bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chlorite meniscus cement – implications for diagenetic mineral growth after oil emplacement
Authors: Friis Henrik , Molenaar Nicolaas , Varming Thomas
Published: June 2013

The possible influence on diagenesis of oil migration into reservoir sandstones is important for understanding their development. Although many studies have addressed the question of continued growth of diagenetic minerals after oil emplacement, there is little clear evidence of the timing of mineral growth relative to oil emplacement, nor of the possible mechanisms of continued mineral growth. This study presents an example of continued cementation by pore‐lining chlorite during and after the migration of oil into a Palaeocene turbidite sandstone reservoir near the Faroe Islands. Chlorite developed in two different textures. One texture occurs on framework grain surfaces adjacent to open pore space in contact with oil. The other texture occurs close to framework grain contacts where contact with oil appears to have been prevented by residual pore‐water menisci. The meniscus crystals are larger than those from open pore, implying that diagenetic clay mineral growth has continued after oil emplacement.
Acoustic Emission Based Monitoring of the Microdamage Evolution During Fatigue of Human Cortical Bone
Authors: Agcaoglu Serife , Akkus Ozan
Published: June 2013

Stress fractures are frequently observed in physically active populations, and they are believed to be associated with microcrack accumulation. There are not many tools for real-time monitoring of microdamage formation during fatigue of bone, in vivo or in vitro. Acoustic emission (AE) based detection of stress waves resulting from microdamage formation is a promising method to assess the rate and energetics of microdamage formation during fatigue. The current study aims to assess the time history of the occurrence of AE events during fatigue loading of human tibial cortical bone and to determine the associations between AE variables (energy content of waves, number of AE waveforms, etc.), fatigue life, and bone ash content. Fatigue test specimens were prepared from the distal diaphysis of human tibial cortical bone (N = 32, 22 to 52 years old, male and female). The initiation of acoustic emissions was concomitant with the nonlinear increase in sample compliance and the cumulative number of AE events increased asymptotically in the prefailure period. The results demonstrated that AE method was able to predict the onset of failure by 95% of the fatigue life for the majority of the samples. The variation in the number of emissions until failure ranged from 6 to 1861 implying a large variation in crack activity between different samples. The results also revealed that microdamage evolution was a function of the level of tissue mineralization such that more mineralized bone matrix failed with fewer crack events with higher energy whereas less mineralized tissue generated more emissions with lower energy. In conclusion, acoustic emission based surveillance during fatigue of cortical bone demonstrates a large scatter, where some bones fail with substantial crack activity and a minority of samples fail without significant amount of crack formation.
Monte Carlo investigation of the increased radiation deposition due to gold nanoparticles using kilovoltage and megavoltage photons in a 3D randomized cell model
Authors: Douglass Michael , Bezak Eva , Penfold Scott
Published: June 2013

Purpose:

Investigation of increased radiation dose deposition due to gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using a 3D computational cell model during x‐ray radiotherapy.

Methods:

Two GNP simulation scenarios were set up in Geant4; a single 400 nm diameter gold cluster randomly positioned in the cytoplasm and a 300 nm gold layer around the nucleus of the cell. Using an 80 kVp photon beam, the effect of GNP on the dose deposition in five modeled regions of the cell including cytoplasm, membrane, and nucleus was simulated. Two Geant4 physics lists were tested: the default Livermore and custom built Livermore/DNA hybrid physics list. 106 particles were simulated at 840 cells in the simulation. Each cell was randomly placed with random orientation and a diameter varying between 9 and 13 μm. A mathematical algorithm was used to ensure that none of the 840 cells overlapped. The energy dependence of the GNP physical dose enhancement effect was calculated by simulating the dose deposition in the cells with two energy spectra of 80 kVp and 6 MV. The contribution from Auger electrons was investigated by comparing the two GNP simulation scenarios while activating and deactivating atomic de‐excitation processes in Geant4.

Results:

The physical dose enhancement ratio (DER) of GNP was calculated using the Monte Carlo model. The model has demonstrated that the DER depends on the amount of gold and the position of the gold cluster within the cell. Individual cell regions experienced statistically significant (p < 0.05) change in absorbed dose (DER between 1 and 10) depending on the type of gold geometry used. The DER resulting from gold clusters attached to the cell nucleus had the more significant effect of the two cases (DER ∼ 55). The DER value calculated at 6 MV was shown to be at least an order of magnitude smaller than the DER values calculated for the 80 kVp spectrum. Based on simulations, when 80 kVp photons are used, Auger electrons have a statistically insignificant (p < 0.05) effect on the overall dose increase in the cell. The low energy of the Auger electrons produced prevents them from propagating more than 250–500 nm from the gold cluster and, therefore, has a negligible effect on the overall dose increase due to GNP.

