bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of trichiasis recurrence after primary bilamellar tarsal rotation or anterior lamellar repositioning surgery performed for trachoma
Authors: Barr Kieran , Essex Rohan W , Liu Susie , Henderson Tim
Published: August 2013

Background

To compare the trichiasis recurrence rate following bilamellar tarsal rotation or anterior lamellar repositioning, performed as primary surgery for trachomatous trichiasis.

Design

Retrospective consecutive case series.

Participants

All cases of trachomatous trichiasis undergoing primary surgical correction at Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, between 1 June 2001 and 11 June 2011 were included.

Methods

Retrospective chart review. Key baseline, operative and outcome details were collected from the notes.

Main Outcome Measure

Recurrent trichiasis was defined as one or more lashes touching the cornea, resulting in recurrent symptoms of trichiasis and warranting further surgery in the opinion of the treating ophthalmologist.

Results

Sixty‐seven BTR and eighteen ALR procedures were performed, with BTR being performed from 2001 to 2008, and ALR from 2008 to 2011. The mean follow‐up times were significantly different for the BTR group (1654 days) and for the ALR group (673 days)(P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis did not reveal any significant differences in recurrence rate between the two procedures overall (P = 0.935). Analysis of the 2008 calendar year (the only year where both procedures were performed and therefore had equal follow‐up times) suggested that ALR might have a lower recurrence rate (1/10 ALR recurrences vs. 4/6 BTR recurrences, P = 0.181).

Conclusions

The results do not demonstrate a difference in the recurrence rate between the two techniques. Inconsistent follow times however leave uncertainty in this result, and a larger prospective randomised study is warranted to address this question.
Design Joins the Battle Against Sickle‐Cell Disease
Authors: Crosby Lori E. , Joffe Naomi E. , Dunseath Linda A. , Lee Rachel
Published: August 2013

A design‐thinking approach at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center helps kids with sickle‐cell disease transition into managing their disease as adults.
Seed characterization and direct sowing of native grass species as a management tool
Authors: Aires S. S. , Sato M. N. , Miranda H. S.
Published: August 2013

There is insufficient information about germination, seed biology and seedling establishment of native grass species of the cerrado (Brazilian savannah) to recommend their use in restoration of disturbed areas. We evaluated the production, percentage of fertile seeds, germination, seedling growth and establishment in the field of eighteen native grass species and one exotic invasive species (Melinis minutiflora) and also the effects of different storage periods on germination. The percentage of fertile seeds varied from 6·0 to 94·2% among native species. Ten species produced a minimum of 800 fertile seeds per gram. Germination rate was in the range of 11·0 to 98·8%. Storage for 1 year reduced the germination rate in one species, did not affect germination of three species and increased germination (by 2–10 times) in 14 species. After 2 years of storage, six species showed reductions in germination. Three different patterns of resource allocation were observed and might provide mechanisms for increasing seedling establishment under different environmental conditions. In the field, only two species flowered in the first year after sowing and an additional eight in the second year of observation. Melinis minutiflora is an aggressive species with more than three times the fertile seed production of native species (2820 seeds per gram), high germination rate (55%) and a high number of germinable seeds (1551 per gram). Despite the wide variation in seed characteristics and the delay in flowering, it is concluded that most native grass species can be used in projects aiming at the restoration and management of degraded areas.
Virus infection, antiviral immunity, and autoimmunity
Authors: Getts Daniel R. , Chastain Emily M. L. , Terry Rachael L. , Miller Stephen D.
Published: August 2013

As a group of disorders, autoimmunity ranks as the third most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western World. However, the etiology of most autoimmune diseases remains unknown. Although genetic linkage studies support a critical underlying role for genetics, the geographic distribution of these disorders as well as the low concordance rates in monozygotic twins suggest that a combination of other factors including environmental ones are involved. Virus infection is a primary factor that has been implicated in the initiation of autoimmune disease. Infection triggers a robust and usually well‐coordinated immune response that is critical for viral clearance. However, in some instances, immune regulatory mechanisms may falter, culminating in the breakdown of self‐tolerance, resulting in immune‐mediated attack directed against both viral and self‐antigens. Traditionally, cross‐reactive T‐cell recognition, known as molecular mimicry, as well as bystander T‐cell activation, culminating in epitope spreading, have been the predominant mechanisms elucidated through which infection may culminate in an T‐cell‐mediated autoimmune response. However, other hypotheses including virus‐induced decoy of the immune system also warrant discussion in regard to their potential for triggering autoimmunity. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which virus infection and antiviral immunity contribute to the development of autoimmunity.
The Motivation‐Facilitation Theory of Prenatal Care Access
Authors: Phillippi Julia C. , Roman Marian W.
Published: August 2013

