bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Degradation Potential of Protocatechuate 3,4-Dioxygenase from Crude Extract ofStenotrophomonas maltophiliaStrain KB2 Immobilized in Calcium Alginate Hydrogels and on Glyoxyl Agarose
Authors: Guzik Urszula , Hupert-Kocurek Katarzyna , Krysiak Marta , Wojcieszyńska Danuta
Published: February 2014

Microbial intradiol dioxygenases have been shown to have a great potential for bioremediation; however, their structure is sensitive to various environmental and chemical agents. Immobilization techniques allow for the improvement of enzyme properties. This is the first report on use of glyoxyl agarose and calcium alginate as matrixes for the immobilization of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase. Multipoint attachment of the enzyme to the carrier caused maintenance of its initial activity during the 21 days. Immobilization of dioxygenase in calcium alginate or on glyoxyl agarose resulted in decrease in the optimum temperature by 5°C and 10°C, respectively. Entrapment of the enzyme in alginate gel shifted its optimum pH towards high-alkaline pH while immobilization of the enzyme on glyoxyl agarose did not influence pH profile of the enzyme. Protocatechuate 3,4-dioygenase immobilized in calcium alginate showed increased activity towards 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate, caffeic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate. Slightly lower activity of the enzyme was observed after its immobilization on glyoxyl agarose. Entrapment of the enzyme in alginate gel protected it against chelators and aliphatic alcohols while its immobilization on glyoxyl agarose enhanced enzyme resistance to inactivation by metal ions.
Clinicopathological and Prognostic Characteristics of Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach
Authors: Yang Jinlin , Wang Rui , Zhang Wenyan , Zhuang Wen , Wang Mojin , Tang Chengwei
Published: February 2014

The present study was undertaken to clarify the association of the clinicopathological features of hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) in the stomach, a special kind of carcinoma that histologically resembled hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is characterized by large amounts ofα-fetoprotein (AFP) in serum, with the clinical prognosis. We collected the data of the clinicopathological features and the follow-up information from a total of 31 HACs from January 2005 to December 2012 in our hospital. High lymphatic (54.8%) and distant (25.8%) metastasis rates before surgery, large proportion of advanced HACs (71.0%) at admission, short median overall survival time (6 months), and low three-year survival rate (22.6%) suggested that HAC in the stomach was an aggressive disease, resulting in a poor prognosis. And pTNM stages, immunohistochemical staining of AFP, CEA, CK7, and CK20 had statistically relation with the survival as the independent risk factors,P<0.05. Therefore, early and clear differentiation of HAC from cancerous or noncancerous conditions with AFP elevation and assessment of high risk patients by histopathology may improve the clinical prognosis.
Serum Omentin-1 as a Disease Activity Marker for Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Lu Yan , Zhou Li , Liu Lifeng , Feng Yan , Lu Li , Ren Xiaoyan , Dong Xinqian , Sang Weiwei
Published: February 2014

Background and Aim. It remains challenging to determine the inflammatory activity in Crohn’s disease (CD) for lack of specific laboratory markers. Recent studies suggest that serum omentin-1 is associated with inflammatory response. We aimed to assess the potential of serum omentin-1 as a marker of disease activity in CD patients.Methods. Serum omentin-1 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with CD (n=240), functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs,n=120), and healthy controls (HC,n=60) and evaluated for correlation with disease activity. Expression of omentin-1 in colonic tissues from patients with CD was also analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Serum omentin-1 levels as an activity index were evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results. Serum omentin-1 concentrations were significantly decreased in active CD patients compared with patients in remission, FGDs, and HC (allP<0.001). Expression of omentin-1 was decreased at mRNA and protein levels in inflamed colonic tissues in active CD than that in noninflamed colonic tissues. Serum omentin-1 levels were negatively correlated with disease activity in CD, better than C-reactive protein (CRP).Conclusion. Our results indicate that serum and colonic omentin-1 expressions are decreased in active CD patients. The correlation of serum omentin-1 with disease activity in CD is superior to that of CRP. Serum omentin-1 is a potential marker for CD disease activity.
Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Characterisation of Gastric Schwannomas in 29 Cases
Authors: Zheng Lijun , Wu Xiaojiang , Kreis Martin E. , Yu Zhen , Feng Lijin , Chen Chunqiu , Xu Bin , Bu Zhaode , Li Ziyu , Ji Jiafu
Published: February 2014

Schwannomas are tumors arising from the nervous system that also occur infrequently in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly in the stomach. This report characterizes 29 patients with benign or malignant gastric schwannomas. Surgical data and clinical follow-up information were available for 28 cases with a median postoperative duration of 57 months. Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of benign and malignant schwannomas were analysed. Four cases (13.7%) were histologically diagnosed with malignant schwannoma. All tumors were positive for S-100 and CD56 proteins, displaying a diffuse staining pattern. Vimentin was expressed in 100% cases and all schwannomas were negative for smooth muscle actin, c-kit, and HMB-45. A significant difference was observed between the group of benign and malignant schwannomas as regards recurrences and metastasis after complete resection (P=0.015). The survival time of patients with benign schwannomas was longer than the malignant group (P=0.013), so gastric malignant schwannomas have a potential for recurrence and metastasis, with subsequently short survival. Complete resection with an attempt to remove all tumor tissue with negative margins is of paramount importance in the management of gastric schwannomas, particularly when they turn out to be malignant.
Condition Based Maintenance Optimization of an Aircraft Assembly Process Considering Multiple Objectives
Authors: Li J. , Sreenuch T. , Tsourdos A.
Published: February 2014

The Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC) ARJ21 fuselage’s final assembly process is used as a case study. The focus of this paper is on the condition based maintenance regime for the (semi-) automatic assembly machines and how they impact the throughput of the fuselage assembly process. The fuselage assembly process is modeled and analyzed by using agent based simulation in this paper. The agent approach allows complex process interactions of assembly, equipment, and maintenance to be captured and empirically studied. In this paper, the built network is modeled as the sequence of activities in each stage, which are parameterized by activity lead time and equipment used. A scatter search is used to find multiobjective optimal solutions for the CBM regime, where the maintenance related cost and production rate are the optimization objectives. In this paper, in order to ease computation intensity caused by running multiple simulations during the optimization and to simplify a multiobjective formulation, multiple Min-Max weightings are used to trace Pareto front. The empirical analysis reviews the trade-offs between the production rate and maintenance cost and how sensitive the design solution is to the uncertainties.
Genotypes, Antibiotic Resistance, and ST-8 Genetic Clone inCampylobacterIsolates from Sheep and Goats in Grenada
Authors: Stone Diana M. , Chander Yogesh , Bekele Aschalew Z. , Goyal Sagar M. , Hariharan Harry , Tiwari Keshaw , Chikweto Alfred , Sharma Ravindra
Published: February 2014

Rectal swabs from 155 sheep and 252 goats from Grenada were evaluated to determine the prevalence ofCampylobacterspp., antibiotic resistance, and multilocus sequence types. FifteenCampylobacterisolates were obtained (14C. jejuniand 1C. coli). The prevalence (3.7%) did not differ significantly between sheep (4.5%) and goats (3.2%). Among the seven antimicrobials tested, resistance was only detected for tetracycline (30.8%) and metronidazole (38.5%).Campylobacterisolates showed no significant difference between sheep and goats for type of antimicrobial resistance or percent of resistant isolates. Twelve of the isolates were successfully genotyped consisting of four recognized clonal complexes and three novel sequence types. Importantly, one isolate from one goat was identified as theC. jejunisequence type-8, a zoonotic and tetracycline-resistant clone reported to be a highly virulent clone associated with ovine abortion in the USA. Although most samples were from comingled sheep and goat production units, there were no shared sequence types between these two host species. None of the sequence types identified in this study have previously been reported in poultry in Grenada, suggesting sheep- and goat-specificCampylobacterclones in Grenada. This is the first report of genotyping ofCampylobacterisolates from sheep and goats in the Eastern Caribbean.
Natural Rubber Latex: Study of a Novel Carrier for Casearia sylvestris Swartz Delivery
Authors: Azevedo Borges Felipe , Cesar Bolognesi Luis Felipe , Trecco Alberto , de Camargo Drago Bruno , Baldo de Arruda Larisa , Noronha Lisboa Filho Paulo , Gonçalves Pierri Elaise , de Oliveira Graeff Carlos Frederico , Gonzaga dos Santos André , Romeiro Miranda Matheus Carlos , Donizetti Herculano Rondinelli
Published: February 2014

Natural rubber latex (NRL) from Hevea brasiliensis has showed interesting biomedical properties as improving wound healing, cell adherence, tissue formation, and angiogenesis. It is used for biosynthesis of nanoparticles, sensors and prosthesis and for drug delivery systems (for drugs, plant extracts, and nanoparticles). To enhance its wound healing properties was incorporated Casearia sylvestris Swartz extract, whose pharmacological activity includes anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, antiulcer, and antitumor due to its casearins and phenols. Results showed the prolonged release of its compounds (35 days) and the mechanism of release is super case II (n>1) by Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Although SEM shows different sizes of clusters at the surface, the release is homogeneous through the biomembrane. FTIR shows no interaction between the matrix and the extract, with computation of the presence of some casearins.
Study and Evaluation of Innovative Fuel Handling Systems for Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors: Fuel Handling Route Optimization
Authors: Dechelette Franck , Morin Franck , Laffont Guy , Rodriguez Gilles , Sanseigne Emmanuel , Christin Sébastien , Mognot Xavier , Morcillo Aurélien
Published: February 2014

The research for technological improvement and innovation in sodium-cooled fast reactor is a matter of concern in fuel handling systems in a view to perform a better load factor of the reactor thanks to a quicker fuelling/defueling process. An optimized fuel handling route will also limit its investment cost. In that field, CEA has engaged some innovation study either of complete FHR or on the optimization of some specific components. This paper presents the study of three SFR fuel handling route fully described and compared to a reference FHR option. In those three FHR, two use a gas corridor to transfer spent and fresh fuel assembly and the third uses two casks with a sodium pot to evacuate and load an assembly in parallel. All of them are designed for the ASTRID reactor (1500 MWth) but can be extrapolated to power reactors and are compatible with the mutualisation of one FHS coupled with two reactors. These three concepts are then intercompared and evaluated with the reference FHR according to four criteria: performances, risk assessment, investment cost, and qualification time. This analysis reveals that the “mixed way” FHR presents interesting solutions mainly in terms of design simplicity and time reduction. Therefore its study will be pursued for ASTRID as an alternative option.
A New Iterative Scheme of Modified Mann Iteration in Banach Space
Authors: Chen Jinzuo , Wu Dingping , Zhang Caifen
Published: February 2014

