bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reversible Performance of Anode-Supported Proton-Conductive Solid Oxide Cell in Lower Temperature Range
Authors: Yamaguchi Toshiaki , Sumi Hirofumi , Hamamoto Koichi , Suzuki Toshio , Fujishiro Yoshinobu
Published: October 2013

Solid oxide cells with reversible mode would generate power during high peak demand, and produce chemical fuel with renewable energy such as wind power and solar power. In this study the reversible performance of an anode-supported proton-conductive cell was investigated under SOFC and SOEC modes. The cell can show the reversible behaviors in lower temperature range below 600°C.
An Improved Hybrid Genetic Algorithm with a New Local Search Procedure
Authors: Wan Wen , Birch Jeffrey B.
Published: October 2013

One important challenge of a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) (also called memetic algorithm) is the tradeoff between global and local searching (LS) as it is the case that the cost of an LS can be rather high. This paper proposes a novel, simplified, and efficient HGA with a new individual learning procedure that performs a LS only when the best offspring (solution) in the offspring population is also the best in the current parent population. Additionally, a new LS method is developed based on a three-directional search (TD), which is derivative-free and self-adaptive. The new HGA with two different LS methods (the TD and Neld-Mead simplex) is compared with a traditional HGA. Four benchmark functions are employed to illustrate the improvement of the proposed method with the new learning procedure. The results show that the new HGA greatly reduces the number of function evaluations and converges much faster to the global optimum than a traditional HGA. The TD local search method is a good choice in helping to locate a global “mountain” (or “valley”) but may not perform the Nelder-Mead method in the final fine tuning toward the optimal solution.
Renal Medullary Cancer in a Patient with Sickle Cell Trait
Authors: Alappan Narendrakumar , Marak Creticus P. , Chopra Amit , Joy Parijat S. , Dorokhova Olena , Guddati Achuta K.
Published: October 2013

Renal medullary cancer is a rare malignancy almost exclusively seen in young patients of African ethnicity. These patients often present with the cardinal symptoms of hematuria, flank pain, and an abdominal mass, and this malignancy has been associated with patients carrying sickle cell trait. It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide carry sickle cell trait, and the presence of hematuria in these patients should be treated as a harbinger of a possible malignancy. Notably, this tumor mostly develops on the right side of the body. Patients often present with it at an advanced stage and the prognosis is poor. Therefore, a high index of suspicion in a patient of African descent presenting with a right sided abdominal mass and hematuria may assist in an early diagnosis. Current chemotherapy options are very limited, and early detection may provide a chance for surgical resection. It may also provide a bigger time frame for the initiation of novel chemotherapy regimens in patients who fail current chemotherapy regimens.
DNA Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Age-Dependent Increase in the Lipid Peroxidation-Derived DNA Adduct, Heptanone-Etheno-2′-Deoxycytidine
Authors: Ogawa Masako , Matsuda Tomonari , Ogata Atsushi , Hamasaki Toshimitsu , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Toyofuku Toshihiko , Tanaka Toshio
Published: October 2013

Objective. To evaluate what types of DNA damages are detected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods. The DNA adducts such as 8-oxo-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), 1,N6-etheno-2′-deoxyadenosine (εdA), and heptanone-etheno-2′-deoxycytidine (HεdC) in genomic DNAs, derived from whole blood cells from 46 RA patients and 31 healthy controls, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and their levels in RA patients and controls were compared. In addition, correlation between DNA adducts and clinical parameters of RA was analyzed.Results. Compared with controls, the levels of HεdC in RA were significantly higher (P<0.0001) and age dependent (r= 0.43,P< 0.01), while there was no significant difference in 8-oxo-dG andεdA accumulation between RA patients and controls. HεdC levels correlated well with the number of swollen joints (r= 0.57,P< 0.0001) and weakly with the number of tender joints (r= 0.26,P= 0.08) of RA patients, while they did not show a significant association with serological markers such as C-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase 3.Conclusion. These findings indicate that HεdC may have some influence on the development of RA and/or its complications.
Evaluation of Sample Stability and Automated DNA Extraction for Fetal Sex Determination Using Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma
Authors: Ordoñez Elena , Rueda Laura , Cañadas M. Paz , Fuster Carme , Cirigliano Vincenzo
Published: October 2013

Objective. The detection of paternally inherited sequences in maternal plasma, such as the SRY gene for fetal sexing or RHD for fetal blood group genotyping, is becoming part of daily routine in diagnostic laboratories. Due to the low percentage of fetal DNA, it is crucial to ensure sample stability and the efficiency of DNA extraction. We evaluated blood stability at 4°C for at least 24 hours and automated DNA extraction, for fetal sex determination in maternal plasma.Methods. A total of 158 blood samples were collected, using EDTA-K tubes, from women in their 1st trimester of pregnancy. Samples were kept at 4°C for at least 24 hours before processing. An automated DNA extraction was evaluated, and its efficiency was compared with a standard manual procedure. The SRY marker was used to quantify cfDNA by real-time PCR.Results. Although lower cfDNA amounts were obtained by automated DNA extraction (mean 107,35 GE/mL versus 259,43 GE/mL), the SRY sequence was successfully detected in all 108 samples from pregnancies with male fetuses.Conclusion. We successfully evaluated the suitability of standard blood tubes for the collection of maternal blood and assessed samples to be suitable for analysis at least 24 hours later. This would allow shipping to a central reference laboratory almost from anywhere in Europe.
Large Conization and Laparoendoscopic Single-Port Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer for Fertility Preservation
Authors: Dursun Polat , Caglar Mete , Akilli Huseyin , Ayhan Ali
Published: October 2013

