bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Efficiency of Different Disruption Methods on Yeast Cell Wall Preparation for β-Glucan Isolation
Authors: Bzducha-Wróbel Anna , Błażejak Stanisław , Kawarska Anna , Stasiak-Różańska Lidia , Gientka Iwona , Majewska Ewa
Published: December 2014

Selected methods for yeast cell disruption were evaluated to establish their suitability for cell wall preparation in the process of β-glucan isolation. The effect of different disruption methods on contents of total saccharides, β-glucans and proteins in the produced cell walls preparations was analyzed. The degree of cell wall purification from intracellular components was established on the basis of the ratio of solubilised material. The investigated methods included: cell exposure to hot water (autoclaving), thermally-induced autolysis, homogenization in a bead mill, sonication and their combinations. Experimental systems were prepared in water (pH 5.0 and pH 7.0) and Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0). The Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell wall preparations with the highest degree of cytosol component release and purification of β-glucans were produced by 30 min of cell homogenization with zirconium-glass beads (0.5 mm in diameter). This was confirmed by the highest ratio of solubilised material (approx. 64%–67%). The thus-produced preparations contained ca. 60% of total saccharides, 13%–14% of β(1,3)/(1,6)-glucans, and approx. 35% of crude proteins. Similar results were obtained after autolysis coupled with bead milling as well as with sonication, but the time required for these processes was more than 24 h. Homogenization in a bead mill could be valuable for general isolation procedures because allows one to eliminate the different autolytic activity of various yeast strains.
Antiprotozoal Activity against Entamoeba histolytica of Plants Used in Northeast Mexican Traditional Medicine. Bioactive Compounds from Lippia graveolens and Ruta chalepensis
Authors: Quintanilla-Licea Ramiro , Mata-Cárdenas Benito , Vargas-Villarreal Javier , Bazaldúa-Rodríguez Aldo , Kavimngeles-Hernández Isvar , Garza-González Jesús , Hernández-García Magda
Published: December 2014

Amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is associated with high morbidity and mortality is becoming a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Because of the side-effects and the resistance that pathogenic protozoa build against the standard antiparasitic drugs, e.g., metronidazole, much recent attention has been paid to plants used in traditional medicine around the world in order to find new antiprotozoal agents. We collected 32 plants used in Northeast Mexican traditional medicine and the methanolic extracts of these species were screened for antiprotozoal activity against E. histolytica trophozoites using in vitro tests. Only 18 extracts showed a significant inhibiting activity and among them six plant extracts showed more than 80% growth inhibition against E. histolytica at a concentration of 150 µg/mL and the IC50 values of these extracts were determined. Lippia graveolens Kunth and Ruta chalepensis Pers. showed the more significant antiprotozoal activity (91.54% and 90.50% growth inhibition at a concentration of 150 µg/mL with IC50 values of 59.14 and 60.07 µg/mL, respectively). Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extracts from these two plants afforded carvacrol (1) and chalepensin (2), respectively, as bioactive compounds with antiprotozoal activity.
An Analog Gamma Correction Scheme for High Dynamic Range CMOS Logarithmic Image Sensors
Authors: Cao Yuan , Pan Xiaofang , Zhao Xiaojin , Wu Huisi
Published: December 2014

In this paper, a novel analog gamma correction scheme with a logarithmic image sensor dedicated to minimize the quantization noise of the high dynamic applications is presented. The proposed implementation exploits a non-linear voltage-controlled-oscillator (VCO) based analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to perform the gamma correction during the analog-to-digital conversion. As a result, the quantization noise does not increase while the same high dynamic range of logarithmic image sensor is preserved. Moreover, by combining the gamma correction with the analog-to-digital conversion, the silicon area and overall power consumption can be greatly reduced. The proposed gamma correction scheme is validated by the reported simulation results and the experimental results measured for our designed test structure, which is fabricated with 0.35 μm standard complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process.
Assessment of a Newly Developed, Active Pneumatic-Driven, Sensorimotor Test and Training Device
Authors: Haslinger Wolfram , Müller Lisa , Mildner Esmeralda , Löfler Stefan , Kern Helmut , Raschner Christian
Published: December 2014

The sensorimotor system (SMS) plays an important role in sports and in every day movement. Several tools for assessment and training have been designed. Many of them are directed to specific populations, and have major shortcomings due to the training effect or safety. The aim of the present study was to design and assess a dynamic sensorimotor test and training device that can be adjusted for all levels of performance. The novel pneumatic-driven mechatronic device can guide the trainee, allow independent movements or disrupt the individual with unpredicted perturbations while standing on a platform. The test-reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Subjects were required to balance their center of pressure (COP) in a target circle (TITC). The time in TITC and the COP error (COPe) were recorded for analysis. The results of 22 males and 14 females (23.7 ± 2.6 years) showed good to excellent test–retest reliability. The newly designed Active Balance System (ABS) was then compared with the Biodex Balance System SD® (BBS). The results of 15 females, 14 males (23.4 ± 1.6 years) showed modest correlation in static and acceptable correlation in dynamic conditions, suggesting that ABS could be a reliable and comparable tool for dynamic balance assessments.
Trust into Collective Privacy? The Role of Subjective Theories for Self-Disclosure in Online Communication
Authors: Moll Ricarda , Pieschl Stephanie , Bromme Rainer
Published: December 2014

