bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Congenital malignant melanoma of the scalp in a 25-day-old neonate
Authors: Enam Syed Faaiz , Waqas Muhammad , Rauf Muhammad Yaseen , Bari Muhammad Ehsan
Published: April 2014

We present a case of congenital malignant melanoma of the scalp in a neonate. The child was born through caesarean section with a swelling, the size of a tennis ball, on the posterior scalp. At presentation to the clinic at 25 days after birth, the swelling had significantly increased in size and ulcerated. An excision was carried out but, because of extensive haemorrhage and haemodynamic instability, the procedure was limited to subtotal resection. Later on, completion of the excision and flap coverage of the wound were performed. After an initial stable course of a few months, the child came back with local recurrence. A re-excision was planned but the child developed pneumonia resulting in sepsis leading to the demise of the child. The report adds to the literature by describing a rare entity and challenges of managing large vascular scalp lesions with complete excision and defect coverage.
Autoimmune hepatitis: trust in transaminases
Authors: Brissos Joao , Carrusca Catarina , Correia Marta , Cabral José
Published: April 2014

A rational and appropriate evaluation of liver biochemical tests is essential, given the increased number of abnormal laboratory results in asymptomatic patients. Critical judgement allows early diagnosis in the absence of typical clinical signs. Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare disease with high clinical variability. We present a child investigated for unexplained increase in aminotransferases, discovered accidentally 2 months earlier in a standard laboratory panel approach. She was asymptomatic and no physical signs of chronic or acute liver disease were found. Laboratory investigation showed hypergammaglobulinaemia with selective elevation of IgG and a positive anti-liver cytosol type 1. Severe interface hepatitis was found on liver biopsy and treatment was initiated with steroids and azathioprine with good response. This case highlights the importance of trusting in any serum aminotransferase abnormality, even in asymptomatic children and emphasises the value of clinical suspicion and specific immunosuppressive therapy in prognosis.
Isolated III cranial nerve palsy: a Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Authors: Meireles Joana , Garrett Maria Carolina , Abreu Pedro
Published: April 2014

A 69-year-old woman developed ptosis and diplopia due to an isolated pupil-involving left oculomotor nerve palsy. General examination was unremarkable. Initial workup showed a mild increase in cerebrospinal fluid proteins. Imaging studies were remarkable for a left oculomotor nerve enhancement in brain MRI and hyperfixation along the nerve's pathway in full body single-photon emission CT. Assuming the possible diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis, the patient was started on high-dose methylprednisolone. Three months later she developed pancytopenia. A bone marrow biopsy was performed and histopathology revealed infiltration by Hodgkin's lymphoma. Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine protocol chemotherapy was started and full haematological remission obtained after four cycles, despite mild oculomotor nerve palsy persisted. Isolated oculomotor palsy as the first presenting manifestation of a lymphoma is rare and alternative differential diagnosis must be considered in the absence of other lymphoma manifestations. In this case as with many rare initial manifestations of common diseases watchful waiting was crucial to the correct diagnosis and treatment strategy.
Aversive tension of adolescents with anorexia nervosa in daily course: a case-controlled and smartphone-based ambulatory monitoring trial
Authors: Kolar David Raphael , Bürger Arne , Hammerle Florian , Jenetzky Ekkehart
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Monitoring and reduction of aversive tension is a core issue in dialectical behaviour therapy of patients. It has been shown that aversive tension is increased in adult borderline personality disorder and is linked to low emotion labelling ability. However, until now there is no documented evidence that patients with anorexia nervosa suffer from aversive tension as well. Furthermore the usability of a smartphone application for ambulatory monitoring purposes has not been sufficiently explored.

Methods and analysis

We compare the mean and maximum self-reported aversive tension in 20 female adolescents (12–19 years) with anorexia nervosa in outpatient treatment with 20 healthy controls. They are required to answer hourly, over a 2-day period, that is, about 30 times, four short questions on their smartphone, which ensures prompt documentation without any recall bias. At the close out, the participants give a structured usability feedback on the application and the procedure.

Ethics and dissemination

The achieved result of this trial has direct relevance for efficient therapy strategies and is a prerequisite for trials regarding dialectical behaviour therapy in anorexia nervosa. The results will be disseminated through peer-review publications. The ethics committee of the regional medical association in Mainz, Germany approved the study protocol under the reference number 837.177.13.

Trial Registration number

The trial is registered at the German clinical trials registration under the reference number DRKS00005228.
Correlation of measured and calculated serum osmolality during mannitol or hypertonic saline infusion in patients after craniotomy: a study protocol and statistical analysis plan for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Li Qian , Xu Ming , Zhou Jian-Xin
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Brain oedema is a major complication after craniotomy. Hyperosmolar agents have been used as the medical treatment for this condition. Measurement and estimation of serum osmolality during hyperosmolar agent infusion is of clinical importance to evaluate clinical efficacy, adjust dosage and avoid side effects. However, several studies have shown that calculated serum osmolality may lead to a systematic bias compared with direct measurement. In the present study, mannitol or hypertonic saline (HS) will be used in patients after elective craniotomy. We aim to determine the accuracy of serum osmolality estimation during the application of hyperosmolar agent.