Conclusions:

The results presented in the current work show that the primary dose enhancement is due to the production of additional photoelectrons.
Making Sugar from Fat?
Authors: Tirosh Amir
Published: June 2013

Fat cells cannot produce glucose, but they instruct the liver to do so by releasing a hormone called aP2.
Provenance and Geographic Spread of St. Louis Encephalitis Virus
Authors: Kopp Anne , Gillespie Thomas R. , Hobelsberger Daniel , Estrada Alejandro , Harper James M. , Miller Richard A. , Eckerle Isabella , Müller Marcel A. , Podsiadlowski Lars , Leendertz Fabian H. , Drosten Christian , Junglen Sandra
Published: June 2013

St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is the prototypic mosquito-borne flavivirus in the Americas. Birds are its primary vertebrate hosts, but amplification in certain mammals has also been suggested. The place and time of SLEV emergence remain unknown. In an ecological investigation in a tropical rainforest in Palenque National Park, Mexico, we discovered an ancestral variant of SLEV inCulex nigripalpusmosquitoes. Those SLEV-Palenque strains form a highly distinct phylogenetic clade within the SLEV species. Cell culture studies of SLEV-Palenque versus epidemic SLEV (MSI-7) revealed no growth differences in insect cells but a clear inability of SLEV-Palenque to replicate in cells from birds, cotton rats, and free-tailed bats permissive for MSI-7 replication. Only cells from nonhuman primates and neotropical fruit bats were moderately permissive. Phylogeographic reconstruction identified the common ancestor of all epidemic SLEV strains to have existed in an area between southern Mexico and Panama ca. 330 years ago. Expansion of the epidemic lineage occurred in two waves, the first representing emergence near the area of origin and the second involving almost parallel appearances of the virus in the lower Mississippi and Amazon delta regions. Early diversification events overlapped human habitat invasion during the post-Columbian era. Several documented SLEV outbreaks, such as the 1964 Houston epidemic or the 1990 Tampa epidemic, were predated by the arrival of novel strains between 1 and 4 years before the outbreaks. Collectively, our data provide insight into the putative origins of SLEV, suggesting that virus emergence was driven by human invasion of primary rainforests.

IMPORTANCESt. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is the prototypic mosquito-transmitted flavivirus of the Americas. Unlike the West Nile virus, which we know was recently introduced into North America from the Old World, the provenience of SLEV is obscure. In an ecological investigation in a primary rainforest area of Palenque National Park, Mexico, we have discovered an ancestral variant of SLEV. The ancestral virus was much less active than the epidemic virus in cell cultures, reflecting its incomplete adaptation to hosts encountered outside primary rainforests. Knowledge of this virus enabled a spatiotemporal reconstruction of the common ancestor of all SLEVs and how the virus spread from there. We can infer that the cosmopolitan SLEV lineage emerged from Central America in the 17th century, a period of post-Columbian colonial history marked by intense human invasion of primary rainforests. Further spread followed major bird migration pathways over North and South America.
Light Regulation of Swarming Motility in Pseudomonas syringae Integrates Signaling Pathways Mediated by a Bacteriophytochrome and a LOV Protein
Authors: Wu Liang , McGrane Regina S. , Beattie Gwyn A.
Published: June 2013

The biological and regulatory roles of photosensory proteins are poorly understood for nonphotosynthetic bacteria. The foliar bacterial pathogen
Pseudomonas syringae
has three photosensory protein-encoding genes that are predicted to encode the blue-light-sensing LOV (light, oxygen, or voltage) histidine kinase (LOV-HK) and two red/far-red-light-sensing bacteriophytochromes, BphP1 and BphP2. We provide evidence that LOV-HK and BphP1 form an integrated network that regulates swarming motility in response to multiple light wavelengths. The swarming motility of
P. syringae
B728a deletion mutants indicated that LOV-HK positively regulates swarming motility in response to blue light and BphP1 negatively regulates swarming motility in response to red and far-red light. BphP2 does not detectably regulate swarming motility. The histidine kinase activity of each LOV-HK and BphP1 is required for this regulation based on the loss of complementation upon mutation of residues key to their kinase activity. Surprisingly, mutants lacking both
lov
and
bphP1
were similar in motility to a
bphP1
single mutant in blue light, indicating that the loss of
bphP1
is epistatic to the loss of
lov
and also that BphP1 unexpectedly responds to blue light. Moreover, whereas expression of
bphP1
did not alter motility under blue light in a
bphP1
mutant, it reduced motility in a mutant lacking
lov
and
bphP1
, demonstrating that LOV-HK positively regulates motility by suppressing negative regulation by BphP1. These results are the first to show cross talk between the LOV protein and phytochrome signaling pathways in bacteria, and the similarity of this regulatory network to that of photoreceptors in plants suggests a possible common ancestry.

IMPORTANCE
Photosensory proteins enable organisms to perceive and respond to light. The biological and ecological roles of these proteins in nonphotosynthetic bacteria are largely unknown. This study discovered that a blue-light-sensing LOV (light, oxygen, or voltage) protein and a red/far-red-light-sensing bacteriophytochrome both regulate swarming motility in the foliar pathogen
Pseudomonas syringae
. These proteins form an integrated signaling network in which the bacteriophytochrome represses swarming motility in response to red, far-red, and blue light, and LOV positively regulates swarming motility by suppressing bacteriophytochrome-mediated blue-light signaling. This is the first example of cross talk between LOV and phytochrome signaling pathways in bacteria, which shows unexpected similarity to photoreceptor signaling in plants.
Helicobacter pylori VacA Suppresses Lactobacillus acidophilus-Induced Interferon Beta Signaling in Macrophages via Alterations in the Endocytic Pathway
Authors: Weiss Gudrun , Forster Sam , Irving Aaron , Tate Michelle , Ferrero Richard L. , Hertzog Paul , Frøkiær Hanne , Kaparakis-Liaskos Maria
Published: June 2013

