in spinal cord tissue. Phylogenetic analyses of E gene and NS5‐3’UTR sequences revealed divergent clustering of these segments with previously described genotypes, suggesting the possibility that the horse might have been infected with a recombinant between genotype I and genotype II viruses. Horses are considered to be dead‐end hosts for the disease, but the occurrence of an infected horse in a population may have implications for the health status of the national herd. The effect that this case had on the horse industry in Hong Kong is discussed with specific reference to the movement of horses and the vaccination programme for Japanese encephalitis.
Efficacy of topical aciclovir for the treatment of feline herpetic keratitis: results of a prospective clinical trial and data from in vitro investigations
Authors: Williams D. L. , Robinson J. C. , Lay E. , Field H.
Published: October 2014

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of topical ophthalmic aciclovir applied five times daily as a treatment for feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV‐1) keratitis in a group of cats in a first‐opinion practice setting. Cats with ocular signs indicative of FHV‐1 or Chlamydophila species infection, predominantly conjunctivitis and keratitis, were tested for FHV‐1 antigen using an immunofluorescent technique on air‐dried conjunctival swabs. They were first treated with topical chlortetracycline with efficacy against Chlamydophila species and then, in cases positive for FHV‐1, with topical aciclovir. The time to recovery was determined and illustrated using a Kaplan‐Meier plot. Three cats were infected with Chlamydophila species and showed a median time to recovery of 14 days (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 10 to 18 days), while 30 cats infected with FHV‐1 showed a median time to recovery of 12 days (95 per cent CI 10 to 14 days). The drug dose at which 50 per cent plaque reduction (ED50) occurred in a standard plaque reduction assay was determined in an in vitro study. This showed a mean (sd) ED50 of aciclovir of 25 (3·5) mg/ml compared with 0·4 (0·05) mg/ml for trifluorothymidine, a drug known to be efficacious against FHV‐1. The study shows that even though aciclovir is generally considered to lack efficacy against ocular FHV‐1 infection, when used frequently it can have a beneficial effect in FHV‐1 conjunctivitis and keratitis
Quantifying the potential for marine reserves or harvest reductions to buffer temporal mismatches caused by climate change
Authors: Barnett Lewis A.K. , Baskett Marissa L. , Botsford Louis W.
Published: October 2014

Climate change has caused shifts in seasonal timing of climatic events such as the onset of spring upwelling, which can lead to temporal mismatches between fish spawning and production of zoopklankton prey. Fishing may exacerbate mismatches through age truncation, particularly when offspring survival is dependent on maternal age, but no-take reserves or harvest reductions might buffer this effect. To quantify the potential for management to buffer synergistic interactions between fishing and climate, we developed a dynamic population model of a harvested species where larval survival depended on spring transition timing and maternal age. We applied this model to rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) after verifying empirically that spring transition timing affects their recruitment success. We found that yield and persistence changed more with maternal-age-dependent larval provisioning than maternal-age-dependent spawning timing across a range of spring transition timings, especially with environmental stochasticity. Either implementing reserves or reducing fishing can mitigate impacts on larval survival, but reserves convey the added benefit of decreased sensitivity of yield and persistence to fishing. However, reserve buffering effects decreased with the inclusion of environmental stochasticity.
Band structure and transmission characteristics of complex phononic crystals by multi-level substructure scheme
Authors: Yin J. , Zhang S. , Zhang H. W. , Chen B. S.
Published: October 2014

A fast scheme based on the multi-level substructure technique is proposed for the band structure and transmission characteristics calculation of phononic crystals uniformly. The main idea is that finite element models of phononic crystals are divided into several domains by a special multi-level decomposition. For the band structure calculation, the upscaling calculation is employed to condense the internal stiffness matrix of the unit cell into the Bloch boundary. Due to the internal stiffness matrix does not change along with reduced wave vectors in an iteration process, the scheme can reduce the computational scale and improve the efficiency greatly, meanwhile it does not introduce approximation into the traditional finite element model. For the transmission characteristics calculation, the unit cell of the phononic crystal is periodic which is taken as a substructure with the same coefficient matrix. Moreover, the downscaling calculation of internal displacements can be selected flexibly. Some closely watched examples of the three-dimensional locally resonant, defect state of Lamb wave and Bragg waveguide are analyzed. Numerical results indicate that the proposed scheme is efficient and accurate, which may widely be applicable and suitable for complex phononic crystal problems, and provides a reliable numerical tool to optimize and design crystal devices.
The effect of plasma channel on the self-distortion of laser pulse propagating through the collisionless plasma channel
Authors: Singh Navpreet , Singh Arvinder
Published: October 2014

