bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of natural dyes and metal threads used in 16th -18th century Persian/Safavid and Indian/Mughal velvets by HPLC-PDA and SEM-EDS to investigate the system to differentiate velvets of these two cultures
Authors: Shibayama Nobuko , Wypyski Mark , Gagliardi-Mangilli Elisa
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Analyses of natural dyes and the metal of the metal-wrapping threads used in 16th -18th century Persian/Safavid and Indian/Mughal period velvets were performed on these textiles in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The purpose was to determine whether velvets from the two cultures, which have shown problems in the past with attribution based on historical and iconographical studies, could be more precisely differentiated with the additional evidence from identification of their natural dyes and metals along with information of weaving techniques.

Dyes and metal of the metal-wrapped threads from fifteen Persian velvets and six Indian velvets were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with photo diode array detector and by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry respectively.

Results

There seem to be types of dyes which specifically characterize the velvets of each culture, as well as types of dyes commonly found in velvets of both cultures. Dyes typical of Persian velvets are cochineal and yellow larkspur, while lac and turmeric are characteristic of Indian velvets. The dyes commonly found are a combination of yellow larkspur and indigo dye in green, as well as safflower, indigo dye, soluble redwoods, and tannin dye. There were exceptions however. Because of those exceptions, examining the range of dyes used in the velvets would be important in differentiating the velvets. Metal used for wrapping the threads was in all cases found to be silver of fairly high purity, the majority of which had been gilded. The silver from Persia metal threads showed very slightly higher copper content, while Indian threads showed nearly pure silver. This is the first extensive comparative study of dyes and metal threads of Safavid and Mughal velvets: the first evidence of yellow larkspur being the most used yellow dye in Persia, and of the possible differences in the two cultures’ metal threads.

Conclusion

In addition to knowledge gathered from investigation of weave structure and from historical and iconographic studies, analysis of dyes and metal threads will contribute to a clearer differentiation of those two cultural groups of textiles.
A physical model considered the effect of overland water flow on rainfall-induced shallow landslides
Authors: Luo Yu , He Si-ming , Chen Fang-zhu , Li Xin-po , He Jin-chuan
Published: March 2015

Background

It is well know that many shallow landslides are triggered by rainfalls. In previous studies of shallow landslide models, the effect of overland water flow on slope stability was ignored.

Results

In this paper, a physical model considered the effect of overland water flow on rainfall-induced shallow landslides is derived and applied to predict the landslides. The slope stability model is developed by considering the depth of overland water flow in infinite slope stability theory. Hillslope hydrology is modelled by coupling the overland uniform water flow equation with Rosso’s seepage flow equation. And then, the model is used to assess the slope stability in Dujiangyan of China, and the results is compare with Rosso’s model.

Conclusions

This model is simple, but has the capability of taking into account the effect of overland water flow in the triggering mechanism of shallow landslide. The results of case study show that the overland water flow can make an obvious effect on shallow landslides, so it is quite important to consider the overland water flow in shallow landslide hazard assessment.
Human blood CD1c dendritic cells stimulate IL-12-independent IFN-γ responses and have a strikingly low inflammatory profile
Authors: Benlahrech Adel , Duraisingham Sai , King Douglas , Verhagen Lisa , Rozis George , Amjadi Parisa , Ford Tom , Kelleher Peter , Patterson Steven
Published: March 2015

Adaptive immune responses are initiated by resident myeloid tissue DC. A major fraction of tissue DC express CD1c+ and is thought to be derived from blood CD1c DC, an idea supported here by the observation that they express tissue-homing molecules and rapidly differentiate into cells with a tissue DC phenotype. Responses are thought to be augmented/modulated further by inflammatory moDC. Although much accepted human myeloid DC cell biology is based on moDC studies, we find these 2 DC populations to be functionally distinct. Stimulated moDC produce high levels of IL-10 and the Th1-promoting cytokine IL-12. Under identical conditions, CD1c DC synthesized no IL-10 and no or low levels of IL-12. Despite this, CD1c DC stimulated a strong Th1 response, demonstrated by IL-12 neutralization to be IL-12 independent, whereas the response induced by moDC was IL-12 dependent. This finding was supported by studies on a patient with a highly reduced ability to synthesize IL-12, whose CD1c DC induced a good Th1 response contrasting with the failure of his moDC, which were impaired in IL-12 production, to induce IFN-γ-secreting T cells. The IL-10 and IL-12 data were confirmed by microarray analysis, which also showed that stimulated moDC produced inflammatory-associated chemokines and cytokines, whereas stimulated CD1c DC showed minimal up-regulation of these genes. Thus, moDC, widely used as a human myeloid DC model, do not faithfully reflect the properties of CD1c tissue DC, making the initial response to a pathogen or vaccine.
Allergen induced pulmonary inflammation enhances mammary tumor growth and metastasis: Role of CHI3L1
Authors: Libreros Stephania , Garcia-Areas Ramon , Keating Patricia , Gazaniga Nathalia , Robinson Philip , Humbles Alison , Iragavarapu-Charyulu Vijaya L
Published: March 2015

Metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in women with breast cancer. Metastasis to the lungs is greater in patients with pulmonary inflammatory illnesses. It is unknown how pre-existing pulmonary inflammation affects mammary tumor progression. We developed a novel breast cancer model in which pulmonary inflammation is induced in mice prior to tumor cell implantation. In the present study, we determined how pre-existing allergen-induced inflammation changes the pulmonary microenvironment to exacerbate tumor metastasis. We showed that pre-existing pulmonary inflammation in mammary tumor bearers is associated with: 1) an increase in growth of the primary tumor and metastasis; 2) an increase in the expression of a glycoprotein known as CHI3L1; and 3) increase in the levels of myeloid populations in their lungs. We also showed that myeloid derived cells from the lungs of allergic tumor bearers produce higher amounts of CHI3L1 than the saline controls. We previously showed that CHI3L1 induces the expression of proinflammatory and protumorigenic molecules. In this study, we show that CHI3L1 knockout tumor bearers with pre-existing allergic pulmonary inflammation had decreased levels of myeloid-derived cells, decreased levels of proinflammatory mediators, and a significant reduction in tumor volume and metastasis compared with the wild-type controls. Pre-existing inflammation and CHI3L1 might be driving the establishment of a premetastatic milieu in the lungs and aiding in the support of metastatic foci. Understanding the role of allergen-induced CHI3L1 and inflammation in tumor bearers and its effects on the pulmonary microenvironment could result in targeted therapies for breast cancer.
ADAM9 disintegrin domain activates human neutrophils through an autocrine circuit involving integrins and CXCR2
Authors: Amendola Rafael S , Martin Ana Carolina B M , Selistre-de-Araújo Heloísa S , Paula-Neto Heitor A , Saldanha-Gama Roberta , Barja-Fidalgo Christina
Published: March 2015

ADAM9 is a member of the ADAM family whose expression positively correlates with tumor progression. Besides the metalloprotease activity, ADAM9D interacts with different integrins, modulating cell-adhesion events. Previous studies pointed to an important role for neutrophils in tumor development, as the inhibition of neutrophil migration or depletion of this immune cell impairs tumor growth. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, as well as the main key players acting on neutrophils, is very limited. Here, we investigated the possible modulatory effects of ADAM9D on human neutrophil functions. Our results show that ADAM9D promotes neutrophil activation and chemotaxis in a process that depends on the engagement of αvβ3 and α9β1 integrins and on the activation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathway. ADAM9D impairs migration of neutrophils toward fMLP, LTB4, and IL-8 as classic chemoattractants. This effect is blocked by PTX, a G(i)PCR inhibitor. Furthermore, CXCR2 antagonists RPTX and SB225002 also impaired neutrophil chemotaxis in response to ADAM9D, suggesting a hierarchical cross-talk of integrins with CXCR2. Our results indicate that ADAM9D activates neutrophil functions and may be implicated in the inflammatory events associated with cancer and other disorders.
Role of the intestinal cytokine microenvironment in shaping the intraepithelial lymphocyte repertoire
Authors: Qiu Yuan , Wang Wensheng , Xiao Weidong , Yang Hua
Published: March 2015

Local resident IELs are composed of distinct subsets of T cells with potent cytolytic and immunoregulatory capacities. As IELs are located within this unique interface between the core of the body and the outside environment, the specific development and function of intestinal IELs must be tightly regulated. To accomplish this, the cytokine microenvironment of the intestine has evolved sophisticated mechanisms that modulate the phenotype, ontogeny, and function of these cells. In this review, we summarize the evidence demonstrating the origin of certain intestinal cytokines, including IL-7, IL-15, IL-2, TGF-β, and SCF and discuss what influence such cytokines may have on IELs. Moreover, we review data suggesting that the abnormal expression of cytokines that leads to the heightened activation of IELs may also contribute to immunopathological responses or exacerbate inflammatory diseases, such as IBD and celiac disease, or promote cancer development and progression.
Accuracy and effectiveness of three-dimensional controlled source electromagnetic data inversions
Authors: Houck Richard T. , Ciucivara Adrian , Hornbostel Scott
Published: March 2015

