bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding of Electrolyte Stability and Its Impact to Lifespan of Li-O2 Battery
Authors: Shui Jiang-Lan , Okasinski John , Zhao Dan , Almer Jon , Liu Di-Jia
Published: April 2013

The impact to the Li-O2 battery performance from the insoluble lithium salts formed from the electrolyte decomposition during discharge-charge cycle was investigated by a microfocused synchrotron X-ray diffraction (m-XRD) technique, together with the conventional imaging and spectroscopic methods. Lithium alkyl carbonate deposit was found throughout the battery. Surprisingly, the concentration of Li2CO3 in the separator is significantly higher than that in both electrodes. Imaging method such as Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the precipitates grew on the separator fiber surface, ultimately obstructing the pores serving as the ion-transport channel. A model based on finite-element analysis was developed to qualitatively illustrate the possible chemical/physical processes leading to high accumulation of insoluble precipitates in the separator region.
Evaluation of Bioluminescence Activity of Firefly Luciferin Nucleotide Derivatives
Authors: Iwano Satoshi , Kojima Satoshi , Hirano Takashi , Maki Shojiro , Niwa Haruki
Published: April 2013

We study firefly bioluminescence to create practical bio imaging tool. Firefly bioluminescence has two serious problems; color and brightness control. We give solutions; archive multi-color emission (430 ~ 680 nm) and Emission Enhancing Technology (EET, 1000 fold brightness than wild type). But these solutions are not enough as practical use because of low brightness (multicolor) and low stability (EET). In this study, we focused on lumenscent intensity, in fact improvement of EET was done for create practical imaging tool.
Metal-Salens as Catalysts In Electroreductive Cyclization and Electrohydrocyclization: Computational and Experimental Studies
Authors: Yates Jessica M. , Fell Jason S. , Miranda James A. , Gherman Benjamin F.
Published: April 2013

The use of chiral Ni(II)-salen derivatives was examined in mediated electrohydrocyclization reactions. Cyclic voltammetry established the existence of a catalytic current. Bulk electrolysis revealed a slight change in the diastereoselectivity of the cyclizations. Computational studies were conducted that showed that Ni(II) and Zn(II) were the best metals for electron transfer, while the analogous Co(II) and Cu(II) compounds would likely not result in effective electron transfer.
Biomarkers of Periodontal Tissue Remodeling during Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mice and Men: Overview and Clinical Relevance
Authors: d′Apuzzo Fabrizia , Cappabianca Salvatore , Ciavarella Domenico , Monsurrò Angela , Silvestrini-Biavati Armando , Perillo Letizia
Published: April 2013

Biologically active substances are expressed by cells within the periodontium in response to mechanical stimuli from orthodontic appliances. Several possible biomarkers representing biological modifications during specific phenomena as simile‐inflammatory process, bone resorption and formation, periodontal ligament changes, and vascular and neural responses are proposed. Citations to potentially published trials were conducted by searching PubMed, Cochrane databases, and scientific textbooks. Additionally, hand searching and contact with experts in the area were undertaken to identify potentially relevant published and unpublished studies. Selection criteria were as follows: animal models involving only mice and rats undergoing orthodontic treatment; collection of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) as a noninvasively procedure for humans; no other simultaneous treatment that could affect experimental orthodontic movement. The data suggest that knowledge of the remodeling process occurring in periodontal tissues during orthodontic and orthopedic therapies may be a clinical usefulness procedure leading to proper choice of mechanical stress to improve and to shorten the period of treatment, avoiding adverse consequences. The relevance for clinicians of evaluating the rate of some substances as valid biomarkers of periodontal effects during orthodontic movement, by means of two models of study, mice and men, is underlined.
NFAT Signaling in Osteoblasts Regulates the Hematopoietic Niche in the Bone Microenvironment
Authors: Sesler Cheryl L. , Zayzafoon Majd
Published: April 2013

Osteoblasts support hematopoietic cell development, including B lymphopoiesis. We have previously shown that the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Interestingly, in smooth muscle, NFAT has been shown to regulate the expression of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), a mediator of cell adhesion and signaling during leukocyte development. To examine whether NFAT signaling in osteoblasts regulates hematopoietic developmentin vivo, we generated a mouse model expressing dominant-negative NFAT driven by the 2.3 kb fragment of the collagen-αI promoter to disrupt NFAT activity in osteoblasts (dnNFATOB). Bone histomorphometry showed that dnNFATOBmice have significant increases in bone volume (44%) and mineral apposition rate (131%) and decreased trabecular thickness (18%). In the bone microenvironment, dnNFATOBmice displayed a significant increase (87%) in Lineage−cKit+Sca-1+(LSK) cells and significant decreases in B220+CD19−IgM−pre-pro-B cells (41%) and B220+CD19+IgM+immature B cells (40%). Concurrent with these findings, LSK cell differentiation into B220+cells was inhibited when cocultured on differentiated primary osteoblasts harvested from dnNFATOBmice. Gene expression and protein levels of VCAM-1 in osteoblasts decreased in dnNFATOBmice compared to controls. These data suggest that osteoblast-specific NFAT activity mediates early B lymphopoiesis, possibly by regulating VCAM-1 expression on osteoblasts.
Neoliberalism, the Knowledge Economy, and the Learner: Challenging the Inevitability of the Commodified Self as an Outcome of Education
Authors: Patrick Fiona
Published: April 2013

