bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum response factor: positive and negative regulation of an epithelial gene expression network in the destrin mutant cornea
Authors: Kawakami-Schulz Sharolyn V. , Verdoni Angela M. , Sattler Shannon G. , Jessen Erik , Kao Winston W.-Y. , Ikeda Akihiro , Ikeda Sakae
Published: February 2014

Increased angiogenesis, inflammation, and proliferation are hallmarks of diseased tissues, and in vivo models of these disease phenotypes can provide insight into disease pathology. Dstn corn1 mice, deficient for the actin depolymerizing factor destrin (DSTN), display an increase of serum response factor (SRF) that results in epithelial hyperproliferation, inflammation, and neovascularization in the cornea. Previous work demonstrated that conditional ablation of Srf from the corneal epithelium of Dstn corn1 mice returns the cornea to a wild-type (WT) like state. This result implicated SRF as a major regulator of genes that contributes to abnormal phenotypes in Dstn corn1 cornea. The purpose of this study is to identify gene networks that are affected by increased expression of Srf in the Dstn corn1 cornea. Microarray analysis led to characterization of gene expression changes that occur when conditional knockout of Srf rescues mutant phenotypes in the cornea of Dstn corn1 mice. Comparison of gene expression values from WT, Dstn corn1 mutant, and Dstn corn1 rescued cornea identified >400 differentially expressed genes that are downstream from SRF. Srf ablation had a significant effect on genes associated with epithelial cell-cell junctions and regulation of actin dynamics. The majority of genes affected by SRF are downregulated in the Dstn corn1 mutant cornea, suggesting that increased SRF negatively affects transcription of SRF gene targets. ChIP-seq analysis on Dstn corn1 mutant and WT tissue revealed that, despite being present in higher abundance, SRF binding is significantly decreased in the Dstn corn1 mutant cornea. This study uses a unique model combining genetic and genomic approaches to identify genes that are regulated by SRF. These findings expand current understanding of the role of SRF in both normal and abnormal tissue homeostasis.
A Note on the Painlevé Property of Coupled KdV Equations
Authors: Sakovich Sergei
Published: February 2014

We prove that one system of coupled KdV equations, claimed by Hirota et al. to pass the Painlevé test for integrability, actually fails the test at the highest resonance of the generic branch and therefore must be nonintegrable.
Kinetic Study on the Isothermal and Nonisothermal Crystallization of Monoglyceride Organogels
Authors: Meng Zong , Yang Lijun , Geng Wenxin , Yao Yubo , Wang Xingguo , Liu Yuanfa
Published: February 2014

The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of monoglyceride (MAG) organogels were studied by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (pNMR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The Avrami equation was used to describe the isothermal crystallization kinetics and experimental data fitted the equation fairly well. Results showed that the crystal growth of MAG organogels was a rod-like growth of instantaneous nuclei at higher degrees of supercooling and a plate-like form with high nucleation rate at lower degrees of supercooling. The exothermic peak in nonisothermal DSC curves for the MAG organogels became wider and shifted to lower temperature when the cooling rate increased, and nonisothermal crystallization was analyzed by Mo equation. Results indicated that at the same crystallization time, to get a higher degree of relative crystallinity, a higher cooling rate was necessary. The activation energy of nonisothermal crystallization was calculated as 739.59 kJ/mol according to the Kissinger method. Therefore, as the results of the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics for the MAG organogels obtained, the crystallization rate, crystal nucleation, and growth during the crystallization process could be preliminarily monitored through temperature and cooling rate regulation, which laid the foundation for the real industrial manufacture and application of the MAG organogels.
A Hidden Markov Model Applied to the Daily Spring Precipitation over the Danube Basin
Authors: Mares Constantin , Mares Ileana , Huebener Heike , Mihailescu Mihaela , Cubasch Ulrich , Stanciu Petre
Published: February 2014

The main goal of this study is to obtain an improvement of the spring precipitation estimation at local scale, taking into account the atmospheric circulation on the Atlantic-European region, by a statistical downscaling procedure. First we have fitted the precipitation amounts from the 19 stations with a HMM with 7 states. The stations are situated in localities crossed by the Danube or situated on the principal tributaries. The number of hidden states has been determined by means of BIC values. A NHMM has been applied then to precipitation occurrence associated with the information about atmospheric circulation over Atlantic-European region. The atmospheric circulation is quantified by the first 10 components of the decomposition in the EOFs or MEOFs. The predictors taking into account CWTs for SLP and the first summary variable from a SVD have also been tested. The atmospheric predictors are derived from SLP, geopotential, temperature, and specific and relative humidity at 850 hPa. As a result of analyzing the multitude of the predictors, a statistical method of selection based on the informational content has been achieved. The test of the NHMM performances has revealed that SLP and geopotential at 850 hPa are the best predictors for precipitation.
Synthesis of Volumetric Ring Antenna Array for Terrestrial Coverage Pattern
Authors: Reyna Alberto , Panduro Marco A. , Del Rio Bocio Carlos
Published: February 2014

