bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CZT-1 Is a Novel Transcription Factor Controlling Cell Death and Natural Drug Resistance in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Gonçalves A Pedro , Hall Charles , Kowbel David J , Glass N Louise , Videira Arnaldo
Published: April 2014

We pinpoint CZT-1 (cell death–activated zinc cluster transcription factor) as a novel transcription factor involved in tolerance to cell death induced by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine in Neurospora crassa. Transcriptional profiling of staurosporine-treated wild-type cells by RNA-sequencing showed that genes encoding the machinery for protein synthesis are enriched among the genes repressed by the drug. Functional category enrichment analyses also show that genes encoding components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain are downregulated by staurosporine, whereas genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum activities are upregulated. In contrast, a staurosporine-treated Δczt-1 deletion strain is unable to repress the genes for the respiratory chain and to induce the genes related to the endoplasmic reticulum, indicating a role for CZT-1 in the regulation of activity of these organelles. The Δczt-1 mutant strain displays increased reactive oxygen species accumulation on insult with staurosporine. A genome-wide association study of a wild population of N. crassa isolates pointed out genes associated with a cell death role of CZT-1, including catalase-1 (cat-1) and apoptosis-inducing factor–homologous mitochondrion-associated inducer of death 2 (amid-2). Importantly, differences in the expression of czt-1 correlates with resistance to staurosporine among wild isolate strains. Our results reveal a novel transcription factor that regulates drug resistance and cell death in response to staurosporine in laboratory strains as well as in wild isolates of N. crassa.
Carrier Dynamics in MOVPE-Grown Bulk InGaAsNSb Materials and Epitaxial Lift-Off GaAs Double Heterostructures for Multi-junction Solar Cells
Authors: Sin Yongkun , LaLumondiere Stephen , Wells Nathan , Lingley Zachary , Presser Nathan , Lotshaw William , Moss Steven C. , Kim Tae Wan , Forghani Kamran , Mawst Luke J. , Kuech Thomas F. , Tatavarti Rao , Wibowo Andree , Pan Noren
Published: April 2014

High performance and cost effective multi-junction III-V solar cells are attractive for satellite applications. High performance multi-junction solar cells are based on a triple-junction design that employs an InGaP top-junction, a GaAs middle-junction, and a bottom-junction consisting of a 1.0 – 1.25 eV-material. The most attractive 1.0 – 1.25 eV-material is the lattice-matched dilute nitride such as InGaAsN(Sb). A record efficiency of 43.5% was achieved from multi-junction solar cells including dilute nitride materials [1]. In addition, cost effective manufacturing of III-V triple-junction solar cells can be achieved by employing full-wafer epitaxial lift-off (ELO) technology, which enables multiple substrate re-usages. We employed time-resolved photoluminescence (TR-PL) techniques to study carrier dynamics in both pre- and post-ELO processed GaAs double heterostructures (DHs) as well as in MOVPE-grown bulk dilute nitride layers lattice matched to GaAs substrates.
Effect of Student-Led Undergraduate Research Experience on Learning and Attitudes --A Practice in An Introductory Materials Science Course
Authors: Zhou Yuanyuan , Arroyave Raymundo , Radovic Miladin
Published: April 2014

An introductory materials science course has been traditionally taught at Texas A&M University - like at many other universities - through lectures with minimal active student involvement. With this approach, most students just reproduce what they are given and accept it without any challenge or question. The authors have redesigned this course to include an active learning component. While the course consists of lecture-based classes during regular teaching hours to keep the essence of traditional teaching, the authors incorporated a research experience to their class in order to engage students and encourage them to apply the content seen in class to real-word problems with a higher level of expertise. The aim of the study was to discover the effectiveness of the authors’ redesign. We hypothesized that the research experience would facilitate the learning of knowledge content and the enthusiasm for the chosen field of study, i. e. engineering. The results reveal that students in the experimental condition consistently show a greater gain in knowledge, but there is no sufficient evidence suggesting that the research experience increase the student’s enthusiasm to be an engineer.
Abrikosov-like lattices in organic crystals on graphite surface
Authors: Fonseca Alexandre F. , Lisboa-Filho Paulo N.
Published: April 2014

The interest for surface patterning presents a fast increasing in the last few years due to several factors ranging from miniaturization trends and sensor design to worries about the absorption of carcinogenic molecules on inhalable particles. Although the existence of a vast literature regarding the self-assembly and patterning of nanoparticles on different types of surfaces, it remains unclear the dynamics and main mechanisms behind the formation and maintenance of two-dimensional symmetric patterns of small molecules on top of surfaces. In this contribution, we report initial results on an investigation on the similarities between the well-known Abrikosov hexagonal lattices in superconductors, and the spontaneous formation of hexagonal patterns of some small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on top of a graphitic surface. In order to attest our results, some experimental results from literature are compared to the obtained results.
In Reply
Authors: Ashraf Noman , Hoffe Sarah , Kim Richard
Published: April 2014

