bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THEORETICAL STUDY OF HIGHLY DOPED HETEROFULLERENES EVOLVED FROM THE D6h SYMMETRY C36 CAGE
Authors: NADERI F. , MOMENI M. R. , SHAKIB F. A.
Published: August 2013

The structural stabilities and electronic properties of singlet and triplet states C 24X12 heterofullerenes where X = B , Al , C , Si , N , and P are probed at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level of theory. Vibrational frequency calculations show that all of the systems are true minima. The calculated binding energies of heterofullerenes show C 24 B 12 and C 24 N 12 as the most stable heterofullerenes by 6.10 eV/atom and 5.63 eV/atom, respectively. While B , Al , N and P doping increase the conductivity of fullerene through decreasing its HOMO–LUMO gap, doping Si enhance its stability against electronic excitations via increasing the HOMO–LUMO gap. High charge transfer on the surfaces of our stable heterofullerenes, especially C 24 Al 12 followed by C 24 Si 12 and C 24 P 12, provokes further investigations on their possible application for hydrogen storage.
REALIZATION OF FAST QUANTUM INFORMATION TRANSFER AND ENTANGLEMENT WITH SUPERCONDUCTING FLUX QUBITS COUPLED TO A RESONATOR
Authors: WANG YAWEI , GAO SHAOYAN , FANG AIPING , LI PENGBO , LI FULI
Published: August 2013

We propose a scheme of realization of fast quantum information transfer and two-qubit entangled state with two different superconducting flux qubits coupled to a single-mode resonator. In this approach, the two lowest levels of each Λ-type flux qubit serve as the logical states and a higher-energy intermediate level is used as the gate manipulation. This proposal does not require equal device parameters for the two flux qubits that is extremely difficult to achieve experimentally. In addition, neither a second-order detuning nor auxiliary qubits are required in this scheme. Moreover, there is no need to change the Rabi frequencies to satisfy the adiabatic passage. Therefore, the operation time can be shortened to 20–30 ns, which is faster by one order of magnitude compared to the schemes employing the second-order detuning technique.
CONDENSATION HEAT TRANSFER AND PRESSURE DROP OF R-410A IN A 5.0 MM O.D. SMOOTH AND MICROFIN TUBE
Authors: BYUN HO-WON , LEE EUL-JONG , SIM YONG-SUP , LEE JEONG-KUN , KIM NAE-HYUN
Published: August 2013

R-410A condensation heat transfer and pressure drop data are provided for a 5.0 mm O.D. microfin tube having 40 fins with 18 degree helix angle and 40 degree fin apex angle. Tests were conducted for a range of quality (0.2 ~ 0.8), mass flux (346 ~ 692 kg/m2s) and saturation temperature (45 ~ 55°C). Data are compared with smooth tube counterpart. It was found that both heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop increased as mass flux increased. The range of pressure drop penalty factor (1.83 ~ 2.62) was slightly larger than that of heat transfer enhancement factor (1.24 ~ 1.66). Data are compared with available heat transfer and pressure drop correlations.
High-magnesium andesites: the example of the Papuan Volcanic Arc
Authors: Smith Ian E. M.
Published: August 2013

The late Cenozoic arc-type volcanic arc in southeastern Papua New Guinea developed in an environment of complex tectonic processes including obduction, subduction, rifting and sea floor spreading. The volcanic arc extends from the Papuan Peninsula south-eastward through the D'Entrecasteaux Islands into the Louisiade Archipelago. Lithologies are predominantly basaltic andesite and andesite, but include basalt, dacite and rhyolite. The rocks have typical arc-type geochemical features but include a group ranging from basalt to dacite which, although comparable in most other aspects of their compositions, are higher in MgO, Cr and Ni. These high-Mg rocks are less porphyritic and have simple olivine- or clinopyroxene- dominated phenocryst assemblages compared with the associated low-Mg rocks. The low-Mg rocks are plagioclase-phyric and contain augite and hypersthene with or without olivine, hornblende and biotite phenocrysts. Boninites are spatially associated with, but genetically unrelated to the arc-type rocks in Papua. The high-Mg rocks represent magmas derived by partial melting of subduction-modified mantle which rose rapidly from their source. In contrast, the low-Mg lavas represent magmas which were modified by shallow processes. The unusual abundance of high-Mg lavas in southeastern Papua is related to extensional tectonics which allowed deep sourced magmas to rise without significant modification.

Supplementary material:

Major and trace element analyses of lavas from the Papuan volcanic arc are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18644
Pulling apart the Mid to Late Cenozoic magmatic record of the Gulf of California: is there a Comondú Arc?
Authors: Bryan S. E. , Orozco-Esquivel T. , Ferrari L. , López-Martínez M.
Published: August 2013