Unconstrained 3D inversion of marine controlled source electromagnetic data (CSEM) data sets produces resistivity volumes that have an uncertain relationship to the true subsurface resistivity at the scale of typical hydrocarbon reservoirs. Furthermore, CSEM-scale resistivity is an ambiguous indicator of hydrocarbon presence; not all resistivity anomalies are caused by hydrocarbon reservoirs, and not all hydrocarbon reservoirs produce a distinct resistivity anomaly. We have developed a method for quantifying the effectiveness of resistivities from CSEM inversion in detecting hydrocarbon reservoirs. Our approach uses probabilistic rock-physics modeling to update information from a preexisting prospect assessment, based on uncertain resistivities from CSEM. The result is an estimate the probability of hydrocarbon presence that accounts for uncertainty in the resistivity and in rock properties. Examples using synthetic and real CSEM data sets demonstrate that the effectiveness of CSEM inversion in identifying hydrocarbon reservoirs depends on the interaction between the uncertainty associated with the inversion-derived resistivity and the range of rock and fluid properties that were expected for the targeted prospect. Resistivity uncertainty that has a small effect on hydrocarbon probability for one set of rock property distributions may have a large effect for a different set of rock properties. Depending on the consequences of this interaction, resistivities from CSEM inversion might reduce the risk associated with predictions of hydrocarbon presence, but they cannot be expected to guarantee a specific well outcome.
Iodide- and Glucose-Handling Gene Expression Regulated by Sorafenib or Cabozantinib in Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Ruan Maomei , Liu Min , Dong Qianggang , Chen Libo
Published: March 2015

Context:

The aberrant silencing of iodide-handling genes accompanied by up-regulation of glucose metabolism presents a major challenge for radioiodine treatment of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on iodide-handling and glucose-handling gene expression in BHP 2-7 cells harboring RET/PTC1 rearrangement.

Main Outcome Measures:

In this in vitro study, the effects of sorafenib or cabozantinib on cell growth, cycles, and apoptosis were investigated by cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis, and Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay, respectively. The effect of both agents on signal transduction pathways was evaluated using the Western blot. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and radioisotope uptake assays were used to assess iodide-handling and glucose-handling gene expression.

Results:

Both compounds inhibited cell proliferation in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner and caused cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Sorafenib blocked RET, AKT, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas cabozantinib blocked RET and AKT phosphorylation. The restoration of iodide-handling gene expression and inhibition of glucose transporter 1 and 3 expression could be induced by either drug. The robust expression of sodium/iodide symporter induced by either agent was confirmed, and 125I uptake was correspondingly enhanced. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation was significantly decreased after treatment by either sorafenib or cabozantinib.

Conclusions:

Sorafenib and cabozantinib had marked effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and signal transduction pathways in PTC cells harboring RET/PTC1 rearrangement. Both agents could be potentially used to enhance the expression of iodide-handling genes and inhibit the expression of glucose transporter genes.
Metal-free Synthesis of 2-Alkenyl/Alkynyl-5-nitropyridines Using a Three-component Ring Transformation
Authors: Le Song Thi , Asahara Haruyasu , Nishiwaki Nagatoshi
Published: March 2015

A metal-free, facile, and efficient protocol for synthesizing a series of 2-alkenyl/alkynyl-5-nitropyridines was developed by using a three-component ring transformation of 1-methyl-3,5-dinitro-2-pyridone with α,β-unsaturated ketones and ammonium acetate. As 2-alkenyl/alkynyl-5-nitropyridines are not easily prepared by the Heck or Sonogashira reactions, this method will be supplementary to these reactions.
Doxorubicin-loaded Fe3O4@SiO2 Nanoparticles as Magnetic Targeting Agents for Combined Photothermal-chemotherapy of Cancer
Authors: Ding Bei , Shen Song , Wu Lin , Qi Xueyong , Ni Haihua , Ge Yanru
Published: March 2015

Specific photothermal-chemotherapy is a promising tool in the treatment of the cancer. We developed silica-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles as photothermal agents and magnetic targeting drug delivery system. Doxorubicin-loaded silica-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles showed pH-responsive release properties. A synthetic antitumor effect of photothermal-chemotherapy was realized on MCF-7 cells.
From where to what: a neuroanatomically based evolutionary model of the emergence of speech in humans
Authors: Poliva Oren
Published: March 2015

In the brain of primates, the auditory cortex connects with the frontal lobe via the temporal pole (auditory ventral stream; AVS) and via the inferior parietal lobule (auditory dorsal stream; ADS). The AVS is responsible for sound recognition, and the ADS for sound-localization, voice detection and audio-visual integration. I propose that the primary role of the ADS in monkeys/apes is the perception and response to contact calls. These calls are exchanged between tribe members (e.g., mother-offspring) and are used for monitoring location. Perception of contact calls occurs by the ADS detecting a voice, localizing it, and verifying that the corresponding face is out of sight. The auditory cortex then projects to parieto-frontal visuospatial regions (visual dorsal stream) for searching the caller, and via a series of frontal lobe-brainstem connections, a contact call is produced in return.