More data are needed to clarify the role of radiation for resectable gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, and there is a strong rationale for considering its integration into the treatment regimen. Based on the available data, the benefit of preoperative chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy remains controversial.
The Seventh Door
Authors: Halmos Balazs
Published: April 2014

An oncologist reflects on the personal toll physicians experience while taking care of the very sick and the journey they must take, facing real and perceived failures when patients suffer poor outcomes, to find the renewed energy to go on with their chosen mission.
Influence of mineral admixtures on strength and hydration products of lime-activated slag cement
Authors: Murmu Meena , Singh Suresh Prasad
Published: April 2014

The paper delineates the effect of mineral admixtures on the strength and hydration products of lime-activated slag cement. The slag cement was prepared by activating ground granulated blast-furnace slag with lime and plaster of Paris. The compressive strength of mortar specimens made with admixtures such as silica fume, fly ash, glass powder and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in different proportions were compared with the control specimen at similar test conditions. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and porosity tests were performed to examine the hydration products and/or the microstructure. A correlation was established between the developmental strength with the type of mineral admixture through analysis of the hydration products and microstructure. For the present test variables silica fume was found to be a better admixture compared to fly ash, glass powder and OPC.
Permeable reactive barrier rejuvenation by alkaline wastewater
Authors: Banasiak Laura Joan , Indraratna Buddhima , Lugg Glenys , Pathirage Udeshini , McIntosh Geoff , Rendell Neil
Published: April 2014

Chemical armouring of recycled concrete in a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) used for the neutralisation of acidic groundwater in acid sulfate soil terrain significantly decreases its acid neutralising capacity (ANC) by approximately 50% compared with its theoretical ANC. A long-term column test was conducted under simulated field groundwater conditions to assess the re-conditioning of armoured recycled concrete aggregates with alkaline wastewater, with the aim to restore and enhance the ANC and longevity of the PRB. The benefits of alkaline wastewater injection included sharp but short enhancement of the recycled concretes’ ANC, as indicated by an increase in effluent pH (pH 3 to 7·7) and alkalinity (0 to 21·6 mM CaCO3) and a reduction in oxidation reduction potential (ORP, 530 to 160–200 mV). While the results showed that the alkaline wastewater did not significantly reduce chemical armouring, it aided in the liberation of lodged mineral precipitates between concrete aggregates, reducing the severity of chemical and physical clogging. Batch tests demonstrated that, when exposed to acidic water, the ANC of recycled concrete pre-conditioned with alkaline wastewater was enhanced as indicated by higher pH, lower ORP and greater release of calcium (Ca2+) and alkalinity, compared to non-pre-conditioned concrete.
Application of observational method at Crossrail Tottenham Court Road station, UK
Authors: Yeow Hoe-Chian , Nicholson Duncan , Man Chui-Loung , Ringer Alistair , Glass Paul , Black Mike
Published: April 2014

Excavation of the western ticket hall box at Tottenham Court Road station represented a critical path activity of the Crossrail railway project in London, UK. Base slab construction and preparatory sprayed concrete lining works needed to be completed before the arrival of the two tunnel boring machines. A full observational method (OM) design was implemented to eliminate the lowest level of temporary propping, resulting in a 13 m prop-free excavation at the bottom of the 30 m deep diaphragm wall station box. This paper describes the design and successful implementation of the OM, which eliminated the need to fabricate, install and remove the fifth level of temporary propping. It covers the comprehensive review of the original design input parameters, back analysis of the most probable geotechnical design parameters and comparison of wall deflection and forces in the temporary props from early stages of the construction works. The robust strategy formulated as part of the observational method design to control the subsequent excavation is described: this included trigger criteria, a review process and predetermined contingency measures to ensure safe execution of the excavation works. A genuinely collaborative effort between client, permanent and temporary works designers, independent design checker and the contractor is elaborated. Cost and programme savings achieved by implementation of the observational method approach are outlined.
Analytical behaviour of eccentrically loaded concrete-encased CFST box columns
Authors: An Yu-Feng , Han Lin-Hai , Zhao Xiao-Ling
Published: April 2014

