bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Osmopriming Duration on Germination, Emergence, and Early Growth of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.) in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria
Authors: Singh Ajit , Dahiru Rabi , Musa Mukhtar , Sani Haliru Bello
Published: March 2014

Seed osmopriming could be a sustainable method to increase crop establishment, uniform emergence, and growth of plant on the field. Laboratory and field studies were carried out in 2010 cropping season at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to study the effect of seed osmopriming duration on the germination, emergence, and growth of cowpea seeds. Treatments consisted of three osmopriming duration (soaking in 1% KNO3salt for 6, 8, and 10 hrs), one hydroprimed control (10 hr), and an unprimed control. These five treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated four times. The results showed that osmopriming with KNO3for different durations was at par but was superior to unprimed treatments in terms of seed germination, emergence, plant height, and dry matter accumulation at 3 weeks after sowing. From this study, it can therefore be concluded that seeds of cowpea could be primed (both hydro and osmopriming) for increased performance. However, osmopriming with KNO3salt (soaked in 1% KNO3salt solution and dried before sowing) for 6 hours could result in greater seed germination and seedling height than hydropriming.
A Novel Pedicle Screw with Mobile Connection: A Pilot Study
Authors: Tokuhashi Yasuaki , Oshima Masashi , Ajiro Yasumitsu , Uei Hiroshi
Published: March 2014

To prevent adjacent disc problems after spinal fusion, a pedicle screw with a mobile junction between the head and threaded shaft was newly developed. The threaded shaft of the screw has 10 degrees mobility in all directions, but its structure is to prevent abnormal translation and tilting. This screw was evaluated as follows: (1) endurance test: 106times rotational stress was applied; (2) biological reactions: novel screws with a mobile head and conventional screws with a fixed head were inserted into the bilateral pedicles of the L3, L4, and L5 in two mini pigs with combination. Eight months after surgery, vertebral units with the screw rod constructs were collected. After CT scan, the soft and bony tissues around the screws were examined grossly and histologically. As a result, none of the screws broke during the endurance test stressing. The mean amount of abrasion wear was 0.0338 g. In the resected mini pig section, though zygapophyseal joints between fixed-head screws showed bony union, the amount of callus in the zygapophyseal joints connected with mobile-head screws was small, and joint space was confirmed by CT. No metalloses were noted around any of the screws. Novel screws were suggested to be highly durable and histologically safe.
Molybdenum Reduction to Molybdenum Blue inSerratiasp. Strain DRY5 Is Catalyzed by a Novel Molybdenum-Reducing Enzyme
Authors: Shukor M. Y. , Halmi M. I. E. , Rahman M. F. A. , Shamaan N. A. , Syed M. A.
Published: March 2014

The first purification of the Mo-reducing enzyme fromSerratiasp. strain DRY5 that is responsible for molybdenum reduction to molybdenum blue in the bacterium is reported. The monomeric enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of 105 kDalton. The isoelectric point of this enzyme was 7.55. The enzyme has an optimum pH of 6.0 and maximum activity between 25 and 35°C. The Mo-reducing enzyme was extremely sensitive to temperatures above 50°C (between 54 and 70°C). A plot of initial rates against substrate concentrations at 15 mM 12-MP registered aVmaxfor NADH at 12.0 nmole Mo blue/min/mg protein. The apparentKmfor NADH was 0.79 mM. At 5 mM NADH, the apparentVmaxand apparentKmvalues for 12-MP of 12.05 nmole/min/mg protein and 3.87 mM, respectively, were obtained. The catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of the Mo-reducing enzyme was 5.47 M-1 s-1. The purification of this enzyme could probably help to solve the phenomenon of molybdenum reduction to molybdenum blue first reported in 1896 and would be useful for the understanding of the underlying mechanism in molybdenum bioremediation involving bioreduction.
The Degree-Constrained Adaptive Algorithm Based on the Data Aggregation Tree
Authors: Qi Xiaogang , Zhang Zhaohui , Liu Lifang , Xie Mande
Published: March 2014

In the PEDAP algorithm, a minimum spanning tree considering the energy consumption is established based on the Kruskal algorithm, and updated every 100 rounds. There exists a defect that the energy of some nodes rapidly expires because the degrees of nodes differ significantly, and the delay time is not considered. Based on the above analysis, a new algorithm called DADAT (a Degree-based Adaptive algorithm for Data Aggregation Tree) is proposed. The energy consumption and the delay time are both considered, and a weight model to construct a minimum spanning tree is established. Furthermore, the node degree on the tree is readjusted according to the average degree of the network, and nodes are labeled by red, yellow, and green colors according to their remaining energy; the child nodes of the red nodes are adaptively transferred to their neighbor nodes which are labeled as green. Finally, we discuss the weight and the update rounds' impact on the network lifetime. Experimental results show that the algorithm can effectively balance the energy consumption and prolong the lifetime of the network, as well as achieving a lower latency.
Variations of Near Surface Energy Balance Caused by Land Cover Changes in the Semiarid Grassland Area of China
Authors: Jiang Qun’ou , Tang Chengcai , Ma Enjun , Yuan Yongwei , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2014