In order to build and maintain social capital in their Online Social Networks, users need to disclose personal information, a behavior that at the same time leads to a lower level of privacy. In this conceptual paper, we offer a new theoretical perspective on the question of why people might regulate their privacy boundaries inadequately when communicating in Online Social Networks. We argue that people have developed a subjective theory about online privacy putting them into a processing mode of default trust. In this trusting mode people would (a) discount the risk of a self-disclosure directly; and (b) infer the risk from invalid cues which would then reinforce their trusting mode. As a consequence people might be more willing to self-disclose information than their actual privacy preferences would otherwise indicate. We exemplify the biasing potential of a trusting mode for memory and metacognitive accuracy and discuss the role of a default trust mode for the development of social capital.
Assessing Regional Sustainability Using a Model of Coordinated Development Index: A Case Study of Mainland China
Authors: Yang Qing , Ding Yang , De Vries Bauke , Han Qi , Ma Huimin
Published: December 2014

From a holistic view, this paper addresses a perspective of coordinated development of economy, society, and environment for regional sustainability assessment. Firstly, a comprehensive indicator system for co-evaluating the level of economic, social, and environmental subsystems is presented based on a holistic understanding of regional sustainability. Then, a coordinated development index model focusing on the level of coordination among the subsystems as well as their comprehensive development level is established. Furthermore, an empirical study of all the provinces and municipalities is conducted by collecting the panel data from 2004 to 2010. The result shows that: (1) the coordinated developments of the most developed and the most underdeveloped regions stay stable while the regions with medium development level possess more fluctuant trends during the study years; (2) regional disparities are indicated according to the grading of CDI (the coordinated development index), which are further analyzed to be related to the local economic development patterns; (3) the conditions and causes of economic, social, and environmental development in real situations under different grades of CDI are discussed through detailed case studies of typical regions, which indicate specific suggestions of sustainable development for regions in the same pattern.
Benjamin–Bona–Mahony Equation with Variable Coefficients: Conservation Laws
Authors: Muatjetjeja Ben , Khalique Chaudry
Published: December 2014

This paper aims to construct conservation laws for a Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation with variable coefficients, which is a third-order partial differential equation. This equation does not have a Lagrangian and so we transform it to a fourth-order partial differential equation, which has a Lagrangian. The Noether approach is then employed to construct the conservation laws. It so happens that the derived conserved quantities fail to satisfy the divergence criterion and so one needs to make adjustments to the derived conserved quantities in order to satisfy the divergence condition. The conservation laws are then expressed in the original variable. Finally, a conservation law is used to obtain exact solution of a special case of the Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation.
Ilgynly-depe (Turkmenistan) and the 4th Millennium BC Metallurgy of Central Asia
Authors: Salvatori Sandro , Vidale Massimo , Guida Giuseppe , Masioli Elisa
Published: December 2014

À la surface du site d’Ilgynly-depe (Turkménistan méridional) nous avons identifié un groupe d’objets qui témoigne de plusieurs activités métallurgiques exécutées sur place. Environ 100 objets ont été enregistrés spatialement et recueillis. Les pièces ont été étudiées en détail selon des techniques analytiques de base. Ces objets peuvent être attribués au milieu du IVe millénaire avant J.-C. Cette découverte fournit une nouvelle vision de la métallurgie dans les piedmonts du Kopetdagh au cours de cette période, concernant non seulement les objets en cuivre-bronze, mais aussi certaines productions en plomb, en argent et en or. Nous en déduisons que la métallurgie protohistorique du Turkménistan méridional a atteint un niveau de complexité technique remarquable au moins 1 000 ans avant que ne se produise la «révolution urbaine » du Bronze moyen.
Late Epipalaeolithic Rock-Cut Installations and Groundstone Tools in the Southern Levant. Methodology and Classification System
Authors: Eitam David
Published: December 2014

Au Levant Sud, le mobilier en pierre a eu une importance majeure depuis l’Épipaléolithique. Toutefois, les études comparatives sur le sujet restent limitées et la recherche sur les installations creusées dans la roche est quasiment inexistante. Dans cet article, un système de classification de ces aménagements (et du mobilier en pierre) est proposé pour la première fois pour les périodes de l’Épipaléolithique récent au PPNA. Une méthodologie exhaustive, ciblée sur la fonction des outils de pierre et comprenant des analyses de terrain ainsi qu’un nouveau système d’enregistrement, est détaillée. L’utilisation d’un système de classifi cation à la fois général et homogène de ces outils, adaptés aux périodes préhistoriques et historiques, devrait permettre l’enregistrement systématique des données, fondamental pour les études futures.
Khirokitia (Chypre) : la taille et les pulsations de l’établissement néolithique pré-céramique, nouvelles données
Authors: Le Brun Alain , Daune-Le Brun Odile
Published: December 2014

