bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Properties and Neuroprotective Capacity of Strawberry Tree Fruit (Arbutus unedo)
Authors: Fortalezas Sofia , Tavares Lucélia , Pimpão Rui , Tyagi Meenu , Pontes Vera , Alves Paula M. , McDougall Gordon , Stewart Derek , Ferreira Ricardo B. , Santos Cláudia N.
Published: February 2010

Berries contain significant amounts of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, which are reported to reduce cancer risk, coronary heart disease and other degenerative diseases. These effects are mainly attributed to the antioxidant capacity of polyphenols found in berries. Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) berries are used in folk medicine but seldom eaten as fresh fruits. Their phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity reveal a high potential, but they are not well characterized as a “health promoting food”. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant properties of the edible strawberry tree fruit in vitro and in a neurodegeneration cell model. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), a well documented health-promoting fruit, was used as a control for comparison purposes. A. unedo yielded a similar content in polyphenols and a slightly lower value of total antioxidant capacity in comparison to R. idaeus. Although the chemically-measured antioxidant activity was similar between both fruits, R. idaeus increased neuroblastoma survival in a neurodegeneration cell model by 36.6% whereas A. unedo extracts caused no effect on neuroblastoma viability. These results clearly demonstrate that a promising level of chemically-determined antioxidant activity of a plant extract is not necessarily correlated with biological significance, as assessed by the effect of A. unedo fruit in a neurodegeneration cell model.
APPLICATION OF LINEAR PROJECTION ALGORITHMS FOR REDUCTION OF BACKGROUND EEG NOISE
Authors: Aydin Serap
Published: February 2010

In the present study, linear orthogonal projection algorithms (least square sense linear mapping (LSLM), minimum variance estimation (MVE), spectral domain estimation (SDC) and time domain constraint (TDC)) have been applied to reduce the background EEG noise on small number of trials elicited by auditory stimuli. These methods are compared to each other with respect to eigendecomposition based spectral signal-to-noise-ratio (SSNR) in tests where the grand average of experimental observations is considered as the template evoked potential (EP) signal. The actual ongoing EEG series and single-sweep EP are summed in pseudosimulations. The LSLM having simplest formulation is found to be most useful pre-filter among those methods in removing large amount of the noise without loss of information about EP components since both EEG noise level and EP component variations are highly correlated with eigenspectra of the raw data.
Reporting of corticosteroid use in systemic disease trials: Evidence from a systematic review of the potential impact on treatment effect
Authors: Pagnoux Christian , Dechartres Agnès , Giraudeau Bruno , Seror Raphaèle , Guillevin Loïc , Ravaud Philippe
Published: February 2010

Objective

To study how corticosteroid therapy is planned and described in reports of systemic disease trials and estimate the impact of the between‐arm difference in corticosteroid dose on treatment effect.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of PubMed and Cochrane databases on all reports of randomized systemic disease trials with corticosteroids as a cointervention. Data were extracted on the trial characteristics and results, planning of corticosteroid use, and dose. Success rates were adjusted for corticosteroid use for studies with available data and a binary outcome. Because the exact impact of between‐arm differences in corticosteroid dose on success rates is unknown, we tested different values for the impact of a difference of 1 unit (1 mg for daily dosage or 250 mg for cumulative dose at the end of the trial).

Results

A total of 139 trials were identified, including 79 investigating lupus and 30 investigating vasculitis. Planned management of corticosteroid use was specified in 101 reports (72.7%), with a fully described tapering scheme in 33 (23.7%). Corticosteroid consumption for each arm was given in 60 reports (43.2%), with a comparison of daily or cumulative dosage at the end of the trial in 32 (23.0%). An attempt to adjust for corticosteroid use was described in 2 (1.5%). With a value of 2.5% for the impact of a 1‐unit difference in corticosteroid dose, adjustment yielded changes in success rate differences exceeding 10% in 11 (46%) of the 24 reports analyzed.

Conclusion

For systemic disease trials, use of corticosteroids as a cointervention is often inadequately planned and reported and could affect treatment effect.
Nogo‐A antibodies and training reduce muscle spasms in spinal cord‐injured rats
Authors: Gonzenbach Roman R. , Gasser Pascal , Zörner Björn , Hochreutener Eva , Dietz Volker , Schwab Martin E.
Published: February 2010

Objective

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to permanent motor and sensory deficits due to the damage of ascending and descending fiber tracts. In addition, malfunctions such as neuropathic pain or muscle spasms develop in many patients, possibly caused by injury‐induced plastic changes of neuronal circuits above and below the lesion. New treatment strategies for spinal cord injury aim at enhancing plasticity and neurite growth, for example, by blocking the key neurite growth inhibitor Nogo‐A or its downstream effectors. It is therefore crucial to investigate potential effects of such treatments on malfunctions such as muscle spasms. In addition, locomotor training, now a standard therapeutic tool to improve walking ability in incomplete SCI subjects, can be expected to influence the rearrangement of spinal cord circuits and the development of muscle spasms and other malfunctions.

Methods and Results

Here we present and validate a new rat model for muscle spasms after incomplete SCI and show that both intrathecal anti–Nogo‐A antibody treatment and locomotor training, started early after injury, permanently reduce the development of muscle spasms.

