bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of age in screening for cancer
Authors: Law M.R. , Morris J.K. , Wald N.J.
Published: May 2013

Objective To derive a rational method of selecting the age range over which screening tests for cancer should be offered (that is, over which they would be most effective in saving life).

Main outcome measureThe number of person-years of life that are lost through deaths occurring at each year of age from each of six cancers.

Results For each cancer the number of years of life lost to age 80, plotted against age at death, showed a rise followed by a fall. The peak indicates the age at which deaths from the cancer result in most years of life lost. Special screening tests, such as mammography for breast cancer, will be most effective in saving life shortly before that age. The peak (as a five year age span) occurs at age 55–59 for breast cancer (189 years of life lost per 10 000 women per year), 70–74 for prostate cancer (114), 65–69 for colorectal cancer (96), 55–59 for ovarian cancer (61), 50–54 for cervical cancer (47), and 45–50 for melanoma (8). The precise interval by which special screening tests should precede the peak age is not critical; five years would be appropriate. Given current evidence on the efficacy of cancer screening, if it were stipulated that screening could only be performed when at least 50 years of life were to be gained per 10 000 persons screened, only mammography for breast cancer would be conducted, between the ages of 50 and 59. If the stipulation was 25 or more years of life gained mammography would be offered to women aged 40–69 and cervical smears to women aged 35–59. With only 10 or more years of life gained (unlikely to be worthwhile) mammography would be extended to women aged 30–74, cervical smears to 25–69, and faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer offered to those aged 45–74. Extending cervical cancer screening to age 69 would save more years of life than the present policy of screening women aged 20–29. Extending breast cancer screening to the age of 74 would be more effective than cervical screening at any age.

Conclusions Determining the number of years of life lost through deaths from a particular cancer at each age is useful in public health screening policy, both in selecting the age range over which special screening tests of proven efficacy should be offered and in quantitatively comparing the value of screening for different cancers.
Screening for malignant melanoma using instant photography
Authors: Edmondson P.C. , Curley R.K. , Marsden R.A. , Robinson D. , Allaway S.L. , Willson C.D.
Published: May 2013

Objective To assess the use of instant photography, in addition to clinical grading, as a method of screening for malignant melanoma during routine health examinations.

Setting A health screening clinic with an average throughput of about 12 000 patients a year.

Methods Suspicious pigmented skin lesions were judged clinically using the revised seven point checklist scoring system. They were then photographed with a Polaroid camera and the prints were graded independently by two consultant dermatologists with a special interest in malignant melanoma. A copy of the print was also given to the patient to keep for observation of any change in the lesion.

Results Over a 45 month period 39 922 patients of both sexes were screened and 1052 skin lesions were clinically assessed and photographed. Fourteen malignant melanomas were diagnosed—all, except one, were thin lesions with a good prognosis.

Conclusions The clinical opinions of non-dermatologists using the revised seven point checklist proved disappointing in screening because of the large number of benign lesions that were given high scores. Photography, on the other hand, detected 11 melanomas and succeeded in separating the majority of banal lesions from potentially malignant ones, thus greatly reducing the need for specialist referral. Nevertheless, three melanomas were missed on purely photographic grading, which emphasises the danger of placing too much reliance solely on a two dimensional image. Finally, the possession of a personal copy of the photograph by the patient proved popular and led to a diagnosis of melanoma in two instances. This procedure merits further study.
Efficacy of cascade testing for fragile X syndrome
Authors: Wildhagen M.F. , van Os T.A.M. , Polder J.J. , ten Kate L.P. , Habbema J.D.F.
Published: May 2013

ObjectiveFragile X syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation from a single gene defect, transmitted in an X-linked semidominant fashion. Cloning of the gene responsible for fragile X syndrome has made it possible to identify carriers who are at risk of giving birth to a child with fragile X syndrome. One of the proposed strategies for identifying carriers is cascade testing, in which relatives of a patient with fragile X syndrome (the index case) are tested. Because the effectiveness of this type of testing is unknown, the objective of this study was to develop a simulation model for studying the consequences of cascade testing for fragile X syndrome. MethodsWith this model, 100 000 five-generation pedigrees were simulated to assess the maximum number of carriers that would be detected for three scenarios: (a) only first degree relatives of the index case are tested; (b) relatives up to the third degree are tested; (c) relatives up to the fifth degree are tested. ResultsIn the start-up phase of the testing programme, 18% of couples who will have a fragile X syndrome child are detected. After this phase the (stabilised) cascade testing programme detects 7% of undetected couples who would have a fragile X syndrome child if only first degree relatives were tested, 12% if first to third degree relatives were tested, and 15% if first to fifth degree relatives were tested. To detect 90% of all premutation and full mutation carriers at least eight consecutive generations need to be tested. ConclusionsThe results of our analysis show that cascade testing is not very effective in detecting carriers.
What is the cost utility of screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in intravenous drug users?
Authors: Leal P. , Stein K. , Rosenberg W.
Published: May 2013

Objectives To model the likely cost utility of the prevalence round of a screening programme for hepatitis C (HCV) in intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in contact with services in the South and West health region of the UK.

