bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RND-Type Efflux Pumps in Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii: Major Role for AdeABC Overexpression and AdeRS Mutations
Authors: Yoon Eun-Jeong , Courvalin Patrice , Grillot-Courvalin Catherine
Published: April 2013

Increased expression of chromosomal genes for resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type efflux systems plays a major role in the multidrug resistance (MDR) of
Acinetobacter baumannii
. However, the relative contributions of the three most prevalent pumps, AdeABC, AdeFGH, and AdeIJK, have not been evaluated in clinical settings. We have screened 14 MDR clinical isolates shown to be distinct on the basis of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for the presence and overexpression of the three Ade efflux systems and analyzed the sequences of the regulators AdeRS, a two-component system, for AdeABC and AdeL, a LysR-type regulator, for AdeFGH. Gene
adeB
was detected in 13 of 14 isolates, and
adeG
and the intrinsic
adeJ
gene were detected in all strains. Significant overexpression of
adeB
was observed in 10 strains, whereas only 7 had moderately increased levels of expression of AdeFGH, and none overexpressed AdeIJK. Thirteen strains had reduced susceptibility to tigecycline, but there was no correlation between tigecycline MICs and the levels of AdeABC expression, suggesting the presence of other mechanisms for tigecycline resistance. No mutations were found in the highly conserved LysR regulator of the nine strains expressing AdeFGH. In contrast, functional mutations were found in conserved domains of AdeRS in all the strains that overexpressed AdeABC with two mutational hot spots, one in AdeS near histidine 149 suggesting convergent evolution and the other in the DNA binding domain of AdeR compatible with horizontal gene transfer. This report outlines the high incidence of AdeABC efflux pump overexpression in MDR
A. baumannii
as a result of a variety of single mutations in the corresponding two-component regulatory system.
Changes in Macrophage Phenotype after Infection of Pigs with Haemophilus parasuis Strains with Different Levels of Virulence
Authors: Costa-Hurtado Mar , Olvera Alexandre , Martinez-Moliner Verónica , Galofré-Milà Nuria , Martínez Paloma , Dominguez Javier , Aragon Virginia
Published: April 2013

Haemophilus parasuisis a colonizer of healthy piglets and the etiological agent of Glässer's disease. Differences in virulence among strains ofH. parasuishave been widely observed. In order to explore the host-pathogen interaction, snatch-farrowed colostrum-deprived piglets were intranasally infected with 4 strains ofH. parasuis: reference virulent strain Nagasaki, reference nonvirulent strain SW114, field strain IT29205 (from a systemic lesion and virulent in a previous challenge), and field strain F9 (from the nasal cavity of a healthy piglet). At different times after infection, two animals of each group were euthanized and alveolar macrophages were analyzed for the expression of CD163, CD172a, SLA I (swine histocompatibility leukocyte antigen I), SLA II, sialoadhesin (or CD169), and CD14. At 1 day postinfection (dpi), virulent strains induced reduced expression of CD163, SLA II, and CD172a on the surfaces of the macrophages, while nonvirulent strains induced increased expression of CD163, both compared to noninfected controls. At 2 dpi, the pattern switched into a strong expression of CD172a, CD163, and sialoadhesin by the virulent strains, which was followed by a steep increase in interleukin 8 (IL-8) and soluble CD163 in serum at 3 to 4 dpi. The early increase in surface expression of CD163 induced by nonvirulent strains went along with higher levels of IL-8 in serum than those induced by virulent strains in the first 2 days of infection. Alpha interferon (IFN-α) induction was observed only in animals infected with nonvirulent strains. Overall, these results are compatible with a delay in macrophage activation by virulent strains, which may be critical for disease production.
Demarcating SurA Activities Required for Outer Membrane Targeting of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Adhesins
Authors: Obi Ikenna R. , Francis Matthew S.
Published: April 2013

SurA is a periplasmic protein folding factor involved in chaperoning and trafficking of outer membrane proteins across the Gram-negative bacterial periplasm. In addition, SurA also possesses peptidyl-prolyl
cis/trans
isomerase activity. We have previously reported that in enteropathogenic
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
, SurA is needed for bacterial virulence and envelope integrity. In this study, we investigated the role of SurA in the assembly of important
Yersinia
adhesins. Using genetic mutation, biochemical characterization, and an
in vitro
-based bacterial host cell association assay, we confirmed that surface localization of the invasin adhesin is dependent on SurA. As a
surA
deletion also has some impact on the levels of individual components of the BAM complex in the
Yersinia
outer membrane, abolished invasin surface assembly could reflect both a direct loss of SurA-dependent periplasmic targeting and a potentially compromised BAM complex assembly platform in the outer membrane. To various degrees, the assembly of two other adhesins, Ail and the pH 6 antigen fibrillum PsaA, also depends on SurA. Consequently, loss of SurA leads to a dramatic reduction in
Yersinia
attachment to eukaryotic host cells. Genetic complementation of
surA
deletion mutants indicated a prominent role for SurA chaperone function in outer membrane protein assembly. Significantly, the N terminus of SurA contributed most of this SurA chaperone function. Despite a dominant chaperoning role, it was also evident that SurA isomerization activity did make a modest contribution to this assembly process.
Aesthetic management of non-syndromic secondarily retained permanent mandibular canine
Authors: Khanna Richa , Bahal Ankit , Pandey Ramesh Kumar
Published: April 2013