Les campagnes de fouille effectuées ces dernières années à Chypre sur le site néolithique pré-céramique de Khirokitia conduisent à revoir la façon dont l’établissement s’inscrit dans l’espace, à réévaluer sa taille et à préciser les fl uctuations de ses limites. Elles invitent également à reconsidérer le développement du Néolithique pré-céramique récent de l’île.
A Reassessment of the Round Buildings in the Hamrin Valley (Central Iraq) during the Early 3rd Millennium BC
Authors: Renette Steve
Published: December 2014

During salvage excavations in the Hamrin basin (Central Iraq), archaeologists unexpectedly found a number of monumental circular constructions dating to the early 3rd millennium BC. The most prevalent theory about the function of these sites is that they were defensive outposts where the famous Lower Diyala cities had implanted some garrisons either to control the trade routes or to protect themselves from eastern invasions. However, a closer inspection of all the available information shows that there is not much evidence to support the hypotheses that have been put forward so far. An analysis of the sites, the material culture and the wider archaeological and historical context, indicates fi rst of all that there was an indigenous development in the Trans-Tigridian Corridor instead of colonization by an external polity, and secondly that the impressive structures were storage facilities. It is then argued further that the settlements in the Hamrin region were part of a dispersed, mobile society that made full use of the available resources by exploiting the agricultural potential of the valleys in the otherwise hilly landscape. This study can therefore contribute to recent discussions and case studies dealing with the theoretical aspects of sedentary-nomadic relations, and the socio-cultural potential of dispersed societies.
Flying Stones – The Slingstones of the Wadi Rabah Culture of the Southern Levant
Authors: Rosenberg Danny
Published: December 2014

Les balles de fronde, qui comptent parmi les armes les plus répandues aux périodes hellénistique et romaine, apparaissent dans le Levant Sud au Néolithique récent/ Chalcolithique ancien dans le contexte culturel de Wadi Rabah. Cette catégorie d’artefacts disparaît avec le déclin de la culture de Wadi Rabah et l’arrivée du Chalcolithique. Nous présentons ici une étude détaillée de plus de 365 balles de fronde qui constituent le corpus le plus complet de ce type d’objets jamais réunis au Levant Sud et recueillis en Israël sur des sites attribués à la culture de Wadi Rabah. Nous considérons également les contextes dans lesquels ces objets ont pu être utilisés. Fréquents principalement dans les sites du Nord d’Israël, ils impliquent des liens avec les cultures du Levant Nord. Il semble que ces balles de fronde soient apparues à une période durant laquelle on note une dépendance accrue au mode de vie pastoral, ce qui laisse à supposer que ces objets faisaient partie de l’équipement des bergers. Les fabricants de balles de fronde ont choisi des matériaux spécifiques, certaines formes et dimensions de même qu’un certain poids. Cette homogénéité pourrait avoir aidé les lanceurs de ces projectiles à contrôler la distance du jet et la précision du tir.
Bridging the Gap: Bone Tools as Markers of Continuity between Aceramic (Khirokitia Culture) and Ceramic Neolithic (Sotira Culture) in Cyprus (7th-5th millennia cal. BC)
Authors: Legrand-Pineau Alexandra
Published: December 2014

Les recherches conduites à Chypre ces dernières années ont renouvelé la connaissance sur les débuts du Néolithique dans l’île. Toutefois, l’origine du Néolithique céramique qui y apparaît au cours du Ve millénaire av. J.-C., après un hiatus d’environ 1 000 ans, pose encore bien des interrogations. L’étude technologique de l’industrie osseuse de Khirokitia fournit des éléments nouveaux en faveur d’une continuité chronologique entre le Néolithique pré-céramique et le Néolithique céramique. L’origine du Néolithique céramique à Chypre pourrait résulter d’une évolution locale comme cela avait été proposé précédemment.
An Archaeology of Categorization and Categories in Archaeology
Authors: Pollock Susan , Bernbeck Reinhard
Published: December 2014

As archaeologists we are accustomed to classifying and categorizing the material remains of past groups. We tend, however, to devote relatively little thought to the background and implications of our practices of categorization. In this paper, we address three elements of classifi cation : the ways in which archaeologists classify objects recovered in the context of fi eldwork, the classifications used by people in the past, and the relationship between these sets of categories. We use the example of our excavations at the Halafperiod site of Fıstıklı Höyük in Southeastern Turkey to illustrate how we came to think differently about our own set of archaeological categories as well as the ways in which Halaf inhabitants of the site may have categorized their world.
Houses, Households, and Changing Society in the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic of the Southern Levant
Authors: Banning Edward B.
Published: December 2014