This study applies the Dynamics of Land System (DLS) model to simulating the land cover under the designed scenarios and then analyzes the effects of land cover conversion on energy flux in the semiarid grassland area of China with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The results indicate that the grassland will show a steadily upgrowing trend under the coordinated environmental sustainability (CES) scenario. Compared to the CES scenario, the rate of increase in grassland cover is lower, while the rate of increase in urban land cover will be higher under the rapid economic growth (REG) scenario. Although the conversion from cropland to grassland will reduce the energy flux, the expansion of urban area and decreasing of forestry area will bring about more energy flux. As a whole, the energy flux of near surface will obviously not change under the CES scenario, and the climate therefore will not be possible to be influenced greatly by land cover change. The energy flux under the REG scenario is higher than that under the CES scenario. Those research conclusions can offer valuable information for the land use planning and climate change adaptation in the semiarid grassland area of China.
Modeling the Boron‐Doping Silicon Beam by a Multilayer Model
Authors: Yu Huijun , Zhou Wu , Peng Bei , He Xiaoping , Hao Xiaohong , Zeng Zhi
Published: March 2014

The boron‐doping silicon beam commonly used in microdevices exhibits a nonuniform material property along its thickness or width because of the gradient of boron concentration induced by diffusion process. The constant of rigidity, one of the most important parameters of microbeam, needs to be accurately calculated and designed in the development of high precise sensors and actuators. Current design methods, mainly depending on the analytical solutions derived under the assumption of a uniform material property or some commercial software for a varied property, are not adequate and time consuming to calculate the constant of rigidity of boron‐doping silicon beam. A multilayer model is proposed in this paper to replace the continuous solid model by dividing the beam into separated layers glued together. The finite element lamination method is utilized to acquire the equivalent Young modulus and moment of inertia of cross section of multilayer model. The equivalent values are calculated from double‐layer structures to multilayer ones based on the small deformation theory and the material mechanics theory. The proposed method provides an effective method to design the stiffness or frequency of microdevice and its results are validated by COMSOL simulation.
The Geometry of Black Hole Singularities
Authors: Stoica Ovidiu Cristinel
Published: March 2014

Recent results show that important singularities in General Relativity can be naturally described in terms of finite and invariant canonical geometric objects. Consequently, one can write field equations which are equivalent to Einstein's at nonsingular points but, in addition remain well-defined and smooth at singularities. The black hole singularities appear to be less undesirable than it was thought, especially after we remove the part of the singularity due to the coordinate system. Black hole singularities are then compatible with global hyperbolicity and do not make the evolution equations break down, when these are expressed in terms of the appropriate variables. The charged black holes turn out to have smooth potential and electromagnetic fields in the new atlas. Classical charged particles can be modeled, in General Relativity, as charged black hole solutions. Since black hole singularities are accompanied by dimensional reduction, this should affect Feynman's path integrals. Therefore, it is expected that singularities induce dimensional reduction effects in Quantum Gravity. These dimensional reduction effects are very similar to those postulated in some approaches to make Quantum Gravity perturbatively renormalizable. This may provide a way to test indirectly the effects of singularities, otherwise inaccessible.
Total Adiponectin Is Inversely Associated with Platelet Activation and CHA2DS2-VASc Score in Anticoagulated Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Carnevale Roberto , Pastori Daniele , Peruzzi Mariangela , De Falco Elena , Chimenti Isotta , Biondi-Zoccai Giuseppe , Greco Ernesto , Marullo Antonino G. M. , Nocella Cristina , Violi Francesco , Pignatelli Pasquale , Calvieri Camilla , Frati Giacomo
Published: March 2014

Background. Adiponectin (APN) possesses anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is burdened by enhanced systemic inflammation and platelet activation, as documented by increased blood levels of soluble CD40L (sCD40L). The interplay between APN and platelet activation in AF is still undefined.Materials and Methods. Circulating levels of APN and sCD40L were measured in 257 anticoagulated nonvalvular AF patients. Exclusion criteria were as follows: prosthetic heart valves, cardiac revascularization in the previous year, severe cognitive impairment, chronic infectious or autoimmune diseases, and active cancer.Results. Mean age was 72.9 (±8.7) years and 41.6% were female. Serum APN and plasmatic sCD40L were inversely correlated (R−0.626,P<0.001). A progressive increase of sCD40L across tertiles of CHA2DS2-VASc score was observed (rS 0.473,P<0.001), whilst APN was inversely correlated (rS −0.463,  P<0.001). A multivariable linear regression analysis showed that CHA2DS2-VASc score (B−0.227,P<0.001) and sCD40L (B−0.524,P<0.001) correlated to APN.Conclusions. AF patients at high risk of stroke disclose low and high levels of APN and sCD40L, respectively, suggesting a role for APN if it favors platelet activation in vivo in this clinical setting. Enhancing APN levels may be a future goal to reduce the risk of vascular outcomes in AF patients.
Synthesis and X-Ray Crystal Structure of Two Acridinedione Derivatives
Authors: Kour Dalbir , Patil D. R. , Deshmukh M. B. , Gupta Vivek K. , Kant Rajni
Published: March 2014

