bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF GLYCYRRHIZ GLABRA AND CICORIUM INTYBUS IN PARACETAMOL INDUCED TOXICITY IN RATTUS NORVEGICUS
Authors: Riaz Memoona , Qazi Amir Mahmood , Ali Syed Shahid , Chaudhary Afeefa Kiran
Published: June 2024

Aims and Objectives:The present study was aimed to determine hepatoprotective role of two plants Glycyrrhiza glabra and Cicorium intybus against paracetamol (acetaminophen) exposure hepatotoxicity in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). It has been demonstrated that G. glabra and C.intybus extract has biological capabilities of anti-oxidation, detoxification and anti-infection.
Methodology:So, to evaluate the effects of G. glabra and C.intyubs administration on the liver’s histology and some biochemical parameters were investigated. Rattus norvegicus male rats (n= 48) were randomly distributed into four groups. Experimental groups were given acetaminophen with 2.5mg/kg BW /day for 5 days respectively to induce hepatotoxicity, then aqueous extract of G. glabra (Roots) and C.intybus (Seeds) at 200 mg/kg/day was given for a period of 10, 20 and 30 days. After the completion of experiment, tissues were taken and blood was collected in order to evaluate histopathological changes, and for studies of biochemical parameters separately. The obtained results showed hepatic necrosis and centrilobular hepatic congestion with a decrease in hepatocytes diameter, and increase in sinusoidal spaces was also observed in the liver of treated rats.
Results:Liver enzymes ALP, AST and ALT and other biochemical factors Albumin, Bilirubin showed a significant increase in 200 mg/kg extract received rats in comparison with control (P<0.05) and (P<0.01). G.glabra and C.intybus have shown a remarkable and effective impact on RLW which was statistically significant (P<0.05), percentage increase and decrease showed that both plants have good effective on the recovery of body weight, affected by the paracetamol (acetaminophen ) toxicity.Some harmful effects of C.intybus were seen on integrity of liver in 30 days consumption of this plant.
The rock band "Sektor Gaza" as a phenomenon of Russian (counter)culture
Authors: Beskov Andrey Anatol'evich
Published: June 2024

The object of study in the article is the Russian culture of the post-Soviet period. The subject of the study is the well-known rock band "Gaza Strip", which is considered as a cultural phenomenon that has influenced Russian culture as a whole. This band was created by the author-performer Yuri Klinskikh (creative pseudonym – Khoy) in the late 1980s in Voronezh. The band soon became super-popular, with virtually no media promotion. The band ceased to exist in 2000 due to the death of its leader. But as shown in the article, Khoy's work has not been forgotten, it has largely grown into Russian popular culture and is still in great demand. The author makes an attempt to understand the reasons for this. The research is based on the study of numerous newspaper notes about the band, interviews with Yuri Khoy, books about the "Gaza Strip", lyrics of the band, as well as on the author's own memoirs. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time the creativity of the "Gaza Strip" band was subjected to philosophical reflection. An attempt has been made to understand the reasons for the popularity of this band and the demand for its work a quarter of a century after the death of its leader. Several reasons have been identified that determined the success of the band. The music of the Gaza Strip has found a completely new niche in the Russian music market. Due to its expression, it meets the psycho-emotional needs of adolescents. The use of obscene vocabulary contributed to the scandalous fame. At the same time, the swearing in most cases serves as an organic means of reflecting the social environment in which the lyrical hero of Hoy's songs is located. Apparently, the main ingredient of the band's success is the widest range of topics covered in the songs, as well as the presentation of material understandable to a wide audience, including through humor. At the same time, despite the obscenities in the vocabulary and artistic images, the humanistic pathos is obvious in the songs of the band. The combination of the primordial folk linguistic and cultural elements, the bearer of which was Yuri Klinskikh, with fashionable musical trends gave rise to a curious phenomenon that exists in three dimensions at once – counterculture, grassroots, folk culture and "big", nationwide mass culture.
Ilma Rakusa transzkulturális irodalmi világa Különös tekintettel Rengeteg tenger című „emlékfutamaira”
Authors: Toldi Éva
Published: June 2024

The paper presents the characteristics of transculturality in Ilma Rakusa’s opus. Primarily, it examines the “passages of memory” published under the title Mehr Meer [More Sea], and within it, the deterritorialized memory work related to the constant moving of the narrator’s family, i.e. the element in the history of her upbringing that reflects her multi-ethnic origins. The text is a representation of continuous border crossings. The permeability between cultures, languages, and pasts does not act in the direction of reconstructing the abandoned life situations, but rather, it presupposes the creation of a new, multiple identity. Born in Rimaszombat to a Hungarian mother and a Slovenian father, Ilma Rakusa is a translingual author, and her chosen language is German. The language of the book also depicts transcultural relations. It proposes a sensitively to meta-linguistic questions while creating a multilingual text. The paper also addresses the question of the translatability of multilingual texts.
Arabidopsis transcriptome responses to low water potential using high-throughput plate assays
Authors: Gonzalez Stephen , Swift Joseph , Yaaran Adi , Xu Jiaying , Miller Charlotte , Illouz-Eliaz Natanella , Nery Joseph R , Busch Wolfgang , Zait Yotam , Ecker Joseph R
Published: June 2024