This paper presents a theoretical study on the performance of concrete-encased concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) box columns subjected to eccentric axial loading. Finite-element analysis (FEA) was used to analyse the composite columns and experimental data reported recently by the authors was used to verify the FEA modelling. Analysis of the behaviour of the composite, including the full-range load versus lateral mid-height deflection, stress distributions, column failure modes and the interactions between steel and concrete, was carried out. The behaviour of the concrete-encased CFST box columns was compared with that of corresponding reinforced concrete columns and CFST built-up columns. Finally, a parametric study was carried out and the moment magnification approach adopted to propose design formulae for eccentrically loaded concrete-encased CFST box columns.
“I Managed It Pretty Good”: Birth Narratives of Adolescent Mothers
Authors: Nichols Tracy R. , Brown Margaret , Coley Sheryl L. , Kelley Allyson , Mauceri Kelly
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to understand adolescent mothers’ childbirth experiences. Semistructured interviews were conducted with participants recruited from a community-based program for adolescent mothers. Fourteen mothers described their birth experiences. Using a narrative analytic approach, responses were reconstructed into birth stories. Stories, condensed into poetic form, were compared and contrasted. Four unique categories emerged: connected births, surreal births, disconnected births, and disempowered births. Categories differed by agency, support, and emotional tone. Positive support was found in stories that portrayed high agency and positive affect, whereas problematic support was apparent in stories that conveyed passivity, frustration, and disappointment. This study has implications for tailoring childbirth education for adolescent mothers and can inform health-care professionals working with this population.
Psychometric evaluation of the depression anxiety stress scales-21 (DASS-21) in a Serbian student sample
Authors: Jovanovic Veljko , Gavrilov-Jerkovic Vesna , Zuljevic Dragan , Brdaric Dragana
Published: April 2014

The purpose of the current research was to examine the psychometric
properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in a student
sample. In Study 1 (N = 1374), a confirmatory factor analysis was used to
evaluate construct validity of the DASS- 21. The stability of the DASS-21
structure over time (5-month follow-up, N = 693) was investigated also in
Study 1. In Study 2, associations with measures of depression, anxiety,
stress, affect, life satisfaction and general distress were examined to
assess the convergent validity of the DASS-21. The results suggested that the
DASS-21 was reliable and valid measure of unpleasant emotional states. The
model with optimal fit consisted of general factor of negative affect plus
three specific factors of depression, anxiety and stress.
I Prostanoid Receptor–Mediated Inflammatory Pathway Promotes Hepatic Gluconeogenesis Through Activation of PKA and Inhibition of AKT
Authors: Yan Shuai , Zhang Qianqian , Zhong Xiaojing , Tang Juan , Wang Yuanyang , Yu Junjie , Zhou Yi , Zhang Jian , Guo Feifan , Liu Yi , FitzGerald Garret A. , Yu Ying
Published: April 2014

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), improve glucose metabolism in diabetic subjects, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we observed dysregulated expression of cyclooxygenase-2, prostacyclin biosynthesis, and the I prostanoid receptor (IP) in the liver’s response to diabetic stresses. High doses of ASA reduced hepatic prostaglandin generation and suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice during fasting, and the hypoglycemic effect of ASA could be restored by IP agonist treatment. IP deficiency inhibited starvation-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis, thus inhibiting the progression of diabetes, whereas hepatic overexpression of IP increased gluconeogenesis. IP deletion depressed cAMP-dependent CREB phosphorylation and elevated AKT phosphorylation by suppressing PI3K-γ/PKC-ζ–mediated TRB3 expression, which subsequently downregulated the gluconeogenic genes for glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase 1 in hepatocytes. We therefore conclude that suppression of IP modulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis through the PKA/CREB and PI3K-γ/PKC-ζ/TRB3/AKT pathways contributes to the effects of NSAIDs in diabetes.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 3 (MKP-3)–Deficient Mice Are Resistant to Diet-Induced Obesity
Authors: Feng Bin , Jiao Ping , Helou Ynes , Li Yujie , He Qin , Walters Matthew S. , Salomon Arthur , Xu Haiyan
Published: April 2014

Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP-3) is a negative regulator of extracellular signal–related kinase signaling. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that MKP-3 plays an important role in obesity-related hyperglycemia by promoting hepatic glucose output. This study shows that MKP-3 deficiency attenuates body weight gain induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and protects mice from developing obesity-related hepatosteatosis. Triglyceride (TG) contents are dramatically decreased in the liver of MKP-3−/− mice fed an HFD compared with wild-type (WT) controls. The absence of MKP-3 also reduces adiposity, possibly by repressing adipocyte differentiation. In addition, MKP-3−/− mice display increased energy expenditure, enhanced peripheral glucose disposal, and improved systemic insulin sensitivity. We performed global phosphoproteomic studies to search for downstream mediators of MKP-3 action in liver lipid metabolism. Our results revealed that MKP-3 deficiency increases the phosphorylation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 on serine 393 by 3.3-fold and HDAC2 on serine 394 by 2.33-fold. Activities of HDAC1 and 2 are increased in the livers of MKP-3−/− mice fed an HFD. Reduction of HDAC1/2 activities is sufficient to restore TG content of MKP-3−/− primary hepatocytes to a level similar to that in WT cells.
Recommendations for the Definition of Clinical Responder in Insulin Preservation Studies
Authors: Beam Craig A. , Gitelman Stephen E. , Palmer Jerry P. ,   the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Study Group
Published: April 2014