Helicobacter pylori
causes chronic gastritis and avoids elimination by the immune system of the infected host. The commensal bacterium
Lactobacillus acidophilus
has been suggested to exert beneficial effects as a supplement during
H. pylori
eradication therapy. In the present study, we applied whole-genome microarray analysis to compare the immune responses induced in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) stimulated with
L. acidophilus
,
H. pylori
, or both bacteria in combination. While
L. acidophilus
induced a Th1-polarizing response characterized by high expression of interferon beta (IFN-β) and interleukin 12 (IL-12),
H. pylori
strongly induced the innate cytokines IL-1β and IL-1α. In BMDMs prestimulated with
L. acidophilus
,
H. pylori
blocked the expression of
L. acidophilus
-induced IFN-β and IL-12 and suppressed the expression of key regulators of the Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 GTPases. The inhibition of
L. acidophilus
-induced IFN-β was independent of
H. pylori
viability and the virulence factor CagPAI; however, a vacuolating cytotoxin (
vacA
) mutant was unable to block IFN-β. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that the addition of
H. pylori
to
L. acidophilus
-stimulated BMDMs redirects intracellular processing, leading to an accumulation of
L. acidophilus
in the endosomal and lysosomal compartments. Thus, our findings indicate that
H. pylori
inhibits the development of a strong Th1-polarizing response in BMDMs stimulated with
L. acidophilus
by blocking the production of IFN-β in a VacA-dependent manner. We suggest that this abrogation is caused by a redirection of the endocytotic pathway in the processing of
L. acidophilus
.

IMPORTANCE
Approximately half of the world’s population is infected with
Helicobacter pylori
. The factors that allow this pathogen to persist in the stomach and cause chronic infections have not yet been fully elucidated. In particular, how
H. pylori
avoids killing by macrophages, one of the main types of immune cell underlying the epithelium, remains elusive. Here we have shown that the
H. pylori
virulence factor VacA plays a key role by blocking the activation of innate cytokines induced by the probiotic
Lactobacillus acidophilus
in macrophages and suppresses the expression of key regulators required for the organization and dynamics of the intracellular cytoskeleton. Our results identify potential targets for the treatment of
H. pylori
infection and vaccination, since specific inhibition of the toxin VacA possibly allows the activation of an efficient immune response and thereby eradication of
H. pylori
in the host.
Fatal methotrexate toxicity: could it have been avoided?
Authors: Tripathi Reva , Chugh Deepa Kaur , Verma Vertika , Mala YM
Published: June 2013

Methotrexate is used judiciously, only when specifically indicated. However, in this case the patient had a fatal outcome after only three doses. A young nulliparous woman diagnosed as having high-risk persistent trophoblastic disease was considered for multidrug chemotherapy. However, because of persistent low-grade fever it was decided to give only single agent, methotrexate. She developed severe toxicity which proved fatal, even before the first course could be completed. Analysing causes of this rare, unexpected outcome of methotrexate administration, suggested that estimation of serum levels can be a useful tool in monitoring patients showing hypersensitivity but this facility is rarely available especially in low-resource countries. Pharmacogenetical analysis of blood/tissue sample may be useful to help in identifying patients likely to show hypersensitivity reaction.
Chest pain in a 12-year-old girl with ulcerative colitis after therapy with mesalazine
Authors: Mukherjee Nirajan , Pandya Nikila , Bhaduri Bim , Bala K
Published: June 2013

This case of chest pain complicating therapy received for ulcerative colitis in a young patient highlights the importance of a thorough history and clinical examination. The complication can be rapidly fatal if not recognised and treated quickly.
Combination of AIDP and pyramidal signs associated with antecedent hepatitis A infection: a rare (co)occurrence
Authors: Sharma Bhawna , Nagpal Kadam , Handa Rahul , Dubey Parul
Published: June 2013

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a postinfectious illness and commonly occurs in association with infective agents such asCampylobacter jejuni, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus,Mycoplasma pneumoniae, HIV, shigella, clostridium,Haemophilus influenzae; occasionally with acute hepatitis B, C, E; and more rarely with hepatitis A, as documented in various case reports. Classically, GBS presents with hyporeflexia or areflexia, but preserved and brisk reflexes have been described in context with GBS variant, AMAN (acute motor axonal neuropathy), in approximately 33% of the cases. Preserved or exaggerated tendon reflexes with extensor plantar response is not usually seen in patients with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP). We report a rare case of AIDP with upper motor neuron signs in association with an antecedent hepatitis A infection.
Unusually located left ventricular outflow myxoma: a brief review of the literature
Authors: Cetin Mustafa , Cakici Musa , Ercisli Murat , Polat Mustafa
Published: June 2013