Neoliberalism is now a globalised agenda that underpins educational strategy and policy in many nations. The evolution of the concept of the knowledge economy and of the knowledge worker has been allied to the rise of neoliberalism as an end with respect to educational processes. This review article considers the ways in which constructs of the knowledge economy within a neoliberal agenda have given rise to specific discourses and conceptualisations of educational outcomes and aims. In particular, the value of knowledge and learning within neoliberal constructions of education will be discussed. The positioning within these constructions of the learner as a reification of economic capital will also be explored. This paper argues for a reconsideration of the purposes of education if the commodified self is to be resisted.
A Numerical Approach to Static Deflection Analysis of an Infinite Beam on a Nonlinear Elastic Foundation: One-Way Spring Model
Authors: Park Jinsoo , Bai Hyeree , Jang T. S.
Published: April 2013

A numerical procedure proposed by Jang et al. (2011) is applied for the numerical analyzing of static deflection of an infinite beam on a nonlinear elastic foundation. And one-way spring model is used for the modeling of fully nonlinear elastic foundation. The nonlinear procedure involves Green’s function technique and an iterative method using the pseudo spring coefficient. The workability of the numerical procedure is demonstrated through showing the validity of the solution and the convergence test with some external loads.
Investigation of Anti-Toxocara Antibodies in Epileptic Patients and Comparison of Two Methods: ELISA and Western Blotting
Authors: Zibaei Mohammad , Firoozeh Farzaneh , Bahrami Parviz , Sadjjadi Seyed Mahmoud
Published: April 2013

The relationship between Toxocara infection and epilepsy was previously demonstrated by several case-control studies and case reports. These previous studies were often based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Toxocara excretory-secretory antigens, which are not specific due to cross-reactivity with other parasitic infections such as ascariasis, trichuriasis, and anisakiasis. An immunoblot analysis is highly specific and can detect low levels of Toxocara antibodies. Therefore, this assay may be useful in the identification of toxocariasis in epileptic patients. We examined patients who had epilepsy and healthy subjects for seropositivity for Toxocara infection by ELISA and Western blotting. Out of 85 epileptic patients, 10 (11.8%) and 3 (3.5%) persons exhibited Toxocara immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies responses by ELISA and by both techniques, respectively. Moreover, in the healthy group (), 3 (3.5%) persons were positive by ELISA, but none was detected by Western blotting. This study indicates that Toxocara infection is a risk factor for epilepsy in Iran. These findings strongly suggest the need to perform Western blotting immunodiagnosis, as well as the ELISA using Toxocara excretory-secretory antigens, to improve diagnosis of human toxocariasis in patients with epilepsy.
Interference Coordination in Multiple Antenna Based LTE-Advanced Heterogeneous Systems
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhang Li , Chen Hua , Peng Mugen
Published: April 2013

With picocells deployed in the coverage of a macrocell in heterogeneous networks (HetNets), the macrocell evolved NodeB (MeNB) may receive interference signals from the picocell users, which results in more severe co-channel interference (CCI) problem in the uplink. In this paper, the spatial uplink interference coordination is investigated in multiple antenna systems, according to which the receiver coding matrix is generated by MeNB to mitigate the CCI from picocell users. Two interference coordination (IC) schemes are proposed based on whether the receiver coding matrix is full rank or not, named as full coding (IC-FC) and part coding (IC-PC), respectively. The application of the proposed schemes is discussed in single picocell and multiple picocell scenarios. The CCI can be totally canceled in single picocell scenario, and an algorithm is developed in multiple picocell networks to mitigate the most severely interfering picocell. Link level and system level simulations are applied, and it is shown that significant performance gain is achieved by our proposed schemes over traditional IC receivers.
Yueju Pill Rapidly Induces Antidepressant-Like Effects and Acutely Enhances BDNF Expression in Mouse Brain
Authors: Xue Wenda , Zhou Xin , Yi Nan , Jiang Lihua , Tao Weiwei , Wu Runjie , Wang Dan , Jiang Jingjing , Ge Xiaoyin , Wang Yuyue , Wu Haoxin , Chen Gang
Published: April 2013

The traditional antidepressants have a major disadvantage in delayed onset of efficacy, and the emerging fast-acting antidepressant ketamine has adverse behavioral and neurotoxic effects. Yueju pill, an herb medicine formulated eight hundred years ago by Doctor Zhu Danxi, has been popularly prescribed in China for alleviation of depression-like symptoms. Although several clinical outcome studies reported the relative short onset of antidepressant effects of Yueju, this has not been scientifically investigated. We, therefore, examined the rapid antidepressant effect of Yueju in mice and tested the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that acute administration of ethanol extract of Yueju rapidly attenuated depressive-like symptoms in learned helpless paradigm, and the antidepressant-like effects were sustained for at least 24 hours in tail suspension test in ICR mice. Additionally, Yueju, like ketamine, rapidly increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, whereas the BDNF mRNA expression remained unaltered. Yueju rapidly reduced the phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), leading to desuppression of BDNF synthesis. Unlike ketamine, both the BDNF expression and eEF2 phosphorylation were revered at 24 hours after Yueju administration. This study is the first to demonstrate the rapid antidepressant effects of an herb medicine, offering an opportunity to improve therapy of depression.
Commuting Pattern with Park-and-Ride Option for Heterogeneous Commuters
Authors: Zhu Chengjuan , Jia Bin , Han Linghui , Gao Ziyou
Published: April 2013