Methods and analysis

The study is a prospective, randomised, double-blinded, controlled, parallel-group design. Adult patients requiring the use of hyperosmolar agents for the prevention or treatment of postoperative brain oedema are enrolled and assigned randomly to one of the two treatment study groups, labelled as ‘M group’ and ‘HS group’. Patients in the M and HS groups receive intravenous infusion of 125 mL of either 20% mannitol or 3.1% sodium chloride solution, respectively. Data will be collected immediately before the infusion of study agents, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 min after the start of infusion of experimental agents, which includes serum osmolality, concentration of serum sodium, potassium, urea and glucose. Serum osmolality will be measured by means of freezing point depression. Estimated serum osmolality will also be calculated by using four formulas published previously. Osmole gap is calculated as the difference between the measured and the estimated values. The primary endpoint is the correlation of measured and estimated serum osmolality during hyperosmolar agent infusion.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the International Review Board (IRB) of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT02037815.
Smoker, ex-smoker or non-smoker? The validity of routinely recorded smoking status in UK primary care: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Marston Louise , Carpenter James R , Walters Kate R , Morris Richard W , Nazareth Irwin , White Ian R , Petersen Irene
Published: April 2014

Objective

To investigate how smoking status is recorded in UK primary care; to evaluate whether appropriate multiple imputation (MI) of smoking status yields results consistent with health surveys.

Setting

UK primary care and a population survey conducted in the community.

Participants

We identified 354 204 patients aged 16 or over in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) primary care database registered with their general practice 2008–2009 and 15 102 individuals aged 16 or over in the Health Survey for England (HSE).

Outcome measures

Age-standardised and age-specific proportions of smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers in THIN and the HSE before and after MI. Using information on time since quitting in the HSE, we estimated when ex-smokers are typically recorded as non-smokers in primary care records.

Results

In THIN, smoking status was recorded for 84% of patients within 1 year of registration. Of these, 28% were smokers (21% in the HSE). After MI of missing smoking data, the proportion of smokers was 25% (missing at random) and 20% (missing not at random). With increasing age, more were identified as ex-smokers in the HSE than THIN. It appears that those who quit before age 30 were less likely to be recorded as an ex-smoker in primary care than people who quit later.

Conclusions

Smoking status was relatively well recorded in primary care. Misclassification of ex-smokers as non-smokers is likely to occur in those quitting smoking at an early age and/or a long time ago. Those with no smoking status information are more likely to be ex-smokers or non-smokers than smokers.
A group-based HIV and sexually transmitted infections prevention intervention for lesbian, bisexual, queer and other women who have sex with women in Calgary and Toronto, Canada: study protocol for a non-randomised cohort pilot study
Authors: Logie Carmen H , Navia Daniela , Rwigema Marie-Jolie , Tharao Wangari , Este David , Loutfy Mona R
Published: April 2014

Introduction

The limited research that exists suggests that lesbian, bisexual queer (LBQ) and other women who have sex with women are at similar risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI) as heterosexual women. However, scant research has evaluated HIV and STI prevention strategies for LBQ women. The authors present the rationale and study protocol for developing and pilot testing a psychoeducational group-based HIV and STI prevention intervention with LBQ women in Calgary and Toronto, Canada.

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre non-randomised cohort pilot study. The target population is LBQ women in Calgary and Toronto, Canada. The authors aim to recruit 40 participants using purposive peer-driven recruitment methods. Participants will conduct a pretest followed by a 2-day group programme of six 2 h sessions addressing stigma, STI and HIV prevention, healthy relationships, safer sex self-efficacy, self-worth, social support and LBQ community engagement. Participants will conduct a post-test directly following the intervention and 6 weeks after the intervention. The primary outcome is safer sex practices; our prespecified index of clinically significant change is an effect size of 0.50. Secondary outcomes include: safer sex self-efficacy, STI testing frequency, STI knowledge, resilient coping, social support, sexual stigma, access to care, depression and self-esteem. We will conduct mixed-effects regression to calculate mean outcome pre–post test score change.

Ethics and dissemination

Research ethics approval was attained from the Office of Research Ethics (REB: 29291), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Trial results will be published according to the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non-randomised Designs (TREND) statement, regardless of the outcomes.

Trial registration number

This study is registered athttp://clinicaltrials.gov, registration numberNCT02067845.
Validating childhood asthma in an epidemiological study using linked electronic patient records
Authors: Cornish Rosaleen P , Henderson John , Boyd Andrew W , Granell Raquel , Van Staa Tjeerd , Macleod John
Published: April 2014

Objective

To investigate the performance of parent-reported data in identifying physician-confirmed asthma.

