bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of donor cytomegalovirus DNA on transfusion strategies for at‐risk patients
Authors: Ziemann Malte , Juhl David , Görg Siegfried , Hennig Holger
Published: April 2013

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA is frequently detected in plasma of newly seropositive donors. Selection of leukoreduced blood products from donors with remote CMV infection could avoid transfusion‐transmitted CMV infections (TT‐CMV) due to primarily infected donors. However, there are no data about the prevalence of reactivations in long‐term seropositive donors compared to the incidence of window period donations in seronegative donors. Therefore, the optimal transfusion strategy for at‐risk patients is unclear.

Study Design and Methods

Whole blood samples from 22,904 donations were tested for CMV DNA, and CMV DNA–positive donations were categorized as donations from 1) seronegative donors, 2) newly seropositive donors, and 3) long‐term seropositive donors.

Results

Twenty‐one donors were reproducibly CMV DNA–positive (0.09%). Frequency of detection and concentration of CMV DNA in whole blood were comparable for seronegative and long‐term seropositive donors. Nonreproducibly positive results for CMV DNA in whole blood were more frequent in long‐term seropositive donors (0.16% vs. 0.01%, p < 0.01). Only low concentrations of CMV DNA in plasma were detectable in two seronegative donors and one long‐term seropositive donor. Highest concentrations of CMV DNA in both whole blood and plasma, however, were found in newly seropositive donors.

Conclusion

Prevalences of window period donations among seronegative donors and reactivations among long‐term seropositive donors, as well as the CMV DNA concentration in whole blood and plasma samples from these donors, are comparable. Therefore, blood products from both groups could be used for patients at risk for TT‐CMV, while those of newly seropositive donors seem to bear an increased risk.
Production of cloned NIBS (Nippon Institute for Biological Science) and α‐1, 3‐galactosyltransferase knockout MGH miniature pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer using the NIBS breed as surrogates
Authors: Shimatsu Yoshiki , Yamada Kazuhiko , Horii Wataru , Hirakata Atsushi , Sakamoto Yuji , Waki Shiori , Sano Junichi , Saitoh Toshiki , Sahara Hisashi , Shimizu Akira , Yazawa Hajime , Sachs David H. , Nunoya Tetsuo
Published: April 2013

Background

Nuclear transfer (NT) technologies offer a means for producing the genetically modified pigs necessary to develop swine models for mechanistic studies of disease processes as well as to serve as organ donors for xenotransplantation. Most previous studies have used commercial pigs as surrogates.

Method and Results

In this study, we established a cloning technique for miniature pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using Nippon Institute for Biological Science (NIBS) miniature pigs as surrogates. Moreover, utilizing this technique, we have successfully produced an α‐1, 3‐galactosyltransferase knockout (GalT‐KO) miniature swine. Fibroblasts procured from a NIBS miniature pig fetus were injected into 1312 enucleated oocytes. The cloned embryos were transferred to 11 surrogates of which five successfully delivered 13 cloned offspring; the production efficiency was 1.0% (13/1312). In a second experiment, lung fibroblasts obtained from neonatal GalT‐KO MGH miniature swine were used as donor cells and 1953 cloned embryos were transferred to 12 surrogates. Six cloned offspring were born from five surrogates, a production efficiency of 0.3% (6/1953).

Conclusions

These results demonstrate successful establishment of a miniature pig cloning technique by SCNT using NIBS miniature pigs as surrogates. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of successful production of GalT‐KO miniature swine using miniature swine surrogates. This technique could help to ensure a stable supply of the cloned pigs through the use of miniature pig surrogates and could expand production in countries with limited space or in facilities with special regulations such as specific pathogen‐free or good laboratory practice.
Effects of gas environment on electronic and optical properties of amorphous indium zinc tin oxide thin films
Authors: Rama Denny Yus , Lee Sunyoung , Lee Kangil , Seo Soonjoo , Kun Oh Suhk , Jae Kang Hee , Heo Sung , Gwan Chung Jae , Cheol Lee Jae , Tougaard Sven
Published: April 2013

The electronic and optical properties of indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) thin films grown under different gas environments were investigated by means of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS). REELS spectra revealed that IZTO thin films under argon mixed with oxygen had band gaps of 3.07 eV before annealing and 3.46 eV after annealing at 350 °C in air. Meanwhile, the band gap for IZTO thin film grown under oxygen mixed with water and annealed at 350 °C in air was 3.26 eV. Band gaps obtained from REELS spectra are consistent with the optical band gaps obtained using UV-spectrometry. The REELS spectra were quantitatively analyzed based on comparison of the effective cross section for inelastic electron scattering in the REELS experiment to determine the dielectric function and transmittance of the IZTO thin films. It was found that amorphous IZTO films grown under argon mixed with oxygen followed by annealing at 350 °C exhibit higher optical transmittance in the visible-light region, higher carrier mobility, and a high on–off current ratio.
Coexistence of weak ferromagnetism and polar lattice distortion in epitaxial NiTiO3 thin films of the LiNbO3-type structure
Authors: Varga Tamas , Droubay Timothy C. , Bowden Mark E. , Colby Robert J. , Manandhar Sandeep , Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam , Hu Dehong , Kabius Bernd C. , Apra Edoardo , Shelton William A. , Chambers Scott A.
Published: April 2013