Clinical responder studies should contribute to the translation of effective treatments and interventions to the clinic. Since ultimately this translation will involve regulatory approval, we recommend that clinical trials prespecify a responder definition that can be assessed against the requirements and suggestions of regulatory agencies. In this article, we propose a clinical responder definition to specifically assist researchers and regulatory agencies in interpreting the clinical importance of statistically significant findings for studies of interventions intended to preserve β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. We focus on studies of 6-month β-cell preservation in type 1 diabetes as measured by 2-h–stimulated C-peptide. We introduce criteria (bias, reliability, and external validity) for the assessment of responder definitions to ensure they meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency guidelines. Using data from several published TrialNet studies, we evaluate our definition (no decrease in C-peptide) against published alternatives and determine that our definition has minimum bias with external validity. We observe that reliability could be improved by using changes in C-peptide later than 6 months beyond baseline. In sum, to support efficacy claims of β-cell preservation therapies in type 1 diabetes submitted to U.S. and European regulatory agencies, we recommend use of our definition.
Dietary Protein Intake and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Europe: The EPIC-InterAct Case-Cohort Study
Authors: van Nielen Monique , Feskens Edith J.M. , Mensink Marco , Sluijs Ivonne , Molina Esther , Amiano Pilar , Ardanaz Eva , Balkau Beverly , Beulens Joline W.J. , Boeing Heiner , Clavel-Chapelon Françoise , Fagherazzi Guy , Franks Paul W. , Halkjaer Jytte , Huerta José Maria , Katzke Verena , Key Timothy J. , Khaw Kay Tee , Krogh Vittorio , Kühn Tilman , Menéndez Virginia V.M. , Nilsson Peter , Overvad Kim , Palli Domenico , Panico Salvatore , Rolandsson Olov , Romieu Isabelle , Sacerdote Carlotta , Sánchez Maria-José , Schulze Matthias B. , Spijkerman Annemieke M.W. , Tjonneland Anne , Tumino Rosario , van der A Daphne L. , Würtz Anne M.L. , Zamora-Ros Raul , Langenberg Claudia , Sharp Stephen J. , Forouhi Nita G. , Riboli Elio , Wareham Nicholas J.
Published: April 2014

OBJECTIVE

The long-term association between dietary protein and type 2 diabetes incidence is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the association between total, animal, and plant protein intake and the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The prospective European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-InterAct case-cohort study consists of 12,403 incident type 2 diabetes cases and a stratified subcohort of 16,154 individuals from eight European countries, with an average follow-up time of 12.0 years. Pooled country-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI of prentice-weighted Cox regression analyses were used to estimate type 2 diabetes incidence according to protein intake.

RESULTS

After adjustment for important diabetes risk factors and dietary factors, the incidence of type 2 diabetes was higher in those with high intake of total protein (per 10 g: HR 1.06 [95% CI 1.02–1.09], Ptrend < 0.001) and animal protein (per 10 g: 1.05 [1.02–1.08], Ptrend = 0.001). Effect modification by sex (P < 0.001) and BMI among women (P < 0.001) was observed. Compared with the overall analyses, associations were stronger in women, more specifically obese women with a BMI >30 kg/m2 (per 10 g animal protein: 1.19 [1.09–1.32]), and nonsignificant in men. Plant protein intake was not associated with type 2 diabetes (per 10 g: 1.04 [0.93–1.16], Ptrend = 0.098).

CONCLUSIONS

High total and animal protein intake was associated with a modest elevated risk of type 2 diabetes in a large cohort of European adults. In view of the rapidly increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, limiting iso-energetic diets high in dietary proteins, particularly from animal sources, should be considered.
NETWORKED ROBUST PREDICTIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS DESIGN WITH PACKET LOSS
Authors: Nguyen Quang T. , Veselý Vojtech , Kozáková Alena , Pakshin Pavel
Published: April 2014

The paper addresses problem of designing a robust output feedback model predictive control for uncertain linear systems over networks with packet-loss. The packet-loss process is arbitrary and bounded by the control horizon of model predictive control. Networked predictive control systems with packet loss are modeled as switched linear systems. This enables us to apply the theory of switched systems to establish the stability condition. The stabilizing controller design is based on sufficient robust stability conditions formulated as a solution of bilinear matrix inequality. Finally, a benchmark numerical example-double integrator is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
NEW APPROACH TO OPTIMIZE THE APFS PLACEMENT BASED ON INSTANTANEOUS REACTIVE POWER THEORY BY GENETIC ALGORITHM
Authors: Hashemi-Dezaki Hamed , Mohammadalizadeh-Shabestary Masoud , Askarian-Abyaneh Hossein , Rezaei-Jegarluei Mohammad
Published: April 2014

In electrical distribution systems, a great amount of power are wasting across the lines, also nowadays power factors, voltage profiles and total harmonic distortions (THDs) of most loads are not as would be desired. So these important parameters of a system play highly important role in wasting money and energy, and besides both consumers and sources are suffering from a high rate of distortions and even instabilities. Active power filters (APFs) are innovative ideas for solving of this adversity which have recently used instantaneous reactive power theory. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to optimize the allocation of APFs. The introduced method is based on the instantaneous reactive power theory in vectorial representation. By use of this representation, it is possible to asses different compensation strategies. Also, APFs proper placement in the system plays a crucial role in either reducing the losses costs and power quality improvement. To optimize the APFs placement, a new objective function has been defined on the basis of five terms: total losses, power factor, voltage profile, THD and cost. Genetic algorithm has been used to solve the optimization problem. The results of applying this method to a distribution network illustrate the method advantages.
Transformation of Delta Ferrite Into Sigma Phase in Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steels After Long-Term High-Temperature Service Exposure
Authors: Neidel A. , Fischer B. , Riesenbeck S. , Cagliyan E.
Published: April 2014

