bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustained release of complexed DNA from films: Study of bioactivity and intracellular tracking
Authors: Mondal Debasish , Ramgopal Yamini , Tiwari Sandeep Kumar , Venkatraman Subbu S.
Published: December 2010

Sustained DNA delivery from polymeric films provides a means for localized and prolonged gene therapy. However, in the case of bioactive molecules such as plasmid DNA (pDNA), there are limitations on the achievable release profiles as well as on the maintenance of bioactivity over time. In this report, the authors have investigated the bioactivity of the released DNA (naked and complexed with lipofectamine) from polymeric films using in vitro cell transfection of COS-7 cell lines. The polymeric system consists of a biodegradable semicrystalline polymer such as poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with or without blended gelatin. Sustained release of lipoplexes and of pDNA is shown over several days. However, lipoplexes released from pure PCL films show no transfection on day 18, whereas lipoplexes released from PCL-gelatin films continue to transfect cells on day 18 of release. Confocal studies were used to determine the reasons for this difference in transfection efficiency, and it is proposed that association of the lipoplex with gelatin confers protection from degradation in the cytoplasm. The results also showed that the bioactivity of released lipoplexes was superior to that of the naked pDNA. For both naked pDNA and the lipoplexes, the presence of gelatin helped to maintain the bioactivity over several days.
Silica-coated quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles for bioimaging applications (Mini-Review)
Authors: Selvan Subramanian Tamil
Published: December 2010

Fluorescent quantum dots (e.g., CdSe–ZnS) and magnetic nanoparticles (e.g., Fe2O3 or Fe3O4) are two important candidate systems that have been emerging as potential probes for bioimaging applications. This review focuses on the development of silica-coated inorganic probes (optical and magnetic) that are originated mainly from the author's laboratory for bioimaging applications. The recent developments in the synthesis of rare earth nanoparticles for multimodality imaging are also delineated.
Google Opens Books to New Cultural Studies
Authors: Bohannon John
Published: December 2010

Mathematicians using Google Books, the company's ambitious—and controversial—project to digitally scan every page of every book ever published, to analyze the growth, change, and decline of published words over the centuries have published their
results
online this week in
Science
.
Frequent and Focal
FGFR1
Amplification Associates with Therapeutically Tractable FGFR1 Dependency in Squamous Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Weiss Jonathan , Sos Martin L. , Seidel Danila , Peifer Martin , Zander Thomas , Heuckmann Johannes M. , Ullrich Roland T. , Menon Roopika , Maier Sebastian , Soltermann Alex , Moch Holger , Wagener Patrick , Fischer Florian , Heynck Stefanie , Koker Mirjam , Schöttle Jakob , Leenders Frauke , Gabler Franziska , Dabow Ines , Querings Silvia , Heukamp Lukas C. , Balke-Want Hyatt , Ansén Sascha , Rauh Daniel , Baessmann Ingelore , Altmüller Janine , Wainer Zoe , Conron Matthew , Wright Gavin , Russell Prudence , Solomon Ben , Brambilla Elisabeth , Brambilla Christian , Lorimier Philippe , Sollberg Steinar , Brustugun Odd Terje , Engel-Riedel Walburga , Ludwig Corinna , Petersen Iver , Sänger Jörg , Clement Joachim , Groen Harry , Timens Wim , Sietsma Hannie , Thunnissen Erik , Smit Egbert , Heideman Daniëlle , Cappuzzo Federico , Ligorio Claudia , Damiani Stefania , Hallek Michael , Beroukhim Rameen , Pao William , Klebl Bert , Baumann Matthias , Buettner Reinhard , Ernestus Karen , Stoelben Erich , Wolf Jürgen , Nürnberg Peter , Perner Sven , Thomas Roman K.
Published: December 2010

FGFR1
amplification provides a therapeutic target for squamous cell lung cancer, which is resistant to other targeted lung cancer drugs.
Decoding Obesity
Authors: Damani Samir
Published: December 2010

Overexpression of the
FTO
gene contributes to human obesity.
DILATON COSMOLOGY
Authors: HUANG Z. G. , FANG W. , LU H. Q.
Published: December 2010