The composition of the lithosphere can be fundamentally altered by long-lived subduction processes such that subduction-modified lithosphere can survive for hundreds of millions of years. Incorrect petrotectonic interpretations result when spatial–temporal–compositional trends of, and source contributions to, magmatism are not properly considered. Western Mexico has had protracted Cenozoic magmatism developed mostly in-board of active oceanic plate subduction beneath western North America. A broad range of igneous compositions from basalt to high-silica rhyolite were erupted with intermediate to silicic compositions in particular, showing calc-alkaline and other typical subduction-related geochemical signatures. A major Oligocene rhyolitic ignimbrite ‘flare-up’ (>300 000 km
3
) switched to a bimodal volcanic phase in the Early Miocene (
c.
100 000 km
3
), associated with distributed extension and opening of numerous graben. Extension became more focused
c.
18 Ma resulting in localized volcanic activity along the future site of the Gulf of California. This localized volcanism (known as the Comondú ‘arc’) was dominantly effusive and andesite–dacite in composition. Past tectonic interpretations of Comondú-age volcanism may have been incorrect as these regional temporal–compositional changes are alternatively interpreted as a result of increased mixing of mantle-derived basaltic and crust-derived rhyolitic magmas in an active rift environment rather than fluid flux melting of the mantle wedge above the subducting Guadalupe Plate.

Supplementary material:

References from which whole-rock geochemical and radiometric age data have been compiled in this paper are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18645
Behavioral dynamics on the web
Authors: Radinsky Kira , Svore Krysta M. , Dumais Susan T. , Shokouhi Milad , Teevan Jaime , Bocharov Alex , Horvitz Eric
Published: August 2013

The queries people issue to a search engine and the results clicked following a query change over time. For example, after the earthquake in Japan in March 2011, the query
japan
spiked in popularity and people issuing the query were more likely to click government-related results than they would prior to the earthquake. We explore the modeling and prediction of such temporal patterns in Web search behavior. We develop a temporal modeling framework adapted from physics and signal processing and harness it to predict temporal patterns in search behavior using smoothing, trends, periodicities, and surprises. Using current and past behavioral data, we develop a learning procedure that can be used to construct models of users' Web search activities. We also develop a novel methodology that learns to select the best prediction model from a family of predictive models for a given query or a class of queries. Experimental results indicate that the predictive models significantly outperform baseline models that weight historical evidence the same for all queries. We present two applications where new methods introduced for the temporal modeling of user behavior significantly improve upon the state of the art. Finally, we discuss opportunities for using models of temporal dynamics to enhance other areas of Web search and information retrieval.
An analysis of input-output relations in interaction with smart tangible objects
Authors: Garde-Perik Evelien van de , Offermans Serge , Boerdonk Koen van , Lenssen Kars-Michiel , Hoven Elise van den
Published: August 2013

This article focuses on the conceptual relation between the user's input and a system's output in interaction with smart tangible objects. Understanding this input-output relation (IO relation) is a prerequisite for the design of meaningful interaction. A meaningful IO relation allows the user to know what to do with a system to achieve a certain goal and to evaluate the outcome. The work discussed in this article followed a design research process in which four concepts were developed and prototyped. An evaluation was performed using these prototypes to investigate the effect of highly different IO relations on the user's understanding of the interaction. The evaluation revealed two types of IO relations differing in functionality and the number of mappings between the user and system actions. These two types of relations are described by two IO models that provide an overview of these mappings. Furthermore, they illustrate the role of the user and the influence of the system in the process of understanding the interaction. The analysis of the two types of IO models illustrates the value of understanding IO relations for the design of smart tangible objects.
Gaming legacy? four approaches to the relation between cultural heritage and digital technology
Authors: Suominen Jaakko , Sivula Anna
Published: August 2013

Digital gaming and digital technologies have their own unique cultural history while at the same time, the cultural heritage of digital technology is emerging. Digital technology has been understood as merely an apparatus that can be utilized for transferring nondigital historical content to novel digital products. These products, including types such as multimedia shows, games, Web sites, and online course environments, are targeted at juvenile audiences, who are typically considered to be the primary users of such new media forms. For decades, the changes and new continuities in both mediated content and the technology of mediation were mostly hidden in the shadow of educational goal-attainment. This article draws inspiration from ideas on media archaeology and the cultures of history. In this article we suggest an approach of internal and external cultural heritage of games cultures. We introduce a four-fold table regarding the relationship between cultural heritage (or history) and digital technology. The four-fold table consists of the dimension of a researcher's comprehensive/applied goal-attainment and the dimension of the internality/externality of history and cultural heritage in regard to the digital game cultural context. Within these cultures, there are several alternative ways of discussing the relationship between history, cultural heritage, and digital technology, separate from the traditional edutainment perspective. The dimensions are illustrated with practical examples, including a typologization of historiographical computer games, retrogaming, and educational workshops on game classics.
A web platform for the consultation of spatialized and semantically enriched iconographic sources on cultural heritage buildings
Authors: Stefani Chiara , Busayarat Chawee , Lombardo Julie , Luca Livio De , Véron Philippe
Published: August 2013