The two acridinedione derivatives 1 [3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-9-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,4,6,7,9,10-hexahydro-2H,5H-acridine-1,8-dione (C24H29NO3)] and 2 [3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-9-(4-methylphenyl)-3,4,6,7,9,10-hexa-hydro-2H,5H-acridine-1,8-dione (C24H29NO2)] were synthesized and their crystal structures were determined by direct methods. The asymmetric unit of compound 1 contains two independent molecules. The 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) ring adopts boat conformation in both 1 and 2. In 1 the dione rings exist in sofa conformation (for both the crystallographically independent molecules) while the corresponding rings in 2 adopt half chair and sofa conformations, respectively. The crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular N–H⋯O and C–H⋯O interactions in compound 1 and N–H⋯O interactions in compound 2.
Enhancement of Fluorescent Labeling via a Composited Thin Film
Authors: Suyama Taikei , Ji Xiaowei , Zhang Yaoju
Published: March 2014

Fluorescent labeling is the prevailing imaging technique in cell biological research. When statistical investigations on a large number of cells are involved, experimental study is required for both low magnification to get a reliable statistical population and high contrast to achieve accurate diagnosis on the nature of the cells’ perturbation. As microscope objectives of low magnification generally yield low collection efficiency, such studies are limited by the fluorescence signal weakness. To overcome this technological insufficiency, Le Moal et al. proposed a method based on metal-coated substrates that enhanced the fluorescence process and improved collection efficiency in fluorescence microscope observation and that could be directly used with a common microscope setup. In this paper, we use an Ag-Si3N4-Ag multilayer film coated on the substrate and numerically analyse the optical behavior of a fluorophore which was placed above the composited film coated on the substrate. The results shows that by using an Ag-Si3N4-Ag composited film the fluorescence imaging can be enhanced remarkably.
Intermediate Mass Black Holes: Their Motion and Associated Energetics
Authors: Sivaram C. , Arun Kenath
Published: March 2014

There is a lot of current astrophysical evidence and interest in intermediate mass black holes (IMBH), ranging from a few hundred to several thousand solar masses. The active galaxy M82 and the globular cluster G1 in M31, for example, are known to host such objects. Here, we discuss several aspects of IMBH such as their expected luminosity, spectral nature of radiation, and associated jets. We also discuss possible scenarios for their formation including the effects of dynamical friction, and gravitational radiation. We also consider their formation in the early universe and also discuss the possibility of supermassive black holes forming from mergers of several IMBH and compare the relevant time scales involved with other scenarios.
Stability Analysis of Impulsive Control Systems with Finite and Infinite Delays
Authors: Wang Xuling , Li Xiaodi , Stamov Gani Tr.
Published: March 2014

This paper studies impulsive control systems with finite and infinite delays. Several stability criteria are established by employing the largest and smallest eigenvalue of matrix. Our sufficient conditions are less restrictive than the ones in the earlier literature. Moreover, it is shown that by using impulsive control, the delay systems can be stabilized even if it contains no stable matrix. Finally, some numerical examples are discussed to illustrate the theoretical results.
Estimate Lateral Tire Force Based on Yaw Moment without Using Tire Model
Authors: Yang Jun , Chen Wuwei , Wang Yan
Published: March 2014

This paper demonstrates the implementation of a model-based vehicle estimator, which can be used for lateral tire force estimation without using any highly nonlinear tire-road friction models. The lateral tire force estimation scheme has been designed, and it consists of the following three steps: the yaw moment estimation based on a disturbance observer, the sum of the lateral tire force of two front tires and two rear tires estimation based on a least-square method, and individual lateral tire force estimation based on a heuristic method. The proposed estimator is evaluated under two typical driving conditions and the estimation values are compared with simulator data from CarSim and experimental data provided by GM. Results to date indicate that this is an effective approach, which is considered to be of potential benefit to the automotive industry.
Fault Diagnosis and Fault Tolerant Control for Non‐Gaussian Singular Time‐Delayed Stochastic Distribution Systems
Authors: Yao Lina , Feng Long , Jiang Bin
Published: March 2014

New integrated fault diagnosis (FD) and fault tolerant control (FTC) algorithm for non‐Gaussian singular time‐delayed stochastic distribution control (SDC) system is proposed in the paper. Different from general SDC systems, in singular time‐delayed SDC systems, the relationship between the weights and the control input is expressed by a singular time‐delayed state space model, which largely increases the difficulty in the FD and FTC design. An iterative learning observer (ILO) is designed to carry out the fault estimation. The influence of the time delay term is eliminated in the process of the proof of the observation error stability. The fault may be constant, slow varying, or fast varying. Combined with the switching control theory, based on the estimated fault information, the fault tolerant controller can be designed to make the postfault probability density function (PDF) still track the given distribution. Simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed integrated FD and FTC algorithms.
Optimal Control Strategies in an Alcoholism Model
Authors: Wang Xun-Yang , Huo Hai-Feng , Kong Qing-Kai , Shi Wei-Xuan
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a deterministic SATQ-type mathematical model (including susceptible, alcoholism, treating, and quitting compartments) for the spread of alcoholism with two control strategies to gain insights into this increasingly concerned about health and social phenomenon. Some properties of the solutions to the model including positivity, existence and stability are analyzed. The optimal control strategies are derived by proposing an objective functional and using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. Numerical simulations are also conducted in the analytic results.
Role of Vanadium Pentoxide Hole‐Extracting Nanolayer in Rubrene/C70‐Based Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Zhan Zhen , Cao Jing , Xie Weiguang , Hou Lintao , Ye Qin , Liu Pengyi
Published: March 2014