Among all myxomas, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) myxomas are very rare. This article reports an LVOT myxoma in a 67-year-old woman presenting with palpitations and weight loss. Surgical excision of the LVOT myxoma was performed.
Internal carotid dissection caused by an elongated styloid process (Eagle syndrome)
Authors: Sveinsson Olafur , Kostulas Nikolaos , Herrman Lars
Published: June 2013

Eagle syndrome (symptoms associated with an elongated styloid process (SP)) is commonly divided into two presentations. First, the so-called classic Eagle syndrome where patients can present with unilateral sore throat, dysphagia, tinnitus, unilateral facial and neck pain and otalgia. Second, there is the vascular or stylocarotid form of Eagle syndrome in which the elongated SP is in contact with the extracranial internal carotid artery. We describe two cases of internal carotid artery dissection associated with an elongated SP. One is a patient with ischaemic stroke and another with transient ischaemic attacks caused by an elongated SP. A surgical resection of the SP was performed on the former patient. Both patients were treated with anticoagulation and recovered well. A literature search only revealed two prior descriptions of carotid dissection in the context of an elongated SP.
Intubating laryngeal mask airway combined to fibreoptic intubation in subglottic stenosis
Authors: Richa Freda
Published: June 2013

We reported a successful airway management in a patient with unknown tracheal stenosis admitted in the emergency room for benzodiazepine overdose. The use of intubating laryngeal mask airway in combination with fibreoptic intubation was easy and safe in this patient; procedures such as ventilatory control and patient oxygenation were continued during intubation attempts, lessening the likelihood of desaturation. This method allowed the diagnosis of tracheal stenosis and soft endotracheal intubation.
Simultaneous radicular cyst and mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the maxilla: a diagnostic nightmare
Authors: Nabil Syed , Lo Regina Cheuk Lam , Choi Wing Shan
Published: June 2013

We present a case of a 20-year-old woman presenting initially with an asymptomatic palatal swelling. Radiographic examination showed a cyst at the right maxilla with bucco-lingual expansion and perforation of palatal bone. Incisional biopsy was carried out via a buccal approach and the result revealed a benign odontogenic cyst, in keeping with radicular cyst. The patient was then scheduled for cyst enucleation. During the procedure, it was found that the palatal lesion was unrelated to the maxillary cyst. Incisional biopsy of the palatal mass was carried out and revealed a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The patient then had a partial maxillectomy with fibula flap reconstruction. There was no recurrence at postoperative 1 year follow-up and she was rehabilitated with dental implants.
Rapidly lethal dermatomyositis associated with cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa
Authors: Resende Cristina , Araújo Catarina , Duarte Maria Luz , Brito Celeste
Published: June 2013

A 70-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of dermatomyositis (DM) presented to the dermatology department for study of a probably paraneoplastic syndrome. On examination, we observed discrete, indurated, reddish, painful plaques and nodules on her abdomen and both thighs. A cutaneous biopsy from an abdominal nodule, performed as part of the paraneoplastic workup, was suggestive of cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa, secondary to unknown malignancy. An extensive investigation to locate the site of the primary tumour revealed no specific findings. A course of palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was then given, but the patient’s condition deteriorated and 6 months after her initial observation the patient died. We describe this case because, to our knowledge, the association between DM and cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa has not been described yet in the literature and to highlight that, DM can be a rapidly lethal disease.
Iliac crest bone graft donor site hernia: not so uncommon
Authors: Prabhu Raghunath , Kumar Nawin , Shenoy Rajgopal
Published: June 2013

A 73-year-old man, who had undergone fracture fixation of humerus with LCP plating and bone grafting, presented again with a peri-implant fracture after 1 year. A repeat surgery was contemplated and replating was performed with tricortical bone graft harvested from the iliac crest. In the postoperative period the patient developed a tender swelling at the graft site with nausea and abdominal discomfort. It was managed conservatively thinking it to be a haematoma at the graft site. In the following 2 days his symptoms worsened. A CT abdomen showed the herniation of caecum from the bone graft donor site with obstruction. The patient was taken up for emergency surgical repair, the caecum was reduced and polypropylene mesh hernioplasty was performed. The patient recovered well without recurrence in the follow-up period. Iliac crest bone graft site hernia is not so uncommon and care has to be taken while harvesting.
PLK1 and YY1 interaction in follicular lymphoma is associated with unfavourable outcome
Authors: Sandison Harriet E , Usher Suzanne , Karimiani Ehsan G , Ashton Garry , Menasce Lia P , Radford John A , Linton Kim , Byers Richard J
Published: June 2013

Aims

Ying Yang 1 (YY1) is a transcription factor involved in both proliferation and apoptosis. It is prognostic in follicular lymphoma (FL), increased protein levels being associated with favourable outcome. PLK1 is a critical regulator of mitosis, playing a role in spindle formation and in regulation of the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. PLK1 phosphorylates YY1 at the G2/M checkpoint with activation of YY1 and resultant progression from G2 into mitosis.

Methods

This study aims to investigate possible molecular coexpression and interaction of YY1 with PLK1 in FL using Duolink II in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) in 51 FL samples in a tissue microarray.