The authors report the magnetic and structural characteristics of epitaxial NiTiO3 films grown by pulsed laser deposition that are isostructural with acentric LiNbO3 (space group R3c). Optical second harmonic generation and magnetometry demonstrate lattice polarization at room temperature and weak ferromagnetism below 250 K, respectively. These results appear to be consistent with earlier predictions from first-principles calculations of the coexistence of ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism in a series of transition metal titanates crystallizing in the LiNbO3 structure. This acentric form of NiTiO3 is believed to be one of the rare examples of ferroelectrics exhibiting weak ferromagnetism generated by a Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction.
MAPPING CLASS GROUPS OF HEEGAARD SPLITTINGS
Authors: JOHNSON JESSE , RUBINSTEIN HYAM
Published: April 2013

The mapping class group of a Heegaard splitting is the group of connected components in the set of automorphisms of the ambient manifold that map the Heegaard surface onto itself. We find examples of elements of the mapping class group that are periodic, reducible and pseudo-Anosov on the Heegaard surface, but are isotopy trivial in the ambient manifold. We prove structural theorems about the first two classes, in particular showing that if a periodic element is trivial in the mapping class group of the ambient manifold, then the manifold is not hyperbolic.
A FAMILY OF PSEUDO-ANOSOV BRAIDS WITH LARGE CONJUGACY INVARIANT SETS
Authors: AN BYUNG HEE , KO KI HYOUNG
Published: April 2013

We show that there is a family of pseudo-Anosov braids independently parametrized by the braid index and the (canonical) length whose smallest conjugacy invariant sets grow exponentially in the braid index and linearly in the length.
QUALITY MEASURE OF THE COMPRESSED ECHO, X-RAY AND CT IMAGES
Authors: GUPTA RAJANI , BANSOD PRASHANT , GAMAD R. S.
Published: April 2013

The paper reveals the analysis of the compression quality of true color medical images of echocardiogram (ECHO), X-radiation (X-ray) and computed tomography (CT) and further a comparison of compressed biomedical images of various sizes using two lossy compression techniques, set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) and discrete cosine transform (DCT) to the original image is carried out. The study also evaluates the results after analyzing various objective parameters associated with the image. The objective of this analysis is to exhibits the effect of compression ratio on absolute average difference (AAD), cross correlation (CC), image fidelity (IF), mean square error (MSE), peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measurement (SSIM) of the compressed image by SPIHT and DCT compression techniques. The results signify that the quality of the compressed image depends on resolution of the underlying structure where CT is found to be better than other image modalities. The X-ray compression results are equivalent by both the techniques. The compression results for large size biomedical images by SPIHT signifies that ECHO having comparable results to CT and X-ray while their DCT results are substandard. The compression results for comparatively smaller images of ECHO are not as good as X-ray and CT by both the compression techniques. The quality measurement of the compressed image has been designed using MATLAB.
MANAGING MASSIVE DATA OF THE INTERNET OF THINGS THROUGH COOPERATIVE SEMANTIC NODES
Authors: CHRISTOPHE BENOIT
Published: April 2013

The Internet of Things refers to extending the Internet to physical entities of interest (EoI) to humans (e.g., a table, a room or another human being) sensed as a set of properties that can be observed, measured, accessed or triggered by devices such as actuators, sensors or other smart components. In this vision, the IoT foresees novel types of applications dynamically finding the associations between devices and EoIs around a common feature of interest (e.g., temperature of a room) to provide meaningful information as well as rich services to users about the things they are interested in. Growing interest in providing sensors and actuators has led to billions of services or data offered through different platforms, some of them wrapped with semantic descriptions to realize aforementioned associations through accurate search processes. However, due to the ubiquitous aspect of the IoT and the potential mobility of the devices that enable it, a centralized approach does not allow designing scalable processes to efficiently search and manage these associations or the devices and EoIs that compose them. As location seems to be an important parameter when searching the IoT, we believe that designing a framework composed of geographically distributed nodes with local reasoning capabilities is a much more scalable approach to realize the IoT vision. We describe our approach of such a vision by creating a federated network composed of such nodes that declare their location based on a formal model. In this vision, each node is capable of processing semantic descriptions of devices or EoIs to share deduced associations with other peers that are selected based on their location nearness.
NUMERIC PREDICTION ON OWL KNOWLEDGE BASES THROUGH TERMINOLOGICAL REGRESSION TREES
Authors: FANIZZI NICOLA , D'AMATO CLAUDIA , ESPOSITO FLORIANA , MINERVINI PASQUALE
Published: April 2013