This article describes an interactive platform for the semantic annotation of oriented iconographic sources based on an accurate 3D-model structured according to spatial and temporal features. This platform, called LOCUS IMAGINIS, provides access to cultural information about monuments by collecting personal snapshots taken by visitors. In particular, the platform enables to perform two actions. First, pictures are added into the database: visitors manually align images to the digital model of the monument and than, by means of automatic procedures, images are enriched with 2D semantic annotations that are projected from the 3D model. Second, the collection of semantically-enriched data can be queried: when visitors select 2D images of the database, these are oriented in the 3D scene and superimposed onto the 3D-model. In this way, this tool provides access to textual and graphic information describing the photographed site (semantic, spatial, temporal features, etc.). Moreover, visitors can interact both with images and the 3D-model to highlight building parts by color. Accessible onsite and online, this tool can create awareness about conservation and is adapted to all kinds of audience: Students involved in educational workshops, visitors needing to extend their visit, and documentalists interested in the consultation of the iconographic corpus.
Matching "versus" mechanism design
Authors: Budish Eric
Published: August 2013

In a typical mechanism design paper the goal is to find a mechanism that maximizes the designer's objective (e.g., social welfare) subject to technology and incentive constraints. In a typical applied matching paper, by contrast, the goal is to find a mechanism that satisfies various "good properties" (e.g., efficiency and fairness). This essay discusses the relationship and tradeoffs between these two approaches. An introductory example, school choice, represents a simple win for the good properties approach. The main example, course allocation, paints a more complicated picture.
Privacy and mechanism design
Authors: Pai Mallesh M. , Roth Aaron
Published: August 2013

This paper is a survey of recent work at the intersection of mechanism design and privacy. The connection is a natural one, but its study has been jump-started in recent years by the advent of
differential privacy
, which provides a rigorous, quantitative way of reasoning about the costs that an agent might experience because of the loss of his privacy. Here, we survey several facets of this study, and differential privacy plays a role in more than one way. Of course, it provides us a basis for
modeling
agent costs for privacy, which is essential if we are to attempt mechanism design in a setting in which agents have preferences for privacy. It also provides a toolkit for controlling those costs. However, perhaps more surprisingly, it provides a powerful toolkit for controlling the stability of mechanisms in general, which yields a set of tools for designing novel mechanisms even in economic settings completely unrelated to privacy.
Generalized scoring rules
Authors: Xia Lirong
Published: August 2013

Generalized scoring rules [Xia and Conitzer 08] are a relatively new class of social choice mechanisms. In this paper, we survey developments in generalized scoring rules, showing that they provide a fruitful framework to obtain general results, and also reconcile the Borda approach and Condorcet approach via a new social choice axiom. We comment on some high-level ideas behind GSRs and their connection to Machine Learning, and point out some ongoing work and future directions.
Constrained signaling for welfare and revenue maximization
Authors: Dughmi Shaddin , Immorlica Nicole , Roth Aaron
Published: August 2013

We consider auction settings where the seller is constrained in the amount and nature of information he may reveal about the good being sold. This is encountered, for example, in online advertising auctions, where communicating precise details of every viewer to interested advertisers is impractical, costly, and possibly socially undesirable. We initiate the study of
constrained signaling
in such settings, where a seller must choose which information to reveal subject to exogenous constraints on the signaling policy. We consider a seller employing the second-price auction, and present algorithms and hardness results for approximating the welfare and revenue maximizing signaling policies under a variety of constraints.
Transforming growth factor-β1 impairs CFTR-mediated anion secretion across cultured porcine vas deferens epithelial monolayer via the p38 MAPK pathway
Authors: Yi Sheng , Pierucci-Alves Fernando , Schultz Bruce D.
Published: August 2013

The goal of this study was to determine whether transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) affects epithelial cells lining the vas deferens, an organ that is universally affected in cystic fibrosis male patients. In PVD9902 cells, which are derived from porcine vas deferens epithelium, TGF-β1 exposure significantly reduced short-circuit current ( Isc) stimulated by forskolin or a cell membrane-permeant cAMP analog, 8-pCPT-cAMP, suggesting that TGF-β1 affects targets of the cAMP signaling pathway. Electrophysiological results indicated that TGF-β1 reduces the magnitude of current inhibited by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel blockers. Real-time RT-PCR revealed that TGF-β1 downregulates the abundance of mRNA coding for CFTR, while biotinylation and Western blot showed that TGF-β1 reduces both total CFTR and apical cell surface CFTR abundance. These results suggest that TGF-β1 causes a reduction in CFTR expression, which limits CFTR-mediated anion secretion. TGF-β1-associated attenuation of anion secretion was abrogated by SB431542, a TGF-β1 receptor I inhibitor. Signaling pathway studies showed that the effect of TGF-β1 on Isc was reduced by SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). TGF-β1 exposure also increased the amount of phospho-p38 MAPK substantially. In addition, anisomycin, a p38 MAPK activator, mimicked the effect of TGF-β1, which further suggests that TGF-β1 affects PVD9902 cells through a p38 MAPK pathway. These observations suggest that TGF-β1, via TGF-β1 receptor I and p38 MAPK signaling, reduces CFTR expression to impair CFTR-mediated anion secretion, which would likely compound the effects associated with mild CFTR mutations and ultimately would compromise male fertility.
Cellular Mechanisms of Tissue Fibrosis. 5. Novel insights into liver fibrosis
Authors: Mallat Ariane , Lotersztajn Sophie
Published: August 2013