Methods Information on the prevalence of HCV, performance of diagnostic tests, and effectiveness of interferon α (IFNα) for treatment of chronic hepatitis were brought together with estimates of the costs of service provision. A simple spreadsheet model was used to estimate cost utility (cost/quality adjusted life year (QALY)). Assumptions (including use of ribavirin plus IFNα combination therapy) were tested by a one way sensitivity analysis.

Results About 5600 IVDUs live in the region. A combination of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting HCV. There is excellent evidence that IFNα is effective in producing sustained normalisation of liver function and, by inference, eradicating HCV. Evidence for long term benefits comes from modelling studies based on progression of HBV or non-A, non-B hepatitis and is considerably less robust. The cost of the prevalence round of screening in IVDUs would be about £700 000 and is likely to identify about 1400 people, of whom about 270 would be eligible for treatment and 20 would respond to IFNα. This gives a cost/QALY of £9300 for the screening programme. However, much uncertainty around the estimates used to inform the cost utility calculation limits confidence in the value of screening IVDUs for HCV. Sensitivity analysis shows a range of possible cost utility from £3333 to £81 438. Estimates are particularly sensitive to adherence to liver biopsy and treatment and to discounting of benefits.

Conclusions Although potentially cost effective, many important uncertainties surround the assumptions used to estimate the long term effectiveness of screening and treatment. There is insufficient evidence to inform policy development and further research is required in this rapidly changing field.
Monitoring interval cancers in an Australian mammographic screening programme
Authors: Kavanagh A.M. , Mitchell H. , Farrugia H. , Giles G.G.
Published: May 2013

Objective To report the interval cancer rate for BreastScreen Victoria.

Design Electronic linkage of Breast Screen Victoria records with those of the Victorian Cancer Registry. Interval cancers were expressed as a proportion of the underlying incidence (proportional incidence), and the sensitivity as the number of screen detected invasive breast cancers divided by the total number of invasive breast cancers diagnosed in the screening interval.

Setting Victoria, Australia where biennial screening is provided to women aged 40 and older.

Subjects Victorian women aged 40–79 who attended first round screening in 1994 (103 023 women) and 1995 (107 057 women).

Results The sensitivity of screening mammography for the two year interval increased with age (p for trend < 0.001) and was 49.4% in women aged 40–49, 68.6% in 50–59 year old women, 80.7% in 60–69 year old women, and 85.2% in women aged 70–79. The proportional incidence in the first year after screening was 59% in 40–49 year old women and 27% in women aged 50–69. In the second year the proportional incidence was 93% in 40–49 year old women and 54% in women aged 50–69.

Conclusions Interval cancers comprise such a large proportion of the expected number of cancers in 40–49 year old women that the benefit of screening is likely to be low. For women aged 50–69, the proportional incidence found in this study was similar to those found in the UK programmes.
High mammographic breast density and its implications for the early detection of breast cancer
Authors: van Gils C.H. , Otten J.D.M. , Hendriks J.H.C.L. , Holland R. , Straatman H. , Verbeek A.L.M.
Published: May 2013

Objectives Women with high mammographic breast density are at increased risk of breast cancer. This study explores whether these women should receive intensified screening (more frequent screening or screening with alternative techniques that increase the length of the preclinical detectable phase) to reduce further breast cancer mortality.

Methods Mathematical models were used to estimate the effects of intensified screening in women with high breast density. The effects were expressed as a reduction in the number of interval cancers.

Results If women with >25% breast density (comprising about one fifth of all women) are screened annually instead of biennially, an 18% reduction in the total number of interval cancers can be expected. Screening these women with alternative screening techniques biennially may produce the same reduction, provided that these techniques double the mean lead time.

Conclusions By screening women with dense breasts more intensively, many more breast cancers can theoretically be detected at an early stage. The results provide an early indication of what may be expected from screening strategies. Next, cost-benefit analyses are needed.
Increased oxidative stress and decreased membrane fluidity in erythrocytes of CAD patients
Authors: Pytel Edyta , Olszewska-Banaszczyk Małgorzata , Koter-Michalak Maria , Broncel Marlena
Published: May 2013

One of many risk factors for cardiovascular disease appears to be oxidative stress. To estimate possible changes in redox balance, membrane fluidity, and cholesterol level in erythrocytes was collected erythrocytes from patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD). The study included 20 patients with previous myocardial infarction occurring more than 6 months prior to the time of screening with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >70 mg/dL and 21 healthy controls. The following parameters were studied: catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substrates (TBARS), sulfhydryl (SH) groups in membrane protein, total cholesterol level, and erythrocyte membrane fluidity. Our study showed an increase in the level of lipid peroxidation (13%) and total cholesterol (19%), and a decrease in membrane fluidity (14%) in the subsurface layers and in the deeper layers of erythrocyte membrane (7%) isolated from patients with CAD in comparison to healthy controls. A significant decrease in catalase (10%) and SOD (17%) activities were also observed. No changes in GPx activity or the level of SH groups were observed. Our study indicates that there are disorders in the antioxidant system as well as changes in the membrane structure of erythrocytes obtained from CAD patients.
Rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with long-lived perennial prairie plants vary in diversity, composition, and structure
Authors: Rosenzweig N. , Bradeen J.M. , Tu Z.J. , McKay S.J. , Kinkel L.L.
Published: May 2013

