bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aircraft Routing and Scheduling: a Case Study in an Airline Company
Authors: KARAOGLAN Aslan Deniz , GONEN Demet , UCMUS Emine
Published: November 2012

A major problem faced by every airline is to construct a daily schedule for a heterogeneous aircraft fleet. In the present paper implementation of aircraft routing and scheduling for cargo transportation, known as one of the scheduling problem in transportation, in an air-line is presented. First, problems faced by the company are defined and then implementation steps and expected improvements that will result from carrying out the solution of mathematical model of the problem are given in detail. The purpose of this paper is to describe, analyze and evaluate a case study of how an aircraft scheduling was managed in an air-line.
Elastic Soft-Core Sandwich Plates: Critical Loads and Energy Errors in Commercial Codes Due to Choice of Objective Stress Rate
Authors: Vorel Jan , Bažant Zdeněk P. , Gattu Mahendra
Published: November 2012

Most commercial finite element codes, such as ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, ANSYS and NASTRAN, use as the objective stress rate the Jaumann rate of Cauchy (or true) stress, which has two flaws: It does not conserve energy since it is not work-conjugate to any finite strain tensor and, as previously shown for the case of sandwich columns, does not give a correct expression for the work of in-plane forces during buckling. This causes no appreciable errors when the skins and the core are subdivided by several layers of finite elements. However, in spite of a linear elastic behavior of the core and skins, the errors are found to be large when either the sandwich plate theory with the normals of the core remaining straight or the classical equivalent homogenization as an orthotropic plate with the normals remaining straight is used. Numerical analysis of a plate intended for the cladding of the hull of a light long ship shows errors up to 40%. It is shown that a previously derived stress-dependent transformation of the tangential moduli eliminates the energy error caused by Jaumann rate of Cauchy stress and yields the correct critical buckling load. This load corresponds to the Truesdell objective stress rate, which is work-conjugate to the Green–Lagrangian finite strain tensor. The commercial codes should switch to this rate. The classical differential equations for buckling of elastic soft-core sandwich plates with a constant shear modulus of the core are shown to have a form that corresponds to the Truesdell rate and Green–Lagrangian tensor. The critical in-plane load is solved analytically from these differential equations with typical boundary conditions, and is found to agree perfectly with the finite element solution based on the Truesdell rate. Comparisons of the errors of various approaches are tabulated.
Complete Genome Sequence of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Genotype A with a 72-Nucleotide Duplication in the Attachment Protein G Gene
Authors: Lee Wan-Ji , Kim You-jin , Kim Dae-Won , Lee Han Saem , Lee Ho Yeon , Kim Kisoon
Published: November 2012

The complete genome sequence of human respiratory syncytial virus genotype A (HRSV-A) with a 72-nucleotide duplication in the C-terminal part of the attachment protein G gene was determined and analyzed. The genome was 15,277 bp in length, and 0.46 to 6.03% variations were identified at the nucleotide level compared with the previously reported complete genome of HRSV-A. Characterization of the genome will improve understanding of the diversity of the HRSV-A major antigens and enable an in-depth analysis of its genetics.
Complete Genome of a Novel Porcine Astrovirus
Authors: Shan Tongling , Wang Chunmei , Tong Wu , Zheng Hao , Hua Xiuguo , Yang Shen , Guo Yifei , Zhang Wen , Tong Guangzhi
Published: November 2012

Astroviruses have been widely described in mammalian and avian species. Here, we report a complete genome sequence of a novel porcine astrovirus (PoAstV) isolated from a porcine fecal sample in China. The genome consists of 6,611 nucleotides, excluding the 3′ poly(A) tail, and has two open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 maps between nucleotide positions 19 and 4211 and encodes a 1,396-amino-acid (aa) polyprotein precursor consisting of nonstructural protein and putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and ORF2 maps between nucleotide positions 4202 and 6531 and encodes a 775-aa polyprotein which is a capsid precursor protein. The genome sequence of the virus was distinct enough from those of the known PoAstVs to be considered a novel sequence. Phylogenetic analysis based on the predicted amino acid sequence of the complete capsid region showed that this strain may be a novel porcine astrovirus.
Complete Genome of a Porcine Calicivirus Strain in Anhui Province, China, Is Significantly Shorter than That of the Other Chinese Strain
Authors: Fan Kezhang , Wang Rong
Published: November 2012

Caliciviruses that cause diarrhea have been reported in both industrial and developing countries, including China, in recent years. Here, we report the complete genome of a porcine calicivirus strain, Ah-1, which is prevalent in swine groups in Anhui Province. This viral genome is 7,342 nucleotides (nt) long, excluding the poly(A) of the 3′ end, which is 202 nt shorter in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) than that of the other Chinese porcine calicivirus strain (Ch-sw-sav1; GenBank accession number
FJ387164
), previously isolated in the Shanghai area, China, though they shared 98.8% sequence identity over the whole genome excluding the 202-nt-shorter region.
Complete Genome Sequence of IME11, a New N4-Like Bacteriophage
Authors: Fan Huahao , Fan Hang , An Xiaoping , Huang Yong , Zhang Zhiyi , Mi Zhiqiang , Tong Yigang
Published: November 2012