Despite the availability of services, accessing health care remains a problem in the United States and other developed countries. Prenatal care has the potential to improve perinatal outcomes and decrease health disparities, yet many women struggle with access to care. Current theories addressing access to prenatal care focus on barriers, although such knowledge is minimally useful for clinicians. We propose a middle‐range theory, the motivation‐facilitation theory of prenatal care access, which condenses the prenatal care access process into 2 interacting components: motivation and facilitation. Maternal motivation is the mother's desire to begin and maintain care. Facilitation represents the goal of the clinic to create easy, open access to person‐centered beneficial care. This simple model directs the focus of research and change to the interface of the woman and the clinic and encourages practice‐level interventions that facilitate women entering and maintaining prenatal care.
Ontogenetic variation in epibiont community structure in the deep‐sea yeti crab,Kiwa puravida: convergence among crustaceans
Authors: Goffredi Shana K. , Gregory Ann , Jones William J. , Morella Norma M. , Sakamoto Reid I.
Published: August 2013

Recent investigations have demonstrated that unusually ‘hairy’ yeti crabs within the family Kiwaidae associate with two predominant filamentous bacterial families, the Epsilon and Gammaproteobacteria. These analyses, however, were based on samples collected from a single body region, the setae of pereopods. To more thoroughly investigate the microbiome associated withKiwa puravida, a yeti crab species from Costa Rica, we utilized barcoded 16SrRNAamplicon pyrosequencing, as well as microscopy and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results indicate that, indeed, the bacterial community on the pereopods is far less diverse than on the rest of the body (Shannon indices ranged from 1.30–2.02 and 2.22–2.66, respectively). Similarly, the bacterial communities associated with juveniles and adults were more complex than previously recognized, with as many as 46 bacterial families represented. Ontogenetic differences in the microbial community, from egg to juvenile to adult, included a dramatic under‐representation of the Helicobacteraceae and higher abundances of both Thiotrichaceae and Methylococcaceae for the eggs, which paralleled patterns observed in another bacteria–crustacean symbiosis. The degree to which abiotic and biotic feedbacks influence the bacterial community on the crabs is still not known, but predictions suggest that both the local environment and host‐derived factors influence the establishment and maintenance of microbes associated with the surfaces of aquatic animals.
VII. NIH TOOLBOX COGNITION BATTERY (CB): FACTOR STRUCTURE FOR 3 TO 15 YEAR OLDS
Authors: Mungas Dan , Widaman Keith , Zelazo Philip David , Tulsky David , Heaton Robert K. , Slotkin Jerry , Blitz David L. , Gershon Richard C.
Published: August 2013

Confirmatory factor analysis was used the evaluate the dimensional structure underlying the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (CB) and the measures chosen to serve as concurrent validity criteria for the NIH Toolbox CB. These results were used to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity of the CB in children ranging from 3 to 15 years of age. Results were evaluated separately for a 3‐ to 6‐year‐old group and a 8‐ to 15‐year‐old group because different validation measures were used in these age groups. Three distinct dimensions were found for the 3‐ to 6‐year‐old group: Vocabulary, Reading, and Fluid Abilities. Five dimensions were found for 8–15 year olds: Vocabulary, Reading, Episodic Memory, Working Memory, and Executive Function/Processing Speed. CB measures and their validation analogues consistently defined common factors in a pattern that broadly supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the CB, but results showed higher intercorrelation and less differentiation of cognitive dimensions in younger than in older children and in older children compared with adults. Age was strongly related to the cognitive dimensions underlying test performance in both groups of children and results are consistent with broader literature showing increasing differentiation of cognitive abilities associated with the rapid brain development that occurs from early childhood into adulthood.
IX. NIH TOOLBOX COGNITION BATTERY (CB): SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Bauer Patricia J. , Zelazo Philip David
Published: August 2013

This monograph describes the creation of the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIH Toolbox CB) and reports validation data for children ages 3–15 years. Individual chapters described measures of executive function, episodic memory, language, working memory, speed of processing, and attention. Separate chapters were devoted to the factor structure of the test battery and composite measures of cognitive health (Total Composite, Fluid Composite, Crystallized Composite). In all cases, the NIH Toolbox CB measures showed sensitivity to age‐related changes across the 3‐ to 15‐year range as well as test/retest reliability. The measures also demonstrated adequate to excellent convergent validity, and there was evidence of greater discriminant validity among older than younger children. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed five‐ and three‐factor models for the older (8–15 year olds) and younger (3–6 year olds) children, respectively. The correlation between the Fluid and Crystallized Composite scores was higher among the younger than the older children. The overall pattern is suggestive of greater differentiation of cognitive abilities with age. The strong psychometric properties of the CB and its apparent sensitivity to patterns of developmental change suggest that it is an important advance in the study of cognitive development and has the potential to substantially accelerate discoveries through use of common methods across disparate laboratories and even disciplines.
EuroFIR: Where we are now?
Authors: Gibson‐Moore H.
Published: August 2013

EuroFIR (European Food Information Resource) Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (AISBL) is an international non‐profit association to ensure sustained advocacy for food information in Europe. This article describes the importance of providing up‐to‐date food composition data and summarises the history of EuroFIR from its inception to its end (2005–2010), including the British Nutrition Foundation's involvement in the project. Also highlighted are the main EU projects that EuroFIR is/has been involved in, along with the many benefits that EuroFIR continues to offer its members.
Natural variation and artificial selection in four genes determine grain shape in rice
Authors: Lu Li , Shao Di , Qiu Xianjin , Sun Liang , Yan Wenhao , Zhou Xiangchun , Yang Lin , He Yuqing , Yu Sibin , Xing Yongzhong
Published: August 2013

The size of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) grains has been altered by both domestication and artificial selection over the course of evolutionary history. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain size have been cloned in the past 10 yr. To explore the natural variation in these QTLs, resequencing of grain width and weight 2 (GW2), grain size 5 (GS5) and QTL for seed width 5 (qSW5) and genotyping of grain size 3 (GS3) were performed in the germplasms of 127 varieties of rice (O. sativa) and 10–15 samples of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon).