The goal of this research was to investigate the variation in rhizosphere microbial community composition, diversity, and structure among individual Andropogon gerardii Vitman (big bluestem) and Lespedeza capitata Michx. (bush clover). Bacterial communities from the rhizosphere of 10 plants of each species (n = 20 plants total) were explored using a culture-independent pipeline. Microbial communities associated with both host plants had high bacterial diversity within individual plant rhizosphere and taxa unique to individual rhizospheres. Bacterial communities associated with the rhizosphere of A. gerardii were consistently more diverse than those associated with L. capitata, and there were significant differences between plant species in rhizosphere bacterial community composition. Differences included microbial taxa with no known functional relationship with their preferred host species, including sulfide-methylating obligate anaerobes (Holophaga), complete denitrifiers (Rhodoplanes), sludge inhabitants (Ktedonobacter), and nitrate oxidizers (Nitrospira). These results suggest the potential for plant species to have significant impacts on a broad array of ecosystem functions (e.g., cycling of carbon, nitrogen sulfurs, metals, and trace elements) via their selective impacts on soil microbes. However, sequence-based community analysis and the corresponding lack of intact microbial cultures limits understanding of the potential influences of enriched microbial taxa on plant hosts and their roles in ecosystem functioning.
Metagenomic analysis of an anaerobic alkane-degrading microbial culture: potential hydrocarbon-activating pathways and inferred roles of community members
Authors: Tan Boonfei , Dong Xiaoli , Sensen Christoph W. , Foght Julia
Published: May 2013

A microbial community (short-chain alkane-degrading culture, SCADC) enriched from an oil sands tailings pond was shown to degrade C6–C10 alkanes under methanogenic conditions. Total genomic DNA from SCADC was subjected to 454 pyrosequencing, Illumina paired-end sequencing, and 16S rRNA amplicon pyrotag sequencing; the latter revealed 320 operational taxonomic units at 5% distance. Metagenomic sequences were subjected to in-house quality control and co-assembly, yielding 984 086 contigs, and annotation using MG-Rast and IMG. Substantial nucleotide and protein recruitment to Methanosaeta concilii, Syntrophus aciditrophicus, and Desulfobulbus propionicus reference genomes suggested the presence of closely related strains in SCADC; other genomes were not well mapped, reflecting the paucity of suitable reference sequences for such communities. Nonetheless, we detected numerous homologues of putative hydrocarbon succinate synthase genes (e.g., assA, bssA, and nmsA) implicated in anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation, suggesting the ability of the SCADC microbial community to initiate methanogenic alkane degradation by addition to fumarate. Annotation of a large contig revealed analogues of the ass operon 1 in the alkane-degrading sulphate-reducing bacterium Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans AK-01. Despite being enriched under methanogenic–fermentative conditions, additional metabolic functions inferred by COG profiling indicated multiple CO2fixation pathways, organic acid utilization, hydrogenase activity, and sulphate reduction.
COHERENT AND INCOHERENT BEHAVIORS OF QUBITS INTERACTING WITH A SPIN-PATH PARTICLE
Authors: METWALLY N. , ABDEL-ATY M. , OBADA A.-S.
Published: May 2013

We analyze a crucial effect of the spin-path environment on a single and maximum entangled two-qubit systems. For a single qubit, we investigate the coherent loss by means of coherent-vectors' dynamics and the interacted qubits' fidelity. We used entanglement and population dynamics to investigate the coherent loss of the two-qubit system. We show and numerically verify that the effect of the detuning and coupling parameters in the negativity can be mapped onto the maximum and minimum values of the entanglement.
Ti(IV) phthalocyanines for dye sensitized solar cells
Authors: Rodríguez-Morgade M. Salomé , Pellejà Laia , Torres Tomás , Palomares Emilio
Published: May 2013

Ti ( IV ) phthalocyanines axially coordinated to 2,3- and 1,8-naphthalenediols have been prepared and characterized. The naphthalene axial ligands have been endowed with none, one or two sulfonate anchoring groups in order to study the performance of the dyes as DSC photosensitizers. All studied compounds showed the same efficiency. The unexpected results suggest displacement of the axial ligand with concomitant formation of a di-μ-oxotitanium-type anchoring moiety between the hydroxylated TiO 2surface and the Ti -phthalocyanine. This is probably the reason why the type of axial ligand does not play any role on the overall device efficiency. The titanium phthalocyanine absorbed in this way shows state selective electron injection were only those photons absorbed by the Soret band are capable to inject electrons into the TiO 2, while photons absorbed by the Q-band result in negligible photocurrent. This fact could explain the low efficiency of the Ti -phthalocyanines.
Lack of conventional oxygen-linked proton and anion binding sites does not impair allosteric regulation of oxygen binding in dwarf caiman hemoglobin
Authors: Weber Roy E. , Fago Angela , Malte Hans , Storz Jay F. , Gorr Thomas A.
Published: May 2013