We introduce the modified iterations of Mann's type for nonexpansive mappings and asymptotically nonexpansive mappings to have the strong convergence in a uniformly convex Banach space. We study approximation of common fixed point of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in Banach space by using a new iterative scheme. Applications to the accretive operators are also included.
Clinical, Hematologic, and Molecular Findings in Naturally OccurringBabesia canis vogeliin Egyptian Dogs
Authors: Salem N. Y. , Farag H. S.
Published: February 2014

Background. Canine babesiosis is a clinically important hemoprotozoan parasite affecting dogs. The goal of this present study was to determine the clinical symptoms and to establish its hematological and microscopic detection and compare it with the PCR findings attained from dogs infected withBabesia canis vogeli.Methodology/Principal Findings. 13-PCR confirmed Babesia-infected dogs were examined; seminested PCR was used to discover the precise type ofBabesiaandBabesia canis vogeliwas the only subspecies detected. The most consistent clinical signs were elevated rectal temperature and a pale mucous membrane. Thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, and lymphocytosis, along with a significant reduction in red cell parameters, were the most commonly recorded hematologic alterations. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of typical large merozoites and trophozoites ofB. canisin the ratio 76.92%.Conclusions/Significance. The presumptive diagnosis of canine babesiosis should be based on a fever and anemia, while thrombocytopenia is considered the hallmark of the disease; microscopic examination may not be very revealing in the detection at low parasitemia, but it remains the most rapid confirmatory method. Seminested PCR turned out to be a sensitive and accurate method for diagnosis; during the process of differentiation betweenBabesiasubspecies, onlyB. canis subsp. vogeliwas detected.
Formation of Three-Way Scanning Electron Microscope Moiré on Micro/Nanostructures
Authors: Wang Qinghua , Kishimoto Satoshi , Tsuda Hiroshi
Published: February 2014

Three-way scanning electron microscope (SEM) moiré was first generated using a designed three-way electron beam (EB) in an SEM. The spot-type three-way SEM moiré comes from the interference between the three-way EB and the specimen grating in which the periodic cells are arranged in a triangular manner. The deformation and the structure information of the specimen grating in three directions can be simultaneously obtained from the three-way SEM moiré. The design considerations of the three-way EB were discussed. As an illustration, the three-way SEM moiré spots produced on a silicon slide were presented. The proposed three-way SEM moiré method is expected to characterize micro/nanostructures in triangular or hexagonal arrangements in three directions at the same time.
Rhabdomyolysis Induced by Nonstrenuous Exercise in a Patient with Graves’ Disease
Authors: Summachiwakij Sarawut , Sachmechi Issac
Published: February 2014

Hyperthyroidism can result in several musculoskeletal conditions such as thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, thyrotoxic myopathy, and thyroid ophthalmopathy. Rhabdomyolysis has been rarely reported to be associated with hyperthyroidism. We describe a 33-year-old man who presented with bilateral thigh pain and dark brown urine after regular squatting. He had a past medical history of hyperthyroidism but stopped taking it 2 months prior to admission. He was found to have rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and thyrotoxicosis. Presence of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) and high radioiodine uptake confirmed a diagnosis of Graves' disease. He received aggressive fluid resuscitation and sodium bicarbonate intravenously along with monitoring fluid and electrolyte. Methimazole was also resumed. The patient responded to treatment and rhabdomyolysis gradually resolved. Therefore, nonstrenuous exercise can potentially induce rhabdomyolysis in patients with hyperthyroidism. Although hyperthyroidism is not widely recognized as a cause of rhabdomyolysis, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis.
Antioxidant and Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Berberine in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Li Zheng , Geng Ya-Na , Jiang Jian-Dong , Kong Wei-Jia
Published: February 2014

Oxidative stress and inflammation are proved to be critical for the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Berberine (BBR) is a natural compound isolated from plants such as Coptis chinensis and Hydrastis canadensis and with multiple pharmacological activities. Recent studies showed that BBR had antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities, which contributed in part to its efficacy against diabetes mellitus. In this review, we summarized the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of BBR as well as their molecular basis. The antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of BBR were noted with changes in oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, and proinflammatory cytokines after BBR administration in diabetic animals. BBR inhibited oxidative stress and inflammation in a variety of tissues including liver, adipose tissue, kidney and pancreas. Mechanisms of the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of BBR were complex, which involved multiple cellular kinases and signaling pathways, such as AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2) pathway, and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway. Detailed mechanisms and pathways for the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of BBR still need further investigation. Clarification of these issues could help to understand the pharmacology of BBR in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and promote the development of antidiabetic natural products.
Effect of Anthropogenic Activities on Patterns of Genetic Diversity inSymplocos racemosaRoxb. from Western Ghats, India
Authors: Banu Sofia , Bhagwat Rasika M. , Lagu Meena D. , Kadoo Narendra , Kulkarni B. G. , Gupta Vidya S.
Published: February 2014