We study the effect of the parking on heterogeneous commuters' travel choice in a competitive transportation system which consists of a subway and a parallel road with a bottleneck of limited service capacity. Every morning, commuters either use their private cars only or drive their cars to the bottleneck, park there, and then take the subway to the destination. Considering the effects caused by body congestion in carriage and the parking fees, we developed a bottleneck model to describe the commuters' travel choice. There exist several types of equilibrium that corresponds to user equilibrium. We investigated the influence of the capacity of the bottleneck and the total travel demand on the travel behaviors and on the total social cost. It is shown that there exists a scheme with suitable subway fare and parking fees to implement the minimum total social cost.
A Variational Approach to an Inhomogeneous Second-Order Ordinary Differential System
Authors: Muatjetjeja B. , Khalique C. M.
Published: April 2013

This paper studies the coupled inhomogeneous Lane-Emden system from the Lagrangian formulation point of view. The existence of multiple positive solutions has been discussed in the literature. Here we aim to classify the system with respect to a first-order Lagrangian according to the Noether point symmetries it admits. We then obtain first integrals of the various cases which admit Noether point symmetries.
Coexisting Disorders and Problems in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Höglund Carlsson Lotta , Norrelgen Fritjof , Kjellmer Liselotte , Westerlund Joakim , Gillberg Christopher , Fernell Elisabeth
Published: April 2013

Objectives. To analyze cooccurring disorders and problems in a representative group of 198 preschool children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who had had interventions at a specialized habilitation center. Methods. Parents and children were seen by a research team. Data were based on parental interviews, pediatric assessments, and tests of the child. Information on autistic symptoms, general cognitive function, speech and language, motor function, epilepsy, vision, hearing, activity level, behavior, and sleep was collected. Results. Three ASD categories were used: (1) autistic disorder (AD), (2) autistic‐like condition (ALC) or Asperger syndrome, and (3) one group with autistic symptoms/traits but not entirely all its criteria met for ASD. Children with autism had a mean of 3.2 coexisting disorders or problems, the ALC/Asperger group had a mean of 1.6, and children with autistic traits had a mean of 1.6. The most common disorder/problems in the total group pertained to language problems (78%), intellectual disability (ID) (49%), below average motor function (37%), and severe hyperactivity/ADHD (33%). Conclusions. The results accord with the concept of early symptomatic syndromes eliciting neurodevelopmental clinical examination (ESSENCE), and highlight the need of considering ASD in a broad perspective taking also other cooccurring developmental disorders into account.
Formalization of Linear Space Theory in the Higher-Order Logic Proving System
Authors: Zhang Jie , Mao Danwen , Guan Yong
Published: April 2013

Theorem proving is an important approach in formal verification. Higher-order logic is a form of predicate logic that is distinguished from first-order logic by additional quantifiers and stronger semantics. Higher-order logic is more expressive. This paper presents the formalization of the linear space theory in HOL4. A set of properties is characterized in HOL4. This result is used to build the underpinnings for the application of higher-order logic in a wider spectrum of engineering applications.
Age of Onset of Mood Disorders and Complexity of Personality Traits
Authors: Ostacoli L. , Zuffranieri M. , Cavallo M. , Zennaro A. , Rainero I. , Pinessi L. , Pacchiana Parravicini M. V. , Ladisa E. , Furlan P. M. , Picci R. L.
Published: April 2013

Objective. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the link between the age of onset of mood disorders and the complexity of the personality traits. Methods. 209 patients with major depressive or manic/hypomanic episodes were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Axis I diagnoses and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). Results. 17.2% of the patients had no elevated MCMI-III scores, 45.9% had one peak, and 36.9% had a complex personality disorder with two or more elevated scores. Mood disorders onset of 29 years or less was the variable most related to the complexity of personality disorders as indicated from a recursive partitioning analysis. Conclusions. The relationship between mood disorders and personality traits differ in reference to age of onset of the mood disorder. In younger patients, maladaptive personality traits can evolve both in a mood disorder onset and in a complex personality disorder, while the later development of a severe mood disorder can increase the personality symptomatology. Our results suggest a threshold of mood disorder onset higher compared to previous studies. Maladaptive personality traits should be assessed not only during adolescence but also in young adults to identify and treat potential severe mood disorders.
Retinoic Acid Decorated Albumin‐Chitosan Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Varshosaz Jaleh , Hassanzadeh Farshid , Sadeghi Hojjat , Ghelich Khan Zahra , Rostami Mahboobeh
Published: April 2013