N4-like bacteriophages are a class of virulent
Podoviridae
phages for which few genome sequences are present in GenBank. IME11, a novel lytic
Escherichia
bacteriophage with a wide host range, was isolated, and the whole genome was sequenced. It has a circular double-stranded DNA genome of 72,570 bp. Genomic analysis showed that it resembles another
Escherichia
phage, vB_EcoP_G7C. Here we announce its complete genome and major findings from its annotation.
Complete Genome Sequence of Recombinant Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Strain SD-3
Authors: Li Jun , Xu Shaojian , Yuan Xiaoyuan , Wang Guisheng , Shi Jianli , Wu Jiaqiang , Cong Xiaoyan , Sun Wenbo , Du Yijun , Wang Jinbao
Published: November 2012

We report here the genome sequence of a recombinant porcine circovirus type 2 strain SD-3, isolated from a commercial swine farm with an outbreak of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs in Shandong Province of China. The complete circular genome of this isolate is 1,767 nucleotides in length. This recombinant isolate has the ORF1 regions from PCV2a viruses and ORF2 regions from PCV2b. The findings will help us to understand the molecular evolution of porcine circovirus type 2 and the relationship between porcine circovirus type 2 and disease.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Natural Recombinant H5N5 Influenza Virus from Ducks in Central China
Authors: Zou Wei , Guo Xuebo , Li Shuyun , Yang Ying , Jin Meilin
Published: November 2012

We reported the complete genome sequence of an H5N5 avian influenza virus (AIV) that was first isolated from duck in central China in 2010. Genomic sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that this virus was a recombinant between H5N1 AIV circulated in southeastern Asia and an N5 subtype influenza virus. These data are beneficial for investigating the epidemiology and ecology of AIVs in central China.
An unusual method of diagnosing a common disease
Authors: Khangura Sajneet K , von Rosenvinge Erik C
Published: November 2012

A 34-year-old woman presented with non-bloody diarrhoea of 14 days duration and vomiting. Physical examination was unremarkable. She had hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis. Stool studies were negative forClostridium difficiletoxin, faecal leucocytes and parasites. Colon appeared normal on colonoscopy. Pronounced scalloping of ileal folds was noted on ileoscopy. Ileal biopsies revealed villous blunting, crypt hyperplasia, marked intraepithelial lymphocytosis and lymphocytic infiltration of the lamina propria, consistent with lymphocytic ileitis in coeliac disease. Serology revealed elevated antitissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies (>100 U/ml). Institution of a strict gluten free diet resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. Although rare, coeliac disease can present as an acute diarrhoeal illness and should be considered after infectious aetiologies are excluded.
An unusual presentation of cholecystoduodenal fistula: vomiting of gallstones
Authors: Thomson Wendy L , Miranda Sumeet , Reddy Anil
Published: November 2012

Bouveret's syndrome is defined as gastric outlet obstruction secondary to an impacted gallstone in the duodenum via a cholecystoduodenal or cholecystogastric fistula. Common radiological findings include pneumobilia, calcified right upper quadrant mass, pyloric or duodenal obstruction and cholecystoduodenal fistula. Initial attempts through endoscopic retrieval may be successful; however, results can vary. Surgical options include enterolithotomy or gastrotomy with or without cholecystectomy and fistula repair. We describe a unique case of Bouveret's syndrome with short-lived obstruction followed by vomiting of gallstones in a morbidly obese patient and discuss the complexities of investigation and management of these patients.
Fungal myocarditis in a preterm neonate
Authors: Harris Michael , Ananth Narayan Srinivas , Orchard Elizabeth Ann
Published: November 2012

A male infant born at 25 weeks gestation presented with abdominal distension, was transferred to our institution for surgical management following suspected bowel perforation with severe sepsis. Umbilical catheter cultures grewCandida parapsilosis. At laparotomy, there was a large ileal perforation with peritonitis, he was treated with amphotericin, antibiotics and had an ileostomy. He had persistent pulmonary hypertension, requiring nitric oxide and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. Serial echocardiograms revealed a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), but also demonstrated increasing left ventricular hypertrophy and the development of bright areas within the septal myocardium. Further bright areas developed over a course of 2 weeks in his right ventricular outflow tract. After treatment for candidal infection, there was improvement in left ventricular thickness and brightness of the echogenic lesions was reduced. Biopsy of the lesions was discounted due to the risk of the procedure, the size of the infant and his improving clinical status.
Temporal arteritis presenting with tongue necrosis
Authors: Kumarasinghe Anuttara Panchali , Hepburn Alastair , Reuther William John , Pratt Clive
Published: November 2012

Spontaneous glossodynia is uncommon and glossodynia progressing to necrosis is especially rare. Although the commonest cause of lingual necrosis is giant cell arteritis, only a few cases of a new diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, clinically presenting with isolated lingual necrosis, have been reported.
Celiac disease with pulmonary haemosiderosis and cardiomyopathy
Authors: Işikay Sedat , Yilmaz Kutluhan , Kilinç Metin
Published: November 2012