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) was inserted between the donor layer and the anode as a hole‐extracting nanolayer. Compared with devices without a hole‐extracting layer, short‐circuit current density (JSC), open‐circuit voltage (VOC), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of rubrene/C70‐based heterojunction solar cells with 3 nm V2O5 nanolayer are enhanced by 99%, 73%, 20%, and 310%, respectively. We found that V2O5 interlayer can effectively suppress the contact resistance and increase the hole transport capability. The dependence of the device performance on V2O5 layer thickness as well as fill factor on exciton dissociation and charge transport was also investigated in detail.
Synthesis of Cu-Poor Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide Nanoparticles by Solvothermal Route for Solar Cell Applications
Authors: Liu Chung Ping , Chang Ming Wei , Chuang Chuan Lung , Chen Nien Po
Published: March 2014

Copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) thin films were fabricated using precursor nanoparticle ink and sintering technology. The precursor was a Cu-poor quaternary compound with constituent ratios ofCu/(In+Ga)=0.603,Ga/(In+Ga)=0.674, andSe/(Cu+In+Ga)=1.036. Cu-poor CIGS nanoparticles of chalcopyrite for solar cells were successfully synthesized using a relatively simple and convenient elemental solvothermal route. After a fixed reaction time of 36 h at 180°C, CIGS nanocrystals with diameters in the range of 20–70 nm were observed. The nanoparticle ink was fabricated by mixing CIGS nanoparticles, a solvent, and an organic polymer. Analytical results reveal that the Cu-poor CIGS absorption layer prepared from a nanoparticle-ink polymer by sintering has a chalcopyrite structure and a favorable composition. For this kind of sample, its mole ratio of Cu : In : Ga : Se is equal to 0.617 : 0.410 : 0.510 : 2.464 and related ratios ofGa/(In+Ga)andCu/(In+Ga)are 0.554 and 0.671, respectively. Under the condition of standard air mass 1.5 global illumination, the conversion efficiency of the solar cell fabricated by this kind of sample is 4.05%.
On Some Numbers Related to Extremal Combinatorial Sum Problems
Authors: Petrassi D.
Published: March 2014

Let n, d, and r be three integers such that 1≤r, d≤n. Chiaselotti (2002) defined γn,d,r as the minimum number of the nonnegative partial sums with d summands of a sum ∑1=1nai≥0, where a1,…,an are n real numbers arbitrarily chosen in such a way that r of them are nonnegative and the remaining n-r are negative. Chiaselotti (2002) and Chiaselotti et al. (2008) determine the values of γn,d,r for particular infinite ranges of the integer parameters n, d, and r. In this paper we continue their approach on this problem and we prove the following results: (i) γ(n,d,r)≤(rd)+(rd-1) for all values of n, d, and r such that (d-1)/dn-1≤r≤(d-1)/dn; (ii) γd+2,d,d=d+1.
Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO/ZnS Core/Shell Nanowires
Authors: Ghrib Taher , Abdullah Al-Messiere Muneera , Lafi Al-Otaibi Amal
Published: March 2014

ZnO nanowires of approximately 3 µm length and 200 nm diameter are prepared and implanted vertically on substrate glass which is coated with thin layer of ITO which is too covered with bulk ZnO thin layer via electrodeposition process by cyclic voltammetry‐chronoamperometry and with a chemical process that is described later; we have synthesized a ZnS nanolayer. ZnO/ZnS core/shell nanowires are formed by ZnO nanowires core surrounded by a very thin layer of porous ZnS shell principally constituted with a crystal which is about 15–20 nm in diameter. In the method, ZnS nanoparticles were prepared by reaction of ZnO nanowires with Na2S in aqueous solution at low temperature and also we have discussed the growth mechanism of ZnO/ZnS nanowires. The morphology, structure, and composition of the obtained nanostructures were obtained by using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For the structure, SEM and XRD measurements indicated that the as‐grown ZnO nanowires microscale was of hexagonal wurtzite phase with a high crystalline quality, and TEM shows that the ZnS is uniformly distributed on the surface of the ZnO nanowires.
LIMD2 Is a Small LIM-Only Protein Overexpressed in Metastatic Lesions That Regulates Cell Motility and Tumor Progression by Directly Binding to and Activating the Integrin-Linked Kinase
Authors: Peng Hongzhuang , Talebzadeh-Farrooji Mehdi , Osborne Michael J. , Prokop Jeremy W. , McDonald Paul C. , Karar Jayashree , Hou Zhaoyuan , He Mei , Kebebew Electron , Orntoft Torben , Herlyn Meenhard , Caton Andrew J. , Fredericks William , Malkowicz Bruce , Paterno Christopher S. , Carolin Alexandra S. , Speicher David W. , Skordalakes Emmanuel , Huang Qihong , Dedhar Shoukat , Borden Katherine L.B. , Rauscher Frank J.
Published: March 2014