Ten, 10 and 15 haplotypes were observed for GW2, GS5 and qSW5. qSW5 and GS3 had the strongest effects on grain size, which have been widely utilized in rice production, whereas GW2 and GS5 showed more modest effects.

GS5 showed small sequence variations in O. sativa germplasm and that of its progenitor O. rufipogon. qSW5 exhibited the highest level of nucleotide diversity. GW2 showed signs of purifying selection. The four grain size genes experienced different selection intensities depending on their genetic effects. In the indica population, linkage disequilibrium (LD) was detected among GS3, qSW5 and GS5.

The substantial genetic variation in these four genes provides the flexibility needed to design various rice grain shapes. These findings provide insight into the evolutionary features of grain size genes in rice.
Effect of alien cytoplasm and fertility restorer genes on agronomic and physiological traits of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern
Authors: Chamola Rohit , Balyan Harindra S. , Bhat Shripad R.
Published: August 2013

To assess the effect of alien cytoplasm and fertility restorer genes on agronomic and physiological traits in Brassica juncea, cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and fertility restorer lines involving five alloplasms in three nuclear backgrounds were constituted through repeated backcrossing. These lines were evaluated along with euplasmic lines for agronomic traits in field experiments. Respiration efficiency of in vitro cultured hypocotyls, and chlorophyll content in leaves were also estimated. Significant adverse effects of trachystoma and catholica cytoplasms on yield‐contributing traits and yield were noticed. The restorer gene corrected the floral defects in CMS trachystoma and restored yield to the level of euplasmic line, while it did so only partly in CMS catholica. Restorer genes had no adverse effect on traits in any of the systems. On the contrary, the Rf gene of moricandia CMS system exerted a positive effect on leaf chlorophyll content. Likewise, in vitro assay indicated the moricandia CMS system as vigorous. The moricandia CMS plants gave higher seed yield perhaps due to overall better vigour and higher leaf chlorophyll content.
Association of Valdecoxib, a Nonsteroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drug, with Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Encinas Maria V. , Lissi Eduardo , Vergara Claudio
Published: August 2013

Valdecoxib addition quenches the intrinsic human serum albumin (HSA) fluorescence. This allows an evaluation of the drug–protein association. However, both the number of binding sites and their affinity for the drug depend upon the methodology employed for their evaluation and the employed protein concentration. In this work, we measured the effect of valdecoxib on HSA fluorescence yield over a wide range of experimental conditions and discuss the validity of the binding parameters derived from the different data treatments: Stern–Volmer, Scatchard, double logarithmic, quadratic equation, Benesi–Hilderand, and Encinas–Lissi. It is proposed that a combination of Encinas–Lissi and Scatchard treatments of the data renders the most reliable results. From these data, it is concluded that HSA presents three high‐affinity binding sites for valdecoxib (Kas = 4.5 × 104 m−1) and several secondary sites of smaller activity.
Role of ascospores and conidia in the initiation and spread of South American leaf blight in a rubber tree plantation
Authors: Guyot J. , Condina V. , Doaré F. , Cilas C. , Sache I.
Published: August 2013

Microcyclus ulei, the fungus causing South American leaf blight (SALB) on rubber tree leaves, produces two main types of spores: ascospores and conidia. To assess their respective epidemiological role, a field experiment was conducted in French Guiana over 3 years. Tree phenology, disease severity and climate variables were recorded while airborne spores were trapped and quantified. Ascospores were shown to play an essential role in the perpetuation of the disease outside the host's growth periods, in the resumption of epidemics, and in the spread of the disease to disease‐free zones. Conidia were trapped in visibly infected plots only, during periods of host growth. Disseminated over short distances and present only temporarily on leaves, the conidia enabled the disease to spread stepwise when the climate was conducive. Segmentation analysis revealed that the duration of high relative humidity was the climatic variable most related to ascospore trapping. Ascospore release did not require low temperatures. Considering the essential role of the ascospores in the initiation and spread of disease, artificial defoliation as a means of reducing the inoculum pressure during tree refoliation is proposed to control SALB. To check the validity of this method, a survey over several years of natural defoliation–refoliation in relation to climate and other leaf diseases is needed.
Three‐dimensional Displacement and Shape Measurement with a Diffraction‐assisted Grid Method
Authors: Notbohm J. , Rosakis A. , Kumagai S. , Xia S. , Ravichandran G.
Published: August 2013