Because the human ADS processes also speech production and repetition, I further describe a course for the development of speech in humans. I propose that, due to duplication of a parietal region and its frontal projections, and strengthening of direct frontal-brainstem connections, the ADS converted auditory input directly to vocal regions in the frontal lobe, which endowed earlyHominanswith partial vocal control. This enabled offspring to modify their contact calls with intonations for signaling different distress levels to their mother. Vocal control could then enable question-answer conversations, by offspring emitting a low-level distress call for inquiring about the safety of objects, and mothers responding with high- or low-level distress calls. Gradually, the ADS and the direct frontal-brainstem connections became more robust and vocal control became more volitional. Eventually, individuals were capable of inventing new words and offspring were capable of inquiring about objects in their environment and learning their names via mimicry.
Organizational Structure and Product Choice in Knowledge-Intensive Firms
Authors: Wu Yanhui
Published: March 2015

This paper formulates a model in which a firm simultaneously chooses its organizational structure and product position. The firm’s production is knowledge intensive, requiring employees to solve problems. A vertical hierarchy, in which workers refer unsolved problems to managers facilitates the acquisition and leveraging of managers’ superior knowledge. I show that a larger span of control is complementary to the provision of high-value products. Moreover, this complementarity is sustained when employees acquire sufficient knowledge and is further strengthened when the firm enhances its capability of communicating knowledge. The model yields testable implications concerning (1) the fit between a firm’s product position and span of control, (2) the effect of information technology on product innovations and skill-biased organizational changes, and (3) the heterogeneity in hierarchical structure and human resource management in professional service firms.

This paper was accepted by Bruno Cassiman, business strategy.
The Relationship Between Workplace Stressors and Mortality and Health Costs in the United States
Authors: Goh Joel , Pfeffer Jeffrey , Zenios Stefanos A.
Published: March 2015

Even though epidemiological evidence links specific workplace stressors to health outcomes, the aggregate contribution of these factors to overall mortality and health spending in the United States is not known. In this paper, we build a model to estimate the excess mortality and incremental health expenditures associated with exposure to the following 10 workplace stressors: unemployment, lack of health insurance, exposure to shift work, long working hours, job insecurity, work–family conflict, low job control, high job demands, low social support at work, and low organizational justice. Our model uses input parameters obtained from publicly accessible data sources. We estimated health spending from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and joint probabilities of workplace exposures from the General Social Survey, and we conducted a meta-analysis of the epidemiological literature to estimate the relative risks of poor health outcomes associated with exposure to these stressors. The model was designed to overcome limitations with using inputs from multiple data sources. Specifically, the model separately derives optimistic and conservative estimates of the effect of multiple workplace exposures on health, and uses optimization to calculate upper and lower bounds around each estimate, which accounts for the correlation between exposures. We find that more than 120,000 deaths per year and approximately 5%–8% of annual healthcare costs are associated with and may be attributable to how U.S. companies manage their work forces. Our results suggest that more attention should be paid to management practices as important contributors to health outcomes and costs in the United States.

This paper was accepted by Dimitris Bertsimas, optimization.
Inventory-Allocation Distribution Models for Postdisaster Humanitarian Logistics with Explicit Consideration of Deprivation Costs
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Noel , Holguín-Veras José
Published: March 2015

This paper develops novel mathematical models to maximize the benefits derived from the distribution of critical supplies to populations in need after a disaster. The formulations are based on welfare economics and the use of social costs, which are incurred by the segments of society involved in, and impacted by, the relief distribution strategy. The costs to the relief group are assessed as logistical costs, whereas the impacts to the beneficiaries are measured as the effects that the relief distribution has on their deprivation costs, which are the economic value of human suffering resulting from the lack of access to a good or service. The impacts on beneficiaries take into account two components: the reduction in deprivation costs for the recipients of the aid and the increase in deprivation costs for those individuals who do not receive the aid at a delivery epoch (the opportunity costs of the delivery strategy). The paper develops an inventory-allocation-routing model for the optimal assignment of critical supplies that minimizes social costs, designs suitable heuristic solution approaches, and assesses the performance of the heuristics using numerical experiments. The results, coupled with the insight gained from the models developed, are used to establish conclusions and policy recommendations.
Human acellular dermal wound matrix for treatment of DFU: literature review and analysis
Authors: Reyzelman A. M.
Published: March 2015

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) affect a significant number of people and the treatment is challenging and costly. Since only a small portion of patients respond to standard care, the majority require more advanced wound healing interventions. Human acellular dermal matrices—regenerative tissue matrices derived from human tissue and processed from screened donated skin—can aid wound closure by restoring the missing physiological factors to the microenvironment. A literature review of the clinical literature was performed to estimate the comparative effectiveness of one specific human acellular dermal wound matrix (HADWM; Graftjacket regenerative tissue matrix) versus standard care in healing DFUs. Outcomes from three prospective, controlled clinical trials, which included 154 patients with DFUs, were pooled. A comparative analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in mean wound healing time, 1.7 weeks, as well as a nearly four-fold improvement in the chance of healing ulcers treated with HADWM versus moist wound-care. These pooled results suggest that HADWM may improve healing outcomes for these difficult-to-heal lower extremity wounds.