Retinoic acid (R) grafted chitosan (C) copolymers with different degree of substitution of retinoic acid on the chitosan were synthesized. Retinoic acid targeted chitosan‐albumin nanoparticles were prepared for targeted delivery of doxorubicin in hepatocellular carcinoma by coacervation method. Physical properties of nanoparticles including particle size, zeta potential, drug loading efficiency, and drug release profiles were studied. TEM micrographs were taken to see the morphology of nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity of doxorubicin‐loaded nanoparticles was studied on HepG2 cells using MTT assay and their cellular uptake by fluorescence microscopy. FTIR and 1HNMR spectra confirmed successful production of RC conjugate which was used in production of the targeted RC‐albumin nanoparticles. IC50 of drug loaded in these nanoparticles reduced to half and one‐third compared to nontargeted nanoparticles and free drug, respectively.
A Mobile Detector for Muon Measurements Based on Two Different Techniques
Authors: Mitrica B. , Stanca D. , Petcu M. , Brancus I. M. , Margineanu R. , Apostu A. , Gomoiu C. , Saftoiu A. , Toma G. , Rebel H. , Haungs A. , Sima O. , Gherghel-Lascu A. , Niculescu-Oglinzanu M.
Published: April 2013

Precise measurements of the muon flux are important for different practical applications, both in environmental studies and for the estimation of the water equivalent depths of underground sites. A mobile detector for cosmic muon flux measurements has been set up at IFIN-HH, Romania. The device is used to measure the muon flux on different locations at the surface and underground. Its first configuration, not used in the present, has been composed of two 1 m2scintillator plates, each viewed by wave length shifters and read out by two Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs). A more recent configuration, consists of two 1 m2detection layers, each one including four 1 · 0,25 m2large scintillator plates. The light output in each plate is collected by twelve optical fibers and then read out by one PMT. Comparative results were obtained with both configurations.
Electrochemical Behavior of Ni(II)-Salen at the Mercury Electrode
Authors: Mardini Farias Pércio Augusto , Rodrigues Bastos Margarida Bethlem
Published: April 2013

The complex Ni(II)-salen has been studied using cyclic and square-wave cathodic stripping voltammetry at the static mercury drop electrode in an aqueous media of phosphate and Hepes buffers (at pH 7.0). The resulting voltammograms consist of a totally irreversible one-electron transfer attributable to the coupling of Ni(II) salen/Ni(I) salen via an EC mechanism. The mean value for the transfer coefficientαin both supporting electrolytes was calculated as 0.35 ± 0.05. The amount of reactant adsorbed after 60 s of accumulation at −700 mV was calculated to be 2.8 × 10−8 mol·cm−2. The detection limit for nickel determination was found to be 3.4 × 10−9 mol L−1.
Expression and Complex Formation of MMP9, MMP2, NGAL, and TIMP1 in Porcine Myocardium but Not in Skeletal Muscles in Male Pigs with Tachycardia-Induced Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Kiczak Liliana , Tomaszek Alicja , Bania Jacek , Paslawska Urszula , Zacharski Maciej , Noszczyk-Nowak Agnieszka , Janiszewski Adrian , Skrzypczak Piotr , Ardehali Hossein , Jankowska Ewa A. , Ponikowski Piotr
Published: April 2013

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the remodeling of extracellular matrix in various tissues. Their functioning could be related to the formation of complexes, containing MMP9, MMP2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases type 1 (TIMP1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Such complexes have not been investigated in either myocardial or skeletal muscles. We examined 20 male pigs with heart failure (HF), and 5 sham-operated animals. There were no differences in the mRNA expression of MMP9, MMP2, TIMP1, and NGAL between diseased and healthy animals, in either left ventricle (LV) myocardium or skeletal muscles. In LV from both diseased and healthy animals, in nonreducing and nondenaturing conditions, we demonstrated the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) complexes (130, 170, and 220 kDa) containing MMP9, TIMP1, and NGAL (also MMP2 in 220 kDa complex) without proteolytic activity, and a proteolytically active 115 kDa MMP9 form together with 72 and 68 kDa bands (proMMP2 and MMP2). Proteolytically active bands were also spontaneously released from HMW complexes. In skeletal muscles from both diseased and healthy animals, in nonreducing and nondenaturing conditions, we found no HMW complexes, and proteolytic activity was associated with the presence of 72 and 68 kDa bands (proMMP2 and MMP2).
Antivenom Effects of 1,2,3-Triazoles againstBothrops jararacaandLachesis mutaSnakes
Authors: Domingos Thaisa F. S. , Moura Laura de A. , Carvalho Carla , Campos Vinícius R. , Jordão Alessandro K. , Cunha Anna C. , Ferreira Vitor F. , de Souza Maria Cecília B. V. , Sanchez Eladio F. , Fuly André L.
Published: April 2013