Design and setting

Validation study using linkage between the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and electronic patient records held within the General Practice Research Database (GPRD).

Participants

Participants were those eligible to participate in ALSPAC who also had a record in the GPRD; this included 765 individuals, just under 4% of ALSPAC-eligible participants. The analysis was based on 141 participants with complete parent-reported asthma data.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The main GPRD outcome measure was whether a child had a diagnosis of asthma before they were nine. Parent-reported measures were doctor diagnosis of asthma (before mean age 7.5 years), various outcomes based on wheezing and breathlessness recorded longitudinally between 6 months and 8.5 years. Secondary outcomes were bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio and skin prick test responses.

Results

Among the 141 participants with complete parent-reported data, 26 (18%) had an asthma diagnosis before age nine. Using general practitioner (GP)-recorded asthma as the gold standard, the question ‘Has a doctor ever diagnosed your child with asthma?’ was both sensitive (88.5%) and specific (95.7%). ‘Ever wheezed’ had the highest sensitivity (100%) but low specificity (60%). More specific definitions were obtained by restricting to those who had wheezed on more than one occasion, experienced frequent wheeze and/or wheezed after the age of 3, but these measures had low sensitivities. BHR only identified 50% of those with a GP-recorded diagnosis.

Conclusions

Parental reports of a doctor's diagnosis agree well with a GP-recorded diagnosis. High specificity for asthma can be achieved by using detailed wheezing questions, although these definitions are likely to exclude mild cases of asthma. Our study shows that linkage between observational studies and electronic patient records has the potential to enhance epidemiological research.
Social and economic conditions in childhood and the progression of functional health problems from midlife into old age
Authors: Agahi Neda , Shaw Benjamin A , Fors Stefan
Published: April 2014

Background

Childhood living conditions have been found to predict health and mortality in midlife and in old age. This study examines the associations between social and economic childhood conditions and the onset and progression of functional health problems from midlife into old age, and the extent to which potential associations are mediated by educational attainment and smoking.

Methods

Data from the Level of Living Survey and the Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old were merged to create a longitudinal data set with five repeated measures from 1968 to 2004 (n=1765, aged 30–50 years and free from functional health problems at baseline). Multilevel regression models were used to analyse retrospective reports of social and economic conditions in childhood (eg, conflicts or economic problems in the family) in relation to the progression of functional health problems over the 36-year period.

Results

Results showed that social and economic disadvantages in childhood were associated with an earlier onset and a faster progression of functional health problems from midlife into old age. Subsequent models showed that differences in educational attainment, but not smoking, explained much of the association between childhood disadvantages and trajectories of functional health problems.

Conclusions

According to these results, adverse social and economic conditions in childhood affect the development of functional health problems from midlife into old age indirectly through less favourable life careers, including lower education. Creating equal opportunities for educational attainment may help reduce the long-term effects of disadvantaged childhood conditions and postpone functional health problems.
Interaction of Grb2 SH3 domain with UVRAG in an Alzheimer’s disease–like scenario
Authors: Roy Kasturi , Chakrabarti Oishee , Mukhopadhyay Debashis
Published: April 2014

Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) is an adaptor protein which participates in trafficking pathways alongside its role in signaling. Proteins important for actin remodeling and cellular compartmentalization contain SRC Homology 3 (SH3) binding motifs that interact with Grb2. While studying the Grb2–amyloid precursor protein (APP) intracellular domain (AICD) interaction in Alzheimer’s disease cell line models, it was seen that Grb2 colocalized to compartments that mature into autophagosomes. The entrapping of AICD in the Grb2 vesicles and its clearance via autophagosomes was a survival contrivance on the part of the cell. Here, we report that Grb2, when in excess, interacts with ultraviolet radiation resistance-associated gene protein (UVRAG) under excess conditions of AICD–Grb2 or Grb2. The N-terminal SH3 domain of Grb2 specifically interacts with UVRAG, unlike the C-terminal SH3 domain. This interaction helps to understand the role of Grb2 in the autophagic maturation of vesicles.
Myostatin inhibits proliferation and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in mouse liver cells
Authors: Watts Rani , Ghozlan Mostafa , Hughey Curtis C. , Johnsen Virginia L. , Shearer Jane , Hittel Dustin S.
Published: April 2014