Declaration of interest:

Alexander Reyzelman is a consultant for KCI, an Acelity company.
Clinical audit of a lymphoedema bandaging system: a foam roll and cohesive short stretch bandages
Authors: Whitaker J. , Williams A. , Pope D. , Elwell R. , Thomas M. , Charles H. , Muldoon J.
Published: March 2015

Objective:

Late-stage lymphoedema is characterised by chronic swelling, shape distortion, inflammatory processes and tissue fibrosis. Our aim was to perform a clinical audit of a lymphoedema compression bandaging system (Rosidal Soft foam roll layer and figure-of-eight application of Actico cohesive inelastic bandages) specifically designed for patients with late stage lower limb lymphoedema.

Method:

The audit explored suitability of the bandaging system, benchmarking limb volume changes with research evidence, and reporting patient and practitioner evaluations.

Results:

A mean reduction (33%) in excess limb volume was reported for the 11 patients with unilateral lymphoedema who completed a course of bandaging over 12 days. Mean percentage reduction of absolute limb volume after treatment was 8%. Patient and practitioner evaluations indicated the suitability of this bandage system for patients with late stage lymphoedema in terms of comfort and effectiveness.

Conclusion:

The bandaging system is suitable for patients with late stage chronic swelling. Two parameters for calculating change in limb volume are not interchangeable. Future evaluation of the bandaging system, using validated outcome measures within a comprehensive research study is required.

Declaration of interest:

Activa Healthcare provided financial support to the project and supplied the materials.
Niche cinema: Negotiating cultural identities of the new Indian middle classes
Authors: Ray Sriparna
Published: March 2015

Niche has become a key word in Indian media and Hindi film industry discourses ever since economic liberalization led to a rapid escalation in the consumption power of the urban, affluent, English-educated middle classes. Like any other leisure industry sector, the entertainment industry sought to reap the benefits of this trend by making films that would appeal to this section of the population, thus redefining the term ‘masses’, which has been conventionally used to describe Hindi popular cinema spectators. This article analyses how the industry has tailored its narrative content and modes of address in order to articulate the shifting identity markers of the urban middle classes. How do Hindi film narratives and their ancillary texts make their prioritization obvious? A further segmentation of the target audience is taking place through the industry’s increasing focus on young people. Industry and media discourses have used the term ‘youth’ to indicate a generation of consuming classes with a high level of disposable income. Their cinematic representations connect them to global – particularly western – identities but, at the same time, distinguish their construction of a national identity that is informed by and inflected with foreign cultural influences but not entirely dominated by them. Citing interviews conducted with industry executives, the article looks at how the Hindi film industry is imagining its intended audiences and structuring their identities through negotiations between local and global. The aim of the article is to explore the processes of signification through which the industry is articulating that imagination.
Research on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow-fiber hemodialyzer
Authors: Zhang Qinglei , Lu Xiaolong , Zhao Lihua , Liu Juanjuan , Wu Chunfeng
Published: March 2015

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow-fiber hemodialysis membranes were prepared by non-solvent-induced phase separation. The PVDF hollow-fiber hemodialyzers were prepared by centrifugal casting. The results showed that the PVDF membrane had better mechanical and separation properties when the membrane wall thickness was 40 μm and the N,N-dimethylacetamide in the core was 70 Vol%. Compared with commercial polysulfone hemodialysis membrane (Fresenius F60S membrane), the PVDF membrane had better mechanical property and ultrafiltration (UF) flux of pure water. The PVDF dialyzer’s removal efficiency for middle molecules was proven to be much higher than that of the F60S dialyzer. The UF coefficient of a high-flux PVDF dialyzer is 62.6 ml/h/mm Hg, whereas F60S is 42.5 ml/h/mm Hg, which can promote clearance for middle molecules.
First trimester concentrations of the TTR-RBP4-retinol complex components as early markers of insulin-treated gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Fruscalzo Arrigo , Londero Ambrogio P. , Driul Lorenza , Henze Andrea , Tonutti Laura , Ceraudo Maria , Zanotti Giuseppe , Berni Rodolfo , Schweigert Florian J. , Raila Jens
Published: March 2015

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between first trimester maternal serum levels of the TTR-RBP4-ROH complex components and the later insurgence of an altered glucose metabolism during pregnancy.

Retrospective case control study including 96 patients between the 12th and 14th week of gestation, 32 that developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), respectively, 21 non-insulin-treated (dGDM) and 11 insulin-treated (iGDM), 20 large for gestational age fetuses (LGA) without GDM and 44 patients with normal outcome as control. Serum concentrations of RBP4 and TTR were assessed by ELISA; serum concentration of ROH by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (rpHPLC). The molecular heterogeneity of TTR and RBP4 was analyzed after immunoprecipitation by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

iGDM patients were characterized by reduced TTR, RBP4 and ROH compared to controls (respectively, iGDM vs. controls, mean±SD: TTR 3.96±0.89 μmol/L vs. 4.68±1.21 μmol/L, RBP4 1.13±0.25 μmol/L vs. 1.33±0.38 μmol/L and ROH 1.33±0.17 μmol/L vs. 1.62±0.29 μmol/L, p<0.05). TTR containing Gly10 in place of Cys10 was lower in the iGDM group (p<0.05) compared to controls. In the final logistic regression model ROH significantly predicted the diagnosis of iGDM (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87–0.98, p<0.05).