In Brans–Dicke gravitational theory, an analytical accelerating expansion solution of the Universe is found at the dilaton dominated epoch. Both Einstein frame (EF) and Jordan frame (JF) are applied. We consider the form of exponential potential of dilaton field in EF while we consider the power law potential in JF. In matter and dilaton coexisting epoch, only the decelerating expansion solution without potential is considered with experimental constraint α2<0.001. If the power law potential of dilaton field is applied in JF, some authors found the dilaton field can act as quintessence based numerical method.1 We find that the influence of dilaton will not change the evolutionary law of density perturbation of baryon matter.
ELECTRODYNAMICS à la HOŘAVA
Authors: ROMERO JUAN M. , SANTIAGO JOSÉ A. , GONZÁLEZ-GAXIOLA O. , ZAMORA ADOLFO
Published: December 2010

We study an electrodynamics consistent with anisotropic transformations of spacetime with an arbitrary dynamic exponent z. The equations of motion and conserved quantities are explicitly obtained. We show that the propagator of this theory can be regarded as a quantum correction to the usual propagator. Moreover, we obtain that both the momentum and angular momentum are not modified, but their conservation laws do change. We also show that in this theory the speed of light and the electric charge are modified with z. The magnetic monopole in this electrodynamics and its duality transformations are also investigated. For that we found that there exists a dual electrodynamics, with higher derivatives in the electric field, invariant under the same anisotropic transformations.
NEUTRALINO DARK MATTER IN FLIPPED SU(5)
Authors: GOGOLADZE ILIA , KHALID RIZWAN , RAZA SHABBAR , SHAFI QAISAR
Published: December 2010

We investigate neutralino dark matter in supersymmetric flipped SU(5), focusing on candidates with masses of order 30–150 GeV and spin-independent cross-sections that are consistent with the most recent CDMS II results. We assume gravity mediated supersymmetry breaking and restrict the magnitude of the soft supersymmetry breaking mass parameters to 1 TeV or less. With non-universal soft gaugino and Higgs masses, and taking flipped SU(5) into account, we identify allowed regions of the parameter space and highlight some benchmark solutions including Higgs and sparticle spectroscopy.
INTRINSICALLY KNOTTED GRAPHS HAVE AT LEAST 21 EDGES
Authors: JOHNSON BRENDA , KIDWELL MARK E. , MICHAEL T. S.
Published: December 2010

We prove that every intrinsically knotted graph has at least 21 edges.
THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF FOX COLORS AND QUANDLE COCYCLE INVARIANTS
Authors: SAITO MASAHICO
Published: December 2010

Relations will be described between the quandle cocycle invariant and the minimum number of colors used for non-trivial Fox colorings of knots and links. In particular, a lower bound for the minimum number is given in terms of the quandle cocycle invariant.
A LINK INVARIANT DOMINATING THE HOMFLY AND THE KAUFFMAN POLYNOMIALS
Authors: MIYAZAWA YASUYUKI
Published: December 2010

By using a graph diagram named a magnetic graph diagram, we construct a polynomial invariant for knots and links. We show that it is a generalization of both the HOMFLY and the Kauffman polynomials.
STRUCTURED POPULATION EQUATIONS IN METRIC SPACES
Authors: GWIAZDA PIOTR , MARCINIAK-CZOCHRA ANNA
Published: December 2010

In this paper, a framework for the analysis of measure-valued solutions of the nonlinear structured population model is presented. Existence and Lipschitz dependence of the solutions on the model parameters and initial data are shown by proving convergence of a variational approximation scheme, defined in the terms of a suitable metric space. The estimates for a corresponding linear model are used based on the duality formula for transport equations. An extension of a Wasserstein metric to the measures with integrable first moment is proposed to cope with the nonconservative character of the model. This metric is compared with a bounded Lipschitz distance, also called a flat metric, and the results are discussed in the context of applications to biological data.
Soft and Hard X-ray SASE Free Electron Lasers
Authors: Schreiber Siegfried
Published: December 2010

In the last couple of years, free electron lasers (FELs) have been a remarkable success as fourth generation light sources all over the world. Operating in the SASE mode, they produce laser-like radiation in a broad wavelength range. Especially in the soft and hard X-ray ranges, these light sources open unique and completely new fields in physics and allow a vast range of applications in most scientific fields. This article gives an overview of the principles of FELs and the SASE process, discusses technological challenges and solutions, and presents an outlook for future developments.
The Next Generation of X-ray Sources
Authors: Pellegrini Claudio
Published: December 2010