The Western Ghats (WG) in India is recognized as one of the global biodiversity hotspots which have high proportion of endemic species and the medicinally important tree species. Due to medicinal importance and being found on the forest fringes,Symplocos racemosaRoxb. is highly susceptible to anthropogenic activities. The present study was undertaken to systematically analyze the effects of anthropogenic activities on the genetic diversity and population structure ofS. racemosaand to generate preliminary data for conservation purposes. We analyzed the variation in intergenic sequences of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes from seven sites ofS. racemosasampled from protected, semiprotected, and disturbed areas of WG. Total diversity was high although within-sites diversity was low. The protected sites were highly diverse, while the disturbed areas possessed less genetic diversity indicating the effect of anthropogenic activities.
Atherosclerosis and Atheroma Plaque Rupture: Imaging Modalities in the Visualization of Vasa Vasorum and Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Sun Zhonghua
Published: February 2014

Invasive angiography has been widely accepted as the gold standard to diagnose cardiovascular pathologies. Despite its superior resolution of demonstrating atherosclerotic plaque in terms of degree of lumen stenosis, the morphological assessment for the plaque is insufficient for the analysis of plaque components, and therefore, unable to predict the risk status or vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque. There is an increased body of evidence to show that the vasa vasorum play an important role in the initiation, progression, and complications of atherosclerotic plaque leading to major adverse cardiac events. This paper provides an overview of the evidence-based reviews of various imaging modalities with regard to their potential value for comprehensive characterization of the composition, burden, and neovascularization of atherosclerotic plaque.
Valuation of Endowment-Insurance Equity-Linked Contracts for Stocks with Exotic Dynamics
Authors: Villarroel Javier
Published: February 2014

We consider the fair martingale prize of insurance contracts with benefit received either at the insurer’s demise or at maturity. We show how to modify the dynamics of the underlying so as to incorporate the possibility that the traded stock has a strong support at some level. The resulting dynamics is integrated and the fair prize of several natural endowment-insurance contracts is obtained.
Severe Recurrent Pancreatitis in a Child with ADHD after Starting Treatment with Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Authors: Artul Suheil , Artoul Faozi , Habib George , Nseir William , Bisharat Bishara , Nijim Yousif
Published: February 2014

We present a case of a 10-year-old boy, who had severe relapsing pancreatitis, three times in two months within 3 weeks after starting treatment with methylphenidate (Ritalin) due to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pancreatitis due to the use of (methylphenidate) Ritalin was never published before. Attention must be made by the physicians regarding this possible complication, and this complication should be taken into consideration in every patient with abdominal pain who was newly treated with Ritalin.
Anti-CD3 Antibody Treatment Induces Hypoglycemia and Super Tolerance to Glucose Challenge in Mice through Enhancing Glucose Consumption by Activated Lymphocytes
Authors: Xia Chang-Qing , Chernatynskaya Anna V. , Looney Benjamin , Wan Suigui , Clare-Salzler Michael J.
Published: February 2014

Anti-CD3 antibody has been employed for various immune-mediated disorders. However, whether anti-CD3 administration leads to rapid metabolic alternation has not been well investigated. In the current study, we studied how anti-CD3 treatment affected blood glucose levels in mice. We found that anti-CD3 treatment induced immediate reduction of blood glucose after administration. Furthermore, a single dose of anti-CD3 treatment corrected hyperglycemia in all nonobese diabetic mice with recently diagnosed diabetes. This glucose-lowering effect was not attributable to major T cell produced cytokines. Of interest, when tested in a normal strain of mice (C57BL/6), the serum levels of C-peptide in anti-CD3 treated animals were significantly lower than control mice. Paradoxically, anti-CD3 treated animals were highly tolerant to exogenous glucose challenge. Additionally, we found that anti-CD3 treatment significantly induced activation of T and B cellsin vitroandin vivo. Further studies demonstrated that anti-CD3 treatment lowered the glucose levels in T cell culture media and increased the intracellular transportation of 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2 deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) particularly in activated T and B cells. In addition, injection of anti-CD3 antibodies induced enhanced levels of Glut1 expression in spleen cells. This study suggests that anti-CD3 therapy-induced hypoglycemia likely results from increased glucose transportation and consumption by the activated lymphocytes.
Fixed Point Results for Generalized Chatterjea Type Contractive Conditions in Partially OrderedG-Metric Spaces
Authors: Khan Safeer Hussain , Abbas Mujahid , Nazir Talat
Published: February 2014

In the framework of orderedG-metric spaces, fixed points of maps that satisfy the generalized(ψ,φ)-Chatterjea type contractive conditions are obtained. The results presented in the paper generalize and extend several well known comparable results in the literature.
Stable Sheaves on a Smooth Quadric Surface with Linear Hilbert Bipolynomials
Authors: Ballico Edoardo , Huh Sukmoon
Published: February 2014

We investigate the moduli spaces of stable sheaves on a smooth quadric surface with linear Hilbert bipolynomial in some special cases and describe their geometry in terms of the locally free resolution of the sheaves.
Fuzzy Determination of Target Shifting Time and Torque Control of Shifting Phase for Dry Dual Clutch Transmission
Authors: Zhao Zhiguo , Chen Haijun , Yang Yunyun
Published: February 2014