In the context of semantic knowledge bases, among the possible problems that may be tackled by means of data-driven inductive strategies, one can consider those that require the prediction of the unknown values of existing numeric features or the definition of new features to be derived from the data model. These problems can be cast as regression problems so that suitable solutions can be devised based on those found for multi-relational databases. In this paper, a new framework for the induction of logical regression trees is presented. Differently from the classic logical regression trees and the recent fork of the terminological classification trees, the novel terminological regression trees aim at predicting continuous values, while tests at the tree nodes are expressed with Description Logic concepts. They are intended for multiple uses with knowledge bases expressed in the standard ontology languages for the Semantic Web. A top-down method for growing such trees is proposed as well as algorithms for making predictions with the trees and deriving rules. The system that implements these methods is experimentally evaluated on ontologies selected from popular repositories.
TOWARDS CONCEPTUAL REPRESENTATION AND INVOCATION OF SCIENTIFIC COMPUTATIONS
Authors: RIJGERSBERG HAJO , TOP JAN , WIELINGA BOB
Published: April 2013

Computers are central in processing scientific data. This data is typically expressed as numbers and strings. Appropriate annotation of "bare" data is required to allow people or machines to interpret it and to relate the data to real-world phenomena. In scientific practice however, annotations are often incomplete and ambiguous — let alone machine interpretable. This holds for reports and papers, but also for spreadsheets and databases. Moreover, in practice it is often unclear how the data has been created. This hampers interpretation, reproduction and reuse of results and thus leads to suboptimal science. In this paper we focus on annotation of scientific computations. For this purpose we propose the ontology OQR (Ontology of Quantitative Research). It includes a way to represent generic scientific methods and their implementation in software packages, invocation of these methods and handling of tabular datasets. This ontology promotes annotation by humans, but also allows automatic, semantic processing of numerical data. It allows scientists to understand the selected settings of computational methods and to automatically reproduce data generated by others. A prototype application demonstrates this can be done, illustrated by a case in food research. We evaluate this case with a number of researchers in the considered domain.
The Divergence, Actions, Roles, and Relatives of Sodium-Coupled Bicarbonate Transporters
Authors: Parker Mark D. , Boron Walter F.
Published: April 2013

The mammalian Slc4 (Solute carrier 4) family of transporters is a functionally diverse group of 10 multi-spanning membrane proteins that includes three Cl-HCO3exchangers (AE1–3), five Na+-coupled HCO3−transporters (NCBTs), and two other unusual members (AE4, BTR1). In this review, we mainly focus on the five mammalian NCBTs-NBCe1, NBCe2, NBCn1, NDCBE, and NBCn2. Each plays a specialized role in maintaining intracellular pH and, by contributing to the movement of HCO3−across epithelia, in maintaining whole-body pH and otherwise contributing to epithelial transport. Disruptions involving NCBT genes are linked to blindness, deafness, proximal renal tubular acidosis, mental retardation, and epilepsy. We also review AE1–3, AE4, and BTR1, addressing their relevance to the study of NCBTs. This review draws together recent advances in our understanding of the phylogenetic origins and physiological relevance of NCBTs and their progenitors. Underlying these advances is progress in such diverse disciplines as physiology, molecular biology, genetics, immunocytochemistry, proteomics, and structural biology. This review highlights the key similarities and differences between individual NCBTs and the genes that encode them and also clarifies the sometimes confusing NCBT nomenclature.
Isolated Laryngeal Leishmaniasis in Immunocompetent Patients: An Underdiagnosed Disease
Authors: Cocuzza Salvatore , Strazzulla Alessio , Pinzone Marilia Rita , Cosentino Stefano , Serra Agostino , Caltabiano Rosario , Lanzafame Salvatore , Cacopardo Bruno , Nunnari Giuseppe
Published: April 2013

We describe a case of isolated primary laryngeal leishmaniasis in an immunocompetent Italian patient with a previous medical history negative for visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis, presenting with hoarseness. We also summarize the epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic features and the therapeutic management of other cases of laryngeal leishmaniasis in immunocompetent subjects, described in the literature. Considering the insidious and nonspecific clinical presentation, the increasing number of different forms of mild or underestimated immunosuppressive conditions, and the number of people travelling in endemic zones, along with the ability ofLeishmaniaamastigotes to survive for a long period in the body, we believe it is important for pathologists and clinicians to be aware of this unusual form of leishmaniasis in order to avoid delayed recognition and treatment. The rarity of the presentation and the lack of guidelines on mucosal leishmaniasis may contribute to the potential undiagnosed cases or delayed diagnosis, the possible relapses, as well as the correct pharmacological and/or surgical therapeutic approach.
Individual Growth Model forEucalyptusStands in Brazil Using Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Vinícius Oliveira Castro Renato , Boechat Soares Carlos Pedro , Leite Helio Garcia , Lopes de Souza Agostinho , Saraiva Nogueira Gilciano , Bolzan Martins Fabrina
Published: April 2013