Interpretation

The results show that an antibody‐mediated suppression of the growth inhibitory protein Nogo‐A leads to functional recovery and a lower level of malfunctions, suggesting the formation of functionally meaningful connections in the damaged spinal cord. Treadmill training early after SCI also has a beneficial effect. ANN NEUROL 2010;68:48–57
Protective effect of PEGylation against poly(amidoamine) dendrimer‐induced hemolysis of human red blood cells
Authors: Wang Wei , Xiong Wei , Zhu Yanhong , Xu Huibi , Yang Xiangliang
Published: February 2010

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are widely used in medical applications. However, dendrimers bearing positively charged surface groups are prone to destabilize cell membrane and cause cell lysis. The lytic effect of dendrimers on red blood cells (RBCs) namely hemolysis is extremely dangerous when administered in vivo. To diminish the hematologic toxicity, we modified PAMAM dendrimers with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of three molecular weights (2k, 5k, and 20k). The protective effect of PEGylation against PAMAM dendrimer‐induced hemolysis was studied. RBCs morphology and surface structure were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results indicated that PAMAM and PEG‐2k modified dendrimers induced hemolysis at 0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL respectively, whereas PEG‐5k and PEG‐20k modified dendrimers showed no significant difference in hemolysis compared with control even at 5 mg/mL. OM and AFM investigation indicated PAMAM and PEG‐2k modified dendrimers caused RBCs aggregation and lysis. However, no changes were observed in the overall shape of RBCs treated with PEG‐5k and PEG‐20k modified dendrimers. The surface roughness of RBCs treated with PEGylated dendrimers were far lower than that of RBCs treated with PAMAM dendrimers. This study demonstrated that hemocompatibility of PAMAM dendrimers could be greatly enhanced by PEGylation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010
Effect of Crosslinker Length and Composition on the Hydrophobicity and Thermomechanical Response of Acrylate‐Based Shape‐Memory Polymers
Authors: Warren P. Daniel , McGrath Dominic V. , Vande Geest Jonathan P.
Published: February 2010

Chemical and mechanical experiments are reported to elucidate the macroscopic effects of crosslinker length and composition on the thermomechanical response of acrylate‐based SMPs. To this end, EGA‐based formulations underwent a battery of basic tests which revealed that by increasing crosslinker chain length, polymer Tg can be decreased but there will be increases in compliance, step recoverability, and damping in a glassy state. Addition of methacrylate groups can cause increases in swelling, Tg, storage modulus in shorter chains, and greater damping at a rubbery state. All tested polymers exhibited mild hydrophilicity. PEGDA formulations exhibited good recoverability and could be an option for vascular applications.

magnified image
Study of the growth process and optoelectrical properties of nanocrystalline Cu3BiS3 thin films
Authors: Mesa F. , Dussan A. , Gordillo G.
Published: February 2010

Cu3BiS3 thin films were prepared on soda‐lime glass substrates by co‐evaporation of the precursors in a two‐step process; for that, the metallic precursors were evaporated from tungsten crucibles in the presence of elemental sulphur evaporated from a tantalum effusion cell. The films were characterized by spectral transmittance, Atomic Force Microscopy, X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and electrical measurements to investigate the effect of growth conditions on the optical, morphological and electrical properties. The results revealed that the Cu3BiS3 films present p‐type conductivity, a high absorption coefficient (greater than 104 cm–1), and an energy band gap, Eg, of about 1.39 eV. We observed from Atomic Force Microscopy and electrical measurements that grain size and electric conductivity of the Cu3BiS3 samples are influenced by the copper mass ratio in this material. We found, in the high‐temperature range above room temperature, that carrier transport is thermally activated with activation energies fluctuating between 0.17 and 0.28 eV. This suggests that this compound has good properties to perform as absorbent layer in thin‐film solar cells. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Integration of a Geographic Information System and Evolutionary Computation for Automatic Routing in Coastal Navigation
Authors: Tsou Ming-Cheng
Published: February 2010

Suitable route planning is related to the safety and economy of navigation. However, route planning has become increasingly complex over the years and the planning process requires a large amount of oceanic environmental information. In order to use the oceanic environmental information effectively and improve the efficiency of route planning, this research employed a Geographic Information System (GIS) as the platform for enabling two-phase automatic route generation design. Firstly, through GIS's spatial data management, spatial analysis and geometric computation capability, the presence of the obstacle is detected and candidate routes are automatically generated. These are provided to the evolutionary algorithm as the basis for preliminary population calculation. Then, a specially designed evolutionary algorithm is used for route elimination to obtain the optimal route, resulting in the most-recommended routes that encompass safety and economy. This technique is more efficient than evolutionary computation techniques that use traditional random searches. At the same time, this targets safety and economy, providing a reference for developing a route planning strategy.
Neural Network Aided Adaptive Filtering and Smoothing for an Integrated INS/GPS Unexploded Ordnance Geolocation System
Authors: Ki Lee Jong , Jekeli Christopher
Published: February 2010