Soil-free assays that induce water stress are routinely used to investigate drought responses in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Due to their ease of use, the research community often relies on polyethylene glycol (PEG), mannitol, and salt (NaCl) treatments to reduce the water potential of agar media, and thus induce drought conditions in the laboratory. However, while these types of stress can create phenotypes that resemble those of water deficit experienced by soil-grown plants, it remains unclear how these treatments compare at the transcriptional level. Here, we demonstrate that these different methods of lowering water potential elicit both shared and distinct transcriptional responses in Arabidopsis shoot and root tissue. When we compared these transcriptional responses to those found in Arabidopsis roots subject to vermiculite drying, we discovered many genes induced by vermiculite drying were repressed by low water potential treatments on agar plates (and vice versa). Additionally, we also tested another method for lowering water potential of agar media. By increasing the nutrient content and tensile strength of agar, we show the ‘hard agar’ (HA) treatment can be leveraged as a high-throughput assay to investigate natural variation in Arabidopsis growth responses to low water potential.
Dengue viremia kinetics and effects on platelet count and clinical outcomes: An analysis of 2340 patients from Vietnam
Authors: Vuong Nguyen Lam , Quyen Nguyen Than Ha , Tien Nguyen Thi Hanh , Duong Thi Hue Kien , Duyen Huynh Thi Le , Lam Phung Khanh , Tam Dong Thi Hoai , Van Ngoc Tran , Jaenisch Thomas , Simmons Cameron P , Yacoub Sophie , Wills Bridget A , Geskus Ronald
Published: June 2024

Background:

Viremia is a critical factor in understanding the pathogenesis of dengue infection, but limited data exist on viremia kinetics. This study aimed to investigate the kinetics of viremia and its effects on subsequent platelet count, severe dengue, and plasma leakage.

Methods:

We pooled data from three studies conducted in Vietnam between 2000 and 2016, involving 2340 dengue patients with daily viremia measurements and platelet counts after symptom onset. Viremia kinetics were assessed using a random effects model that accounted for left-censored data. The effects of viremia on subsequent platelet count and clinical outcomes were examined using a landmark approach with a random effects model and logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations, respectively. The rate of viremia decline was derived from the model of viremia kinetics. Its effect on the clinical outcomes was assessed by logistic regression models.

Results:

Viremia levels rapidly decreased following symptom onset, with variations observed depending on the infecting serotype. DENV-1 exhibited the highest mean viremia levels during the first 5–6 days, while DENV-4 demonstrated the shortest clearance time. Higher viremia levels were associated with decreased subsequent platelet counts from day 6 onwards. Elevated viremia levels on each illness day increased the risk of developing severe dengue and plasma leakage. However, the effect size decreased with later illness days. A more rapid decline in viremia is associated with a reduced risk of the clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

This study provides comprehensive insights into viremia kinetics and its effect on subsequent platelet count and clinical outcomes in dengue patients. Our findings underscore the importance of measuring viremia levels during the early febrile phase for dengue studies and support the use of viremia kinetics as outcome for phase-2 dengue therapeutic trials.

Funding:

Wellcome Trust and European Union Seventh Framework Programme.
The non-mitotic role of HMMR in regulating the localization of TPX2 and the dynamics of microtubules in neurons
Authors: Chen Yi-Ju , Tseng Shun-Cheng , Chen Peng-Tzu , Hwang Eric
Published: June 2024

A functional nervous system is built upon the proper morphogenesis of neurons to establish the intricate connection between them. The microtubule cytoskeleton is known to play various essential roles in this morphogenetic process. While many microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) have been demonstrated to participate in neuronal morphogenesis, the function of many more remains to be determined. This study focuses on a MAP called HMMR in mice, which was originally identified as a hyaluronan binding protein and later found to possess microtubule and centrosome binding capacity. HMMR exhibits high abundance on neuronal microtubules and altering the level of HMMR significantly affects the morphology of neurons. Instead of confining to the centrosome(s) like cells in mitosis, HMMR localizes to microtubules along axons and dendrites. Furthermore, transiently expressing HMMR enhances the stability of neuronal microtubules and increases the formation frequency of growing microtubules along the neurites. HMMR regulates the microtubule localization of a non-centrosomal microtubule nucleator TPX2 along the neurite, offering an explanation for how HMMR contributes to the promotion of growing microtubules. This study sheds light on how cells utilize proteins involved in mitosis for non-mitotic functions.
A deep learning approach for automated scoring of the Rey–Osterrieth complex figure
Authors: Langer Nicolas , Weber Maurice , Hebling Vieira Bruno , Strzelczyk Dawid , Wolf Lukas , Pedroni Andreas , Heitz Jonathan , Müller Stephan , Schultheiss Christoph , Troendle Marius , Lasprilla Juan Carlos Arango , Rivera Diego , Scarpina Federica , Zhao Qianhua , Leuthold Rico , Wehrle Flavia , Jenni Oskar , Brugger Peter , Zaehle Tino , Lorenz Romy , Zhang Ce
Published: June 2024

