bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Following European Stories. An Anthropological Study of European Integration
Authors: Bajuk Senčar Tatiana , Turk Jeffrey David
Published: June 2013

Seven years have passed since Slovenians have been granted the opportunity to take on posts within the EU institutions as Slovenian EU officials or Slovenian Eurocrats. How can life stories or biographical narratives aid in reseach focused on this first generation of Slovenian Eurocrats? What can they tells us about the shape of contemporary European integration processes? The authors in the following pages will identify the key theoretical and methodological issues that researchers face when engaging integration as a social phenomenon.
***
Minilo je sedem let, odkar imajo Slovenci priložnost, da se kot evrokrati zaposljujejo v institucijah Evropske unije. Do katere mere lahko življenjske zgodbe oz. biografski narativni intervjuji služijo kot učinkovito analitično orodje pri raziskavah prve generacije slovenskih evrokratov? Kaj nam lahko takšne pripovedi povedo o podobi sodobnih evropskih integracijskih procesov? V pričujočem prispevku avtorja razbirata osrednja teoretska in metodološka vprašanja, s katerimi se spoprimejo raziskovalci, ki preučujejo integracijo kot družbeni pojav.
Anchor Drop Tests for a Submarine Power-Cable Protector
Authors: Yoon Han-Sam , Na Won-Bae
Published: June 2013

AbstractSubmarine power cables are widely used for power transmission, such as between mainlands and offshore islands and from offshore wind farms to on-land substations. There are several ways to protect power cables from accidental loads. Protection includes concrete blankets,
sand bags, bundles, tunnel-type protectors, and trenching. However, no design standard for power-cable protectors is currently available because of the varieties of cable protection solutions and man-made or natural hazards to submarine power cables. Thus, this paper presents anchor drop tests
for a newly designed, matrix-type submarine power-cable protector assembled with reinforced concrete blocks, to make a safety assessment. Marine environments were surveyed at the target site and simulated in the test set-up. A 2-ton stock anchor was selected as the colliding object, and a
25-ton crane was prepared to drop the anchor. Preliminary tests were performed to investigate the effect of soil composition and protector arrangements on the test results. Finally, four field anchor drop test scenarios were designed, carried out, and analyzed, and a safety assessment was
made for the submarine power cable. From the tests, it was found that, in addition to falling distances, the soil composition and saturation were significant factors for the settlement depth and damaged areas. Considering the settlement depth of soils, the damaged areas of the concrete blocks,
and the damaged state of the pipes (safety zone), all of the test results showed that the mattress failed to protect the power cable from the anchor collision. The deformation, damage, and breakage of the pipe, which simulated the safety zone of the power cable, gave clues as to the reasons
for the failure.
Analysis of Underwater Acoustic Communication Channels
Authors: Ahmed Sadia , Arslan Huseyin
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe underwater acoustic communication (UAC) channel presents many difficulties such as high frequency, space, and time selectivity, frequency-dependent noise, and significant range and band limitation on transmission. Traditional UAC channel models that model such
channels primarily include environmental models based on experimental data; models that are developed using mathematical equations such as wave equations, modal methods, and parabolic equations; and using statistical distributions. These methods/models are often limited in their coverage and
accurate representations of every possible UAC channel environment. It is also physically impractical and cost ineffective to try to measure/estimate each channel to determine its model. In this paper, the authors will present the analysis of UAC channels according to the UAC channel environments
classified and presented in a prior work by the authors, in which cognitive intelligence is used in the selection of the appropriate channel representations according to each sensed environment. To the best knowledge of the authors, this type of analysis and representation of UAC channels
with respect to each UAC environment has not been addressed in the literature to date and therefore presents a significant contribution.
Development of a flaming machine for the disinfection of poultry grow-out facilities
Authors: Raffaelli Michele , Fontanelli Marco , Frasconi Christian , Innocenti Angelo , Dal Re Lamberto , Bardasi Lia , Galletti Giorgio , Peruzzi Andrea
Published: June 2013

Chemical treatments are commonly adopted for poultry house sanitation. In fact, ordinary floor disinfection is needed to deplete the pathogenic population (i.e. various species of bacteria and fungi) and reduce the risk of meat contamination. The increasing focus on the health of consumers and operators, as well as on food quality, has led farmers to consider alternative environmentally friendly methods. Research was carried out to set up a new machine for floor disinfection of poultry houses by open flame. The trials were run in controlled conditions in the laboratory of the University of Pisa, Italy, and on a private farm. The first experiment consisted of a series of test bench trials carried out to evaluate the efficacy and the adjustment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fed open flame burners on pre-inoculated steel plates. In the second experiment, the operative parameters of a custom-built 1.5 m wide mounted flaming machine were determined and the biological effects of the treatment were compared to ordinary chemical treatments. The results obtained were very promising. Test bench trials showed a 4-log reduction in E. coli, and microbial determinations carried out on-farm did not show any difference between thermal and chemical treatment. In addition, the cost estimation showed that thermal disinfection is approximately 4-fold cheaper than chemical sanitation methods. The effective working capacity of the machine was approximately 1700 m2 h–1, and the LPG consumption was approximately 16 kg per 1000 m2. Flame disinfection of poultry grow-out facilities could represent a valid alternative to chemical disinfection.
TREATMENT OF ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA WITH 20-30% BONE MARROW BLASTS
Authors: Maurillo Luca , Buccisano Francesco , Del Principe Maria Ilaria , Sarlo Chiara , Di Caprio Luigi , Ditto Concetta , Giannotti Federica , Nasso Daniela , Ceresoli Eleonora , Postorino Massimiliano , Refrigeri Marco , Amadori Sergio , Venditti Adriano
Published: June 2013