Based on the independently developed five‐speed dry dual clutch transmission (DDCT), the paper proposes the torque coordinating control strategy between engine and two clutches, which obtains engine speed and clutch transferred torque in the shifting process, adequately reflecting the driver intention and improving the shifting quality. Five‐degree‐of‐freedom (DOF) shifting dynamics model of DDCT with single intermediate shaft is firstly established according to its physical characteristics. Then the quantitative control objectives of the shifting process are presented. The fuzzy decision of shifting time and the model‐based torque coordinating control strategy are proposed and also verified by simulating under different driving intentions in up‐/downshifting processes with the DCT model established on the MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation results validate that the shifting control algorithm proposed in this paper can not only meet the shifting quality requirements, but also adapt to the various shifting intentions, having a strong robustness.
An Adaptive Motion Estimation Scheme for Video Coding
Authors: Liu Pengyu , Gao Yuan , Jia Kebin
Published: February 2014

The unsymmetrical-cross multihexagon-grid search (UMHexagonS) is one of the best fast Motion Estimation (ME) algorithms in video encoding software. It achieves an excellent coding performance by using hybrid block matching search pattern and multiple initial search point predictors at the cost of the computational complexity of ME increased. Reducing time consuming of ME is one of the key factors to improve video coding efficiency. In this paper, we propose an adaptive motion estimation scheme to further reduce the calculation redundancy of UMHexagonS. Firstly, new motion estimation search patterns have been designed according to the statistical results of motion vector (MV) distribution information. Then, design a MV distribution prediction method, including prediction of the size of MV and the direction of MV. At last, according to the MV distribution prediction results, achieve self-adaptive subregional searching by the new estimation search patterns. Experimental results show that more than 50% of total search points are dramatically reduced compared to the UMHexagonS algorithm in JM 18.4 of H.264/AVC. As a result, the proposed algorithm scheme can save the ME time up to 20.86% while the rate-distortion performance is not compromised.
Picard Successive Approximation Method for Solving Differential Equations Arising in Fractal Heat Transfer with Local Fractional Derivative
Authors: Yang Ai-Min , Zhang Cheng , Jafari Hossein , Cattani Carlo , Jiao Ying
Published: February 2014

The Fourier law of one-dimensional heat conduction equation in fractal media is investigated in this paper. An approximate solution to one-dimensional local fractional Volterra integral equation of the second kind, which is derived from the transformation of Fourier flux equation in discontinuous media, is considered. The Picard successive approximation method is applied to solve the temperature field based on the given Mittag-Leffler-type Fourier flux distribution in fractal media. The nondifferential approximate solutions are given to show the efficiency of the present method.
The Relationship between Negative Affect and Reported Cognitive Failures
Authors: Payne Tabitha W. , Schnapp Michael A.
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this study was to expand our understanding of the range of negative affect associated with reported problems with everyday functions and activities, measured by the cognitive failures questionnaire (CFQ). Evidence from previous research indicates that individuals meeting criteria for mood disorders, such as major depression or seasonal affective disorder, experience cognitive deficits in memory and attention that can lead to problems with everyday activities reported in the CFQ. The Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) was used to assess potential correlations with a wider range of negative emotions. Findings for a sample of 129 college students revealed that negative affective experiences were significantly correlated with failures of memory and attention on the CFQ (fear= .41,hostility= .38,sadness= .28, andguilt= .43). Conversely, positive affect was negatively correlated with distractibility (r=−.21). Additional affective scales on the PANAS (e.g.,shyness and fatigue) were also associated with higher reports of cognitive failures. The results provide converging evidence of a relationship between negative affective experiences and reported frequency of problems on the cognitive failures questionnaire.
Concentration of Cd, Pb, Hg, and Se in Different Parts of Human Breast Cancer Tissues
Authors: Mohammadi Mehrnoosh , Riyahi Bakhtiari Alireza , Khodabandeh Saber
Published: February 2014

Breast cancer is the major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality between women in the world. Metals involved in environmental toxicology are closely related to tumor growth and cancer. On the other hand, some metals such as selenium have anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of this study is to determine the concentration of cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium in separated parts of tegmen, tumor, tumor adiposity, and tegmen adiposity of 14 breast cancer tissues which have been analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption (AA-670) and ICP-OES (ULTIMA 2CE). Our results show that Se and Hg have maximum and minimum concentration, respectively. Statistical analysis reveals no significant differences between metal accumulations in different parts of cancer tissues(P>0.05)and this observation might be due to the close relation of separated parts of fatty breast organ. Thus, we could conclude that a high level of these heavy metals is accumulated in Iranian cancerous breasts and their presence can be one of the reasons of cancer appearance.
Tidal Hydrodynamics in the Lower Columbia River Estuary through Depth Averaged Adaptive Hydraulics Modeling
Authors: Savant Gaurav , McAlpin Tate O.
Published: February 2014