The grid method is a full‐field optical technique for computing surface displacements and strains of a material by analyzing the phase of grid lines patterned on the specimen. To date, most experiments using the grid method have measured only two‐dimensional in‐plane deformations. Here, the grid method is extended to three dimensions by using a crossed grid pattern and a diffraction grating which enables acquiring images from multiple viewing angles on a single camera. In‐plane displacements and strains are computed using the conventional grid method, and the corresponding three‐dimensional (3D) displacements—including out‐of‐plane displacements or shapes—are computed by analyzing the images collected at different viewing angles. The technique is demonstrated by measuring 3D rigid body motion, the 3D displacements of a membrane in a pressure‐bulge experiment, and the out‐of‐plane curvature of a cylindrical specimen.
A Simple Statistical Energy Analysis Technique on Modeling Continuous Coupling Interfaces
Authors: Ji Lin , Huang Zhenyu
Published: August 2013

In statistical energy analysis (SEA) modeling, it is desirable that the SEA coupling loss factors (CLFs) between two continuously connected subsystems can be estimated in a convenient way. A simple SEA modeling technique is recommended in that continuous coupling interfaces may be replaced by sets of discrete points, provided the points are spaced at an appropriate distance apart. Consequently, the simple CLF formulae derived from discretely-connected substructures can be applied for continuous coupling cases. Based on the numerical investigations on SEA modeling of two thin plates connected along a line, a point-spacing criterion is recommended by fitting the point- and line-connection data of the two plates. It shows that the point spacing depends on not only the wavelengths but also the wavelength ratio of the two coupled subsystems.
Numerical Study on the Effect of Real Syngas Compositions on Ignition Delay Times and Laminar Flame Speeds at Gas Turbine Conditions
Authors: Mathieu Olivier , Petersen Eric L. , Heufer Alexander , Donohoe Nicola , Metcalfe Wayne , Curran Henry J. , Güthe Felix , Bourque Gilles
Published: August 2013

Depending on the feedstock and the production method, the composition of syngas can include (in addition to H2 and CO) small hydrocarbons, diluents (CO2, water, and N2), and impurities (H2S, NH3, NOx, etc.). Despite this fact, most of the studies on syngas combustion do not include hydrocarbons or impurities and in some cases not even diluents in the fuel mixture composition. Hence, studies with realistic syngas composition are necessary to help in designing gas turbines. The aim of this work was to investigate numerically the effect of the variation in the syngas composition on some fundamental combustion properties of premixed systems such as laminar flame speed and ignition delay time at realistic engine operating conditions. Several pressures, temperatures, and equivalence ratios were investigated for the ignition delay times, namely 1, 10, and 35 atm, 900–1400 K, and ϕ = 0.5 and 1.0. For laminar flame speed, temperatures of 300 and 500 K were studied at pressures of 1 atm and 15 atm. Results showed that the addition of hydrocarbons generally reduces the reactivity of the mixture (longer ignition delay time, slower flame speed) due to chemical kinetic effects. The amplitude of this effect is, however, dependent on the nature and concentration of the hydrocarbon as well as the initial condition (pressure, temperature, and equivalence ratio).
Planar metal–insulator–metal diodes based on the Nb/Nb2O5/X material system
Authors: Chin Matthew L. , Periasamy Prakash , O'Regan Terrance P. , Amani Matin , Tan Cheng , O'Hayre Ryan P. , Berry Joseph J. , Osgood Richard M. , Parilla Philip A. , Ginley David S. , Dubey Madan
Published: August 2013

The authors report the performance of various planar metal–insulator–metal (MIM) tunneling diodes, which are being investigated for use in rectenna devices for energy harvesting applications. Six cathode materials (M2): Nb, Ag, Cu, Ni, Au, and Pt are studied in conjunction with Nb as the anode (M1) and Nb2O5 (I) as the dielectric. The cathode materials selections were based on results from a prior rapid-screening study that employed a bent-wire metal cathode point-contact method. Planar devices, to enable analysis using standard MIM diode models, were fabricated with the resultant current density–voltage data obtained at both room temperature and 77 K. The tunnel barrier heights and dielectric properties for these systems were extracted from the modeling results. Nb/Nb2O5/Pt MIM diodes showed the best performance with an asymmetry ratio greater than 7700, a nonlinearity value of 4.7, and a responsivity of 16.9, all at 0.5 V and 300 K. These results confirm prior rapid-screening efforts and further validate the Nb/Nb2O5/Pt system in particular as a promising MIM architecture due to the low barrier height of the junction.
Reversibly Assembled Cellular Composite Materials
Authors: Cheung Kenneth C. , Gershenfeld Neil
Published: August 2013

Quality Ultralight

Ensuring the light-weight and high-strength properties of carbon-fiber composite materials is costly.
Cheung and Gershenfeld
(p.
1219
, published online 15 August; see the Perspective by

Schaedler
et al.