Memory deficits are a hallmark of many different neurological and psychiatric conditions. The Rey–Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) is the state-of-the-art assessment tool for neuropsychologists across the globe to assess the degree of non-verbal visual memory deterioration. To obtain a score, a trained clinician inspects a patient’s ROCF drawing and quantifies deviations from the original figure. This manual procedure is time-consuming, slow and scores vary depending on the clinician’s experience, motivation, and tiredness. Here, we leverage novel deep learning architectures to automatize the rating of memory deficits. For this, we collected more than 20k hand-drawn ROCF drawings from patients with various neurological and psychiatric disorders as well as healthy participants. Unbiased ground truth ROCF scores were obtained from crowdsourced human intelligence. This dataset was used to train and evaluate a multihead convolutional neural network. The model performs highly unbiased as it yielded predictions very close to the ground truth and the error was similarly distributed around zero. The neural network outperforms both online raters and clinicians. The scoring system can reliably identify and accurately score individual figure elements in previously unseen ROCF drawings, which facilitates explainability of the AI-scoring system. To ensure generalizability and clinical utility, the model performance was successfully replicated in a large independent prospective validation study that was pre-registered prior to data collection. Our AI-powered scoring system provides healthcare institutions worldwide with a digital tool to assess objectively, reliably, and time-efficiently the performance in the ROCF test from hand-drawn images.
Drosophila medulla neuroblast termination via apoptosis, differentiation, and gliogenic switch is scheduled by the depletion of the neuroepithelial stem cell pool
Authors: Nguyen Phuong-Khanh , Cheng Louise Y
Published: June 2024

The brain is consisted of diverse neurons arising from a limited number of neural stem cells. Drosophila neural stem cells called neuroblasts (NBs) produces specific neural lineages of various lineage sizes depending on their location in the brain. In the Drosophila visual processing centre - the optic lobes (OLs), medulla NBs derived from the neuroepithelium (NE) give rise to neurons and glia cells of the medulla cortex. The timing and the mechanisms responsible for the cessation of medulla NBs are so far not known. In this study, we show that the termination of medulla NBs during early pupal development is determined by the exhaustion of the NE stem cell pool. Hence, altering NE-NB transition during larval neurogenesis disrupts the timely termination of medulla NBs. Medulla NBs terminate neurogenesis via a combination of apoptosis, terminal symmetric division via Prospero, and a switch to gliogenesis via Glial Cell Missing (Gcm); however, these processes occur independently of each other. We also show that temporal progression of the medulla NBs is mostly not required for their termination. As the Drosophila OL shares a similar mode of division with mammalian neurogenesis, understanding when and how these progenitors cease proliferation during development can have important implications for mammalian brain size determination and regulation of its overall function.
Disordered proteins interact with the chemical environment to tune their protective function during drying
Authors: KC Shraddha , Nguyen Kenny H , Nicholson Vincent , Walgren Annie , Trent Tony , Gollub Edith , Romero-Perez Paulette Sofia , Holehouse Alex S , Sukenik Shahar , Boothby Thomas C
Published: June 2024

The conformational ensemble and function of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are sensitive to their solution environment. The inherent malleability of disordered proteins, combined with the exposure of their residues, accounts for this sensitivity. One context in which IDPs play important roles that are concomitant with massive changes to the intracellular environment is during desiccation (extreme drying). The ability of organisms to survive desiccation has long been linked to the accumulation of high levels of cosolutes such as trehalose or sucrose as well as the enrichment of IDPs, such as late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins or cytoplasmic abundant heat-soluble (CAHS) proteins. Despite knowing that IDPs play important roles and are co-enriched alongside endogenous, species-specific cosolutes during desiccation, little is known mechanistically about how IDP-cosolute interactions influence desiccation tolerance. Here, we test the notion that the protective function of desiccation-related IDPs is enhanced through conformational changes induced by endogenous cosolutes. We find that desiccation-related IDPs derived from four different organisms spanning two LEA protein families and the CAHS protein family synergize best with endogenous cosolutes during drying to promote desiccation protection. Yet the structural parameters of protective IDPs do not correlate with synergy for either CAHS or LEA proteins. We further demonstrate that for CAHS, but not LEA proteins, synergy is related to self-assembly and the formation of a gel. Our results suggest that functional synergy between IDPs and endogenous cosolutes is a convergent desiccation protection strategy seen among different IDP families and organisms, yet the mechanisms underlying this synergy differ between IDP families.
Streamlining segmentation of cryo-electron tomography datasets with Ais
Authors: Last Mart GF , Abendstein Leoni , Voortman Lenard M , Sharp Thomas H
Published: June 2024

Segmentation is a critical data processing step in many applications of cryo-electron tomography. Downstream analyses, such as subtomogram averaging, are often based on segmentation results, and are thus critically dependent on the availability of open-source software for accurate as well as high-throughput tomogram segmentation. There is a need for more user-friendly, flexible, and comprehensive segmentation software that offers an insightful overview of all steps involved in preparing automated segmentations. Here, we present Ais: a dedicated tomogram segmentation package that is geared towards both high performance and accessibility, available on GitHub. In this report, we demonstrate two common processing steps that can be greatly accelerated with Ais: particle picking for subtomogram averaging, and generating many-feature segmentations of cellular architecture based on in situ tomography data. Featuring comprehensive annotation, segmentation, and rendering functionality, as well as an open repository for trained models at aiscryoet.org, we hope that Ais will help accelerate research and dissemination of data involving cryoET.
Caspar specifies primordial germ cell count and identity in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Das Subhradip , Hegde Sushmitha , Wagh Neel , Sudhakaran Jyothish , Roy Adheena Elsa , Deshpande Girish , Ratnaparkhi Girish S
Published: June 2024