The adaptive hydraulics (AdH) numerical code was applied to study tidal propagation in the Lower Columbia River (LCR) estuary. The results demonstrate the readiness of this AdH model towards the further study of hydrodynamics in the LCR. The AdH model accurately replicated behavior of the tide as it propagated upstream into the LCR system. Results show that the MSf tidal component and the M4 overtidal component are generated in the middle LCR and contain a substantial amount of tidal energy. An analysis was performed to determine the causes of MSf tide amplification, and it was found that approximately 80% of the amplification occurs due to nonlinear interaction between the M2 and the S2 tidal components.
Proteinuria, 99mTc-DTPA Scintigraphy, Creatinine-, Cystatin- and Combined-Based Equations in the Assessment of Chronic Kidney
Disease
Authors: Trimarchi Hernán , Muryan Alexis , Toscano Agostina , Martino Diana , Forrester Mariano , Pomeranz Vanesa , Lombi Fernando , Young Pablo , Raña María Soledad , Karl Alejandra , Alonso M. , Dicugno Mariana , Fitzsimons Clara
Published: February 2014

Background. Precise estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the identification of markers of progression are important. We compared creatinine, cystatin, and combined CKD-EPI equations with Tc-DTPA99m scintigraphy to measure GFR and proteinuria as markers of progression. Methods. Cross-sectional, observational study including 300 subjects. CKD was classified by Tc-DTPA99m scintigraphy. Determinations. Creatinine, 24-hour creatinine clearance, cystatin, Hoek formula, and creatinine, cystatin, and combined CKD-EPI equations.
Results. In the global assessment, creatinine CKD-EPI and combined CKD-EPI equations yielded the highest correlations with Tc-DTPA99m: ρ = 0.839, P<0.0001 and ρ = 0.831, P<0.0001. Intergroup analysis versus Tc-DTPA99m: control G, creatinine clearance ρ = 0.414, P = 0.013; G3, combined CKD-EPI ρ = 0.5317, P<0.0001; G4, Hoek ρ = 0.618, P<0.0001, combined CKD-EPI ρ = 0.4638, P<0.0001; and G5, creatinine clearance ρ = 0.5414, P<0.0001, combined CKD-EPI ρ = 0.5288, P<0.0001. In the global assessment, proteinuria displayed the highest significant correlations with cystatin (ρ = 0.5433, P<0.0001) and cystatin-based equations (Hoek: ρ=-0.5309, P<0.0001). When GFR < 60 mL/min: in stage 3, proteinuria-cystatin (ρ = 0.4341, P<0.0001); proteinuria-Hoek (ρ = −0.4105, P<0.0001); in stage 4, proteinuria-cystatin (ρ = 0.4877, P<0.0001); proteinuria-Hoek (ρ = −0.4877, P = 0.0026).
Conclusions. At every stage of GFR < 60 mL/min, cystatin-based equations displayed better correlations with Tc-DTPA99m. Proteinuria and cystatin-based equations showed strong associations and high degrees of correlation.
Extremity Manifestations and Surgical Treatment for Nasu Hakola Disease
Authors: Arıkan Murat , Yıldırım Ahmet , Togral Güray , Ekmekçi Alp Burak
Published: February 2014

Nasu-Hakola disease, which is also known as polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy (PLOSL), is a rare and mortal human genetic disorder (Verloes et al., (1997) and Bianchin et al., (2004)). Nasu-Hakola is a progressive disease characterized by early onset cognitive dementia and bone cysts (both evident by the third decade). The disease has a worldwide distribution, but most patients have been reported in Finland and in Japan (Montalbetti et al., (2004)). In the literature less than 200 cases are reported and only a few of them are about the surgical treatment for the extremity (Madry et al., (2007)). Most patients die by their fourth or fifth decade because of neurologic problems. Surgeons generally prefer conservative treatment modalities in the treatment of cystic lesions of the bone in this syndrome. In this case report, we presented a 42-year-old male with Nasu-Hakola disease having bilateral painful talar lipomembranous cystic lesions treated with curettage and iliac bone grafting. He is in the 3rd year of his followup after surgery and he has not any extremity complaints, but his neurological problems sustain. Our aim in this study is to show the beneficial aspect of surgical intervention in the cystic lesions of Nasu Hakola disease in the skeleton to obtain the patient a painless joint although surgery is rarely performed in this systemic and progressive disease.
On a Periodic Solution of the 4-Body Problems
Authors: Chen Jian , Li Bingyu
Published: February 2014

We study the necessary and sufficient conditions on the masses for the periodic solution of planar 4-body problems, where three particles locate at the vertices of an equilateral triangle and rotate with constant angular velocity about a resting particle. We prove that the above periodic motion is a solution of Newtonian 4-body problems if and only if the resting particle is at the origin and the masses of the other three particles are equal and their angular velocity satisfies a special condition.
Segmentation of Choroidal Boundary in Enhanced Depth Imaging OCTs Using a Multiresolution Texture Based Modeling in Graph Cuts
Authors: Danesh Hajar , Kafieh Raheleh , Rabbani Hossein , Hajizadeh Fedra
Published: February 2014