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of proteins of both enzymes and nonenzymes, which are responsible for producing several biological effects. Human envenomation by snake bites particularly those of the viperid family induces a complex pathophysiological picture characterized by spectacular changes in hemostasis and frequently hemorrhage is also seen. The present work reports the ability of six of a series of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives to inhibit some pharmacological effects caused by the venoms ofBothrops jararacaandLachesis muta.In vitroassays showed that these compounds were impaired in a concentration-dependent manner, the fibrinogen or plasma clotting, hemolysis, and proteolysis produced by both venoms. Moreover, these compounds inhibited biological effectsin vivoas well. Mice treated with these compounds were fully protected from hemorrhagic lesions caused by such venoms. But, only theB. jararacaedema-inducing activity was neutralized by the triazoles. So the inhibitory effect of triazoles derivatives against somein vitroandin vivobiological assays of snake venoms points to promising aspects that may indicate them as molecular models to improve the production of effective antivenom or to complement antivenom neutralization, especially the local pathological effects, which are partially neutralized by antivenoms.
Macroporous Composite Cryogels with Embedded Polystyrene Divinylbenzene Microparticles for the Adsorption of Toxic Metabolites from Blood
Authors: Eichhorn Tanja , Ivanov Alexander E. , Dainiak Maria B. , Leistner André , Linsberger Ingrid , Jungvid Hans , Mikhalovsky Sergey V. , Weber Viktoria
Published: April 2013

Composite monolithic adsorbents were prepared by the incorporation of neutral polystyrene divinylbenzene (PS‐DVB) microparticles into macroporous polymer structures produced by cryogelation of agarose or poly(vinyl alcohol). The composite materials exhibited excellent flow‐through properties. Scanning electron microscopy of the composite cryogels revealed that the microparticles were covered by thin films of poly(vinyl alcohol) or agarose and thus were withheld in the monolith structure. Plain PS‐DVB microparticles showed efficient adsorption of albumin‐bound toxins related to liver failure (bilirubin and cholic acid) and of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and interleukin‐6). The rates of adsorption and the amount of adsorbed factors were lower for the embedded microparticles as compared to the parent PS‐DVB microparticles, indicating the importance of the accessibility of the adsorbent pores. Still, the macroporous composite materials showed efficient adsorption of albumin‐bound toxins related to liver failure as well as efficient binding of cytokines, combined with good blood compatibility. Thus, the incorporation of microparticles into macroporous polymer structures may provide an option for the development of adsorption modules for extracorporeal blood purification.
Unsolved Issues in the Management of High Blood Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Hubert Gordian J. , Müller-Barna Peter , Haberl Roman L.
Published: April 2013

High blood pressure is common in acute stroke patients. Very high as well as very low blood pressure is associated with poor outcome. Spontaneous fall of blood pressure within the first few days after stroke was associated both with neurological improvement and impairment. Several randomized trials investigated the pharmacological reduction of blood pressure versus control. Most trials showed no significant difference in their primary outcome apart from the INWEST trial which found an increase of poor outcome when giving intravenous nimodipine. Nevertheless, useful information can be extracted from the published data to help guide the clinician's decision. Blood pressure should only be lowered when it is clearly elevated, and early after onset, reduction should be moderate but may be achieved rapidly. No clear recommendations can be given on the substances to use; however, care should be taken with intravenous calcium channel blockers and angiotensin receptor antagonists. Two ongoing randomized trials will help to solve the questions on blood pressure management in acute stroke.
An Probability-Based Energy Model on Cache Coherence Protocol with Mobile Sensor Network
Authors: Wang Jihe , Guo Bing , Qiu Meikang
Published: April 2013

Mobile sensor networks (MSNs) are widely used in various domains to monitor, record, compute, and interact the information within an environment. To prolong the life time of each node in MSNs, energy model and conservation should be considered carefully when designing the data communication mechanism in the network. The limited battery volume and high workload on channels worsen the life times of the busy nodes. In this paper, we propose a new energy evaluating methodology of packet transmissions in MSNs, which is based on redividing network layers and describing the synchronous data flow with matrix form. We first introduce the cache coherence layer to the protocol stack of MSNs. Then, we use a set of energy probability matrices to describe and calculate the energy consumption of each state in the protocol. After that, based on our energy model, we will give out an energy evaluating method of the MSNs design, which is suitable for measuring and comparing the energy consumption from different implements of hardware/software. Our experimental results show that our approach achieves a precision with less than 2% error and provides a credible quantitative criterion for energy optimization of data communication in MSNs.
To Identify the Important Soil Properties Affecting Dinoseb Adsorption with Statistical Analysis
Authors: Guan Yiqing , Wei Jianhui , Zhang Danrong , Zu Mingjuan , Zhang Liru
Published: April 2013

Investigating the influences of soil characteristic factors on dinoseb adsorption parameter with different statistical methods would be valuable to explicitly figure out the extent of these influences. The correlation coefficients and the direct, indirect effects of soil characteristic factors on dinoseb adsorption parameter were analyzed through bivariate correlation analysis, and path analysis. With stepwise regression analysis the factors which had little influence on the adsorption parameter were excluded. Results indicate that pH and CEC had moderate relationship and lower direct effect on dinoseb adsorption parameter due to the multicollinearity with other soil factors, and organic carbon and clay contents were found to be the most significant soil factors which affect the dinoseb adsorption process. A regression is thereby set up to explore the relationship between the dinoseb adsorption parameter and the two soil factors: the soil organic carbon and clay contents. A 92% of the variation of dinoseb sorption coefficient could be attributed to the variation of the soil organic carbon and clay contents.
Nanostructures and Self‐Assembly of Organogels via Benzimidazole/Benzothiazole Imide Derivatives with Different Alkyl Substituent Chains
Authors: Shen Xihai , Jiao Tifeng , Zhang Qingrui , Guo Haiying , Lv Yaopeng , Zhou Jingxin , Gao Faming
Published: April 2013