First trimester maternal serum ROH, RBP4 and TTR represent potential biomarkers associated with the development of iGDM.
Numerical Simulation of Surface Acoustic Wave Actuated Separation of
Rigid Enantiomers by the Fictitious Domain Lagrange Multiplier Method
Authors: Burger Stefan , Franke Thomas , Fraunholz Thomas , Hoppe Ronald H. W. , Peter Malte A. , Wixforth Achim
Published: March 2015

Enantiomers are chiral objects which differ by their orientation and
are thus referred to as left-handed and right-handed enantiomers. In
applications they mostly occur as so-called racemic compounds
consisting of approximately the same amount of left- and
right-handed species which may have completely different
properties. Hence, the separation of left- from right-handed
enantiomers is an important issue. Conventional technologies are
based on gas or high pressure liquid chromatography, capillary
electrophoresis, or nuclear magnetic resonance, but typically
they are slow and require costly chiral media. A new idea for
separation of chiral objects is based on introducing them in certain
vorticity patterns, which has been shown to work in theory for an
extremely simplified setting by Kostur et al.
[Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 (2006), 014502-1–014502-4].
In this paper, we investigate whether these ideas can be successfully adapted to a
more realistic setup which can be implemented experimentally. For
this purpose, we simulate transport of rigid chiral particles in a
fluidic environment by an application of the fictitious domain
Lagrange multiplier method due to Glowinski et al.
[J. Comput. Phys. 169 (2001), 363–427]
which has been designed to study the motion of rigid particles in carrier fluids. Numerical
results are presented which illustrate the feasibility of enantiomer
separation in flow fields consisting of pairwise counter-rotating
vortices. Moreover, a first experimental setup based on surface
acoustic wave generated vorticity patterns on the surface of a
carrier fluid is devised which reflects the idealized numerical
model and gives promising results with respect to properties of
particle propagation. These findings may lead to a new technology
for enantiomer separation which is both fast and cost-effective.
Flat nose low velocity drop-weight impact response of carbon fibre composites using non-destructive damage detection techniques
Authors: Farooq Umar , Myler Peter
Published: March 2015

This work is mainly concerned with the nondestructive post-impact damage evaluation of carbon fibre reinforced laminated composite panels subject to low velocity drop-weight impact by flat and round nose impactors. Quasi-isotropic laminates consisting of eight-, sixteen-, and twenty-four plies were impacted by flat and round nose impactors at different velocity levels. Load-time history data were recorded and plotted to correlate loaddrop as damage level to the impactor nose profiles. Test produced data, non-destructive damage detection techniques: visual, ultrasonic, and eddy- current, and computer simulations were utilised to identify and quantify status of the impact induced damage. To evaluate damage in relatively thick laminates (consisting of 24-Ply), the damage ratios and deflection quantities were correlated to the corresponding impactor nose profiles. Damage induced by the flat nose impactor to thick laminates was compared against the data produced by the round nose impactor. Results show that relatively thin laminates were largely affected by the impactor nose. Reasonable difference was observed in damage caused by flat and round impactor nose profiles to thick laminates impacted at relatively higher velocity impacts. Resultswere compared and validated against simulation produced data.
Angular Stable, Dual-Polarized and Multiband Modified Circular Ring Frequency Selective Surface
Authors: Bharti Garima , Jha Kumud Ranjan , Singh G. , Jyoti Rajeev
Published: March 2015

In this paper, a single-layer multiband slot-type frequency selective surface (FSS), which consists of a modified circular ring loaded with concentric conventional circular ring, is discussed. We have emphasized to design an angular as well as polarization stable multiband FSS structure with reflection characteristics in S-band (2–4 GHz)/K
A Developed ESPRIT Algorithm for DOA Estimation
Authors: Fayad Youssef , Wang Caiyun , Cao Qunsheng , Hafez Alaa El-Din Sayed
Published: March 2015

A novel algorithm for estimating direction of arrival (DOAE) for target, which aspires to contribute to increase the estimation process accuracy and decrease the calculation costs, has been carried out. It has introduced time and space multiresolution in Estimation of Signal Parameter via Rotation Invariance Techniques (ESPRIT) method (TS-ESPRIT) to realize subspace approach that decreases errors caused by the model’s nonlinearity effect. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is verified by using Monte Carlo simulation, the DOAE accuracy has evaluated by closed-form Cramér–Rao bound (CRB) which reveals that the proposed algorithm’s estimated results are better than those of the normal ESPRIT methods leading to the estimator performance enhancement.
Body fatness, related biomarkers and cancer risk: an epidemiological perspective
Authors: Nimptsch Katharina , Pischon Tobias
Published: March 2015