Liver fibrosis is the common scarring reaction associated with chronic liver injury that results from prolonged parenchymal cell injury and/or inflammation. The fibrogenic response is characterized by progressive accumulation of extracellular matrix components enriched in fibrillar collagens and a failure of matrix turnover. This process is driven by a heterogeneous population of hepatic myofibroblasts, which mainly derive from hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts. Regression of fibrosis can be achieved by the successful control of chronic liver injury, owing to termination of the fibrogenic reaction following clearance of hepatic myofibroblasts and restoration of fibrolytic pathways. Understanding of the complex network underlying liver fibrogenesis has allowed the identification of a large number of antifibrotic targets, but no antifibrotic drug has as yet been approved. This review will highlight recent advances regarding the mechanisms that regulate liver fibrogenesis and fibrosis regression, with special focus on novel signaling pathways and the role of inflammatory cells. Translation of these findings to therapies will require continued efforts to develop multitarget therapeutic approaches that will improve the grim prognosis of liver cirrhosis.
H2S concentrations in the arterial blood during H2S administration in relation to its toxicity and effects on breathing
Authors: Klingerman Candice M. , Trushin Neil , Prokopczyk Bogdan , Haouzi Philippe
Published: August 2013

Our aim was to establish in spontaneously breathing urethane-anesthetized rats, the relationship between the concentrations of H2S transported in the blood and the corresponding clinical manifestations, i.e., breathing stimulation and inhibition, during and following infusion of NaHS at increasing rates. The gaseous concentration of H2S (CgH2S, one-third of the total soluble form) was computed from the continuous determination of H2S partial pressure in the alveolar gas, while H2S, both dissolved and combined to hemoglobin, was measured at specific time points by sulfide complexation with monobromobimane (CMBBH2S). We found that using a potent reducing agent in vitro, H2S added to the whole blood had little interaction with the plasma proteins, as sulfide appeared to be primarily combined and then oxidized by hemoglobin. In vivo, H2S was undetectable in the blood in its soluble form in baseline conditions, while CMBBH2S averaged 0.7 ± 0.5 μM. During NaHS infusion, H2S was primarily present in nonsoluble form in the arterial blood: CMBBH2S was about 50 times higher than CgH2S at the lowest levels of exposure and 5 or 6 times at the levels wherein fatal apnea occurred. CgH2S averaged only 1.1 ± 0.7 μM when breathing increased, corresponding to a CMBBH2S of 11.1 ± 5.4 μM. Apnea occurred at CgH2S above 5.1 μM and CMBBH2S above 25.4 μM. At the cessation of exposure, CMBBH2S remained elevated, at about 3 times above baseline for at least 15 min. These data provide a frame of reference for studying the putative effects of endogenous H2S and for testing antidotes against its deadly effects.
Life without TTP: apparent absence of an important anti-inflammatory protein in birds
Authors: Lai Wi S. , Stumpo Deborah J. , Kennington Elizabeth A. , Burkholder Adam B. , Ward James M. , Fargo David L. , Blackshear Perry J.
Published: August 2013

Both innate and adaptive immunity in birds are different from their mammalian counterparts. Understanding bird immunity is important because of the enormous potential impact of avian infectious diseases, both in their role as food animals and as potential carriers of zoonotic diseases in man. The anti-inflammatory protein tristetraprolin (TTP) is an important component of the mammalian innate immune response, in that it binds to and destabilizes key cytokine mRNAs. TTP knockout mice exhibit a severe systemic inflammatory syndrome, and they are abnormally sensitive to innate immune stimuli such as LPS. TTP orthologs have been found in most vertebrates studied, including frogs. Here, we attempted to identify TTP orthologs in chicken and other birds, using database searches and deep mRNA sequencing. Although sequences encoding the two other widely expressed TTP family members, ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2, were identified, we did not find sequences corresponding to TTP in any bird species. Sequences corresponding to TTP were identified in both lizards and alligators, close evolutionary relatives of birds. The induction kinetics of Zfp36l1 and Zfp36l2 mRNAs in LPS-stimulated chicken macrophages or serum-stimulated chick embryo fibroblasts did not resemble the normal mammalian TTP response to these stimuli, suggesting that the other two family members might not compensate for the TTP deficiency in regulating rapidly induced mRNA targets. Several mammalian TTP target transcripts have chicken counterparts that contain one or more potential TTP binding sites, raising the possibility that birds express other proteins that subsume TTP's function as a rapidly inducible regulator of AU-rich element (ARE)-dependent mRNA turnover.
Primary cilia and kidney injury: current research status and future perspectives
Authors: Wang Shixuan , Dong Zheng
Published: August 2013

Cilia, membrane-enclosed organelles protruding from the apical side of cells, can be divided into two classes: motile and primary cilia. During the past decades, motile cilia have been intensively studied. However, it was not until the 1990s that people began to realize the importance of primary cilia as cellular-specific sensors, particularly in kidney tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that primary cilia may be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and planar cell polarity. Many signaling pathways, such as Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, and mammalian target of rapamycin, have been located to the primary cilia. Thus primary cilia have been regarded as a hub that integrates signals from the extracellular environment. More importantly, dysfunction of this organelle may contribute to the pathogenesis of a large spectrum of human genetic diseases, named ciliopathies. The significance of primary cilia in acquired human diseases such as hypertension and diabetes has gradually drawn attention. Interestingly, recent reports disclosed that cilia length varies during kidney injury, and shortening of cilia enhances the sensitivity of epithelial cells to injury cues. This review briefly summarizes the current status of cilia research and explores the potential mechanisms of cilia-length changes during kidney injury as well as provides some thoughts to allure more insightful ideas and promotes the further study of primary cilia in the context of kidney injury.
IL-18 induces profibrotic renal tubular cell injury via STAT3 activation
Authors: Matsui Futoshi , Rhee Audrey , Hile Karen L. , Zhang Hongji , Meldrum Kirstan K.
Published: August 2013