Repurposing of pleiotropic factors during execution of diverse cellular processes has emerged as a regulatory paradigm. Embryonic development in metazoans is controlled by maternal factors deposited in the egg during oogenesis. Here, we explore maternal role(s) of Caspar (Casp), the Drosophila orthologue of human Fas-associated factor-1 (FAF1) originally implicated in host-defense as a negative regulator of NF-κB signaling. Maternal loss of either Casp or it’s protein partner, transitional endoplasmic reticulum 94 (TER94) leads to partial embryonic lethality correlated with aberrant centrosome behavior, cytoskeletal abnormalities, and defective gastrulation. Although ubiquitously distributed, both proteins are enriched in the primordial germ cells (PGCs), and in keeping with the centrosome problems, mutant embryos display a significant reduction in the PGC count. Moreover, the total number of pole buds is directly proportional to the level of Casp. Consistently, it’s ‘loss’ and ‘gain’ results in respective reduction and increase in the Oskar protein levels, the master determinant of PGC fate. To elucidate this regulatory loop, we analyzed several known components of mid-blastula transition and identify the translational repressor Smaug, a zygotic regulator of germ cell specification, as a potential critical target. We present a detailed structure-function analysis of Casp aimed at understanding its novel involvement during PGC development.
Towards the development of cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic tools for poverty-related infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ofori Benedict , Twum Seth , Nkansah Yeboah Silas , Ansah Felix , Amofa Nketia Sarpong Kwabena
Published: June 2024

In this review, we examine the current landscape of point-of-care testing (POCT) diagnostic tools designed for poverty-related infectious diseases (PRIDs) in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) while delineating key avenues for future advancements. Our analysis encompasses both established and emerging diagnostic methods for PRIDs, addressing the persistent challenges in POCT tool development and deployment, such as cost, accessibility, and reliability. We emphasize recent advancements in POCT diagnostic tools as well as platforms poised to enhance diagnostic testing in sSA. Recognizing the urgency for affordable and widely accessible POCT diagnostic tools to detect PRIDs in sSA, we advocate for a multidisciplinary approach. This approach integrates current and emerging diagnostic methods, explicitly addressing challenges hindering point-of-care (POC) tool development. Furthermore, it recognizes the profound impact of misdiagnosis on public and global health, emphasizing the need for effective tools. To facilitate the successful development and implementation of POCT diagnostic tools in sSA, we propose strategies including the creation of multi-analyte detection POCT tools, the implementation of education and training programs, community engagement initiatives, fostering public-private collaborations, and the establishment of reliable supply chains. Through these concerted efforts, we aim to accelerate the development of POCT in the sSA region, ensuring its effectiveness and accessibility in addressing the diagnostic challenges associated with PRIDs.
Retrospective study of a novel hematological parameter for predicting the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Tang Wenhua , Long Guoxian
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the prognostic values of routine pre-treatment hematological parameters in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

The hematological parameters and clinical data of patients with NPC were collected from January 2012 to December 2013 at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The survival statistics were obtained by regularly following-up the patients. The cut-off values for the hematological parameters were calculated using X-tile software. SPSS version 24.0 was used for the statistical analysis. The relationship between the hematological parameters and the prognosis of patients with NPC was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox multivariate regression. The discriminating abilities of the factors, which predict the prognosis, were evaluated by utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC).

Results

This study included 179 patients with NPC. Multivariate analysis shows that pretreatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR; hazard ratio; HR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.21–0.91], p = 0.029), serum albumin (ALB; HR = 2.49, 95% CI [1.17–5.30], p = 0.018), and globulin (GLO; HR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.21–0.90], p = 0.024) are independent predictors for 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with NPC. In addition, pre-treatment PLR (HR = 0.47, 95% CI [0.25–0.90], p = 0.022) and pre-treatment GLO (HR = 0.37, 95% CI [0.19–0.72], p = 0.001) are associated with 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with NPC. Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, we proposed a new biomarker GLO-PLR, which is observably correlated with the T stage, N stage and clinical stage in patients with NPC. The OS resolving ability of the GLO-PLR evaluated by AUC is 0.714, which is better than those of GLO and PLR. The PFS resolving ability of the GLO-PLR evaluated by AUC was 0.696, which is also better than those of GLO and PLR.