We discuss recent results on soft and hard X-ray free electron lasers (FELs) and how they can be used to design and optimize the next generation of these sources of high brightness, coherent photons, with femtosecond pulse duration, or very narrow linewidth. In particular, we consider the experimental and theoretical progress in the electron beam generation and manipulation. These results, when combined with the successful development of powerful simulation codes, can be used to design optimized, high intensity sources of coherent photons, and to reduce their size and cost.
Carbon Concentrating Mechanisms in Eukaryotic Marine Phytoplankton
Authors: Reinfelder John R.
Published: December 2010

The accumulation of inorganic carbon from seawater by eukaryotic marine phytoplankton is limited by the diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) in water and the dehydration kinetics of bicarbonate to CO2 and by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase's (RubisCO) low affinity for its inorganic carbon substrate, CO2. Nearly all marine phytoplankton have adapted to these limitations and evolved inorganic carbon (or CO2) concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to support photosynthetic carbon fixation at the concentrations of CO2 present in ocean surface waters (<10–30 μM). The biophysics and biochemistry of CCMs vary within and among the three dominant groups of eukaryotic marine phytoplankton and may involve the activity of external or intracellular carbonic anhydrase, HCO3− transport, and perhaps a C4 carbon pump. In general, coccolithophores have low-efficiency CCMs, and diatoms and the haptophyte genus Phaeocystis have high-efficiency CCMs. Dinoflagellates appear to possess moderately efficient CCMs, which may be necessitated by the very low CO2 affinity of their form II RubisCO. The energetic and nutrient costs of CCMs may modulate how variable CO2 affects primary production, element composition, and species composition of phytoplankton in the ocean.
Emerging Topics in Marine Methane Biogeochemistry
Authors: Valentine David L.
Published: December 2010

Our knowledge of physical, chemical, geological and biological processes affecting methane in the ocean and in underlying sediments is expanding at a rapid pace. On first inspection, marine methane biogeochemistry appears simple: Methane distribution in sediment is set by the deposition pattern of organic material, and the balance of sources and sinks keeps its concentration low in most waters. However, recent research reveals that methane is affected by complex biogeochemical processes whose interactions are understood only at a superficial level. Such processes span the deep-subsurface, near subsurface, and ocean waters, and relate primarily to the production, consumption, and transport of methane. The purpose of this synthesis is to examine select processes within the framework of methane biogeochemistry, to formulate hypotheses on how they might operate and interact with one another, and to consider their controls.
Modeling Diverse Communities of Marine Microbes
Authors: Follows Michael J. , Dutkiewicz Stephanie
Published: December 2010

Biogeochemical cycles in the ocean are mediated by complex and diverse microbial communities. Over the past decade, marine ecosystem and biogeochemistry models have begun to address some of this diversity by resolving several groups of (mostly autotrophic) plankton, differentiated by biogeochemical function. Here, we review recent model approaches that are rooted in the notion that an even richer diversity is fundamental to the organization of marine microbial communities. These models begin to resolve, and address the significance of, diversity within functional groups. Seeded with diverse populations spanning prescribed regions of trait space, these simulations self-select community structure according to relative fitness in the virtual environment. Such models are suited to considering ecological questions, such as the regulation of patterns of biodiversity, and to simulating the response to changing environments. A key issue for all such models is the constraint of viable trait space and trade-offs. Size-structuring and mechanistic descriptions of energy and resource allocation at the individual level can rationalize these constraints.
Submarine Paleoseismology Based on Turbidite Records
Authors: Goldfinger Chris
Published: December 2010

Many of the largest earthquakes are generated at subduction zones or other plate boundary fault systems near enough to the coast that marine environments may record evidence of them. During and shortly after large earthquakes in the coastal and marine environments, a spectrum of evidence may be left behind, mirroring onshore paleoseismic evidence. Shaking or displacement of the seafloor can trigger processes such as turbidity currents, submarine landslides, tsunami (which may be recorded both onshore and offshore), and soft-sediment deformation. Marine sites may also share evidence of fault scarps, colluvial wedges, offset features, and liquefaction or fluid expulsion with their onshore counterparts. This article reviews the use of submarine turbidite deposits for paleoseismology, focuses on the dating and correlation techniques used to establish stratigraphic continuity of marine deposits, and outlines criteria for distinguishing earthquake deposits and the strategies used to acquire suitable samples and data for marine paleoseismology.
Infiltrating T lymphocytes in the kidney increase oxidative stress and participate in the development of hypertension and renal disease
Authors: Miguel Carmen De , Guo Chuanling , Lund Hayley , Feng Di , Mattson David L.
Published: December 2010