IL-18 is an important mediator of obstruction-induced renal fibrosis and renal tubular epithelial cell (TEC) injury. IL-18's proinflammatory properties have been attributed, in part, to NF-κB activation and the stimulation of cytokine gene expression; however, STAT3 has increasingly been shown to mediate renal fibrotic injury. We therefore hypothesized that IL-18 mediates profibrotic TEC injury via STAT3 activation. Male C57BL6 wild-type mice and transgenic mice for human IL-18-binding protein were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction or sham operation. The kidneys were harvested 1 or 2 wk afterward and analyzed for active STAT3 (p-STAT3) expression (Western blotting, immunohistochemistry) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) expression. In a separate arm, renal tubular cells (HK-2) were directly stimulated with IL-18 for 2 days with or without the STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 (50 μM). Cell lysates were then analyzed for p-STAT3 and SOCS3 expression, profibrotic cellular changes (collagen and α-SMA expression), and tubular cell apoptosis. p-STAT3 and SOCS3 expression increased significantly in response to obstruction; however, a significant reduction in p-STAT3 and SOCS3 expression occurred following 1 wk, but not 2 wk, of obstruction in the presence of IL-18 neutralization. In vitro results similarly demonstrate increased p-STAT3, SOCS3, α-SMA, and collagen III expression, and increased collagen production and TEC apoptosis in response to IL-18 stimulation, but the response was significantly diminished in the presence of STAT3 inhibition. These results demonstrate that IL-18-induces profibrotic cellular changes and collagen production in TECs via STAT3 activation.
Feedback that confirms reward expectation triggers auditory cortex activity
Authors: Weis Tina , Brechmann André , Puschmann Sebastian , Thiel Christiane M.
Published: August 2013

Associative learning studies have shown that the anticipation of reward and punishment shapes the representation of sensory stimuli, which is further modulated by dopamine. Less is known about whether and how reward delivery activates sensory cortices and the role of dopamine at that time point of learning. We used an appetitive instrumental learning task in which participants had to learn that a specific class of frequency-modulated tones predicted a monetary reward following fast and correct responses in a succeeding reaction time task. These fMRI data were previously analyzed regarding the effect of reward anticipation, but here we focused on neural activity to the reward outcome relative to the reward expectation and tested whether such activation in the reward reception phase is modulated by l-DOPA. We analyzed neural responses at the time point of reward outcome under three different conditions: 1) when a reward was expected and received, 2) when a reward was expected but not received, and 3) when a reward was not expected and not received. Neural activity in auditory cortex was enhanced during feedback delivery either when an expected reward was received or when the expectation of obtaining no reward was correct. This differential neural activity in auditory cortex was only seen in subjects who learned the reward association and not under dopaminergic modulation. Our data provide evidence that auditory cortices are active at the time point of reward outcome. However, responses are not dependent on the reward itself but on whether the outcome confirmed the subject's expectations.
Glycinergic synaptic transmission in the cochlear nucleus of mice with normal hearing and age-related hearing loss
Authors: Xie (解瑞立) Ruili , Manis Paul B.
Published: August 2013

The principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian cochlear nucleus (CN) is glycine. During age-related hearing loss (AHL), glycinergic inhibition becomes weaker in CN. However, it is unclear what aspects of glycinergic transmission are responsible for weaker inhibition with AHL. We examined glycinergic transmission onto bushy cells of the anteroventral CN in normal-hearing CBA/CaJ mice and in DBA/2J mice, a strain that exhibits an early onset AHL. Glycinergic synaptic transmission was examined in brain slices of mice at 10–15 postnatal days old, 20–35 days old, and at 6–7 mo old. Spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) event frequency and amplitude were the same among all three ages in both strains of mice. However, the amplitudes of IPSCs evoked (eIPSC) from stimulating the dorsal CN were smaller, and the failure rate was higher, with increasing age due to decreased quantal content in both mouse strains, independent of hearing status. The coefficient of variation of the eIPSC amplitude also increased with age. The decay time constant (τ) of sIPSCs and eIPSCs were constant in CBA/CaJ mice at all ages, but were significantly slower in DBA/2J mice at postnatal days 20–35, following the onset of AHL, and not at earlier or later ages. Our results suggest that glycinergic inhibition at the synapses onto bushy cells becomes weaker and less reliable with age through changes in release. However, the hearing loss in DBA/2J mice is accompanied by a transiently enhanced inhibition, which could disrupt the balance of excitation and inhibition.
Action of octopamine and tyramine on muscles ofDrosophila melanogasterlarvae
Authors: Ormerod Kiel G. , Hadden Julia K. , Deady Lylah D. , Mercier A. Joffre , Krans Jacob L.
Published: August 2013