This paper presents an investigation of the laser pulse distortion/breakup and the effect of the plasma channel on the laser propagation through the collisionless plasma. Moment theory has been used to derive differential equations of the beam width parameter of the laser propagating through uniform homogenous plasma and preformed plasma channel having parabolic density profile. Differential equations have been set up and solved numerically by using Runge Kutta method. From analysis, it is observed that the low intensity front and rear parts of the laser pulse get defocused/diffracted while the high intensity central portion of the laser pulse gets self-guided during the propagation through uniform homogenous plasma. As a result of this, laser pulse gets distorted. This distortion of the laser pulse has not been observed when the laser beam is propagated through the plasma channel having parabolic density profile. The laser pulse is guided as a whole, even the low intensity front and rear parts of the laser pulse are also guided. Therefore, it is predicted that plasma channel plays a significant role to prevent the distortion/beam breakup of the laser.
Study of the absorptive and dispersive responses of molecular systems under stochastic considerations
Authors: Paz J. L. , Mastrodomenico A. , Cárdenas-García Jaime F. , Rodriguez Luis G. , Vera César Costa
Published: October 2014

Absorptive and dispersive nonlinear optical properties have been studied considering a two-level molecular system with permanent dipole moments immersed in a thermal reservoir interacting with a classical electromagnetic field. Our model is based in a stochastic description, where the system–solvent interaction induces random shifts in the Bohr frequency (ω0) that transforms ω0 into a stochastic variable ξ(t). Our results show that it is necessary to neglect the rotating-wave approximation in order to measure the effect of the permanent dipole moments. The two-photon transitions over those with one-photon are favored when the permanent dipole moments are considered.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION ON THE EFFECTS OF DRUG RELEASE POSITIONS IN HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN FOR TARGETING THERAPY
Authors: CHEN YU , DENG KE , XIONG YAN , JIANG WENTAO , WANG QINGYUAN , FAN YUBO
Published: October 2014

Surgical excision, radiation therapy and chemical therapy are the main treatments of hepatic carcinoma. Due to good targeting property, controlled drug release and little side-effects, targeting drug delivery system (TDDS) has become the research focus in the field of oncology therapy. This paper established numerical models of hepatic portal bifurcate branches, carried out a comparative study of hemodynamics and drug concentration distribution in the portal vein vessels for different targeted drug releasing positions. The results showed that (1) because of the influence of flow field, the drug concentration in the right branch declines 10% compared with that in the left and main branches, it demonstrated that the drug concentration in the right side of liver was obviously lower than that in the left side; There is the difference of drug concentration between the inside and the outside in both left and right branches, but it is more obvious difference in the right branch than that in the left one. (2) The drug concentration on the inside of the right branch is significantly lower than that of the other regions, it is important to consider drug use on this position. (3) The drug concentration in portal vein bifurcation is proportional to the initial release positions, at the same time the drug release time and the drug diffusion in tissue should be taken into account in order to achieve the best therapeutic effect. So a reasonable initial drug release position is determined according to physiological characteristics and drug release curves of patients.
Crop Domestication and Its Impact on Naturally Selected Trophic Interactions
Authors: Chen Yolanda H. , Gols Rieta , Benrey Betty
Published: October 2014

Crop domestication is the process of artificially selecting plants to increase their suitability to human requirements: taste, yield, storage, and cultivation practices. There is increasing evidence that crop domestication can profoundly alter interactions among plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies. Overall, little is known about how these interactions are affected by domestication in the geographical ranges where these crops originate, where they are sympatric with the ancestral plant and share the associated arthropod community. In general, domestication consistently has reduced chemical resistance against herbivorous insects, improving herbivore and natural enemy performance on crop plants. More studies are needed to understand how changes in morphology and resistance-related traits arising from domestication may interact with environmental variation to affect species interactions across multiple scales in agroecosystems and natural ecosystems.
The Roles of Cellular and Organismal Aging in the Development of Late-Onset Maladies
Authors: Carvalhal Marques Filipa , Volovik Yuli , Cohen Ehud
Published: October 2014