Patients with ≥ 20% <30% bone marrow blast infiltration previously regarded as a transitional category between myelodisplasia and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) according to FAB classification, have been subsequently included into AML WHO classification. However, controversies still remain as to whether the natural history and responsiveness to therapy of these patients is comparable to that of patients with > 30% BM blast AML. In the present review, we will discuss the clinical results achieved in the treatment of elderly patients with 20%-30% BM blasts AML using intensive chemotherapy (IC) or hypomethylating agents. Overall, due to concerns of treatment-related morbidity and mortality associated with delivery of IC, approximately only 30% of all patients ≥ 65 years are considered eligible for this approach. Therefore, a great deal of attention has been dedicated to hypomethilating agents such as azacitidine and decitabine. These agents have shown efficacy, with reduced toxicity as compared with IC, when administered to elderly patients not eligible for IC and with 20-30% BM blasts and multilineage dysplasia. Future randomized clinical trials are eagerly awaited to determine whether hypomethylating agents can substitute for IC even in elderly patients with good functional status.
BONE MARROW ABONRMALITIES IN HIV INFECTION
Authors: Dhurve Sharad Antiram
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT Introduction; Hematological abnormalities are a common complication of HIV infection.  Bone marrow abnormalities occur in all stages of HIV infection.  Present work was carried out to study the bone marrow abnormalities in patients with HIV/AIDS.  Methods: 160 patients of HIV +ve were included in the study. A complete blood count, relevant biochemical investigations, CD4   counts were done, besides a thorough history and clinical examination. HIV positive patients were classified as those having AIDS and those without AIDS according to NACO criteria.   Bone marrow examination was performed for indication of anemia, leucopenia, pancytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Results: As per CDC criteria 59.81% patients had AIDS in 107 patients. The most common hematological abnormality was anemia, seen in 93.12% patients.  Bone marrow was normocellular in 79.06% of non-AIDS and 79.68% of AIDS, hypocellular in 13.95%.Thrombocytopenia was seen in 4 cases of ART (4.93%) and 3 cases (4.68%) of AIDS group. Abnormal cells like plasma cell, histocyte and toxic granule found in bone marrow. Conclusions: Myelodysplasia was more common in AIDS than in non AIDS patients. Granulocytic series is most commonly associated with evidence of dysplasia. Anemia in HIV patients can be a good clinical indicator to predict and access the underlying immune status. Thus bone marrow study is imperative to methodically observe and follow clinical and laboratory aberration in such patients in order to improve our diagnostic and therapeutic skills pertinent to HIV/AIDS.
ASSESSMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF URINARY TUBERCULOSIS
Authors: Ghaleb Khaled Ismail , Afifi Magdy Mohamed , El Gohary Mohamed Mohamed
Published: June 2013

Khalid Ghaleb a,* , Magdy Afifib, Mohamad El-Gohary c aDepartment of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Bisha 551, Saudia Arabia bDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt cDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt The corresponding author e-mail: kh_ghaleb4@hotmail.com Current Tel: 00966595388496 Saudia,  00201119338055 Egypt The place of the study worked : Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt, e-mail: afifi_magdy@ymail.com  Tel: 00201006554961 Abstract Early diagnosis of active tuberculosis remains an elusive challenge. In addition, one third of the world's population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and up to 10% of infected individuals develop tuberculosis (TB) in their lifetime. In this investigation, the incidence of urinary tuberculosis among renal patients was studied. Three hundreds urine samples were processed for detection of Mtb by Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) smear examination, Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium, radiometric BACTEC460 system as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA Enzyme Immunoassay (DEIA) test.  Out of 300 urine samples, 2 were positive by both  ZN smears and LJ medium with incidence rate of 0.66 %, 3 positive samples by BACTEC460 culture system with incidence of 1%. PCR assay gave more positive results than smear and culture examination (i.e. 8 positive samples with incidence  rate of 2.6%).  The specificities were 25% for both ZN smears and LJ medium, 37.5% for BACTEC460 culture system, and 100% for PCR test, while  sensitivities of all assays were 100%. Thus PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for the early diagnosis of urinary tuberculosis.   Keywords: List of abbreviations:Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB)-Base pair (bp)-DNA Enzyme Immunoassay (DEIA)  -Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB)-International Union Against Tuberculosis  (IUAT)-Lowenstein Jensen (LJ)-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) -Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Tuberculosis (TB)-Urinary Tuberculosis (UTB-Urogenital Tuberculosis (UGTB)-Ziehl-Neelson (ZN)
Acute Panmyelosis with Myelofibrosis - A Rare Subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Chatterjee Tathagata , Gupta Srishti , Sharma Ajay , Sharma Sanjeevan , Gupta Devika
Published: June 2013