Celiac disease or pulmonary haemosiderosis can be associated with several distinguished conditions. Pulmonary haemosiderosis is a rare, severe and fatal disease characterised by recurrent episodes of alveolar haemorrhage, haemoptysis and anaemia. Association of pulmonary haemosiderosis and celiac disease is extremely rare. We describe a case of celiac disease presented with dilated cardiomyopathy and pulmonary haemosiderosis without gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease. In addition, vitamin A deficiency was detected. This case suggests that celiac disease should be considered in patients with cardiomyopathy and/or pulmonary haemosiderosis regardless of the intestinal symptoms of celiac disease.
Truly resistant hypertension?
Authors: Goodlad Cate , Unwin Robert , Reaich David , Cross Jennifer
Published: November 2012

A young man presented with severe hypertension with evidence of both neurological and cardiovascular end-organ damage. Investigation revealed a small right kidney and a left renal artery aneurysm. Significant hypertension persisted even after right nephrectomy. Despite extensive investigation, no evidence was found to implicate the aneurysm in the causation of his high blood pressure. No alternative cause for hypertension was found, yet blood pressure was high even during hospital admission and observed medication dosing with eight antihypertensive agents. Sustained hypertension resulted in worsening left ventricular hypertrophy and he died suddenly at a tragically young age several years after presentation. This gentleman had truly resistant hypertension, a clinical problem which can be very difficult to manage.
Emerging skin conditions in cattle
Authors: Milnes Ailsa , Mitchell Siân , Bell Suzanna
Published: November 2012

There are various common skin conditions seen in British cattle which practioners are able to diagnose and treat; however, there are emerging and other conditions that they may have little experience of. The purpose of this article is to provide information about these skin diseases to assist in their early detection by vets in practice.
Arthroscopy in companion animals
Authors: Morton Mark , Whitelock Richard
Published: November 2012

Arthroscopy is becoming the gold standard for diagnosing and treating many intra‐articular conditions in small animals. Specialist training and equipment are required; however, once proficient, arthroscopy is quicker, less traumatic and more sensitive at diagnosing pathology than an arthrotomy. This article discusses the techniques and the equipment required, along with indications and possible complications.
THORIUM-DOPING INDUCED HIGH-Tc SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN Dy1-xThxFeAsO
Authors: LUO YONGKANG , LIN XIAO , LI YUKE , TAO QIAN , LI LINJUN , ZHU ZENGWEI , CAO GUANGHAN , XU ZHU'AN
Published: November 2012

Parent compound of DyFeAsO was successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction under ambient pressure and superconductivity was induced by partial substitution of trivalent Dy 3+ ions with tetravalent Th 4+ in Dy 1-x Th x FeAsO . In the undoped parent compound, an anomaly in the resistivity appears around 140 K which corresponds to the structural phase transition and/or antiferromagnetic (AFM) order of the magnetic moments of Fe 2+ ions. At low temperature, another AFM order associated with the magnetic moments of Dy 3+ ions occurs at TN of 9.55 K. The AFM order around 140 K has significant influence on the transport properties, which can be interpreted by opening of partial gap on Fermi surface. Th doping suppresses the AFM order related to the Fe 2+ ions and the midpoint transition temperature [Formula: see text] of 49.3 K is observed for x = 0.3. Our results also indicate that the [ Ln 2 O 2]2+ layer has influence on the magnetism of [ Fe 2 As 2]2- layer.
Evaluation of Resection Margins in Breast Conservation Therapy: The Pathology Perspective—Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Emmadi Rajyasree , Wiley Elizabeth L.
Published: November 2012

Tumor surgical resection margin status is important for any malignant lesion. When this occurs in conjunction with efforts to preserve or conserve the afflicted organ, these margins become extremely important. With the demonstration of no difference in overall survival between mastectomy versus lumpectomy and radiation for breast carcinoma, there is a definite trend toward smaller resections combined with radiation, constituting “breast-conserving therapy.” Tumor-free margins are therefore key to the success of this treatment protocol. We discuss the various aspects of margin status in this setting, from a pathology perspective, incorporating the past and current practices with a brief glimpse of emerging future techniques.
Stability of Switched Feedback Time‐Varying Dynamic Systems Based on the Properties of the Gap Metric for Operators
Authors: De la Sen M.
Published: November 2012

The stabilization of dynamic switched control systems is focused on and based on an operator‐based formulation. It is assumed that the controlled object and the controller are described by sequences of closed operator pairs (L,C) on a Hilbert space H of the input and output spaces and it is related to the existence of the inverse of the resulting input‐output operator being admissible and bounded. The technical mechanism addressed to get the results is the appropriate use of the fact that closed operators being sufficiently close to bounded operators, in terms of the gap metric, are also bounded. That philosophy is followed for the operators describing the input‐output relations in switched feedback control systems so as to guarantee the closed‐loop stabilization.
Optimisation of Simultaneous Tl-201/Tc-99m Dual Isotope Reconstruction with Monte-Carlo-Based Scatter Correction
Authors: Kangasmaa Tuija , Kuikka Jyrki , Sohlberg Antti
Published: November 2012