Fertility preservation in early-stage cervical cancer is a hot topic in gynecologic oncology. Although radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) is suggested as a fertility preserving approach, there are some serious concerns like cervical stenosis, second trimester loss, preterm delivery in survivors, and lack of residual tumor in the majority of the surgical specimens. Therefore, less radical surgical operations have been proposed in early-stage cervical carcinomas. On the other hand, single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is an evolving endoscopic approach for minimal access surgery. In this report, we present a case with early-stage cervical cancer who wishes to preserve fertility. We successfully performed single-port pelvic lymphadenectomy and large conization to preserve fertility potential of the patient. We think that combination of less radical approach like conization and single-port pelvic lymphadenectomy might be less minimally invasive and is still an effective surgical approach in well-selected cases with cervical carcinomas. Incorporation of single-port laparoscopy into the minimally invasive fertility sparing management of the cervical cancer will improve patients outcome with less complications and better cosmesis. Further studies are needed to reach a clear conclusion.
Dynamics Underlying the Gaussian Distribution of the Classical Harmonic Oscillator in Zero-Point Radiation
Authors: Huang Wayne Cheng-Wei , Batelaan Herman
Published: October 2013

Stochastic electrodynamics (SED) predicts a Gaussian probability distribution for a classical harmonic oscillator in the vacuum field. This probability distribution is identical to that of the ground state quantum harmonic oscillator. Thus, the Heisenberg minimum uncertainty relation is recovered in SED. To understand the dynamics that give rise to the uncertainty relation and the Gaussian probability distribution, we perform a numerical simulation and follow the motion of the oscillator. The dynamical information obtained through the simulation provides insight to the connection between the classic double-peak probability distribution and the Gaussian probability distribution. A main objective for SED research is to establish to what extent the results of quantum mechanics can be obtained. The present simulation method can be applied to other physical systems, and it may assist in evaluating the validity range of SED.
Nearly Contraction Mapping Principle for Fixed Points of Hemicontinuous Mappings
Authors: Udo-utun Xavier , Balla M. Y. , Siddiqui Z. U.
Published: October 2013

We extend the application of nearly contraction mapping principle introduced by Sahu (2005) for existence of fixed points of demicontinuous mappings to certain hemicontinuous nearly Lipschitzian nonlinear mappings in Banach spaces. We have applied certain results due to Sahu (2005) to obtain conditions for existence—and to introduce an asymptotic iterative process for construction—of fixed points of these hemicontractions with respect to a new auxiliary operator.
Passivity Analysis and Passive Control for T-S Fuzzy Systems with Leakage Delay and Mixed Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Lei Ting , Chen Zengshun , Song Qiankun , Zhao Zhenjiang
Published: October 2013

The passivity and passification for Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems with leakage delay and both discrete and distributed time-varying delays are investigated. By employing the Lyapunov functional method and using the matrix inequality techniques, several delay-dependent criteria to ensure the passivity and passification of the considered T-S fuzzy systems are established in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) that can be easily checked by using the standard numerical software. The obtained results generalize some previous results. Two examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed criteria.
Keystroke Dynamics User Authentication Based on Gaussian Mixture Model and Deep Belief Nets
Authors: Deng Yunbin , Zhong Yu
Published: October 2013

User authentication using keystroke dynamics offers many advances in the domain of cyber security, including no extra hardware cost, continuous monitoring, and nonintrusiveness. Many algorithms have been proposed in the literature. Here, we introduce two new algorithms to the domain: the Gaussian mixture model with the universal background model (GMM-UBM) and the deep belief nets (DBN). Unlike most existing approaches, which only use genuine users’ data at training time, these two generative model-based approaches leverage data from background users to enhance the model’s discriminative capability without seeing the imposter’s data at training time. These two new algorithms make no assumption about the underlying probability distribution and are fast for training and testing. They can also be extended to free text use cases. Evaluations on the CMU keystroke dynamics benchmark dataset show over 58% reduction in the equal error rate over the best published approaches.
A Blind Reversible Robust Watermarking Scheme for Relational Databases
Authors: Chang Chin-Chen , Nguyen Thai-Son , Lin Chia-Chen
Published: October 2013