Characteristics of the built environment provide a source of evidence for the complex social landscapes of the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic of the Southern Levant. Rather than an inexorable evolutionary progression, this evidence suggests considerable variability and fl exibility throughout these periods. At various times and places, individual houses isolated themselves from the rest of their settlement within a walled courtyard that also protected their stores and livestock. At others, we find clusters of apparently quasi-independent households sharing a courtyard enclosed by the houses themselves, and most storage space sequestered within the houses, while other activity areas were shared. Throughout, we also usually find some isolated houses not clearly associated with any courtyard or house cluster. Furthermore, we find considerable variation among contemporary houses in their size, elaboration, and storage capacity, suggesting some degree of economic differentiation, perhaps difference of rank, and possibly interhousehold competition. Some of these characteristics suggest that heads of houses made strategic choices with regard to the size of their household, its alliances with other households, the accumulation of herds or grain stores, and competitive display, in order to promote their house’s political and economic advantage. Possibly this pattern fits C. Lévi-Strauss’s concept of “ house societies.”
Bidirectional Blade Production at the PPNB Site of Kfar HaHoresh: The Techno-Typological Analysis of a Workshop Dump
Authors: Barzilai Omry , Goring-Morris A. Nigel
Published: December 2014

This paper presents the detailed analysis of a bidirectional blade workshop dump from a pit (Locus 1007) dating to relatively late within the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) occupation of Kfar HaHoresh in Northern Israel. The contents of the pit minimally derive from 117 reduction sequences and quite probably at least twice that number. The dump includes waste products from all stages of knapping. The assemblage is described in detail, with an emphasis on the diagnostic debitage types produced by each knapping stage, and hence reflects the local blade-knapping tradition. The results contribute to understanding the character of the local bidirectional operational sequence at Kfar HaHoresh. This included the import of high quality flint nodules from specific outcrops elsewhere in the lower Galilee. In many cases the nodules were subjected to meticulous core pre-formation followed by serial blade production, core maintenance and core abandonment. Following the end of intensive knapping the waste products were carefully collected and dumped in the pit at the edge of the site, while the designated products (blades and tools) were locally distributed or cached for various reasons. The recognized lithic organization, together with the high quality of the blades and tools elsewhere on-site, is indicative of a specialized Middle/ Late PPNB lithic workshop. The pattern recognized at Kfar HaHoresh, supplemented by recent discoveries of flint outcrops and nearby PPNB workshop sites at HaSollelim and Givat Rabi East, together with the evidence for a regional blade production center at the village of Yiftahel, demonstrates the importance of this technology within the lower Galilee PPNB.
Notes on Arboricultural and Agricultural Practices in Ancient Iran based on New Pollen Evidence
Authors: Djamali Morteza , Miller Naomi F. , Ramezani Elias , Andrieu-Ponel Valérie , de Beaulieu Jacques-Louis , Berberian Manuel , Guibal Frédéric , Lahijani Hamid , Lak Razieh , Ponel Philippe
Published: December 2014

New pollen evidence from two sites in South-Central Zagros (Lake Maharlou), Southwestern Iran, and Sahand Mountains (Lake Almalou), Northwestern Iran, provide evidence for the emergence of tree cultivation in Southwestern Iran since the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC and upland agricultural activities in Northwestern Iran since 5th to 3rd centuries BC. Juglans cf. regia could have been cultivated firstly at ~ 2500 BC and became more extensively cultivated since ~ 1200 BC. Platanus cf. orientalis was also probably cultivated very early at ~ 1900 BC during the Middle Elamite period (2800-550 BC) and became more widely cultivated from ~ 1200 BC along with Juglans. The latter arboricultural events could have resulted from the establishment of great urban civilizations in Southwestern Iran. The rise of the Persian Empires seems to have been associated with a large-scale agricultural revolution over the Iranian Plateau. During the Persian Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC) tree cultivation expanded in the Lake Maharlou area and agricultural practices expanded into upland areas in Lake Almalou area probably due to socio-economic stability and the development of water exploitation and irrigation techniques. The Parthian (250 BC-225 AD) and Sassanian (224-642 AD) periods were also associated with tree cultivation practices in Lake Maharlou area but to a lower extent comparing to the Achaemenid period. In the Lake Almalou area, the Parthian period saw no spectacular agricultural event at least partly due to political and socio-economic instability caused by conflicts with Romans over Armenia. The socio-economic stability and further development in agricultural techniques during the Sassanian Empire could, however, favor again the large-scale tree cultivation practices in Northwestern Iran. The Post-Islamic period is characterized by reduced agricultural activities in the Iranian Plateau most probably due to political instability caused by numerous invasions by Arabs, Turks and Mongols. The last signifi cant agricultural event recorded in the Lake Almalou pollen record is the appearance of Ricinus communis cultivated since the beginning of the Safavid Empire (1501-1722 AD).
L'influence des PDEC sur les projets de réforme des droits français et japonais des contrats
Authors: Castets-Renard Céline , Hatano Hiroki
Published: December 2014