Simultaneous Tl-201/Tc-99m dual isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT is seriously hampered by down-scatter from Tc-99m into the Tl-201 energy window. This paper presents and optimises the ordered-subsets-expectation-maximisation-(OS-EM-) based reconstruction algorithm, which corrects the down-scatter using an efficient Monte Carlo (MC) simulator. The algorithm starts by first reconstructing the Tc-99m image with attenuation, collimator response, and MC-based scatter correction. The reconstructed Tc-99m image is then used as an input for an efficient MC-based down-scatter simulation of Tc-99m photons into the Tl-201 window. This down-scatter estimate is finally used in the Tl-201 reconstruction to correct the crosstalk between the two isotopes. The mathematical 4D NCAT phantom and physical cardiac phantoms were used to optimise the number of OS-EM iterations where the scatter estimate is updated and the number of MC simulated photons. The results showed that two scatter update iterations and 105 simulated photons are enough for the Tc-99m and Tl-201 reconstructions, whereas 106 simulated photons are needed to generate good quality down-scatter estimates. With these parameters, the entire Tl-201/Tc-99m dual isotope reconstruction can be accomplished in less than 3 minutes.
Infinite System of Differential Equations in Some BK  Spaces
Authors: Mursaleen M. , Alotaibi Abdullah
Published: November 2012

The first measure of noncompactness was defined by Kuratowski in 1930 and later the Hausdorff measure of noncompactness was introduced in 1957 by Goldenštein et al. These measures of noncompactness have various applications in several areas of analysis, for example, in operator theory, fixed point theory, and in differential and integral equations. In particular, the Hausdorff measure of noncompactness has been extensively used in the characterizations of compact operators between the infinite‐dimensional Banach spaces. In this paper, we present a brief survey on the applications of measures of noncompactness to the theory of infinite system of differential equations in some BK  spaces c0, c, ℓp(1 ≤ p ≤ ∞) and n(ϕ).
Production of Alkaline Cellulase by Fungi Isolated from an Undisturbed Rain Forest of Peru
Authors: Vega Karin , Villena Gretty K. , Sarmiento Victor H. , Ludeña Yvette , Vera Nadia , Gutiérrez-Correa Marcel
Published: November 2012

Alkaline cellulase producing fungi were isolated from soils of an undisturbed rain forest of Peru. The soil dilution plate method was used for the enumeration and isolation of fast growing cellulolytic fungi on an enriched selective medium. Eleven out of 50 different morphological colonies were finally selected by using the plate clearing assay with CMC as substrate at different pH values. All 11 strains produced cellulases in liquid culture with activities at alkaline pH values without an apparent decrease of them indicating that they are true alkaline cellulase producers.Aspergillussp. LM-HP32,Penicilliumsp. LM-HP33, andPenicilliumsp. LM-HP37 were the best producers of FP cellulase (>3 U mL−1) with higher specific productivities (>30 U g−1 h−1). Three strains have been found suitable for developing processes for alkaline cellulase production. Soils from Amazonian rain forests are good sources of industrial fungi with particular characteristics. The results of the present study are of commercial and biological interest. Alkaline cellulases may be used in the polishing and washing of denim processing of the textile industry.
Increased Expression of microRNA-17 Predicts Poor Prognosis in Human Glioma
Authors: Lu Shengkui , Wang Shuai , Geng Shaomei , Ma Shucheng , Liang Zhaohui , Jiao Baohua
Published: November 2012

Aim. To investigate the clinical significance of microRNA-17 (miR-17) expression in human gliomas.Methods. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was used to characterize the expression patterns of miR-17 in 108 glioma and 20 normal brain tissues. The associations of miR-17 expression with clinicopathological factors and prognosis of glioma patients were also statistically analyzed.Results. Compared with normal brain tissues, miR-17 expression was significantly higher in glioma tissues (P<0.001). In addition, the increased expression of miR-17 in glioma was significantly associated with advanced pathological grade (P=0.006) and low Karnofsky performance score (KPS,P=0.01). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses showed that miR-17 overexpression (P=0.008) and advanced pathological grade (P=0.02) were independent factors predicting poor prognosis for gliomas. Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed that miR-17 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival in glioma patients with high pathological grades (for grade III~IV:P<0.001).Conclusions. Our data offer the convinced evidence that the increased expression of miR-17 may have potential value for predicting poor prognosis in glioma patients with high pathological grades, indicating that miR-17 may contribute to glioma progression and be a candidate therapeutic target for this disease.
Frontotemporal Dementia: The Impact of Patient Behavioral Symptoms on the Physical and Mental Health of Family Caregivers
Authors: Wong Cindy C. , Wallhagen Margaret I.
Published: November 2012

Background: Providing informal support to someone with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) could be very stressful. Clarifying the relationship between patient behavioral problems and caregiver health could spur future research on effective symptom management strategies. Methods: Sixty-one FTD family caregivers participated in a postal survey. Results: Patient symptom severity was negatively associated with caregiver mental health (r = –0.26, p < 0.05) but not significantly associated with caregiver physical health. In a regression analysis, caregiver emotional distress from patient behaviors made a statistically significant contribution to caregiver mental health, explaining approximately 10% of its variance. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of focusing on FTD caregivers’ perceived emotional distress from patient behavioral problems and ensuring they are getting the appropriate support they need.
Insights into the Activity, Differential Expression, Mutual Regulation, and Functions of Matrix Metalloproteinases and A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinases in Hypertension and Cardiac Disease
Authors: Berry Evan , Bosonea Ana-Maria , Wang Xiang , Fernandez-Patron Carlos
Published: November 2012