Primary failure of eruption (PFE) is a rare eruption anomaly, incorporating two independent conditions—primary retention and secondary retention. Primary retention is a localised cessation of eruption before gingival emergence without any identifiable cause. Secondary retention is a localised cessation of eruption after gingival emergence with no identifiable cause. Early diagnosis and treatment planning of this condition are important to avoid orthodontic and prosthodontic complications. With this background, the present case of PFE affecting a single permanent mandibular canine in a girl, aged 15 years is presented. Sequential diagnosis, treatment planning and possible aetiologies are discussed.
Socioeconomic patterning of excess alcohol consumption and binge drinking: a cross-sectional study of multilevel associations with neighbourhood deprivation
Authors: Fone David L , Farewell Daniel M , White James , Lyons Ronan A , Dunstan Frank D
Published: April 2013

Objectives

The influence of neighbourhood deprivation on the risk of harmful alcohol consumption, measured by the separate categories of excess consumption and binge drinking, has not been studied. The study objective was to investigate the effect of neighbourhood deprivation with age, gender and socioeconomic status (SES) on (1) excess alcohol consumption and (2) binge drinking, in a representative population survey.

Design

Cross-sectional study: multilevel analysis.

Setting

Wales, UK, adult population ∼2.2 million.

Participants

58 282 respondents aged 18 years and over to four successive annual Welsh Health Surveys (2003/2004–2007), nested within 32 692 households, 1839 census lower super output areas and the 22 unitary authority areas in Wales.

Primary outcome measure

Maximal daily alcohol consumption during the past week was categorised using the UK Department of Health definition of ‘none/never drinks’, ‘within guidelines’, ‘excess consumption but less than binge’ and ‘binge’. The data were analysed using continuation ratio ordinal multilevel models with multiple imputation for missing covariates.

Results

Respondents in the most deprived neighbourhoods were more likely to binge drink than in the least deprived (adjusted estimates: 17.5% vs 10.6%; difference=6.9%, 95% CI 6.0 to 7.8), but were less likely to report excess consumption (17.6% vs 21.3%; difference=3.7%, 95% CI 2.6 to 4.8). The effect of deprivation varied significantly with age and gender, but not with SES. Younger men in deprived neighbourhoods were most likely to binge drink. Men aged 35–64 showed the steepest increase in binge drinking in deprived neighbourhoods, but men aged 18–24 showed a smaller increase with deprivation.

Conclusions

This large-scale population study is the first to show that neighbourhood deprivation acts differentially on the risk of binge drinking between men and women at different age groups. Understanding the socioeconomic patterns of harmful alcohol consumption is important for public health policy development.
Fatigue and recovery in children and adults during sustained contractions at 2 different submaximal intensities
Authors: Patikas Dimitrios , Kansizoglou Alexandros , Koutlianos Nikolaos , Williams Craig A. , Hatzikotoulas Konstantinos , Bassa Eleni , Kotzamanidis Christos
Published: April 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of submaximal sustained contractions on fatigue and recovery properties in untrained prepubescent boys (n = 14) and men (n = 14). All participants performed, in random order, an isometric plantar flexion at 20% and 60% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until exhaustion (20%fatigue and 60%fatigue, respectively). During both fatigue protocols, surface electromyogram (sEMG) of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles was recorded. Before and after the fatigue protocol, MVCs and blood lactate concentration were obtained. During 20%fatigue and 60%fatigue, agonist and antagonist sEMG increased gradually to a similar extent in both groups. Immediately after fatigue, MVC torque decreased in both groups, compared with prefatigue values, and boys recovered faster than men in both fatigue protocols. The reduction in agonist sEMG during MVC after fatigue was not significantly different between men and boys (p < 0.05), independent of the fatigue protocol. sEMG of boys recovered to baseline values 3 min after the 20%fatigue and 60%fatigue protocols, whereas men did not recover. Lactate concentration increased immediately after the end of the fatigue protocols, compared with the prefatigue values (p < 0.05). This increase was higher for the 60%fatigue than for 20%fatigue protocol, and did not differ between boys and men. It is concluded that low- and middle-intensity submaximal sustained isometric fatigue protocols induce similar fatigue effects in boys and men. Furthermore, it was shown that boys can recover faster than men, independent of the contraction intensity that induces fatigue.
SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS AND NEW BIFURCATION PHENOMENA FOR NONLINEAR WAVES IN A GENERALIZED mKdV EQUATION
Authors: LIU RUI , YAN WEIFANG
Published: April 2013

Using the bifurcation method of dynamical systems, we study nonlinear waves in the generalized mKdV equation ut+ a(1 + bu2)u2ux+ uxxx= 0.

(i) We obtain four types of new expressions. The first type is composed of four common expressions of the symmetric solitary waves, the kink waves and the blow-up waves. The second type includes four common expressions of the anti-symmetric solitary waves, the kink waves and the blow-up waves. The third type is made of two trigonometric expressions of periodic-blow-up waves. The fourth type is composed of two fractional expressions of 1-blow-up waves.

(ii) We point out that there are two sets of kink waves which are called tall-kink waves and low-kink waves, respectively.

(iii) We reveal two kinds of new bifurcation phenomena. The first phenomenon is that the low-kink waves can be bifurcated from four types of nonlinear waves, the symmetric solitary waves, blow-up waves, tall-kink waves and anti-symmetric solitary waves. The second phenomenon is that the 1-blow-up waves can be bifurcated from the periodic-blow-up waves.