The introduction of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) has provided the advantage of in vivo cross-sectional imaging of the choroid, similar to the retina, with standard commercially available spectral domain (SD) OCT machines. A texture-based algorithm is introduced in this paper for fully automatic segmentation of choroidal images obtained from an EDI system of Heidelberg 3D OCT Spectralis. Dynamic programming is utilized to determine the location of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Bruch’s membrane (BM) (the blood-retina barrier which separates the RPE cells of the retina from the choroid) can be segmented by searching for the pixels with the biggest gradient value below the RPE. Furthermore, a novel method is proposed to segment the choroid-sclera interface (CSI), which employs the wavelet based features to construct a Gaussian mixture model (GMM). The model is then used in a graph cut for segmentation of the choroidal boundary. The proposed algorithm is tested on 100 EDI OCTs and is compared with manual segmentation. The results showed an unsigned error of 2.48 ± 0.32 pixels for BM extraction and 9.79 ± 3.29 pixels for choroid detection. It implies significant improvement of the proposed method over other approaches likek-means and graph cut methods.
Life-Threatening Hypokalemic Paralysis in a Young Bodybuilder
Authors: Cheung Kitty K. T. , So Wing-Yee , Kong Alice P. S. , Ma Ronald C. W. , Chow Francis C. C.
Published: February 2014

We report a case of life-threatening hypokalemia in a 28-year-old bodybuilder who presented with sudden onset bilateral lower limbs paralysis few days after his bodybuilding competition. His electrocardiogram (ECG) showed typical u-waves due to severe hypokalemia (serum potassium 1.6 mmol/L, reference range (RR) 3.5–5.0 mmol/L). He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and was treated with potassium replacement. The patient later admitted that he had exposed himself to weight loss agents of unknown nature, purchased online, and large carbohydrate loads in preparation for the competition. He made a full recovery after a few days and discharged himself from the hospital against medical advice. The severe hypokalemia was thought to be caused by several mechanisms to be discussed in this report. With the ever rising number of new fitness centers recently, the ease of online purchasing of almost any drug, and the increasing numbers of youngsters getting into the bodybuilding arena, clinicians should be able to recognize the possible causes of sudden severe hypokalemia in these patients in order to revert the pathophysiology.
Characterization ofH3PO4-Treated Rice Husk Adsorbent and Adsorption of Copper(II) from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zheng Ru , Zhao Jiaying , Ma Fang , Zhang Yingchao , Meng Qingjuan
Published: February 2014

Rice husk, a surplus agricultural byproduct, was applied to the sorption of copper from aqueous solutions. Chemical modifications by treating rice husk with H3PO4increased the sorption ability of rice husk for Cu(II). This work investigated the sorption characteristics for Cu(II) and examined the optimum conditions of the sorption processes. The elemental compositions of native rice husk and H3PO4-treated rice husk were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis was carried out for structural and morphological characteristics of H3PO4-treated rice husk. The surface functional groups (i.e., carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl) of adsorbent were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared Technique (FT-IR) and contributed to the adsorption for Cu(II). Adsorption isotherm experiments were carried out at room temperature and the data obtained from batch studies fitted well with the Langmuir and Freundlich models withR2of 0.999 and 0.9303, respectively. The maximum sorption amount was 17.0358 mg/g at a dosage of 2 g/L after 180 min. The results showed that optimum pH was attained at pH 4.0. The equilibrium data was well represented by the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The percentage removal for Cu(II) approached equilibrium at 180 min with 88.9% removal.
A Fused Maxillary Central Incisor and Its Multidisciplinary Treatment: An 18-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Brunet-Llobet Lluís , Miranda-Rius Jaume , Lahor-Soler Eduard , Cahuana Abel
Published: February 2014

Fused teeth may cause aesthetic, spacing, periodontal, eruption, and caries problems. The present case report describes a 7-year-old boy patient with a chief complaint of unerupted maxillary incisor. Radiographic examination indicated a fused tooth which had two fused roots but two independent root canals. A complex management of a fused tooth is really difficult to standardize. In this case an orthodontic, endodontic, and surgical treatment (intentional replantation) allowed the tooth to be retained until 18 years following intervention. Maintenance of the root and alveolar bone in young adults at least until full skeletal maturation should be the main treatment objective.
Female Gender and Acne Disease Are Jointly and Independently Associated with the Risk of Major Depression and Suicide: A National Population-Based Study
Authors: Yang Yi-Chien , Tu Hung-Pin , Hong Chien-Hui , Chang Wei-Chao , Fu Hung-Chun , Ho Ji-Chen , Chang Wei-Pin , Chuang Hung-Yi , Lee Chih-Hung
Published: February 2014

Acne is a common disease in adolescence with female preponderance. It could cause poor self-esteem and social phobia. Previous studies based on questionnaires from several thousands of adolescents showed that acne is associated with major depression and suicide. However, the gender- and age-specific risk of depression and suicide in patients with acne remain largely unknown. Using a database from the National Health Insurance, which included 98% of the population of Taiwan in 2006, we identified patients of acne, major depression, and suicide based on ICD-9-CM codes. Totally 47111 patients with acne were identified (16568 males and 30543 females) from 1 million subjects. The youths of 7–12 years had the highest prevalence of acne (14.39%). Major depression was more common in those with acne (0.77%) than controls (0.56% ,P< 0.0001) regardless of gender. Multiple logistic regression showed an increased risk of major depression in women without acne (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.75–1.96). The risk is additive in women with acne (OR = 2.78, 95% CI 2.43–3.17). Similar additive risk of suicide was noticed in women with acne. In conclusion, acne and gender, independently and jointly, are associated with major depression and suicide. Special medical support should be warranted in females with acne for the risk of major depression and suicide.
Fuzzy Regulator Design for Wind Turbine Yaw Control
Authors: Theodoropoulos Stefanos , Kandris Dionisis , Samarakou Maria , Koulouras Grigorios
Published: February 2014