Proteins that communicate signals from the cytoskeleton to the nucleus are prime targets for effectors of metastasis as they often transduce signals regulating adhesion, motility, and invasiveness. LIM domain proteins shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and bind to partners in both compartments, often coupling changes in gene expression to extracellular cues. In this work, we characterize LIMD2, a mechanistically undefined LIM-only protein originally found to be overexpressed in metastatic lesions but absent in the matched primary tumor. LIMD2 levels in fresh and archival tumors positively correlate with cell motility, metastatic potential, and grade, including bladder, melanoma, breast, and thyroid tumors. LIMD2 directly contributes to these cellular phenotypes as shown by overexpression, knockdown, and reconstitution experiments in cell culture models. The solution structure of LIMD2 that was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance revealed a classic LIM-domain structure that was highly related to LIM1 of PINCH1, a core component of the integrin-linked kinase–parvin–pinch complex. Structural and biochemical analyses revealed that LIMD2 bound directly to the kinase domain of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) near the active site and strongly activated ILK kinase activity. Cells that were null for ILK failed to respond to the induction of invasion by LIMD2. This strongly suggests that LIMD2 potentiates its biologic effects through direct interactions with ILK, a signal transduction pathway firmly linked to cell motility and invasion. In summary, LIMD2 is a new component of the signal transduction cascade that links integrin-mediated signaling to cell motility/metastatic behavior and may be a promising target for controlling tumor spread. Cancer Res; 74(5); 1390–403. ©2014 AACR.
A Specific STAT3-Binding Peptide Exerts Antiproliferative Effects and Antitumor Activity by Inhibiting STAT3 Phosphorylation and Signaling
Authors: Kim Daejin , Lee In-Hyun , Kim Sunghyun , Choi Minsuk , Kim Hyungjun , Ahn Sukyung , Saw Phei Er , Jeon Hyungsu , Lee Yumi , Jon Sangyong
Published: February 2014

STAT3 promotes the survival, proliferation, metastasis, immune escape, and drug resistance of cancer cells, making its targeting an appealing prospect. However, although multiple inhibitors of STAT3 and its regulatory or effector pathway elements have been developed, bioactive agents have been somewhat elusive. In this report, we report the identification of a specific STAT3-binding peptide (APTSTAT3) through phage display of a novel “aptide” library. APTSTAT3 bound STAT3 with high specificity and affinity (∼231 nmol/L). Addition of a cell-penetrating motif to the peptide to yield APTSTAT3-9R enabled uptake by murine B16F1 melanoma cells. Treatment of various types of cancer cells with APTSTAT3-9R blocked STAT3 phosphorylation and reduced expression of STAT targets, including cyclin D1, Bcl-xL, and survivin. As a result, APTSTAT3-9R suppressed the viability and proliferation of cancer cells. Furthermore, intratumoral injection of APTSTAT3-9R exerted potent antitumor activity in both xenograft and allograft tumor models. Our results offer a preclinical proof-of-concept for APTSTAT3 as a tractable agent for translation to target the broad array of cancers harboring constitutively activated STAT3. Cancer Res; 74(8); 2144–51. ©2014 AACR.
IL-10: Master Switch from Tumor-Promoting Inflammation to Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Oft Martin
Published: March 2014

Human cancer is characterized by deficits in antigen-specific immunity and intratumoral CD8+ T cells. On the other hand, inflammatory macrophages and mediators of chronic inflammation are highly prevalent in patients with late-stage cancer. Intratumoral T-cell deficiency and chronic inflammation have been linked independently to a poor prognosis in patients with cancer, and therapeutic approaches to overcome either pathology separately are in clinical testing. The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 suppresses macrophage and proinflammatory Th17 T-cell responses by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12/23. Corroborating the anti-inflammatory action of IL-10, deficiency in IL-10 leads to a stimulation of inflammatory responses and inflammatory bowel disease. The anti-inflammatory role of IL-10 fostered the assumption that IL-10 undermines the immune response to cancer. However, mice and humans deficient in IL-10 signaling develop tumors spontaneously and at high rates. Overexpression of IL-10 in models of human cancer or treatment with a pegylated IL-10 (PEG-IL-10) led to tumor rejection and long-lasting tumor immunity. IL-10 stimulates cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and the expression of IFN-γ in CD8+ T cells. IL-10–induced tumor rejections are dependent on the expression of IFN-γ and granzymes in tumor-resident CD8+ T cells and the upregulation of MHC molecules. These findings reconcile earlier clinical data, which showed that recombinant IL-10 increased IFN-γ and granzymes in the blood of treated individuals. PEG-IL-10 is therefore a unique therapeutic agent, which simultaneously stimulates antitumor immunity and inhibits tumor-associated inflammation. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(3); 194–9. ©2014 AACR.
Gene Deletion of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Protects Against Sepsis-Induced Cardiovascular Dysfunction and Mortality
Authors: Coquerel David , Neviere Remi , Delile Eugenie , Mulder Paul , Marechal Xavier , Montaigne David , Renet Sylvanie , Remy-Jouet Isabelle , Gomez Elodie , Henry Jean-Paul , do Rego Jean-Claude , Richard Vincent , Tamion Fabienne
Published: February 2014

Objective—

Cardiovascular dysfunction is a major cause of mortality in patients with sepsis. Recently, we showed that gene deletion or pharmacological inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) improves endothelial dysfunction and reduces the severity of experimental heart failure. However, the cardiovascular effect of PTP1B invalidation in sepsis is unknown. Thus, we explored the beneficial therapeutic effect of PTP1B gene deletion on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiovascular dysfunction, inflammation, and mortality.