Protecting the ownership and controlling the copies of digital data have become very important issues in Internet‐based applications. Reversible watermark technology allows the distortion‐free recovery of relational databases after the embedded watermark data are detected or verified. In this paper, we propose a new, blind, reversible, robust watermarking scheme that can be used to provide proof of ownership for the owner of a relational database. In the proposed scheme, a reversible data‐embedding algorithm, which is referred to as “histogram shifting of adjacent pixel difference” (APD), is used to obtain reversibility. The proposed scheme can detect successfully 100% of the embedded watermark data, even if as much as 80% of the watermarked relational database is altered. Our extensive analysis and experimental results show that the proposed scheme is robust against a variety of data attacks, for example, alteration attacks, deletion attacks, mix‐match attacks, and sorting attacks.
Wettability Alteration of Sandstone by Chemical Treatments
Authors: Wang Yan-ling , Ma Li , Bai Bao-jun , Jiang Guan-cheng , Jin Jia-feng , Wang Zeng-bao
Published: October 2013

Liquid condensation in the reservoir near a wellbore may kill gas production in gas‐condensate reservoirs when pressure drops lower than the dew point. It is clear from investigations reported in the literature that gas production could be improved by altering the rock wettability from liquid‐wetness to gas‐wetness. In this paper, three different fluorosurfactants FG1105, FC911, and FG40 were evaluated for altering the wettability of sandstone rocks from liquid‐wetting to gas‐wetting using contact angle measurement. The results showed that FG40 provided the best wettability alteration effect with a concentration of 0.3% and FC911 at the concentration of 0.3%.
Snakes with Coordinate Regeneration Technique: An Application to Retinal Disc Boundary Detection
Authors: Mudassar Asloob Ahmad , Butt Saira
Published: October 2013

A modified snake method based on the novel idea of coordinate regeneration is presented and is tested on an object with complex concavities and on retinal images for locating the boundaries of optic discs, where the conventional snake methods fail. We have demonstrated that the use of conventional snake method with our proposed coordinate regeneration technique gives ultimate solution for finding the boundaries of complex objects. The proposed method requires a Gaussian blur of the object with a large kernel so that the snake can be initialised away from the object boundaries. In the second and third steps the blurring kernel size is reduced so that exact boundaries can be located. Coordinate regeneration is applied at each step which ultimately converges the snake (active contour) to exact boundaries. For complex objects like optic discs in retinal images, vessels act as snake distracters and some preimage processing is required before the proposed technique is applied. We are demonstrating this technique to find the boundary of optic discs in retinal images. In principle, this technique can be extended to find the boundary of any object in other modalities of medical imaging. Simulation results are presented to support the idea.
Effects of Resveratrol on Vitrified Porcine Oocytes
Authors: Giaretta Elisa , Spinaci Marcella , Bucci Diego , Tamanini Carlo , Galeati Giovanna
Published: October 2013

Vitrified MII porcine oocytes are characterized by reduced developmental competence, associated with the activation of the apoptotic pathway. Resveratrol (R), a polyphenolic compound present in several vegetal sources, has been reported to exert, among all its other biological effects, an antiapoptotic one. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of R (2 µM) on the apoptotic status of porcine oocytes vitrified by Cryotop method, evaluating phosphatidylserine (PS) exteriorization and caspases activation. R was added during IVM (A); 2 h postwarming incubation (B); vitrification/warming and 2 h postwarming incubation (C); all previous phases (D). Data on PS exteriorization showed, in each treated group, a significantly higher (P<0.05) percentage of live nonapoptotic oocytes as compared with CTR; moreover, the percentage of live apoptotic oocytes was significantly (P<0.05) lower in all R-treated groups relative to CTR. The results on caspase activation showed a tendency to an increase of viable oocytes with inactive caspases in B, C, and D, while a significant (P<0.05) increase in A compared to CTR was recorded. These data demonstrate that R supplementation in various phases of IVM and vitrification/warming procedure can modulate the apoptotic process, improving the resistance of porcine oocytes to cryopreservation-induced damage.
Lift-Assisted Laparoscopy in Hysterectomy: A Retrospective Study of 32 Consecutive Cases
Authors: Bergström Bo S.
Published: October 2013

A large uterus is the most commonly reported obstacle to laparoscopic hysterectomy. It reduces the intra-abdominal free space, limits visualization and instrumentation, causes technical difficulties, and increases the potential for complications. The logical solution to this dilemma is to address the underlying problem and increase the intra-abdominal free space. This can be done readily by supplementing the conventional pneumoperitoneum by concurrent mechanical lifting of the abdominal wall using the camera trocar as an anchoring device. Such lift-assisted laparoscopy augments the intra-abdominal free space formation, and lifts the laparoscope to a higher position to give a panoramic view, even when the uterus is large. This retrospective study of 32 consecutive cases of laparoscopic hysterectomy indicates that the use of lift-assisted laparoscopy is safe for the patient and that a large uterus is not a contraindication. The operations were long, but complications were few. Lift-assisted laparoscopy is an option to improve patient care by modifying surgical procedures. Operating time, per se, is not a valid measure of quality in laparoscopic hysterectomy. The more traumatic abdominal hysterectomy procedures need not be selected in preference over lengthy minimally invasive techniques. Other techniques, such as solo surgery and in-office surgery, are also discussed.
Cessation of oral anticoagulation in relation to mortality and the risk of thrombotic events in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Gallego Pilar , Roldan Vanessa , Marín Francisco , Romera Marta , Valdés Mariano , Vicente Vicente , Lip Gregory Y. H.
Published: October 2013