A service temperature increase of turbine exhaust casing liners of heavy-duty industrial gas turbines, driven by the need to raise thermal efficiencies, motivated a number of ageing trials. Casing liners are often made of metastable austenitic stainless steels, suitable for high temperature applications. Alloys such as 321SS and 347SS might contain, in the as-cast condition, rather large amounts of delta ferrite, if not further processed by rolling or forging, easily in excess of 15 %. Even rolled sheet and bar might contain significant volume fractions of that phase if welded, up to 15 % or so in the heat affected zone (HAZ) immediately adjacent to the fusion line, and in the weld metal. It is known from the literature and from field experience that delta ferrite might decompose into sigma phase after long-term service exposure at elevated temperatures. This may embrittle the material and can be detrimental to mechanical properties. It could also deleteriously affect creep strength. The main aim of ageing trials described in this paper was to study the phase stability of delta ferrite under simulated service conditions. The results are correlated to metallographic testing results, obtained from examining actual service components of heavy-duty gas turbine engines in the field.
Comparative Hydrogen Fracturing as a Means to Unambiguously Clarify Failure
Authors: Kühn S. , Unterumsberger F.
Published: April 2014

Generally, the clarification of hydrogen induced component damage cases by means of failure analysis is based on fractographic examinations in combination with hydrogen analyses. However, due to high diffusion rates of hydrogen in steels at RT (room temperature), providing the analytical evidence of an excessive hydrogen content is rarely possible. This work presents potential production and application related hydrogen sources as well as the mechanisms of hydrogen induced delayed formation of cracks and illustrates a systematical approach to produce comparative hydrogen fracturing. Therefore, the damaged component's specific material condition is the basis in order to generate a comparative fracture surface with an identical fracture morphology and applying the same damage mechanism.
Crack in an Inlet Manifold
Authors: Jurkschat D. M. , Heiermann I.
Published: April 2014

During the inspection, following a test run for component development purposes, a crack was discovered in the inlet manifold on a diesel generator. On closer inspection a fatigue crack was found in the ribbed section of the manifold. The failure mechanism initiated at an discontinuity of identical material in the cross section of the component, which acted as an internal stress raiser thus initiating the start of the fatigue crack.
Comparative inpatient resource utilization for patients undergoing endoscopic or microscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions
Authors: Little Andrew S. , Chapple Kristina , Jahnke Heidi , White William L.
Published: April 2014

Object

An increasingly important measure in the health care field is utilization of hospital resources, particularly in the context of emerging surgical techniques. Despite the recent widespread adoption of the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for pituitary lesion surgery, the health care resources utilized with this approach have not been compared with those utilized with the traditional microscopic approach. The purpose of this study was to determine the drivers of resource utilization by comparing hospital charges for patients with pituitary tumors who had undergone either endoscopic or microscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

Methods

A complete accounting of all hospital charges for 166 patients prospectively enrolled in a surgical quality-of-life study at a single pituitary center during October 2011–June 2013 was undertaken. Patients were assigned to surgical technique group according to surgeon preference and then managed according to a standard postoperative institutional set of orders. Individual line-item charges were assigned to categories (such as pharmacy, imaging, surgical, laboratory, room, pathology, and recovery unit), and univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted.

Results

Of the 166 patients, 99 underwent microscopic surgery and 67 underwent endoscopic surgery. Baseline demographic descriptors and tumor characteristics did not differ significantly. Mean total hospital charges were $74,703 ± $15,142 and $72,311 ± $16,576 for microscopic and endoscopic surgery patients, respectively (p = 0.33). Furthermore, other than for pathology, charge categories did not differ significantly between groups. A 2-step multivariate regression model revealed that length of stay was the most influential variable, followed by a diagnosis of Cushing's disease, and then by endoscopic surgical technique. The model accounts for 42% of the variance in hospital charges.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest that adoption of the endoscopic transsphenoidal technique for pituitary lesions does not adversely affect utilization of resources for inpatients. The primary drivers of hospital charges, in order of importance, were length of stay, a diagnosis of Cushing's disease, and, to a lesser extent, use of the endoscopic technique. This study also highlights the influence of individual surgeon practice patterns on resource utilization.
Conservative management of cavernous sinus cavernous hemangioma in pregnancy
Authors: Haber Jessica S. , Kesavabhotla Kartik , Ottenhausen Malte , Bodhinayake Imithri , Dinkin Marc J. , Segal Alan Z. , Lee Young M. , Boockvar John A.
Published: April 2014

Cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas in pregnancy are extremely rare lesions. The precise management of these lesions remains unknown. The authors present a case of a cavernous hemangioma in pregnancy, centered within the cavernous sinus that underwent postpartum involution without surgical intervention.