Hypertensive cardiac disease is a major cause of death worldwide. Causative factors of hypertension include environmental stressors, genetic predisposition, and common morbidities of lipid metabolism such as obesity and diabetes. These factors pathologically elevate the systemic production of vasoconstrictive G-protein-coupled receptor agonists. Pathological concentrations of these agonists upregulate the gene expression and proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs). Among the metalloproteinases that act in concert with other mediators to elevate the systemic blood pressure and to modulate the development of cardiovascular hypertrophy and fibrosis processes are MMP-2, MMP-7, ADAM-12, and ADAM-17. This review offers insights into the activity, differential expression, mutual regulation, and functions of these metalloproteinases. We further review evidence linking them to transcription factors, carrier proteins, and receptors for lipids. The emerging links between metalloproteinases and lipids are intriguing and suggest new therapeutic targets in hypertensive cardiac disease.
Repetition Suppression in Auditory–Motor Regions to Pitch and Temporal Structure in Music
Authors: Brown Rachel M. , Chen Joyce L. , Hollinger Avrum , Penhune Virginia B. , Palmer Caroline , Zatorre Robert J.
Published: November 2012

Music performance requires control of two sequential structures: the ordering of pitches and the temporal intervals between successive pitches. Whether pitch and temporal structures are processed as separate or integrated features remains unclear. A repetition suppression paradigm compared neural and behavioral correlates of mapping pitch sequences and temporal sequences to motor movements in music performance. Fourteen pianists listened to and performed novel melodies on an MR-compatible piano keyboard during fMRI scanning. The pitch or temporal patterns in the melodies either changed or repeated (remained the same) across consecutive trials. We expected decreased neural response to the patterns (pitch or temporal) that repeated across trials relative to patterns that changed. Pitch and temporal accuracy were high, and pitch accuracy improved when either pitch or temporal sequences repeated over trials. Repetition of either pitch or temporal sequences was associated with linear BOLD decrease in frontal–parietal brain regions including dorsal and ventral premotor cortex, pre-SMA, and superior parietal cortex. Pitch sequence repetition (in contrast to temporal sequence repetition) was associated with linear BOLD decrease in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) while pianists listened to melodies they were about to perform. Decreased BOLD response in IPS also predicted increase in pitch accuracy only when pitch sequences repeated. Thus, behavioral performance and neural response in sensorimotor mapping networks were sensitive to both pitch and temporal structure, suggesting that pitch and temporal structure are largely integrated in auditory–motor transformations. IPS may be involved in transforming pitch sequences into spatial coordinates for accurate piano performance.
Integration of Error Agency and Representation of Others' Pain in the Anterior Insula
Authors: Koban Leonie , Corradi-Dell'Acqua Corrado , Vuilleumier Patrik
Published: November 2012

A crucial feature of socially adaptive behavior is the ability to recognize when our actions harm other individuals. Previous research demonstrates that dorsal mediofrontal cortex (dMFC) and anterior insula (AI) are involved in both action monitoring and empathy for pain. Here, we tested whether these regions could integrate monitoring of error agency with the representation of others' pain. While undergoing event-related fMRI, participants played a visual task in turns with a friend placed outside the scanner, who would receive painful stimulation in half of the error trials. Brain activity was enhanced in dMFC and AI for painful compared with nonpainful errors. Left AI and dorsolateral pFC also exhibited a significant interaction with agency and increased responses when painful errors were caused by oneself. We conclude that AI is crucial for integrating inferences about others' feeling states with information about action agency and outcome, thus generating an affective signal that may guide subsequent adjustment.
The Influence of Lifelong Musicianship on Neurophysiological Measures of Concurrent Sound Segregation
Authors: Zendel Benjamin Rich , Alain Claude
Published: November 2012

The ability to separate concurrent sounds based on periodicity cues is critical for parsing complex auditory scenes. This ability is enhanced in young adult musicians and reduced in older adults. Here, we investigated the impact of lifelong musicianship on concurrent sound segregation and perception using scalp-recorded ERPs. Older and younger musicians and nonmusicians were presented with periodic harmonic complexes where the second harmonic could be tuned or mistuned by 1–16% of its original value. The likelihood of perceiving two simultaneous sounds increased with mistuning, and musicians, both older and younger, were more likely to detect and report hearing two sounds when the second harmonic was mistuned at or above 2%. The perception of a mistuned harmonic as a separate sound was paralleled by an object-related negativity that was larger and earlier in younger musicians compared with the other three groups. When listeners made a judgment about the harmonic stimuli, the perception of the mistuned harmonic as a separate sound was paralleled by a positive wave at about 400 msec poststimulus (P400), which was enhanced in both older and younger musicians. These findings suggest attention-dependent processing of a mistuned harmonic is enhanced in older musicians and provides further evidence that age-related decline in hearing abilities are mitigated by musical training.
Taxonomy of Moluccan Onthophagus, including eight new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Authors: Huijbregts J. , Krikken J.
Published: November 2012