We also show that the common expressions include many results given by pioneers.
UNFOLDING NONSMOOTH BIFURCATION PATTERNS IN A 1-D PWL MAP AS A MODEL OF A SINGLE-INDUCTOR TWO-OUTPUT DC–DC SWITCHING CONVERTER
Authors: BENADERO L. , MORENO-FONT V. , EL AROUDI A.
Published: April 2013

A piecewise linear (PWL) continuous map is used to analyze the nonsmooth bifurcation phenomena in a single-inductor two-output (SITO) DC–DC converter under a PWM interleaved control scheme. This map models the dynamical behavior of the converter when the waveforms of the inductor current can be approximated by straight lines during each switching subinterval. The parameter space is constrained by the interleaving control and the physical restriction on the values of some parameters. The main focus of this paper is on the existence and stability conditions of the rich variety of k-periodic orbits and the different bifurcation patterns that can be exhibited in this system. The analytical results in the form of 1-D and 2-D bifurcation diagrams are compared with numerical simulations obtained from the circuit-based switched model getting a good agreement between the two approaches.
LIMIT CYCLE BIFURCATIONS FROM CENTERS OF SYMMETRIC HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS PERTURBED BY CUBIC POLYNOMIALS
Authors: HU ZHAOPING , GAO BIN , ROMANOVSKI VALERY G.
Published: April 2013

We study cubic near-Hamiltonian systems obtained by perturbing a symmetric cubic Hamiltonian system with two symmetric singular points. First, following [Han, 2012], we develop a method to study the analytical property of the Melnikov function near the origin for near-Hamiltonian system having the origin as its elementary center or nilpotent center. A computationally efficient algorithm based on the method is established to systematically compute the coefficients of the Melnikov function. Then, we consider the symmetric singular points and present the conditions for one of them to be an elementary center or a nilpotent center. Under the condition for the singular point to be a center, we obtain the standard form of the Hamiltonian system near the center. Moreover, perturbing the symmetric cubic Hamiltonian systems by cubic polynomials we study limit cycles bifurcating from the center. Finally, perturbing the symmetric Hamiltonian system by symmetric cubic polynomials, we consider the number of limit cycles near one of the symmetric centers of the symmetric near-Hamiltonian system, which is the same as that of another center.
A RIGOROUS DETERMINATION OF THE OVERALL PERIOD IN THE STRUCTURE OF A CHAOTIC ATTRACTOR
Authors: ELHADJ ZERAOULIA , SPROTT J. C.
Published: April 2013

There are many examples of nonconnected chaotic attractors consisting of several components. The determination of an overall period of such a system is typically done only by a numerical integration of the system. In this letter, we provide a rigorous proof that the exact value of the overall period of a particular 2-D chaotic attractor from an iterated map is two once the attractor has been partitioned and quantized into disconnected sets. As far as we know, there are no examples of a rigorous proof for such a property in the current literature.
THE NUMBER OF ZEROS OF ABELIAN INTEGRALS FOR A PERTURBATION OF HYPERELLIPTIC HAMILTONIAN SYSTEM WITH DEGENERATED POLYCYCLE
Authors: WANG JIHUA , XIAO DONGMEI , HAN MAOAN
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we provide a complete study of the zeros of Abelian integrals obtained by integrating the 1-form (α + βx + x2)ydx over the compact level curves of the hyperelliptic Hamiltonian [Formula: see text]. Such a family of compact level curves is bounded by a polycycle passing through a nilpotent cusp and a hyperbolic saddle of this hyperelliptic Hamiltonian system, which is not the exceptional family of ovals proposed by Gavrilov and Iliev. It is shown that the least upper bound for the number of zeros of the related hyperelliptic Abelian integral is two, and this least upper bound can be achieved for some values of parameters (α, β). This implies that the Abelian integral still has Chebyshev property for this nonexceptional family of ovals. Moreover, we derive the asymptotic expansion of Abelian integrals near a polycycle passing through a nilpotent cusp and a hyperbolic saddle in a general case.
DYNAMICAL CONTROL OF QUANTUM CORRELATIONS IN A COMMON ENVIRONMENT
Authors: SONG HONGTING , PAN YU , XI ZAIRONG
Published: April 2013

Quantum correlations (QC) are generally considered to be the crucial resource for quantum information processing, however, in practice, the inevitable interaction of the quantum systems with the environment can cause decoherence and thus destroy the QC. In this paper, by comparatively studying the model of a two-qubit system in a common environment with and without dynamical control, we show that dynamical control can be exploited to protect QC from being completely destroyed for a long time. For certain product states, the dynamical control can even be used to generate the QC.
INNOVATION PERFORMANCE IN THE SHADOW OF EXPROPRIABILITY — INTERPLAY OF THE APPROPRIABILITY REGIME AND COMPETITORS' ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY
Authors: HURMELINNA-LAUKKANEN PIA , PUUMALAINEN KAISU
Published: April 2013

Expropriability is the ability of (potential) competitors to extract information about innovation and utilize it to their advantage in a manner that decreases the competitive advantages of the original innovator. It has an effect on the profit margins and, subsequently, on the strategic behavior of a firm in terms of innovation activities. In this study, the relationship of appropriability and expropriability is clarified, and empirical evidence from 299 companies is provided to increase understanding of the strategic protection of intellectual assets. The results indicate that industries differ in terms of expropriability and that innovation performance depends on the level of expropriability.
QUOTIENTS OF ELLIPTIC CURVES OVER FINITE FIELDS
Authors: ACHTER JEFFREY D. , WONG SIMAN
Published: April 2013