) have mass-produced cross-sectional parts that can be assembled into strong, ultralight lattices. Carbon-fiber composites are sliced into cross-shaped pieces that can be independently tested and reliably assembled into rigid and reversible cuboctahedral lattices.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lignocellulose-Degrading Thermophilic Bacterium
Geobacillus
sp. Strain WSUCF1
Authors: Bhalla Aditya , Kainth Amoldeep Singh , Sani Rajesh K.
Published: August 2013

Geobacillus
sp. strain WSUCF1 is a thermophilic spore-forming member of the phylum
Firmicutes
, isolated from a soil sample collected from the compost facility. We report the draft genome sequence of this isolate with an estimated genome size of 3.4 Mb. The genome sequence of this isolate revealed several genes encoding glycoside hydrolases, making it a potential candidate for plant biomass degradation.
Genome Sequence of a Novel Polymer-Grade
l
-Lactate-Producing Alkaliphile,
Exiguobacterium
sp. Strain 8-11-1
Authors: Jiang Xu , Xue Yanfen , Wang Limin , Yu Bo , Ma Yanhe
Published: August 2013

Exiguobacterium
sp. strain 8-11-1 is a newly isolated alkaliphile, which was reported to efficiently produce
l
-lactate using NaOH as the neutralizing agent. Here, we present the first 2.9-Mb assembly of its genome sequence, which may provide useful information related to its efficient lactate production and sodium ion tolerance capacities.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505, an Immunobiotic Strain Used in Social Food Programs in Argentina
Authors: Taranto María Pía , Villena Julio , Salva Susana , Alvarez Susana , Savoy de Giori Graciela , Font de Valdez Graciela , Hebert Elvira M.
Published: August 2013

We report the draft genome sequence of the probiotic
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
strain CRL1505. This new probiotic strain has been included into official Nutritional Programs in Argentina. The draft genome sequence is composed of 3,417,633 bp with 3,327 coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequence of Leifsonia rubra Strain CMS 76R
T
, Isolated from a Cyanobacterial Mat Sample from a Pond in Wright Valley, McMurdo, Antarctica
Authors: Kumar Pinnaka Anil , Singh Aditya , Ara Sreenivas , Begum Zareena , Reddy Gundlapally Satyanaryana , Shivaji S.
Published: August 2013

The 2.7-Mb draft genome sequence of
Leifsonia rubra
strain CMS 76R
T
, isolated from a cyanobacterial mat sample from a pond in Wright Valley, McMurdo, Antarctica, is reported.
Genome Sequence of a Reassortant H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Domestic Green-Winged Teal
Authors: Xiong Chaochao , Liu Qian , Chen Quanjiao , Chen Jianjun
Published: August 2013

An avian influenza virus strain, A/domestic green-winged teal/Hunan/3450/2006(H5N1) (DGW-T3450), was isolated from domestic green-winged teals. Genome analysis demonstrated that DGW-T3450 is a novel reassortant strain. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of this strain originated from H5N1 viruses circulating in poultry, while its remaining genes are derived from multiple ancestors, including viruses like those that infect wild birds.
Republished: Obesity and colorectal cancer
Authors: Bardou Marc , Barkun Alan N , Martel Myriam
Published: August 2013

Excess body weight, as defined by the body mass index (BMI), has been associated with several diseases and includes subjects who are overweight (BMI≥25–29.9 kg/m2) or obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2). Overweight and obesity constitute the fifth leading risk for overall mortality, accounting for at least 2.8 million adult deaths each year. In addition around 11% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases have been attributed to overweight and obesity in Europe. Epidemiological data suggest that obesity is associated with a 30–70% increased risk of colon cancer in men, whereas the association is less consistent in women. Similar trends exist for colorectal adenoma, although the risk appears lower. Visceral fat, or abdominal obesity, seems to be of greater concern than subcutaneous fat obesity, and any 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI confers additional risk (HR 1.03). Obesity might be associated with worse cancer outcomes, such as recurrence of the primary cancer or mortality. Several factors, including reduced sensitivity to antiangiogenic-therapeutic regimens, might explain these differences. Except for wound infection, obesity has no significant impact on surgical procedures. The underlying mechanisms linking obesity to CRC are still a matter of debate, but metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and modifications in levels of adipocytokines seem to be of great importance. Other biological factors such as the gut microbita or bile acids are emerging. Many questions still remain unanswered: should preventive strategies specifically target obese patients? Is the risk of cancer great enough to propose prophylactic bariatric surgery in certain patients with obesity?
Apelin-13 deteriorates hypertension in rats after damage of the vascular endothelium by ADMA
Authors: Han Xue , Zhang Dong-Liang , Yin Dao-Xin , Zhang Qi-Dong , Liu Wen-Hu
Published: August 2013

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. The polypeptide apelin has biphasic effects on blood vessels in vivo and in vitro. We investigated the effect of apelin-13 on ADMA-damaged vessels. Rats were divided among ADMA-treated and control groups, which were treated with ADMA (10 mg·(kg body mass)−1·day−1) or saline, respectively, for 4 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured before and after the injection of apelin-13. The ultrastructure of endothelial cells in caudal arteries was examined using transmission electron microscopy. The reactivities of isolated caudal artery rings were observed after exposure to apelin-13, and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation was assessed by immunohistochemistry in rings treated with or without apelin-13. ADMA induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. After injection of apelin-13, SBP declined in the control group but was elevated in the ADMA-treated group. In vitro, apelin-13 caused relaxation in rings in the control group, but it contracted rings in the ADMA-treated group. Apelin-13 promoted MLC phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the ADMA group. These results indicate that apelin-13 might pass through ADMA-damaged endothelium and act on VSMCs to increase MLC phosphorylation, thus contributing to vasoconstriction and exacerbating hypertension.
Modulation of thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis by sildenafil treatment
Authors: Said Eman , Said Shehta A. , Gameil Nariman M. , Ammar Elsayed M.
Published: August 2013