The precise geolocation of buried unexploded ordnance (UXO) is a significant component of the detection, characterization, and remediation process. Traditional geolocation methods associated with these procedures are inefficient in helping to distinguish buried UXO from relatively harmless geologic magnetic sources or anthropic clutter items such as exploded ordnance fragments and agricultural or industrial artefacts. The integrated INS/GPS geolocation system can satisfy both high spatial resolution and robust, uninterrupted positioning requirements for successful UXO detection and characterization. To maximize the benefits from this integration, non-linear filtering strategies (such as the unscented Kalman filter) have been developed and tested using laboratory data. In addition, adaptive filters and smoothers have been designed to address variable or inaccuratea prioriknowledge of the process noise of the system during periods of GPS unavailability. In this paper, we study and compare the improvement in the geolocation accuracy when the neural network approach is applied to aid the adaptive versions of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the unscented Kalman filter (UKF). The test results show that the neural network based filters can improve overall position accuracy and can homogenize the performance of the integrated system over a range of relatively quiet to dynamic environments. Navigation-grade and medium-grade IMUs were compared and, with standard smoothing applied to the new filters, geolocation accuracy of 5 cm (13 cm) was achieved with the navigation- (medium-) grade unit within 8-second intervals that lack external control, which is at or close to the area-mapping accuracy requirement for UXO detection.
Intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy in the endemic Iberian Aconitum napellus subsp. castellanum (Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Herranz José M. , Copete Miguel Á. , Ferrandis Pablo , Copete Elena
Published: February 2010

Seeds of Aconitum napellus subsp. castellanum were physiologically dormant at maturity in early autumn, with underdeveloped embryos. Thus they have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Embryos in fresh seeds were on average 1.01 mm long, and they had to grow to 3.60 mm before radicle emergence. Cold stratification at 5°C for 5 months with light enhanced the mean embryo length to 2.73 mm (SE = 0.13) and seed germination to 20%. However, with higher temperatures (15/4, 20/7, 25/10, 28/14 and 32/18°C) embryo growth was small, with no seeds germinating. Optimal germination was achieved after 4 months of cold stratification at 5°C followed by incubation at 20/7°C for 1 month with light, when germination ranged between 70 and 79%, depending on seed age, locality and year of collection. Cold stratification could be substituted by the application of GA3 solution, since mean embryo length in seeds incubated at 25/10°C for 1 month with light was 3.52 mm and the germination was 80%. Since cold stratification was the only requirement for the loss of MPD, the longest embryo growth occurred during this treatment, and GA3 promoted MPD loss, we concluded that A. napellus seeds have intermediate complex MPD. Germination was higher in 4-month stored than in freshly matured seeds. A pronounced variability in germinative patterns at inter-annual and inter-population level was recorded.
Librational response of Enceladus
Authors: Rambaux Nicolas , Castillo‐Rogez Julie C. , Williams James G. , Karatekin Özgür
Published: February 2010

Physical librations could significantly contribute to Enceladus' geophysics through their influence on tidal stress. Therefore it is important to determine their behavior and the present paper is devoted to estimating Enceladus' libration in longitude. In a rotational model of Enceladus with no global ocean, we introduce the main perturbative terms of its orbital longitude and the tidal coupling. The main librations of Enceladus are related to indirect perturbations of the orbit of Enceladus by Dione (11 years and 3.7 years periods) with amplitudes of 933.4″ (1.14 km) and 676.6″ (827 m), respectively. These amplitudes are almost independent of the body's triaxiality. The third main libration is due to the direct gravitational attraction of Saturn and its period is equal to that of the mean anomaly of Enceladus with an amplitude between 93.1″ and 113.5″ (i.e., 112 and 139 m), depending on triaxiality. These amplitudes are consistent with the upper bound of 1.5° (6.6 km) inferred from observations with the Cassini‐Huygens spacecraft. The nonrigid body libration amplitudes due to tidal coupling are negligible. Nevertheless, tidal dissipation induces a small phase shift up to 0.57° corresponding to a displacement of Enceladus' figure of 1 m along the moon's equator at the mean anomaly period.
The effect of set point ratio and surface Young’s modulus on maximum tapping forces in fluid tapping mode atomic force microscopy
Authors: Kumar Bharath , Pifer Phillip M. , Giovengo Anthony , Legleiter Justin
Published: February 2010

There is great interest in using proximal probe techniques to simultaneously image and measure physical properties of surfaces with nanoscale spatial resolution. In this regard, there have been recent innovations in generating time-resolved force interaction between the tip and surface during regular operation of tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM). These tip/sample forces can be used to measure physical material properties of surface in an analogous fashion to the well-established static force curve experiment. Since its inception, it has been recognized that operation of TMAFM in fluids differs significantly from that in air, with one of the major differences manifested in the quality factor (Q) of the cantilever. In air, Q is normally on the order of 200–400, whereas in fluids, it is of the order of approximately 1–5. In this study, we explore the impact of imaging parameters, i.e., set point ratio and free cantilever oscillation amplitude, on time varying tip-sample force interactions in fluid TMAFM via simulation and experiment. The numerical AFM model contains a feedback loop, allowing for the simulation of the entire scanning process. In this way, we explore the impact of varying the Young’s modulus of the surface on the maximum tapping force.
Structural transformations in Mn2NiGa due to residual stress
Authors: Singh Sanjay , Maniraj M. , D’Souza S. W. , Ranjan R. , Barman S. R.
Published: February 2010