Conclusion

Pre-treatment PLR, ALB, and GLO are independent predictors of 5-year OS in patients with NPC, where PLR and GLO are also independent predictors of 5-year FPS. Compared with other hematological parameters, the proposed GLO-PLR is an inexpensive, effective, objective, and easy-to-measure marker for predicting the prognosis of NPC.
Varietal Identification and Seed Quality Estimation through Biochemical Characterisation of Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.)
Authors: Rawat Jigyasha , Chaudhary Sumit , Kumar Pankaj , Kandari Ankit , Bijalwan R.K. , Rawat Laxmi , Shukla Pavan
Published: June 2024

The present investigation was conducted during kharif of 2021 at College of Forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal of VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, to investigate the biochemical characteristics of different varieties of amaranth.The laboratory experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications comprising seven varieties to assess the seed quality and biochemical characters of grain amaranth.In laboratory condition, the seed quality attributes under standard germination test ,viz., germination percentage, seedling total length, seedling fresh and dry weight,and seedling vigour indices were recorded higher with the treatmentT5(PRA-2).Under stress test,viz., accelerate ageing, cold test and water sensitivity test, significantly higher value of seed quality parameters were recorded with the treament T6(PRA-3).On the basis of this investigation, it could be concluded that treatments T4 (PRA-1), T5(PRA-2), T6(PRA-3) and T7(Annapurna)are performing overall better for biochemical and seed quality of amaranth.
The Effects of Intimacy and Target Sex on Direct Aggression: Further Evidence
Authors: Cross Catharine P. , Campbell Anne
Published: June 2012

The effects on aggression of target sex and relationship with the target were investigated using self‐report data. One hundred and seventy‐four participants (115 female) reported on acts of direct aggression in the last 2 years toward intimate partners, known and unknown same‐sex targets, and known and unknown opposite‐sex targets. Women's self‐reported aggression was higher toward partners than other targets, replicating previous findings regarding women's intimate partner aggression. Women's aggression was consistently higher toward same‐sex than opposite‐sex targets, but the effect of knowing the target was inconsistent. Men's self‐reported aggression was more frequent toward same‐sex than opposite‐sex targets—including intimate partners—and more frequent toward known than unknown targets. Results are discussed with reference to a partner‐specific reduction in women's fear, and sex differences in threshold for classifying someone as “known well.” Limitations of the present sample and suggestions for future work are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 38:272‐280, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of the Social Behavior of Two Mice Species With Contrasting Social Systems
Authors: Szenczi Peter , Bánszegi Oxana , Groó Zita , Altbäcker Vilmos
Published: June 2012

The house mouse (Mus musculus) and the mound‐building mouse (M. spicilegus) differ in their mating and social systems. The M. musculus is polygynous and females tend to breed cooperatively while M. spicilegus is known to be monogamous and famous for its unique cooperative behavior; the communal overwintering. Mus spicilegus is considered as a highly aggressive species in the genus Mus. In the present study, we attempted to analyze the development of aggressive and sociable behavior in these species and to discover how familiarity with the target moderates the development of sociable and aggressive behaviors and moderates the differences between the species. Dyadic social interaction tests in neutral cages were performed on 21‐, 60‐, and 120‐day‐old mice of both genders and both species. Each individual was tested against a sibling and an unfamiliar individual at all three ages. Our results showed that the development of aggressive and sociable behavior with age differed between the species and sexes; however, familiarity with the other mouse moderated the effect of species on aggression. At 21 days, both genders of M. spicilegus were more aggressive against strangers than siblings. This became true of both species at 60 days. When facing a stranger, both sexes of M. spicilegus were more aggressive than M. musculus at 120 days. However, when facing a sibling, neither gender of M. spicilegus was more agonistic than M. musculus, indicating that either kinship or early social experiences elicit tolerance. Aggr. Behav. 38:288‐297, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Embodied learning at work: Making the mind‐set shift from workplace to playspace
Authors: Meyer Pamela
Published: June 2012

Valuing and validating embodied learning in the workplace makes space for individual learning and transformation and can increase organizational capacity for innovation, learning, and change.
Reinforcing robustness of adaptive dynamic surface control
Authors: Bechlioulis Charalampos P. , Rovithakis George A.
Published: June 2012

Adaptive dynamic surface control (ADSC) design was proposed as an alternative to adaptive backstepping, capable of curing the ‘explosion of complexity’ problem, caused by the repeated differentiations of the so called intermediate control signals. However, as it is clearly demonstrated in this work, ADSC schemes are sensitive to modeling uncertainties and/or additive external disturbances. In fact, it is shown that a uniformly bounded exogenous perturbation of unknown upper bound may easily destabilize the closed‐loop system. Subsequently, a constructive methodology based on the recently developed by the authors prescribed performance control technique, is proposed, which combined with an ADSC design, results in a modified scheme possessing significantly increased robustness properties. Simulation studies illustrate the approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supervisory control of switched nonlinear systems
Authors: Battistelli G. , Hespanha J.P. , Tesi P.
Published: June 2012

The objective of this paper is to describe recent progress in the field of hybrid control of nonlinear systems. We address the problem of controlling a nonlinear dynamical process by means of a hybrid controller combining continuous dynamics with discrete logics, the latter used to switch, from time to time, between several continuous control laws. The hybrid control system considered in this paper relies on the use of a switching logic, which generates online and in a fully adaptive fashion, ‘sliding windows’ of the monitoring signals used to select the control action. It is shown that, under suitable conditions, the resulting supervisory control scheme ensures ‐induced gain to the disturbance‐to‐state map, whether the process dynamics are constant or not. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanostructured Metallo‐Dielectric Quasi‐Crystals: Towards Photonic‐Plasmonic Resonance Engineering
Authors: Crescitelli Alessio , Ricciardi Armando , Consales Marco , Esposito Emanuela , Granata Carmine , Galdi Vincenzo , Cutolo Antonello , Cusano Andrea
Published: June 2012