Numerous disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and certain types of cancer, manifest late in life. This common feature raises the prospect that an aging-associated decline in the activity of cellular and organismal maintenance mechanisms enables the emergence of these maladies in late life stages. Accordingly, the alteration of aging bears the promise of harnessing the mechanisms that protect the young organism to prevent illness in the elderly. The identification of aging-regulatory pathways has enabled scrutiny of this hypothesis and revealed that the alteration of aging protects invertebrates and mammals from toxic protein aggregation linked to neurodegeneration and from cancer. Here we review the current knowledge on the regulation of aging at the cellular and organismal levels, delineate the mechanistic links between aging and late-onset disorders, describe efforts to develop compounds that protect from these maladies by selectively manipulating aging, and discuss future research directions and possible therapeutic implications of this approach.
DNA Methylation and Its Implications and Accessibility for Neuropsychiatric Therapeutics
Authors: Day Jeremy J. , Kennedy Andrew J. , Sweatt J. David
Published: October 2014

In this review, we discuss the potential pharmacological targeting of a set of powerful epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation control systems in the central nervous system (CNS). Specifically, we focus on the possible use of these targets for novel future treatments for learning and memory disorders. We first describe several unique pharmacological attributes of epigenetic mechanisms, especially DNA cytosine methylation, as potential drug targets. We then present an overview of the existing literature regarding DNA methylation control pathways and enzymes in the nervous system, particularly as related to synaptic function, plasticity, learning and memory. Lastly, we speculate upon potential categories of CNS cognitive disorders that might be amenable to methylomic targeting.
Human liver-type fatty acid–binding protein protects against tubulointerstitial injury in aldosterone-induced renal injury
Authors: Ichikawa Daisuke , Kamijo-Ikemori Atsuko , Sugaya Takeshi , Shibagaki Yugo , Yasuda Takashi , Hoshino Seiko , Katayama Kimie , Igarashi-Migitaka Junko , Hirata Kazuaki , Kimura Kenjiro
Published: October 2014

To demonstrate the renoprotective function of human liver-type fatty acid–binding protein (hL-FABP) expressed in proximal tubules in aldosterone (Aldo)-induced renal injury, hL-FABP chromosomal transgenic (Tg) and wild-type (WT) mice received systemic Aldo infusions (Tg-Aldo and WT-Aldo, respectively) were given 1% NaCl water for 28 days. In this model, elevation of systolic blood pressure, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression, macrophage infiltration in the interstitium, tubulointerstitial damage, and depositions of type I and III collagens were observed. Elevation of systolic blood pressure did not differ in WT-Aldo vs. Tg-Aldo animals, however, renal injury was suppressed in Tg-Aldo compared with WT-Aldo mice. Dihydroethidium fluorescence was used to evaluate reactive oxidative stress, which was suppressed in Tg-Aldo compared with WT-Aldo mice. Gene expression of angiotensinogen in the kidney was upregulated, and excretion of urinary angiotensinogen was increased in WT-Aldo mice. This exacerbation was suppressed in Tg-Aldo mice. Expression of hL-FABP was upregulated in proximal tubules of Tg-Aldo mice. Urinary excretion of hL-FABP was significantly greater in Tg-Aldo than in Tg-control mice. In conclusion, hL-FABP ameliorated the tubulointerstitial damage in Aldo-induced renal injury via reducing oxidative stress and suppressing activation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system.
Renin-angiotensin system within the diabetic podocyte
Authors: Márquez Eva , Riera Marta , Pascual Julio , Soler María José
Published: October 2014

Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Podocytes are differentiated cells necessary for the development and maintenance of the glomerular basement membrane and the capillary tufts, as well as the function of the glomerular filtration barrier. The epithelial glomerular cells express a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that varies in different pathological situations such as hyperglycemia or mechanical stress. RAS components have been shown to be altered in diabetic podocytopathy, and their modulation may modify diabetic nephropathy progression. Podocytes are a direct target for angiotensin II-mediated injury by altered expression and distribution of podocyte proteins. Furthermore, angiotensin II promotes podocyte injury indirectly by inducing cellular hypertrophy, increased apoptosis, and changes in the anionic charge of the glomerular basement membrane, among other effects. RAS blockade has been shown to decrease the level of proteinuria and delay the progression of chronic kidney disease. This review summarizes the local intraglomerular RAS and its imbalance in diabetic podocytopathy. A better understanding of the intrapodocyte RAS might provide a new approach for diabetic kidney disease treatment.
Dissociable influences of primary auditory cortex and the posterior auditory field on neuronal responses in the dorsal zone of auditory cortex
Authors: Kok Melanie A. , Stolzberg Daniel , Brown Trecia A. , Lomber Stephen G.
Published: October 2014