New benzimidazole/benzothiazole imide derivatives with different alkyl substituent chains were designed and synthesized. Their gelation behaviors in 22 solvents were tested as novel low‐molecular‐mass organic gelators. The test showed that the alkyl substituent chains and headgroups of benzimidazole/benzothiazole residues in gelators played a crucial role in the gelation behavior of all compounds in various organic solvents. More alkyl chains in molecular skeletons in present gelators are favorable for the gelation of organic solvents. SEM and AFM observations revealed that the gelator molecules self‐assemble into different aggregates from wrinkle, lamella and belt to dot with change of solvents. Spectral studies indicated that there existed different H‐bond formation between imide groups and hydrophobic force of alkyl substituent chains in molecular skeletons. The present work may give some insights into design and character of new organogelators and soft materials with special molecular structures.
A Novel Method of Predicting Protein Disordered Regions Based on Sequence Features
Authors: Zhao Tong-Hui , Jiang Min , Huang Tao , Li Bi-Qing , Zhang Ning , Li Hai-Peng , Cai Yu-Dong
Published: April 2013

With a large number of disordered proteins and their important functions discovered, it is highly desired to develop effective methods to computationally predict protein disordered regions. In this study, based on Random Forest (RF), Maximum Relevancy Minimum Redundancy (mRMR), and Incremental Feature Selection (IFS), we developed a new method to predict disordered regions in proteins. The mRMR criterion was used to rank the importance of all candidate features. Finally, top 128 features were selected from the ranked feature list to build the optimal model, including 92 Position Specific Scoring Matrix (PSSM) conservation score features and 36 secondary structure features. As a result, Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.3895 was achieved on the training set by 10-fold cross-validation. On the basis of predicting results for each query sequence by using the method, we used the scanning and modification strategy to improve the performance. The accuracy (ACC) and MCC were increased by 4% and almost 0.2%, respectively, compared with other three popular predictors: DISOPRED, DISOclust, and OnD-CRF. The selected features may shed some light on the understanding of the formation mechanism of disordered structures, providing guidelines for experimental validation.
Variations of Lipoprotein(a) Levels in the Metabolic Syndrome: A Report from the Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study
Authors: Bermúdez Valmore , Rojas Joselyn , Salazar Juan , Bello Luis , Áñez Roberto , Toledo Alexandra , Chacín Maricarmen , Aguirre Miguel , Villalobos Marjorie , Chávez Mervin , Martínez María Sofía , Torres Wheeler , Torres Yaquelin , Mejías José , Mengual Edgardo , Rojas Liliana , Sánchez de Rosales Milagro , Quevedo Ana , Cano Raquel , Cabrera Mayela , París Rafael , Lubo Adonías , Montiel María , Cano Climaco
Published: April 2013

Background. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet its influence on metabolic syndrome (MS) is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact generated by this diagnosis in serum Lp(a) concentrations.Materials and Methods. A total of 1807 subjects of both genders (55.3% women and 44.7% men) belonging to the Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study were evaluated. Results were expressed as Mean ± SD, determining differences through Student’st-test and One-Way ANOVA test. Multiple logistic regression models were utilized for analyzing factors associated with elevated serum Lp(a) levels and MS. Total cholesterol and LDL-C were corrected according to Lp(a)-Cholesterol when necessary.Results. No differences were found in Lp(a) values between genders;P=0,292. The association between MS and the classification of Lp(a) was statistically significant (χ2=28.33;P<0,0001), with greater levels in subjects with this diagnosis. In the univariate analysis, subjects with each of the separate diagnostic criteria showed higher serum Lp(a) concentrations, except for hyperglycemia.Conclusions. Lp(a) values exhibit important variations regarding MS and each of its components. Impaired fasting glucose appeared as a protecting factor against elevated Lp(a) concentrations, whereas its association with LDL-C and hs-CRP suggests a potential pro-inflammatory role.
Ulinastatin Reduces Cancer Recurrence after Resection of Hepatic Metastases from Colon Cancer by Inhibiting MMP-9 Activation via the Antifibrinolytic Pathway
Authors: Xu Bo , Li Kun-ping , Shen Fei , Xiao Huan-qing , Cai Wen-song , Li Jiang-lin , Liu Qi-cai , Jia Lin
Published: April 2013