Approach and Results—

PTP1B
−/−
or wild-type mice received LPS (15 mg/kg) or vehicle followed by subcutaneous fluid resuscitation (saline, 30 mL/kg). α-1–dependent constriction and endothelium-dependent dilatation, assessed on isolated perfused mesenteric arteries, were impaired 8 hours after LPS and significantly improved in PTP1B
−/−
mice. This was associated with reduced vascular expression of interleukin1-β, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA. PTP1B gene deletion also limited LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction assessed by echocardiography, left ventricular pressure–volume curves, and in isolated perfused hearts. PTP1B
−/−
mice also displayed reduced LPS-induced cardiac expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin1-β, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and Gp91
phox
, as well as of several markers of cellular infiltration. PTP1B deficiency also reduced cardiac P38 and extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 phosphorylation and increased phospholamban phosphorylation. Finally, PTP1B
−/−
mice displayed a markedly reduced LPS-induced mortality, an effect also observed using a pharmacological PTP1B inhibitor. PTP1B deletion also improved survival in a cecal ligation puncture model of sepsis.

Conclusions—

PTP1B gene deletion protects against septic shock-induced cardiovascular dysfunction and mortality, and this may be the result of the profound reduction of cardiovascular inflammation. PTP1B is an attractive target for the treatment of sepsis.
Adventures in ASCII Art
Authors: Parberry Ian
Published: March 2014

This is an account of the author's three-and-a-half decade obsession with ASCII art in which he progresses from a manual typewriter to computers, pixel shaders, real-time animation, and a new variant of color ASCII art that can be reproduced on a manual typewriter using only three or four colored ribbons.
Dynamic Visualization of Networks
Authors: Ortiz Santiago
Published: March 2014

Networks found in nature, culture and technology are dynamic in multiple ways. This poses several challenges to the field of networks visualization that, in general, has been representing networks with fixed layouts. By depicting networks statically, not only are the dynamic properties lost, it is also difficult to read basic properties such as the number of connections between nodes. The author proposes a series of interactive techniques to visualize networks, aimed to reveal their dynamic and organic nature.
The Communion of Saints: Networks and Iconography
Authors: Lombardi Thomas
Published: March 2014

This paper analyzes the co-occurrence network of saints in the corpus of images of St. Francis from 1230 to 1320 AD. The network of saints grows by preferential attachment reflecting the intercessory function of the artwork. The network, therefore, highlights important connections between intellectual and physical culture.
Re-Imagining Utopias: The Bat/Human Project
Authors: Armstrong Keith
Published: March 2014

The making of the modern world has long been fuelled by utopian images that are blind to ecological reality. Botanical gardens are but one example - who typically portray themselves as miniature, isolated ‘edens on earth’, whereas they are now in many cases self-evidently also the vital ‘lungs’ of crowded cities, as well as critical habitats for threatened biodiversity. In 2010 the ‘Remnant Emergency Art lab’ set out to question utopian thinking through a creative provocation called the ‘Botanical Gardens ‘X-Tension’ - an imagined city-wide, distributed, network of ‘ecological gardens’ suited to both bat and human needs, in order to ask, what now needs to be better understood, connected and therefore ultimately conserved.
Comparison of Scanning Electron Microscopy and Light Microscopy for the Diagnosis of Early Stages of Brown Rot Wood Decay
Authors: Wilcox W. Wayne
Published: February 2014

As part of a larger study of the microscopical characteristics useful in diagnosing early stages of decay, an opportunity was created to compare the ability of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to image these features. Although most features could be imaged by both technologies, imaging was much easier in the SEM because it was being used at the low end of its resolution and magnification capability while the LM was near the high end of its limitations. One important feature which could not be imaged in SEM was the earliest attack on the cell walls, a feature which was visible under polarised light in the LM.
Anatomy of Stem Hyperplasia Called Tokkuri Disease in Chamaecyparis Obtusa
Authors: Yamamoto Fukuju , Shimizu Shunji , Hashizume Hayato
Published: February 2014

The stem hyperplasia called tokkuri-disease in Japan was observed on the lower part of stems of 25-29-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa trees. The anatomy of the hyperplastic portions was characterised by rapid proliferation of the cambium, short and thin-walled tracheids, a large number of multiseriate rays, and thickened bark. The cambial activity in the hyperplastic portion was high in July and remained high until mid-October. Transverse sections show the hyperplastic portions of the cambium and growth ring boundaries are sinuous, whereas those in non-hyperplastic portions of the same trees or in normal trees are not. The sinuosity of cambia was closely related with cambial activity. The ecological and physiological causes of stem hyperplasia are discussed on the basis of anatomical studies.
Anatomy of Acacia Mangium Grown in Malaysia
Authors: Sahri Mohd. Hamami , Ibrahim Faridah Hanum , Shukor Nor Aini Ab.
Published: February 2014