One case of acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis (APMF) is being reported. A 45 year old male presented with abrupt onset of rapidly progressing low backache, weakness and pancytopenia. On examination there was no organomegaly. Peripheral blood examination revealed normocytic normochromic red blood cells with 10% circulating blasts. Flowcytometric examination of peripheral blood revealed blasts which were positive for CD 34 ,HLA- DR and myeloid associated antigens (i.e. CD13 and CD33).Blasts were negative for anti MPO. Bone marrow aspirate resulted in a dry tap. Bone marrow biopsy revealed panmyeloid proliferation with scattered blasts which were CD 34 positive on imunohistochemistry and negative for anti MPO. Reticulin stain showed grade III myelofibrosis (WHO). Differential diagnosis considered included AML-M7, MDS-RAEB II and AML with myelodysplasia . He was started on chemotherapy [idarubicin and cytarabine; 3+7 induction regimen followed by three cycles of HIDAC (High dose cytosine arabinoside)] after which patient was in complete morphological remission with markedly reduced bone marrow fibrosis. He is now being worked up for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Patient is asymptomatic at eight months of diagnosis. In conclusion these patients should be managed aggressively with AML therapy and this case report reaffirms the fact that APMF is subtype of AML.
Difference Sturm–Liouville problems in the imaginary direction
Authors: Neretin Yury A.
Published: June 2013

We consider difference operators in

L^2

on

\mathbb R

of the form

\mathcal L f(s)=p(s)f(s+i)+q(s) f(s)+r(s) f(s-i),

where

i

is the imaginary unit. The domain of definiteness are functions holomorphic in a strip with some conditions of decreasing at infinity. Problems of such type with discrete spectra are well known (Meixner–Pollaczek, continuous Hahn, continuous dual Hahn, and Wilson hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials). We write explicit spectral decompositions for several operators

\mathcal L

with continuous spectra. We also discuss analogs of ‘boundary conditions’ for such operators.
Commutator methods for unitary operators
Authors: Fernández Claudio , Richard Serge , Tiedra de Aldecoa Rafael
Published: June 2013

We present an improved version of commutatormethods for unitary operators under a weak regularity condition. Once applied to a unitary operator, the method typically leads to the absence of singularly continuous spectrum and to the local finiteness of point spectrum. Large families of locally smooth operators are also exhibited. Half of the paper is dedicated to applications, and a special emphasis is put on the study of cocycles over irrational rotations. It is apparently the first time that commutator methods are applied in the context of rotation algebras, for the study of their generators.
The spectral function of a first order elliptic system
Authors: Chervova Olga , Downes Robert J. , Vassiliev Dmitri
Published: June 2013

We consider an elliptic self-adjoint first order pseudodifferential operator acting on columns of complex-valued half-densities over a connected compact manifold without boundary. The eigenvalues of the principal symbol are assumed to be simple but no assumptions are made on their sign, so the operator is not necessarily semi-bounded. We study the following objects: the propagator (time-dependent operator which solves the Cauchy problem for the dynamic equation), the spectral function (sum of squares of Euclidean norms of eigenfunctions evaluated at a given point of the manifold, with summation carried out over all eigenvalues between zero and a positive

\lambda

), and the counting function (number of eigenvalues between zero and a positive

\lambda

). We derive explicit two-term asymptotic formulae for all three. For the propagator "asymptotic'' is understood as asymptotic in terms of smoothness, whereas for the spectral and counting functions "asymptotic'' is understood as asymptotic with respect to

\lambda\to+\infty

.
Spectral theory of higher order differential operators by examples
Authors: Behncke Horst , Hinton Don B.
Published: June 2013

Asymptotic integration has turned out to be a powerful method to determine the deficiency indices and spectra of higher order differential operators. Since the general method is by now well established we shall only outline this method and illustrate typical results and properties via examples. In addition to the calculation of deficiency indices, the location and multiplicity of the absolutely continuous spectrumwill be found as well as showing the absence of singular continuous spectrum. Finite singular pointswill also be considered. For unbounded coefficients new results arise from competing terms of the operators.
Semiclassical analysis with vanishing magnetic fields
Authors: Dombrowski Nicolas , Raymond Nicolas
Published: June 2013

We analyze the 2D magnetic Laplacian in the semiclassical limit in the case when the magnetic field vanishes along a smooth curve. In particular, we prove local and micro-local estimates for the eigenfunctions and a complete asymptotic expansion of the eigenpairs in powers of