Eight new species of Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 from the Moluccas (Indonesia) are described and compared with their closest known relatives. The new species are placed in multi-species operational groups as follows: Onthophagus
sibela, O. wayaua (malasiacus group); Onthophagus
alfuricus (deflexicollis group); Onthophagus
biscarinulatus (carinulatus group); Onthophagus
coprimorphoides (coprimorphus group); Onthophagus
frankrozendaali, O. seramicus (seramicus group); Onthophagus ontosatu (ungrouped single species). The identification of these new Onthophagus species is supported by dichotomous keys and a synoptic table of characters. Three named species are recorded from the Moluccas for the first time. In the O. deflexicollis group a homonymy is corrected: Onthophagus danumicus Krikken & Huijbregts, nom.nov. for Onthophagus danumensis Krikken & Huijbregts, 2011 non Ochi, Kon & Barclay, 2009. All 19 Onthophagus species thus far recorded from the Moluccas are listed, with annotations.
Effects of Altitude on Maximum Raindrop Size and Fall Velocity as Limited by Collisional Breakup
Authors: Porcù Federico , D’Adderio Leo Pio , Prodi Franco , Caracciolo Clelia
Published: November 2012

Coalescence and breakup of drops are recognized as the main mechanisms determining raindrop size distributions on the ground. Full knowledge of these processes is hindered by the challenging difficulties both in the laboratory and tunnel experiments and during observations in the open air.

In real rain breakup is mainly due to collision between drops of different sizes (collisional breakup) and occurs when the collisional kinetic energy (CKE) is not absorbed by the colliding drops. In this work, the authors observe and measure the dependence on altitude of the occurrence of collisional breakup in real rainfall events, and then estimate the corresponding limit terminal velocities of drops and their size when breakup significantly takes place.

Data from Pludix, an X-band microwave disdrometer, were collected at three locations at different elevations: collisional breakup position in the power spectrum of Pludix increases toward higher frequencies with increasing altitude. Terminal velocities and sizes of the drops at breakup were determined consequently, with drop sizes resulting in 4.55 ± 0.35, 4.02 ± 0.32, and 3.16 ± 0.3 mm for altitudes of 15, 950, and 3300 m MSL, respectively. The authors computed the CKE of the colliding drops at the breakup, finding an upper limiting value of about 1.22 × 10−5 J for all three altitudes. This shows that most dominant collisional breakup signature occurs at similar CKE values for all three locations, corresponding to different drop diameters at different altitudes because of the effect of air density on the drop terminal velocity.
Association of IL12B polymorphisms with susceptibility to Graves ophthalmopathy in a Taiwan Chinese population
Authors: Liu Yu-Huei , Chen Ching-Chu , Liao Li-Ling , Wan Lei , Tsai Chang-Hai , Tsai Fuu-Jen
Published: November 2012

Background

Interleukin 12B (IL12B) gene polymorphisms have been linked to several inflammatory diseases, but their role in the development of Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) in Graves disease (GD) patients is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease association of IL12B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Methods

A Taiwan Chinese population comprising 200 GD patients with GO and 271 GD patients without GO was genotyped using an allele-specific extension and ligation method. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was estimated using the chi-square test. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between GD patients with and without GO using the chi-square test.

Results

The genotype and allele frequencies of examined SNPs did not differ between GD patients with and without GO. Although the genotype distribution remained nonsignificant in the sex-stratified analyses, the frequency of the T allele at SNP rs1003199 was significantly higher in patients with GO in the male cohort (P = 6.00 × 10-3). In addition, haplotypes of IL12B may be used to predict the risk of GO (P = 1.70 × 10-2); however, we could not prove the statistical significance of analysis after applying the Bonferroni correction.

Conclusions

Our results provide new information that the examined IL12B gene polymorphisms may be associated with susceptibility to GO in the Taiwan Chinese population in a sex-specific manner. This conclusion requires further investigation.
A Toolkit for bulk PCR-based marker design from next-generation sequence data: application for development of a framework linkage map in bulb onion (Allium cepa L.)
Authors: Baldwin Samantha , Revanna Roopashree , Thomson Susan , Pither-Joyce Meeghan , Wright Kathryn , Crowhurst Ross , Fiers Mark , Chen Leshi , Macknight Richard , McCallum John A
Published: November 2012

Background

Although modern sequencing technologies permit the ready detection of numerous DNA sequence variants in any organisms, converting such information to PCR-based genetic markers is hampered by a lack of simple, scalable tools. Onion is an example of an under-researched crop with a complex, heterozygous genome where genome-based research has previously been hindered by limited sequence resources and genetic markers.

Results

We report the development of generic tools for large-scale web-based PCR-based marker design in the Galaxy bioinformatics framework, and their application for development of next-generation genetics resources in a wide cross of bulb onion (Allium cepaL.). Transcriptome sequence resources were developed for the homozygous doubled-haploid bulb onion line ‘CUDH2150’ and the genetically distant Indian landrace ‘Nasik Red’, using 454™ sequencing of normalised cDNA libraries of leaf and shoot. Read mapping of ‘Nasik Red’ reads onto ‘CUDH2150’ assemblies revealed 16836 indel and SNP polymorphisms that were mined for portable PCR-based marker development. Tools for detection of restriction polymorphisms and primer set design were developed in BioPython and adapted for use in the Galaxy workflow environment, enabling large-scale and targeted assay design. Using PCR-based markers designed with these tools, a framework genetic linkage map of over 800cM spanning all chromosomes was developed in a subset of 93 F2progeny from a very large F2family developed from the ‘Nasik Red’ x ‘CUDH2150’ inter-cross. The utility of tools and genetic resources developed was tested by designing markers to transcription factor-like polymorphic sequences. Bin mapping these markers using a subset of 10 progeny confirmed the ability to place markers within 10 cM bins, enabling increased efficiency in marker assignment and targeted map refinement. The major genetic loci conditioning red bulb colour (R) and fructan content (Frc) were located on this map by QTL analysis.