Octopamine (OA) and tyramine (TA) play important roles in homeostatic mechanisms, behavior, and modulation of neuromuscular junctions in arthropods. However, direct actions of these amines on muscle force production that are distinct from effects at the neuromuscular synapse have not been well studied. We utilize the technical benefits of the Drosophila larval preparation to distinguish the effects of OA and TA on the neuromuscular synapse from their effects on contractility of muscle cells. In contrast to the slight and often insignificant effects of TA, the action of OA was profound across all metrics assessed. We demonstrate that exogenous OA application decreases the input resistance of larval muscle fibers, increases the amplitude of excitatory junction potentials (EJPs), augments contraction force and duration, and at higher concentrations (10−5and 10−4M) affects muscle cells 12 and 13 more than muscle cells 6 and 7. Similarly, OA increases the force of synaptically driven contractions in a cell-specific manner. Moreover, such augmentation of contractile force persisted during direct muscle depolarization concurrent with synaptic block. OA elicited an even more profound effect on basal tonus. Application of 10−5M OA increased synaptically driven contractions by ∼1.1 mN but gave rise to a 28-mN increase in basal tonus in the absence of synaptic activation. Augmentation of basal tonus exceeded any physiological stimulation paradigm and can potentially be explained by changes in intramuscular protein mechanics. Thus we provide evidence for independent but complementary effects of OA on chemical synapses and muscle contractility.
Application of Fuzzy Control with Market-Based Control Strategy to Structures
Authors: Li Gang , Li Hong-Nan , Liu Qi-Feng
Published: August 2013

The market-based control as a control strategy is developed based on an analogy between the control force-energy source in the structural area and the supply demand in the free market. The optimal problem of control force from an actuator is transformed to that of the allocation resource in the market. Since the supply-demand relation model and iteration procedure for the optimal price solution are necessary and relatively hard to understand and perform for civil engineers, the fuzzy logical method is proposed in the framework of the market-based control to acquire an equivalent system corresponding to the market-based control method. An equivalent fuzzy logical rule is established through analyzing a single-degree-of-freedom system with the controller using the MBC strategy under earthquakes. The results show that the fuzzy logical method is able to also reduce the displacement and acceleration responses effectively similar to the MBC method, and the consumed computational time for the fuzzy logical method is obviously saved.
A Note on Solutions of Linear Systems
Authors: Malešević Branko , Jovović Ivana , Makragić Milica , Radičić Biljana
Published: August 2013

We will consider Rohde's general form of {1}-inverse of a matrix A. The necessary and sufficient condition for consistency of a linear system Ax=c will be represented. We will also be concerned with the minimal number of free parameters in Penrose's formula x=A(1)c+(I-A(1)A)y for obtaining the general solution of the linear system. These results will be applied for finding the general solution of various homogenous and nonhomogenous linear systems as well as for different types of matrix equations.
Existence and Multiplicity of Solutions for a Robin Problem Involving the p(x)-Laplace Operator
Authors: Tsouli Najib , Chakrone Omar , Darhouche Omar , Rahmani Mostafa
Published: August 2013

We study the following nonlinear Robin boundary-value problem −Δp(x)u=λf(x,u) in Ω, |∇u|p(x)-2(∂u/∂v)+β(x)|u|p(x)−2u=0 on ∂Ω, where Ω⊂ℝN is a bounded domain with smooth boundary ∂Ω, ∂u/∂v is the outer unit normal derivative on ∂Ω, λ>0 is a real number, p is a continuous function on Ω¯ with infx∈Ω¯p(x)>1, β∈L∞(∂Ω) with β−:=infx∈∂Ωβ(x)>0, and f:Ω×ℝ→ℝ is a continuous function. Using the variational method, under appropriate assumptions on f, we obtain results on existence and multiplicity of solutions.
Validity of the “Streitberger” Needle in a Chinese Population with Acupuncture: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, and Crossover Pilot Study
Authors: Xie Chang-cai , Wen Xiu-yun , Jiang Li , Xie Min-jun , Fu Wen Bin
Published: August 2013

We studied the validity of a “Streitberger” needle as a valid approach in a Chinese population with experience of acupuncture. Volunteers were recruited from students of the School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Sixty students receiving education in acupuncture theory and experience in practical acupuncture were tested in study determining whether needling with the placebo needle felt any different from conventional acupuncture. Outcomes included measures of penetration sensation, VAS ratings, andDeqisensation questionnaire. As a result, needle penetration, VAS ratings for either needle andDeqisensation were not significantly different between two kinds of needles. Our findings show that the use of “Streitberger” needle is credible in a Chinese population with acupuncture experience.
Efficiency of Barley Bran and Oat Bran in Ameliorating Blood Lipid Profile and the Adverse Histological Changes in Hypercholesterolemic Male Rats
Authors: El Rabey Haddad A. , Al-Seeni Madeha N. , Amer Hanan M.
Published: August 2013