Cet article a pour objectif de montrer que les projets de réforme du droit des contrats, élaborés en France et au Japon, s’inspirent davantage des Principes de Droit Européen des Contrats (PDEC) que des autres droits nationaux. La méthode comparative incorpore donc cette proposition de réforme qui prend la forme d’une codification privée. Mais, suivant une analyse plus fine, il s’agit essentiellement de rechercher si les convergences de solutions manifestent, ou non, une volonté de s’aligner sur les PDEC. Il s’avère d’abord que les PDEC ne sont pas suivis aveuglément. Ensuite, en particulier au Japon, les reprises de solutions similaires aux PDEC dans le projet de réforme japonais sont très souvent le fait du hasard. La convergence normative est alors fortuite. Au final, cette recherche veut montrer le danger, face au constat d’une convergence des solutions, à vouloir tirer des conclusions trop hâtives sur l’existence d’une influence normative, spécifiquement des PDEC.
Regards croisés sur les projets de règles relatifs à la théorie de l’imprévision en Europe
Authors: Almeida Prado Maurício
Published: December 2014

Cette étude effectue la comparaison de certains projets visant à une ample réforme du droit des contrats en Europe, sur le sujet spécifique de la théorie de l’imprévision.

L’importance d’étudier ces règles dans le contexte d’un changement majeur du droit des contrats repose sur le fait qu’elles jouent un rôle fondamental dans le système juridique en établissant le point d’équilibre entre sécurité juridique et équité. Au niveau national, cette étude analyse les projets de réforme du droit des obligations en France et en Espagne, qui ont été avancés par les gouvernements respectifs. Au niveau international, cette étude se concentre sur deux propositions pour le Cadre Commun de Référence Européen : the Draft Common Frame of Reference (proposé par le Study Group on European Civil Code et par le Research Group on EC Private Law), et le Projet de Cadre Commun de Référence. Principes Contractuels Communs (proposé par l’Association Henri Capitant et par la Société de Législation Comparée).
Transplantation of Purified Autologous Leukapheresis-Derived CD34+ and CD133+ Stem Cells for Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries: Long-Term Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy
Authors: Al-Zoubi Adeeb , Jafar Emad , Jamous Mohammad , Al-Twal Feras , Al-Bakheet Sameh , Zalloum Mahasen , Khalifeh Farah , Radi Samer Abu , El-Khateeb Mohammed , Al-Zoubi Ziad
Published: December 2014

This study is aimed at describing a novel method for treating patients with chronic complete spinal cord injuries (SCIs) by utilizing autologous, purified CD34+ and CD133+ stem cells (SCs). The study focuses on the safety and efficacy of transplanting unmanipulated, autologous, purified stem cells in treated patients during a 5-year follow-up period. In this report, 19 patients were included (16 males and 3 females) who presented with a complete SCI (ASIA-A) in the thoracic region. The patients' endogenous cells were mobilized with subcutaneous granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 5 days. We utilized the CliniMACS magnetic separation system to purify leukapheresis-derived CD34+ and CD133+ SCs. Purified SCs were directly transplanted into the SCI site. Patients were then monitored and followed for up to 5 years. On average, 76 × 106 purified SCs were obtained from each patient, with 95.2% purity and >98% viability. SC transplantation into the cyst cavity or the subarachnoid space was successful and well tolerated in all 19 patients and did not cause any allergic or inflammatory reactions within the CNS in the early or late periods after transplantation. Ten patients (53%) showed no improvement after 42–60 months (ASIA-A), while seven patients (37%) demonstrated segmental sensory improvement (ASIA-B), and the remaining two patients (10%) had motor improvement (ASIA-C). This study presents a safe method for transplanting specific populations of purified autologous SCs that can be used to treat SCIs in a clinical setting. The results may be utilized as a stepping-stone for future investigations in the field of regenerative medicine for treatment of SCIs and other neurological diseases. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
Efficacy of Fetal Stem Cell Transplantation in Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Open-Labeled Pilot Study
Authors: Bradstreet James Jeffrey , Sych Nataliia , Antonucci Nicola , Klunnik Mariya , Ivankova Olena , Matyashchuk Irina , Demchuk Mariya , Siniscalco Dario
Published: December 2014

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are heterogeneous complex neurodevelopmental pathologies defined by behavioral symptoms, but which have well-characterized genetic, immunological, and physiological comorbidities. Despite extensive research efforts, there are presently no agreed upon therapeutic approaches for either the core behaviors or the associated comorbidities. In particular, the known autoimmune disorders associated with autism are appealing targets for potential stem cell therapeutics. Of the various stem cell populations, fetal stem cells (FSCs) offer the potent immunoregulatory functions found in primordial mesenchymal stem cells, while exhibiting rapid expansion capacity and recognized plasticity. These properties enhance their potential for clinical use. Furthermore, FSCs are potent and implantable “biopharmacies” capable of delivering trophic signals to the host, which could influence brain development. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of FSC transplantations in treating children diagnosed with ASDs. Subjects were monitored at pre, and then 6 and 12 months following the transplantations, which consisted of two doses of intravenously and subcutaneously administered FSCs. The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) test and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores were performed. Laboratory examinations and clinical assessment of adverse effects were performed in order to evaluate treatment safety. No adverse events of significance were observed in ASD children treated with FSCs, including no transmitted infections or immunological complications. Statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) were shown on ATEC/ABC scores for the domains of speech, sociability, sensory, and overall health, as well as reductions in the total scores when compared to pretreatment values. We recognize that the use of FSCs remains controversial for the present. The results of this study, however, warrant additional investigations into the mechanisms of cell therapies for ASDs, while prompting the exploration of FSCs as “biopharmacies” capable of manufacturing the full array of cell-signaling chemistry. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
Clinical Experience with Autologous M2 Macrophages in Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Chernykh Elena R. , Kafanova Marina Yu. , Shevela Ekaterina Ya. , Sirota Sergei I. , Adonina Elena I. , Sakhno Lyudmila V. , Ostanin Alexander A. , Kozlov Vladimir V.
Published: December 2014