Fix a prime ℓ, and let 𝔽q be a finite field with q ≡ 1 (mod ℓ) elements. If ℓ > 2 and q ≫ℓ 1, we show that asymptotically (ℓ - 1)2/2ℓ2 of the elliptic curves E/𝔽q with complete rational ℓ-torsion are such that E/〈P〉 does not have complete rational ℓ-torsion for any point P ∈ E(𝔽q) of order ℓ. For ℓ = 2 the asymptotic density is 0 or 1/4, depending whether q ≡ 1 (mod 4) or 3 (mod 4). We also show that for any ℓ, if E/𝔽q has an 𝔽q-rational point R of order ℓ2, then E/〈ℓR〉 always has complete rational ℓ-torsion.
ON PAIRS OF ONE PRIME, TWO PRIME SQUARES AND POWERS OF 2
Authors: LIU ZHIXIN
Published: April 2013

In this short paper, it is proved that every pair of large positive odd integers satisfying some necessary conditions can be represented in the form of a pair of one prime, two prime squares and k powers of 2. In particular, we have k = 332.
DENOMINATORS OF DEDEKIND SUMS IN FUNCTION FIELDS
Authors: HAMAHATA YOSHINORI
Published: April 2013

We consider the Dedekind sum s(a, c) in rational function fields. It is very similar to the classical Dedekind sum D(a, c). The objective of this study is to give a good upper bound of the degree of the denominator of s(a, c). As an application of our result, we present a condition on the elements a1, a2, and c of 𝔽q[T] such that s(a1, c) = s(a2, c).
ON SHIMURA'S DECOMPOSITION
Authors: PURKAIT SOMA
Published: April 2013

Let k be an odd integer ≥ 3 and N be a positive integer such that 4|N. Let χ be an even Dirichlet character modulo N. Shimura decomposes the space of half-integral weight cusp forms Sk/2(N,χ) as a direct sum [Formula: see text] where F runs through all newforms of weight k - 1, level dividing N/2 and character χ2, the space Sk/2(N,χ,F) is the subspace of forms that are "Shimura equivalent" to F, and the space S0(N,χ) is the subspace spanned by single-variable theta-series. The explicit computation of this decomposition is important for practical applications of a theorem of Waldspurger relating the critical values of L-functions of quadratic twists of newforms of even integral weight to coefficients of modular forms of half-integral weight. In this paper, we give a more precise definition of the summands Sk/2(N,χ,F) whilst proving that it is equivalent to Shimura's definition. We use our definition to give a practical algorithm for computing Shimura's decomposition, and illustrate this with some examples.
ON THE INDEX-CONJECTURE ON LENGTH FOUR MINIMAL ZERO-SUM SEQUENCES
Authors: XIA LI-MENG
Published: April 2013

Let G be a finite cyclic group. Every sequence S over G can be written in the form S = (n1g)⋅…⋅(nlg) where g ∈ G and n1,…,nl ∈ [1, ord (g)], and the index ind (S) of S is defined to be the minimum of (n1 +⋯+ nl)/ ord (g) over all possible g ∈ G such that 〈g〉 = G. A conjecture says that if G is finite such that gcd (|G|, 6) = 1, then ind (S) = 1 for every minimal zero-sum sequence S. In this paper, we prove that the conjecture holds if S is reduced and at least one ni coprime to |G|.
The Cyclic Graph of a Finite Group
Authors: Ma Xuan Long , Wei Hua Quan , Zhong Guo
Published: April 2013

The cyclic graph ΓG of a finite group G is as follows: take G as the vertices of ΓG and join two distinct vertices x and y if 〈x,y〉 is cyclic. In this paper, we investigate how the graph theoretical properties of ΓG affect the group theoretical properties of G. First, we consider some properties of ΓG
and characterize certain finite groups whose cyclic graphs have some properties. Then, we present some properties of the cyclic graphs of the dihedral groups D2n and the generalized quaternion groups Q4n for some n.
Finally, we present some parameters about the cyclic graphs of finite noncyclic groups of order up to 14.
Effect of the Flow Channel Structure on the Nanofiltration Separation Performance
Authors: Chen Zhi , Zhao Ben , Chen Fanglei , Li Jianming
Published: April 2013

Two kinds of newly designed feed channels, for example, a spiral and a serpentine feed channels, for a bench‐scale nanofiltration module were developed to improve the filtration performance. The experiments were carried out with the modules using a commercial flat NF membrane to investigate the effects of Reynolds number (Re) and flow channel structures on the flux of permeate and Mg2+ rejection. It was shown from the experimental results that although the effects of Reynolds number on fluxes were not obvious for the two new feed channels compared with a normal flow channel structure, the Mg2+ rejections varied apparently with Re. The Mg2+ rejections were almost the same for the modules with two new feed channels and larger than that for the module with normal feed channel. The numerical simulations of fluid flow in the three kinds of feed channels were completed at Re of 4800 to explain the phenomena. The results demonstrated that there was a secondary flow in both new feed channels, which strongly influences the Mg2+ rejection. The rejection increased with increasing average shear stress at the membrane wall. The spiral feed channel was the best one among the flow channel structures investigated.
Retrograde versus Prograde Models of Accreting Black Holes
Authors: Garofalo David
Published: April 2013