This work aimed to model the growth and yield ofEucalyptusstands located in northern Brazil, at the individual tree level, by using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Data from permanent plots were used for training the neural networks to predict tree height and diameter as well as mortality probability. Once trained, the networks were evaluated using an independent data set. The first group was composed of 33 plots (11 in each productive capacity class) and was used for artificial neural network training. In five measurements, this group totaled 8,735 cases (measurements of individual trees), as each plot had 53 trees on average throughout this evaluation. The second group was composed of 30 plots (10 in each productive capacity class) and was used for model validation. This group totaled 7,756 cases. Were tested different network architectures Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). Results revealed an underestimation bias for number of surviving trees. However, estimates of diameter, height, and volume per hectare were found to be accurate. This indicates that artificial neural networks are a viable alternative to the traditional growth and yield modeling approach in the forestry sector.
Sources of Information on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health for Couples Living with HIV in Rural Southern Malawi
Authors: Gombachika Belinda Chimphamba , Chirwa Ellen , Malata Address , Maluwa Alfred
Published: April 2013

With wider access to antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV are reconsidering their reproductive decisions: remarrying and having children. The purpose of the paper is to explore sources of information for reproductive decision used by couples living with HIV in patrilineal and matrilineal districts of Malawi. Data were collected from forty couples from July to December 2010. Our results illuminate five specific issues: some of the informants (1) remarry after divorce/death of a spouse, (2) establish new marriage relationship with spouses living with HIV, and (3) have children hence the need for information to base their decisions. There are (4) shared and interactive couple decisions, and (5) informal networks of people living with HIV are the main sources of information. In addition, in matrilineal community, cultural practices about remarriage set up structures that constrained information availability unlike in patrilineal community where information on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and AIDS was disseminated during remarriage counselling. However, both sources are not able to provide comprehensive information due to complexity and lack of up to date information. Therefore, health workers should, offer people living with HIV comprehensive information that takes into consideration the cultural specificity of groups, and empower already existing and accepted local structures with sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and AIDS knowledge.
Iliopsoas Tendon Reformation after Psoas Tendon Release
Authors: Garala K. , Power R. A.
Published: April 2013

Internal snapping hip syndrome, or psoas tendonitis, is a recognised cause of nonarthritic hip pain. The majority of patients are treated conservatively; however, occasionally patients require surgical intervention. The two surgical options for iliopsoas tendinopathy are step lengthening of the iliopsoas tendon or releasing the tendon at the lesser trochanter. Although unusual, refractory snapping usually occurs soon after tenotomy. We report a case of a 47-year-old active female with internal snapping and pain following an open psoas tenotomy. Postoperatively she was symptom free for 13 years. An MRI arthrogram revealed reformation of a pseudo iliopsoas tendon reinserting into the lesser trochanter. The pain and snapping resolved after repeat iliopsoas tendon release. Reformation of tendons is an uncommon sequela of tenotomies. However the lack of long-term studies makes it difficult to calculate prevalence rates. Tendon reformation should be included in the differential diagnosis of failed tenotomy procedures after a period of symptom relief.
Monocular Vision SLAM for Indoor Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Çelik Koray , Somani Arun K.
Published: April 2013

This paper presents a novel indoor navigation and ranging strategy via monocular camera. By exploiting the architectural orthogonality of the indoor environments, we introduce a new method to estimate range and vehicle states from a monocular camera for vision-based SLAM. The navigation strategy assumes an indoor or indoor-like manmade environment whose layout is previously unknown, GPS-denied, representable via energy based feature points, and straight architectural lines. We experimentally validate the proposed algorithms on a fully self-contained microaerial vehicle (MAV) with sophisticated on-board image processing and SLAM capabilities. Building and enabling such a small aerial vehicle to fly in tight corridors is a significant technological challenge, especially in the absence of GPS signals and with limited sensing options. Experimental results show that the system is only limited by the capabilities of the camera and environmental entropy.
Synthesis and Characterisation of Calcium Carbonate Aragonite Nanocrystals from Cockle Shell Powder (Anadara granosa)
Authors: Shafiu Kamba Abdullahi , Ismail Maznah , Tengku Ibrahim Tengku Azmi , Zakaria Zuki Abu Bakar
Published: April 2013

The synthesis of pure calcium carbonate nanocrystals using a high pressure homogeniser (HPH) via a microemulsion system produced uniform nanosized particles, which were characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The identified particles were aragonite polymorphs with a rod shape and were approximately 50 nm in size. The aragonite polymorph of calcium carbonate was prepared from biogenic materials, cockle shells, and exhibited unique characteristics (i.e., a higher density than that of calcite), which makes it biocompatible and potentially suitable for applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and paint industries. The methods adopted and the nonionic surfactant used in the synthesis of calcium carbonate nanocrystalline aragonite polymorphs were environmentally friendly and can be scaled up for industrial production. The sources are naturally available materials that are by‐products of the seafood industry, which offers an opportunity for exploitation in numerous industrial applications.
Fibroelastoma as a Culprit of Syncope
Authors: De Portu Giuliano , Nickels L. Connor , Flach Eike , Stead Latha Ganti
Published: April 2013