This paper presents a synthesis of a volumetric ring antenna array for a terrestrial coverage pattern. This synthesis regards the spacing among the rings on the planesX-Y, the positions of the rings on the planeX-Z, and uniform and concentric excitations. The optimization is carried out by implementing the particle swarm optimization. The synthesis is compared with previous designs by resulting with proper performance of this geometry to provide an accurate coverage to be applied in satellite applications with a maximum reduction of the antenna hardware as well as the side lobe level reduction.
Distal Traditional Acupuncture Points of the Large Intestinal Meridian and the Stomach Meridian Differently Affect Heart Rate Variability and Oxygenation of the Trapezius Muscle
Authors: Shiro Yukiko , Arai Young-Chang P. , Ikemoto Tatsunori , Kawai Takashi , Ikeuchi Masahiko , Ushida Takahiro
Published: February 2014

Physicians in traditional Chinese medicine have found that acupoints and meridians have effects on specific parts of the body. The aim of this study was to see how acupressure at distal acupuncture points of a specific meridian affects heart rate variability (HRV) and oxygenation of the trapezius muscle. Forty‐one female participants were randomly allocated to three groups. Subjects in the Stomach Meridian acupuncture point (ST) group received acupressure at ST 34, ST 36, and ST 41, subjects in the Large Intestinal Meridian acupuncture point (LI) group received acupressure at LI 4, LI 10, and LI 11, and subjects in the control group did not receive any stimuli. HRV and oxygenation of the trapezius muscles were measured. The high frequency components of HRV in the control and LI groups tended to be higher than those in the ST group. Total hemoglobin in the control and LI groups eventually reached significantly higher levels than in the ST group. While oxyhemoglobin (ΔO2Hb) in the control and LI groups did not change, ΔO2Hb in the ST significantly decreased temporarily.
Long-Term Outcomes of Balloon Dilation for Acquired Subglottic Stenosis in Children
Authors: Filiz Aliye , Ulualp Seckin O.
Published: February 2014

Objectives. Balloon dilation laryngoplasty has been suggested as an alternative treatment to open surgical treatment of acquired subglottic stenosis in children. We describe long-term outcomes of balloon dilation for acquired subglottic stenosis in children.Methods. The medical charts of children who had balloon dilation for subglottic stenosis secondary to intubation were reviewed. Data included demographics, relevant history and physical examination, diagnostic workup, and management. Outcomes of balloon dilation were assessed based on improvement in preoperative symptoms, grading of stenosis, complications, and need for additional procedures.Results. Three children (2 male, 1 female, age range: 14 weeks–1 year) underwent balloon dilation for acquired subglottic stenosis. Patients presented with stridor and increased work of breathing. Duration of intubation ranged from 2 days to 3 weeks. Patients became symptomatic 5 days to 6 weeks after extubation. Grade of subglottic stenosis was II in 2 patients and III in one. Subglottic stenosis patients had 2-3 dilations within 2–10 weeks. All patients were asymptomatic during 14–21-month follow-up.Conclusions. Serial balloon dilation was safe and successful method to manage acquired subglottic stenosis in this group of children. No recurrence was noted in a follow-up more than a year after resolution of symptoms.
Evaluation of SLE Susceptibility Genes in Malaysians
Authors: Molineros Julio E. , Chua Kek Heng , Sun Celi , Lian Lay Hoong , Motghare Prasenjeet , Kim-Howard Xana , Nath Swapan K.
Published: February 2014

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically heterogeneous autoimmune disease with strong genetic and environmental components. Our objective was to replicate 25 recently identified SLE susceptibility genes in two distinct populations (Chinese (CH) and Malays (MA)) from Malaysia. We genotyped 347 SLE cases and 356 controls (CH and MA) using the ImmunoChip array and performed an admixture corrected case-control association analysis. Associated genes were grouped into five immune-related pathways. While CH were largely homogenous, MA had three ancestry components (average 82.3% Asian, 14.5% European, and 3.2% African). Ancestry proportions were significantly different between cases and controls in MA. We identified 22 genes with at least one associated SNP (P<0.05). The strongest signal was at HLA-DRA (PMeta=9.96×10-9;PCH=6.57×10-8,PMA=6.73×10-3); the strongest non-HLA signal occurred atSTAT4(PMeta=1.67×10-7;PCH=2.88×10-6,PMA=2.99×10-3). Most of these genes were associated with B- and T-cell function and signaling pathways. Our exploratory study using high-density fine-mapping suggests that most of the established SLE genes are also associated in the major ethnicities of Malaysia. However, these novel SNPs showed stronger association in these Asian populations than with the SNPs reported in previous studies.
5D Parameter Estimation of Near-Field Sources Using Hybrid Evolutionary Computational Techniques
Authors: Zaman Fawad , Qureshi Ijaz Mansoor
Published: February 2014

Hybrid evolutionary computational technique is developed to jointly estimate the amplitude, frequency, range, and 2D direction of arrival (elevation and azimuth angles) of near-field sources impinging on centrosymmetric cross array. Specifically, genetic algorithm is used as a global optimizer, whereas pattern search and interior point algorithms are employed as rapid local search optimizers. For this, a new multiobjective fitness function is constructed, which is the combination of mean square error and correlation between the normalized desired and estimated vectors. The performance of the proposed hybrid scheme is compared not only with the individual responses of genetic algorithm, interior point algorithm, and pattern search, but also with the existing traditional techniques. The proposed schemes produced fairly good results in terms of estimation accuracy, convergence rate, and robustness against noise. A large number of Monte-Carlo simulations are carried out to test out the validity and reliability of each scheme.
Some Investigations on Protease Enzyme Production Kinetics UsingBacillus licheniformisBBRC 100053 and Effects of Inhibitors on Protease Activity
Authors: Ghobadi Nejad Zahra , Yaghmaei Soheila , Moghadam Nazanin , Sadeghein Bahareh
Published: February 2014