There is a general consensus that magnetic fields, accretion disks, and rotating black holes are instrumental in the generation of the most powerful sources of energy in the known universe. Nonetheless, because magnetized accretion onto rotating black holes involves both the complications of nonlinear magnetohydrodynamics that currently cannot fully be treated numerically, and uncertainties about the origin of magnetic fields that at present are part of the input, the space of possible solutions remains less constrained. Consequently, the literature still bears witness to the proliferation of rather different black hole engine models. But the accumulated wealth of observational data is now sufficient to meaningfully distinguish between them. It is in this light that this critical paper compares the recent retrograde framework with standard “spin paradigm” prograde models.
Pharmacometrics of 3-Methoxypterostilbene: A Component of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants
Authors: Martinez Stephanie E. , Sayre Casey L. , Davies Neal M.
Published: April 2013

3-Methoxypterostilbene is a naturally occurring stilbene with potential in the treatment of diabetes. The preclinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 3-methoxypterostilbene were evaluated in the present study. The right jugular veins of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cannulated. The rats were dosed 10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of 3-methoxypterostilbene intravenously (IV) or orally (PO), respectively. Serum and urine samples were analyzed using a previously validated reversed-phase HPLC method. Serum AUC, serumt1/2, urinet1/2,Cltotal, and Vd for IV dosing were48.1±23.8 μg/h/mL,18.9±10.9 h,9.54±1.51 h,47.8±23.7 L/h/kg, and5.11±0.38 L/kg, respectively (mean ± SEM,n=4) . Serum AUC, serumt1/2, urinet1/2,Cltotal, and Vd for PO dosing were229±44.6 μg/h/mL,73.3±8.91 h,20.6±3.01 h,0.48±0.008 L/h/kg, and52.0±10.5 L/kg, respectively (mean ± SEM,n=4). Bioavailability of the stilbene was determined to be 50.6%  ± 10.0%. A 3-methoxypterostilbene glucuronidated metabolite was detected in both serum and urine. 3-Methoxypterostilbene exhibited antidiabetic activity includingα-glucosidase andα-amylase inhibition as well as concentration-dependent antioxidant capacity similar to resveratrol. 3-Methoxypterostilbene also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. 3-Methoxypterostilbene appears to be a bioactive compound and may be useful in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia.
Locating Impact on Structural Plate Using Principal Component Analysis and Support Vector Machines
Authors: Fu Heming , Xu Qingsong
Published: April 2013

A new method which integrates principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machines (SVM) is presented to predict the location of impact on a clamped aluminum plate structure. When the plate is knocked using an instrumented hammer, the induced time-varying strain signals are collected by four piezoelectric sensors which are mounted on the plate surface. The PCA algorithm is adopted for the dimension reduction of the large original data sets. Afterwards, a new two-layer SVM regression framework is proposed to improve the impact location accuracy. For a comparison study, the conventional backpropagation neural networks (BPNN) approach is implemented as well. Experimental results show that the proposed strategy achieves much better locating accuracy in comparison with the conventional approach.
An Adaptive Filtering Algorithm Based on Genetic Algorithm-Backpropagation Network
Authors: Hu Kai , Song Aiguo , Xia Min , Ye XiaoLing , Dou YanYan
Published: April 2013

A new image filtering algorithm is proposed. GA-BPN algorithm uses genetic algorithm (GA) to decide weights in a back propagation neural network (BPN). It has better global optimal characteristics than traditional optimal algorithm. In this paper, we used GA-BPN to do image noise filter researching work. Firstly, this paper uses training samples to train GA-BPN as the noise detector. Then, we utilize the well-trained GA-BPN to recognize noise pixels in target image. And at last, an adaptive weighted average algorithm is used to recover noise pixels recognized by GA-BPN. Experiment data shows that this algorithm has better performance than other filters.
Optimality Conditions for Optimal Control of Jump-Diffusion SDEs with Correlated Observations Noises
Authors: Xiao Hua
Published: April 2013

This paper is concerned with necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for optimal control of jump-diffusion stochastic differential equations. Compared with the existing literature, there are two distinguishing features: one is that the states are driven by Brownian motions and Poisson random measure; the other one is that the states and the observations are correlated. We derive a necessary and a sufficient conditions in the form of maximum principle when control domain is convex. A linear-quadratic example is worked out to illustrate the applications of the foregoing optimality conditions.
Delay-Dependent Control for Networked Control Systems with Large Delays
Authors: Wang Yilin , Karimi Hamid Reza , Xiang Zhengrong
Published: April 2013

We consider the problems of robust stability and control for a class of networked control systems with long-time delays. Firstly, a nonlinear discrete time model with mode-dependent time delays is proposed by converting the uncertainty of time delay into the uncertainty of parameter matrices. We consider a probabilistic case where the system is switched among different subsystems, and the probability of each subsystem being active is defined as its occurrence probability. For a switched system with a known subsystem occurrence probabilities, we give a stochastic stability criterion in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Then, we extend the results to a more practical case where the subsystem occurrence probabilities are uncertain. Finally, a simulation example is presented to show the efficacy of the proposed method.
Rationale for the Use of CAD/CAM Technology in Implant Prosthodontics
Authors: Abduo Jaafar , Lyons Karl
Published: April 2013