Higher body fatness is not only associated with a higher risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease but also with certain types of cancer. The scope of this review is to summarize the epidemiological evidence for an association between body fatness and specific types of cancer and to outline the mediating role of obesity-related biomarkers in this context. Epidemiological studies have gathered convincing evidence that greater body fatness is associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and pancreatic cancer. Further, evidence for an association between higher body fatness and higher risk of ovarian cancer, advanced prostate cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma is growing. Abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer beyond general obesity, whereas an independent role is less clear for other obesity-related cancer types. Epidemiological biomarker studies have shown that the positive association between body fatness and risk of cancer may be partly explained by hyperinsulinemia and altered concentrations in adipokines and sex-steroid hormones. In addition, obesity-associated low-grade inflammation plays a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. While epidemiology has contributed substantially to the understanding of the role of higher body fatness and related metabolic alterations in the development of cancer, further epidemiological biomarker studies are necessary to elucidate the complex interrelations between mediating pathways as well as to study novel pathways. Knowledge resulting from this research may help identify an obesity phenotype that is particularly strongly associated with cancer risk and thus pave the way for targeted prevention of cancer morbidity and mortality.
Endothelial dysfunction and negative emotions in adolescent girls
Authors: Pajer Kathleen , Hoffman Robert , Gardner William , Chang Chien-Ni , Boley David , Wang Wei
Published: March 2015

Background: Endothelial dysfunction predicts adult cardiovascular disorder and may be associated with negative emotions in adolescents. This study was conducted to determine if hopelessness, hostility, and depressive, anxiety, or conduct disorders were associated with compromised endothelial function and whether those associations were mediated by health risk behaviors.

Methods: Endothelial function, assessed through brachial artery reactive hyperemia, was measured in a psychopathology enriched sample of 60 15–18-year-old girls. The correlations between hopelessness, hostility, and depressive, anxiety, or conduct disorders and the percent change in forearm vascular resistance (PCFVR) were measured. Possible mediation effects of health risk behaviors were tested.

Results: Hopelessness was negatively associated with PCFVR, controlling for race and body mass index. Conduct disorder without any anxiety disorder was associated with better endothelial function. The other negative emotions were not associated with PCFVR. Risky health behaviors were associated with conduct disorder and hopelessness, but not with PCFVR, so there was no evidence of mediation.

Conclusion: The main finding was that hopelessness in adolescent girls was associated with endothelial dysfunction. This may indicate that when present, hopelessness places a girl at risk for later cardiovascular disease, whether she has a psychiatric disorder or not. Possible mechanisms for this finding are examined and the surprising finding that conduct disorder is associated with better endothelial function is also discussed. Suggestions for future research are presented.
A Novel Fault Location Method for Radial Distribution Systems
Authors: Liao Yuan
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a new method for locating faults on radial distribution systems utilizing local voltage and current measurements. The method considers feeder shunt capacitances, is applicable to any type of faults, is suitable for unbalanced networks and does not require fault type information. The method is also independent of source impedance. Analytical analysis is utilized to obtain a generic performance equation for any type of faults, which reduces or eliminates iterative steps to reach the fault location. A process to trim down multiple estimates due to laterals is discussed. Evaluation studies based on simulated data have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
A Review of Voltage Stability Assessment Techniques with an Improved Voltage Stability Indicator
Authors: Danish Mir Sayed Shah , Yona Atsushi , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: March 2015

A blackout can take place in entire power system or a part of the system due to extreme voltage instability (voltage collapse) that can appear abruptly. Instability prediction and continuous monitoring of the power system performance is, therefore, known exigent. This paper is conducted with a broad overview of the voltage stability indices, which are previously studied in the literature, and have the same foundation during their formulation. Afterward, an improved voltage stability indicator is introduced as a result of the multi-criteria integration and enhancement of the original indices by employing linear algebra methods. It is found that the proposed algorithm can overcome on the probable limitations from calculating point view. Then comparative analysis of the indices is presented in order to reach a unique consensus about the typical techniques of modal analysis (sensitivity, eigenvalue, right eigenvectors, and bus participation factor) as a precise algorithm. Finally, the IEEE 14-bus, and 30-bus test systems are selected to verify the algorithm, and compare the performance of the improved indicator approach with the existing indices.
Neurobehavioural evaluation of Lophira alata (Ochnaceae) stem bark extract in mice
Authors: Iniaghe Loretta O. , Ighodaro Igbe , Magaji Mohammed G. , Tabot Tabot P. , Maduka Ijeoma T.
Published: March 2015

Background: Stem bark and leaves of Lophira alata (Family: Ochnaceae) have been used traditionally for their anti-psychotic, anti-convulsant and anxiolytic properties. Since no existing data was found on the neurobehavioural properties, this study was carried out to evaluate some neurobehavioural properties of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of L. alata in animal models.