Stem cell-based therapy is considered to be a new approach for the treatment of cerebral palsy (CP). Given the potent anti-inflammatory activity and high regenerative potential of M2 macrophages, these cells may be an alternative source for cell transplantation. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous M2 macrophages, we conducted a pilot clinical trial in 21 children with severe CP. The primary outcome measure was safety, which included assessment of mortality of any cause, immediate adverse reactions, and serious adverse effects and comorbidities during 5-year follow-up. The secondary outcome measure was functional improvement in Gross Motor Function Measure (66-item GMFM) test, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-Fine Motor (PDMS-FM) test, Ashworth scale, MRC scale, and an easy-to-understand questionnaire for evaluation of cognitive functions in our modification. Intradural injection of M2 cells (in mean dose of 0.8 × 106/kg) into the lumbar spinal area did not induce any serious adverse events. No cases of mortality, psychomotor worsening, exacerbation of seizures, and long-term comorbidities, including tumors, were observed during a 5-year follow-up. After 3 months, GMFM score increased from 13.7 ± 7.8 to 58.6 ± 14.6, PDMS-FM score improved from 0.76 ± 0.42 to 5.05 ± 0.97, and the Ashworth score decreased from 3.8 ± 0.21 to 3.3 ± 0.24. Along with gross and fine motor function enhancement, an improvement of cognitive activity (from 1.62 ± 0.41 to 4.05 ± 0.64, according to questionnaire assessment) and reduction of seizure syndrome were registered as well. The neurological improvements did not diminish during the 5-year follow-up period. The data obtained suggest that cell therapy based on M2 macrophages is safe, does not induce early adverse effects and long-term comorbidities, and is accompanied with a significant improvement of motor and cognitive activities in severe CP patients. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
Intra-Arterial Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Transplantation Correlates with GM-CSF, PDGF-BB, and MMP-2 Serum Levels in Stroke Patients: Results from a Clinical Trial
Authors: Moniche Francisco , Montaner Joan , Gonzalez-Marcos Jose-Ramon , Carmona Magdalena , Piñero Pilar , Espigado Ildefonso , Cayuela Aurelio , Escudero Irene , De La Torre-Laviana Francisco-Javier , Boada Cristina , Rosell Anna , Mayol Antonio , Jimenez Maria-Dolores , Gil-Peralta Alberto , Gonzalez Alejandro
Published: December 2014

Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) intra-arterial transplantation improves recovery in experimental models of ischemic stroke through secretion of cytokines and growth factors (GFs), enhancing neoangiogenesis, and enhancing neuroplasticity. In this study, we tested whether BM-MNC transplantation in stroke patients induces changes in serum levels of cytokines and GFs. A phase I/II trial was conducted in middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke patients with autologous intra-arterial BM-MNC transplantation between 5 and 9 days after stroke. Follow-up was done for up to 6 months. Eight cases and nine controls were included, and the serum levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), β nerve growth factor (β-NGF), and matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) were measured before and 4, 8, and 90 days after transplantation. The correlation of these serum levels with dose of cells and clinical outcomes was studied. A total of 1.59 × 108 (±1.21 × 108) BM-MNCs were injected in cases; of them 3.38 × 106 (±2.33 × 106) were CD34+ cells. There was a positive correlation between total BM-MNCs injected and levels of GM-CSF and PDGF-BB at 90 days after transplantation ( r = 0.929, p = 0.001 and r = 0.714, p = 0.047, respectively), and a negative correlation between total CD34+ cells injected and MMP-2 levels at 4 days after transplantation ( r = −0.786, p = 0.036). Lower plasma levels of MMP-2 at 4 days and higher levels of PDGF-BB at 90 days were associated with better functional outcomes during follow-up ( p = 0.019 and p = 0.037, respectively). When administered intra-arterially in subacute MCA stroke patients, BM-MNCs seem to induce changes in serum levels of GM-CSF, PDGF-BB, and MMP-2, even 3 months after transplantation, which could be associated with better functional outcomes. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
Consensus of Clinical Neurorestorative Progress in Patients with Complete Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Huang Hongyun , Sun Tiansheng , Chen Lin , Moviglia Gustavo , Chernykh Elena , Von Wild Klaus , Deda Haluk , Kang Kyung-Sun , Kumar Anand , Jeon Sang Ryong , Zhang Shaocheng , Brunelli Giorgio , Bohbot Albert , Soler Maria Dolors , Li Jianjun , Cristante Alexandre Fogaça , Xi Haitao , Onose Gelu , Kern Helmut , Carraro Ugo , Saberi Hooshang , Sharma Hari Shanker , Sharma Alok , He Xijing , Muresanu Dafin , Feng Shiqing , Otom Ali , Wang Dajue , Iwatsu Koichi , Lu Jike , Al-Zoubi Adeeb
Published: December 2014