h^{1/6}

.
Response of secondary inorganic aerosol concentrations and deposition fluxes of S and N across Germany to emission changes during high PM10 episodes in spring 2009
Authors: Banzhaf S. , Schaap M. , Wichink Kruit R. J. , Denier van der Gon H. A. C. , Stern R. , Builtjes P. J. H.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. In this study, the response of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) concentrations to changes in precursor emissions during high PM10 episodes over Central Europe in spring 2009 was investigated with the Eulerian Chemistry Transport Model (CTM) REM-Calgrid (RCG). The model performed well in capturing the temporal variation of PM10 and SIA concentrations and was used to analyse the different origin, development and characteristics of the selected high PM10 episodes. SIA concentrations, which attribute to about 50% of the PM10 concentration in north-western Europe, have been studied by means of several emission scenarios varying SO2, NOx and NH3 emissions within a domain covering Germany and within a domain covering Europe. It was confirmed that the response of sulphate, nitrate and ammonium concentrations and deposition fluxes of S and N to SO2, NOx and NH3 emission changes is non-linear. The deviation from linearity was found to be lower for total deposition fluxes of S and N than for SIA concentrations. Furthermore, the study has shown that incorporating explicit cloud chemistry in the model adds non-linear responses to the system and significantly modifies the response of modelled SIA concentrations and S and N deposition fluxes to changes in precursor emissions. The analysis of emission reduction scenarios demonstrates that next to European wide emission reductions additional national NH3 measures in Germany are more effective in reducing SIA concentrations and deposition fluxes than additional national measures on SO2 and NOx.
Changes in Anterior Segment Morphology after Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab and Bevacizumab–triamcinolone Acetate Combination
Authors: Alkin Zeynep , Perente Irfan , Altan Cigdem , Konstantinidis Aristeidis , Ozkaya Abdullah , Yuksel Kemal , Yazici Ahmet Taylan , Demirok Ahmet
Published: June 2013

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of 2 different amounts of commonly used intravitreal agents on anterior segment morphology in conjunction with intraocular pressure (IOP) changes.

Methods

Two groups of 46 patients who received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (group 1, 0.05 mL) or bevacizumab–triamcinolone acetate (TA) combination (group 2, 0.1 mL) were included in this prospective study. All patients underwent anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging with Visante OCT and IOP measurement before and at 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after injection. Anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle-opening distance (AOD 500-750), trabecular–iris space area (TISA 500-750), and anterior chamber angle (ACA) were measured. Results were compared between groups and measurement time points.

Results

The mean change in IOP showed significant difference between baseline and first measurements after the injection in group 1 and group 2 (p = 0.012, p = 0.008, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference from baseline in ACD at the first and second measurements in group 2 (p = 0.005, p = 0.018, respectively). All angle parameters showed insignificant decrease from baseline at all measurement time points in both groups (p>0.05 for each). The difference of angle parameters after injection was not statistically significant between the groups (p>0.05 for each).

Conclusions

Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (0.05 mL) or bevacizumab-TA combination (0.1 mL) caused a change in anterior segment configuration determined by AS-OCT. The changes in anterior chamber parameters returned to baseline values with the normalization of IOP values after the first few minutes of injection.
Unified Trajectory Planning Algorithms for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Navigation
Authors: Gal Oren
Published: June 2013

This paper presents two efficient methods for obstacle avoidance and path planning for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). These methods take into account the dynamic constraints of the vehicle using advanced simulator of AUV considering low level control and stability effects. We present modified visibility graph local avoidance method and a spiral algorithm for obstacle avoidance. The algorithms were tested in challenged scenarios demonstrating safe trajectory planning.
Application of Online Iterative Learning Tracking Control for Quadrotor UAVs
Authors: Pipatpaibul Pong-in , Ouyang P. R.
Published: June 2013

Quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have attracted considerable interest for various applications including search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and surveillance because of their agilities and small sizes. This paper proposes trajectory tracking control of UAVs utilizing online iterative learning control (ILC) methods that are known to be powerful for tasks performed repeatedly. PD online ILC and switching gain PD online ILC are used to perform a variety of manoeuvring such as take-off, smooth translation, and various circular trajectory motions in two and three dimensions. Simulation results prove the ability and effectiveness of the online ILCs to perform successfully certain missions in the presence of disturbances and uncertainties. It also demonstrates that the switching gain PD ILC is much effective than the PD online ILC in terms of fast convergence rates and smaller tracking errors.
The effectiveness of providing evidenced-based perinatal practice to low-income populations providing perinatal care: Does patient income influence the delivery of quality care?
Authors: Damon Amy L. , Parrotta Carmen D. , Wallace Lindsey A. , Riley William
Published: June 2013

Background: This study examines a national perinatal quality improvement collaborative designed to create high reliability through the use of evidence-based perinatal care bundles. The objective of this study is to determine whether hospitals serving low-income patient populations experienced lower compliance with perinatal care bundles than hospitals serving higher-income patient populations Objective: We investigated the relationship between the rate of perinatal bundle compliance within a hospital and the economic characteristics of the patients and surrounding community. We hypothesized a negative relationship between poverty and care bundle compliance. Methods: Using prospective data from 131,847 births over 34 months within 16 hospitals located in cities across the United States, we examined the relationship between compliance with evidence-based obstetrical care bundles and three measures of the poverty status of the patient population served and the hospital service area: 1) proportion of the obstetrical patients with Medicaid as the primary payer, 2) median income in the hospital service area, and 3) poverty rate in the hospital’s service area. Results: The findings indicate no difference in bundle compliance rates in relation to the economic characteristics of the participating hospitals and their patients. Conclusions: While previous research has indicated that patients of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to receive high quality care, the findings in this study indicate that hospital compliance with evidence-based perinatal care bundles did not differ by economic characteristics of the hospital service area. These results indicate uniformity of care across hospitals irrespective of patient economic characteristics.
Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating HPLC-Photodiode Array Detector Method for Formulation Analysis and Degradation Kinetics and Dissolution Studies of Mycophenolate Sodium and HPLC/MS/MS Characterization of its Stress Degradation Products
Authors: Nikalje Anna Pratima G , Choudhari Vishnu P
Published: June 2013