Results

Positive PLA signals were present at variable frequency and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed association of signal frequency above the median with unfavourable outcome (p=0.0270). PLA signals were localised to the nuclear edge, with only one signal per cell, suggesting PLK1 and YY1 coexpression at the centrosome. In a minority of cells, two very close PLA signals were present in a single cell, and occasionally, there was a strong ring of semi-confluent fluorescent PLA signals round the nucleus of non-dividing cells, while rarely events were observed in the cytoplasm surrounding dividing cells.

Conclusions

The results confirm association of YY1 and PLK1 with outcome in FL and suggest coexpression at the centrosome. Given the reported interaction of YY1 with PLK1 at the centriole and promotion of cell division at the G2/M checkpoint, the results would concord with the known association of higher proliferation with poor outcome in FL.
Development of a robust protocol for gene expression analysis using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver transplant biopsy specimens
Authors: Thompson Emily , Burt Alastair D , Barker Catriona E , Kirby John A , Brain John G
Published: June 2013

Liver transplant biopsies are routinely archived following formalin fixation and paraffin embedding and may provide an additional source of diagnostic information following transcriptomic biomarker analysis. This study was designed to compare gene transcription between resting and stressed biliary cells in culture, these cells after fixation and embedding and archival liver transplant biopsy tissue. The transcription of p21/WAF1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 showed similar changes in the fresh and embedded liver cells. However, the expression of TGF-β2 was markedly different between the fresh and embedded samples, suggesting that fixation can produce sequence-specific artefacts. Sufficient quantities of pure RNA were recovered from all the liver transplant biopsies to allow complementary DNA production. Measurement of the transcription of all three genes showed variability between the cases. Although the results for individual transcripts should be interpreted with care, these data do suggest the feasibility of performing a larger biomarker discovery studies using archival tissue.
Effect of dietary fiber on phosphorus distribution in fresh and stored liquid hog manure
Authors: Huang Q. , Ackerman J. , Cicek N.
Published: June 2013

Diet manipulation is a promising way for reducing phosphorus (P) content in manure and subsequently in surface water. The objective of this study is to clarify the effects of dietary fiber content on P distribution in fresh and stored liquid hog manure. Ten, 25 L liquid manure storage tanks were constructed and operated to simulate farm-based manure storage lagoons. Fifteen pigs were randomly grouped into three pens and the pigs in each pen were fed with a diet of different fiber contents (12%, 16%, and 21%). For 20 weeks, one litre of liquid manure from each pen was fed to each storage tank once a week with 3 replicate storage tanks per diet treatment. The samples of fresh and stored manure, each representing a diet treatment, were analyzed for P distribution along the fractions of dissolved organic, dissolved inorganic, particulate organic, and particulate inorganic. The results showed that fresh manure derived from the high fiber diet contained lower total P concentrations. Of the four fractions of total P, particulate organic P and particulate inorganic P composed 95.3% to 97.5% of total P in the fresh manure. After storage, the dissolved P concentration increased from around 25 ppm to 30–60 ppm. Inorganic P was the main fraction in dissolved P and composed 80% of the dissolved P in stored manure. The dissolved inorganic P, and therefore the total dissolved P were speculated to increase with manure storage time, indicating microbial activity through digestion. It was concluded that a higher fiber diet yielding manure with higher fiber content resulted in enhanced anaerobic degradation during manure storage. This, in return might promote the destruction of organic materials, resulting in the release of P and subsequent formation of inorganic dissolved P.
Latitudinal, ontogenetic, and historical shifts in the diet of a carnivorous teleost, Arripis trutta, in a coastal pelagic ecosystem altered by climate change
Authors: Hughes Julian M. , Stewart John , Lyle Jeremy M. , McAllister Jaime , Stocks Jerom R. , Suthers Iain M.
Published: June 2013

Changes to the global climate are driving alterations to boundary current-influenced marine ecosystems. The diet of a pelagic teleost, Arripis trutta, was examined in the East Australian Current (EAC)-dominated coastal waters of southeastern (SE) Australia. The diet of A. trutta was dominated by pelagic baitfish, primarily Australian sardine (Sardinops sagax) and scads (Trachurus spp.). Diet varied substantially with both latitude and season linked to variability in the distribution and abundance of key prey species. An ontogenetic diet shift occurred, with crustaceans and polychaetes making up a large proportion of the diet of small fish compared with the dominance of baitfish at larger sizes. The diet of A. trutta has undergone a dramatic shift from one dominated by krill (Nyctiphanes australis) historically to baitfish today. This change is consistent with a well-documented regime shift caused by the increasing intensity of the EAC on coastal SE Australian waters. Understanding the temporal dynamics of this ecosystem is crucial for management of coastal fisheries and also for understanding the impacts of climate change on boundary current-dominated marine ecosystems worldwide.
Ensifer melilotiis the preferred symbiont ofMedicago arboreain eastern Morocco soils
Authors: Guerrouj Kamal , Pérez-Valera Eduardo , Abdelmoumen Hanaa , Bedmar Eulogio J. , Missbah El Idrissi Mustapha
Published: June 2013