Powder x-ray diffraction study of Mn2NiGa ferromagnetic shape memory alloy shows the existence of a 7M monoclinic modulated structure at room temperature (RT). The structure of Mn2NiGa is found to be highly dependent on residual stress. For higher stress, the structure is tetragonal at RT, and for intermediate stress it is 7M monoclinic. However, only when the stress is considerably relaxed, the structure is cubic, as is expected at RT since the martensitic transition temperature is 230 K.
Negative feedback control of HIF-1 through REDD1-regulated ROS suppresses tumorigenesis
Authors: Horak Peter , Crawford Andrew R. , Vadysirisack Douangsone D. , Nash Zachary M. , DeYoung M. Phillip , Sgroi Dennis , Ellisen Leif W.
Published: February 2010

The HIF family of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors are key mediators of the physiologic response to hypoxia, whose dysregulation promotes tumorigenesis. One important HIF-1 effector is the REDD1 protein, which is induced by HIF-1 and which functions as an essential regulator of TOR complex 1 (TORC1) activity in
Drosophila
and mammalian cells. Here we demonstrate a negative feedback loop for regulation of HIF-1 by REDD1, which plays a key role in tumor suppression. Genetic loss of
REDD1
dramatically increases HIF-1 levels and HIF-regulated target gene expression in vitro and confers tumorigenicity in vivo. Increased HIF-1 in

REDD1
−/−

cells induces a shift to glycolytic metabolism and provides a growth advantage under hypoxic conditions, and HIF-1 knockdown abrogates this advantage and suppresses tumorigenesis. Surprisingly, however, HIF-1 up-regulation in

REDD1
−/−

cells is largely independent of mTORC1 activity. Instead, loss of REDD1 induces HIF-1 stabilization and tumorigenesis through a reactive oxygen species (ROS) -dependent mechanism.

REDD1
−/−

cells demonstrate a substantial elevation of mitochondrial ROS, and antioxidant treatment is sufficient to normalize HIF-1 levels and inhibit REDD1-dependent tumor formation. REDD1 likely functions as a direct regulator of mitochondrial metabolism, as endogenous REDD1 localizes to the mitochondria, and this localization is required for REDD1 to reduce ROS production. Finally, human primary breast cancers that have silenced REDD1 exhibit evidence of HIF activation. Together, these findings uncover a specific genetic mechanism for HIF induction through loss of REDD1. Furthermore, they define REDD1 as a key metabolic regulator that suppresses tumorigenesis through distinct effects on mTORC1 activity and mitochondrial function.
Phylogenetic analysis of 83 plastid genes further resolves the early diversification of eudicots
Authors: Moore Michael J. , Soltis Pamela S. , Bell Charles D. , Burleigh J. Gordon , Soltis Douglas E.
Published: February 2010

Although Pentapetalae (comprising all core eudicots except Gunnerales) include ≈70% of all angiosperms, the origin of and relationships among the major lineages of this clade have remained largely unresolved. Phylogenetic analyses of 83 protein-coding and rRNA genes from the plastid genome for 86 species of seed plants, including new sequences from 25 eudicots, indicate that soon after its origin, Pentapetalae diverged into three clades: (i) a “superrosid” clade consisting of Rosidae, Vitaceae, and Saxifragales; (ii) a “superasterid” clade consisting of Berberidopsidales, Santalales, Caryophyllales, and Asteridae; and (iii) Dilleniaceae. Maximum-likelihood analyses support the position of Dilleniaceae as sister to superrosids, but topology tests did not reject alternative positions of Dilleniaceae as sister to Asteridae or all remaining Pentapetalae. Molecular dating analyses suggest that the major lineages within both superrosids and superasterids arose in as little as 5 million years. This phylogenetic hypothesis provides a crucial historical framework for future studies aimed at elucidating the underlying causes of the morphological and species diversity in Pentapetalae.
Distributed neural system for general intelligence revealed by lesion mapping
Authors: Gläscher J. , Rudrauf D. , Colom R. , Paul L. K. , Tranel D. , Damasio H. , Adolphs R.
Published: February 2010

General intelligence (
g
) captures the performance variance shared across cognitive tasks and correlates with real-world success. Yet it remains debated whether
g
reflects the combined performance of brain systems involved in these tasks or draws on specialized systems mediating their interactions. Here we investigated the neural substrates of
g
in 241 patients with focal brain damage using voxel-based lesion–symptom mapping. A hierarchical factor analysis across multiple cognitive tasks was used to derive a robust measure of
g
. Statistically significant associations were found between
g
and damage to a remarkably circumscribed albeit distributed network in frontal and parietal cortex, critically including white matter association tracts and frontopolar cortex. We suggest that general intelligence draws on connections between regions that integrate verbal, visuospatial, working memory, and executive processes.
Development of a non‐invasive algorithm with transient elastography (Fibroscan) and serum test formula for advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B
Authors: WONG G. L. H. , WONG V. W. S. , CHOI P. C. L. , CHAN A. W. H. , CHAN H. L. Y.
Published: February 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 1095–1103

Background  Non‐invasive assessments of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B were well established.