Current models of hierarchical processing in auditory cortex have been based principally on anatomical connectivity while functional interactions between individual regions have remained largely unexplored. Previous cortical deactivation studies in the cat have addressed functional reciprocal connectivity between primary auditory cortex (A1) and other hierarchically lower level fields. The present study sought to assess the functional contribution of inputs along multiple stages of the current hierarchical model to a higher order area, the dorsal zone (DZ) of auditory cortex, in the anaesthetized cat. Cryoloops were placed over A1 and posterior auditory field (PAF). Multiunit neuronal responses to noise burst and tonal stimuli were recorded in DZ during cortical deactivation of each field individually and in concert. Deactivation of A1 suppressed peak neuronal responses in DZ regardless of stimulus and resulted in increased minimum thresholds and reduced absolute bandwidths for tone frequency receptive fields in DZ. PAF deactivation had less robust effects on DZ firing rates and receptive fields compared with A1 deactivation, and combined A1/PAF cooling was largely driven by the effects of A1 deactivation at the population level. These results provide physiological support for the current anatomically based model of both serial and parallel processing schemes in auditory cortical hierarchical organization.
Seroprevalence and Risk Factors ofChlamydia abortusInfection in Tibetan Sheep in Gansu Province, Northwest China
Authors: Qin Si-Yuan , Yin Ming-Yang , Cong Wei , Zhou Dong-Hui , Zhang Xiao-Xuan , Zhao Quan , Zhu Xing-Quan , Zhou Ji-Zhang , Qian Ai-Dong
Published: October 2014

Chlamydia abortus, an important pathogen in a variety of animals, is associated with abortion in sheep. In the present study, 1732 blood samples, collected from Tibetan sheep between June 2013 and April 2014, were examined by the indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test, aiming to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors ofC. abortusinfection in Tibetan sheep. 323 of 1732 (18.65%) samples were seropositive forC. abortusantibodies at the cut-off of 1 : 16. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with seroprevalence, which could provide foundation to prevent and controlC. abortusinfection in Tibetan sheep. Gender of Tibetan sheep was left out of the final model because it is not significant in the logistic regression analysis (P>0.05). Region, season, and age were considered as major risk factors associated withC. abortusinfection in Tibetan sheep. Our study revealed a widespread and high prevalence ofC. abortusinfection in Tibetan sheep in Gansu province, northwest China, with higher exposure risk in different seasons and ages and distinct geographical distribution.
Selection Ideal Coal Suppliers of Thermal Power Plants Using the Matter‐Element Extension Model with Integrated Empowerment Method for Sustainability
Authors: Tan Zhongfu , Ju Liwei , Yu Xiaobao , Zhang Huijuan , Yu Chao
Published: October 2014

In order to reduce thermal power generation cost and improve its market competitiveness, considering fuel quality, cost, creditworthiness, and sustainable development capacity factors, this paper established the evaluation system for coal supplier selection of thermal power and put forward the coal supplier selection strategies for thermal power based on integrated empowering and ideal matter‐element extension models. On the one hand, the integrated empowering model can overcome the limitations of subjective and objective methods to determine weights, better balance subjective, and objective information. On the other hand, since the evaluation results of the traditional element extension model may fall into the same class and only get part of the order results, in order to overcome this shortcoming, the idealistic matter‐element extension model is constructed. It selects the ideal positive and negative matter‐elements classical field and uses the closeness degree to replace traditional maximum degree of membership criterion and calculates the positive or negative distance between the matter‐element to be evaluated and the ideal matter‐element; then it can get the full order results of the evaluation schemes. Simulated and compared with the TOPSIS method, Romania selection method, and PROMETHEE method, numerical example results show that the method put forward by this paper is effective and reliable.
Multiscale Coupling of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Neuron Electrodynamics: Modeling the Influence of the Transcranial Electric Field on Neuronal Depolarization
Authors: Dougherty Edward T. , Turner James C. , Vogel Frank
Published: October 2014