Despite the predictable longevity of implant prosthesis, there is an ongoing interest to continue to improve implant prosthodontic treatment and outcomes. One of the developments is the application of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to produce implant abutments and frameworks from metal or ceramic materials. The aim of this narrative review is to critically evaluate the rationale of CAD/CAM utilization for implant prosthodontics. To date, CAD/CAM allows simplified production of precise and durable implant components. The precision of fit has been proven in several laboratory experiments and has been attributed to the design of implants. Milling also facilitates component fabrication from durable and aesthetic materials. With further development, it is expected that the CAD/CAM protocol will be further simplified. Although compelling clinical evidence supporting the superiority of CAD/CAM implant restorations is still lacking, it is envisioned that CAD/CAM may become the main stream for implant component fabrication.
A Case of Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D Syndrome Successfully Treated with Canakinumab
Authors: Tsitsami Elena , Papadopoulou Charis , Speletas Matthaios
Published: April 2013

Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder caused by mutations in the mevalonate kinase gene (MVK). In a proportion of patients, however, noMVKmutations are detected. Although various standard anti-inflammatory drugs have been tried, until now there is no consensus about how HIDS should be treated. We present a case of HIDS in an 8-year-old girl whose clinical picture had started before the end of the first year of life. The patient had consistently elevated IgD levels but no mutations were found after a full-length analysis of theMVKgene. The method ofMVKmutational analysis is presented in details. Treatment with canakinumab in a final single dose of 4 mg/kg every 4 weeks resulted in the disappearance of febrile attacks and a considerable improvement of patients’ quality of life during a 12-month follow-up period. The drug has been well tolerated, and no side effects were observed.
Multiple Suboptimal Solutions for Prediction Rules in Gene Expression Data
Authors: Komori Osamu , Pritchard Mari , Eguchi Shinto
Published: April 2013

This paper discusses mathematical and statistical aspects in analysis methods applied to microarray gene expressions. We focus on pattern recognition to extract informative features embedded in the data for prediction of phenotypes. It has been pointed out that there are severely difficult problems due to the unbalance in the number of observed genes compared with the number of observed subjects. We make a reanalysis of microarray gene expression published data to detect many other gene sets with almost the same performance. We conclude in the current stage that it is not possible to extract only informative genes with high performance in the all observed genes. We investigate the reason why this difficulty still exists even though there are actively proposed analysis methods and learning algorithms in statistical machine learning approaches. We focus on the mutual coherence or the absolute value of the Pearson correlations between two genes and describe the distributions of the correlation for the selected set of genes and the total set. We show that the problem of finding informative genes in high dimensional data is ill-posed and that the difficulty is closely related with the mutual coherence.
Ferulic Acid Enhances Peripheral Nerve Regeneration across Long Gaps
Authors: Lee Sheng-Chi , Tsai Chin-Chuan , Yao Chun-Hsu , Chen Yueh-Sheng , Wu Ming-Chang
Published: April 2013

This study investigated the effect of ferulic acid (FA) on peripheral nerve injury. In thein vitrotest, the effect of FA on viability of Schwann cells was studied. In thein vivotest, right sciatic nerves of the rats were transected, and a 15 mm nerve defect was created. A nerve conduit made of silicone rubber tube filled with FA (5 and 25 μg/mL), or saline (control), was implanted into the nerve defect. Results show that the number of proliferating Schwann cells increased significantly in the FA-treated group at 25 μg/mL compared to that in the control group. After 8 weeks, the FA-treated group at 25 μg/mL had a higher rate of successful regeneration across the wide gap, a significantly calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) staining of the lamina I-II regions in the dorsal horn ipsilateral to the injury, a significantly diminished number of macrophages recruited, and a significantly shortening of the latency and an acceleration of the nerve conductive velocity (NCV) of the evoked muscle action potentials (MAPs) compared with the controls. In summary, the FA may be useful in the development of future strategies for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.
Effect of Polyherbal Mixtures on the Treatment of Diabetes
Authors: Panda Aparajeya , Jena Somanatha , Sahu Pramod Kumar , Nayak Sanghamitra , Padhi Payodhar
Published: April 2013

The study focuses on polyherbal antidiabetic formulations of different plants used in the treatment of diabetes mixed in different concentrations. In the present study eleven medicinal plants with proven antidiabetic and related beneficial effects were selected for the preparation of five mixtures. The efficacy of prepared mixtures has been tested on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats and compared with a commercially available drug glibenclamide. The mixtures at the dose levels of 400 mg/kg b.w. produced a significant decrease in blood glucose level by 69.6%, 70.97%, 64.45%, 71.82%, and 64.44% after 21 days of treatment. The elevated level of SGPT, SGOT, and ALP in the diabetic controlled group reflected the significant alteration of liver function by STZ induction and was found to be equipotent to glibenclamide in restoration of the elevated enzyme levels to normal. The elevated lipid levels (triglyceride and total cholesterol) were restored to near normal by these mixtures for all the estimated parameters. The results of the mixtures on treated group were found to restore the glycemic level to the near normal level thereby indicating antihyperglycemic activity of the formulated mixtures.
Self-Organization Schemes towards Thermodynamic Stable Bulk Heterojunction Morphologies: A Perspective on Future Fabrication Strategies of Polymer Photovoltaic Architectures
Authors: Benmouna A. , Benmouna R. , Bockstaller M. R. , Hakem I. F.
Published: April 2013