A study on the tissue proportions and fibre dimensions of plantation-grown Acacia mangium was carried out. Ten selected trees from two age groups (4- and 8-year-old) were obtained from plantation forests in Selangor. Disks were taken from four sampling heights. Acacia mangium wood is diffuse-porous with mostly solitary vessels. The rays are uniseriate. The average percentage of fibres, vessels and rays of 4-year-old and 8-year-old samples are 85.8%, 9.1%, 5.2% and 84.8%, 9.8%, 5.3%, respectively. Acacia is a shortfibred tropical species. The average fibre length, fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter and fibre wall thickness are 934, 24, 17 and 3.3 µm for 4-year-old samples and 1017,20, 12 and 4.3 µm for 8-year-old sampies, respectively. The sampies near the pith have the shortest fibres and the length increases toward the bark. Fibre length also tends to decrease with height. The vessel percentage decreases with increasing height.
Aspidistra paucitepala (Asparagaceae), a new species with occurrence of the lowest tepal number in flowers of Asparagales
Authors: Vislobokov Nikolay , Sokoloff Dmitry , Degtjareva Galina , Valiejo-Roman Carmen , Kuznetsov Andrey , Nuraliev Maxim S.
Published: March 2014

The genus Aspidistra (Asparagaceae) shows strong variation of flower groundplan. We add further evidence of this variation describing a new species, Aspidistra paucitepala from southern Vietnam that has flowers with 2-4 tepals, 2-4 stamens and a gynoecium with unilocular ovary. Bisexual flowers with three tepals and three stamens are extremely rare among monocots with biotic pollination. Compared with typical trimerous pentacyclic monocot flowers, they can be either interpreted as trimerous and tricyclic or as 1.5-merous (at least in perianth and androecium) and pentacyclic. Both interpretations imply floral features unusual for ‘higher’ Asparagales. Aspidistra paucitepala resembles recently described A. brachystyla from northern Vietnam in narrow funnel-shaped to nearly tubular perianth with very small lobes and short cylindrical pistil with stigma located below the level of anthers. As species of the taxonomically diverse genus Aspidistra are frequently observed in the field without reproductive structures and cannot be properly identified, a need for DNA barcoding approach is obvious. We present preliminary data showing that plastid psbA-trnH and nuclear 5S-NTS regions could be useful for DNA barcoding of Aspidistra.
Radiation and decline of endodontid land snails in Makatea, French Polynesia
Authors: SARTORI ANDRÉ F. , GARGOMINY OLIVIER , FONTAINE BENOÎT
Published: March 2014

The family Endodontidae Pilsbry, 1895 comprised one of the most diverse groups of indigenous land snails of Pacific Islands. However, due to anthropogenic degradation of their habitats and predation by or competition with introduced species, most members of the family are now extinct or severely endangered. Based on limited and sporadic collections, the endodontid fauna of the raised coral island of Makatea in the western Tuamotu Archipelago was known to consist of four valid species, Mautodontha (Mautodontha) daedalea (Gould, 1846), Kleokyphus callimus Solem, 1976, K. hypsus Solem, 1976 and Pseudolibera lillianae Solem, 1976, the last three of which were endemic. To these, we add 18 new species based on a reappraisal of museum collections and analysis of abundant new material collected in 2005: M. (M.) domaneschii, M. (M.) virginiae, M. (M.) harperae, M. (Garrettoconcha) aurora, M. (G.) occidentalis, M. (G.) temaoensis, M. (G.) makateaensis, M. (G.) passosi, M. (G.) spelunca, K. cowiei, P. solemi, P. matthieui, P. cookei, P. aubertdelaruei, P. extincta, P. paraminderae, P. elieporoii, and P. parva. The recently collected material also revealed new information on the morphology, intraspecific variation and distribution of the four previously known species, which are here revised and re-described. With 22 recognized taxa, the radiation of endodontids in Makatea is second in species richness only to that of Rapa Iti in the Austral Islands, from where 24 endodontids have been described. Despite intensive field work in Makatea in 2005, only M. (M.) daedalea was found alive. All other Makatean endodontids were represented solely by empty and worn shells and are probably extinct.
Finescale Dual-Doppler Analysis of Hurricane Boundary Layer Structures in Hurricane Frances (2004) at Landfall
Authors: Kosiba Karen A. , Wurman Joshua
Published: March 2014

Two Doppler on Wheels (DOW) mobile radars collected fine-spatial-scale dual-Doppler data in the right-front quadrant and eye of Hurricane Frances (2004) as it made landfall near Stuart, Florida. A 5.7-km dual-Doppler baseline established a dual-Doppler domain south and east of Fort Pierce, Florida, encompassing a 5.5 km × 5.5 km horizontal area, with a grid spacing of 20 m, allowing for the resolution of subkilometer-scale horizontal structures and associated kinematics. Three-dimensional vector wind analyses of the boundary layer revealed the presence of linear coherent structures with a characteristic wavelength of 400–500 m near the surface that increased in size and became more cellular in shape with increasing height. Average horizontal perturbation winds were proportional to average total horizontal winds. Within the eye of the hurricane, the features lost linear coherency despite a high mean wind speed, possibly due to changes in stability. A slight decrease in the characteristic wavelength of boundary layer structures was documented as the winds cross the barrier islands east of Fort Pierce. Vertical flux of horizontal momentum caused by individual vortical structures was substantially higher than values employed in turbulence parameterization schemes, but the domain-wide average flux was substantially lower than that in individual structures, likely due to the transient nature of the most intense portions of the structures. Analysis of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) yielded values comparable to those reported in previous observational studies over the open ocean. However, there was substantial variability in TKE within the dual-Doppler domain, emphasizing the challenge in obtaining representative samples using non-3D measurements such as dropsondes.
Hell: The Mystery of Eternal Love and Eternal Obduracy
Authors: Egan Harvey D.
Published: March 2014