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) continues to demonstrate success as a medical intervention for neurodegenerative diseases, psychological conditions, and traumatic brain injury recovery. One aspect of tDCS still not fully comprehended is the influence of the tDCS electric field on neural functionality. To address this issue, we present a mathematical, multiscale model that couples tDCS administration to neuron electrodynamics. We demonstrate the model’s validity and medical applicability with computational simulations using an idealized two-dimensional domain and then an MRI-derived, three-dimensional human head geometry possessing inhomogeneous and anisotropic tissue conductivities. We exemplify the capabilities of these simulations with real-world tDCS electrode configurations and treatment parameters and compare the model’s predictions to those attained from medical research studies. The model is implemented using efficient numerical strategies and solution techniques to allow the use of fine computational grids needed by the medical community.
Conjunctival Metastasis as an Initial Sign of Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Sahin Afsun , Yildirim Nilgun , Sahin Deniz Goren , Basmak Hikmet , Acikalin Mustafa
Published: October 2014

Introduction. To report a case of a conjunctival metastasis as the initial manifestation of small cell lung cancer.Methods. Observational case report.Results. A 50-year-old man without known systemic disease developed a conjunctival mass in his right eye. He underwent incisional biopsy of the tumor and systemic evaluation. Histopathologically, the conjunctival mass was a metastatic small cell carcinoma. Further evaluation revealed a primary small cell lung carcinoma with metastasis to liver and bones. The primary and metastatic tumors were treated with chemotherapy.Conclusion. Conjunctival metastasis may be the initial manifestation of lung cancer. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a deep conjunctival mass.
Effect of Continuous Cropping Generations on Each Component Biomass of Poplar Seedlings during Different Growth Periods
Authors: Xia Jiangbao , Zhang Shuyong , Li Tian , Liu Xia , Zhang Ronghua , Zhang Guangcan
Published: October 2014

In order to investigate the change rules and response characteristics of growth status on each component of poplar seedling followed by continuous cropping generations and growth period, we clear the biomass distribution pattern of poplar seedling, adapt continuous cropping, and provide theoretical foundation and technical reference on cultivation management of poplar seedling, the first generation, second generation, and third generation continuous cropping poplar seedlings were taken as study objects, and the whole poplar seedling was harvested to measure and analyze the change of each component biomass on different growth period poplar leaves, newly emerging branches, trunks and root system, and so forth. The results showed that the whole biomass of poplar seedling decreased significantly with the leaf area and its ratio increased, and the growth was inhibited obviously. The biomass aboveground was more than that underground. The ratios of leaf biomass and newly emerging branches biomass of first continuous cropping poplar seedling were relatively high. With the continuous cropping generations and growth cycle increasing, poplar seedling had a growth strategy to improve the ratio of root-shoot and root-leaf to adapt the limited soil nutrient of continuous cropping.
Validation of Methods for the Optical Characterisation of the Wettability of Polymeric Films for Food Packaging
Authors: D’Emilia Giulio , Natale Emanuela
Published: October 2014

A methodology is described for the theoretical-experimental evaluation of the measurement uncertainty of the polar and dispersive components of the surface free energy (SFE) in polypropylene films; these parameters are related to the film wettability of adhesives and inks. The proposed method is based on the measurement by means of a vision system of the contact angles of liquid drops deposited on the film itself, which allows for obtaining, through mathematical models drawn from the literature, the physical quantities of interest. The effect of the principal influence parameters has been experimentally evaluated, and testing has allowed the defining of the technical procedures readily transferable in the industry. The uncertainty assessment is interesting not only to correctly evaluate experimental data but also to characterise the reproducibility of the effects of techniques for improving the wettability of films, such as surface treatments.
Prognostic Significance of MicroRNA-375 Downregulation in Solid Tumors: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shao Yingjie , Geng Yiting , Gu Wendong , Huang Jin , Ning Zhonghua , Pei Honglei
Published: October 2014

Objective. Recently, many studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNA) exhibit altered expression in various cancers and may play an important role as prognostic biomarker of cancers. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of miR-375 expression in solid tumors on patients’ overall survival (OS).Methods. Studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embace, and Cochrane Library (last search update was in May 2014) and were assessed by further quality evaluation. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for total and stratified analyses were calculated to investigate the association between miR-375 expression and cancer patients OS.Results. Our analysis results indicated that downregulation of miR-375 predicted poor OS (HR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.48–2.45,P<0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that lower expression of miR-375 was significantly related with poor OS in patients with esophageal carcinoma (HR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.69–2.96,P<0.001) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (HR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.31–2.24,P<0.001).Conclusions. The findings from this meta-analysis suggest that miR-375 expression is associated with OS of patients with malignant tumors and could be a useful clinical prognostic biomarker.
Planar and Nonplanar Solitary Waves in a Four-Component Relativistic Degenerate Dense Plasma
Authors: Hossen M. R. , Nahar L. , Mamun A. A.
Published: October 2014