The efficiency of oat bran and barley bran in lowering the induced hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia in blood of male Albino rats (Rattus rattus) was studied. Twenty rats were divided into four groups each consisted of five rats and fed the specified test diets for eight weeks. The first group (G1) is the negative group which was fed basal diet, the second group (G2) was fed 1.0% cholesterol, was the third group (G3) fed 1.0% cholesterol and 10% oats bran, and the fourth group (G4) was fed 1.0% cholesterol and 10% barley bran. Feeding rats on 1% cholesterol significantly increased serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein and triglyceride and decreased serum high density lipoprotein. Furthermore, enzyme activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase was increased, and lipid peroxide was increased, whereas catalase and glutathione-S-transferase were decreased. Kidney functions parameters in the cholesterol supplemented group were elevated compared with the negative control. In addition, histological alteration in kidney, liver, heart, and testes was observed, compared with the negative control. Hypercholesterolemic rats supplemented with oat bran and barley bran showed significant decrease in lipid parameters, significant increase in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, improved antioxidant enzyme, and improved histopathology of kidney, liver, heart, and testes. In conclusion, both oat bran and barley bran had protective effects against induced hyperlipidemia and improved histological alterations. Oat bran appeared more efficient than barley bran in lowering the lipid profile levels in hypercholesterolemic rats.
DRESS Syndrome due to Nevirapine Treated with Methylprednisolone
Authors: Pott Junior Henrique , Gosuen Gisele Cristina , Gales Ana Cristina
Published: August 2013

Nevirapine-induced DRESS syndrome is uncommon but a potentially life-threatening condition, with significant morbidity and mortality rates due to multiple-organ involvement. The authors report a case of a 47-year-old HIV-infected female patient who presented with fever, right hypochondrium pain, jaundice, and skin rash. The Nevirapine-induced DRESS syndrome was suspected based on clinical presentation and RegiSCAR scoring system. This case highlights the need for a high index of clinical suspicion among HIV-infected patients with severe skin eruption and systemic symptoms.
Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities of Satureja montana L. Essential Oil and Its Antibacterial Potential against Salmonella Spp. Strains
Authors: Miladi Hanene , Ben Slama Rihab , Mili Donia , Zouari Sami , Bakhrouf Amina , Ammar Emna
Published: August 2013

The present study describes chemical composition as well as cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of winter savory Satureja montana L. essential oil (EO). The plant was collected from south France mountain, and its EO was extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Thirty‐two compounds were identified accounting for 99.85% of the total oil, where oxygenated monoterpenes constituted the main chemical class (59.11%). The oil was dominated by carvacrol (53.35%), γ‐terpinene (13.54%), and the monoterpenic hydrocarbons p‐cymene (13.03%). Moreover, S. montana L. EO exhibited high antibacterial activities with strong effectiveness against several pathogenic food isolated Salmonella spp. including S. enteritidis with a diameter of inhibition zones growth ranging from 21 to 51 mm and MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.39–1.56 mg/mL to 0.39–3.12 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the S. montana L. EO was investigated for its cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. The results revealed a significant cytotoxic effect of S. montana L. EO against A549 cell line and an important antioxidant activity. These findings suggest that S. montana L. EO may be considered as an interesting source of components used as potent agents in food preservation and for therapeutic or nutraceutical industries.
Do US Ambient Air Lead Levels Have a Significant Impact on Childhood Blood Lead Levels: Results of a National Study
Authors: Brink LuAnn L. , Talbott Evelyn O. , Sharma Ravi K. , Marsh Gary M. , Wu Wen Chi , Rager Judith R. , Strosnider Heather M.
Published: August 2013

Introduction. Although lead paint and leaded gasoline have not been used in the US for thirty years, thousands of US children continue to have blood lead levels (BLLs) of concern.Methods. We investigated the potential association of modeled air lead levels and BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL using a large CDC database with BLLs on children aged 0–3 years. Percent of children with BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL (2000–2007) by county and proportion of pre-50 housing and SES variables were merged with the US EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) modeled air lead data.Results. The proportion with BLL ≥ 10 μg/dL was 1.24% in the highest air lead counties, and the proportion with BLL ≥ 10 μg/dL was 0.36% in the lowest air lead counties, resulting in a crude prevalence ratio of 3.4. Further analysis using multivariate negative binomial regression revealed that NATA lead was a significant predictor of % BLL ≥ 10 μg/dL after controlling for percent pre-l950 housing, percent rural, and percent black. A geospatial regression revealed that air lead, percent older housing, and poverty were all significant predictors of % BLL ≥ 10 μg/dL.Conclusions. More emphasis should be given to potential sources of ambient air lead near residential areas.
Shoot Organogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Leaf Explants of Lysionotus serratus D. Don
Authors: Li Qiansheng , Deng Min , Zhang Jie , Zhao Wei , Song Yigang , Li Quanjian , Huang Qingjun
Published: August 2013