The author helps redress the absence of serious theological thinking on the biblical and church doctrine of hell and indirectly contradicts current mythological caricatures. He first evaluates diverse views from history up through the twentieth century. He then argues that an orthodox contemporary theology could understand hell as the eternally loving presence of God, Christ, angels, saints, animals, vegetation, and material creation to the damned, the eternally obdurate, whose obstinate use of their freedom has rendered them incapable of receiving and responding to this loving presence.
Facing the World: A Theological and Biographical Inquiry
Authors: Metz Johann Baptist , Downey Translated by John K.
Published: March 2014

This article is a revised and expanded version of the talk given by Johann Baptist Metz after being awarded the Salzburg University Week Theology Prize (2007). It offers a picture of the new political theology, of how he seeks to describe and construe a theology “facing the world.” He begins by acknowledging his debt to Karl Rahner, then discusses how confrontations with various “worlds”—World War II, Auschwitz, the world church, and globalization—brought him to construct theological categories and strategies.
Credit Risk and IFRS
Authors: Bhat Gauri , Callen Jeffrey L. , Segal Dan
Published: February 2014

This study compares the pricing of credit risk information conveyed by accounting numbers under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) relative to local Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). We measure the price of credit risk by credit default swap (CDS) spreads and focus on three fundamental accounting metrics that inform about credit risk: earnings, leverage, and book value equity. Using a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that while earnings, book value, and, to a lesser extent, leverage are significant determinants of credit risk pricing both prior to and after IFRS adoption, the adoption of IFRS did not change the credit risk informativeness of these accounting variables as reflected in CDS spreads. This conclusion is robust to controlling for institutional differences among countries as well as a battery of sensitivity analyses.
Do Social Stories help to decrease disruptive behaviour in children with autistic spectrum disorders? A review of the published literature
Authors: Rhodes Christine
Published: March 2014

A structured search and identification of themes within the literature regarding the use of Social Stories to decrease disruptive behaviour in children with autistic spectrum disorders is presented. The examination of seven studies showed that the Social Story intervention was successful for the majority of the participants, although the level of success was variable. Overall, Social Stories appear to be an acceptable intervention for use in the classroom, however unplanned verbal prompting by teachers, in some studies, reduced confidence in the effectiveness of Social Stories when used in isolation. An increasing body of literature has indicated that Social Stories are an effective intervention for children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders, however very few studies have addressed the efficacy of Social Stories when used with children with other disabilities.
Reliable differentiation of Meyerozyma guilliermondii from Meyerozyma caribbica by internal transcribed spacer restriction fingerprinting
Authors: Romi Wahengbam , Keisam Santosh , Ahmed Giasuddin , Jeyaram Kumaraswamy
Published: February 2014

Background

Meyerozyma guilliermondii (anamorph Candida guilliermondii) and Meyerozyma caribbica (anamorph Candida fermentati) are closely related species of the genetically heterogenous M. guilliermondii complex. Conventional phenotypic methods frequently misidentify the species within this complex and also with other species of the Saccharomycotina CTG clade. Even the long-established sequencing of large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene remains ambiguous. We also faced similar problem during identification of yeast isolates of M. guilliermondii complex from indigenous bamboo shoot fermentation in North East India. There is a need for development of reliable and accurate identification methods for these closely related species because of their increasing importance as emerging infectious yeasts and associated biotechnological attributes.

Results

We targeted the highly variable internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and identified seven restriction enzymes through in silico analysis for differentiating M. guilliermondii from M. caribbica. Fifty five isolates of M. guilliermondii complex which could not be delineated into species-specific taxonomic ranks by API 20 C AUX and LSU rRNA gene D1/D2 sequencing were subjected to ITS-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-RFLP) analysis. Taq I ITS-RFLP distinctly differentiated the isolates into M. guilliermondii (47 isolates) and M. caribbica (08 isolates) with reproducible species-specific patterns similar to the in silico prediction. The reliability of this method was validated by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequencing, mitochondrial DNA RFLP and electrophoretic karyotyping.

Conclusions

We herein described a reliable ITS-RFLP method for distinct differentiation of frequently misidentified M. guilliermondii from M. caribbica. Even though in silico analysis differentiated other closely related species of M. guilliermondii complex from the above two species, it is yet to be confirmed by in vitro analysis using reference strains. This method can be used as a reliable tool for rapid and accurate identification of closely related species of M. guilliermondii complex and for differentiating emerging infectious yeasts of the Saccharomycotina CTG clade.