Sildenafil citrate is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It enhances nitric-oxide-induced vasodilatation and it promotes angiogenesis. A relationship between angiogenesis and hepatic fibrosis has long been speculated, where the 2 are believed to progress together. In this study, the ability of sildenafil (10 mg·(kg body mass)–1, orally, once daily) to prevent and also reverse liver fibrosis/cirrhosis experimentally induced by thioacetamide injection (200 mg·kg–1, intraperitoneal (i.p.), 3 times·week–1) in male Sprague–Dawley rats has been investigated. Sildenafil administration, either to prevent or to reverse liver fibrosis/cirrhosis significantly improved the estimated hepatic functions, reduced hepatic hydroxyproline and, in turn, hepatic collagen content, as well as reducing serum levels of the pro-fibrogenic mediator transforming growth factor β1. In co-ordination with such improvement, fibrosis grades declined and fibrosis retracted. Herein, the observed results provide evidence for the potential therapeutic efficacy of sildenafil as an antifibrotic agent.
Haplotype combination of polymorphisms in the ADIPOQ gene promoter is associated with growth traits in Qinchuan cattle
Authors: Zhang Liangzhi , Li Mijie , Lai Xinsheng , Yang Mingjuan , Xu Yao , Hua Liushuai , Lan Xianyong , Zhang Chunlei , Chen Hong
Published: August 2013

Adiponectin modulates lipid and glucose metabolism in adipose tissues and is also related to bone metabolism. Polymorphisms in the ADIPOQ gene likely have an impact on growth traits in cattle. In this study, we examined the relationship between ADIPOQ polymorphisms and body measurement parameters in Chinese beef cattle. First, we sequenced ADIPOQ and 1.2 kb of DNA upstream of its promoter, and we found 14 polymorphisms. With the luciferase reporter assay, we showed that the two polymorphisms SNP PR_–135 A>G and PR_–68 G>C, which are located in the core region of promoter, influence promoter activity of ADIPOQ. Second, we identified three haplotypes involved in these two polymorphic sites: A (A–135/C–68), B (A–135/G–68), and C (G–135/G–68). Haplotypes B and C are major haplotypes in five Chinese populations of cattle (Qinchuan, Nanyang, Jiaxian, Hazakh, and Chinese Holstein). We studied the effects of these three haplotypes on body measurements, gene expression, and promoter activity, and we found that the genotypes are associated with body measurement parameters in Qinchuan cattle. Individuals with genotype BC (AG/GG) had significantly higher body height and heart girth than others, and this result may be interpreted by the following two observations. The promoter activity with haplotype B (A/G) is significantly higher than those with A (A/C) and C (G/G) in driving reporter gene transcription; the ADIPOQ mRNA level in cattle with genotype BC (AG/GG) is relatively lower than that in cattle with genotype BB (AA/GG).
A COMMON SCENARIO LEADING TO A SMALL VACUUM ENERGY AND STABLE SUPER-MASSIVE PARTICLES
Authors: SANTILLÁN OSVALDO P.
Published: August 2013

A toy model giving rise to long-lived super-heavy particles and a small vacuum density energy, of the order of the one measured in the present universe, is presented. It consists in a hidden sector, invariant under an SU(2) gauge symmetry, with some masses provided by a specific double Higgs mechanism. It is assumed that the Standard Model particles are also charged under the SU(2) interaction, which is weak enough to allow super-heavy particles with mean lifetime with values larger than the age of the universe. The hidden fermions and the hidden Higgs are super-heavy, which mass values close to the GUT scale. In addition, there is a spontaneously broken U(1) chiral symmetry, giving rise to a pseudoscalar Goldstone boson which we refer as a "hidden axion". The vacuum energy of the universe is identified as the potential energy of this pseudoscalar.
PARAMETRIZED FORM OF THE DYNAMIC POLARIZATION POTENTIAL FOR THE 6He + 208Pb INTERACTION
Authors: AYGUN M. , BOZTOSUN I. , RUSEK K.
Published: August 2013

We investigate the dynamic polarization potential (DPP) contribution to the bare potential obtained by using double-folding model (DFM) within the framework of the Optical Model (OM) for the different density distributions of 6 He nucleus scattered from 208 Pb target at 22 MeV. The final results are in agreement with the experimental data. We are proposing a new parametrization of the DPP that could be very useful in other weakly bound projectile studies.
EFFECTIVE DEGREES OF FREEDOM IN LOW-ENERGY QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS
Authors: PLESSAS WILLIBALD
Published: August 2013