Bleeding risk (often perceived, rather than actual) is a common reason for cessation of oral anticoagulation with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We investigate clinical outcomes in a consecutive population of VKA naïve atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, who initiated VKA therapy in our clinic. We included consecutive VKA-naíve patients with non valvular AF, initiated on VKA therapy in our anticoagulation outpatient clinic in 2009. During follow-up, adverse events [thrombotic/vascular events (stroke, acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure and cardiac death), major bleeding and death], and VKA cessation were recorded. At the end of the follow-up, we determined time within therapeutic range (TTR), using a linear approximation (Rosendaal method). We studied 529 patients (49% male, median age 76), median follow-up 835 days (IQR 719−954). During this period 114 patients stopped VKA treatment. 63 patients suffered a thrombotic/cardiovascular event (5.17%/year, 27 thrombotic/ischaemic strokes), 51 major bleeding (4.19%/year) and 48 died (3.94%/year). Median TTR was 54% (34a57). On multivariate analysis (adjusted by CHA2DS2-VASc score), VKA cessation was associated with death [Hazard Ratio (HR) 3.43; p<0.001], stroke [4.21; p=0.001] and thrombotic/cardiovascular events [2.72; p<0.001]. Independent risk factors for major bleeding were age [1.08; p<0.001], previous stroke [1.85; p=0.049], and TTR [0.97; p=0.001], but not VKA cessation. In conclusion, in AF patients AF, VKA cessation is independently associated with mortality stroke and cardiovascular events. Specifically, VKA cessation independently increased the risk of stroke, even after adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASc score. TTR was an independent risk factor for major bleeding following initiation of VKA therapy.

Note: The editorial process for this paper was fully handled by Prof Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.
The Economic Dimension of Cold War Intelligence-Gathering: The West's Spies in the GDR's Economy
Authors: Maddrell Paul
Published: October 2013

This article uses new evidence from the former archive of the Ministry of State Security (Stasi) of the German Democratic Republic to show that important intelligence was gathered by Western intelligence agencies, above all those of the United States, from well-placed human sources in the GDR's economy during the first twenty years of the Cold War. This intelligence influenced policymakers' understanding of the GDR's economy and informed debates about weapons procurement and the best trade, credit, information, and aid policies to pursue vis-à-vis the GDR and the Soviet bloc. The intelligence obtained from spies in the GDR's economic bureaucracy and industrial enterprises declined in quality from the 1960s on because of effective counterintelligence measures adopted by the Stasi. The loss of this information contributed to Western policymakers' failure in the 1980s to grasp the full extent of the economic crisis in the GDR that helped to precipitate the Communist regime's collapse.
Splicing Boundaries: The Experiences of Bioart Exhibition
Visitors
Authors: Kerbe Wolfgang , Schmidt Markus
Published: October 2013

Bioart can cross the line between the scientific domain and that of arts and may touch the boundary between the living and the nonliving. This study addresses how visitors to a bioart exhibition experienced the hybrid aspects of this form of art. Semi-structured interviews were held with 119 visitors to the synth-ethic exhibition in Vienna, Austria, in May and June 2011. Analysis shows that for a majority of visitors the use of bacteria and lower organisms does not pose an ethical problem, whereas integration of higher animals or even humans into the artwork is not readily accepted.
Rothilena (Araneae: Agelenidae), a new genus of funnel-web spiders endemic to the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico
Authors: MAYA-MORALES JULIETA , JIMÉNEZ MARÍA LUISA
Published: October 2013

Rothilena (Araneae: Agelenidae: Ageleninae), a new genus of funnel-web spiders endemic to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, and six new species (Rothilena griswoldi sp. nov., Rothilena cochimi sp. nov., Rothilena pilar sp. nov., Rothilena golondrina sp. nov., Rothilena sudcaliforniensis sp. nov., and Rothilena naranjensis sp. nov.) are described and illustrated. Males are diagnosed by having pedipalps with a conductor with three projections and a retrolateral tibial apophysis divided in two parts, one distal and dorsally excavated and the other retrolateral and ventrally excavated. The epigynum of females has a pair of hoods that covers part of the atrium, and the copulatory ducts resemble a “duck head”.
Myrmicella, a new genus of Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from Madagascar
Authors: CHŁOND DOMINIK , BAŇAŘ PETR
Published: October 2013

Myrmicella verticospinosa gen. et sp. nov., is described, based on four specimens (two males and two females) collected in south-west Madagascar (Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park and Isalo National Park). Three specimens have been collected by sifting the leaf litter, one female was collected using yellow pan traps. Genitalia of both sexes are described and illustrated.
L’imagerie mentale et ses déterminants comme facteurs de réponses émotionnelles et comportementales du consommateur : une analyse en situation d’achat en ligne
Authors: Lao Aurély
Published: October 2013