Conclusions

The generic tools developed for the Galaxy environment enable rapid development of sets of PCR assays targeting sequence variants identified from Illumina and 454 sequence data. They enable non-specialist users to validate and exploit large volumes of next-generation sequence data using basic equipment.
Regional evidence of modulation of cardiac adiponectin level in dilated cardiomyopathy: pilot study in a porcine animal model
Authors: Caselli Chiara , Lionetti Vincenzo , Cabiati Manuela , Prescimone Tommaso , Aquaro Giovanni D , Ottaviano Virginia , Bernini Fabio , Mattii Letizia , Del Ry Silvia , Giannessi Daniela
Published: November 2012

Background

The role of systemic and myocardial adiponectin (ADN) in dilated cardiomyopathy is still debated. We tested the regulation of both systemic and myocardial ADN and the relationship with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in a swine model of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods and results

Cardiac tissue was collected from seven instrumented adult male minipigs by pacing the left ventricular (LV) free wall (180 beats/min, 3 weeks), both from pacing (PS) and opposite sites (OS), and from five controls. Circulating ADN levels were inversely related to global and regional cardiac function. Myocardial ADN in PS was down-regulated compared to control (p < 0.05), yet ADN receptor 1 was significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05). No modifications of AMPK were observed in either region of the failing heart. Similarly, myocardial mRNA levels of PPARγ, PPARα, TNFα, iNOS were unchanged compared to controls.

Conclusions

Paradoxically, circulating ADN did not show any cardioprotective effect, confirming its role as negative prognostic biomarker of heart failure. Myocardial ADN was reduced in PS compared to control in an AMPK-independent fashion, suggesting the occurrence of novel mechanisms by which reduced cardiac ADN levels may regionally mediate the decline of cardiac function.
Expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition-related markers in lymph node metastases as a surrogate for primary tumor metastatic potential in breast cancer
Authors: Markiewicz Aleksandra , Ahrends Tomasz , Wełnicka-Jaśkiewicz Marzena , Seroczyńska Barbara , Skokowski Jarosław , Jaśkiewicz Janusz , Szade Jolanta , Biernat Wojciech , Żaczek Anna J
Published: November 2012

Background

Breast cancers are phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous tumors containing multiple cancer cell populations with various metastatic potential. Aggressive tumor cell subpopulations might more easily be captured in lymph nodes metastases (LNM) than in primary tumors (PT). We evaluated mRNA and protein levels of master EMT regulators: TWIST1, SNAIL and SLUG, protein levels of EMT-related markers: E-cadherin, vimentin, and expression of classical breast cancer receptors: HER2, ER and PgR in PT and corresponding LNM. The results were correlated with clinicopathological data and patients outcomes.

Methods

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from PT and matched LNM from 42 stage II-III breast cancer patients were examined. Expression of TWIST1, SNAIL and SLUG was measured by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. Kaplan-Meier curves for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using F-Cox test. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed using Cox regression analysis.

Results

On average, mRNA expression of TWIST1, SNAIL and SLUG was significantly higher in LNM compared to PT (P < 0.00001 for all). Gene and protein levels of TWIST1, SNAIL and SLUG were highly discordant between PT and matched LNM. Increased mRNA expression of TWIST1 and SNAIL in LNM was associated with shorter OS (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively) and DFS (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively), whereas their expression in PT had no prognostic impact. Negative-to-positive switch of SNAIL protein correlated with decreased OS and DFS (HR = 4.6; 1.1-18.7; P = 0.03 and HR = 3.8; 1.0-48.7; P = 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions

LNM are enriched in cells with more aggressive phenotype, marked by elevated levels of EMT regulators. High expression of TWIST1 and SNAIL in LNM, as well as negative-to-positive conversion of SNAIL confer worse prognosis, confirming the correlation of EMT with aggressive disease behavior. Thus, molecular profiling of LNM may be used as surrogate marker for aggressiveness and metastatic potential of PT.
GPR30 regulates the EGFR-Akt cascade and predicts lower survival in patients with ovarian cancer
Authors: Fujiwara Satoe , Terai Yoshito , Kawaguchi Hiroshi , Takai Masaaki , Yoo Saha , Tanaka Yoshimichi , Tanaka Tomohito , Tsunetoh Satoshi , Sasaki Hiroshi , Kanemura Masanori , Tanabe Akiko , Yamashita Yoshiki , Ohmichi Masahide
Published: November 2012

Objectives

G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is a 7-transmembrane estrogen receptor that functions alongside traditional estrogen receptors to regulate the cellular responses to estrogen. Recent studies suggest that GPR30 expression is associated with a poor prognosis, and that this is due to the GPR30-mediated transactivation of the EGFR in breast cancer. However, the biological contribution of GPR30 in ovarian cancer remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationships between GPR30 expression and the clinicopathological findings, and to determine how the signaling cascade influences the prognosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods

The expression levels of GPR30, EGFR, ERα, and ERβ were analyzed using an immunohistochemical analysis, and their correlations with the clinicopathological features were examined in 10 patients with borderline malignant tumors and 152 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. We also examined whether GPR30 signaling activates the EGFR-Akt pathway in an ovarian cancer cell line (Caov-3) by a Western blotting analysis.