Confinement and spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry are assumed to generate the governing degrees of freedom of low-energy quantum chromodynamics. On this basis a relativistic constituent-quark model is constructed and formulated along an invariant mass operator within Poincaré-invariant quantum mechanics. The model is effectively applied to the spectroscopy of all known baryons of flavors u, d, s, c and b. The mass-operator eigenstates are furthermore tested with regard to the baryon electromagnetic and axial form factors. Through using the point form of relativistic quantum mechanics, these observables are obtained in a manifestly covariant manner. For all light and strange baryon ground states the electroweak structures are reproduced either in good agreement with phenomenology or, if no experimental data exist, in consistency with results available from lattice quantum chromodynamics. It is concluded that the relativistic constituent-quark model, relying on {QQQ} Fock states only, provides a universal framework for the description of low-energy baryons. The most important ingredients are spontaneous chiral-symmetry breaking and strict relativistic invariance.
GRADED GEOMETRIC STRUCTURES UNDERLYING F-THEORY RELATED DEFECT THEORIES
Authors: OIKONOMOU V. K.
Published: August 2013

In the context of F-theory, we study the related eight-dimensional super-Yang–Mills theory and reveal the underlying supersymmetric quantum mechanics algebra that the fermionic fields localized on the corresponding defect theory are related to. Particularly, the localized fermionic fields constitute a graded vector space, and in turn this graded space enriches the geometric structures that can be built on the initial eight-dimensional space. We construct the implied composite fiber bundles, which include the graded affine vector space and demonstrate that the composite sections of this fiber bundle are in one-to-one correspondence to the sections of the square root of the canonical bundle corresponding to the submanifold on which the zero modes are localized.
EXPLORING THE CONTROL OF SPIRAL WAVES AND SPATIOTEMPORAL CHAOS BY STOCHASTIC AND CROSS-COUPLING METHOD
Authors: ZHAO RUI , PAN WEI , XUE YU
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we propose the stochastic and unidirectional cross-coupled control method between two-layer excitable media to suppress the spiral waves and spatiotemporal chaos. Four types of the drive-response system in such two-layer excitable media are studied. By performing many simulations, results illustrate the spiral waves and spatiotemporal chaos can be controlled to the desired target states like the target waves and traveling waves. Patterns obtained are obviously different from those of the one-to-one coupling model. Based on the method proposed by Henry, we have carefully studied the generalized synchronization between the drive and response system with the stochastic and cross-connecting points via amplitude analysis and computing Poisson coefficient. Moreover, there also exists the frequency locking phenomenon.
Gauge invariant composite fields out of connections, with examples
Authors: Fournel C. , François J. , Lazzarini S. , Masson T.
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we put forward a systematic and unifying approach to construct gauge invariant composite fields out of connections. It relies on the existence in the theory of a group-valued field with a prescribed gauge transformation. As an illustration, we detail some examples. Two of them are based on known results: the first one provides a reinterpretation of the symmetry breaking mechanism of the electroweak part of the Standard Model of particle physics; the second one is an application to Einstein's theory of gravity described as a gauge theory in terms of Cartan connections. The last example depicts a new situation: starting with a gauge field theory on Atiyah Lie algebroids, the gauge invariant composite fields describe massive vector fields. Some mathematical and physical discussions illustrate and highlight the relevance and the generality of this approach.
MOTION ARTIFACT REDUCTION IN FUNCTIONAL NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY SIGNALS BY AUTOREGRESSIVE MOVING AVERAGE MODELING BASED KALMAN FILTERING
Authors: AMIAN MEHDI , SETAREHDAN S. KAMALEDIN
Published: August 2013

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a technique that is used for noninvasive measurement of the oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) concentrations in the brain tissue. Since the ratio of the concentration of these two agents is correlated with the neuronal activity, fNIRS can be used for the monitoring and quantifying the cortical activity. The portability of fNIRS makes it a good candidate for studies involving subject's movement. The fNIRS measurements, however, are sensitive to artifacts generated by subject's head motion. This makes fNIRS signals less effective in such applications. In this paper, the autoregressive moving average (ARMA) modeling of the fNIRS signal is proposed for state-space representation of the signal which is then fed to the Kalman filter for estimating the motionless signal from motion corrupted signal. Results are compared to the autoregressive model (AR) based approach, which has been done previously, and show that the ARMA models outperform AR models. We attribute it to the richer structure, containing more terms indeed, of ARMA than AR. We show that the signal to noise ratio (SNR) is about 2 dB higher for ARMA based method.
CLASSIFICATION OF SKIN AUTOFLUORESCENCE SPECTRUM USING SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE IN TYPE 2 DIABETES SCREENING
Authors: ZHANG YUANZHI , ZHU LING , WANG YIKUN , ZHANG LONG , YE SHANDONG , LIU YONG , ZHANG GONG
Published: August 2013