Due to great commercial application of protease, it is necessary to study kinetic characterization of this enzyme in order to improve design of enzymatic reactors. In this study, mathematical modeling of protease enzyme production kinetics which is derived fromBacillus licheniformisBBRC 100053 was studied (at 37°C, pH 10 after 73 h in stationary phase, and 150 rpm). The aim of the present paper was to determine the best kinetic model and kinetic parameters for production of protease and calculatingKi(inhibition constant) of different inhibitors to find the most effective one. The kinetic parametersKm(Michaelis-Menten constant) andVm(maximum rate) were calculated 0.626 mM and 0.0523 mM/min. According to the experimental results, using DFP (diisopropyl fluorophosphate) and PMSF (phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride) as inhibitors almost 50% of the enzyme activity could be inhibited when their concentrations were 0.525 and 0.541 mM, respectively.Kifor DFP and PMSF were 0.46 and 0.56 mM, respectively. Kinetic analysis showed that the Lineweaver-Burk model was the best fitting model for protease production kinetics DFP was more effective than PMSF and both of them should be covered in the group of noncompetitive inhibitors.
Application of Iron Oxide Nanomaterials for the Removal of Heavy Metals
Authors: Dave Pragnesh N. , Chopda Lakhan V.
Published: February 2014

In the 21st century water polluted by heavy metal is one of the environment problems. Various methods for removal of the heavy metal ions from the water have extensively been studied. Application of iron oxide nanaparticles based nanomaterials for removal of heavy metals is well-known adsorbents for remediation of water. Due to its important physiochemical property, inexpensive method and easy regeneration in the presence of external magnetic field make them more attractive toward water purification. Surface modification strategy of iron oxide nanoparticles is also used for the remediation of water increases the efficiency of iron oxide for the removal of the heavy metal ions from the aqueous system.
Probes for 4th Generation Constituents of Dark Atoms in Higgs Boson Studies at the LHC
Authors: Khlopov M. Yu. , Shibaev R. M.
Published: February 2014

The nonbaryonic dark matter of the Universe can consist of new stable charged species, bound in heavy neutral “atoms” by ordinary Coulomb interaction. StableU-(anti-U)quarks of 4th generation, bound in stable colorless(U- U- U-)clusters, are captured by the primordial helium, produced in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, thus forming neutral “atoms” of O-helium (OHe), a specific nuclear interacting dark matter that can provide solution for the puzzles of direct dark matter searches. However, the existence of the 4th generation quarks and leptons should influence the production and decay rates of Higgs boson and is ruled out by the experimental results of the Higgs boson searches at the LHC, if the Higgs boson coupling to 4th generation fermions is not suppressed. Here, we argue that the difference between the three known quark-lepton families and the 4th family can naturally lead to suppression of this coupling, relating the accelerator test for such a composite dark matter scenario to the detailed study of the production and modes of decay of the 125.5 GeV boson, discovered at the LHC.
Quasilinear Elliptic Equations with Hardy-Sobolev Critical Exponents: Existence and Multiplicity of Nontrivial Solutions
Authors: Chen Guanwei
Published: February 2014

We study the existence of positive solutions and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for a class of quasilinear elliptic equations by using variational methods. Our obtained results extend some existing ones.
Prevalence of Allergies among University Students: A Study from Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Authors: John Lisha Jenny , Ahmed Sharfaa , Anjum Fiza , Kebab Mohieddin , Mohammed Naik , Darwich Haitham , Ibraheem Nusaibah , Arifulla Mohamed , Sreedharan Jayadevan
Published: February 2014

Aim. Urbanization and globalization in the Middle East have resulted in drastic environmental changes and increased allergens present in the environment. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of allergies among undergraduate students from a university. Material and Methods. This cross-sectional survey was carried out among undergraduate students of a University at Ajman, UAE. A self-administered questionnaire was used as research instrument for data collection. The demographic data and the allergy characteristics were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 19. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Results. A total of 255 students (33.3% males; 66.7% females) were included. Commonest allergies among the students were allergic conjunctivitis (104 (40.8%)), allergic dermatitis (89 (34.9%)), and eczema (38 (14.9%)). Family history of allergies was strongly associated with occurrence of allergic conjunctivitis and allergic dermatitis. In about 58 (22%) of the students, dust was the most common triggering factor for allergies. Allergies associated with pollen, food, and drugs were less frequent. The distribution of allergies based on gender revealed female preponderance in all types of allergies. Students with allergies reported interference with their daily activities, and academic, social, and extracurricular activities. Conclusions. Allergic conjunctivitis and allergic dermatitis were the frequent allergies reported. Adequate preventive strategies can crumb the prevalence of allergies.
Hydrocolloid-Stabilized Magnetite for Efficient Removal of Radioactive Phosphates
Authors: Vellora Thekkae Padil Vinod , Rouha Michael , Černík Miroslav
Published: February 2014