A simple stability-indicating isocratic RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of mycophenolate sodium and its alkali degradation product. Forced degradation of the drug was carried out under thermolytic, photolytic, acid/base hydrolytic, and oxidative stress conditions. Alkali degradation product DP1 was isolated, and separation of stress degradation products was achieved on a Symmetry C18 (250 × 4.6 mm × 5.0 μm) column using the mobile phase methanol–acetate buffer adjusted with acetic acid to pH 6.0 (76 + 24, v/v) at a 0.55 mL/min flow rate and 50°C. Data were integrated at the detection wavelength of 251 nm. The method validation characteristics included accuracy, precision, linearity, range, specificity, and sensitivity per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Robustness testing was conducted to evaluate the effect of minor changes in the chromatographic conditions and to establish appropriate system suitability parameters. Structural elucidation of degraded products was performed by HPLC/MS/MS. The method was used successfully for drug product analysis, dissolution study, and determination of the drug's acid, alkali, and oxidative degradation kinetics.
Development and Validation of an HPLC Method for Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Paracetamol and Etodolac in Human Plasma and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study
Authors: Gorain Bapi , Choudhury Hira , Nandi Utpal , Das Ayan , Dan Shubhasis , Pal Tapan K
Published: June 2013

A simple, reproducible, and feasible RP-HPLC method has been developed for simultaneous determination of two commonly used drugs, paracetamol (PCM) and etodolac (EDL), in human plasma. In this specific and accurate method, tinidazole was used as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Hiber C18 250 × 4.6 mm id, 5 μm particle size, column using the isocratic mobile phase 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (adjusted to pH 7.5)–acetonitrile (70 : 30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Detection was at 235 nm. The linear concentration range of the assay was 0.100 to 50.00 μg/mL for both analytes, and the linear regression correlation coefficient was (r2 > 0.99). The recovery of PCM and EDL were 94.03 and 88.27%, respectively. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, reproducibility, and stability. The intraday and interday precision and accuracy values for PCM and EDL met the acceptance criteria of U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. PCM and EDL were stable in a battery of stability studies, viz., bench top, dry extract, and freeze-thaw cycles. This developed and validated method was successfully applied to quantitatively assess the PCM and EDL for the first time in human plasma obtained from a pharmacokinetic study performed with 12 healthy human volunteers.
Interlaboratory Proficiency Testing for Measurement of the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolite 1-Hydroxypyrene in Fish Bile for Marine Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Kammann Ulrike , Askem Clare , Dabrowska Henryka , Grung Merete , Kirby Mark F , Koivisto Pertti , Lucas Claudia , McKenzie Margaret , Meier Sonnich , Robinson Craig , Tairova Zhanna M , Tuvikene Arvo , Vuorinen Pekka J , Strand Jakob
Published: June 2013

The determination of PAH metabolites in fish bile is performed to assess the PAH contamination in fish for environmental monitoring. A growing number of laboratories in Europe use this parameter for national monitoring. However, an international intercomparison between laboratories has not taken place in the last years. Therefore the determination of the PAH metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene was tested in a collaborative trial performed by 10 laboratories from eight countries. Five samples of naturally contaminated fish bile covering different concentration levels were distributed among the participants. The present study was open for different methods: GS/MS, HPLC-fluorescence (HPLC-F), fixed wavelength fluorescence (FWF), and synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (SFS), respectively. The results suggest that all four methods under investigation are suitable for screening purposes, but only three methods have produced comparable results which could be used for a common monitoring database: GC/MS, HPLC-F, and SFS (with conversion factor). Most z-scores were within the acceptance criteria of ±2. The comparability of GC/MS, HPLC-F, and SFS results should be further improved because SFS is a widely used method with a great potential for monitoring. The present study contributes to the quality assurance of results for European marine monitoring.
Procedural Revision to the AOAC Germicidal Spray Products as Disinfectants Test Method: Establishment of Minimum and Maximum Log Density Values for Test Microbes on Inoculated Carriers
Authors: Pines Rebecca M , Tomasino Stephen F , Cottrill Michele P , Hamilton Gordon C , Parker Albert E
Published: June 2013