The first evidence of out‐of‐plane resonances in hybrid metallo‐dielectric quasi‐crystal (QC) nanostructures composed of metal‐backed aperiodically patterned low‐contrast dielectric layers is reported. Via experimental measurements and full‐wave numerical simulations, these resonant phenomena are characterized with specific reference to the Ammann‐Beenker (quasi‐ periodic, octagonal) tiling lattice geometry and the underlying physics is investigated. In particular, it is shown that, by comparison with standard periodic structures, a moderately richer spectrum of resonant modes may be excited, due to the easier achievement of phase‐matching conditions endowed by its denser Bragg spectrum. Such modes are characterized by a distinctive plasmonic or photonic behavior, discriminated by their field distribution and dependence on the metal film thickness. Moreover, the response is accurately predicted via computationally affordable periodic‐approximant‐based numerical modeling. The enhanced capability of QCs to control number, spectral position, and mode distribution of hybrid resonances may be exploited in a variety of possible applications. To assess this aspect, label‐free biosensing is studied via characterization of the surface sensitivity of the proposed structures with respect to local refractive index changes. Moreover, it is also shown that the resonance‐engineering capabilities of QC nanostructures may be effectively exploited in order to enhance the absorption efficiency of thin‐film solar cells.
Solid Particle Erosive Wear Behavior of Glass Mat Reinforced PPS Composites: Influence of Erodent Particle Size, Pressure, Particle Impingement Angle, and Velocity
Authors: Avcu Egemen , Fi̇dan Sinan , Bora Mustafa Özgür , Çoban Onur , Taşkiran İsa , Sinmazçeli̇k Tamer
Published: June 2012

This study investigates solid particle erosive wear behavior of glass mat reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) matrix composites under various test parameters. PPS composite was manufactured by using the compression‐molding process. Composite samples were eroded in a specially designed sandblasting system employing various parameters, and variation of the erosion rate was investigated. Samples were eroded at different erosion times, particle impingement angles, and under various pressures by using three different sizes of alumina particles. Impingement velocities of erodent particles were measured by using the double disk method. The results are also discussed regarding impingement velocity of the erodent particles. Glass mat reinforced PPS composites exhibited semiductile erosion behavior by showing a maximum erosion rate at 30° and 45° impingement angles. The erosion rate of the composite was increased with augmentation in erosion time, velocity, pressure, and particle size. Maximum erosion was observed when the composite was eroded after 10 s at 45° impingement angle under 4 bar pressure by using 60 mesh size erodent particles. The morphology of eroded surfaces was examined by using a scanning electron microscope, and possible wear mechanisms were discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 32: E386–E398, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.21286
Properties of Thiol–ene Photocurable Highly Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Nanocomposite Coatings on ABS and HIPS Substrates
Authors: Mülazim Yusuf , Çakmakçi Emrah , Kahraman Memet V.
Published: June 2012

In this study, thiol–ene photocurable highly hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings were prepared and characterized. Trimethylolpropane tris(3‐mercaptopropionate) and triallyl 1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐trione were used for the preparation of the base formulation. Highly hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings were prepared with the aid of a fluorinated acrylate (Fluowet AC 812) and hydrophobic‐fumed nanosilica particles. Nanoparticles were added for increasing the surface roughness and also to increase thermal and mechanical properties of the coatings. Coatings were applied on ABS (acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) and HIPS (high impact polystyrene) substrates. As the fluorine and nanosilica contents were increased in the formulations, flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, and the oleophobicity of the coatings increased. Coatings were found to be highly thermally stable, highly solvent, and chemically resistant. The surface roughness of the coatings increased with the addition of hydrophobic‐fumed nanosilica particles. In addition, the relation between the surface energy and the contact angle of the coatings was investigated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 32: E416–E426, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.21289
Impact of tobacco smoke on chronic rhinosinusitis: a review of the literature
Authors: Reh Douglas D. , Higgins Thomas S. , Smith Timothy L.
Published: June 2012

Background:

Environmental factors such as inhaled pollutants like cigarette smoke may play a significant role in diseases of the upper airway including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The objectives of this review are to summarize prior studies that describe the correlation between active smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) on CRS. We also review the pathophysiologic effects of cigarette smoke on sinonasal mucosa and discuss its impact on surgical outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Methods:

A literature search was conducted of the PubMed database using the terms “sinusitis” or “rhinosinusitis” and “smoking.” Additional search terms of “nasal epithelial” and “smoke” were used to find articles that discussed pathophysiologic effects of tobacco smoke, whereas “secondhand smoke” was added to identify articles analyzing the correlation of SHS and CRS. Finally “endoscopic sinus surgery” and “outcomes” were linked to “smoking” to find articles that analyzed the impact of smoking on surgical results.

Results:

We identified 204 articles in the initial search. An additional 72 articles were reviewed for their relevance to the pathophysiologic effects of tobacco smoke while 31 articles were analyzed to determine the correlation of SHS and CRS. Twenty‐nine articles were reviewed to analyze the impact of smoking on surgical results.