Polyphasic characterization of 61 bacteria isolated from root nodules of Medicago arborea (Medic tree) plants growing in 4 arid soils of the arid eastern area of Morocco was studied. All the isolates characterized were fast growers. The phenotypic, symbiotic, and cultural characteristics analyzed allowed the description of a broad physiological diversity among the isolates. The results obtained suggest that the phenotype of these rhizobia might have evolved to adapt to the local conditions. The genetic characterization consisted of an analysis of the rep-PCR (repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction) fingerprints and a PCR-based RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of the 16S rDNA patterns. The diversity of the isolates was investigated by rep-PCR, giving a similarity of 62%, delineated into 3 clusters, 4 groups, and 6 subclusters. This wide diversity was also observed by a phenotypic approach, where the carbohydrate assimilation test was the most discriminating. The results show a relationship between rep-PCR fingerprinting and sugar assimilation, which are complementary in diversity investigation. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence from representative strains of each soil showed they are closely related to members of the genus Ensifer of the family Rhizobiaceae within the Alphaproteobacteria and shows the highest similitude values (99.93%/100%) with Ensifer meliloti LMG 6133T(X67222). Sequencing of the symbiotic nodC gene from 7 representative strains revealed they had 94.89% identity with the nodC sequence of the type strain E. meliloti LMG 6133T(EF428922). Therefore, the 61 M. arborea isolates from the 4 different soils have the same phylogenetic affiliation, which proves the restricted host specificity among M. arborea species.
Macroscopic quantum tunneling of two coupled particles in the presence of a transverse magnetic field
Authors: Owerre Solomon Akaraka
Published: June 2013

Two coupled particles of identical mass but opposite charge are studied, with a constant transverse external magnetic field and an external potential, interacting with a bath of harmonic oscillators. We show that the problem cannot be mapped to a one-dimensional problem like the one in Ao (Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1898 (1994)), it strictly remains two-dimensional. We calculate the effective action both for the case of linear coupling to the bath and without a linear coupling using imaginary time path integral at finite temperature. At zero temperature we use Leggett’s prescription to derive the effective action. In the limit of zero magnetic field we recover a two-dimensional version of the result derived in Chudnovsky (Phys. Rev. B, 54, 5777 (1996)) for the case of two identical particles. We find that in the limit of strong dissipation, the effective action reduces to a two-dimensional version of the Caldeira–Leggett form in terms of the reduced mass and the magnetic field. The case of ohmic dissipation with the motion of the two particles damped by the ohmic frictional constant η is studied in detail.
Evaluation of a multifunctional staphylokinase variant with thrombin inhibition and antiplatelet aggregation activities produced from salt-inducibleE.coliGJ1158
Authors: Kumar Anmol , Pulicherla Krishna Kanth , Mayuren Candasamy , Kotra Seetharam , Rao Krothapalli Rajasurya Sambasiva
Published: June 2013

Reocclusion is one of the major root causes for secondary complications that arise during thrombolytic therapy. A multifunctional staphylokinase variant SRH (staphylokinase (SAK) linked with tripeptide RGD and didecapeptide Hirulog) with antiplatelet and antithrombin activities in addition to clot specific thrombolytic function, was developed to address the reocclusion problem. We preferred to use Escherichia coli GJ1158 as the host in this study for economic production of SRH by osmotic (0.3 mol/L sodium chloride) induction, to overcome the problems associated with the yeast expression system. The therapeutic potential of SRH was evaluated in the murine model of vascular thrombosis. The SAK protein (1 mg/kg body mass) and SRH protein (1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg) were administered intravenously to the different treatment groups. The results have shown a dose-dependent antithrombotic effect in carrageenan-induced mouse tail thrombosis. The thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time were significantly prolonged (p < 0.05) in the SRH-infused groups. Moreover, SRH inhibited platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05), while the bleeding time was significantly (p < 0.05) prolonged. All of these results inferred that the osmotically produced multifunctional fusion protein SRH (SAK–RGD–Hirulog) is a promising thrombolytic agent, and one which sustained its multifunctionality in the animal models.
Linear conjuncted porphyrin trimer synthesis via "click" reaction
Authors: Polevaya Yulia P. , Tyurin Vladimir S. , Beletskaya Irina P.
Published: June 2013

Two isomers of porphyrin trimer with 1,4-diaryltriazole linkers have been synthesized using "click" methodology and characterized by MS, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The porphyrin compounds were shown to exhibit photostability and high solubility. Photophysical data were compared with corresponding ones of synthesized triazole-bridged dimer with the same electronic surrounding and known linear dimer and trimer with diarylethyne linkers. Obtained data revealed weak inter-chromophore electronic communication in the ground state but significant exciton coupling whereas the properties of the individual chromophores are mainly retained for triazole-bridged dimer and trimers.
Covariance Matrices under Bell-like Detections
Authors: Spedalieri Gaetana , Ottaviani Carlo , Pirandola Stefano
Published: June 2013