Although myostatin functions primarily as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth and development, accumulating biological and epidemiological evidence indicates an important contributing role in liver disease. In this study, we demonstrate that myostatin suppresses the proliferation of mouse Hepa-1c1c7 murine-derived liver cells (50%; p < 0.001) in part by reducing the expression of the cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases that elicit G1-S phase transition of the cell cycle (p < 0.001). Furthermore, real-time PCR-based quantification of the long noncoding RNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (Malat1), recently identified as a myostatin-responsive transcript in skeletal muscle, revealed a significant downregulation (25% and 50%, respectively; p < 0.05) in the livers of myostatin-treated mice and liver cells. The importance of Malat1 in liver cell proliferation was confirmed via arrested liver cell proliferation (p < 0.05) in response to partial Malat1 siRNA-mediated knockdown. Myostatin also significantly blunted insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and Akt phosphorylation in liver cells while increasing the phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS), a protein that is essential for cancer cell proliferation and insulin-stimulated glucose transport. Together, these findings reveal a plausible mechanism by which circulating myostatin contributes to the diminished regenerative capacity of the liver and diseases characterized by liver insulin resistance.
DFT study of pressure effects in molecular crystal 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo-[5.5.0.05,903,11]-dodecane
Authors: Liu Zhichao , Wu Qiong , Zhu Weihua , Xiao Heming
Published: April 2014

Density functional theory was used to study the structural, electronic, and optical properties of crystalline 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo-[5.5.0.05,903,11]-dodecane (TEX) under hydrostatic pressure. The results indicate that there is a displacive transition in TEX under compression that has never been found in experiments. As the pressure increases, the band gap gradually decreases but presents an abnormal increase at 61 GPa, called the structural transition; moreover, the gap reduction is more pronounced in the low-pressure range compared with the high-pressure range. An analysis of density of states shows that the electronic delocalization in TEX is enhanced gradually under the influence of pressure. The peaks of the imaginary parts of the dielectric functions, energy-loss function, and reflectivity may come mainly from the electron transitions between the oxygen 2p and nitrogen 2p states. The electron energy-loss function presents a blue shift under compression. TEX has relatively higher optical activity at high pressure than at ambient conditions.
A CLUSTER MERGING METHOD FOR TIME SERIES MICROARRAY WITH PRODUCTION VALUES
Authors: CHIRA CAMELIA , SEDANO JAVIER , CAMARA MONICA , PRIETO CARLOS , VILLAR JOSE R. , CORCHADO EMILIO
Published: April 2014

A challenging task in time-course microarray data analysis is to cluster genes meaningfully combining the information provided by multiple replicates covering the same key time points. This paper proposes a novel cluster merging method to accomplish this goal obtaining groups with highly correlated genes. The main idea behind the proposed method is to generate a clustering starting from groups created based on individual temporal series (representing different biological replicates measured in the same time points) and merging them by taking into account the frequency by which two genes are assembled together in each clustering. The gene groups at the level of individual time series are generated using several shape-based clustering methods. This study is focused on a real-world time series microarray task with the aim to find co-expressed genes related to the production and growth of a certain bacteria. The shape-based clustering methods used at the level of individual time series rely on identifying similar gene expression patterns over time which, in some models, are further matched to the pattern of production/growth. The proposed cluster merging method is able to produce meaningful gene groups which can be naturally ranked by the level of agreement on the clustering among individual time series. The list of clusters and genes is further sorted based on the information correlation coefficient and new problem-specific relevant measures. Computational experiments and results of the cluster merging method are analyzed from a biological perspective and further compared with the clustering generated based on the mean value of time series and the same shape-based algorithm.
Contact round surgery and symplectic round handlebodies
Authors: Adachi Jiro
Published: April 2014

A new surgery method for contact manifolds is introduced in this paper. The surgeries are defined by using round handles with symplectic structures which are also introduced in this paper. These symplectic round handles have the global Liouville vector fields. Then the symplectic structures are exact. In the 3-dimensional case, the surgery is described only in terms of 3-dimensional contact topology.
Observing the inhomogeneity in the holographic models of superconductors
Authors: Kuang Xiao-Mei , Wang Bin , Ge Xian-Hui
Published: April 2014

We study the gravity duals of striped holographic superconductors in the AdS black hole and AdS soliton backgrounds. We show the dependences of the condensation and the critical temperature/critical chemical potential on the inhomogeneity in these two different spacetimes. By exploring the dynamics of the normal phase through the scalar field perturbation, we argue that the pair susceptibility and the conductivity can be possible phenomenological indications to disclose the property of inhomogeneity.
Unparticle in (1+1) dimension with one-loop correction
Authors: Rahaman Anisur
Published: April 2014

The possible emergence of unparticle has been mooted recently including a mass-like term for gauge field with the Schwinger model at the classical level. A one-loop correction due to bosonization is taken into account and investigation is carried out to study its effect on the unparticle scenario. It is observed that the physical mass, viz., unparticle scale acquires a new definition, i.e. the effect of this correction enters into the unparticle scale in a significant manner. The fermionic propagator is calculated which also agrees with the new scale. It has also been noticed that a novel restoration of the lost gauge invariance reappears when the ambiguity parameter related to the current anomaly acquires a specific expression. We have also observed that a quantum effect can nullify the effect of violation of gauge symmetry caused by some classical terms.
DESIGN OF 64-BIT SQUARER BASED ON VEDIC MATHEMATICS
Authors: SAHA PRABIR , KUMAR DEEPAK , BHATTACHARYYA PARTHA , DANDAPAT ANUP
Published: April 2014