Methods: The oral mean lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was estimated, and preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted. Lophira alata extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) was investigated for antidepressant effect using the forced swim and tail suspension tests, and the anxiolytic potential was assessed using the stair case and hole board tests. Pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion test was used to investigate the anticonvulsant potential of the extract.

Results: The LD50 was estimated to be >5000 mg/kg. Oral administration of L. alata extract produced a significant (p<0.05) non-dose-dependent decrease in the period of immobility in both the forced swim and tail suspension tests. While a significant decrease (p<0.05) in episodes of grooming was recorded in the staircase test, the number of head dips was not significantly reduced (p>0.05) in the hole board test. In the pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion, a non-dose-dependent increase in onset of tonic-clonic seizures and protection from death was recorded.

Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that the aqueous stem bark extract of L. alata possesses neurobehavioural properties which may account for its use in ethnomedicine.
Association between cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness in prepubertal Brazilian children
Authors: Gazolla Fernanda Mussi , Neves Bordallo Maria Alice , Madeira Isabel Rey , de Miranda Carvalho Cecilia Noronha , Vieira Monteiro Alexandra Maria , Pinheiro Rodrigues Nádia Cristina , Borges Marcos Antonio , Collett-Solberg Paulo Ferrez , Muniz Bruna Moreira , de Oliveira Cecilia Lacroix , Pinheiro Suellen Martins , de Queiroz Ribeiro Rebeca Mathias
Published: March 2015

Early exposure to cardiovascular risk factors creates a chronic inflammatory state that could damage the endothelium followed by thickening of the carotid intima-media.

To investigate the association of cardiovascular risk factors and thickening of the carotid intima

Media in prepubertal children. In this cross-sectional study, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in 129 prepubertal children aged from 5 to 10 year. Association was assessed by simple and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

In simple logistic regression analyses, body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were positively associated with increased left, right, and average cIMT, whereas diastolic blood pressure was positively associated only with increased left and average cIMT (p<0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analyses increased left cIMT was positively associated to BMI z-score and SBP, and increased average cIMT was only positively associated to SBP (p<0.05).

BMI z-score and SBP were the strongest risk factors for increased cIMT.
Hypothalamic obesity in children: pathophysiology to clinical management
Authors: Haliloglu Belma , Bereket Abdullah
Published: March 2015

Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a complex neuroendocrine disorder caused by damage to the hypothalamus, which results in disruption of energy regulation. The key hypothalamic areas of energy regulation are the ARC (arcuate nucleus), the VMH (ventromedial hypothalamus), the PVN (paraventriculer nuclei) and the LHA (lateral hypothalamic area). These pathways can be disrupted mechanically by hypothalamic tumors, neurosurgery, inflammatory disorders, radiotherapy and trauma or functionally as such seen in genetic diseases. Rapid weight gain and severe obesity are the most striking features of HyOb and caused by hyperphagia, reduced basal metabolic rate (BMR) and decreased physical activity. HyOb is usually unresponsive to diet and exercise. Although, GLP-1 and its anologs seem to be a new agent, there is still no curative treatment. Thus, prevention is of prime importance and the clinicians should be alert and vigilant in patients at risk for development of HyOb.
Bonding properties of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters and structural analogs from X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Chevrier Daniel M. , Yang Rui , Chatt Amares , Zhang Peng
Published: March 2015

Subnanometer, atomically precise thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters represent an important advancement in our understanding of thiolate-protected gold nanoparticles and thiolate-gold chemistry. Aside from being a link between larger gold nanoparticles and small gold complexes, gold nanoclusters exhibit extraordinary molecule-like optical, electronic, and physicochemical properties that are promising for next-generation imaging agents, sensing devices, or catalysts. The success in elucidating a number of unique thiolate-gold surface and gold core structures has greatly improved our understanding of thiolate-gold nanoclusters. Nevertheless, monitoring the structural and electronic behavior of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters in a variety of media or environments is crucial for the next step in advancing this class of nanomaterials. Not to mention, there are a number of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters with unknown structures or compositions that could reveal important insights on application-based properties such as luminescence or catalytic activity. This review summarizes some of the recent contributions from X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies on the intriguing bonding properties of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters and some structural analogs. Advantages from XAS include a local structural, site- and element-specific analysis, suitable for ultra-small particle sizes (1–2 nm), along with versatile experimental conditions.
Public Library: A Place for the Digital Community Archive
Authors: Copeland Andrea
Published: March 2015

This article explores the possibility that public libraries can be repositories for digital community archives. The overarching goal is to establish a case for public libraries’ developing digital community archives that are participatory and which emphasize born-digital items rather than digitized physical items. This discussion follows my own research and experience in this area to include personal information management, social media and the personal archive, and the accidental community archive, and demonstrates that public libraries can focus on communities’ current events and people rather than solely on those from the past.