We present a case of a valvular mass diagnosed by emergency department bedside ultrasonography in a young patient with syncope. Bedside ultrasound has become a valuable tool in the evaluation of patients with syncope in the emergency department. This patient was believed to have a fibroelastoma on ultrasound that was confirmed by magnetic resonance and ultimately by postsurgical pathological evaluation. The indications and findings of using ultrasonography as part of the workup of syncope in the emergency department are discussed.
Connectedness of Solution Sets for Weak Vector Variational Inequalities on Unbounded Closed Convex Sets
Authors: Zhong Ren-you , Wang Yun-liang , Fan Jiang-hua
Published: April 2013

We study the connectedness of solution set for set-valued weak vector variational inequality in unbounded closed convex subsets of finite dimensional spaces, when the mapping involved is scalarC-pseudomonotone. Moreover, the path connectedness of solution set for set-valued weak vector variational inequality is established, when the mapping involved is strictly scalarC-pseudomonotone. The results presented in this paper generalize some known results by Cheng (2001), Lee et al. (1998), and Lee and Bu (2005).
Psychiatric Morbidity and Other Factors Affecting Treatment Adherence in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Pachi Argiro , Bratis Dionisios , Moussas Georgios , Tselebis Athanasios
Published: April 2013

As the overall prevalence of TB remains high among certain population groups, there is growing awareness of psychiatric comorbidity, especially depression and its role in the outcome of the disease. The paper attempts a holistic approach to the effects of psychiatric comorbidity to the natural history of tuberculosis. In order to investigate factors associated with medication nonadherence among patients suffering from tuberculosis, with emphasis on psychopathology as a major barrier to treatment adherence, we performed a systematic review of the literature on epidemiological data and past medical reviews from an historical perspective, followed by theoretical considerations upon the relationship between psychiatric disorders and tuberculosis. Studies reporting high prevalence rates of psychiatric comorbidity, especially depression, as well as specific psychological reactions and disease perceptions and reviews indicating psychiatric complications as adverse effects of anti-TB medication were included. In sum, data concerning factors affecting medication nonadherence among TB patients suggested that better management of comorbid conditions, especially depression, could improve the adherence rates, serving as a framework for the effective control of tuberculosis, but further studies are necessary to identify the optimal way to address such issues among these patients.
Producing Polymer Fibers by Electrospinning in Supercritical Fluids
Authors: Li Lu , Jiang Zhao , Pan Qi , Fang Tao
Published: April 2013

Nanofibers have a wide range of applications, including filtration and biomedical engineering. Porous or hollow fibers with large surface‐to‐volume ratios are more popular in some fields than the common nanofibers. Porous nanofibers can be obtained through electrospinning with highly volatile solvents or through special treatment following electrospinning. A new process where electrospinning is conducted in supercritical or near‐critical CO2 to produce porous or hollow nanofibers has been summarized. In addition, a process entailing compressed N2‐assisted electrospinning was attempted to produce PVP nanofibers in this work, but it was proved to be unsuccessful. Since the fiber morphologies are dependent on the phase behavior of organic solvents in supercritical fluids, ASPEN PLUS 2006 was used to simulate the phase equilibrium of the solvent‐supercritical fluid system to explain why porous or hollow fibers can be obtained in compressed CO2, but not in compressed N2.
Downconverting Module Architectures for High Performance Multipixel Cameras
Authors: Palombini Diego , Jankowski Maciej , Limiti Ernesto
Published: April 2013

Multipixel cameras represent an emerging topology for arrays receivers, improving speed and accuracy of both security scanning systems and radioastronomical sky surveys by means of a matrix of phased elements. Difficulties in the generation and proper distribution to each pixel of the local oscillator signal still limit their use to frequency ranges below a few GHz or at least seriously affect the complexity of the implementable cameras. This work presents a full comparison between two possible system architectures, alternatively based on LO frequency multiplication or subharmonic mixing strategies, aiming to overcome the aforesaid limitations: design and performance of two compact test vehicles in MMIC technology, both operating in the Q-band frequency range with ultrabroadband IF section, are reported.
Sliding Mode Control Based on Observer for a Class of State-Delayed Switched Systems with Uncertain Perturbation
Authors: He Zhaolan , Wang Xue , Gao Zongwei , Bai Jingjie
Published: April 2013

This paper is concerned with a state observer-based sliding mode control design methodology for a class of continuous-time state-delayed switched systems with unmeasurable states and nonlinear uncertainties. The advantages of the proposed scheme mainly lie in which it eliminates the need for state variables to be full accessible and parameter uncertainties to be satisfied with the matching condition. Firstly, a state observer is constructed, and a sliding surface is designed. By matrix transformation techniques, combined with Lyapunov function and sliding surface function, a sufficient condition is given to ensure asymptotic stability of the overall closed-loop systems composed of the observer dynamics and the estimation error dynamics. Then, reachability of sliding surface is investigated. At last, an illustrative numerical example is presented to prove feasibility of the proposed approaches.
Establishment and Comparison of Combining Disease and Syndrome Model of Asthma with “Kidney Yang Deficiency” and “Abnormal Savda”
Authors: Li Bei , Luo Qing-li , Nurahmat Mammat , Jin Hua-liang , Du Yi-jie , Wu Xiao , Lv Yu-bao , Sun Jing , Abduwaki Muhammadjan , Gong Wei-yi , Dong Jing-cheng
Published: April 2013