Aim  To develop a combined algorithm of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and serum test formula to predict advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

Methods  We reported an alanine aminotransferase (AST)‐based LSM algorithm for liver fibrosis in 156 chronic hepatitis B patients, which formed the training cohort to evaluate the performance of APRI (AST‐to‐platelet‐ratio‐index), Forns index, FIB‐4 and Fibroindex against liver histology. The best combined LSM‐serum formula algorithm would be validated in another cohort of 82 chronic hepatitis B patients.

Results  In the training cohort, LSM has the best performance of diagnosing advanced (≥F3) fibrosis [area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85–0.91], while Forns index has the best performance among the various serum test formulae (AUROC 0.70, 95% CI 0.62–0.78). In the combined algorithm, low LSM or low Forns index could be used to exclude advanced fibrosis as both of them had high sensitivity (>90%). To confirm advanced fibrosis, agreement between high LSM and high Forns index could improve the specificity (from 99% to 100% and from 87% to 98% in the training and validation cohorts respectively).

Conclusion  A combined LSM–Forns algorithm can improve the accuracy to predict advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.
Subclinical hypercortisolism: correlation between biochemical diagnostic criteria and clinical aspects
Authors: Morelli V. , Masserini B. , Salcuni A. S. , Eller‐Vainicher C. , Savoca C. , Viti R. , Coletti F. , Guglielmi G. , Battista C. , Iorio L. , Beck‐Peccoz P. , Ambrosi B. , Arosio M. , Scillitani A. , Chiodini I.
Published: February 2010

Objective  Subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) has been associated with increased prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, central obesity, osteoporosis and vertebral fractures. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of different SH diagnostic criteria in predicting the presence of complications.

Design  This was a retrospective study.

Patients  We evaluated data from 231 patients (120 women and 111 men) affected with adrenal incidentalomas (AI).

Measurements  We studied the accuracy of different SH diagnostic criteria (cortisol after 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test – 1mg‐DST – at different cut‐off such as 49·7, 82·8, 137·9 nmol/l, elevated urinary free cortisol, reduced adrenal corticotroph hormone (ACTH) levels alone or various combination of these parameters) in predicting the concomitant presence of the following three complications: hypertension, type 2 diabetes and vertebral fractures.

Results  The criterion characterized by the presence of two of 1mg‐DST >82·8 nmol/l, elevated UFC and reduced ACTH struck the best balance between sensitivity and specificity, reaching a good accuracy in predicting the cluster of complications (61·9%; 77·1% and 75·8%, respectively). The presence of this cluster was associated with this criterion (OR 4·75, 95%CI 1·8–12·7, P = 0·002) regardless of gonadal status, body mass index (BMI) and age.

Conclusions  The SH criterion characterized by the presence of two of 1mg‐DST >82·8 nmol/l, elevated UFC and reduced ACTH seems the best in predicting the presence of chronic manifestations of subtle cortisol excess.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The association of serum vitamin D level with presence of metabolic syndrome and hypertension in middle‐aged Korean subjects
Authors: Kim Mee K. , Il Kang Moo , Won Oh Ki , Kwon Hyuk S. , Lee Jin H. , Lee Won C. , Yoon Kun‐Ho , Son Ho Y.
Published: February 2010

Objective:  To examine the association of serum vitamin D level with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hypertension (HTN) in middle‐aged Korean subjects.

Design and subjects:  We conducted a population‐based, cross‐sectional survey of 1330 participants aged over 40 years (median age 65·8 years) in Chungju, Korea, in 2007. The 324 subjects, who were normotensive in 2003 and who attended a follow‐up visit 4 years later, were included in an analysis of the association of serum vitamin D level with the risk of HTN.

Measurements:  Serum 25‐hydroxy‐vitamin D [25(OH)D] and PTH were measured in a central laboratory, using chemiluminescence assays.

Results:  The overall prevalence of the MetS in participants of this study was 45·3%. After adjusting for various covariates, subjects in the highest quintile group (61·4–116·8 nmol/l) compared with the lowest quintile group (10·0–29·7 nmol/l) of 25(OH)D had an odds ratio (OR) for having MetS of 0·35 (95% confidence intervals, CI, 0·22–0·56; P for trend <0·001). The median level of 25(OH)D was 46·8 nmol/l among 324 subjects who were normotensive in 2003. After multiple adjustment, the OR was substantially higher for new HTN (OR 2·74; 95% CI 1·40–5·34) in subjects with serum 25(OH)D levels below the median value compared with those above median. The inverse associations of vitamin D and MetS/HTN were unchanged after adjustment for PTH and serum calcium levels. There was no association between PTH and MetS.