A 34-year-old pregnant patient (gravida 1, para 0) presented to an otolaryngologist with persistent headache and left-sided facial pain and numbness in the V1 distribution. While being treated for sinusitis, her symptoms progressed to include a left-sided oculomotor palsy and abducens palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast revealed an expansile mass within the left cavernous sinus consistent with a cavernous hemangioma. The patient was evaluated by a neurosurgeon who recommended close follow-up and postpartum imaging without surgical intervention. Although the lesion enlarged during pregnancy, the patient was able to undergo an uncomplicated cesarean section at 37 weeks. All facial and ocular symptoms resolved by 9 months postpartum, and MRI showed a decrease in lesion size and reduced mass effect. The authors conclude that nonsurgical management may be a viable approach in patients who have an onset or exacerbation of symptoms associated with cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas during pregnancy because postpartum involution may negate the need for surgical intervention.
An isolated primary Rathke's cleft cyst in the cerebellopontine angle
Authors: Fan Jun , Qi Songtao , Peng Yuping , Zhang Xi-an , Qiu Binghui , Pan Jun
Published: April 2014

Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign cysts typically located in the sellar or suprasellar region; ectopic isolated lesions are extremely rare. The authors describe the case of a 25-year-old man with a giant symptomatic RCC arising primarily at the cerebellopontine angle (CPA), only the second case reported thus far. The patient presented with a 2-year history of right hearing impairment and tinnitus accompanied by vertigo and headache and a 2-week history of right facial numbness. Subsequently, he underwent total cyst removal via retrosigmoid craniotomy with a good recovery. He experienced no recurrence during a 64-month follow-up period. The possible pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and surgical treatment of such cysts are discussed in this article. Isolated ectopic RCCs can arise from the ectopic migration of Rathke's pouch cells during the embryonic period. It is still difficult to distinguish ectopic RCCs from other cystic lesions of the CPA given the lack of specific imaging features. Aggressive resection of the cyst wall is not recommended, except when lesions do not closely adhere to adjacent structures.
Core Facility in Medical Research
Authors: Biswas SK
Published: April 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v7i1.18571 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2014; 7(1): 3-3
Serum Lipid Profile in Ischemic Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study
Authors: Ferdous BA , Sultana N , Ahmed S , Khan EH , Sultana S , Parvin T
Published: April 2014

Risk of coronary heart disease and other forms of atherosclerotic vascular diseases, rises with plasma cholesterol concentration and in particular with the rise of ratio of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol. A much weaker correlation also exists with plasma triglyceride concentration. Extensive large-scale randomized trials have shown that lowering total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations reduces the risk of cardiovascular events including death, myocardial infarction and stroke and reduces the need for revascularisation.This cross-sectional analytical study was designed to observe association between lipid profile level with chronic ischaemic heart disease and the study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2010 to June 2011. A total of 50 cases were selected purposively according to the selection criteria from the patients admitted in the Department of Cardiology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital with chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Diagnosed IHD patients were taken as cases and 50 age- & sex- matched healthy subjects were taken as controls. Serum TC, TG, LDL-C & HDL-C were measured in all study subjects.The mean±SD of serum TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C concentration in cases were 314.54±73.72 mg/dl, 288.04±60.45 mg/dl, 36.02±4.12 mg/dl, and 178.62±22.7 mg/dl respectively and in controls were 174.64±18.97 mg/dl, 119.42±12.47 mg/dl, 43.04±2.58 mg/dl & 126.28±11.45 mg/dl respectively. Serum Total Cholesterol, TG & LDL-C were found to be significantly higher in cases than that of controls. Serum HDL-C was found to be significantly lower in cases than that of controls. The present study reveals that the patients with chronic ischemic heart disease is accociated with significantly higher levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-C whereas HDL-C was found to be lower in IHD patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v7i1.18574 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2014; 7(1): 14-16
The Effect of Age, Stocking Density and Flooring during Transport on Welfare of Young Dairy Calves in Australia
Authors: Jongman Ellen , Butler Kym
Published: April 2014