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a complex and heterogeneous group of compounds that have been implicated in diabetes related complifications. Skin autofluorescence was recently introduced as an alternative tool for skin AGEs accumulation assessment in diabetes. Successful optical diagnosis of diabetes requires a rapid and accurate classification algorithm. In order to improve the performance of noninvasive and optical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, support vector machines (SVM) algorithm was implemented for the classification of skin autofluorescence from diabetics and control subjects. Cross-validation and grid-optimization methods were employed to calculate the optimal parameters that maximize classification accuracy. Classification model was set up according to the training set and then verified by the testing set. The results show that radical basis function is the best choice in the four common kernels in SVM. Moreover, a diagnostic accuracy of 82.61%, a sensitivity of 69.57%, and a specificity of 95.65% for discriminating diabetics from control subjects were achieved using a mixed kernel function, which is based on liner kernel function and radical basis function. In comparison with fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c test, the classification method of skin autofluorescence spectrum based on SVM shows great potential in screening of diabetes.
A NOVEL CO-TEMPLATING METHOD FOR HIERARCHICAL MESOPOROUS ALUMINA MONOLITHS REPLICA
Authors: TANG SHAOKUN , CUI XILI , GU LING , ZHOU HU , ZHANG XIANGWEN
Published: August 2013

In this paper, hierarchical meso/macroporous aluminas were obtained by using nonionic block copolymer EO 106 PO 70 EO 106( F 127)/agarose hydrogel as cotemplates. The hierarchical structure was confirmed by SEM, TEM and small-angle X-ray diffraction. The results showed that Al 2 O 3 exhibited a hierarchical structure with interconnected replicable macropores reproduced by agarose scaffold and ordered mesopores constructed by F 127 with uniform size. The template employed here is easy to prepare, degradable and reproducible, indicating the agarose xerogel as a promising candidate for the fabrication of porous metal oxides.
REVERSAL OF FIBRONECTIN-INDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL DEGENERATION WITH ENCAPSULATED MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS
Authors: DOLLÉ JEAN-PIERRE , BARMINKO JEFFREY , VERUVA SAI , MOURE CASEY , SCHLOSS RENE , YARMUSH MARTIN L.
Published: August 2013

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) can promote tissue protection following injury, in part by modulating inflammatory cell responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential tissue protective properties of encapsulated MSCs (eMSC) in an organotypic injury model induced by fibronectin culture. MSC were encapsulated in alginate beads containing a network of nanopores, which segregate the cells from the extracapsular milieu, while still permitting diffusion into and out of the capsule. An increase in blood brain barrier permeability during pathological conditions permits the influx of blood plasma constituents that can be quite harmful to surrounding tissues. In particular, increased concentrations of fibronectin have been shown in a number of diseases and CNS traumas, co-localizing in areas of activated microglia. We observed over a 14-day period, a consistent increase in OHC degradation in the presence of fibronectin measured by a significant decrease in slice area, the breakdown in OHC pyramidal layers, and consistent cell death over the culture period. Microglial ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA-1) expression remained elevated throughout the culture period with the majority found within the pyramidal layers. When eMSC were added to the cultures, a significant decrease in OHC degradation was observed as reflected by a reduction in OHC area shrinkage and in the amount of cell death. In the presence of eMSC, pyramidal layer structure was maintained and axonal extension from the periphery of the OHCs was observed. Therefore, MSC, delivered in a nanoporous alginate matrix, can modulate responses to injury by reversing fibronectin-induced OHC degradation.
THERMAL RELAXATION IN MAGNETIC MATERIALS: A SURVEY
Authors: KLIK IVO , CHANG CHING-RAY
Published: August 2013

This paper presents a survey of the methods of statistical physics which are applied to the problem of thermal agitation in magnetic materials. The main focus of the work is the stochastic dynamics described by the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation for which most analytic results are known, and which has been most commonly used in numerical simulations. We also present the much more recent Landau–Lifshitz–Bloch equation and the numerical calculations describing magnetization dynamics close to the Curie point. The paper is concluded by a description of the newly introduced jump-noise and of the Barkhausen jumps.
The human uterine smooth muscle S-nitrosoproteome fingerprint in pregnancy, labor, and preterm labor
Authors: Ulrich Craig , Quilici David R. , Schlauch Karen A. , Buxton Iain L. O.
Published: August 2013

Molecular mechanisms involved in uterine quiescence during gestation and those responsible for induction of labor at term are incompletely known. More than 10% of babies born worldwide are premature and 1,000,000 die annually. Preterm labor results in preterm delivery in 50% of cases in the United States explaining 75% of fetal morbidity and mortality. There is no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment to prevent preterm delivery. Nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of human uterine smooth muscle is independent of global elevation of cGMP following activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. S-nitrosation is a likely mechanism to explain cGMP-independent relaxation to nitric oxide and may reveal S-nitrosated proteins as new therapeutic targets for the treatment of preterm labor. Employing S-nitrosoglutathione as an nitric oxide donor, we identified 110 proteins that are S-nitrosated in 1 or more states of human pregnancy. Using area under the curve of extracted ion chromatograms as well as normalized spectral counts to quantify relative expression levels for 62 of these proteins, we show that 26 proteins demonstrate statistically significant S-nitrosation differences in myometrium from spontaneously laboring preterm patients compared with nonlaboring patients. We identified proteins that were up- S-nitrosated as well as proteins that were down- S-nitrosated in preterm laboring tissues. Identification and relative quantification of the S-nitrosoproteome provide a fingerprint of proteins that can form the basis of hypothesis-directed efforts to understand the regulation of uterine contraction-relaxation and the development of new treatment for preterm labor.