Conclusion:

There is clear evidence in the literature that cigarette smoke, either through active smoking or passive exposure to SHS, contributes to CRS. Recent prospective studies suggest that active smoking is not a contraindication to ESS, whereas the impact of smoking volume and long‐term smoking after ESS has not been sufficiently evaluated.
Comparison of disease‐specific quality‐of‐life instruments in the assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Quintanilla‐Dieck Lourdes , Litvack Jamie R. , Mace Jess C. , Smith Timothy L.
Published: June 2012

Background:

Many disease‐specific, quality‐of‐life (QOL) instruments exist for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), resulting in confusion about the best application and use of each instrument. We hypothesized that the most prevalently utilized instruments do not strongly correlate in all domains, but rather act in complementary fashion for QOL assessment.

Methods:

A systematic literature review (MEDLINE) was performed to identify the type and frequency of available CRS‐specific QOL instruments. Univariate analyses of the 3 most common instruments (Rhinosinusitis Disability Index [RSDI], Chronic Sinusitis Survey [CSS] and 22‐item Sinonasal Outcomes Test [SNOT‐22]) were performed using a multi‐institutional prospective cohort of sinusitis patients.

Results:

Systematic literature review found that the SNOT‐20 (and its derivatives), RSDI, and CSS are the most commonly utilized CRS‐specific QOL instruments. The majority of RSDI domains were weakly or not correlated with the CSS domains (r = 0.097‐0.501; p < 0.001). In contrast, the RSDI was highly correlated with the SNOT‐22 (r ≥ 0.666; p < 0.001). Patients with asthma and/or allergies reported significantly worse CSS scores (p < 0.001). Comorbidities had no significant impact on RSDI or SNOT‐22 responses.

Conclusion:

Different disease‐specific CRS QOL instruments measure different aspects of the patient's experience. The RSDI and SNOT‐22 are more sensitive to measuring the emotional impact of CRS, whereas the CSS examines medication use and symptoms. These instruments play complementary roles in the evaluation of CRS treatment outcomes.
GENETIC TRANSFORMATION MEDIATED BY piggyBac IN THE ASIAN CORN BORER, Ostrinia furnacalis (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE)
Authors: Liu Dan , Yan Shanchun , Liu Dan , Huang Yongping , Tan Anjiang , Stanley David W. , Song Qisheng
Published: June 2012

The Asiancorn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, is a serious pest of corn, sorghum, and cotton in China and other Asian countries. The present study is the first attempt to establish the transgenic line in O. furnacalis using a piggyBac transposon, which will shed light on the future genetic control of O. furnacalis. A piggyBac vector pBac[A3EGFP] was constructed to express enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)under the control of Bombyx mori actin3 promoter. Transient EGFP expression was detected 48 h after preblastodermic microinjection of pBac[A3EGFP] and the excision assay showed the transgenic vector was precisely excised. In G1 animals, PCR (polymerase chain reaction)‐based investigations revealed that the exogenous gene had been introduced into O. furnacalis genome and expressed at the transcriptional level. Western blot analysis showed EGFP expression at the protein level, indicating the heritability of the transgene.
Charcot arthropathy of the shoulder associated with typical and atypical findings
Authors: Alai Awad , Reddy Chandan G. , Amrami Kimberly K. , Spinner Robert J.
Published: June 2012

We present a patient with a relatively rare condition: Charcot joint of the shoulder, with a rare complication, the first known example of combined neurovascular compression in this location. A 49‐year‐old man presented with neuropathic arthropathy of the shoulder caused by syringomyelia from a Chiari I malformation, leading to compression of both the brachial plexus and the axillary vein by mass effect from the synovitis. The brachial plexopathy resolved with surgical decompression and synovectomy, and the syringomyelia stabilized after Chiari decompression. A large acromioclavicular joint synovial cyst developed as a late complication, which was treated nonoperatively. Understanding neuropathic arthropathy can explain the spectrum of interrelated typical and atypical features in this case over long‐term follow‐up. Clin. Anat. 26:1017–1023, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphological structure and variations of lumbar plexus in human fetuses
Authors: Yasar Soner , Kaya Serdar , Temiz Çağlar , Tehli Ozkan , Kural Cahit , Izci Yusuf
Published: June 2012

The objective of this study is to study the anatomy of lumbar plexus on human fetuses and to establish its morphometric characteristics and differences compared with adults. Twenty lumbar plexus of 10 human fetal cadavers in different gestational ages and genders were dissected. Lumbar spinal nerves, ganglions, and peripheral nerves were exposed. Normal anatomical structure and variations of lumbar plexus were investigated and morphometric analyses were performed. The diameters of lumbar spinal nerves increased from L1 to L4. The thickest nerve forming the plexus was femoral nerve, the thinnest was ilioinguinal nerve, the longest nerve through posterior abdominal wall was iliohypogastric nerve, and the shortest nerve was femoral nerve. Each plexus had a single furcal nerve and this arose from L4 nerve in all fetuses. No prefix or postfix plexus variation was observed. In two plexuses, L1 nerve was in the form of a single branch. Also, in two plexuses, genitofemoral nerve arose only from L2 nerve. Accessory obturator nerve was observed in four plexuses. According to these findings, the morphological pattern of the lumbar plexus in the fetus was found to be very similar to the lumbar plexus in adults. Clin. Anat. 27:383–388, 2014. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Total Synthesis of a Noricumazole A Library and Evaluation of HCV Inhibition
Authors: Barbier Jenny , Wegner Jens , Benson Stefan , Gentzsch Juliane , Pietschmann Thomas , Kirschning Andreas
Published: June 2012