The study was the first time to establish and compare two rat models of two common syndromes: Kidney Yang Deficiency syndrome (KYDS) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and abnormal savda syndrome (ASS) in traditional Uighur medicine (TUM). Then, we also established and evaluated rat models of combining disease and syndrome models of asthma with KYDS or ASS. Results showed that usage of the high dose of corticosterone (CORT) injection or external factors could successfully establish the KYDS or ASS rat models, and the two models had similar changes in biological characterization, abnormal behaviors, dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-target organ axes (HPTOA), and sympathetic/parasympathetic (S/P) nerve system but varied in different degrees. The rat models of combining disease and syndrome of asthma with KYDS or ASS had either pathological characteristics of asthma such as airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammation, airway remodeling, which were more serious than allergy exposure alone, or the syndrome performance of Kidney Yang Deficiency in TCM and abnormal savda in TUM. These findings provide a biological rationale for further investigation of combining disease and syndrome model of asthma as an effective animal model for exploring asthma based on the theory of traditional medicine.
Pilot-Scale Removal of Trace Steroid Hormones and Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products from Municipal Wastewater Using a Heterogeneous Fenton’s Catalytic Process
Authors: Chi George Tangyie , Churchley John , Huddersman Katherine D.
Published: April 2013

The pollution of water sources by endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) is a growing concern, as conventional municipal wastewater treatment systems are not capable of completely removing these contaminants. A continuous stir tank reactor incorporating a modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) catalyst and dosed with hydrogen peroxide in a heterogeneous Fenton’s process was used at pilot scale to remove these compounds from wastewater that has undergone previous treatment via a conventional wastewater treatment system. The treatment system was effective at ambient temperature and at the natural pH of the wastewater. High levels of both natural and synthetic hormones (EDCs) and PPCPs were found in the effluent after biological treatment of the wastewater. The treatment system incorporating the modified PAN catalyst/H2O2decomposed >90% of the EDCs and >40% of PPCPs using 200 mgL−1H2O2, 3 hr residence time. The estrogenic potency EE2-EQ was removed by 82.77%, 91.36%, and 96.13% from three different wastewater treatment plants. BOD was completely removed (below detection limits); 30%–40% mineralisation was achieved and turbidity reduced by more than 68%. There was a <4% loss in iron content on the catalyst over the study period, suggesting negligible leaching of the catalyst.
Features Analysis of Lower Extremity Arterial Lesions in 162 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Guo XiangJiang , Shi YaXue , Huang XiaoZhong , Ye Meng , Xue GuanHua , Zhang JiWei
Published: April 2013

Objective. This study aimed to investigate the angiographic manifestations of lower extremity atherosclerotic steno-occlusive disease in patients with diabetes.Materials and Methods. A total of 162 patients with diabetes were enrolled in this study. The angiographic findings of lower extremity arterial lesions were evaluated according to location (iliac, femoral, popliteal, and crural artery), type (stenosis or occlusion), and length (<5 cm, 5–10 cm, and >5 cm).Results. A total of 131 of 162 (80.9%) diabetics showed multiple segmental lesions, and 19.1% (31/162) presented single segmental lesions in the lower extremity artery. Crural artery was the mainly involved location (39/162, 85.8%). Among the recorded 660 lesions of 162 cases, 437 (66.2%) were occlusion lesions, while 223 (33.8%) were stenosis lesions. Of 437 occlusion lesions, 308 lesions (70.5%) were in crural artery. More than 10 cm occlusion lesion (242/392, 61.7%) was the main manifestation in crural artery, especially in anterior (92/127, 67.2%) and posterior tibial arteries (91/124, 73.4%), which was higher than that in iliac artery (8/33, 24.2%), popliteal artery (53/157, 33.8%), and femoral artery (11/78, 14.1%).Conclusion. In diabetic subjects with lower limb artery ischemia, the vascular involvement is extremely diffuse and particularly severe in crural arteries, with high prevalence of more than 10 cm occlusion lesions.
Modified Lennard-Jones Potentials with a Reduced Temperature-Correction Parameter for Calculating Thermodynamic and Transport Properties: Noble Gases and Their Mixtures (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe)
Authors: Oh Seung-Kyo
Published: April 2013

The three-parameter Lennard-Jones(12-6)potential function is proposed to calculate thermodynamic property (second virial coefficient) and transport properties (viscosity, thermal conductivity, and diffusion coefficient) of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) and their mixtures at low density. Empirical modification is made by introducing a reduced temperature-correction parameterτto the Lennard-Jones potential function for this purpose. Potential parameters (σ,ε, andτ) are determined individually for each species when the second virial coefficient and viscosity data are fitted together within the experimental uncertainties. Calculated thermodynamic and transport properties are compared with experimental data by using a single set of parameters. The present study yields parameter sets that have more physical significance than those of second virial coefficient methods and is more discriminative than the existing transport property methods in most cases of pure gases and of gas mixtures. In particular, the proposed model is proved with better results than those of the two-parameter Lennard-Jones(12-6)potential, Kihara Potential with group contribution concepts, and other existing methods.
Dual-Band Microstrip Patch Antenna Miniaturization Using Metamaterial
Authors: Singh Indrasen , Tripathi Vijay Shanker , Tiwari Sudarshan
Published: April 2013