The present studies examined the role and mechanism of action of infiltrating T lymphocytes in the kidney during salt-sensitive hypertension. Infiltrating T lymphocytes in the Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) kidney significantly increased from 7.2 ± 1.8 × 105 cells/2 kidneys to 18.2 ± 3.9 × 105 cells/2 kidneys ( n = 6/group) when dietary NaCl was increased from 0.4 to 4.0%. Furthermore, the expression of immunoreactive p67phox, gp91phox, and p47phox subunits of NADPH oxidase was increased in T cells isolated from the kidneys of rats fed 4.0% NaCl. The urinary excretion of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS; an index of oxidative stress) also increased from 367 ± 49 to 688 ± 92 nmol/day ( n = 8/group) when NaCl intake was increased in Dahl SS rats. Studies were then performed on rats treated with a daily injection of vehicle (5% dextrose) or tacrolimus (0.25 mg·kg−1·day−1 ip), a calcineurin inhibitor that suppresses immune function, during the period of high-NaCl intake ( n = 5/group). In contrast to the immune cell infiltration, increased NADPH oxidase expression, and elevated urine TBARS excretion in vehicle-treated Dahl SS fed high salt, these parameters were unaltered as NaCl intake was increased in Dahl SS rats administered tacrolimus. Moreover, tacrolimus treatment blunted high-salt mean arterial blood pressure and albumin excretion rate (152 ± 3 mmHg and 20 ± 9 mg/day, respectively) compared with values in dextrose-treated Dahl SS rats (171 ± 8 mmHg and 74 ± 28 mg/day). These experiments indicate that blockade of infiltrating immune cells is associated with decreased oxidative stress, an attenuation of hypertension, and a reduction of renal damage in Dahl SS rats fed high salt.
The Role of Online Visual Feedback for the Control of Target-Directed and Allocentric Hand Movements
Authors: Thaler Lore , Goodale Melvyn A.
Published: December 2010

Studies that have investigated how sensory feedback about the moving hand is used to control hand movements have relied on paradigms such as pointing or reaching that require subjects to acquire target locations. In the context of these target-directed tasks, it has been found repeatedly that the human sensory-motor system relies heavily on visual feedback to control the ongoing movement. This finding has been formalized within the framework of statistical optimality according to which different sources of sensory feedback are combined such as to minimize variance in sensory information during movement control. Importantly, however, many hand movements that people perform every day are not target-directed, but based on allocentric (object-centered) visual information. Examples of allocentric movements are gesture imitation, drawing, or copying. Here we tested if visual feedback about the moving hand is used in the same way to control target-directed and allocentric hand movements. The results show that visual feedback is used significantly more to reduce movement scatter in the target-directed as compared with the allocentric movement task. Furthermore, we found that differences in the use of visual feedback between target-directed and allocentric hand movements cannot be explained based on differences in uncertainty about the movement goal. We conclude that the role played by visual feedback for movement control is fundamentally different for target-directed and allocentric movements. The results suggest that current computational and neural models of sensorimotor control that are based entirely on data derived from target-directed paradigms have to be modified to accommodate performance in the allocentric tasks used in our experiments. As a consequence, the results cast doubt on the idea that models of sensorimotor control developed exclusively from data obtained in target-directed paradigms are also valid in the context of allocentric tasks, such as drawing, copying, or imitative gesturing, that characterize much of human behavior.
Functional Asymmetries in Cockroach ON and OFF Olfactory Receptor Neurons
Authors: Burgstaller Maria , Tichy Harald
Published: December 2010