Transport of young (‘bobby’) calves for slaughter is a contentious welfare issue for some sectors of the Australian community. Factors of age, stocking density and flooring need further research to develop appropriate welfare standards for transport of bobby calves. The objective of this study was to identify the space allowance requirements for transport of bobby calves and to understand factors such as age and flooring that minimise risks to calf welfare during transport. Animals aged 3-, 5- and 10-day old were transported for 12 h in a custom-made cattle truck fitted with 9 pens, with movable mesh divisions. Each pen contained 4 calves, with space allowances of 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 m2 per calf and flooring of solid metal, mesh or straw bedding. A total of 432 male dairy calves were transported in 12 trips during the 2-year study. Behavioural measurements included lying during transport, and lying and drinking for 12 h after transport during recovery. Blood samples were taken prior to transport, immediately after transport and 12 h after transport. Blood samples were analysed for metabolic state (glucose, beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BOHB)), hydration (packed cell volume (PCV)) and exhaustion/bruising (creatine kinase (CK) activity). It was found that several measures were affected by age, which indicates that the physiology and in particular lying behaviour of 3-day old calves is fundamentally different from that of older calves. It is unclear how this affects their ability to cope with the stressors of transport. Space affected the posture changes and CK activity during and after transport and it is concluded that space allowance should be at least 0.3 m2 per calf for calves of average size, while CK activity suggested that providing more space to 0.5 m2 per calf may provide even greater benefits. Straw bedding is of clear benefit to calves during transport, to the extent that it may even reduce some of the negative effects of reduced space on lying behaviour.
Enhanced Adsorption and Recovery of Uranyl Ions by NikR Mutant-Displaying Yeast
Authors: Kuroda Kouichi , Ebisutani Kazuki , Iida Katsuya , Nishitani Takashi , Ueda Mitsuyoshi
Published: April 2014

Uranium is one of the most important metal resources, and the technology for the recovery of uranyl ions (UO22+) from aqueous solutions is required to ensure a semi-permanent supply of uranium. The NikR protein is a Ni2+-dependent transcriptional repressor of the nickel-ion uptake system in Escherichia coli, but its mutant protein (NikRm) is able to selectively bind uranyl ions in the interface of the two monomers. In this study, NikRm protein with ability to adsorb uranyl ions was displayed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To perform the binding of metal ions in the interface of the two monomers, two metal-binding domains (MBDs) of NikRm were tandemly fused via linker peptides and displayed on the yeast cell surface by fusion with the cell wall-anchoring domain of yeast α-agglutinin. The NikRm-MBD-displaying yeast cells with particular linker lengths showed the enhanced adsorption of uranyl ions in comparison to the control strain. By treating cells with citrate buffer (pH 4.3), the uranyl ions adsorbed on the cell surface were recovered. Our results indicate that the adsorption system by yeast cells displaying tandemly fused MBDs of NikRm is effective for simple and concentrated recovery of uranyl ions, as well as adsorption of uranyl ions.
Entropy and Exergy Analysis of a Heat Recovery Vapor Generator for Ammonia-Water Mixtures
Authors: Kim Kyoung , Kim Kyoungjin , Ko Hyung
Published: April 2014

Recently power generation systems using ammonia-water binary mixtures as a working fluid have been attracting much attention for their efficient conversion of low-grade heat sources into useful energy forms. This paper presents the First and Second Law thermodynamic analysis for a heat recovery vapor generator (HRVG) of ammonia-water mixtures when the heat source is low-temperature energy in the form of sensible heat. In the analysis, key parameters such as ammonia mass concentration and pressure of the binary mixture are studied to investigate their effects on the system performance, including the effectiveness of heat transfer, entropy generation, and exergy efficiency. The results show that the ammonia concentration and the pressure of the mixture have significant effects on the system performance of the HRVG.
Differential Signaling by Protease-Activated Receptors: Implications for Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Sidhu Tejminder , French Shauna , Hamilton Justin
Published: April 2014

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are a family of four G protein-coupled receptors that exhibit increasingly appreciated differences in signaling and regulation both within and between the receptor class. By nature of their proteolytic self-activation mechanism, PARs have unique processes of receptor activation, “ligand” binding, and desensitization/resensitization. These distinctive aspects have presented both challenges and opportunities in the targeting of PARs for therapeutic benefit—the most notable example of which is inhibition of PAR1 on platelets for the prevention of arterial thrombosis. However, more recent studies have uncovered further distinguishing features of PAR-mediated signaling, revealing mechanisms by which identical proteases elicit distinct effects in the same cell, as well as how distinct proteases produce different cellular consequences via the same receptor. Here we review this differential signaling by PARs, highlight how important distinctions between PAR1 and PAR4 are impacting on the progress of a new class of anti-thrombotic drugs, and discuss how these more recent insights into PAR signaling may present further opportunities for manipulating PAR activation and signaling in the development of novel therapies.
A Rapid and Efficient Immunoenzymatic Assay to Detect Receptor Protein Interactions: G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Authors: Zappelli Elisa , Daniele Simona , Abbracchio Maria , Martini Claudia , Trincavelli Maria
Published: April 2014