Research efforts to improve our understanding of electronic polymers are developing fast because of their promising advantages over silicon in photovoltaic solar cells. A major challenge in the development of polymer photovoltaic devices is the viable fabrication strategies of stable bulk heterojunction architecture that will retain functionality during the expected lifetime of the device. Block copolymer self-assembly strategies have attracted particular attention as a scalable means toward thermodynamically stable microstructures that combine the ideal geometrical characteristics of a bulk heterojunction with the fortuitous combination of properties of the constituent blocks. Two primary routes that have been proposed in the literature involve the coassembly of block copolymers in which one domain is a hole conductor with the electron-conducting filler (such as fullerene derivatives) or the self-assembly of block copolymers in which the respective blocks function as hole and electron conductor. Either way has proven difficult because of the combination of synthetic challenges as well as the missing understanding of the complex governing parameters that control structure formation in semiconducting block copolymer blends. This paper summarizes important findings relating to structure formation of block copolymer and block copolymer/nanoparticle blend assembly that should provide a foundation for the future design of block copolymer-based photovoltaic systems.
Domain of the Double Sequential Band Matrix in the Sequence Space
Authors: Nergiz Havva , Başar Feyzi
Published: April 2013

The sequence space was introduced by Maddox (1967). Quite recently, the domain of the generalized difference matrix in the sequence space has been investigated by Kirişçi and Başar (2010). In the present paper, the sequence space of nonabsolute type has been studied which is the domain of the generalized difference matrix in the sequence space . Furthermore, the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-duals of the space have been determined, and the Schauder basis has been given. The classes of matrix transformations from the space to the spaces ,candc0have been characterized. Additionally, the characterizations of some other matrix transformations from the space to the Euler, Riesz, difference, and so forth sequence spaces have been obtained by means of a given lemma. The last section of the paper has been devoted to conclusion.
Human’s Overtrust in and Overreliance on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: A Theoretical Framework
Authors: Inagaki Toshiyuki , Itoh Makoto
Published: April 2013

This paper gives a theoretical framework to describe, analyze, and evaluate the driver’s overtrust in and overreliance on ADAS. Although “overtrust” and “overreliance” are often used as if they are synonyms, this paper differentiates the two notions rigorously. To this end, two aspects, (1) situation diagnostic aspect and (2) action selection aspect, are introduced. The first aspect is to describe overtrust, and it has three axes: (1-1) dimension of trust, (1-2) target object, and (1-3) chances of observation. The second aspect, (2), is to describe overreliance on the ADAS, and it has other three axes: (2-1) type of action selected, (2-2) benefits expected, and (2-3) time allowance for human intervention.
Systemic Administration of Thrombin Peptide TP508 Enhances VEGF-Stimulated Angiogenesis and Attenuates Effects of Chronic Hypoxia
Authors: Olszewska-Pazdrak Barbara , Carney Darrell H.
Published: April 2013

Revascularization of chronic wounds and ischemic tissue is attenuated by endothelial dysfunction and the inability of angiogenic factors to stimulate angiogenesis. We recently showed that TP508, a nonproteolytic thrombin peptide, increases perfusion and NO-dependent vasodilation in hearts with chronic ischemia and stimulates NO production by endothelial cells. In this study, we investigated systemic in vivo effects of TP508 on VEGF-stimulated angiogenesis in vitro using aortic explants in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Mice were injected with saline or TP508 and 24 h later aortas were removed and cultured to quantify endothelial sprouting. TP508 injection increased endothelial sprouting and potentiated the in vitro response to VEGF. Exposure of control explants to hypoxia inhibited basal and VEGF-stimulated endothelial cell sprouting. This effect of hypoxia was significantly prevented by TP508 injection. Thus, TP508 systemic administration increases responsiveness of aortic endothelial cells to VEGF and diminishes the effect of chronic hypoxia on endothelial cell sprouting. Studies using human endothelial cells in culture suggest that protective effects of TP508 during hypoxia may involve stimulation of endothelial cell NO production. These data suggest potential clinical benefit of using a combination of systemic TP508 and local VEGF as a therapy for revascularization of ischemic tissue.
Crucial Roles of MicA and RybB as Vital Factors for σE-Dependent Cell Lysis in Escherichia coli Long-Term Stationary Phase
Authors: Nagamitsu Hiroshi , Murata Masayuki , Kosaka Tomoyuki , Kawaguchi Junpei , Mori Hirotada , Yamada Mamoru
Published: April 2013

σE-dependent cell lysis has been proposed to eliminate damaged cells in the stationary phase in Escherichia coli. In order to explore the relationship of this process to long-term stationary phase existence, we considered that micA and rybB could be important small regulatory RNA (sRNA) genes for σE-dependent cell lysis. A long-term stationary phase was observed at temperatures of <37°C, but not >38°C, and was found even in an rpoS knock-out background. Strains with disrupted micA or rybB were incapable of long-term stationary phase existence. Both strains drastically lost survivability accompanied by a dramatic accumulation of mutations. These findings allow us to speculate that σE-dependent cell lysis plays a key role in the establishment of the long-term stationary phase, presumably by eliminating damaged cells and thus preventing the over-accumulation of mutations.
The TNF-α/Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Signaling Axis Drives Myogenic Responsiveness in Heart Failure
Authors: Kroetsch Jeffrey T. , Bolz Steffen-Sebastian
Published: April 2013