In contrast to other vertebrate hemoglobins (Hbs) whose high intrinsic O2affinities are reduced by red cell allosteric effectors (mainly protons, CO2, organic phosphates, and chloride ions), crocodilian Hbs exhibit low sensitivity to organic phosphates and high sensitivity to bicarbonate (HCO3−), which is believed to augment Hb-O2unloading during diving and postprandial alkaline tides when blood HCO3−levels and metabolic rates increase. Examination of α- and β-globin amino acid sequences of dwarf caiman ( Paleosuchus palpebrosus) revealed a unique combination of substitutions at key effector binding sites compared with other vertebrate and crocodilian Hbs: β82Lys→Gln, β143His→Val, and β146His→Tyr. These substitutions delete positive charges and, along with other distinctive changes in residue charge and polarity, may be expected to disrupt allosteric regulation of Hb-O2affinity. Strikingly, however, P. palpebrosus Hb shows a strong Bohr effect, and marked deoxygenation-linked binding of organic phosphates (ATP and DPG) and CO2as carbamate (contrasting with HCO3−binding in other crocodilians). Unlike other Hbs, it polymerizes to large complexes in the oxygenated state. The highly unusual properties of P. palpebrosus Hb align with a high content of His residues (potential sites for oxygenation-linked proton binding) and distinctive surface Cys residues that may form intermolecular disulfide bridges upon polymerization. On the basis of its singular properties, P. palpebrosus Hb provides a unique opportunity for studies on structure-function coupling and the evolution of compensatory mechanisms for maintaining tissue O2delivery in Hbs that lack conventional effector-binding residues.
Functional expression of purinergic P2 receptors and transient receptor potential channels by the human urothelium
Authors: Shabir Saqib , Cross William , Kirkwood Lisa A. , Pearson Joanna F. , Appleby Peter A. , Walker Dawn , Eardley Ian , Southgate Jennifer
Published: May 2013

In addition to its role as a physical barrier, the urothelium is considered to play an active role in mechanosensation. A key mechanism is the release of transient mediators that activate purinergic P2 receptors and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels to effect changes in intracellular Ca2+. Despite the implied importance of these receptors and channels in urothelial tissue homeostasis and dysfunctional bladder disease, little is known about their functional expression by the human urothelium. To evaluate the expression and function of P2X and P2Y receptors and TRP channels, the human ureter and bladder were used to separate urothelial and stromal tissues for RNA isolation and cell culture. RT-PCR using stringently designed primer sets was used to establish which P2 and TRP species were expressed at the transcript level, and selective agonists/antagonists were used to confirm functional expression by monitoring changes in intracellular Ca2+ and in a scratch repair assay. The results confirmed the functional expression of P2Y4 receptors and excluded nonexpressed receptors/channels (P2X1, P2X3, P2X6, P2Y6, P2Y11, TRPV5, and TRPM8), while a dearth of specific agonists confounded the functional validation of expressed P2X2, P2X4, P2Y1, P2Y2, TRPV2, TRPV3, TRPV6 and TRPM7 receptors/channels. Although a conventional response was elicited in control stromal-derived cells, the urothelial cell response to well-characterized TRPV1 and TRPV4 agonists/antagonists revealed unexpected anomalies. In addition, agonists that invoked an increase in intracellular Ca2+ promoted urothelial scratch repair, presumably through the release of ATP. The study raises important questions about the ligand selectivity of receptor/channel targets expressed by the urothelium. These pathways are important in urothelial tissue homeostasis, and this opens the possibility of selective drug targeting.
Differential regulation of Na+transporters along nephron during ANG II-dependent hypertension: distal stimulation counteracted by proximal inhibition
Authors: Nguyen Mien T. X. , Lee Donna H. , Delpire Eric , McDonough Alicia A.
Published: May 2013

During angiotensin II (ANG II)-dependent hypertension, ANG II stimulates, while hypertension inhibits, Na+transporter activity to balance Na+output to input. This study tests the hypothesis that ANG II infusion activates Na+transporters in the distal nephron while inhibiting transporters along the proximal nephron. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with ANG II (400 ng·kg−1·min−1) or vehicle for 2 wk. Kidneys were dissected (cortex vs. medulla) or fixed for immunohistochemistry (IHC). ANG II increased mean arterial pressure by 40 mmHg, urine Na+by 1.67-fold, and urine volume by 3-fold, evidence for hypertension and pressure natriuresis. Na+transporters' abundance and activation [assessed by phosphorylation (-P) or proteolytic cleavage] were measured by immunoblot. During ANG II infusion Na+/H+exchanger 3 (NHE3) abundance decreased in both cortex and medulla; Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 2 (NKCC2) decreased in medullary thick ascending loop of Henle (TALH) and increased, along with NKCC2-P, in cortical TALH; Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) and NCC-P increased in the distal convoluted tubule; and epithelial Na+channel subunits and their cleaved forms were increased in both cortex and medulla. Like NKCC2, STE20/SPS1-related proline alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and SPAK-P were decreased in medulla and increased in cortex. By IHC, during ANG II NHE3 remained localized to proximal tubule microvilli at lower abundance, and the differential regulation of NKCC2 and NKCC2-P in cortex versus medulla was evident. In summary, ANG II infusion increases Na+transporter abundance and activation from cortical TALH to medullary collecting duct while the hypertension drives a natriuresis response evident as decreased Na+transporter abundance and activation from proximal tubule through medullary TALH.
Hearing loss differentially affects thalamic drive to two cortical interneuron subtypes
Authors: Takesian Anne E. , Kotak Vibhakar C. , Sharma Neeti , Sanes Dan H.
Published: May 2013