Liquid radioactive waste is a common by-product when using radioactive isotopes in research and medicine. Efficient remediation of such liquid waste is crucial for increasing safety during the necessary storage of the material. Herein, we present a novel Gum Karaya stabilized magnetite for the efficient removal of radioactive phosphorus32P from liquid radioactive waste. This environmentally friendly material is well suited to be used as a nanohydrogel for the removal of liquid waste, which can then be stored in a smaller space and without the risk of the spills inherent to the initial liquid material. The maximum adsorption capacity of the GK/M in this study was found to be 15.68 GBq/g. We present a thorough morphological characterization of the synthesised GK/M, as well as a discussion of the possible phosphorus adsorption mechanisms.
Evaluation of the Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus DNA Test with Liquid-Based Cytology in Primary Cervical Cancer Screening and the Importance of the ASC/SIL Ratio: A Belgian Study
Authors: Catteau Xavier , Simon Philippe , Noël Jean-Christophe
Published: February 2014

Objectives. In Belgium, very few studies have focused on cervical high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) prevalence and the relationship between HPV and cervical cytological abnormalities. The aim of this study was to investigate hrHPV prevalence and its relationship with cytological screening and histological results in the French-speaking community in Belgium (Brussels and Wallonia).Methods. A total of 58,265 liquid-based cytology tests were performed during this period. All cases of ASC-US, ASC-H, LSIL, and HSIL were tested by Hybrid Capture 2 for hrHPV screening.Results. The prevalence of cytological abnormalities was 3.1% for ASC-US, 0.3% for ASC-H, 1.5% for LSIL, and 0.3% for HSIL. The frequency of hrHPV infection was 47% in ASC-US, 90% in ASC-H, 86% in LSIL, and 98.4% in HSIL. CIN 2+ lesions were found in 12.2% of smears with an ASC-US result, in 54% of smears with an ASC-H result, in 12.5% of smears with a LSIL result, and in 89.3% of smears with a HSIL result. The ASC/SIL ratio was 1.9%.Conclusions. This study provides a good representation of cytological abnormalities and HPV status in patients living in Belgium’s French-speaking community. The prevalence in our study was similar to that derived from meta-analyses of European studies. Our ASC/SIL ratio was 1.9%, being within the lower and upper limits proposed in the literature, which tends to prove the good quality diagnosis of cervical smears in our laboratory.
Problem-Based Learning in Pharmaceutical Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Galvao Tais F. , Silva Marcus T. , Neiva Celiane S. , Ribeiro Laura M. , Pereira Mauricio G.
Published: February 2014

Objective. To assess the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on the learning achievements of pharmacy students.Methods. We searched for controlled studies that compared PBL to traditional learning in pharmacy courses (graduate and undergraduate) in the major literature databases up to January 2014. Two independent researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the studies. Meta-analyses of the outcomes were performed using a random effects model.Results. From 1,988 retrieved records, five were included in present review. The studies assessed students’ impressions about the PBL method and compared student grades on the midterm and final examinations. PBL students performed better on midterm examinations (odds ratio[OR]=1.46; confidence interval [IC] 95%: 1.16, 1.89) and final examinations (OR=1.60; IC 95%: 1.06, 2.43) compared with students in the traditional learning groups. No difference was found between the groups in the subjective evaluations.Conclusion. pharmacy students’ knowledge was improved by the PBL method. Pharmaceutical education courses should consider implementing PBL.
The Relevance of CD117-Immunocytochemistry Staining Patterns to Mutational Exon-11 inc-kitDetected by PCR from Fine-Needle Aspirated Canine Mast Cell Tumor Cells
Authors: Sailasuta A. , Ketpun D. , Piyaviriyakul P. , Theerawatanasirikul S. , Theewasutrakul P. , Rungsipipat A.
Published: February 2014

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (MCT) are the lethal skin tumors. The biological behavior of the MCT cells is quite varied and unpredictable. Almost MCT dogs usually require a rapid diagnosis and therapy. However, MCT diagnosis and prognosis are still dependent on histopathology which is rather inconvenient, time-consuming, painful, and harmful for some cases. Indeed, MCT can be easily accessible using fine-needle aspiration (FNA). In this study, our biopsy specimens were classified as low- and high-grade MCT based on the novel 2-tier histopathologic grading system. We have demonstrated the usage of fine-needle aspirated MCT cells (FNA-MCT cells) from these specimens as a primary cell source to study the distribution of CD117-immunocytochemistry (CD117-ICC) staining patterns and the frequency of internal tandem duplication- (ITD-) mutant exon-11 ofc-kit. The result has substantially shown that there were three staining patterns identified in the cells. Only paranuclear pattern was significantly increased in the cells from high-grade MCT. Altogether, the ITD-mutant exon-11 was also detectable only in these cells. Therefore, the result has supported our hypothesis that there was an increased opportunity to observe a higher CD117-ICC staining pattern and exon-11 mutation in high-grade MCT; even these two parameters may not precisely indicate a histopathological grade.
TET2Overexpression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Is Unrelated to the Presence ofTET2Variations
Authors: Hernández-Sánchez María , Rodríguez Ana Eugenia , Kohlmann Alexander , Benito Rocío , García Juan Luis , Risueño Alberto , Fermiñán Encarna , De Las Rivas Javier , González Marcos , Hernández-Rivas Jesús-María
Published: February 2014