The AOAC Germicidal Spray Products as Disinfectants test method (AOAC Official Method 961.02) is used to measure the efficacy of spray products on hard inanimate surfaces; however, the method does not provide procedures to determine the population of the test microbe on inoculated glass slide carriers (e.g., carrier counts reported as CFU/carrier). Without a method to measure and monitor carrier counts, the associated efficacy data may not be reliable and repeatable. This report provides a standardized procedure to address this issue and, based on carrier count data collected by four laboratories from 2000 to 2010, proposes a specific range for the mean log density per carrier as a requirement. Laboratory-based carrier count data were collected concurrently with 116 Method 961.02 efficacy tests conducted on spray products bearing claims against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. For many of the tests a soil load (SL) was added to the inoculum (as specified on the product label claim). Six carriers were assayed per test for a total of 696 carriers. All but two of the 116 mean log densities were at least 5.0 (a geometric mean of 1.0 × 105 CFU/carrier). Across the four combinations of microbes and SL treatments, the mean TestLD (mean log density across all enumerated carriers in a test) ranged from approximately 6.0 (a geometric mean of 0.9 × 106 CFU/carrier) to 6.3 (a geometric mean of 2.0 × 106 CFU/carrier). Across all microbes and SL treatments, the mean log density (±SEM) was 6.2 (±0.07) per carrier (a geometric mean of 1.5 × 106 CFU/carrier). The mean log density for six carriers per test showed good repeatability (0.32) and reproducibility (0.34). The proposed requirement for S. aureus tests and P. aeruginosa tests is a mean log density (across six carriers) between 5.0 and 6.5. A separate 2009 study at three laboratories was conducted to evaluate the persistence of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and Salmonella enterica on glass carriers. Based on the persistence data, a 2 h use period is proposed for using the inoculated carriers post drying. The persistence data set was also used to assess the carrier counts for S. enterica. The carrier counts were approximately one log lower for S. enterica compared to S. aureus and P. aeruginosa; a range of 4.0 to 5.5 logs is proposed as a requirement for S. enterica tests.
iQ-Check Listeria monocytogenes II
Authors: Lauer Wendy F , Tourniaire Jean-Philippe
Published: June 2013

A comparative evaluation study of the Bio-Rad® iQ-Check™Listeria monocytogenes II Kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) was conducted at Q Laboratories, Inc., Cincinnati, OH. iQ-Check is a rapid method based on real-time PCR amplification and detection of L. monocytogenes in food and environmental samples. The iQ-Check method was compared to the Health Canada MFHPB-30 reference method for the analysis of five ready-to-eat meats—deli turkey, hot dogs, liver paté, raw fermented sausage, and deli ham—and one stainless steel surface. Each food matrix was analyzed at two contamination levels: a low level at 0.2–2 CFU/25 g and a high level at 2–5 CFU/25 g. The environmental surfaces were analyzed at a low level of 0.2–2 CFU/5 cm2 sampling area and a high level of 2–5 CFU/5 cm2 sampling area. There were 20 replicates per contamination level and five control replicates at 0 CFU/25 g or 0 CFU/5 cm2 sampling area (uninoculated). All samples detected by iQ-Check were subsequently confirmed by reference method protocol. There was no significant difference in the number of positive samples detected by the iQ-Check Listeria monocytogenes II Kit in comparison to the Health Canada MFHPB-30 method for all matrixes tested.
Oblique Extraction of Polarized Light from Light-Emitting Liquid Crystal Cells Doped with a Fluorescent Dye
Authors: Honma Michinori , Horiuchi Takao , Nose Toshiaki
Published: June 2013

We present light-emitting liquid crystal (LC) devices with a fluorescent dye-doped nematic LC for the purpose of generating polarized emission. We show that the light-emission characteristics of these devices are nearly independent of the dye concentration, suggesting that the carrier transport is governed mainly by ionic conduction. We discuss the polarized emission properties in the oblique outcoupling directions together with numerically calculated results, which show weakly polarized emission in the oblique direction. Lastly, we present polarized light emission from an LC cell with an inclined emissive layer, which is introduced to efficiently extract the polarized emission in the normal direction.
Roles of Point Defects in Thermally Enhanced Generation and Transfer of Electrons and Holes in LaAlO3
Authors: Yamasaka Daiki , Horii Yosuke , Morimoto Takaaki , Ohki Yoshimichi
Published: June 2013

Thermal annealing was given to single crystal LaAlO3 and its effects were examined by measuring electron spin resonance (ESR) and optical absorption. When LaAlO3 was annealed at temperatures above 500 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere, the intensities of ESR signals due to transition metal, likely ascribable to Fe3+, decreased. Concurrently with this, two optical absorption bands at 2.7 and 3.5 eV, attributable to a combination of a hole and a La3+ (or Al3+) vacancy, increased. These results indicate that thermal electron–hole generation is induced by oxidizing annealing and that the generated electrons and holes are then captured by Fe3+ ions and La3+ or Al3+ vacancies, respectively. It is also assumed that captured electrons and holes are released and recombine with each other by reducing annealing.
Effect of Superposition Location of Ultrasonic Fields on Sonochemical Reaction Rate
Authors: Yasuda Keiji , Matsuura Kazumasa
Published: June 2013

The effect of the superposition location of ultrasonic fields on the sonochemical reaction rate was investigated using a sonochemical reactor with four transducers at 486 kHz. The transducers were attached at the bottom, upper side middle side, and lower side of a vessel. The reaction rate of potassium iodide in aqueous solution was measured. In the cases of the upper and bottom transducers, and the lower and bottom transducers, the synergy effect of sonochemical efficiency was observed. The amount of synergy effect for the upper and bottom transducers increased with increasing electric power.
Chemoenzymatic Site‐Specific Reversible Immobilization and Labeling of Proteins from Crude Cellular Extract Without Prior Purification Using Oxime and Hydrazine Ligation
Authors: Mahmoodi Mohammad M. , Rashidian Mohammad , Dozier Jonathan K. , Distefano Mark D.
Published: June 2013