Résumé

Cette recherche met en évidence l’influence positive de l’imagerie mentale de soi et de ses antécédents sur les émotions anticipées mixtes et sur l’intention et l’impulsion d’achat du e-consommateur. Les résultats montrent que le choix des stimuli utilisés dans la présentation d’un produit sur un site marchand peut influencer significativement l’imagerie mentale et les réponses comportementales de l’internaute. Des implications théoriques et managériales sont proposées ainsi que des voies de recherche issues des limites de l’étude sont soulignées.
Monitoring the immune response to vaccination with an inactivated vaccine associated to bovine neonatal pancytopenia by deep sequencing transcriptome analysis in cattle
Authors: Demasius Wiebke , Weikard Rosemarie , Hadlich Frieder , Müller Kerstin Elisabeth , Kühn Christa
Published: October 2013

Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) is a new fatal, alloimmune/alloantibody mediated disease of new-born calves induced by ingestion of colostrum from cows, which had been vaccinated with a specific vaccine against the Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV). The hypothesis of pathogenic MHC class I molecules in the vaccine had been put up, but no formal proof of specific causal MHC class I alleles has been provided yet. However, the unique features of the vaccine obviously result in extremely high specific antibody titres in the vaccinated animals, but apparently also in further molecules inducing BNP. Thus, a comprehensive picture of the immune response to the vaccine is essential. Applying the novel approach of next generation RNA sequencing (RNAseq), our study provides a new holistic, comprehensive analysis of the blood transcriptome regulation after vaccination with the specific BVDV vaccine. Our RNAseq approach identified a novel cytokine-like gene in the bovine genome that is highly upregulated after vaccination. This gene has never been described before in any other species and might be specific to ruminant immune response. Furthermore, our data revealed a very coordinated immune response to double-stranded (ds) RNA or a dsRNA analogue after vaccination with the inactivated single-stranded (ss) RNA vaccine. This would suggest either a substantial contamination of the vaccine with dsRNA from host cells after virus culture or a dsRNA analogue applied to the vaccine. The first option would highlight the potential risks associated with virus culture on homologous cells during vaccine production; the latter option would emphasise the potential risks associated with immune stimulating adjuvants used in vaccine production.
Precise colocalization of interacting structural and pigmentary elements generates extensive color pattern variation in Phelsumalizards
Authors: Saenko Suzanne V , Teyssier Jérémie , van der Marel Dirk , Milinkovitch Michel C
Published: October 2013

Background

Color traits in animals play crucial roles in thermoregulation, photoprotection, camouflage, and visual communication, and are amenable to objective quantification and modeling. However, the extensive variation in non-melanic pigments and structural colors in squamate reptiles has been largely disregarded. Here, we used an integrated approach to investigate the morphological basis and physical mechanisms generating variation in color traits in tropical day geckos of the genus Phelsuma.

Results

Combining histology, optics, mass spectrometry, and UV and Raman spectroscopy, we found that the extensive variation in color patterns within and among Phelsuma species is generated by complex interactions between, on the one hand, chromatophores containing yellow/red pteridine pigments and, on the other hand, iridophores producing structural color by constructive interference of light with guanine nanocrystals. More specifically, we show that 1) the hue of the vivid dorsolateral skin is modulated both by variation in geometry of structural, highly ordered narrowband reflectors, and by the presence of yellow pigments, and 2) that the reflectivity of the white belly and of dorsolateral pigmentary red marks, is increased by underlying structural disorganized broadband reflectors. Most importantly, these interactions require precise colocalization of yellow and red chromatophores with different types of iridophores, characterized by ordered and disordered nanocrystals, respectively. We validated these results through numerical simulations combining pigmentary components with a multilayer interferential optical model. Finally, we show that melanophores form dark lateral patterns but do not significantly contribute to variation in blue/green or red coloration, and that changes in the pH or redox state of pigments provide yet another source of color variation in squamates.

Conclusions

Precisely colocalized interacting pigmentary and structural elements generate extensive variation in lizard color patterns. Our results indicate the need to identify the developmental mechanisms responsible for the control of the size, shape, and orientation of nanocrystals, and the superposition of specific chromatophore types. This study opens up new perspectives on Phelsuma lizards as models in evolutionary developmental biology.
Glial-specific gene alterations associated with manic behaviors
Authors: Gao Yonglin , Jhaveri Malhar , Lei Zhenmin , Chaneb Brandy L , Lingrel Jerry , El-Mallakh Rif S
Published: October 2013

Background

Glial dysfunction has been purported to be important to the pathophysiology of bipolar illness. However, manic behavior has not been previously demonstrated to result as a consequence of glial pathology. The aim of the current study was to assess the behaviors of the glial-specific sodium pump alpha2 subunit (ATP1A2) knockout (KO) heterozygote mice to determine if a glial-specific abnormality can produce manic-like behavior.