TET2is involved in a variety of hematopoietic malignancies, mainly in myeloid malignancies. Most mutations ofTET2have been identified in myeloid disorders, but some have also recently been described in mature lymphoid neoplasms. In contrast to the large amount of data about mutations ofTET2, some data are available for gene expression. Moreover, the role of TET2 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is unknown. This study analyzes bothTET2expression and mutations in 48 CLL patients.TET2expression was analyzed by exon arrays and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology was applied to investigate the presence ofTET2variations. Overexpression ofTET2was observed in B-cell lymphocytes from CLL patients compared with healthy donors (P= 0.004). In addition, in CLL patients, an overexpression ofTET2was also observed in the clonal B cells compared with the nontumoral cells (P= 0.002). However, no novel mutations were observed. Therefore, overexpression ofTET2in CLL seems to be unrelated to the presence of genomicTET2variations.
Simultaneous Occurrence of Ocular, Disseminated Mucocutaneous, and Multivisceral Involvement of Leishmaniasis
Authors: Philips Cyriac Abby , Kalal Chetan Ramesh , Kumar K. N. Chandan , Bihari Chhagan , Sarin Shiv Kumar
Published: February 2014

Leishmaniasis is a tropical infection caused by the protozoan, belonging to the group ofLeishmaniawhich causes Old World and New World disease. These are typically divided into cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, viscerotropic, and disseminated disease. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the presence of visceral disease is a rarity. Isolated case reports have documented this occurrence, in the immunocompromised setting, and few otherwise. The concurrent presence of visceral leishmaniasis (bone marrow involvement) with solitary cutaneous and ocular disease and also solitary cutaneous and visceral disease (bone marrow involvement) has been reported before. Here, we present an immunocompetent patient who was diagnosed to have visceral leishmaniasis (liver and bone marrow involvement) along with simultaneous disseminated mucocutaneous and ocular involvement, a combination that has never been reported before.
Medullary Sponge Kidney and Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome: A Rare Association
Authors: Masciovecchio Stefano , Saldutto Pietro , Paradiso Galatioto Giuseppe , Vicentini Carlo
Published: February 2014

The medullary sponge kidney is also known as Lenarduzzi’s kidney or Cacchi and Ricci’s disease from the first Italian authors who described its main features. A review of the scientific literature underlines particular rarity of the association of MSK with developmental abnormalities of the lower urinary tract and genital tract such as hypospadias and bilateral cryptorchidism. The work presented is the only one in the scientific literature that shows the association between the medullary sponge kidney and the testicular dysgenesis syndrome. A question still remains unanswered: are the MSK and TDS completely independent malformation syndromes occurring, in this case, simultaneously for a rare event or are they different phenotypic expressions of a common malformative mechanism? In the future we hope that these questions will be clarified.
Rubpy Dye‐Doped Silica Nanoparticles as Signal Reporter in a Dot Fluorescence Immunoassay Strip
Authors: Thepwiwatjit Nualrahong , Thattiyaphong Aree , Limsuwan Pichet , Tuitemwong Kooranee , Tuitemwong Pravate
Published: February 2014

This paper describes an application of Rubpy dye‐doped silica nanoparticles (RSNPs) as signal reporter in a dot fluorescence immunoassay strip for rapid screening of Vibrio cholera O1 (VCO1). These nanoparticles have a spherical shape with an average diameter of 45 nm. They appear luminescent orange when excited with a 312 nm UV lamp. Based on the sandwich immunoassay principle, a test strip was made of a nitrocellulose membrane dotted with monoclonal antibodies against VCO1 as analyte capture molecules. After introducing a test sample, followed by polyclonal rabbit anti‐VCO1 antibody conjugated RSNPs as detection reporters and one washing step, the presence or absence of the target bacteria could be identified under UV light by naked eyes. A positive sample would signal a bright orange dot on the strip. The proposed assay had a detection limit of 4.3 × 103 cfu/mL and was successfully applied as a rapid screening test for VCO1 in food samples with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
A Novel Utility for an Old Method: The Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test Is an Easy Way to Detect the Immunoreactive Interference of the Collection Tube Anticoagulant on Cellular Immunoassays
Authors: Olivier Celso Eduardo , Santos Raquel Acácia Pereira Gonçalves dos , Lima Regiane Patussi Santos , Argentão Daiana Guedes Pinto , Silva Grayce Katlen Moreno da , Silva Mariana Dias da
Published: February 2014

The leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) test was designed to evaluate the presence of cellular immunoreactivity against specific antigens and is highly sensitive to analytical interference. To compare the performance of the LAI test among plasmas obtained with different anticoagulants, 36 blood samples of allergic subjects were divided into three tubes with heparin, sodium citrate, and EDTA. The adherence was assessed with the hemocytometer technique. The mean adherence of each group was compared as well as the number of tests with inappropriate adherence (<25%). Of the 36 tests, there were 4, 9, and 21 with inappropriate adherence in the groups of heparin, citrate, and EDTA, respectively. Of these last, 5 samples also did not demonstrate proper adherence with sodium citrate and 1 sample did not show proper adherence with any anticoagulant. The anticoagulant in the collection tube can elicit a specific immune response, becoming an interferent for the LAI test. In this case, there is the possibility of redoing the test using another anticoagulant. Performed with different anticoagulants, the LAI test may be used as a preanalytical tool for choosing the less immunoreactive anticoagulant for more complex immunoassays.
DWI of Prostate Cancer: Optimalb-Value in Clinical Practice
Authors: Manenti Guglielmo , Nezzo Marco , Chegai Fabrizio , Vasili Erald , Bonanno Elena , Simonetti Giovanni
Published: February 2014