"Vedic mathematics" is the ancient methodology of mathematics which has a unique technique of calculations based on 16 "sutras" (formulae). A Vedic squarer design (ASIC) using such ancient mathematics is presented in this paper. By employing the Vedic mathematics, an (N × N) bit squarer implementation was transformed into just one small squarer (bit length ≪ N) and one adder which reduces the handling of the partial products significantly, owing to high speed operation. Propagation delay and dynamic power consumption of a squarer were minimized significantly through the reduction of partial products. The functionality of these circuits was checked and performance parameters like propagation delay and dynamic power consumption were calculated by spice spectre using 90-nm CMOS technology. The propagation delay of the proposed 64-bit squarer was ~ 16 ns and consumed ~ 6.79 mW power for a layout area of ~ 5.39 mm2. By combining Boolean logic with ancient Vedic mathematics, substantial amount of partial products were eliminated that resulted in ~ 12% speed improvement (propagation delay) and ~ 22% reduction in power compared with the mostly used Vedic multiplier (Nikhilam Navatascaramam Dasatah) architecture.
Superconducting properties of vacuum in strong magnetic field
Authors: Chernodub M. N.
Published: April 2014

We discuss superconducting phases of vacuum induced by strong magnetic field in the electroweak model and in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) at zero temperature. In these phases, the vacuum behaves as an anisotropic inhomogeneous superconductor which supports superconductivity along the axis of the magnetic field while in the transversal directions, the superconductivity does not exist. The magnetic-field-induced anisotropic superconductivity appears as a result of condensation of electrically charged spin-one particles, which are elementary W bosons in the case of the electroweak model and composite quark–antiquark pairs with quantum numbers of ρ-mesons in the case of QCD. Due to the anisotropic nature of superconductivity, the Meissner effect is absent. Intrinsic inhomogeneities of the superconducting ground state are characterized by ensembles of certain topological vortices in an analogy with a mixed Abrikosov state of a type-II superconductivity.
Gravitational collapse of an imperfect nonadiabatic fluid
Authors: Chan R. , da Silva M. F. A. , Brandt C. F. C.
Published: April 2014

We study the evolution of an anisotropic shear-free fluid with heat flux and kinematic self-similarity of the second kind. We found a class of solution to the Einstein field equations by assuming that the part of the tangential pressure which is explicitly time-dependent of the fluid is zero and that the fluid moves along timelike geodesics. The energy conditions, geometrical and physical properties of the solutions are studied. The energy conditions are all satisfied at the beginning of the collapse but when the system approaches the singularity the energy conditions are violated, allowing for the appearance of an attractive phantom energy. We have found that, depending on the self-similar parameter α and the geometrical radius, they may represent a naked singularity. We speculate that the apparent horizon disappears due to the emergence of exotic energy at the end of the collapse, or due to the characteristics of null acceleration systems as shown by recent work.
Time Reversal as a Computational Tool in Acoustics and Elastodynamics
Authors: Givoli Dan
Published: April 2014

In this review paper, the use of the Time Reversal (TR) method as a computational tool for solving some classes of inverse problems is surveyed. The basics of computational TR are explained, using the scalar wave equation as a simple model. The application of TR to various problems in acoustics and elastodynamics is reviewed, in a selective and biased way as it leans on the author's personal view, referring to representative articles published on the subject.
A variational approach to nonlinear logistic equations
Authors: Gasiński Leszek , O'Regan Donal , Papageorgiou Nikolaos S.
Published: April 2014

We consider a nonlinear logistic type equation. For all big values of the parameter, we show that the problem admits nontrivial solutions of constant sign and in fact we establish the existence of extremal constant sign solutions. Using these extremal solutions, we produce a nodal (sign-changing) solution. We also investigate the uniqueness and continuous dependence on the parameter of positive solutions. Finally, we study the degenerate p-logistic equation.
Characterizing addition of convex sets by polynomiality of volume and by the homothety operation
Authors: Milman Vitali , Rotem Liran
Published: April 2014

We study addition operations between convex sets. We show that, under a short list of natural assumptions, one has polynomiality of volume only for the Minkowski addition. We also give two other characterization theorems. For the first theorem we define the induced homothety of an addition operation, and characterize additions by this homothety. The second theorem characterizes all additions which satisfy a short list of natural conditions.
A nonexistence result for a nonlinear elliptic equation with singular and decaying potential
Authors: Badiale Marino , Guida Michela , Rolando Sergio
Published: April 2014