Results

The GPR30 expression in ovarian carcinomas was significantly higher than that in borderline malignancies (p=0.0016), and was not associated with the expression of the EGFR, ERα, or ERβ. The expression of GPR30 in clear cell carcinomas was significantly lower than that in other subtypes of cancer (P <; 0.001). The expression of both GPR30 and EGFR was significantly associated with a poor prognosis in terms of the progression-free survival rate. The phosphorylation of the EGFR and Akt could be significantly enhanced by G1 (p <; 0.05) and inhibited by a Src family kinase inhibitor.

Conclusion

The expression of both GPR30 and EGFR is associated with a poor outcome in ovarian cancer, and GPR30 increases the phosphorylation of Akt via the EGFR in ovarian cancer cells. The regulation of GPR30 might be a potentially useful new therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.
Polymorphisms in peptidylarginine deiminase associate with rheumatoid arthritis in diverse Asian populations: evidence from MyEIRA study and meta-analysis
Authors: Too Chun Lai , Murad Shahnaz , Dhaliwal Jasbir Singh , Larsson Per , Jiang Xia , Ding Bo , Alfredsson Lars , Klareskog Lars , Padyukov Leonid
Published: November 2012

Introduction

The majority of our knowledge regarding disease-related mechanisms of uncontrolled citrullination and anti-citrullinated protein antibody development in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated in Caucasian populations. However, peptidylarginine deiminase (PADI) type 4 gene polymorphisms are associated with RA in East Asian populations and weak or no association was found in Caucasian populations. This study explores the association between the PADI4 polymorphisms and RA risk in a multiethnic population residing in South East Asia with the goal of elucidating generalizability of association in non-Caucasian populations.

Methods

A total of 320 SNPs from the PADI locus (including PADI1, PADI2, PADI3, PADI4 and PADI6 genes) were genotyped in 1,238 RA cases and 1,571 control subjects from the Malaysian Epidemiological Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis (MyEIRA) case-control study. Additionally, we conducted meta-analysis of our data together with the previously published studies of RA from East Asian populations.

Results

The overall odds ratio (ORoverall) for the PADI4 (rs2240340) allelic model was 1.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00 to 1.23, P = 0.04) and for the genotypic model was 1.20 (95% CI = 1.01 to 1.44, P = 0.04). Haplotype analysis for four selected PADI4 SNPs revealed a significant association of one with susceptibility (P = 0.001) and of another with a protective effect (P = 0.02). The RA susceptibility was further confirmed when combined meta-analysis was performed using these data together with data from five previously published studies from Asia comprising 5,192 RA cases and 4,317 control subjects (ORoverall = 1.23 (95% CI = 1.16 to 1.31, Pheterogeneity = 0.08) and 1.31 (95% CI = 1.20 to 1.44, Pheterogeneity = 0.32) in allele and genotype-based models, respectively). In addition, we also detected a novel association of PADI2 genetic variant rs1005753 with RA (ORoverall = 0.87 (95% CI = 0.77 to 0.99)).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates an association between PADI4 and RA in the multiethnic population from South East Asia and suggests additional association with a PADI2 gene. The study thus provides further support for the notion that polymorphisms in genes for enzymes responsible for citrullination contribute to RA development in multiple populations of Asian descent.
Patterns and early evolution of organ failure in the intensive care unit and their relation to outcome
Authors: Sakr Yasser , Lobo Suzana M , Moreno Rui P , Gerlach Herwig , Ranieri V Marco , Michalopoulos Argyris , Vincent Jean-Louis ,   the SOAP Investigators
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Recognition of patterns of organ failure may be useful in characterizing the clinical course of critically ill patients. We investigated the patterns of early changes in organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their relation to outcome.

Methods

Using the database from a large prospective European study, we studied 2,933 patients who had stayed more than 48 hours in the ICU and described patterns of organ failure and their relation to outcome. Patients were divided into three groups: patients without sepsis, patients in whom sepsis was diagnosed within the first 48 hours after ICU admission, and patients in whom sepsis developed more than 48 hours after admission. Organ dysfunction was assessed by using the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score.

Results

A total of 2,110 patients (72% of the study population) had organ failure at some point during their ICU stay. Patients who exhibited an improvement in organ function in the first 24 hours after admission to the ICU had lower ICU and hospital mortality rates compared with those who had unchanged or increased SOFA scores (12.4 and 18.4% versus 19.6 and 24.5%, P < 0.05, pairwise). As expected, organ failure was more common in sepsis than in nonsepsis patients. In patients with single-organ failure, in-hospital mortality was greater in sepsis than in nonsepsis patients. However, in patients with multiorgan failure, mortality rates were similar regardless of the presence of sepsis. Irrespective of the presence of sepsis, delta SOFA scores over the first 4 days in the ICU were higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors and decreased significantly over time in survivors.

Conclusions

Early changes in organ function are strongly related to outcome. In patients with single-organ failure, in-hospital mortality was higher in sepsis than in nonsepsis patients. However, in multiorgan failure, mortality rates were not influenced by the presence of sepsis.