Aim. To compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) usingb-values of 1000 s/mm2and 2000 s/mm2at 3 Tesla (T) for the evaluation of clinically significant prostate cancer.Matherials and Methods. Seventy-eight prostate cancer patients underwent a 3T MRI scan followed by radical prostatectomy. DWI was performed usingb-values of 0, 1000, and 2000 s/mm2and qualitatively analysed by two radiologists. ADC maps were obtained atb-values of 1000 and 2000 s/mm2and quantitatively analyzed in consensus.Results. For diagnosis of 78 prostate cancers the accuracy of DWI for the young reader was significantly greater atb= 2000 s/mm2for the peripheral zone (PZ) but not for the transitional zone (TZ). For the experienced reader, DWI did not show significant differences in accuracy betweenb-values of 1000 and 2000 s/mm2. The quantitative analysis in the PZ and TZ was substantially superimposable between the twob-values, albeit with a higher accuracy with ab-value of 2000 s/mm2.Conclusions. With ab-value of 2000 s/mm2at 3T both readers differentiated clinical significant cancer from benign tissue; higherb-values can be helpful for the less experienced readers.
A Proxy Outcome Approach for Causal Effect in Observational Studies: A Simulation Study
Authors: Liang Wenbin , Zhao Yuejen , Lee Andy H.
Published: February 2014

Background. Known and unknown/unmeasured risk factors are the main sources of confounding effects in observational studies and can lead to false observations of elevated protective or hazardous effects. In this study, we investigate an alternative approach of analysis that is operated on field-specific knowledge rather than pure statistical assumptions.Method. The proposed approach introduces a proxy outcome into the estimation system. A proxy outcome possesses the following characteristics: (i) the exposure of interest is not a cause for the proxy outcome; (ii) causes of the proxy outcome and the study outcome are subsets of a collection of correlated variables. Based on these two conditions, the confounding-effect-driven association between the exposure and proxy outcome can then be measured and used as a proxy estimate for the effects of unknown/unmeasured confounders on the outcome of interest. Performance of this approach is tested by a simulation study, whereby 500 different scenarios are generated, with the causal factors of a proxy outcome and a study outcome being partly overlapped under low-to-moderate correlations.Results. The simulation results demonstrate that the conventional approach only led to a correct conclusion in 21% of the 500 scenarios, as compared to 72.2% for the alternative approach.Conclusion. The proposed method can be applied in observational studies in social science and health research that evaluates the health impact of behaviour and mental health problems.
Genetic Polymorphisms in Glutathione (GSH-) Related Genes Affect the Plasmatic Hg/Whole Blood Hg Partitioning and the Distribution between Inorganic and Methylmercury Levels in Plasma Collected from a Fish-Eating Population
Authors: de Oliveira Andréia Ávila Soares , Souza Marilesia Ferreira de , Lengert André van Helvoort , de Oliveira Marcelo Tempesta , Camargo Rossana Batista de Oliveira Godoy , Braga Gilberto Úbida Leite , Cólus Ilce Mara de Syllos , Barbosa Fernando , Barcelos Gustavo Rafael Mazzaron
Published: February 2014

This study aims to evaluate the effects of polymorphisms in glutathione (GSH-) related genes (GSTM1,GSTT1,GSTP1,GCLM, andGCLC) in the distribution of Hg in the blood compartments in humans exposed to methylmercury (MeHg). Subjects (n=88), exposed to MeHg from fish consumption, were enrolled in the study. Hg species in the plasma compartment were determined by LC-ICP-MS, whereas genotyping was performed by PCR assays. Mean total Hg levels in plasma (THgP) and whole blood (THgB) were10±4.2and37±21, whereas mean evels of plasmatic MeHg (MeHgP), inorganic Hg (IHgP), and HgP/HgB were4.3±2.9,5.8±2.3 µg/L, and0.33±0.15, respectively.GSTM1andGCLCpolymorphisms influence THgP and MeHgP (multivariate analyses,P<0.050). Null homozygotes forGSTM1showed higher THgP and MeHgP levels compared to subjects withGSTM1(THgPβ=0.22,P=0.035; MeHgPβ=0.30,P=0.050) and persons carrying at least one T allele forGCLChad significant higher MeHgP (β=0.59,P=0.046). Also, polymorphicGCLMsubjects had lower THgP/THgB than those with the nonvariant genotype. Taken together, data of this study suggest that GSH-related polymorphisms may change the metabolism of MeHg by modifying the distribution of mercury species iin plasma compartment and the HgP/HgB partitioning.
An Efficient Methodology for Calibrating Traffic Flow Models Based on Bisection Analysis
Authors: Jia Enzo C. , Wang Jianqiang , Ni Daiheng
Published: February 2014