The nonlinear propagation of electrostatic perturbation modes in an unmagnetized, collisionless, relativistic, degenerate plasma (containing both nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic
degenerate electrons, nonrelativistic degenerate ions, and arbitrarily charged static heavy ions) has been investigated theoretically. The Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV) equation has been derived by employing the reductive perturbation method. Their solitary wave solution is obtained and numerically analyzed in case of both planar and nonplanar (cylindrical and spherical) geometry. It has been observed that the ion-acoustic (IA) and modified ion-acoustic (mIA) solitary waves have been significantly changed due to the effects of degenerate plasma pressure and number densities of the arbitrarily charged heavy ions. It has been also found that properties of planar K-dV solitons are quite different from those of nonplanar K-dV solitons. There are numerous variations in case of mIA solitary waves due to the polarity of heavy ions. The basic features and the underlying physics of IA and mIA solitary waves, which are relevant to some astrophysical compact objects, are briefly discussed.
Variability in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate by Area under the Curve Predicts Renal Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Chen Szu-Chia , Lin Ming-Yen , Huang Teng-Hui , Hung Chi-Chih , Chiu Yi-Wen , Chang Jer-Ming , Tsai Jer-Chia , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Chen Hung-Chun
Published: October 2014

Greater variability in renal function is associated with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, few studies have demonstrated the predictive value of renal function variability in relation to renal outcomes. This study investigates the predictive ability of different methods of determining estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) variability for progression to renal replacement therapy (RRT) in CKD patients. This was a prospective observational study, which enrolled 1,862 CKD patients. The renal end point was defined as commencement of RRT. The variability in eGFR was measured by the area under the eGFR curve (AUC)%. A significant improvement in model prediction was based on the −2 log likelihood ratio statistic. During a median 28.7-month follow-up, there were 564 (30.3%) patients receiving RRT. In an adjusted Cox model, a smaller initial eGFR AUC%_12M (P<0.001), a smaller peak eGFR AUC%_12M (P<0.001), and a larger negative eGFR slope_12M (P<0.001) were associated with a higher risk of renal end point. Two calculated formulas: initial eGFR AUC%_12M and eGFR slope_12M were the best predictors. Our results demonstrate that the greater eGFR variability by AUC% is associated with the higher risk of progression to RRT.
Directed Deposition of Nickel Nanoparticles Using Self‐Assembled Organic Template
Authors: Paszternák András , Shviro Meital , Nyikos Lajos , Zitoun David
Published: October 2014

Self‐assembled organic monolayers are useful templates for nanofabrication. Ordered layer of long alkyl‐chain molecules can direct the wet chemical deposition of metallic coatings on different substrates. Ordered structures of fatty acids and their motions on the phenyloctane/HOPG interface are observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Modification of self‐assembled fatty acid patterns due to hydroxamic acid presence is also in the focus of the research. Fatty acid layer formation, the structure of the formed thin film on solid/liquid interface, and simultaneous nickel colloidal deposition have been investigated.
An Efficient Hierarchy Algorithm for Community Detection in Complex Networks
Authors: Zhang Lili , Ye Qing , Shao Yehong , Li Chenming , Gao Hongmin
Published: October 2014

Community structure is one of the most fundamental and important topology characteristics of complex networks. The research on community structure has wide applications and is very important for analyzing the topology structure, understanding the functions, finding the hidden properties, and forecasting the time‐varying of the networks. This paper analyzes some related algorithms and proposes a new algorithm—CN agglomerative algorithm based on graph theory and the local connectedness of network to find communities in network. We show this algorithm is distributed and polynomial; meanwhile the simulations show it is accurate and fine‐grained. Furthermore, we modify this algorithm to get one modified CN algorithm and apply it to dynamic complex networks, and the simulations also verify that the modified CN algorithm has high accuracy too.
An Air Jet Distortion Generation System
Authors: Sivapragasam M. , Ramamurthy S. , Deshpande M. D. , White P.
Published: October 2014