Conclusions:  We found a strong inverse association of 25(OH)D levels with MetS and HTN in this middle‐aged Korean population. Having vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased risk of having MetS and HTN in this demographic group.
Expansion of genes encoding a novel type of dynamin in the genome of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum
Authors: Nakabachi A. , Miyagishima S.
Published: February 2010

Screening of the entire genome of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, detected 15 genes for putative dynamin superfamily proteins – self‐assembling large GTPases that are involved in the fission and fusion of membranes. In addition to a single gene each for Dyn, Drp1, and Opa1, orthologues that are common in Metazoa, 12 genes encoding a novel type of dynamin were found. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these novel‐class genes are monophyletic. Quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR demonstrated that expressions of four novel‐class dynamin genes are highly up‐regulated in the midgut, through which aphids take in phloem‐sap diets and plant viruses. As this type of dynamin is absent from all other fully sequenced organisms, they may function in processes unique to aphids.
Temperature‐dependent FlgM/FliA complex formation regulates Campylobacter jejuni flagella length
Authors: Wösten Marc M. S. M. , Van Dijk Linda , Veenendaal Andreas K. J. , De Zoete Marcel R. , Bleumink‐Pluijm Nancy M. C. , Van Putten Jos P. M.
Published: February 2010

Regulation of the biosynthesis of the flagellar filament in bacteria containing multiple flagellin genes is not well understood. The major food‐borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni possesses on both poles a flagellum that consists of two different flagellin subunits, FlaA and FlaB. Here we identify the protein Cj1464 as a regulator of C. jejuni flagellin biosynthesis. The protein shares characteristics of the FlgM family of anti‐σ factor proteins: it represses transcription of σ28‐dependent genes, forms a complex with σ factor FliA, and is secreted through the flagellar filament. However, unlike other FlgM proteins, the interaction of C. jejuni FlgM with FliA is regulated by temperature and the protein does not inhibit FliA activity during the formation of the hook‐basal body complex (HBB). Instead, C. jejuni FlgM limits the length of the flagellar filament by suppressing the synthesis of both the σ28‐ and the σ54‐dependent flagellins. The main function of the C. jejuni FlgM therefore is not to silence σ28‐dependent genes until the HBB is completed, but to prevent unlimited elongation of the flagellum, which otherwise leads to reduced bacterial motility.
Nuclear polyhedrosis virus as a biological control agent forMalacosoma americanum(Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)
Authors: Progar R. A. , Rinella M. J. , Fekedulegn D. , Butler L.
Published: February 2010

In addition to damaging trees, the eastern tent caterpillar is implicated in early fetal loss and late‐term abortion in horses. In a field study, we evaluated the potential biological control of the caterpillar using eastern tent caterpillar nuclear polyhedrosis virus (ETNPV), a naturally occurring virus that is nearly species‐specific. Egg masses were hatched and second instar larvae were fed virus‐inoculated foliage to propagate the virusin vivo. Then, a viral pesticide was formulated at concentrations of 104, 106and 108polyhedral inclusion bodies per ml. The pesticide was applied to foliage on which second, third and fourth instar caterpillars were feeding. When the majority of surviving larvae reached the sixth instar, colonies were collected and the surviving caterpillars counted. Mean numbers of surviving caterpillars per treatment were compared via 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. The data indicate second instar caterpillars were highly susceptible to the virus, but only at the highest concentration tested. Third instar caterpillars were also somewhat susceptible to high virus concentrations, while fourth instar caterpillars were fairly resistant. Our data provide the strongest evidence to date that ETNPV can be propagated, harvested and refined for formulation as a biological control agent for eastern tent caterpillar. Its use on this insect may be merited in circumstances where landowners and managers need to protect trees and horses.
Climate Change
Authors: Chandler Richard , Rougier Jonathan , Collins Mat
Published: February 2010

At the Copenhagen conference our leaders failed to agree on a course of firm action against climate change. We present three articles on the post-Copenhagen world. In the first of them, Richard Chandler, Jonathan Rougier and Mat Collins describe statistical work that still needs to be done.
Substance P receptor blockade decreases stretch‐induced lung cytokines and lung injury in rats
Authors: Brégeon Fabienne , Steinberg Jean Guillaume , Andreotti Nicolas , Sabatier Jean‐Marc , Delpierre Stéphane , Ravailhe Sylvie , Jammes Yves
Published: February 2010

Overdistension of lung tissue during mechanical ventilation causes cytokine release, which may be facilitated by the autonomic nervous system. We used mechanical ventilation to cause lung injury in rats, and studied how cervical section of the vagus nerve, or substance P (SP) antagonism, affected the injury. The effects of 40 or 25 cmH2O high airway pressure injurious ventilation (HV40 and HV25) were studied and compared with low airway pressure ventilation (LV) and spontaneous breathing (controls). Lung mechanics, lung weight, gas exchange, lung myeloperoxidase activity, lung concentrations of interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐6, and amounts of lung SP were measured. Control rats were intact, others were bivagotomized, and in some animals we administered the neurokinin‐1 (NK‐1) receptor blocking agent SR140333. We first determined the durations of HV40 and HV25 that induced the same levels of lung injury and increased lung contents of IL‐1β and IL‐6. They were 90 min and 120 min, respectively. Both HV40 and HV25 increased lung SP, IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels, these effects being markedly reduced by NK‐1 receptor blockade. Bivagotomy reduced to a lesser extent the HV40‐ and HV25‐induced increases in SP but significantly reduced cytokine production. Neither vagotomy nor NK‐1 receptor blockade prevented HV40‐induced lung injury but, in the HV25 group, they made it possible to maintain lung injury indices close to those measured in the LV group. This study suggests that both neuronal and extra‐neuronal SP might be involved in ventilator‐induced lung inflammation and injury. NK‐1 receptor blockade could be a pharmacological tool to minimize some adverse effects of mechanical ventilation.
Effects of Axial
Corrugated Roughness on Low Reynolds Number Slip Flow and Continuum Flow in
Microtubes
Authors: Duan Zhipeng , Muzychka Y.
S.
Published: February 2010