Currently, there is a lack of effective therapeutic methods to restore neurological function for chronic complete spinal cord injury (SCI) by conventional treatment. Neurorestorative strategies with positive preclinical results have been translated to the clinic, and some patients have gotten benefits and their quality of life has improved. These strategies include cell therapy, neurostimulation or neuromodulation, neuroprosthesis, neurotization or nerve bridging, and neurorehabilitation. The aim of this consensus by 31 experts from 20 countries is to show the objective evidence of clinical neurorestoration for chronic complete SCI by the mentioned neurorestorative strategies. Complete chronic SCI patients are no longer told, “nothing can be done.” The clinical translation of more effective preclinical neurorestorative strategies should be encouraged as fast as possible in order to benefit patients with incurable CNS diseases. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
A Two-Year Follow-Up Study of Cotransplantation with Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Qiao Li-Yan , Huang Fang-Jie , Zhao Mangsuo , Xie Jing-Hui , Shi Jie , Wang Jing , Lin Xian-Zhong , Zuo Huancong , Wang Yun-Liang , Geng Tong-Chao
Published: December 2014

Stem cell therapy is an emerging therapeutic modality in the treatment of stroke. We assessed the safety and feasibility of the cotransplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in patients with ischemic stroke. Eight patients were enrolled in this study. All patients had a hemisphere with infarct lesions located on one side of the territories of the cerebral middle or anterior arteries as revealed with cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patients received one of the following two types of treatment: the first treatment involved four intravenous injections of MSCs at 0.5 × 106/kg body weight; the second treatment involved one intravenous injection of MSCs at 0.5 × 106/kg weight followed by three injections of MSCs at 5 × 106/patient and NSPCs at 6 × 106/patient through the cerebellomedullary cistern. The patients' clinical statuses were evaluated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and the Barthel index (BI). Six patients were given four cell transplantations. The most common side effect of stem cell transplantation in these six cases was low fever that usually lasted 2–4 days after each therapy. One patient exhibited minor dizziness. All side effects appeared within the first 2–24 h of cell transplantation, and they resolved without special treatment. There was no evidence of neurological deterioration or neurological infection. Most importantly, no tumorigenesis was found at a 2-year follow-up. The neurological functions, disability levels, and daily living abilities of the patients in this study were improved. While these observations support the use of the combination transplantation of NSPCs and MSCs as a safe and feasible method of improving neurological function, further studies that include larger samples, longer follow-ups, and control groups are still needed. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
First Study of Intra-Arterial Delivery of Myogenic Mononuclear Cells to Skeletal Muscles in Primates
Authors: Skuk Daniel , Tremblay Jacques P.
Published: December 2014

The main challenge of cell transplantation as a treatment of myopathies is the large amount of tissue to treat. Intravascular delivery of cells may be an ideal route if proven to be effective and safe. Given the importance of nonhuman primates for preclinical research in transplantation, we tested the intra-arterial injection of β-galactosidase (β-Gal)-labeled myoblasts in macaques. Cells were injected into one of the femoral arteries in seven monkeys. Some muscle sites were damaged concomitantly in three monkeys. Various organs and muscles were sampled 1 h, 1 day, 12 days, 3 weeks, and 5 weeks after transplantation. Samples were analyzed by histology. Most β-Gal+ cells were observed in the capillaries and arterioles of muscles and other tissues of the leg homolateral to the cell injection. Groups of necrotic myofibers in the proximity of an arteriole plugged by a β-Gal+ embolus were interpreted as microinfarcts. Scarce β-Gal+ cells were observed in the lungs 1 h and 1 day posttransplantation. No β-Gal+ cells were observed in other organs or muscles. β-Gal+ myofibers were observed 12 days, 3 weeks, and 5 weeks after transplantation in muscles of the leg after the cell injection, in sites that were damaged at the time of cell injection. In conclusion, most intra-arterially injected myoblasts were retained in vessels of the leg homolateral to the cell injection site, and they fused with myofibers in regions in which there was a process of myofiber regeneration. This manuscript is published as part of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) special issue of Cell Transplantation.
A one-pot multistep cyclization yielding thiadiazoloimidazole derivatives
Authors: Samanta Debabrata , Rana Anup , Bats Jan W , Schmittel Michael
Published: December 2014