High recurrence of colon cancer liver metastasis is observed in patients after hepatic surgery, and the cause is believed to be mostly due to the growth of residual microscopic metastatic lesions within the residual liver. Therefore, triggering the progression of occult metastatic foci may be a novel strategy for improving survival from colon cancer liver metastases. In the present study, we identified an anti-recurrence effect of ulinastatin on colon cancer liver metastasis in mice after hepatectomy. Transwell cell invasion assays demonstrated that ulinastatin significantly inhibited thein vitroinvasive ability of colon cancer HCT116 cells. Moreover, gelatin zymography and ELISA analysis showed that MMP-9 activity and plasmin activity of colon cancer HCT116 cells were inhibited by ulinastatin, respectively. Furthermore,in vivoBALB/C nu/nu mice model indicated that ulinastatin effectively reduced recurrence after resection of hepatic metastases from colon cancer. The optimum timing for ulinastatin administration was one week after hepatectomy. Taken together, our findings point to the potential of ulinastatin as an effective approach in controlling recurrence of hepatic metastases from colon cancer after hepatectomy via its anti-plasmin activity.
Efficient IDUA Gene Mutation Detection with Combined Use of dHPLC and Dried Blood Samples
Authors: Ribeiro Diogo , Cardoso Ana , Duarte Ana Joana , Vieira Luis , Amaral Olga
Published: April 2013

Objectives. Development of a simple mutation directed method in order to allow lowering the cost of mutation testing using an easily obtainable biological material. Assessment of the feasibility of such method was tested using a GC-rich amplicon. Design and Methods. A method of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) was improved and implemented as a technique for the detection of variants in exon 9 of the IDUA gene. The optimized method was tested in 500 genomic DNA samples obtained from dried blood spots (DBS). Results. With this dHPLC approach it was possible to detect different variants, including the common p.Trp402Ter mutation in the IDUA gene. The high GC content did not interfere with the resolution and reliability of this technique, and discrimination of G-C transversions was also achieved. Conclusion. This PCR-based dHPLC method is proved to be a rapid, a sensitive, and an excellent option for screening numerous samples obtained from DBS. Furthermore, it resulted in the consistent detection of clearly distinguishable profiles of the common p.Trp402Ter IDUA mutation with an advantageous balance of cost and technical requirements.
Oxidative Stress and Free-Radical Oxidation in BCG Granulomatosis Development
Authors: Menshchikova Elena , Zenkov Nikolay , Tkachev Victor , Potapova Oksana , Cherdantseva Liliya , Shkurupiy Vyacheslav
Published: April 2013

Background. Little is known about the role of free-radical and oxidative stress signaling in granuloma maturation and resolution. We aimed to study the activity of free-radical oxidation processes in the dynamics of BCG-induced generalized granulomatosis in mice.Methods. Chronic granulomatous inflammation was induced in male BALB/c mice by intravenously injecting the BCG vaccine, and the production of oxidative stress (activity of free-radical oxidation processes) and histological changes in the lungs, liver, and peritoneal exudate were measured 3, 30, 60, and 90 days after infection.Results. The tuberculous granuloma numerical density and diameter continuously increased from day 30 to day 90, and the macrophage content within the granulomas progressively diminished with a concomitant elevation in the number of epithelioid cells. The activity of the free-radical oxidation processes in the liver (i.e., the intensity of the homogenate chemiluminescence) reached a maximum at postinfection day 60 and subsequently began to decrease. The peak generation of reactive oxygen species by phagocytes in the peritoneal exudate (measured using flow cytometry) was also shifted in time and fell on day 30.Conclusions. The rise in the steady-state concentration of H2O2in the liver of mice with BCG-induced granulomatosis is not related to local H2O2production by phagocytes, and a decrease in the severity of generalized inflammation precedes the resolution of local inflammation.
Automated Brain Tissue Classification by Multisignal Wavelet Decomposition and Independent Component Analysis
Authors: S. Sindhumol , Kumar Anil , Balakrishnan Kannan
Published: April 2013

Multispectral analysis is a potential approach in simultaneous analysis of brain MRI sequences. However, conventional classification methods often fail to yield consistent accuracy in tissue classification and abnormality extraction. Feature extraction methods like Independent Component Analysis (ICA) have been effectively used in recent studies to improve the results. However, these methods were inefficient in identifying less frequently occurred features like small lesions. A new method, Multisignal Wavelet Independent Component Analysis (MW-ICA), is proposed in this work to resolve this issue. First, we applied a multisignal wavelet analysis on input multispectral data. Then, reconstructed signals from detail coefficients were used in conjunction with original input signals to do ICA. Finally, Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering was performed on generated results for visual and quantitative analysis. Reproducibility and accuracy of the classification results from proposed method were evaluated by synthetic and clinical abnormal data. To ensure the positive effect of the new method in classification, we carried out a detailed comparative analysis of reproduced tissues with those from conventional ICA. Reproduced small abnormalities were observed to give good accuracy/Tanimoto Index values, 98.69%/0.89, in clinical analysis. Experimental results recommend MW-ICA as a promising method for improved brain tissue classification.
Tangent Orbital Rendezvous Using Linear Relative Motion withJ2Perturbations
Authors: Zhang Gang , Wang Dongzhe , Cao Xibin , Sun Zhaowei
Published: April 2013