The ON and OFF olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) on the antenna of the American cockroach respond to the same changes in the concentration of the odor of lemon oil, but in the opposite direction. The same jump in concentration raises impulse frequency in the ON and lowers it in the OFF ORN and, conversely, the same concentration drop raises impulse frequency in the OFF and lowers it in the ON ORN. When the new concentration level is maintained, it becomes a background concentration and affects the responses of the ON and OFF ORNs to superimposed changes. Raising the background concentration decreases both the ON-ORN's response to concentration jumps and the OFF-ORN's response to concentration drops. In addition, the slopes of the functions approximating the relationship of impulse frequency to concentration changes become flatter for both types of ORNs as the background concentration rises. The progressively compressed scaling optimizes the detection of concentration changes in the low concentration range. The loss of information caused by the lower differential sensitivity in the high concentration range is partially compensated by the higher discharge rates of the OFF ORNs. The functional asymmetry of the ON and OFF ORNs, which reflects nonlinearity in the detection of changes in the concentration of the lemon oil odor, improves information transfer for decrements in the high concentration range.
Neural Compensation Within the Human Triceps Surae During Prolonged Walking
Authors: Cronin Neil J. , Peltonen Jussi , Sinkjaer Thomas , Avela Janne
Published: December 2010

During human walking, muscle activation strategies are approximately constant across consecutive steps over a short time, but it is unknown whether they are maintained over a longer duration. Prolonged walking may increase tendinous tissue (TT) compliance, which can influence neural activation, but the neural responses of individual muscles have not been investigated. This study investigated the hypothesis that muscle activity is up- or down-regulated in individual triceps surae muscles during prolonged walking. Thirteen healthy subjects walked on a treadmill for 60 min at 4.5 km/h, while triceps surae muscle activity, maximal muscle compound action potentials, and kinematics were recorded every 5 min, and fascicle lengths were estimated at the beginning and end of the protocol using ultrasound. After 1 h of walking, soleus activity increased by 9.3 ± 0.2% ( P < 0.05) and medial gastrocnemius activity decreased by 9.3 ± 0.3% ( P < 0.01). Gastrocnemius fascicle length at ground contact shortened by 4.45 ± 0.99% ( P < 0.001), whereas soleus fascicle length was unchanged ( P = 0.988). Throughout the stance phase, medial gastrocnemius fascicle lengthening decreased by 44 ± 13% ( P < 0.001), whereas soleus fascicle lengthening amplitude was unchanged ( P = 0.650). The data suggest that a compensatory neural strategy exists between triceps surae muscles and that changes in muscle activation are generally mirrored by changes in muscle fascicle length. These findings also support the notion of muscle-specific changes in TT compliance after prolonged walking and highlight the ability of the CNS to maintain relatively constant movement patterns in spite of neuromechanical changes in individual muscles.
PPARγ2 C1431T genotype increases metabolic syndrome risk in young men with low cardiorespiratory fitness
Authors: Sanada Kiyoshi , Iemitsu Motoyuki , Murakami Haruka , Tabata Izumi , Yamamoto Kenta , Gando Yuko , Suzuki Katsuhiko , Higuchi Mitsuru , Miyachi Motohiko
Published: December 2010

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARγ2) genotypes are related to obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). A low level of cardiorespiratory fitness is also a strong determining factor in the development of MetS. This cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the influence of the interaction between the PPARγ2 genotype and cardiorespiratory fitness on the risk of MetS. Healthy Japanese men ( n = 211) and women ( n = 505) participated in this study. All subjects were divided into 8 groups according to sex, fitness level (high and low fitness groups), and age (younger, age < 40 yr; middle-aged/older, age ≥ 40 yr). The PPARγ2 genotypes (Pro12Ala and C1431T) were analyzed by real-time PCR with Taq-Man probes. Two-way ANCOVA with adjustment for age as a covariate indicated that fitness and the CC genotype of C1431T in the PPARγ2 gene interacted to produce a significant effect on MetS risk in younger men and that the risk of MetS in the CC genotype group with low cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher than that in the corresponding CT+TT genotypes or in the high fitness groups. There was no significant interaction between fitness and genotype in determining MetS risk in middle-aged/older men or in women in any group. With regard to the Pro12Ala genotype of the PPARγ2 gene, there were no significant differences in fitness or genotype effects nor were there any interactions between measurement variables. We concluded that the CC genotype of C1431T in the PPARγ2 gene together with low cardiorespiratory fitness may increase the risk of MetS in younger men (age < 40 yr), even with adjustment for age.
Changes of Immunological Profiles in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in the Course of Treatment
Authors: Humlová Zuzana , Klamová Hana , Janatková Ivana , Malíčková Karin , Králíková Petra , Šterzl Ivan , Roth Zdeněk , Hamšíková Eva , Vonka Vladimír
Published: December 2010