A versatile synthetic procedure is described to prepare the benzimidazole-fused 1,2,4-thiadiazoles 2a–c via a methanesulfonyl chloride initiated multistep cyclization involving the intramolecular reaction of an in-situ generated carbodiimide with a thiourea unit. The structure of the intricate heterocycle 2a was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis and its mechanism of formation supported by DFT computations.
Genetic diversity of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Uthman Norah Abdulhamed , Sohrab Sayed Sartaj , Kamal Ibrahim Hassan , Farraj Suha Abdulall , Masri Badr Essa , Ashshi Ahmad Mohammad , Kumosani Taha Abdullah , Azhar Esam Ibraheem
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged and spread globally in the spring of 2009. Saudi Arabia also witnessed a severe H1N1 pandemic virus epidemic with considerable morbidity and mortality in different parts of the kingdom beginning in June 2009. The influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in samples collected between May 2009 and November 2010 from Makkah region. This study provides data on the viral diagnosis and genetic diversity of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus from Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Nasopharyngeal swabs from 100 clinically infected patients in the peak of the outbreak were collected from Makkah region and processed for viral diagnosis by viral culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HA and NA genes of 10 selected samples were sequenced and analyzed. Results: A total of 100 samples were collected; only 10 samples were found to be positive for influenza A virus infection by real-time PCR. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the HA and NA genes of influenza A (H1N1) from Saudi Arabia showed significant similarities with selected isolates. The phylogenetic tree constructed for both HA and NA genes formed close clusters with selected reference isolates. Conclusions: Nucleotide sequence analysis and phylogenetic relationships of the HA and NA genes of influenza A (H1N1) virus from Saudi Arabia with selected reference isolates indicates that they were genetically close and most probably originated from influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
A case of childhood Brucellosis with neurological involvement and epididymo-orchitis
Authors: Kanik-Yuksek Saliha , Gulhan Belgin , Ozkaya-Parlakay Aslinur , Tezer Hasan
Published: December 2014

Brucellosis is a common zoonotic infection worldwide caused by Brucella species. Central nervous system involvement is a serious complication of brucellosis, and the clinical presentation is quite heterogeneous. The genitourinary system may be affected. Epididymo-orchitis is the most common type of urinary tract involvement, which can cause serious complications. Herein, we present a case of brucellosis in a child with a rare combination of epididymo-orchitis and neurobrucellosis not encountered previously in the literature.
The impact of household hygiene on the risk of bacterial diarrhea among Egyptian children in rural areas, 2004–2007
Authors: Hassan Khaled E , Mansour Adel , Shaheen Hind , Amine Mohamed , Riddle Mark S , Young Sylvia YN , Sebeny Peter , Levin Samuel
Published: December 2014

Introduction: The present study, conducted between January 2004 and April 2007, explored the impact of household hygiene on the risk of bacterial diarrhea, using data from a prospective birth cohort of 348 infants in five villages in the Nile Delta in Egypt. Methodology: Neonates were enrolled at birth and followed up until 24 months of age. Children were visited twice a week to survey them for acute diarrhea. A detailed observational household hygiene survey was completed in-house every six months. Adjusted relative risk (aRR) of developing bacterial diarrhea was calculated for exposure to different hygiene variables and examined for specific bacterial pathogens. Results: Exclusive breastfeeding reduced the risk of bacterial diarrhea by 70%, while bacterial diarrhea cases were 2.6 times higher in the warm season. Risk of Campylobacter diarrhea increased with the absence of barriers to keep birds and animals out of the eating area, the presence of garbage containers and a bathing facility within the compound, and the presence of feces on the floor of the bathing facility. Use of municipal water for drinking and cooking was associated with a lower risk of Campylobacter diarrhea. Risk of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea increased with uncovered garbage containers and the presence of liquid materials in the garbage containers, but decreased with the use of tap water in the washing facility. Conclusion: The results highlight some potential targets for interventions, such as expanding municipal water supply to all houses and comprehensive mass-media awareness programs to change hygiene-promoting behaviors and practices.
Toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ahmadpour Ehsan , Daryani Ahmad , Sharif Mahdi , Sarvi Shahabeddin , Aarabi Mohsen , Mizani Azadeh , Rahimi Mohammad Taghi , Shokri Azar
Published: December 2014

Although toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent individuals is generally asymptomatic, in immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS, cancer, and transplant patients), it can lead to serious pathological effects. This study included a systematic review and meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection in immunocompromised patients in Iran. Electronic English and Persian databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Magiran, Scientific Information Database [SID], IranMedex, and IranDoc), parasitology congresses, and projects and theses of Iranian medical universities, were systematically searched from 1997 to 2013 (published or unpublished data). In this paper, several studies that used serological methods for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis were selected. Analysis of seroprevalence estimates was pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Twenty-two studies, comprising 2,805 individuals, were included in the meta-analysis. Overall seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection in Iranian immunocompromised patients was 50.01% (95% confidence interval, 43.85 to 56.17); however, there was significant heterogeneity among study groups. The results showed that seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis among transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS, and cancer patients in Iran was 55.1%, 50.05%, and 45.06%, respectively. In addition, IgM seroprevalence rate was estimated to be 4.85% (95% confidence interval, 2.22 to 8.41). This systematic review and meta-analysis identified a high seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection among immunocompromised patients (50%).Consideration of management , design and provision of appropriate control measures of toxoplasmosis is highly recommended.