Methods

Activity and behavior of hemideficient sodium pump alpha2 KO mice and wild-type (WT) littermates (C57BL6/Black Swiss background) were examined at baseline, following forced swimming stress and restraint stress and after 3 days of sleep deprivation.

Results and discussion

At baseline, the 24-h total distance traveled and center time were significantly greater in KO mice, but there were no behavioral differences with sweet water preference or with inactivity time during forced swim or tail suspension tests. After restraint stress or forced swimming stress, there were no differences in activity. Three days of sleep deprivation utilizing the inverted flowerpot method induced a significant increase in the distance traveled by the KO versus WT mice in the 30-min observation period (p=0.016). Lithium pretreatment has no effect on WT animals versus their baseline but significantly reduces hyperactivity induced by sleep deprivation in KO. Knockout of the glial-specific alpha2 isoform is associated with some manic behaviors compared to WT littermates, suggesting that glial dysfunction could be associated with mania.
Progression of mild Alzheimer’s disease: knowledge and prediction models required for future treatment strategies
Authors: Wattmo Carina , Wallin Åsa K , Minthon Lennart
Published: October 2013

Introduction

Knowledge of longitudinal progression in mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is required for the evaluation of disease-modifying therapies. Our aim was to observe the effects of long-term cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) therapy in mild AD patients in a routine clinical setting.

Methods

This was a prospective, open-label, non-randomized, multicenter study of ChEI treatment (donepezil, rivastigmine or galantamine) conducted during clinical practice. The 734 mild AD patients (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score 20 to 26) were assessed at baseline and then semi-annually over three years. Outcome measures included the MMSE, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change (CIBIC) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale.

Results

After three years of ChEI therapy, 31% (MMSE) and 33% (ADAS-cog) of the patients showed improved/unchanged cognitive ability, 33% showed improved/unchanged global performance and 14% showed improved/unchanged IADL capacity. Higher mean dose of ChEI and lower educational level were both predictors of more positive longitudinal cognitive and functional outcomes. Older participants and those with a better IADL score at baseline exhibited a slower rate of cognitive decline, whereas younger participants and those with higher cognitive status showed more preserved IADL ability over time. Gender and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype showed inconsistent results. Prediction models using the abovementioned scales are presented.

Conclusions

In naturalistic mild AD patients, a marked deterioration in IADL compared with cognitive and global long-term outcomes was observed, indicating the importance of functional assessments during the early stages of the disease. The participants’ time on ChEI treatment before inclusion in studies of new therapies might affect their rate of decline and thus the comparisons of changes in scores between various studies. An increased understanding of expected disease progression in different domains and potential predictors of disease progression is essential for assessment of future therapies in AD.
Cytosine methylation changes in enhancer regions of core pro-fibrotic genes characterize kidney fibrosis development
Authors: Ko Yi-An , Mohtat Davoud , Suzuki Masako , Park Ae Seo Deok , Izquierdo Maria Concepcion , Han Sang Youb , Kang Hyun Mi , Si Han , Hostetter Thomas , Pullman James M , Fazzari Melissa , Verma Amit , Zheng Deyou , Greally John M , Susztak Katalin
Published: October 2013

Background

One in eleven people is affected by chronic kidney disease, a condition characterized by kidney fibrosis and progressive loss of kidney function. Epidemiological studies indicate that adverse intrauterine and postnatal environments have a long-lasting role in chronic kidney disease development. Epigenetic information represents a plausible carrier for mediating this programming effect. Here we demonstrate that genome-wide cytosine methylation patterns of healthy and chronic kidney disease tubule samples obtained from patients show significant differences.

Results

We identify differentially methylated regions and validate these in a large replication dataset. The differentially methylated regions are rarely observed on promoters, but mostly overlap with putative enhancer regions, and they are enriched in consensus binding sequences for important renal transcription factors. This indicates their importance in gene expression regulation. A core set of genes that are known to be related to kidney fibrosis, including genes encoding collagens, show cytosine methylation changes correlating with downstream transcript levels.

Conclusions

Our report raises the possibility that epigenetic dysregulation plays a role in chronic kidney disease development via influencing core pro-fibrotic pathways and can aid the development of novel biomarkers and future therapeutics.
Cell-cycle regulated transcription associates with DNA replication timing in yeast and human
Authors: Fraser Hunter B
Published: October 2013

Background

Eukaryotic DNA replication follows a specific temporal program, with some genomic regions consistently replicating earlier than others, yet what determines this program is largely unknown. Highly transcribed regions have been observed to replicate in early S-phase in all plant and animal species studied to date, but this relationship is thought to be absent from both budding yeast and fission yeast. No association between cell-cycle regulated transcription and replication timing has been reported for any species.

Results

Here I show that in budding yeast, fission yeast, and human, the genes most highly transcribed during S-phase replicate early, whereas those repressed in S-phase replicate late. Transcription during other cell-cycle phases shows either the opposite correlation with replication timing, or no relation. The relationship is strongest near late-firing origins of replication, which is not consistent with a previously proposed model—that replication timing may affect transcription—and instead suggests a potential mechanism involving the recruitment of limiting replication initiation factors during S-phase.