As urban planning becomes more sophisticated, the accurate detection and counting of pedestrians and cyclists become more important. Accurate counts can be used to determine the need for additional pedestrian walkways and intersection reorganization, among other planning initiatives. In this project, a camera-based approach is implemented to create a real-time pedestrian and cyclist counting system which is regularly accurate to 85% and often achieves higher accuracy. The approach retasks a state-of-the-art traffic camera, the Autoscope Solo Terra, for pedestrian and bicyclist counting. Object detection regions are sized to identify multiple pedestrians moving in either direction on an urban sidewalk and bicyclists in an adjacent bicycle lane. Collected results are processed in real time, eliminating the need for video storage and postprocessing. In this paper, results are presented for a pedestrian walkway for pedestrian flow up to 108 persons/min and the limitations of the implemented system are enumerated. Both pedestrian and cyclist counting accuracy of over 90% is achieved.
Mellin’s Transform and Application to Some Time Series Models
Authors: Appadoo S. S. , Thavaneswaran A. , Mandal S.
Published: February 2014

This paper uses the Mellin transform to establish the means, variances, skewness, and kurtosis of fuzzy numbers and applied them to the random coefficient autoregressive (RCA) time series models. We also give a close form expression to the moment generating function related to fuzzy numbers. It is shown that the results of the proposed time series models are consistent with those of the conventional time series models and that the developed concepts are straightforward and easily implemented.
Lymphatic Filariasis Disseminating to the Upper Extremity
Authors: Maldjian Catherine , Khanna Vineet , Tandon Bevan , Then Matthew , Yassin Mohamed , Adam Richard , Klein Michael J.
Published: February 2014

Lymphatic filariasis is the most common cause of acquired lymphedema worldwide (Szuba and Rockson, 1998). It is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, and its effects are devastating. With over 100 million infected persons, it ranks second only to leprosy as the leading cause of permanent and long-term disability.Wuchereria bancroftiis the etiologic agent in 90% of cases. There is a dearth of published MRI findings with pathologically proven active infections, making this entity even more of a diagnostic dilemma. Imaging may provide the first clue that one is dealing with a parasite and may facilitate proper treatment and containment of this disease. This is the first report of pathologic correlation with MRI findings in the extremity in active filariasis. The magnetic resonance images demonstrate an enhancing, infiltrative, mass-like appearance with partial encasement of vasculature that has not been previously described in filariasis. Low signal strands in T2-hyperintense dilated lymphatic channels are seen and may depict live adult worms. We hypothesize that the low signal strands correspond to the collagen rich acellular cuticle. This, in combination with the surrounding hyperintense T2 signal, corresponding to a dilated lymphatic channel, may provide more specific MRI findings for active nematodal infection, which can prompt early biopsy, pathological correlation, and diagnosis.
Associations between Cancer-Related Information Seeking and Receiving PET Imaging for Routine Cancer Surveillance—An Analysis of Longitudinal Survey Data
Authors: Tan Andy S.L. , Gibson Laura , Zafar Hanna M. , Gray Stacy W. , Hornik Robert C. , Armstrong Katrina
Published: February 2014

Background: Routine cancer surveillance with positron emission tomography (PET) is not recommended for most patients who have completed curative treatment for cancer. Yet, recent trends suggest that PET is increasingly used for follow-up among patients with cancer. This study investigates whether information-seeking behaviors predicted self-reported utilization of PET for routine surveillance in patients with colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer.

Methods: We conducted annual surveys for 3 years in a cohort of Pennsylvania cancer survivors diagnosed with colorectal, breast, or prostate cancer in 2005. The outcome was self-reported PET receipt for routine surveillance among 944 patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic disease (stages 0–III). Predictors included cancer-related information seeking from nonmedical sources and providers. Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: In this population, 11% of patients reported receiving at least one PET scan for routine follow-up in a 12-month period several years after diagnosis. Seeking cancer-related information from nonmedical sources was associated with higher odds of subsequent reported PET use [OR, 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–12.1; P = 0.032], after adjusting for potential confounders. Patient engagement with physicians about cancer-related information was not a significant predictor.

Conclusions: Overall reported PET utilization for routine surveillance of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer is low. However, we found a significant association with information seeking from nonmedical sources but not from providers.

Impact: Exposure to cancer-related information through mass media and lay interpersonal sources may be driving inappropriate utilization of high-cost advanced imaging procedures. These findings have important implications for cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and health policy. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(3); 481–9. ©2014 AACR.
Verbal Fluency Patterns in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Rinehardt Eric , Eichstaedt Katie , Schinka John A. , Loewenstein David A. , Mattingly Michelle , Fils Jean , Duara Ranjan , Schoenberg Mike R.
Published: February 2014

Background/Aims: Verbal fluency patterns can assist in differential diagnosis during neuropsychological assessment and identify individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). While evidence suggests that subjects with AD perform worse on category fluency than letter fluency tasks, the pattern in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is less well known. Methods: Performance on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) and Animal fluency was compared in control, amnestic MCI, non-amnestic MCI, and AD groups. The sample included 136 participants matched for age, education, and gender. Results: Both MCI groups performed similarly with a category > letter fluency pattern rather than a category < letter fluency pattern typically observed in AD. The pattern in MCI, albeit relatively more impaired than in controls, was more similar to healthy controls who exhibited a category > letter fluency pattern. Conclusion: MCI using a category < letter fluency pattern may not represent AD; however, future research requires longitudinal studies of pattern analysis.
Oral versus Intravenous Fludarabine as Part of a Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Velázquez-Sánchez-de-Cima Sara , Zamora-Ortiz Gabriela , Hernández-Reyes Jesús , Rosales-Durón Alan Daniel , González-Ramírez Mónica Patricia , Martagón-Herrera Nora Angela , Ruiz-Delgado Guillermo J. , Ruiz-Argüelles Guillermo J.
Published: February 2014