The tangent-impulse coplanar orbit rendezvous problem is studied based on the linear relative motion forJ2-perturbed elliptic orbits. There are three cases: (1) only the first impulse is tangent; (2) only the second impulse is tangent; (3) both impulses are tangent. For a given initial impulse point, the first two problems can be transformed into finding all roots of a single variable function about the transfer time, which can be done by the secant method. The bitangent rendezvous problem requires the same solution for the first two problems. By considering the initial coasting time, the bitangent rendezvous solution is obtained with a difference function. A numerical example for two coplanar elliptic orbits withJ2perturbations is given to verify the efficiency of these proposed techniques.
Genetic Dissection of New Genotypes of Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleiferaLam.) Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Marker
Authors: Rufai Shamsuddeen , Hanafi M. M. , Rafii M. Y. , Ahmad S. , Arolu I. W. , Ferdous Jannatul
Published: April 2013

The knowledge of genetic diversity of tree crop is very important for breeding and improvement program for the purpose of improving the yield and quality of its produce. Genetic diversity study and analysis of genetic relationship among 20Moringa oleiferawere carried out with the aid of twelve primers from, random amplified polymorphic DNA marker. The seeds of twentyM. oleiferagenotypes from various origins were collected and germinated and raised in nursery before transplanting to the field at University Agricultural Park (TPU). Genetic diversity parameter, such as Shannon's information index and expected heterozygosity, revealed the presence of high genetic divergence with value of 1.80 and 0.13 for Malaysian population and 0.30 and 0.19 for the international population, respectively. Mean of Nei's gene diversity index for the two populations was estimated to be 0.20. In addition, a dendrogram constructed, using UPGMA cluster analysis based on Nei's genetic distance, grouped the twentyM. oleiferainto five distinct clusters. The study revealed a great extent of variation which is essential for successful breeding and improvement program. From this study,M. oleiferagenotypes of wide genetic origin, such as T-01, T-06, M-01, and M-02, are recommended to be used as parent in future breeding program.
Coefficient Inequalities of Analytic Functions Related to Robertson Functions
Authors: Arif Muhammad , Ali Mumtaz
Published: April 2013

We introduce and study a subclass of analytic functions related to Robertson functions. Here we discuss the coefficient estimate for function in this class.
Survival Analysis by Penalized Regression and Matrix Factorization
Authors: Lai Yeuntyng , Hayashida Morihiro , Akutsu Tatsuya
Published: April 2013

Because every disease has its unique survival pattern, it is necessary
to find a suitable model to simulate followups. DNA microarray is a useful technique to detect thousands of gene expressions at one time and is usually employed to classify different types of cancer. We propose combination methods of penalized regression models and nonnegative matrix
factorization (NMF) for predicting survival. We tried L1‐ (lasso), L2‐ (ridge), and L1‐L2 combined (elastic net) penalized regression for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients′
microarray data and found that L1‐L2 combined method predicts survival best with the smallest logrank P value. Furthermore, 80% of selected genes have been reported to correlate with carcinogenesis or lymphoma. Through NMF we found that DLBCL patients can be divided into 4 groups clearly, and it implies that DLBCL may have 4 subtypes which have a little different survival patterns. Next we excluded some patients who were indicated hard to classify in NMF and executed three penalized regression models again. We found that the performance of survival prediction has been improved with lower logrank P values. Therefore, we conclude that after preselection of patients by NMF, penalized regression models can predict DLBCL patients′ survival successfully.
A Credible Routing Based on a Novel Trust Mechanism in Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Feng Renjian , Che Shenyun , Wang Xiao , Yu Ning
Published: April 2013

Many existing routing protocols in Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) focus on finding paths in dynamic networks without considering security. In this paper, we propose a trust model which evaluates neighbours' direct trust by factors of encounter time, mobility, and successful cooperation frequency. The revised D-S evidence theory is used to combine multiple recommended pieces of evidence and obtain the recommended trust value. Then based on the novel trust mechanism, we propose a trusted routing protocol named TDS-AODV protocol by extending the AODV protocol. In this protocol, a node makes a routing decision according to the trust values of its neighbour nodes. Finally, two routes are built: the main route with highest route trust value in the candidate routes and a backup route. Simulation results reveal that TDS-AODV can eliminate malicious nodes effectively when building the route; furthermore, it also achieves better performance than TAODV and AODV in terms of throughput, packet delivery ratio, and average end to end delay.
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Birdee Gurjeet S. , Phillips Russell S. , Brown Robert S.
Published: April 2013

Among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), few studies have examined the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and patients’ interest in learning mind-body interventions to address health issues. We surveyed 89 adult patients (response rate 84%) at an outpatient hemodialysis center in Brookline, MA, USA regarding the utilization of CAM, including mind-body practices, and willingness to learn mind-body practices. Of respondents, 47% were female, 63% were black, and mean age was 62 years. 61% reported using CAM for health in their lifetime, and 36% reported using CAM within a month of the survey. The most frequent CAM modalities reported in ones’ lifetime and in the last month were mind-body practices (42% and 27%, resp.). Overall lifetime CAM use did not differ significantly by sex, race, dialysis vintage, diagnosis of ESRD, employment status, or education level. Subjects reported that mind-body interactions were very important to health with a median score of 9 on a 10-point Likert scale (ranging from 0 for not important to 10 for extremely important). Most patients (74%) reported interest in learning mind-body practices during maintenance hemodialysis. In summary, CAM use, particularly mind-body practice, is frequent among patients with ESRD providing opportunities for future clinical research.