Conclusions

These results suggest that S-phase transcription may be an important determinant of DNA replication timing across eukaryotes, which may explain the well-established association between transcription and replication timing.
A fragmented alignment method detects a putative phosphorylation site and a putative BRC repeat in the Drosophila melanogaster BRCA2 protein
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep
Published: October 2013

Mutations in the BRCA2 tumor suppressor protein leave individuals susceptible to breast, ovarian and other cancers. The BRCA2 protein is a critical component of the DNA repair pathways in eukaryotes, and also plays an integral role in fostering genomic variability through meiotic recombination. Although present in many eukaryotes, as a whole the BRCA2 gene is weakly conserved. Conserved fragments of 30 amino acids (BRC repeats), which mediate interactions with the recombinase RAD51, helped detect orthologs of this protein in other organisms. The carboxy-terminal of the human BRCA2 has been shown to be phosphorylated by checkpoint kinases (Chk1/Chk2) at T3387, which regulate the sequestration of RAD51 on DNA damage. However, apart from three BRC repeats, the Drosophila melanogaster gene has not been annotated and associated with other functionally relevant sequence fragments in human BRCA2. In the current work, the carboxy-terminal phosphorylation threonine site (E=9.1e-4) and a new BRC repeat (E=17e-4) in D. melanogaster has been identified, using a fragmented alignment methodology (FRAGAL). In a similar study, FRAGAL has also identified a novel half-a- tetratricopeptide (HAT) motif (E=11e-4), a helical repeat motif implicated in various aspects of RNA metabolism, in Utp6 from yeast. The characteristic three aromatic residues with conserved spacing are observed in this new HAT repeat, further strengthening my claim. The reference and target sequences are sliced into overlapping fragments of equal parameterized lengths. All pairs of fragments in the reference and target proteins are aligned, and the gap penalties are adjusted to discourage gaps in the middle of the alignment. The results of the best matches are sorted based on differing criteria to aid the detection of known and putative sequences. The source code for FRAGAL results on these sequences is available at https://github.com/sanchak/FragalCode, while the database can be accessed at www.sanchak.com/fragal.html.
Cementing material from rice husk-broken bricks-spent bleaching earth-dried calcium carbide residue
Authors: Wachira Muthengia Jackson , Kanyago Muthakia Gerald , Karanja Thiong'o Joseph
Published: October 2013

A cementious material, coded CSBR (Carbide residue Spent bleaching earth Broken bricks and Rice husks), was made from dried calcium carbide residue (DCCR) and an incinerated mix of rice husks (RH), broken bricks (BB) and spent bleaching earth (SBE). Another material, coded SBR (Spent bleaching earth Broken bricks and Rice husk ash), was made from mixing separately incinerated RH, SBE and ground BB in the same ash ratio as in CSBR. When CSBR was inter-ground with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), it showed a continued decrease in Ca(OH)2Â in the hydrating cement as a function of curing time and replacement levels of the cement. Up to 45 % replacement of the OPC by CSBR produced a Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) material that passed the relevant Kenyan Standard. Incorporation of the CSBR in OPC reduces the resultant calcium hydroxide from hydrating Portland cement. The use of the waste materials in production of cementitious material would rid the environment of wastes and lead to production of low cost cementitious material.
Optimization for Biogas Power Plants using Automatic Control of Gas Pressures
Authors: Candra Dodiek Ika , Tamayo Camilo Andreas Wilches
Published: October 2013

In many cases, gas storages on biogas power plants are not used optimally to store gas as much as their capacity. The digester is sometimes overload to store gas and the controller cannot deliver gas to other storage. Consequently, gas is often released from digester to avoid over pressure. At the end, biogas power plant has less efficiency. Hence, a mechanism to control gas pressure to make different pressure between its storages is required. Fans were used to manipulate the most majority system pressures on a biogas power plant using frequency converters. Measurements, simulations, and experiments were conducted to create a new system on a biogas power plant. A controller, Programmable Logic Controller was used to control the entire system pressure using Proportional-Integral-Derivative algorithm. When the gas pressures are not in the allowable range of pressure, then the controller changes the fans’ frequency to the desired conditions. As a result, gas moves to another storage and system pressures are in the allowable range.
NIR cutoff filter for true color imaging sensors
Authors: Biertümpfel Ralf , Reichel Steffen
Published: October 2013

The function of a near-infrared (NIR) cutoff filter for imaging sensors is being described. The main purpose of the NIR cut filter is to obtain correct color recognition; therefore, the NIR filter is made of an absorbing filter glass and an interference coating. The absorbing filter glass is needed to minimize multiple reflections inside the lens system, which are the cause for ghost images. An additional interference coating enhances the function of the filter. Coating and filter glass are strongly dependent on each other. This requires high reproducibility and low tolerances of the filter glass and interference coating. In addition, features like inner quality – especially striae – and stability of the refractive index are important. A NIR cut filter may be designed as a flat plate or as a lens. Our analysis provides an estimation about striae level and variation of transmittance and their effect on image quality and color recognition. Furthermore, the use of an absorption filter glass as a lens (shrinking down the overall size) is discussed in terms of the influence on transmission and striae.
Determinants of the species selectivity of oxazolidinone antibiotics targeting the large ribosomal subunit
Authors: Saini Jagmohan S. , Homeyer Nadine , Fulle Simone , Gohlke Holger
Published: October 2013