A dual-band microstrip patch antenna is designed and analyzed using metamaterial artificial substrate. Metamaterial based substrate is designed using Square Split Ring Resonator (SSRR) and Wire Strip. The antenna is tuned to work at two resonating frequencies in the frequency range from 1 GHz to 4 GHz depending on the geometric specifications of SSRR, strip line, radiating patch, and feed location point. Proposed antenna provides good return loss behavior at both resonating frequencies. The obtained VSWR at both resonating frequencies is very much near to 1. Proposed antenna covers applications in mobile communication and Wi-MAX. Proposed patch antenna is compared with the conventional patch antenna, which shows the significant miniaturization as compared to conventional patch antenna.
Targeted Next-Generation Resequencing of Gene Identifies Novel Multiple Variants Pattern in Severe Hereditary Factor V Deficiency
Authors: Janicki Piotr K. , Vaida Sonia , AL-Mondhiry Hamid A. B.
Published: April 2013

The present study investigated the genetic defects underlying severe Factor V deficiency in a 26-year-old Columbian (South America) female and her immediate family (both parents and newborn child) by next generation sequencing (NGS) of the entire gene locus. Five mutations in the coding sequence of , including three missense single-nucleotide variants (R2102H, R513K, D107H) and two synonymous variants (A135A , S184S), were identified and confirmed by the Sanger sequencing in the investigated proband (homozygote for all detected mutations), her parents, and her newborn child (all heterozygotic carriers for identified mutations). Each of the three missense variants was previously associated with separate phenotypes, including Factor V deficiency (R2102H), thrombosis (R513K) and frequent miscarriages (D107H). In addition, at least 75 additional single-nucleotide variants (including six novels) were identified in untranslated region of .
Neovascular Glaucoma Induced by Peripheral Retinal Ischemia in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Management and Imaging Features
Authors: Pichi Francesco , Morara Mariachiara , Lembo Andrea , Ciardella Antonio P. , Meduri Alessandro , Nucci Paolo
Published: April 2013

Purpose: To report the case of a young patient affected by neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1) with peripheral retinal ischemia-induced neovascular glaucoma and the peculiar spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features. Material and Methods: A 13-year-old boy affected by NF-1, as diagnosed according to established criteria, was referred with a diagnosis of hypertensive uveitis in his left eye. He underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and comprehensive blood work with viral and immunological tests. The case was documented with fluorescein angiography (FA) and SD-OCT. When the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the left eye decreased and the cornea cleared, FA revealed retinal ischemia and leakage from pathologic retinal vessels. SD-OCT revealed foveal hypoplasia secondary to the complete absence of the retinal nerve fiber layer. Results: Peripheral retinal ischemia-induced neovascular glaucoma was diagnosed. The patient underwent Ahmed valve implantation to control his IOP, and subsequent retinal photocoagulation by argon laser and intravitreal bevacizumab injection were performed to control neovascularization. Discussion: Retinal ischemia in NF-1 might lead to neovascular glaucoma: lowering of the IOP with surgical implantation of an Ahmed valve, regression of neovascularization by argon laser panretinal photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab can be a helpful way to control such a complication.
On the distribution and conservation of the South American lizard genus Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1825 (Squamata: Tropiduridae)
Authors: DE CARVALHO ANDRÉ LUIZ GOMES
Published: April 2013

This study describes and analyzes the distribution of the lizard genus Tropidurus based on an updated database and the current taxonomy. General distributional patterns and endemism are identified, the distributions of several species are ex-panded and previous failures in the determination of specific names are corrected. I provide distributional maps for all species currently assigned to Tropidurus including all occurrence records collected and critical comments on the patterns documented and conservation.
A Large-Eddy Simulation Study of Bottom-Heating Effects on Scalar Dispersion in and above a Cubical Building Array
Authors: Park Seung-Bu , Baik Jong-Jin , Ryu Young-Hee
Published: April 2013

Thermal effects on scalar dispersion in and above a cubical building array are numerically investigated using the parallelized large-eddy simulation model (PALM). Two cases (no heating and bottom heating) are simulated, and scalar dispersion patterns in the two cases are compared. In the no-heating case, scalar ejections in the low-speed flow structures play an important role in transporting scalar upward above the building array. In the bottom-heating case, streamwise elongated and isolated scalar ejections appear below upper low-speed and upper high-speed regions above the building array. In both cases, bottom-emitted scalar flux is balanced by streamwise scalar advection and vertical turbulent scalar flux at the rooftop height. The vertical turbulent scalar flux at the rooftop height is mainly composed of scalar ejections and scalar sweeps that are related to low- and high-speed flow structures, respectively. Furthermore, the low- and high-speed flow structures at the rooftop height induce spanwise converging and spanwise diverging flow in the building array in both the no-heating and bottom-heating cases. Thus, the mean scalar concentration in the building array is high below the low-speed flow structures (above the building array) in both cases. Dominant scalar dispersion patterns in the building array are found to be spanwise scalar transport events that are composed of negative scalar concentration perturbation and spanwise flow therein. In the bottom-heating case, a large-scale secondary circular flow develops, causing stronger spanwise scalar dispersion patterns in the building array.
Large-Scale Distinctions between MJO and Non-MJO Convective Initiation over the Tropical Indian Ocean
Authors: Ling Jian , Zhang Chidong , Bechtold Peter
Published: April 2013