Sensory deprivation, such as developmental hearing loss, leads to an adjustment of synaptic and membrane properties throughout the central nervous system. These changes are thought to compensate for diminished sound-evoked activity. This model predicts that compensatory changes should be synergistic with one another along each functional pathway. To test this idea, we examined the excitatory thalamic drive to two types of cortical inhibitory interneurons that display differential effects in response to developmental hearing loss. The inhibitory synapses made by fast-spiking (FS) cells are weakened by hearing loss, whereas those made by low threshold-spiking (LTS) cells remain strong but display greater short-term depression ( Takesian et al. 2010 ). Whole-cell recordings were made from FS or LTS interneurons in a thalamocortical brain slice, and medial geniculate (MG)-evoked postsynaptic potentials were analyzed. Following hearing loss, MG-evoked net excitatory potentials were smaller than normal at FS cells but larger than normal at LTS cells. Furthermore, MG-evoked excitatory potentials displayed less short-term depression at FS cells and greater short-term depression at LTS cells. Thus deprivation-induced adjustments of excitatory synapses onto inhibitory interneurons are cell-type specific and parallel the changes made by the inhibitory afferents.
Diagnostic Yield and Safety of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration of Central Mediastinal Lung Masses
Authors: Vazquez-Sequeiros Enrique , Levy Michael J. , Van Domselaar Manuel , González-Panizo Fernando , Foruny-Olcina Jose Ramon , Boixeda-Miquel Daniel , Juzgado-Lucas Diego , Albillos Agustin
Published: May 2013

Background and Aims. EUS-FNA is an accurate and safe technique to biopsy mediastinal lymph nodes. However, there are few data pertaining to the role of EUS-FNA to biopsy central lung masses. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic yield and safety of EUS-FNA of indeterminate central mediastinal lung masses. Methods. Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database; noncomparative. Setting: Tertiary referral center. From 10/2004 to 12/2010, all patients with a lung mass located within proximity to the esophagus were referred for EUS-FNA. Main Outcome Measurement: EUS-FNA diagnostic accuracy and safety. Results. 73 consecutive patients were included. EUS allowed detection in 62 (85%) patients with lack of visualization prohibiting FNA in 11 patients. Among sampled lesions, one patient (1/62 = 1.6%) had a benign lung mass (hamartoma), while the remaining 61 patients (61/62 = 98.4%) had a malignant mass (primary lung cancer: 55/61 = 90%; lung metastasis: 6/61 = 10%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EUS-FNA were 96.7%, 100%, and 96.7%, respectively. The sensitivity was 80.8% when considering nonvisualized masses. One patient developed a pneumothorax (1/62 = 1.6%). Conclusions. EUS-FNA appears to be an accurate and safe technique for tissue diagnosis of central mediastinal lung masses.
Application of Scenario Analysis and Multiagent Technique in Land‐Use Planning: A Case Study on Sanjiang Wetlands
Authors: Yu Huan , Ni Shi-Jun , Kong Bo , He Zheng-Wei , Zhang Cheng-Jiang , Zhang Shu-Qing , Pan Xin , Xia Chao-Xu , Li Xuan-Qiong
Published: May 2013

Land‐use planning has triggered debates on social and environmental values, in which two key questions will be faced: one is how to see different planning simulation results instantaneously and apply the results back to interactively assist planning work; the other is how to ensure that the planning simulation result is scientific and accurate. To answer these questions, the objective of this paper is to analyze whether and how a bridge can be built between qualitative and quantitative approaches for land‐use planning work and to find out a way to overcome the gap that exists between the ability to construct computer simulation models to aid integrated land‐use plan making and the demand for them by planning professionals. The study presented a theoretical framework of land‐use planning based on scenario analysis (SA) method and multiagent system (MAS) simulation integration and selected freshwater wetlands in the Sanjiang Plain of China as a case study area. Study results showed that MAS simulation technique emphasizing quantitative process effectively compensated for the SA method emphasizing qualitative process, which realized the organic combination of qualitative and quantitative land‐use planning work, and then provided a new idea and method for the land‐use planning and sustainable managements of land resources.
Flower Density Is More Important Than Habitat Type for Increasing Flower Visiting Insect Diversity
Authors: Scriven L. A. , Sweet M. J. , Port G. R.
Published: May 2013