Several existence and nonexistence results are known for positive solutions u ∈ D1,2(ℝN) ∩ L2(ℝN, ∣x∣-αdx) ∩ Lp(ℝN) to the equation [Formula: see text] resting upon compatibility conditions between α and p. Letting 2α:= 2N/(N - α) and [Formula: see text], the problem is still open for 0 < α < 2 and [Formula: see text], for 2 < α < N and [Formula: see text], and for N ≤ α < 2N - 2 and [Formula: see text]. Here we give a negative answer to the problem of the existence of radial solutions in the first open case.
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF TYMPANOSCLEROSIS AND TREATMENT EFFECT
Authors: YAO WENJUAN , MA JIANWEI , LUO XUEMEI , LUO BOTE
Published: April 2014

Tympanosclerosis is a typical middle ear disease, which is one of the main causes of conduction deafness. We investigate the effects of tympanosclerosis and lesion excision on sound transmission of the human ear by using finite element technique. Based on CT scan images from Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University on the normal human middle ear, numerical values of the CT scans were obtained by further processing of the images using a self-compiled program. The CT data of the right ear from a healthy volunteer were digitalized and imported into PATRAN software to reconstruct the finite element model of the ear by a self-compiling program. A frequency response analysis was made for the model, and comparative analysis was made between the calculated results and experimental data, which validated the model in this paper. The results show that the sclerosis of the ligaments and tensor muscle in the middle ear caused by force on the ossicles is larger than the normal ear and the amplitude of the stapes footplate is larger than the normal ear. This leads to a decrease of the final conductive hearing function. Furthermore, the excision of the stapes ligament and tensor tympani is good for the restoration of normal hearing. This paper provides new research perspective for clinical treatment.
Spatial separation and entanglement of identical particles
Authors: Cunden Fabio Deelan , Di Martino Sara , Facchi Paolo , Florio Giuseppe
Published: April 2014

We reconsider the effect of indistinguishability on the reduced density operator of the internal degrees of freedom (tracing out the spatial degrees of freedom) for a quantum system composed of identical particles located in different spatial regions. We explicitly show that if the spin measurements are performed in disjoint spatial regions then there are no constraints on the structure of the reduced state of the system. This implies that the statistics of identical particles has no role from the point of view of separability and entanglement when the measurements are spatially separated. We extend the treatment to the case of n particles and show the connection with some recent criteria for separability based on subalgebras of observables.
General structure of quantum collisional models
Authors: Vacchini Bassano
Published: April 2014

We point to the connection between a recently introduced class of non-Markovian master equations and the general structure of quantum collisional models. The basic construction relies on three basic ingredients: a collection of time dependent completely positive maps, a completely positive trace preserving transformation and a waiting time distribution characterizing a renewal process. The relationship between this construction and a Lindblad dynamics is clarified by expressing the solution of a Lindblad master equation in terms of demixtures over different stochastic trajectories for the statistical operator weighted by suitable probabilities on the trajectory space.
Probing qubit by qubit: Properties of the POVM and the information/disturbance tradeoff
Authors: Sparaciari Carlo , Paris Matteo G. A.
Published: April 2014

We address the class of positive operator-valued measures (POVMs) for qubit systems that are obtained by coupling the signal qubit with a probe qubit and then performing a projective measurement on the sole probe system. These POVMs, which represent the simplest class of qubit POVMs, depends on 3 + 3 + 2 = 8 free parameters describing the initial preparation of the probe qubit, the Cartan representative of the unitary coupling, and the projective measurement at the output, respectively. We analyze in some detail the properties of the POVM matrix elements, and investigate their values for given ranges of the free parameters. We also analyze in detail the tradeoff between information and disturbance for different ranges of the free parameters, showing, among other things, that (i) typical values of the tradeoff are close to optimality and (ii) even using a maximally mixed probe one may achieve optimal tradeoff.
An overview of the fundamental review of the trading book and its impact
Authors: Zhan Yi
Published: April 2014

This paper reviews the key proposals and their impact of the Basel Committee's second consultative paper on the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book: a revised market risk framework published in the end of October 2013. It also makes suggestions on how institutions should response to the proposals.
Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 L-type calcium channels operate in a similar voltage range but show different coupling to Ca2+-dependent conductances in hippocampal neurons
Authors: Hasreiter Julia , Goldnagl Lena , Böhm Stefan , Kubista Helmut
Published: April 2014