In the previous paper of ours we compared, prior to start any treatment, a number of immunological parameters in 24 chronic myeloid leukemia patients with the same number of healthy subjects matched by age and sex. We found significant differences in the levels of immunoglobulins, the C4 component of complement, the C‐reactive protein, interleukin 6, the composition of lymphocyte population and the production of some cytokines by stimulated CD3+ cells. Eleven of these patients were followed longitudinally. After treatment with hydroxyurea, interferon alpha, imatinib mesylate and dasatinib, or various combinations thereof, hematological remission was achieved in all patients and complete cytogenetic remission in nine of them. There was a nearly general tendency towards normalization of the abnormalities observed in the patients at their enrollment.
Electric and Magnetic Fields Generated by a Charged Bunch between Parallel Conducting Plates
Authors: Levchenko B.
Published: December 2010

Image fields generated by a bunch of charged particles between two parallel perfectly conducting plates are studied in detail. We derive exact analytical expressions for external fields of a charged relativistic bunch with a circular cross-section. Summation of image fields by the direct method invented by Laslett allows the infinite series to be represented in terms of elementary trigonometric functions.
Vectorial Form of Ekeland-Type Variational Principle in Locally Convex Spaces and Its Applications
Authors: Eshghinezhad S , Fakhar M
Published: December 2010

By using a Dane"Equation missing"' drop theorem in locally convex spaces we obtain a vectorial form of Ekeland-type variational principle in locally convex spaces. From this theorem, we derive some versions of vectorial Caristi-Kirk's fixed-point theorem, Takahashi's nonconvex minimization theorem, and Oettli-Théra's theorem. Furthermore, we show that these results are equivalent to each other. Also, the existence of solution of vector equilibrium problem is given.
A Fully Discrete Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Nonlinear Fractional Fokker‐Planck Equation
Authors: Zheng Yunying , Li Changpin , Zhao Zhengang
Published: December 2010

The fractional Fokker‐Planck equation is often used to characterize anomalous diffusion. In this paper, a fully discrete approximation
for the nonlinear spatial fractional Fokker‐Planck equation is given, where the discontinuous Galerkin finite element approach is utilized in time domain and the Galerkin finite element approach is utilized in spatial domain. The priori error estimate is derived in detail. Numerical examples are presented which are inline with the theoretical convergence rate.
Bicritical Central Point of Ising Model Phase Diagram
Authors: Boughaleb Yahia , Nouredine Mohammed , Snina Mohamed , Nassif Rachid , Bennai Mohamed
Published: December 2010

We deal with a 2D half occupied square lattice with repulsive interactions between first and second neighboring particles. Despite the intensive studies of the present model the central point of the phase diagram for which the ratio of the two interaction strengths is still open. In the present paper we show, using standard Monte Carlo calculations, that the situation corresponds to a phase of mixed ordered structures quantified by an “algebraic” order parameter defined as the sum of densities of the existing ordered clusters. The introduced grandeur also characterizes the transitions towards the known pure ordered phases for the other values of as mentioned by the agreement of our results with those of the literature. The computation of the Cowley short range order parameter against suggests that the central point is bicritical and is a state to cross when passing between the two pure phases.
Parafibromin as a Diagnostic Instrument for Parathyroid Carcinoma-Lone Ranger or Part of the Posse?
Authors: Juhlin C. Christofer , Höög Anders
Published: December 2010

The diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma requires an invasive growth pattern or metastases detected at histopathological examination; unfortunately, not all carcinomas exhibit visible malignant properties at the initial assessment. Therefore, immunohistochemical markers have been sought for the recognition of parathyroid malignancy. In 2003, theHyperparathyroidism 2 (HRPT2)gene was found mutated in the majority of sporadic parathyroid carcinomas investigated, and studies regarding the protein product parafibromin proposed loss of nuclear parafibromin as a highly sensitive marker for the detection of parathyroid carcinoma. Recent studies have not fully reproduced these findings, as subsets of carcinomas display positive parafibromin immunoreactivity, and fractions of adenomas demonstrate absent expression. Overall, parafibromin is a marker of value to the endocrine pathologist, but it cannot be recommended as a sole indicator of parathyroid carcinoma. Additional markers such as protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) could complement parafibromin when assessing malignant potential of parathyroid tumours.
Combustion of Syngas Fuel in Gas Turbine Can Combustor
Authors: Ghenai Chaouki
Published: December 2010