Background: In 2003, oral fludarabine was introduced in the USA for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies as an alternative to its intravenous (i.v.) formulation; in 2008, it was introduced in México while the i.v. formulation was withdrawn. Accordingly, i.v. fludarabine had to be replaced by oral fludarabine as part of the conditioning regimen employed to conduct allogeneic stem cell transplantation in México. Methods: Nonrandomized retrospective analysis of 55 patients conditioned with oral fludarabine compared with 113 patients conditioned with the i.v. formulation. In addition to fludarabine, the conditioning regimen included oral busulfan and i.v. cyclophosphamide. Donors were HLA-matched siblings. Results: The clinical features of the two groups were comparable. There were no statistical differences in time to neutrophil engraftment, time to platelet engraftment, acute graft versus host disease rate and nonrelapse mortality at day 100. The overall survival of patients allografted with oral fludarabine was better than those allografted with i.v. fludarabine: 62 and 33% at 67 months, respectively (p = 0.0006). Discussion: Oral fludarabine can replace its i.v. formulation as part of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens with no deleterious effect on any of the early transplantation outcomes.
Breath Analysis in Real Time by Mass Spectrometry in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Martinez-Lozano Sinues Pablo , Meier Lukas , Berchtold Christian , Ivanov Mark , Sievi Noriane , Camen Giovanni , Kohler Malcolm , Zenobi Renato
Published: February 2014

Background: It has been suggested that exhaled breath contains relevant information on health status. Objectives: We hypothesized that a novel mass spectrometry (MS) technique to analyze breath in real time could be useful to differentiate breathprints from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and controls (smokers and nonsmokers). Methods: We studied 61 participants including 25 COPD patients [Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages I-IV], 25 nonsmoking controls and 11 smoking controls. We analyzed their breath by MS in real time. Raw mass spectra were then processed and statistically analyzed. Results: A panel of discriminating mass-spectral features was identified for COPD (all stages; n = 25) versus healthy nonsmokers (n = 25), COPD (all stages; n = 25) versus healthy smokers (n = 11) and mild COPD (GOLD stages I/II; n = 13) versus severe COPD (GOLD stages III/IV; n = 12). A blind classification (i.e. leave-one-out cross validation) resulted in 96% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity (COPD vs. smoking controls), 88% sensitivity and 92% specificity (COPD vs. nonsmoking controls) and 92.3% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity (GOLD I/II vs. GOLD III/IV). Acetone and indole were identified as two of the discriminating exhaled molecules. Conclusions: We conclude that real-time MS may be a useful technique to analyze and characterize the metabolome of exhaled breath. The acquisition of breathprints in a rapid manner may be valuable to support COPD diagnosis and to gain insight into the disease.
A Comparative Study on Speech in Noise Understanding with a Direct Acoustic Cochlear Implant in Subjects with Severe to Profound Mixed Hearing Loss
Authors: Lenarz Thomas , Verhaert Nicolas , Desloovere Christian , Desmet Jolien , D'hondt Christiane , González Juan Carlos Falcón , Kludt Eugen , Macías Angel Ramos , Skarżyński Henryk , Van de Heyning Paul , Vyncke Caroline , Wasowski Arkadiusz
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a direct acoustic cochlear implant (DACI) for speech understanding in noise in patients suffering from severe to profound mixed hearing loss (MHL) due to various etiologies compared to the preoperative best-aided condition. The study was performed at five tertiary referral centers in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Poland and Spain). Nineteen adult subjects with severe to profound MHL due to (advanced) otosclerosis, ear canal fibrosis, chronic otitis media, tympanosclerosis or previous cholesteatoma were implanted with a DACI (Codacs™ Investigational Device) combined with a conventional stapes prosthesis. Unaided and aided speech reception scores in quiet and in noise, preoperative and postoperative air and bone conduction thresholds and aided and unaided sound field thresholds were measured prospectively during the study. Subjective benefit analysis was determined through the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit questionnaire. Quality of life was measured by the Health Utilities Index. All subjects were fitted preoperatively with hearing aids and/or a bone conduction implant on a headband before DACI implantation. This allows direct comparison between different hearing rehabilitation solutions. The mean speech reception threshold in noise improved significantly by 7.9 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) after activation of the DACI compared to the preoperative best-aided condition. For all 19 subjects, a mean postoperative aided speech reception threshold of 2.6 dB SNR (standard deviation: 8.3 dB) was measured. On average, no significant shift in the bone conduction thresholds was noted 4-5 months after implantation. A mean sound field threshold improvement of 46 and 16 dB was measured compared to the preoperative unaided and best-aided condition, respectively. Speech perception tests in quiet showed a mean improvement of the word recognition scores by 65 and 48% at 65 dB SPL compared to the preoperative unaided and best-aided condition, respectively. In summary, DACI provides an effective improvement of the speech perception in noise compared to the best-aided condition in subjects suffering from severe to profound MHL.