In a facile and potentially general method for protein modification at the C‐terminus, aldehyde‐modified proteins, obtained from enzymatic protein prenylation, react rapidly with hydrazide and aminooxy surfaces and fluorophores at neutral pH and in micromolar concentration ranges of reagents. This strategy was used for fluorescent labeling of eGFP‐CVIA, as a model protein, with aminooxy and hydrazide fluorophores or PEGs, and immobilization onto and subsequent release of the protein from hydrazide‐functionalized agarose beads using hydrazone‐oxime exchange. This method is described in detail here and provides site‐specifically PEGylated or fluorescently labeled proteins starting from crude cellular extract in three steps: prenylation, capture, and release. Curr. Protoc. Chem. Biol. 5:89‐109 © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Tuning Nanoparticle Catalysis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Guo Shaojun , Zhang Sen , Sun Shouheng
Published: June 2013

Advances in chemical syntheses have led to the formation of various kinds of nanoparticles (NPs) with more rational control of size, shape, composition, structure and catalysis. This review highlights recent efforts in the development of Pt and non‐Pt based NPs into advanced nanocatalysts for efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under fuel‐cell reaction conditions. It first outlines the shape controlled synthesis of Pt NPs and their shape‐dependent ORR. Then it summarizes the studies of alloy and core–shell NPs with controlled electronic (alloying) and strain (geometric) effects for tuning ORR catalysis. It further provides a brief overview of ORR catalytic enhancement with Pt‐based NPs supported on graphene and coated with an ionic liquid. The review finally introduces some non‐Pt NPs as a new generation of catalysts for ORR. The reported new syntheses with NP parameter‐tuning capability should pave the way for future development of highly efficient catalysts for applications in fuel cells, metal‐air batteries, and even in other important chemical reactions.
Reconstitution of a cytokine receptor scaffold utilizing multiple different tyrosine motifs
Authors: Saka Koichiro , Kawahara Masahiro , Nagamune Teruyuki
Published: June 2013

Cells have intracellular signal transduction systems to control cellular fates. Cytokine receptors initiate the intracellular signaling by recruiting specific signaling molecules to a range of tyrosine‐containing motifs. To specifically activate a target signaling molecule, we previously designed single‐chain Fv/cytokine receptor chimeras incorporating single tyrosine motifs in the intracellular domain, and each chimeric receptor activated the corresponding signaling molecule by oligomeric antigen stimulation. However, synergistic effects of multiple signaling pathways are indispensable to regulate complex cellular fates. In this study, we extended our approach by incorporating two different motifs in the chimeric receptor, which would result in the activation of multiple signaling molecules. We used retroviral transduction to express chimeric receptors in a murine interleukin‐3‐dependent pro‐B cell line, Ba/F3. Our results indicate that the chimeric receptors incorporating two different motifs can activate both corresponding signaling molecules by the ligand stimulation, and that the signaling intensities are influenced by the distance between two motifs. Moreover, these chimeric receptors transduced downstream signaling, which exerted synergistic effects on cellular proliferation. Our system may be used for efficiently controlling fates of various types of cells, which will be applied to tissue engineering. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013;110: 3197–3204. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New Insights into the Pharmacological Chaperone Activity of C2‐Substituted Glucoimidazoles for the Treatment of Gaucher Disease
Authors: Li Zhonghua , Li Tiehai , Dai Shaoxing , Xie Xiaoli , Ma Xiaofeng , Zhao Wei , Zhang Weimin , Li Jing , Wang Peng George
Published: June 2013

Mutations in acid β‐glucocerebrosidase (GCase) lead to the accumulation of the sphingolipid glucosylceramide, thereby resulting in Gaucher disease (GD). Active‐site‐specific competitive GCase inhibitors are effective pharmacological chaperones (PCs) that act as folding agents for mutant GCase folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we prepared a series of glucoimidazole C2‐substituent derivatives, and evaluated their inhibition and PC properties with GCase. A cell‐based assay with patient‐derived lymphoblasts (N370S or L444P mutations) demonstrated that administration of these compounds can significantly increase GCase activity. Interestingly, the 3,3‐dimethyl‐N‐phenyl‐4‐amide‐1‐butyl‐substituted moderate inhibitor 11 had the greatest effect on activity: 2.1‐fold increase in N370S lymphoblasts at 2.5 μM and 1.2‐fold increase in L444P at 0.5 μM following a three‐day incubation. Computer docking studies and a protease protection assay were used to elucidate the ligand–enzyme interactions responsible for the chaperone activity of 11. Western blot and immuno‐fluorescence assays verified restoration of GCase trafficking to the lysosome. Together, these results indicate that 11 is a promising PC for GD treatment and provide direct evidence of the mechanism of GCase chaperoning.
Enhanced Performance of Solution‐Processed TESPE‐ADT Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Chen Liang‐Hsiang , Hu Tarng‐Shiang , Huang Peng‐Yi , Kim Choongik , Yang Ching‐Hao , Wang Juin‐Jie , Yan Jing‐Yi , Ho Jia‐Chong , Lee Cheng‐Chung , Chen Ming‐Chou
Published: June 2013