This paper proposes the development of an advanced fuzzy logic controller which aims to perform intelligent automatic control of the yaw movement of wind turbines. The specific fuzzy controller takes into account both the wind velocity and the acceptable yaw error correlation in order to achieve maximum performance efficacy. In this way, the proposed yaw control system is remarkably adaptive to the existing conditions. In this way, the wind turbine is enabled to retain its power output close to its nominal value and at the same time preserve its yaw system from pointless movement. Thorough simulation tests evaluate the proposed system effectiveness.
Alleviation of Lead Toxicity by 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Is Related to Elevated Growth, Photosynthesis, and Suppressed Ultrastructural Damages in Oilseed Rape
Authors: Tian Tian , Ali Basharat , Qin Yebo , Malik Zaffar , Gill Rafaqat A. , Ali Shafaqat , Zhou Weijun
Published: February 2014

Lead (Pb) is a widely spread pollutant and leads to diverse morphological and structural changes in the plants. In this study, alleviating role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in oilseed rape (Brassica napusL.) was investigated with or without foliar application of ALA (25 mg L−1) in hydroponic environment under different Pb levels (0, 100, and 400 µM). Outcomes stated that plant morphology and photosynthetic attributes were reduced under the application of Pb alone. However, ALA application significantly increased the plant growth and photosynthetic parameters under Pb toxicity. Moreover, ALA also lowered the Pb concentration in shoots and roots under Pb toxicity. The microscopic studies depicted that exogenously applied ALA ameliorated the Pb stress and significantly improved the cell ultrastructures. After application of ALA under Pb stress, mesophyll cell had well-developed nucleus and chloroplast having a number of starch granules. Moreover, micrographs illustrated that root tip cell contained well-developed nucleus, a number of mitochondria, and golgi bodies. These results proposed that under 15-day Pb-induced stress, ALA improved the plant growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, and ultrastructural modifications in leaf mesophyll and root tip cells of theB. napusplants.
Correlation of Polymerization Conditions with Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polyethylenes Made with Ziegler-Natta Catalysts
Authors: Parvez M. Anwar , Rahaman Mostafizur , Suleiman M. A. , Soares J. B. P. , Hussein I. A.
Published: February 2014

In this study, the synthesis of polyethylenes has been carried out with titanium-magnesium supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts in laboratory-scale reactors. A correlation of different polymerization conditions with thermal and mechanical properties of polyethylenes has been established. It is seen that there is lowering of molecular weight (Mw), polymer yield, and catalyst activity at high hydrogen pressure and high temperature. The Mw, polymer yield, and catalyst activity are improved with the increase in ethylene pressure. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results show that the increase in temperature and hydrogen pressure decreases storage modulus. The samples with higher Mw showed high activation energy. The melting point decreases with the increase in hydrogen pressure but increases slightly with the increase in ethylene pressure. It is seen that the increase in reaction temperature, ethylene pressure, and hydrogen pressure leads to an increase in crystallinity. The tensile modulus increases with the increase in hydrogen pressure and can be correlated with the crystallinity of polymer. The Mw has a major influence on the flow activation energy and tensile strength. But the other mechanical and thermal properties depend on Mw as well as other parameters.
Analysis of MIMO Diversity Improvement Using Circular Polarized Antenna
Authors: Wang Jianquan , Lv Zhaobiao , Li Xinzhong
Published: February 2014

MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technique is one of the important means to enhance the system capacity. Diversity gain could be acquired by using traditional ±45° dual-polarized antenna, but in the scenario where multipath scattering is not strong, power-unbalance in two polarizations caused by polarization mismatching between transmitting and receiving antennas will reduce diversity gain. This problem can be effectively solved by using circular polarized antennas. In this paper, through theory analysis and test, the improvement of MIMO diversity gain using circular polarization antenna is analyzed.
The Phantom Urine: An Unexpected Finding during a Routine Cesarean Section
Authors: Pagnozza Maria , Achtari Chahin , Meuwly Jean-Yves , Baud David
Published: February 2014

We present here an atypical finding during an elective repeat cesarean section. Despite urine flow through an indwelling bladder catheter, bladder remains distended during the whole procedure. Unexpected anatomical variations and malformations can make routine surgery challenging. Urinary tract anomalies should be suspected in cases of unexpected difficult bladder catheterization.
A Study on Coloring Properties ofRheum emodion Jute Union Fabrics
Authors: Nayak Lopamudra
Published: February 2014

Jute-cotton and jute-wool union fabrics have been printed with colorant extracted fromRheum emodiwith guar gum and albumin as thickening agents and aluminium sulphate, copper sulphate, and ferrous sulphate as mordants. Printing withRheum emodicolorant with different mordants resulted in different shades ranging from yellowish brown, deep brown, reddish brown, and gray shades to olive black. TheK/Svalue showed that mordants, namely, CuSO4and FeSO4, exhibited high colour absorption regardless of the nature of material used. All the printed samples have good to excellent wash, rubbing and light fastness properties regardless of the nature of materials, mordants, and thickeners used. Guar gum is closely at par with albumin as a thickening agent and considering the cost and availability of raw material, guar gum is the better choice for the textile industry.