The gesneriaceous perennial plant, Lysionotus serratus, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. It also has a great development potential as an ornamental plant with its attractive foliage and beautiful flowers. An efficient propagation and regeneration system via direct shoot organogenesis from leaf explant was established in this study. High active cytokinin (6‐benzyladenine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ)) was effective for direct organogenesis of initial induction. Murashige and Skoog (MS) growth media containing 0.5 mg L−1 BA alone or with combination of 0.1 mg L−1  α‐Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were the most effective for shoot proliferation. High BA concentration (1.0 mg L−1) in the media caused high percentage of vitrified shoots though they introduced high shoot proliferation rate. Histological observation indicated that adventitious shoot regeneration on the medium containing 0.5 mg L−1 BA alone occurred directly from leaf epidermal cells without callus formation. Regenerated shoots rooted well on medium containing half‐strength MS medium with 0.5 mg L−1 indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA) and indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), and the plantlets successfully acclimatized and grew vigorously in the greenhouse with a 94.2% and 92.1% survival rate.
HPLC Evaluation of Phenolic Profile, Nutritive Content, and Antioxidant Capacity of Extracts Obtained fromPunica granatumFruit Peel
Authors: Middha Sushil Kumar , Usha Talambedu , Pande Veena
Published: August 2013

This study revealed polyphenolic content, nutritive content, antioxidant activity, and phenolic profile of methanol and aqueous extracts ofPunica granatumpeel extract. For this, extracts were screened for possible antioxidant activities by free radical scavenging activity (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The total phenolics and flavonoid recovered by methanolic (MPE) and the water extract (AQPE) were ranged from 185 ± 12.45 to 298.00 ± 24.86 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/gm and 23.05 ± 1.54 to 49.8 ± 2.14 quercetin (QE) mg/g, respectively. The EC50of herbal extracts ranged from 100 µg/ml (0.38 quercetin equivalents), for AQPE, 168 µg/ml (0.80 quercetin equivalents), for MPE. The phenolic profile in the methanolic extracts was investigated by chromatographic (HPLC) method. About 5 different flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives including quercetin (1), rutin (2), gallic acid (3), ellagic acid (4), and punicalagin as a major ellagitannin (5) have been identified. Among both extracts, methanolic extract was the most effective. This report may be the first to show nutritive content and correlation analysis to suggest that phenols and flavonoids might contribute the high antioxidant activity of this fruit peel and establish it as a valuable natural antioxidant source applicable in the health food industry.
Structural and Surface Characterization of Newly Synthesized D‐π‐D Type Schiff Base Ligand: (1E,2E)‐3‐[4‐(Dimethylamino)phenyl]prop‐2‐en‐1‐ylidene)phenylamine
Authors: Gumrukcu Gulsah , Garikyan Serkis , Keser Karaoglan Gulnur , Sakar Dolunay
Published: August 2013

A new Schiff base with D‐π‐D type, (1E,2E)‐3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]prop‐2‐en‐1‐ylidene)phenylamine, has been successfully synthesized using the reaction of (2E)‐3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]acrylaldehyde with aniline. The Schiff base ligand has been characterized by FTIR, UV‐visible, and 1H NMR as well as TG/DTA, SEM, BET, and elemental analyses and mass spectra. Surface properties and acid‐base constants of Schiff base ligand were determined by IGC measurements.
Numerical Simulation for Thermal Shock Resistance of Thermal Protection Materials Considering Different Operating Environments
Authors: Li Weiguo , Li Dingyu , Wang Ruzhuan , Fang Daining
Published: August 2013

Based on the sensitivities of material properties to temperature and the complexity of service environment of thermal protection system on the spacecraft, ultrahigh‐temperature ceramics (UHTCs), which are used as thermal protection materials, cannot simply consider thermal shock resistance (TSR) of the material its own but need to take the external constraint conditions and the thermal environment into full account. With the thermal shock numerical simulation on hafnium diboride (HfB2), a detailed study of the effects of the different external constraints and thermal environments on the TSR of UHTCs had been made. The influences of different initial temperatures, constraint strengths, and temperature change rates on the TSR of UHTCs are discussed. This study can provide a more intuitively visual understanding of the evolution of the TSR of UHTCs during actual operation conditions.
A Six-Month Randomized Controlled Trial of Whole Soy and Isoflavones Daidzein on Body Composition in Equol-Producing Postmenopausal Women with Prehypertension
Authors: Liu Zhao-min , Ho Suzanne C. , Chen Yu-ming , Woo Jean
Published: August 2013

Objectives. This paper reported the effects of commonly used whole soy foods (soy flour) and purified daidzein (one of the major isoflavones and the precursor of equol) on changes in anthropometric measurements and body composition in a 6-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among prehypertensive postmenopausal women who are also equol producers.Methods. 270 eligible women were randomized to either one of the three treatments: 40 g soy flour (whole soy group), 40 g low-fat milk powder + 63 mg daidzein (daidzein group), or 40 g low-fat milk powder (placebo group) daily each for 6 months. Anthropometric indicators and body composition were measured before and after intervention.Results. 253 subjects completed the study with good compliance. Urinary isoflavones levels suggested good compliance of subjects with supplementation. Whole soy and purified daidzein had no significant effect on body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, waist to hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage, fat mass, and free fat mass. Conclusion. Six-month consumption of whole soy and purified daidzein at provided dosage had no improvement on body weight and composition compared with isocaloric milk placebo among prehypertensive equol-producing postmenopausal women. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.govNCT01270737.