A solution‐processed anthradithiophene derivative, 5,11‐bis(4‐triethylsilylphenylethynyl)anthradithiophene (TESPE‐ADT), is studied for use as the semiconducting material in thin‐film transistors (TFTs). To enhance the electrical performance of the devices, two different kinds of solution processing (spin‐coating and drop‐casting) on various gate dielectrics as well as additional post‐treatment are employed on thin films of TESPE‐ADT, and p‐channel OTFT transport with hole mobilities as high as ∼0.12 cm2 V−1 s−1 are achieved. The film morphologies and formed microstructures of the semiconductor films are characterized in terms of film processing conditions and are correlated with variations in device performance.
Rhythmic cortical neurons increase their oscillations and sculpt basal ganglia signaling during motor learning
Authors: Day Nancy F. , Nick Teresa A.
Published: June 2013

The function and modulation of neural circuits underlying motor skill may involve rhythmic oscillations (Feller, ; Marder and Goaillard, ; Churchland et al., ). In the proposed pattern generator for birdsong, the cortical nucleus HVC, the frequency and power of oscillatory bursting during singing increases with development (Crandall et al., ; Day et al., ). We examined the maturation of cellular activity patterns that underlie these changes. Single unit ensemble recording combined with antidromic identification (Day et al., ) was used to study network development in anesthetized zebra finches. Autocovariance quantified oscillations within single units. A subset of neurons oscillated in the theta/alpha/mu/beta range (8–20 Hz), with greater power in adults compared to juveniles. Across the network, the normalized oscillatory power in the 8–20 Hz range was greater in adults than juveniles. In addition, the correlated activity between rhythmic neuron pairs increased with development. We next examined the functional impact of the oscillators on the output neurons of HVC. We found that the firing of oscillatory neurons negatively correlated with the activity of cortico‐basal ganglia neurons (HVCXs), which project to Area X (the song basal ganglia). If groups of oscillators work together to tonically inhibit and precisely control the spike timing of adult HVCXs with coordinated release from inhibition, then the activity of HVCXs in juveniles should be decreased relative to adults due to uncorrelated, tonic inhibition. Consistent with this hypothesis, HVCXs had lower activity in juveniles. These data reveal network changes that shape cortical‐to‐basal ganglia signaling during motor learning. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 754–768, 2013
The site of allergen expression in hematopoietic cells determines the degree and quality of tolerance induced through molecular chimerism
Authors: Baranyi Ulrike , Gattringer Martina , Farkas Andreas M. , Hock Karin , Pilat Nina , Iacomini John , Valenta Rudolf , Wekerle Thomas
Published: June 2013

The transplantation of allergens (e.g. Phl p 5 or Bet v 1) expressed on BM cells as membrane‐anchored full‐length proteins leads to permanent tolerance at the T‐cell, B‐cell, and effector‐cell levels. Since the exposure of complete allergens bears the risk of inducing anaphylaxis, we investigated here whether expression of Phl p 5 in the cytoplasm (rather than on the cell surface) is sufficient for tolerance induction. Transplantation of BALB/c BM retrovirally transduced to express Phl p 5 in the cytoplasm led to stable and durable molecular chimerism in syngeneic recipients (∼20% chimerism at 6 months). Chimeras showed allergen‐specific T‐cell hyporesponsiveness. Further, Phl p 5‐specific TH1‐dependent humoral responses were tolerized in several chimeras. Surprisingly, Phl p 5‐specific IgE and IgG1 levels were significantly reduced but still detectable in sera of chimeric mice, indicating incomplete B‐cell tolerance. No Phl p 5‐specific sIgM developed in cytoplasmic chimeras, which is in marked contrast to mice transplanted with BM expressing membrane‐anchored Phl p 5. Thus, the expression site of the allergen substantially influences the degree and quality of tolerance achieved with molecular chimerism in IgE‐mediated allergy.
In vivo activation of transferred regulatory T cells specific for third‐party exogenous antigen controls GVH disease in mice
Authors: Martin Gaëlle H. , Grégoire Sylvie , Landau Dan A. , Pilon Caroline , Grinberg‐Bleyer Yenkel , Charlotte Frédéric , Mège Jean‐Pierre , Chatenoud Lucienne , Salomon Benoît L. , Cohen José L.
Published: June 2013

Treg cells hold enormous promise for therapeutic application in GVH disease, a lethal complication of allogeneic HSC transplantation. Mouse studies showed that donor‐derived recipient‐specific Treg (rsTreg) cells are far more efficient than polyclonal Treg cells in suppressing GVH disease. However, clinical grade preparations of rsTreg cells carries the risk of containing significant numbers of highly pathogenic recipient‐specific effector T cells. We hypothesized that an alternative approach using Treg cells specific for an exogenous (i.e. nondonor, nonrecipient) Ag (exoTreg cells) can overcome this risk by taking advantage of the bystander suppressive effect of Treg cells. For this, we used a murine model for aggressive GVH disease. We expanded ex vivo exoTreg cells that are primed against the HY Ag, which is only expressed in males. ExoTreg cells supressed GVH disease as efficiently as rsTreg cells in recipient male mice. We also applied this strategy in female mice that do not express this Ag. While exoTreg cells were not effective in female recipients when applied alone, providing the cognate HY Ag in vivo along side effectively activated exoTreg cells and completely abrogated GVH disease, establishing a targeted on/off system to provide a suppressive effect on alloreactive effector T cells.