The effect of axial corrugated surface roughness on fully developed laminar flow in microtubes is investigated. The radius of a microtube varies with the axial distance due to corrugated roughness. The Stokes equation is solved using a perturbation method with slip at the boundary. Analytical models are developed to predict friction factor and pressure drop in corrugated rough microtubes for continuum flow and slip flow. The developed model proposes an explanation on the observed phenomenon that some experimental pressure drop results for microchannel flow have shown a significant increase due to roughness. The developed model for slip flow illustrates the coupled effects between velocity slip and small corrugated roughness. Compressibility effect has also been examined and simple models are proposed to predict the pressure distribution and mass flow rate for slip flow in corrugated rough microtubes.
Film Cooling Performance of Converging-Slot Holes With Different Exit-Entry Area Ratios
Authors: Liu Cun-liang , Zhu Hui-ren , Bai Jiang-tao , Xu Du-chun
Published: February 2010

Film cooling performances of two kinds of converging slot-hole (console) with different exit-entry area ratios have been measured using a new transient liquid crystal measurement technique which can process the nonuniform initial wall temperature. Four momentum ratios are tested. The film cooling effectiveness distribution features are similar for the two consoles under all the momentum ratios. Consoles with smaller exit-entry area ratio produce higher cooling effectiveness. And the laterally averaged cooling effectiveness results show that the best momentum ratio for both consoles’ film cooling effectiveness distribution is around 2. For both consoles, the heat transfer in the midspan region is stronger than that in the hole centerline region in the upstream, but gradually becomes weaker as flowing downstream. With the momentum ratio increasing, the normalized heat transfer coefficient h/ho of both consoles increases. In the upstream, heat transfer coefficient of console with small exit-entry area ratio is higher. But in the downstream, the jets’ turbulence and the couple vortices play notable elevating effect on the heat transfer coefficient for large exit-entry area ratio case, especially under small momentum ratios. Consoles with smaller exit-entry area ratio provide better thermal protection because of higher cooling effectiveness. And the distributions of heat flux ratio are similar with those of cooling effectiveness because the influence of η on q/q0 is larger. For the consoles, smaller exit-entry area ratios produce lower discharge coefficients when the pressure variation caused by the hole shaped is regarded as flow resistant.
Off-Design Performance Investigation of a Low Calorific Gas Fired Two-Shaft Gas Turbine
Authors: Eriksson Pontus , Genrup Magnus , Jonshagen Klas , Klingmann Jens
Published: February 2010

Gas turbine systems are predominantly designed to be fuelled with gaseous fuels within a limited Wobbe index range (typically HHV = 45–55 MJ/Nm3 or 1200–1480 Btu/scf). When low calorific fuel gases are fired, the engine will be forced to operate outside its design envelope. The added mass flow will typically raise the cycle pressure ratio and in two-shaft designs also raise the gas generator shaft speed. Typical constraints to be considered due to the altered fuel composition are pressure loads, shaft torques, shaft overspeeds, centrifugal overloading of disks and blades, combustor flameout, surge and flutter limits for the turbomachinery. This poses limitations to usable fuel choices. In this study, the response of a natural gas fired simple cycle two-shaft gas turbine is investigated. A lean premixed combustor is also included in the model. Emphasis has been put on predicting the turbomachinery and combustor behavior as different amounts of N2 or CO2 are added to the fuel path. These two inerts are typically found in large quantities in medium and low calorific fuels. The fuels lower heating value is thus gradually changed from 50 MJ/kg (21.5 kBtu/lb) to 5MJ/kg (2.15 kBtu/lb). A model, based on the Volvo Aero Corp. VT4400 gas turbine (originally Dresser Rand DR990) characterized by one compressor and two expander maps is considered. The free turbine is operated at fixed physical speed. The operating point is plotted in the compressor map and the turbine maps at three distinct firing temperatures representing turndown from full load to bleed opening point. Gas generator speed and shaft power are shown. Surge margin and power turbine power is plotted. Overall efficiency is computed. The behavior of the Volvo lean premixed combustor is also discussed. Air split, primary zone equivalence ratio and temperature is plotted. Combustor loading, combustion intensity and pressure drop is graphed. Results are, as far as possible, given as non-dimensional parameter groups for easy comparison with other machines.
Conjugate Calculation of Effusion Cooling With Realistic Cooling Hole Geometries
Authors: Bohn Dieter , Krewinkel Robert
Published: February 2010