The total synthesis of 16 new ion channel inhibitors derived from noricumazole A, a secondary metabolite from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum, is reported. Particular focus of library design is put on stereochemical permutations in the central region (C9 and C11), the oxazole moiety and the side chain at C4 of the isochromanone moiety. Noricumazole A and all new noricumazole derivatives were tested in an assay system with inhibitory effect on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle. Most of them are moderate to strong HCV inhibitors (350 nM–6 nM) but also exert pronounced cytotoxicity. In contrast, the thiazole analogue of noricumazole A is a strong HCV inhibitor with only moderate cytotoxic property. It may become a lead structure with a good therapeutic index (CC50/IC50) of greater than 10.
On the P‐Coordinating Limit of NHC–Phosphenium Cations toward RhI Centers
Authors: Maaliki Carine , Lepetit Christine , Canac Yves , Bijani Christian , Duhayon Carine , Chauvin Remi
Published: June 2012

Two types of imidazoliophosphane with additional electron‐withdrawing substituents, such as alkoxy or imidazolio groups, are experimentally described and theoretically studied. Diethyl N,N′‐2,4,6‐methyl(phenyl)imidazoliophosphonite is shown to retain a P‐coordinating ability toward a {RhCl(cod)} (cod=cycloocta‐1,5‐diene) center, thus competing with the cleavage of the labile CP bond. Derivatives of N,N′‐phenylene‐bridged diimidazolylphenylphosphane were isolated in good yield. Whereas the dicationic phosphane proved to be inert in the presence of [{RhCl(cod)}2], the monocationic counterpart was shown to retain the P‐coordinating ability toward a {RhCl(cod)} center, thus competing with the N‐coordinating ability of the nonmethylated imidazolyl substituent. The ethyl phosphinite version of the dication, thus possessing an extremely electron‐poor PIII center, was also characterized. According to the difference between the calculated homolytic and heterolytic dissociation energies, the N2C⋅⋅⋅P bond of imidazoliophosphanes with aryl, amino, or alkoxy substituents on the P atom is shown to be of dative nature. The P‐coordinating properties of imidazoliophosphanes with various combinations of phenyl or ethoxy substituents on the P atom and those of six diimidazolophosphane derivatives with zero, one, or two methylium substituents on the N atom, were analyzed by comparison of the corresponding HOMOs and LUMOs and by calculation of the IR CO stretching frequencies of their [RhCl(CO)2] complexes. Comparison of the νCO values allows the family of the electron‐poor Im+PRR′ (Im=imidazolyl) potential ligands to be ranked in the following order versus (R,R′): P(OEt)3<(Ph,Ph)<(Ph,OEt)<(OEt,OEt)<PF3<(Ph,Im)<(Ph,Im+)<(OEt,Im+). The (Ph,Im) representative is therefore the least electron‐donating phosphane for which coordinating behavior toward a RhI center has been experimentally evidenced to date. Ultimate applications in catalysis could be envisaged.
Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes Hopping at Anionic Lipid Bilayers through a Supramolecular Bond Sensitive to Visible Light
Authors: Bahreman Azadeh , Limburg Bart , Siegler Maxime A. , Koning Roman , Koster Abraham J. , Bonnet Sylvestre
Published: June 2012

The new ruthenium complex [Ru(terpy)(dcbpy)(Hmte)](PF6)2 ([2](PF6)2; dcbpy=6,6′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐bipyridine, terpy=2,2′;6′,2“‐terpyridine, Hmte=2‐(methylthio)ethanol) was synthesized. In the crystal structure, this complex is highly distorted, revealing steric congestion between dcbpy and Hmte. In water, [2]2+ forms spontaneously by reacting Hmte and the aqua complex [Ru(terpy)(dcbpy)(OH2)]2+ ([1]2+), with a second‐order rate constant of 0.025 s−1 M−1 at 25 °C. In the dark, the RuS bond of [2]2+ is thermally unstable and partially hydrolyzes; in fact, [1]2+ and [2]2+ are in an equilibrium characterized by an equilibrium constant K of 151 M−1. When exposed to visible light, the RuS bond is selectively broken to release [1]2+, that is, the equilibrium is shifted by visible‐light irradiation. The light‐induced equilibrium shifts were repeated four times without major signs of degradation; the RuS coordination bond in [2]2+ can be described as a robust, light‐sensitive, supramolecular bond in water. To demonstrate the potential of this system in supramolecular chemistry, a new thioether–cholesterol conjugate (4), which inserts into lipid bilayers through its cholesterol moiety and coordinates to ruthenium through its sulfur atom, was synthesized. Thioether‐functionalized, anionic, dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG), lipid vesicles, to which aqua complex [1]2+ efficiently coordinates, were prepared. Upon exposure of the Ru‐decorated vesicles to visible light, the RuS bond is selectively broken, thus releasing [1]2+ that stays at the water‐bilayer interface. When the light is switched off, the metal complex spontaneously coordinates back to the membrane‐embedded thioether ligands without a need to heat the system. This process was repeated four times at 35 °C, thus achieving light‐triggered hopping of the metal complex at the water‐bilayer interface.