Declines in flora and fauna are well documented and highlight the need to manage available habitats to benefit local biodiversity. Between May and September in 2011 the number, composition, and diversity of flower visiting insects were assessed across eight sites, representing a range of habitats within an industrial site in the North East of England, UK. There was no significant difference in insect assemblages between the sites selected, but there was a significant difference between the months surveyed. Flower density was highlighted as the most important factor driving these changes between months and indicates that flower density is more important to a site for insect diversity than the presence of specific habitats. Analysis of the insect communities each month allowed comparison of dominant insects to the flower density data, highlighting sites where management intervention could be initiated to benefit insect diversity, or alternatively specific management plans to encourage target species. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of correct data interpretation to answer specific management objectives and recommends analysing the insect community interactions to determine the dominant species present prior to undertaking any management of the site in question.
Investigating the Value of Abatacept in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studies
Authors: Athanasakis Kostas , Petrakis Ioannis , Kyriopoulos John
Published: May 2013

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive inflammatory disease that affects greatly patients’ quality of life and demands for aggressive management early on during the course of the disease. The discovery of biologics has equipped rheumatologists with evolutionary treatment tools but has also impacted greatly management costs. Objectives. To conduct a systematic review in order to evaluate the cost effectiveness of abatacept in the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. Pubmed, the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Outcomes Research Digest, the National Health System Economic Evaluation Database, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were searched. Results. In total 301 studies were identified and 42 met the inclusion criteria. Half of the selected studies evaluated abatacept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, after failure of or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors. Of those, 82% were in favor of abatacept as a cost-effective or dominant strategy versus varying alternatives, whereas 18% favored other treatments. Conclusion. The majority of evidence from the published literature supports that abatacept can be a cost-effective alternative in the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, especially in patients that have demonstrated inadequate response or intolerance to anti-TNF agents or conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Paecilomyces variotiias an Emergent Pathogenic Agent of Pneumonia
Authors: Steiner Bruna , Aquino Valerio R. , Paz Alessandra A. , Silla Lucia Mariano da Rocha , Zavascki Alexandre , Goldani Luciano Z.
Published: May 2013

Paecilomyces variotiiis a commonly occurring species in air and food, and it is also associated with many types of human infections. Pneumonia due toPaecilomyces variotiihas been rarely reported in the medical literature. The authors report a 48-year-old patient with refractory lymphoma who underwent allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation and developed pneumonia due toPaecilomyces variotii. They also review the published case reports of pneumonia caused by this fungus.
Stathmin Regulates Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Expression through the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Pathway in Ovarian Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tamura Kazuhiro , Yoshie Mikihiro , Miyajima Eri , Kano Mika , Tachikawa Eiichi
Published: May 2013

Stathmin, a microtubule-destabilizing phosphoprotein, is highly expressed in ovarian cancer, but the pathophysiological significance of this protein in ovarian carcinoma cells remains poorly understood. This study reports the involvement of stathmin in the mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) during hypoxia. HIF-1α protein and VEGF mRNA levels were markedly elevated in RMG-1 cells, a CCA cell line, cultured under hypoxic conditions. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR complex 1, reduced the level of HIF-1α and blocked phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K), a transcriptional regulator of mTOR, demonstrating that hypoxia activates mTOR/S6K/HIF-1α signaling in CCA. Furthermore, stathmin knockdown inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1α and VEGF expression and S6K phosphorylation. The silencing of stathmin expression also reduced Akt phosphorylation, a critical event in the mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway. By contrast, stathmin overexpression upregulated hypoxia-induced HIF-1α and VEGF expression in OVCAR-3 cells, another CCA cell line. In addition, suppression of Akt activation by wortmannin, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, decreased HIF-1α and VEGF expression. These results illustrate that regulation of HIF-1α through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is controlled by stathmin in CCA. Our findings point to a new mechanism of stathmin regulation during ovarian cancer.
Inhibition of Mild Steel Corrosion in Hydrochloric Acid Solution by Ciprofloxacin Drug
Authors: Akpan Inemesit A. , Offiong Nnanake-Abasi O.
Published: May 2013

The inhibition of mild steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid solution by ciprofloxacin drug as an eco-friendly and commercially available inhibitor was studied at room temperature by weight loss technique. It was found that the test drug has a promising inhibitory action against corrosion of mild steel in the medium investigated. The inhibition efficiency was found to increase with a corresponding increase in the concentration of the inhibitor. It was also found that the adsorption as well as the inhibition process followed a first-order kinetics and obeyed Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm.
Tissue Banking, Bioinformatics, and Electronic Medical Records: The Front-End Requirements for Personalized Medicine
Authors: Suh K. Stephen , Sarojini Sreeja , Youssif Maher , Nalley Kip , Milinovikj Natasha , Elloumi Fathi , Russell Steven , Pecora Andrew , Schecter Elyssa , Goy Andre
Published: May 2013