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest families of cell surface receptors, and are the target of at least one-third of the current therapeutic drugs on the market. Along their life cycle, GPCRs are accompanied by a range of specialized GPCR-interacting proteins (GIPs), which take part in receptor proper folding, targeting to the appropriate subcellular compartments and in receptor signaling tasks, and also in receptor regulation processes, such as desensitization and internalization. The direction of protein-protein interactions and multi-protein complexes formation is crucial in understanding protein function and their implication in pathological events. Although several methods have been already developed to assay protein complexes, some of them are quite laborious, expensive, and, more important, they do not generate fully quantitative results. Herein, we show a rapid immunoenzymatic assay to quantify GPCR interactionswith its signaling proteins. The recently de-orphanized GPCR, GPR17, was chosen as a GPCR prototype to optimize the assay. In a GPR17 transfected cell line and primary oligodendrocyte precursor cells, GPR17 interaction with proteins involved in the typical GPCR regulation, such as desensitization and internalization machinery, was investigated. The obtained results were validated by co-immunoprecipitation experiments, confirming this new method as a rapid and quantitative assay to study protein-protein interactions.
Seasonal Variation of the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Essential Oils from Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd.
Authors: Furtado Fabiana , De Aquino Francisco , Nascimento Evandro , Martins Carla , De Morais Sérgio , Chang Roberto , Cunha Luís , Leandro Luís , Martins Carlos , Martins Mário , Silva Claudio , Machado Fabrício , De Oliveira Alberto
Published: April 2014

The seasonal chemical composition of essential oils from Inga laurina was determined by GC/MS. In the stem bark’s essential oil extracted during the dry season, the presence of terpenoids (30.05%) stood out, and phytol (9.76%) was the major compound identified. For the stem bark oil obtained during the rainy season, in addition to terpenoids (26.63%), a large amount of fatty acids (46.84%) were identified, in particular palmitic acid (25.40%). Regarding the leaves’ essential oil obtained in the dry season, esters (42.35%) were the main components. The main ester present was (Z)-hex-3-enyl benzoate (10.15%) and the major compound of this oil was (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (14.23%). Terpenoids (33.84%), long-chain alkanes (27.04%) and fatty acids (21.72%) were the main components of the essential oil from leaves in the rainy season. Phytol (33.21%), nonacosane (21.95%) and palmitic acid (15.20%) were the major compounds identified. The antimicrobial activity against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria was evaluated by the microdilution broth method and cytotoxic activity was carried out with Vero cells. The essential oils from the rainy season showed a better inhibition of the bacterial growth with Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) values of 25 or 50 µg·mL−1 for aerobic bacteria, and high selectivity against bacteria was observed. The large amount of fatty acids in rainy season oils may be related to the better inhibitory effects observed.
Analytical Challenges and Regulatory Requirements for Nasal Drug Products in Europe and the U.S.
Authors: Trows Sabrina , Wuchner Klaus , Spycher Rene , Steckel Hartwig
Published: April 2014

Nasal drug delivery can be assessed by a variety of means and regulatory agencies, e.g., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have published a set of guidelines and regulations proposing in vitro test methods for the characterization of nasal drug products. This article gives a summary of the FDA and EMA requirements regarding the determination of droplet size distribution (DSD), plume geometry, spray pattern and shot weights of solution nasal sprays and discusses the analytical challenges that can occur when performing these measurements. In order to support findings from the literature, studies were performed using a standard nasal spray pump and aqueous model formulations. The aim was to identify possible method-, device- and formulation-dependent influencing factors. The literature review, as well as the results from the studies show that DSD, plume geometry and spray pattern are influenced by, e.g., the viscosity of the solution, the design of the device and the actuation parameters, particularly the stroke length, actuation velocity and actuation force. The dominant factor influencing shot weights, however, is the adjustment of the actuation parameters, especially stroke length and actuation velocity. Consequently, for routine measurements assuring, e.g., the quality of a solution nasal spray or, for in vitro bioequivalence studies, the critical parameters, have to be identified and considered in method development in order to obtain reproducible and reliable results.
Finite Element Analysis for Fatigue Damage Reduction in Metallic Riveted Bridges Using Pre-Stressed CFRP Plates
Authors: Ghafoori Elyas , Prinz Gary , Mayor Emmanuel , Nussbaumer Alain , Motavalli Masoud , Herwig Andrin , Fontana Mario
Published: April 2014

Many old riveted steel bridges remain operational and require retrofit to accommodate ever increasing demands. Complicating retrofit efforts, riveted steel bridges are often considered historical structures where structural modifications that affect the original construction are to be avoided. The presence of rivets along with preservation requirements often prevent the use of traditional retrofit methods, such as bonding of fiber reinforced composites, or the addition of supplementary steel elements. In this paper, an un-bonded post-tensioning retrofit method is numerically investigated using existing railway riveted bridge geometry in Switzerland. The finite element (FE) model consists of a global dynamic model for the whole bridge and a more refined sub-model for a riveted joint. The FE model results include dynamic effects from axle loads and are compared with field measurements. Pre-stressed un-bonded carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) plates will be considered for the strengthening elements. Fatigue critical regions of the bridge are identified, and the effects of the un-bonded post-tensioning method with different pre-stress levels on fatigue susceptibility are explored. With an applied 40% CFRP pre-stress, fatigue damage reductions of more than 87% and 85% are achieved at the longitudinal-to-cross beam connections and cross-beam bottom flanges, respectively.