Heart failure (HF) is hallmarked by an increase in total peripheral resistance (TPR) that compensates for the drop in cardiac output. While initially allowing for the maintenance of mean arterial pressure at acceptable levels, the long-term upregulation of TPR is prone to compromise cardiac performance and tissue perfusion, and to ultimately accelerate disease progression. Augmented vasoconstriction of terminal arteries, the site of TPR regulation, is cooperatively driven by mechanisms such as: (i) endothelial dysfunction, (ii) increased sympathetic activity and (iii) enhanced pressure-induced myogenic responsiveness. Herein, we review emerging evidence that the increase in myogenic responsiveness is central to the long-term elevation of TPR in HF. On a molecular level, this augmented intrinsic response is governed by an activation of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling axis in microvascular smooth muscle cells. The beneficial effect of TNF-α scavenging strategies on tissue perfusion in HF mouse models adds to the gaining momentum to revisit the use of anti-TNF-α treatment modalities in discrete HF patient populations.
Enhanced Vasodilator Activity of Nitrite in Hypertension
Authors: Ghosh Suborno M. , Kapil Vikas , Fuentes-Calvo Isabel , Bubb Kristen J. , Pearl Vanessa , Milsom Alexandra B. , Khambata Rayomand , Maleki-Toyserkani Sheiva , Yousuf Mubeen , Benjamin Nigel , Webb Andrew J. , Caulfield Mark J. , Hobbs Adrian J. , Ahluwalia Amrita
Published: April 2013

Elevation of circulating nitrite (NO
2
−
) levels causes vasodilatation and lowers blood pressure in healthy volunteers. Whether these effects and the underpinning mechanisms persist in hypertension is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the consequences of systemic nitrite elevation in spontaneously hypertensive rats and conducted proof-of-principle studies in patients. Nitrite caused dose-dependent blood pressure–lowering that was profoundly enhanced in spontaneously hypertensive rats versus normotensive Wistar Kyoto controls. This effect was virtually abolished by the xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) inhibitor, allopurinol, and associated with hypertension-specific XOR-dependent nitrite reductase activity localized to the erythrocyte but not the blood vessel wall. To determine whether these pathways translate to human hypertension, we investigated the effects of elevation of circulating nitrite levels in 15 drug naïve grade 1 hypertensives. To elevate nitrite, we used a dose of dietary nitrate (≈3.5 mmol) that elevated nitrite levels ≈1.5-fold (
P
<0.01); a rise shown previously to exert no significant blood pressure–lowering effects in normotensives. This dose caused substantial reductions in systolic (≈12 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressures (
P
<0.001) and pulse wave velocity (
P
<0.05); effects associated with elevations in erythrocytic XOR expression and XOR-dependent nitrite reductase activity. Our observations demonstrate the improved efficacy of inorganic nitrate and nitrite in hypertension as a consequence of increased erythrocytic XOR nitrite reductase activity and support the concept of dietary nitrate supplementation as an effective, but simple and inexpensive, antihypertensive strategy.
Contemplating the Future of Collective Security in East Asia
Authors: Shimizu Nanako
Published: April 2013

Abstract

It is quite often argued in the legal and political literatures that Asian nations tend to be more protective of their national sovereignty and thus are often reluctant to follow universal rules or principles provided in international legal materials and texts. Does this “conservative” image of Asian nations correctly reflect the national practices and academic literature of East Asian nations? How do we East Asians perceive the UN collective security system invented at the price of two catastrophic world wars in the 20th century? And why do East Asians need international law to keep peace and security in this region? By trying to find answers to these questions, this article contemplates what role international law will be able to play for the maintenance of peace and security in East Asia.
Two novel genera and one new species of treefrog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) highlight cryptic diversity in the Western Ghats of India
Authors: ABRAHAM ROBIN KURIAN , PYRON R. ALEXANDER , R. ANSIL B. , ZACHARIAH ARUN , ZACHARIAH ANIL
Published: April 2013

Amphibian diversity in the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot is extremely high, especially for such a geo-graphically restricted area. Frogs in particular dominate these assemblages, and the family Rhacophoridae is chief among these, with hundreds of endemic species. These taxa continue to be described at a rapid pace, and several groups have recently been found to represent unique evolutionary clades at the genus level. Here, we report DNA sequences, larval and breeding data for two species of rhacophorid treefrog (Polypedates bijui and a new, hitherto undescribed species). Re-markably, they represent unique, independent clades which form successive sister groups to the Pseudophilautus (Sri Lan-ka) + Raorchestes (India, China & Indochina) clades. We place these species into two new genera (Beddomixalus gen. nov. and Mercurana gen. nov.). Both of these genera exhibit a distinct reproductive mode among Rhacophoridae of pen-insular India and Sri Lanka, with explosive breeding and semiterrestrial, unprotected, non-pigmented eggs oviposited in seasonal swamp pools, which hatch into exotrophic, free-living aquatic tadpoles. Relationships and representation of re-productive modes in sister taxa within the larger clade into which these novel genera are placed, is also discussed. These results suggest that more undescribed taxa may remain to be discovered in South Asia, and the crucial importance of con-serving remaining viable habitats.
The bush-cricket Isophya kraussii (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae): bioacoustics, distribution and description of a new subspecies from Romania
Authors: IORGU IONUŢ ŞTEFAN , HELLER KLAUS-GERHARD
Published: April 2013

Isophya kraussii Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, one of the widest spread bush–crickets within this genus, is confirmed to be present east of the Carpathian Mountains. Based on acoustic analysis and morphological characters, the populations from NE Romania are considered to belong to a different subspecies, I. kraussii moldavica ssp. n. A map with distribution of both subspecies is presented.