Personalized medicine promises patient-tailored treatments that enhance patient care and decrease overall treatment costs by focusing on genetics and “-omics” data obtained from patient biospecimens and records to guide therapy choices that generate good clinical outcomes. The approach relies on diagnostic and prognostic use of novel biomarkers discovered through combinations of tissue banking, bioinformatics, and electronic medical records (EMRs). The analytical power of bioinformatic platforms combined with patient clinical data from EMRs can reveal potential biomarkers and clinical phenotypes that allow researchers to develop experimental strategies using selected patient biospecimens stored in tissue banks. For cancer, high-quality biospecimens collected at diagnosis, first relapse, and various treatment stages provide crucial resources for study designs. To enlarge biospecimen collections, patient education regarding the value of specimen donation is vital. One approach for increasing consent is to offer publically available illustrations and game-like engagements demonstrating how wider sample availability facilitates development of novel therapies. The critical value of tissue bank samples, bioinformatics, and EMR in the early stages of the biomarker discovery process for personalized medicine is often overlooked. The data obtained also require cross-disciplinary collaborations to translate experimental results into clinical practice and diagnostic and prognostic use in personalized medicine.
Controlling the Shannon Entropy of Quantum Systems
Authors: Xing Yifan , Wu Jun
Published: May 2013

This paper proposes a new quantum control method which controls the Shannon entropy of quantum systems. For both discrete and continuous entropies, controller design methods are proposed based on probability density function control, which can drive the quantum state to any target state. To drive the entropy to any target at any prespecified time, another discretization method is proposed for the discrete entropy case, and the conditions under which the entropy can be increased or decreased are discussed. Simulations are done on both two‐ and three‐dimensional quantum systems, where division and prediction are used to achieve more accurate tracking.
Critical Periods of Perturbations of Reversible Rigidly Isochronous Centers
Authors: Zhou Jiamei , Li Na , Han Maoan
Published: May 2013

We study the problem of bifurcation of critical periods of a time-reversible polynomial system of degreen. We first present a new method to find the number of zeros of the period function. Then applying our results, we study the number of critical periods for some polynomial systems and obtain new results.
Positive Periodic Solutions of Cooperative Systems with Delays and Feedback Controls
Authors: Niyaz Tursuneli , Muhammadhaji Ahmadjan
Published: May 2013

This paper studies a class of periodicnspecies cooperative Lotka-Volterra systems with continuous time delays and feedback controls. Based on the continuation theorem of the coincidence degree theory developed by Gaines and Mawhin, some new sufficient conditions on the existence of positive periodic solutions are established.
Microtomographic Analysis of Impact Damage in FRP Composite Laminates: A Comparative Study
Authors: Alemi-Ardakani M. , Milani A. S. , Yannacopoulos S. , Bichler L. , Trudel-Boucher D. , Shokouhi G. , Borazghi H.
Published: May 2013

With the advancement of testing tools, the ability to characterize mechanical properties of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites under extreme loading scenarios has allowed designers to use these materials in high-level applications more confidently. Conventionally, impact characterization of composite materials is studied via nondestructive techniques such as ultrasonic C-scanning, infrared thermography, X-ray, and acoustography. None of these techniques, however, enable 3D microscale visualization of the damage at different layers of composite laminates. In this paper, a 3D microtomographic technique has been employed to visualize and compare impact damage modes in a set of thermoplastic laminates. The test samples were made of commingled polypropylene (PP) and glass fibers with two different architectures, including the plain woven and unidirectional. Impact testing using a drop-weight tower, followed by postimpact four-point flexural testing and nondestructive tomographic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between the type of fibre architecture and the induced impact damage mechanisms and their extensions.
Prevalence Rates of Self-Care Behaviors and Related Factors in a Rural Hypertension Population: A Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Hu Huanhuan , Li Gang , Arao Takashi
Published: May 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the self-care behaviors among hypertensive patients in primary care. A cross-sectional survey, with 318 hypertensive patients, was conducted in a rural area in Beijing, China, in 2012. Participants were mainly recruited from a community health clinic and completed questionnaires assessing their self-care behaviors, including data on adherence to a prescribed medication regimen, low-salt diet intake, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, blood pressure monitoring, and physical exercise. The logistic regression model was used for the analysis of any association between self-care behaviors and age, gender, duration of hypertension, self-rated health, marital status, education level, diabetes status, or body mass index. Subjects that adhered to their medication schedule were more likely to have hypertension for a long duration (OR, 3.44; 95% CI 1.99–5.97). Older participants (OR, 1.80; 95% CI 1.08–2.99) were more likely to monitor their blood pressure. Subjects who did not partake in physical exercise were more likely to be men, although the difference between genders was not significant (OR, 0.60; 95% CI 0.36–1.01). Patients with shorter history of hypertension, younger and being males have lower self-care behaviors. Primary care providers and public health practitioner should pay more attention to patients recently diagnosed with hypertension as well as younger male patients.
A Study on the Effects of the Ice Microphysics on Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Yamasaki Masanori
Published: May 2013