Oxazolidinone antibiotics bind to the highly conserved peptidyl transferase center in the ribosome. For developing selective antibiotics, a profound understanding of the selectivity determinants is required. We have performed for the first time technically challenging molecular dynamics simulations in combination with molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) free energy calculations of the oxazolidinones linezolid and radezolid bound to the large ribosomal subunits of the eubacterium Deinococcus radiodurans and the archaeon Haloarcula marismortui. A remarkably good agreement of the computed relative binding free energy with selectivity data available from experiment for linezolid is found. On an atomic level, the analyses reveal an intricate interplay of structural, energetic, and dynamic determinants of the species selectivity of oxazolidinone antibiotics: A structural decomposition of free energy components identifies influences that originate from first and second shell nucleotides of the binding sites and lead to (opposing) contributions from interaction energies, solvation, and entropic factors. These findings add another layer of complexity to the current knowledge on structure-activity relationships of oxazolidinones binding to the ribosome and suggest that selectivity analyses solely based on structural information and qualitative arguments on interactions may not reach far enough. The computational analyses presented here should be of sufficient accuracy to fill this gap.
Electoral Competition and the Constituent-Representative Relationship
Authors: André Audrey , Depauw Sam
Published: October 2013

Electoral institutions shape the incentive that elected representatives have to cultivate a personal vote, a geographically concentrated personal vote in particular. But are electoral institutions able to make representatives do what they would not do otherwise and to make them not do what they otherwise would have done? Using data from the cross-national partirep MP survey, it is demonstrated that electoral institutions shape elected representatives’ local orientation. That local orientation decreases as district magnitude grows – regardless of what representatives think about political representation. But representatives’ conceptions of representation do shape their uptake in the legislative arena from their contacts with individual constituents. The effect of the electoral incentive grows stronger as elected representatives think of representation as a bottom-up rather than a top-down process.
Storytelling as Public Modality
Authors: Black Laura W. , Sprain Leah
Published: October 2013

This study analyzes the testimony given by Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns in response to the suicides of bullied teens. Like other testimonies included in the “It Gets Better” project, Burns’s speech included his personal story of being bullied because of his sexual orientation, considering suicide, and persevering to lead a successful adult life. His speech was given in a city council meeting in Texas, but his message reached a much wider audience. Drawing on the public modalities framework, this study employs narrative and discourse analysis to examine his story and the public reactions to it. The analysis focuses on the discursive invocation of emotion, multiple audiences, and the role of technology to engage publics. This analysis furthers research on how personal stories function in public meetings and serve as a modality to engage broader publics.
Pre- and postnatal nutrition in sheep affects β-cell secretion and hypothalamic control
Authors: Kongsted Anna H , Husted Sanne V , Thygesen Malin P , Christensen Vibeke G , Blache Dominique , Tolver Anders , Larsen Torben , Quistorff Bjørn , Nielsen Mette O
Published: October 2013

Maternal undernutrition increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome later in life, particularly upon postnatal exposure to a high-energy diet. However, dysfunctions of, for example, the glucose–insulin axis are not readily detectable by conventional tests early in life, making it difficult to identify individuals at risk. Thus, other methods are required. We hypothesised that prenatally undernourished individuals (but not postnatally overnourished ones) are adapted to a life with limited food availability, which would be evident under conditions reflecting starvation, stress and short-term abundance of food. In this study, twin-pregnant sheep were fed diets meeting 100% (NORM) or 50% (LOW) of energy and protein requirements during the last trimester. Twin offspring were fed either a normal moderate (CONV) diet or a high-carbohydrate–high-fat (HCHF) diet from 3 days to 6 months of age (approximately puberty) and the same moderate diet thereafter until 2 years of age (young adulthood; only females), resulting in four groups: NORM-CONV, LOW-CONV, NORM-HCHF and LOW-HCHF. At the age of 6 months and 2 years respectively, they were subjected to fasting and propionate (nutrient abundance) and adrenalin challenges. At 6 months of age, postnatal HCHF diet exposure caused metabolic alterations, reflecting hypertriglyceridaemia and altered pancreatic β-cell secretion. Irrespective of postnatal diet, prenatal undernutrition was found to be associated with unexpected endocrine responses of leptin, IGF1 and cortisol during fasting (lack of or the opposite response compared with the controls) in 2-year-old adults. In conclusion, a HCHF diet interfered with β-cell function, whereas maternal undernutrition did not lead to any changes in the LOW offspring, except to abnormal hormone responses, suggesting that fetal programming interferes with hypothalamic integration of important endocrine axis.