An air jet distortion generation system is developed to simulate the distorted flow field ahead of gas turbine engines in ground test facility. The flow field of a system of four jets arranged circumferentially and issuing into a confined counterflow was studied experimentally and numerically. The total pressure distortion parameters were evaluated at the Aerodynamic Interface Plane (AIP) for several values of mass flow ratios. Since the total pressure loss distribution at theAIPis characteristically “V” shaped, the number of jets was increased to obtain total pressure distributions as required for gas turbine engine testing. With this understanding, a methodology has been developed to generate a target total pressure distortion pattern at theAIP. Turbulent flow computations are used to iteratively progress towards the target distribution. This methodology was demonstrated for a distortion flow pattern typical of use in gas turbine engine testing using twenty jets, which is a smaller number than reported in the literature. The procedure converges with a root-mean-square error of 3.836% and is able to reproduce the target pattern and other distortion parameters.
Oncogenic KRAS Confers Chemoresistance by Upregulating NRF2
Authors: Tao Shasha , Wang Shue , Moghaddam Seyed Javad , Ooi Aikseng , Chapman Eli , Wong Pak K. , Zhang Donna D.
Published: October 2014

Oncogenic KRAS mutations found in 20% to 30% of all non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis. Here we demonstrate that activation of the cell protective stress response gene NRF2 by KRAS is responsible for its ability to promote drug resistance. RNAi-mediated silencing of NRF2 was sufficient to reverse resistance to cisplatin elicited by ectopic expression of oncogenic KRAS in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, KRAS increased NRF2 gene transcription through a TPA response element (TRE) located in a regulatory region in exon 1 of NRF2. In a mouse model of mutant KrasG12D-induced lung cancer, we found that suppressing the NRF2 pathway with the chemical inhibitor brusatol enhanced the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin. Cotreatment reduced tumor burden and improved survival. Our findings illuminate the mechanistic details of KRAS-mediated drug resistance and provide a preclinical rationale to improve the management of lung tumors harboring KRAS mutations with NRF2 pathway inhibitors. Cancer Res; 74(24); 7430–41. ©2014 AACR.
On the Interaction of Self-Regulation, Interoception and Pain Perception
Authors: Weiss Sarah , Sack Martin , Henningsen Peter , Pollatos Olga
Published: October 2014

Background: Interoceptive processes were found to be associated with better self-regulation capacities in healthy participants. Further empirical research suggests that interoceptive sensitivity is also important for the perception of pain both in healthy participants and in somatoform patients. Nevertheless, little is known about the interaction of interoceptive processes and self-regulation for pain. We therefore conducted a study examining the interaction of interoception and self-regulation in somatoform patients. Methods: We investigated interoceptive sensitivity and self-regulatory capacities in 30 somatoform patients and 30 healthy controls when experimentally assessing pain threshold and pain tolerance. Results: Interoceptive sensitivity was associated with better self-regulation capacities. Somatoform patients exhibited a significantly reduced interoceptive sensitivity and reduced self-regulatory capacities as assessed by self-report. Additionally, pain tolerance was significantly increased in somatoform patients as compared to controls. Conclusions: Our findings highlight that interoceptive sensitivity differentially interacts with pain and self-regulation both in healthy participants and somatoform patients. This might provide ideas for novel therapeutic interventions, e.g. a combined training of interoceptive sensitivity with certain aspects of self-regulation.
Polyphosphate accelerates factor V activation by factor XIa
Authors: Choi Sharon , Smith Stephanie , Morrissey James
Published: October 2014

Factor Va enhances the rate of prothrombin activation by factor Xa by four to five orders of magnitude. Production of initiating levels of factor Va from its precursor, factor V, is a critical event early in haemostasis, as factor V exhibits negligible cofactor activity. While thrombin is the most potent physiological back-activator of factor V, the first prothrombinase complexes require a source of factor Va prior to thrombin generation. A recent study by Whelihan et al. (J Thromb Haemost 2010; 8:1532–1539) identified factor XIa as a candidate for the initial thrombin-independent activation of factor V, although this reaction was slow and required relatively high concentrations of factors V and XIa. Activated platelets secrete polyphosphate, which we previously showed to be potently procoagulant. We now report that polyphosphate greatly accelerates factor V activation by factor XIa, and that this is supported by polyphosphate polymers of the size secreted by activated human platelets. This finding provides additional evidence that factor XIa-mediated generation of factor Va may contribute to the initiation of haemostasis.