In this study, the authors seek large-scale signals that may distinguish MJO from non-MJO convective events before they start over the Indian Ocean. Three such signals were found. Low-level easterly anomalies extend from the surface to the midtroposphere and move from the western to eastern Indian Ocean. Surface pressure anomalies exhibit a zonal structure of wavenumber 1 with an equatorial low-pressure surge penetrating eastward from Africa through the Indian Ocean and reaching the Maritime Continent. Negative temperature anomalies in the middle to upper troposphere start over the Indian Ocean and move eastward. All of them emerge 20 days before convective initiation of the MJO and move eastward at speeds close to that of the MJO without any direct connection to MJO convection. They are not obviously related to the extratropics in any discernible way or any preceding MJO events. They are absent in non-MJO convective events. These signals provide useful information for forecasting MJO initiation over the Indian Ocean. They can be signatures of a dry dynamics mode of the MJO, if it exists.
Near–Sea Surface Temperature Stratification from SVP Drifters
Authors: Reverdin G. , Morisset S. , Bellenger H. , Boutin J. , Martin N. , Blouch P. , Rolland J. , Gaillard F. , Bouruet-Aubertot P. , Ward B.
Published: April 2013

This study describes how the hull temperature (Ttop) measurements from multisensor surface velocity program (SVP) drifters can be combined with other measurements to provide quantitative information on near-surface vertical temperature stratification during large daily cycles. First, Ttop is compared to the temperature measured at 17 -cm depth from a float tethered to the SVP drifter. These 2007–12 SVP drifters present a larger daily cycle by 1%–3% for 1°–2°C daily cycle amplitudes, with a maximum difference close to the local noon. The difference could result from flow around the SVP drifter in the presence of temperature stratification in the top 20 cm of the water column but also from a small influence of internal drifter temperature on Ttop. The largest differences were found for small drifters (Technocean) for very large daily cycles, as expected from their shallower measurements. The vertical stratification is estimated by comparing these hull data with the deeper T or conductivity C measurements from Sea-Bird sensors 25 (Pacific Gyre) to 45 cm (MetOcean) below the top temperature sensor. The largest stratification is usually found near local noon and early afternoon. For a daily cycle amplitude of 1°C, these differences with the upper level are in the range of 3%–5% of the daily cycle for the Pacific Gyre drifters and 6%–10% for MetOcean drifters with the largest values occurring when the midday sun elevation is lowest. The relative differences increase for larger daily cycles, and the vertical profiles become less linear. These estimated stratifications are well above the uncertainty on Ttop.
Keeping a Low Profile – Austrian Historiography and the Fischer Controversy
Authors: Kronenbitter Guenther
Published: April 2013

The article focuses on the Austrian reaction to Fischer’s Griff nach der Weltmacht in the media and in academia. Although Vienna was host to the International Congress of Historical Sciences in 1965, one of the most prominent events in the unfolding of the Fischer controversy, Austrian historians by and large ignored the questions raised by Fischer. That Germany, not the Habsburg monarchy took centre stage in the new consensus on the outbreak of the First World War, slowly emerging in German historiography, was rather convenient. Only Fritz Fellner, an outsider to Austria's conservative scholarly community, asked for further analysis of Austria-Hungary’s role in 1914.
The role of axon guidance factor semaphorin 6B in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer
Authors: Ge Changqing , Li Quanfu , Wang Lipu , Xu Xu
Published: April 2013

Objective

To investigate the role of semaphorin 6B in gastric cancer invasion and metastasis.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry for semaphorin 6B was performed on gastric cancer tumour tissue samples in this retrospective study. Levels of semaphorin 6B protein and mRNA were determined in gastric cancer cell lines by Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was transfected with small interfering RNA targeting semaphorin 6B; effects on cell adhesion, migration and invasion were determined by cell adhesion assay, transwell chamber migration assay and wound healing assay, respectively.

Results

Tumour tissue samples from 220 patients were analysed. In vivo, semaphorin 6B immunopositivity correlated with tumour differentiation, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis but not patient age, sex or tumour stage. Semaphorin 6B gene silencing significantly suppressed adhesion, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro.

Conclusions

Semaphorin 6B is related to tumour differentiation and metastasis in vivo, and tumour cell migration, adhesion and invasion in vitro. Semaphorin 6B may represent a reliable biomarker for diagnosis, evaluation and gene-targeted therapy of gastric cancer.