In the central nervous system, L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (LTCCs) come in two isoforms, namely Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels. It has been shown previously that these channels differ in biophysical properties, in subcellular localization, and in the coupling to the gene transcription machinery. In previous work on rat hippocampal neurons we have identified an excitatory cation conductance and an inhibitory potassium conductance as important LTCC coupling partners. Notably, a stimulus-dependent interplay of LTCC-mediated Ca2+ influx and activation of these Ca2+-dependent conductances was found to give rise to characteristic voltage responses. However, the contribution of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 to these voltage responses remained unknown. Hence, the relative contribution of the LTCC isoforms therein was the focus of the current study on hippocampal neurons derived from genetically modified mice, which either lack a LTCC isoform (Cav1.3 knockout mice) or express a dihydropyridine-insensitive LTCC isoform (Cav1.2DHP−-knockin mice). We identified common and alternate ion channel couplings of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels. Whereas hyperpolarizing Ca2+-dependent conductances were coupled to both Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels, an afterdepolarizing potential was only induced by the activity of Cav1.2 channels. Unexpectedly, the activity of Cav1.2 channels was found at relatively hyperpolarized membrane voltages. Our data add important information about the differences between Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels that furthers our understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological neuronal roles of these calcium channels. Moreover, our findings suggest that Cav1.3 knockout mice together with Cav1.2DHP−-knockin mice provide valuable models for future investigation of hippocampal LTCC-dependent afterdepolarizations.
Resveratrol induces expression of the slow, oxidative phenotype in mdx mouse muscle together with enhanced activity of the SIRT1-PGC-1α axis
Authors: Ljubicic Vladimir , Burt Matthew , Lunde John A. , Jasmin Bernard J.
Published: April 2014

Slower, more oxidative muscle fibers are more resistant to the dystrophic pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients as well as in the preclinical mdx mouse model of DMD. Therefore, one therapeutic strategy for DMD focuses on promoting expression of the slow, oxidative myogenic program. In the current study, we explored the therapeutic potential of stimulating the slow, oxidative phenotype in mdx mice by feeding 6-wk-old animals with the natural phenol resveratrol (RSV; ∼100 mg·kg−1·day−1) for 6 wk. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activity and protein levels increased significantly, as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) activity, in the absence of alterations in AMPK signaling. These adaptations occurred concomitant with evidence of a fast, glycolytic, to slower, more oxidative fiber type conversion, including mitochondrial biogenesis and increased expression of slower myosin heavy chain isoforms. These positive findings raised the question of whether increased exposure to RSV would result in greater therapeutic benefits. We discovered that an elevated RSV dose of ∼500 mg·kg−1·day−1 across a duration of 12 wk was clearly less effective at muscle remodeling in mdx mice. This treatment protocol failed to influence SIRT1 or AMPK signaling and did not result in a shift towards a slower, more oxidative phenotype. Taken together, this study demonstrates that RSV can stimulate SIRT1 and PGC-1α activation, which in turn may promote expression of the slow, oxidative myogenic program in mdx mouse muscle. The data also highlight the importance of selecting an appropriate dosage regimen of RSV to maximize its potential therapeutic effectiveness for future application in DMD patients.
P2Y2 nucleotide receptor activation enhances the aggregation and self-organization of dispersed salivary epithelial cells
Authors: El-Sayed Farid G. , Camden Jean M. , Woods Lucas T. , Khalafalla Mahmoud G. , Petris Michael J. , Erb Laurie , Weisman Gary A.
Published: April 2014

Hyposalivation resulting from salivary gland dysfunction leads to poor oral health and greatly reduces the quality of life of patients. Current treatments for hyposalivation are limited. However, regenerative medicine to replace dysfunctional salivary glands represents a revolutionary approach. The ability of dispersed salivary epithelial cells or salivary gland-derived progenitor cells to self-organize into acinar-like spheres or branching structures that mimic the native tissue holds promise for cell-based reconstitution of a functional salivary gland. However, the mechanisms involved in salivary epithelial cell aggregation and tissue reconstitution are not fully understood. This study investigated the role of the P2Y2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y2R), a G protein-coupled receptor that is upregulated following salivary gland damage and disease, in salivary gland reconstitution. In vitro results with the rat parotid acinar Par-C10 cell line indicate that P2Y2R activation with the selective agonist UTP enhances the self-organization of dispersed salivary epithelial cells into acinar-like spheres. Other results indicate that the P2Y2R-mediated response is dependent on epidermal growth factor receptor activation via the metalloproteases ADAM10/ADAM17 or the α5β1 integrin/Cdc42 signaling pathway, which leads to activation of the MAPKs JNK and ERK1/2. Ex vivo data using primary submandibular gland cells from wild-type and P2Y 2 R−/− mice confirmed that UTP-induced migratory responses required for acinar cell self-organization are mediated by the P2Y2R. Overall, this study suggests that the P2Y2R is a promising target for salivary gland reconstitution and identifies the involvement of two novel components of the P2Y2R signaling cascade in salivary epithelial cells, the α5β1 integrin and the Rho GTPase Cdc42.
The PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway mediates HMGB1-induced cell proliferation by regulating the NF-κB/cyclin D1 pathway in mouse mesangial cells
Authors: Feng Xiao-Juan , Liu Shu-Xia , Wu Chao , Kang Peng-Peng , Liu Qing-Juan , Hao Jun , Li Hong-Bo , Li Fan , Zhang Yu-Jun , Fu Xiao-Hui , Zhang San-Bing , Zuo Lian-Fu
Published: April 2014