We derive a simple formula for the transformation of an arbitrary covariance matrix of (n + 2) bosonic modes under general Bell-like detections, where the last two modes are combined in an arbitrary beam splitter (i.e., with arbitrary transmissivity) and then homodyned. In particular, we consider the realistic condition of non-unit quantum efficiency for the homodyne detectors. This formula can easily be specialized to describe the standard Bell measurement and the heterodyne detection, which are exploited in many contexts, including protocols of quantum teleportation, entanglement swapping and quantum cryptography. In its general form, our formula can be adopted to study quantum information protocols in the presence of experimental imperfections and asymmetric setups, e.g., deriving from the use of unbalanced beam splitters.
Dynamic Mission Planning for Communication Control in Multiple Unmanned Aircraft Teams
Authors: Kopeikin Andrew N. , Ponda Sameera S. , Johnson Luke B. , How Jonathan P.
Published: June 2013

A multi-UAV system relies on communications to operate. Failure to communicate remotely sensed mission data to the base may render the system ineffective, and the inability to exchange command and control messages can lead to system failures. This paper describes a unique method to control network communications through distributed task allocation to engage under-utilized UAVs to serve as communication relays and to ensure that the network supports mission tasks. This work builds upon a distributed algorithm previously developed by the authors, CBBA with Relays, which uses task assignment information, including task location and proposed execution time, to predict the network topology and plan support using relays. By explicitly coupling task assignment and relay creation processes, the team is able to optimize the use of agents to address the needs of dynamic complex missions. In this work, the algorithm is extended to explicitly consider realistic network communication dynamics, including path loss, stochastic fading, and information routing. Simulation and flight test results validate the proposed approach, demonstrating that the algorithm ensures both data-rate and interconnectivity bit-error-rate requirements during task execution.
Mitochondrial uncoupling in skeletal muscle by UCP1 augments energy expenditure and glutathione content while mitigating ROS production
Authors: Adjeitey Cyril Nii-Klu , Mailloux Ryan J. , deKemp Robert A. , Harper Mary-Ellen
Published: June 2013

Enhancement of proton leaks in muscle tissue represents a potential target for obesity treatment. In this study, we examined the bioenergetic and physiological implications of increased proton leak in skeletal muscle. To induce muscle-specific increases in proton leak, we used mice that selectively express uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in skeletal muscle tissue. UCP1 expression in muscle mitochondria was ∼13% of levels in brown adipose tissue (BAT) mitochondria and caused increased GDP-sensitive proton leak. This was associated with an increase in whole body energy expenditure and a decrease in white adipose tissue content. Muscle UCP1 activity had divergent effects on mitochondrial ROS emission and glutathione levels compared with BAT. UCP1 in muscle increased total mitochondrial glutathione levels ∼7.6 fold. Intriguingly, unlike in BAT mitochondria, leak through UCP1 in muscle controlled mitochondrial ROS emission. Inhibition of UCP1 with GDP in muscle mitochondria increased ROS emission ∼2.8-fold relative to WT muscle mitochondria. GDP had no impact on ROS emission from BAT mitochondria from either genotype. Collectively, these findings indicate that selective induction of UCP1-mediated proton leak in muscle can increase whole body energy expenditure and decrease adiposity. Moreover, ectopic UCP1 expression in skeletal muscle can control mitochondrial ROS emission, while it apparently plays no such role in its endogenous tissue, brown fat.
Chronic α-hydroxyisocaproic acid treatment improves muscle recovery after immobilization-induced atrophy
Authors: Lang Charles H. , Pruznak Anne , Navaratnarajah Maithili , Rankine Kristina A. , Deiter Gina , Magne Hugues , Offord Elizabeth A. , Breuillé Denis
Published: June 2013

Muscle disuse atrophy is observed routinely in patients recovering from traumatic injury and can be either generalized resulting from extended bed rest or localized resulting from single-limb immobilization. The present study addressed the hypothesis that a diet containing 5% α-hydroxyisocaproic acid (α-HICA), a leucine (Leu) metabolite, will slow the loss and/or improve recovery of muscle mass in response to disuse. Adult 14-wk-old male Wistar rats were provided a control diet or an isonitrogenous isocaloric diet containing either 5% α-HICA or Leu. Disuse atrophy was produced by unilateral hindlimb immobilization (“casting”) for 7 days and the contralateral muscle used as control. Rats were also casted for 7 days and permitted to recover for 7 or 14 days. Casting decreased gastrocnemius mass, which was associated with both a reduction in protein synthesis and S6K1 phosphorylation as well as enhanced proteasome activity and increased atrogin-1 and MuRF1 mRNA. Although neither α-HICA nor Leu prevented the casting-induced muscle atrophy, the decreased muscle protein synthesis was not observed in α-HICA-treated rats. Neither α-HICA nor Leu altered the increased proteasome activity and atrogene expression observed with immobilization. After 14 days of recovery, muscle mass had returned to control values only in the rats fed α-HICA, and this was associated with a sustained increase in protein synthesis and phosphorylation of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 of previously immobilized muscle. Proteasome activity and atrogene mRNA content were at control levels after 14 days and not affected by either treatment. These data suggest that whereas α-HICA does not slow the loss of muscle produced by disuse, it does speed recovery at least in part by maintaining an increased rate of protein synthesis.
Comprehensive genomic profiling in diabetic nephropathy reveals the predominance of proinflammatory pathways
Authors: Kelly K. J. , Liu Yunlong , Zhang Jizhong , Goswami Chirayu , Lin Hai , Dominguez Jesus H.
Published: June 2013