The effects of the ice microphysical processes on the development of weak vortices and tropical cyclones (TCs) are examined by numerical experiments with a nonhydrostatic model. Since it has been understood that the ice phase generally enhances the eyewall circulation in strong TCs because of additional heat release and insignificant effect of rainwater evaporation, this study focuses on the development of relatively weak vortices and TCs. Some past studies showed that the development is slower by the effects of the ice phase through cooling due to the melting of snow and graupel, whereas this study indicates that cooling due to evaporation of rainwater in the subcloud layer plays a much more important role in the slower development, and much more solid substances in the mid-troposphere, which are produced through the ice phase processes, contribute to more rainwater evaporation in the subcloud layer. The relative importance of many processes of the ice microphysics is also examined as a basis for future improvements of parameterization of the microphysical processes.
Damage Induced by Neutron Radiation on Output Characteristics of Solar Cells, Photodiodes, and Phototransistors
Authors: Simić Biljana , Nikolić Dejan , Stanković Koviljka , Timotijević Ljubinko , Stanković Srboljub
Published: May 2013

This study investigates the effects of neutron radiation onI-Vcharacteristics (current dependance on voltage) of commercial optoelectronic devices (silicon photodiodes, phototransistors, and solar panels). Current-voltage characteristics of the samples were measured at room temperature before and after irradiation. The diodes were irradiated using Am-Be neutron source with neutron emission of2.7×106 n/s. The results showed a decrease in photocurrent for all samples which could be due to the existence of neutron-induced displacement defects introduced into the semiconductor lattice. The process of annealing has also been observed. A comparative analysis of measurement results has been performed in order to determine the reliability of optoelectronic devices in radiation environments.
Classical Analog of Extended Phase Space SUSY and Its Breaking
Authors: Ter-Kazarian Gagik
Published: May 2013

We derive the classical analog of the extended phase space quantum mechanics of the particle with
odd degrees of freedom which gives rise to ()-realization of supersymmetry (SUSY) algebra. By
means of an iterative procedure, we find the approximate ground state solutions to the extended
Schrödinger-like equation and use these solutions further to calculate the parameters which measure
the breaking of extended SUSY such as the ground state energy. Consequently, we calculate a more
practical measure for the SUSY breaking which is the expectation value of an auxiliary field. We
analyze nonperturbative mechanism for extended phase space SUSY breaking in the instanton
picture and show that this has resulted from tunneling between the classical vacua of the theory.
Particular attention is given to the algebraic properties of shape invariance and spectrum generating
algebra.
Citrullus colocynthisas the Cause of Acute Rectorrhagia
Authors: Javadzadeh Hamid Reza , Davoudi Amir , Davoudi Farnoush , Valizadegan Ghasem , Goodarzi Hasan , Mahmoodi Sadrollah , Ghane Mohammad Reza , Faraji Mehrdad
Published: May 2013

Introduction.Citrullus colocynthisSchrad. is a commonly used medicinal plant especially as a hypoglycemic agent.Case Presentation. Four patients with colocynth intoxication are presented. The main clinical feature was acute rectorrhagia preceeded by mucosal diarrhea with tenesmus, which gradually progressed to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia within 3 to 4 hours. The only colonoscopic observation was mucosal erosion which was completely resolved in follow-up colonoscopy after 14 days.Conclusion. The membranolytic activity of someC. colocynthisingredients is responsible for the intestinal damage. Patients and herbalists should be acquainted with the proper use and side effects of the herb. Clinicians should also be aware ofC. colocynthisas a probable cause of lower GI bleeding in patients with no other suggestive history, especially diabetics.
Hardware Accelerators Targeting a Novel Group Based Packet Classification Algorithm
Authors: Ahmed O. , Areibi S. , Grewal G.
Published: May 2013

Packet classification is a ubiquitous and key building block for many critical network devices. However, it remains as one of the main bottlenecks faced when designing fast network devices. In this paper, we propose a novel Group Based Search packet classification Algorithm (GBSA) that is scalable, fast, and efficient. GBSA consumes an average of 0.4 megabytes of memory for a 10 k rule set. The worst-case classification time per packet is 2 microseconds, and the preprocessing speed is 3 M rules/second based on an Xeon processor operating at 3.4 GHz. When compared with other state-of-the-art classification techniques, the results showed that GBSA outperforms the competition with respect to speed, memory usage, and processing time. Moreover, GBSA is amenable to implementation in hardware. Three different hardware implementations are also presented in this paper including an Application Specific Instruction Set Processor (ASIP) implementation and two pure Register-Transfer Level (RTL) implementations based on Impulse-C and Handel-C flows, respectively. Speedups achieved with these hardware accelerators ranged from 9x to 18x compared with a pure software implementation running on an Xeon processor.
The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Obesity-Associated Cancers
Authors: Ramos-Nino Maria E.
Published: May 2013

There is a strong relationship between metabolism and immunity, which can become deleterious under conditions of metabolic stress. Obesity, considered a chronic inflammatory disease, is one example of this link. Chronic inflammation is increasingly being recognized as an etiology in several cancers, particularly those of epithelial origin, and therefore a potential link between obesity and cancer. In this review, the connection between the different factors that can lead to the chronic inflammatory state in the obese individual, as well as their effect in tumorigenesis, is addressed. Furthermore, the association between obesity, inflammation, and esophageal, liver, colon, postmenopausal breast, and endometrial cancers is discussed.