Our previous experiment confirmed that high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) was involved in the pathogenesis of Lupus nephritis (LN) by upregulating the proliferation of the mouse mesangial cell line (MMC) through the cyclin D1/CDK4/p16 system, but the precise mechanism is still unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we demonstrated that HMGB1 induced the proliferation of MMC cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, downregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) expression, increased the level of Akt serine 473 phosphorylation, and induced p65 subunit nuclear translocation. The overexpression of PTEN prevented the upregulation of HMGB1-induced proliferation by blocking the activation of Akt. The knockdown of Akt by siRNA technology and blocking the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway using pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and SN50, inhibitors of NF-κB, both attenuated the HMGB1-induced proliferation by counteracting the activation of the cyclin D1. In addition, while sh-Akt partly blocked the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit, PDTC did not affect the activation of the Akt induced by HMGB1 in MMC cells. These findings indicate that HMGB1 induced the proliferation of MMC cells by activating the PTEN/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Cortisol increases CXCR4 expression but does not affect CD62L and CCR7 levels on specific T cell subsets in humans
Authors: Besedovsky Luciana , Linz Barbara , Dimitrov Stoyan , Groch Sabine , Born Jan , Lange Tanja
Published: April 2014

Glucocorticoids are well known to affect T cell migration, leading to a redistribution of the cells from blood to the bone marrow, accompanied by a concurrent suppression of lymph node homing. Despite numerous studies in this context, with most of them employing synthetic glucocorticoids in nonphysiological doses, the mechanisms of this redistribution are not well understood. Here, we investigated in healthy men the impact of cortisol at physiological concentrations on the expression of different migration molecules on eight T cell subpopulations in vivo and in vitro. Hydrocortisone (cortisol, 22 mg) infused during nocturnal rest when endogenous cortisol levels are low, compared with placebo, differentially reduced numbers of T cell subsets, with naive CD4+and CD8+subsets exhibiting the strongest reduction. Hydrocortisone in vivo and in vitro increased CXCR4 expression, which presumably mediates the recruitment of T cells to the bone marrow. Expression of the lymph node homing receptor CD62L on total CD3+and CD8+T cells appeared reduced following hydrocortisone infusion. However, this was due to a selective extravasation of CD62L+T cell subsets, as hydrocortisone affected neither CD62L expression on a subpopulation level nor CD62L expression in vitro. Corresponding results in the opposite direction were observed after blocking of endogenous cortisol synthesis by metyrapone. CCR7, another lymph node homing receptor, was also unaffected by hydrocortisone in vitro. Thus, cortisol seems to redirect T cells to the bone marrow by upregulating their CXCR4 expression, whereas its inhibiting effect on T cell homing to lymph nodes is apparently regulated independently of the expression of classical homing receptors.
Insulin effects on glucose tolerance, hypermetabolic response, and circadian-metabolic protein expression in a rat burn and disuse model
Authors: Pidcoke Heather F. , Baer Lisa A. , Wu Xiaowu , Wolf Steven E. , Aden James K. , Wade Charles E.
Published: April 2014

Insulin controls hyperglycemia after severe burns, and its use opposes the hypermetabolic response. The underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood, and previous research in this area has been limited because of the inadequacy of animal models to mimic the physiological effects seen in humans with burns. Using a recently published rat model that combines both burn and disuse components, we compare the effects of insulin treatment vs. vehicle on glucose tolerance, hypermetabolic response, muscle loss, and circadian-metabolic protein expression after burns. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to three groups: cage controls ( n = 6); vehicle-treated burn and hindlimb unloading (VBH; n = 11), and insulin-treated burn and hindlimb unloading (IBH; n = 9). With the exception of cage controls, rats underwent a 40% total body surface area burn with hindlimb unloading, then IBH rats received 12 days of subcutaneous insulin injections (5 units·kg−1·day−1), and VBH rats received an equivalent dose of vehicle. Glucose tolerance testing was performed on day 14, after which blood and tissues were collected for analysis. Body mass loss was attenuated by insulin treatment (VBH = 265 ± 17 g vs. IBH = 283 ± 14 g, P = 0.016), and glucose clearance capacity was increased. Soleus and gastrocnemius muscle loss was decreased in the IBH group. Insulin receptor substrate-1, AKT, FOXO-1, caspase-3, and PER1 phosphorylation was altered by injury and disuse, with levels restored by insulin treatment in almost all cases. Insulin treatment after burn and during disuse attenuated the hypermetabolic response, increased glucose clearance, and normalized circadian-metabolic protein expression patterns. Therapies aimed at targeting downstream effectors may provide the beneficial effects of insulin without hypoglycemic risk.