Within Collaborative Research Center 561 “Thermally Highly Loaded, Porous and Cooled Multi-Layer Systems for Combined Cycle Power Plants” at RWTH Aachen University an effusion-cooled multi-layer plate configuration with seven staggered effusion cooling holes is investigated numerically by application of a 3-D in-house fluid flow and heat transfer solver, CHTflow. The effusion-cooling is realized by finest drilled holes with a diameter of 0.2 mm that are shaped in the region of the thermal barrier coating. The geometry of the cooling holes is not symmetrical, due to the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the inlet of the cooling holes in the plenum shows no sharp edges, which has a significant influence on the formation of the kidney-vortices within the cooling hole. The impact of this geometry on the cooling effectiveness has to be quantified prior to application. A hot gas Mach-number of 0.25 and blowing ratios of approximately 0.28 and 0.48 will be considered. The numerical grid contains the coolant supply (plenum), the solid body for the conjugate calculations and the main flow area on the plate. The form of the hole, especially that of the diffuser, leads to a skewered mass flow from the hole and a non-symmetric temperature distribution on the plate surface. Therefore, neither the flow field on the hot gas surface nor the temperature distribution can be compared with the usually investigated idealised hole geometries.
Experimental Investigations of Performance Parameters of Pressure Swirl Atomizer for Kerosene Type Fuel
Authors: Dikshit Saurabh , Channiwala Salim , Kulshreshtha Digvijay , Chaudhari Kamlesh
Published: February 2010

The process of atomization is one in which a liquid jet or sheet is disintegrated by the kinetic energy of the liquid itself, or by exposure to high velocity air or gas, or as a result of mechanical energy applied externally. Combustion of liquid fuels in engines and industrial furnaces is dependent on effective atomization to increase the specific surface area of the fuel and thereby achieve high rate of mixing and evaporation. The pressure swirl atomizer is most common type atomizer used for combustion in gas turbine engines and industrial furnaces. The spray penetration is of prime importance for combustion designs. Over penetration of the spray leads to impingement of the fuel on walls of furnaces and combustors. On the other hand, if spray penetration is inadequate, fuel–air mixing is unsatisfactory. Optimum engine performance is obtained when the spray penetration is matched to the size and geometry of combustors. Methods for calculating penetration are therefore essential to sound engine design. Equally important are the spray cone angles and the drop size distribution in the sprays. An attempt is being made to experimentally investigate pressure swirl atomizer performance parameters such as spray cone angle, penetration length and drop size at different injection pressures ranging from 6 bar to 18 bar.
Prediction of Ingestion Through Turbine Rim Seals—Part 1: Rotationally-Induced Ingress
Authors: Owen J. Michael
Published: February 2010

The mainstream flow past the stationary nozzle guide vanes and rotating turbine blades in a gas turbine creates an unsteady non-axisymmetric variation of pressure in the annulus radially outward of the rim seal. Ingress and egress occur through those parts of the seal clearance where the external pressure is higher and lower, respectively, than that in the wheel-space; this non-axisymmetric type of ingestion is referred to here as externally-induced (EI) ingress. Another cause of ingress is that the rotating air inside the wheel-space creates a radial gradient of pressure so that the pressure inside the wheel-space can be less than that outside; this creates rotationally-induced (RI) ingress, which — unlike EI ingress — can occur even if the flow in the annulus is axisymmetric. Although EI ingress is usually dominant in a turbine, there are conditions under which both EI and RI ingress are significant: these cases are referred to as combined ingress. In Part 1 of this two-part paper, the so-called orifice equations are derived for compressible and incompressible swirling flow, and the incompressible equations are solved analytically for RI ingress. The resulting algebraic expressions show how the nondimensional ingress and egress vary with Θ0, the ratio of the flow rate of sealing air to the flow rate necessary to prevent ingress. It is shown that ε, the sealing effectiveness, depends principally on Θ0, and the predicted values of ε are in mainly good agreement with available experimental data. Part 2 (ASME GT2009-59122) concentrates on the solution and validation of the orifice equations for EI and combined ingress.
Advancements in the Design of an Adaptable Swirl Distortion Generator for Testing Gas Turbine Engines
Authors: Sheoran Yogi , Bouldin Bruce , Krishnan P. Murali
Published: February 2010

Inlet swirl distortion has recently become a major area of concern in the gas turbine engine community. Gas turbine engines are being installed in embedded installations that are downstream of increasingly complicated inlet systems, such as those used in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These inlet systems can produce complex swirl patterns in addition to total pressure distortion. The effect of swirl distortion on engine or compressor performance and operability must be evaluated. The gas turbine community is developing methodologies to measure and characterize swirl distortion. There is a strong need to develop a mechanism for generating a prescribed swirl distortion intensity and pattern. Several devices such as delta wings or complex turning vanes have been proposed and used to generate swirl distortion with limited success. Reference 1 presented by the authors described a versatile swirl distortion generator design that produced a wide range of swirl distortion patterns of a prescribed strength, including bulk swirl, 1/rev, and 2/rev patterns. However, some of the generated swirl patterns produced by this swirl generator system were not stable and tended to oscillate with time. Using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) techniques, significant improvements were made to the swirl generator design. Through CFD, the mechanisms behind swirl generation were better understood and a swirl generator system was designed and analyzed which produces much more stable and predictable swirl distortion patterns. This paper describes the design features of this improved swirl generator system and presents CFD results detailing the type of swirl patterns that can be produced. The flexibility and adaptability of the swirl generator system to produce a wide variety of swirl patterns and intensities are also highlighted.