Despite advances in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN), currently available therapies have not prevented the epidemic of progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). The morbidity of CKD, and the inexorable increase in the prevalence of end-stage renal disease, demands more effective approaches to prevent and treat progressive CKD. We undertook next-generation sequencing in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy to study in depth the pathogenic alterations involved in DN with progressive CKD. We employed the obese, diabetic ZS rat, a model that develops diabetic nephropathy, characterized by progressive CKD, inflammation, and fibrosis, the hallmarks of human disease. We then used RNA-seq to examine the combined effects of renal cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells acting as a pathophysiological unit. The comprehensive systems biology analysis of progressive CKD revealed multiple interactions of altered genes that were integrated into morbid networks. These pathological gene assemblies lead to renal inflammation and promote apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in progressive CKD. Moreover, in what is clearly a major therapeutic challenge, multiple and redundant pathways were found to be linked to renal fibrosis, a major cause of kidney loss. We conclude that systems biology applied to progressive CKD in DN can be used to develop novel therapeutic strategies directed to restore critical anomalies in affected gene networks.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for the Treatment of Emotion Dysregulation and Trauma Symptoms in Self-Injurious and Suicidal Adolescent Females: A Pilot Programme within a Community-Based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
Authors: Geddes Keren , Dziurawiec Suzanne , Lee Christopher William
Published: June 2013

Background. The literature suggests a link between childhood trauma and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, including nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality. We assessed the impact of a pilot dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) programme on reducing trauma-related symptoms and improving emotional regulation, suicidality, and NSSI in adolescents.Methods. Six adolescents attending a community mental health service received 26 weeks of DBT, together with a parent. Independent assessors collected measures on each participant at baseline, posttreatment, and three-month followup. We implemented further improvements over past research with the use of adolescent-specific outcome measures as well as independent assessment of treatment integrity, noted as problematic in previous studies, using videotapes.Results. Firstly, adolescents reported a decrease in trauma-based symptoms, suicidality, and NSSI following participation in the DBT programme that was maintained at the three-month followup. Secondly, adolescents also reported improved emotion regulation immediately following treatment, and this was maintained, albeit more moderately, three months later. Given the burgeoning demand on mental health services, it is notable that five of the six adolescents were discharged from the service following the DBT intervention.Conclusions. The results of this pilot programme suggest that DBT has the potential to improve the symptoms of this at-risk population.
Novel Oxidative Desulfurization of a Model Fuel with H2O2 Catalyzed by AlPMo12O40 under Phase Transfer Catalyst-Free Conditions
Authors: José da Silva Márcio , Faria dos Santos Lidiane
Published: June 2013

A novel process was developed for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) in the absence of a phase transfer catalyst (PTC) using only Keggin heteropolyacids and their aluminum salts as catalysts. Reactions were performed in biphasic mixtures of isooctane/acetonitrile, with dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a model sulfur compound and hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Remarkably, only the AlPMo12O40-catalyzed reactions resulted in complete oxidation of DBT into DBT sulfone, which was totally extracted by acetonitrile, reducing the sulfur content of isooctane from the 1000 ppm to <1 ppm. Ranking of catalyst efficiency is as follows: AlPMo12O40 > H3PMo12O40 > AlPW12O40 > H3PW12O40. The absence of a PTC, acidic organic peroxides, and the use of hydrogen peroxide, an environmentally benign oxidant, make up the positive aspects of AlPMo12O40-catalyzed ODS reactions. In these reactions, high rates of DBT removal (ca. 100%) were achieved within a short time (ca. 2 hours) and under mild reaction conditions.
The Use of START/STOPP Criteria for Elderly Patients in Primary Care
Authors: Yayla Muhteşem Erol , Bilge Uğur , Binen Elif , Keskin Ahmet
Published: June 2013

Aim. Our aim was to detect older patients who were prescribed inappropriate drugs according to START/STOPP criteria in primary care. Materials and Method. Patients aged over 65, admitted to health center no. 5 in Afyon, were included. The files of the subjects were surveyed retrospectively for the final one year in the digital environment, using the Family Medicine Information System. The files surveyed allowed us to list the drugs they used in the past year and to detect inappropriate drug use. Results. The number of patients that took part in this study was 325 (average age: 73.23 ± 6.44 years). We found that, among these participants, 48 patients (14.8%) were using drugs inappropriately according to STOPP criteria. Conclusion. Further focus on avoiding inappropriate drug use will allow clinicians and other health professionals to reduce side effects and other complications. In patients aged over 65, there is a need to attach particular importance to inappropriate drug use, drug interactions, and avoidance of side effects.
LRS Bianchi Type-I Dark Energy Cosmological Models in General Scalar Tensor Theory of Gravitation
Authors: Rao V. U. M. , Neelima D.
Published: June 2013

Locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-I dark energy cosmological model with variable equation of state (EoS) parameter in (Nordtvedt 1970) general scalar tensor theory of gravitation with the help of a special case proposed by (Schwinger 1970) is obtained. It is observed that these anisotropic and isotropic dark energy cosmological models always represent an accelerated universe and are consistent with the recent observations of type-Ia supernovae. Some important features of the models, thus obtained, have been discussed.