Numerical investigation of the combustion of syngas fuel mixture in gas turbine can combustor is presented in this paper. The objective is to understand the impact of the variability in the alternative fuel composition and heating value on combustion performance and emissions. The gas turbine can combustor is designed to burn the fuel efficiently, reduce the emissions, and lower the wall temperature. Syngas mixtures with different fuel compositions are produced through different coal and biomass gasification process technologies. The composition of the fuel burned in can combustor was changed from natural gas (methane) to syngas fuel with hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2/CO) volume ratio ranging from 0.63 to 2.36. The mathematical models used for syngas fuel combustion consist of the k-ε model for turbulent flow, mixture fractions/PDF model for nonpremixed gas combustion, and P-1 radiation model. The effect of syngas fuel composition and lower heating value on the flame shape, gas temperature, mass of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NO x) per unit of energy generation is presented in this paper. The results obtained in this study show the change in gas turbine can combustor performance with the same power generation when natural gas or methane fuel is replaced by syngas fuels.
Exploiting Dual-Output Programmable Blocks to Balance Secure Dual-Rail Logics
Authors: Sauvage Laurent , Nassar Maxime , Guilley Sylvain , Flament Florent , Danger Jean-Luc , Mathieu Yves
Published: December 2010

FPGA design of side-channel analysis countermeasures using unmasked dual-rail with precharge logic appears to be a great challenge. Indeed, the robustness of such a solution relies on careful differential placement and routing whereas both FPGA layout and FPGA EDA tools are not developed for such purposes. However, assessing the security level which can be achieved with them is an important issue, as it is directly related to the suitability to use commercial FPGA instead of proprietary custom FPGA for this kind of protection. In this article, we experimentally gave evidence that differential placement and routing of an FPGA implementation can be done with a granularity fine enough to improve the security gain. However, so far, this gain turned out to be lower for FPGAs than for ASICs. The solutions demonstrated in this article exploit the dual-output of modern FPGAs to achieve a better balance of dual-rail interconnections. However, we expect that an in-depth analysis of routing resources power consumption could still help reduce the interconnect differential leakage.
A Characteristic Analysis of One‐Dimensional Two‐Fluid Model with Interfacial Area Transport Equation
Authors: Wang Xia , Sun Xiaodong
Published: December 2010

An interfacial area transport equation (IATE), proposed to dynamically describe the interfacial structure evolution of two‐phase flows, could help improve the predictive capability of the two‐fluid model. The present study aims to investigate the well‐posedness issue of a one‐dimensional two‐fluid model with the IATE (named “two‐fluid‐IATE model” hereafter) using a characteristic analysis. The momentum flux parameters, which take into account the coupling of the volumetric fraction of phase and velocity distributions over the cross‐section of a flow passage, are employed. A necessary condition for the system to achieve hyperbolicity under an adiabatic flow condition is identified. A case study is performed for an adiabatic liquid‐liquid slug flow, which shows that the hyperbolicity of the two‐fluid‐IATE model is guaranteed if appropriate correlations of the momentum flux parameters are applied in the two‐fluid‐IATE model.
Acute Pancreatitis Secondary to a Perivaterian Duodenal Diverticular Abscess
Authors: Pastides P. , Bertaud S. , Sarker S. K. , Dindyal S.
Published: December 2010

A 46-year-old previously fit lady was admitted with acute pancreatitis. She had no history of gallstones. She was not on any medications and consumed minimal amounts of alcohol. On subsequent investigations as to the causative factor, she was found at ultrasound to have an air-fluid filled cystic structure posterior to the head of pancreas which was compressing the common bile duct. Further magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography scans showed that this cystic lesion was located around the ampulla of Vater. A diagnosis of a perivaterian abscess was made. At endoscopy, a large contained abscess was seen which was successfully drained. She made a full and uneventful recovery.
Stroke in the Setting of Giant Cell Arteritis: A Case Report
Authors: McDermott S. , Casey N. , Robinson D. J. , Tan K. M.
Published: December 2010

We describe an unusual complication of a common disease: stroke presenting in a man recently diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. Initial inflammatory markers were misleading. We discuss pitfalls in diagnosis, and approach to management.
The Electromagnetic Wave Propagation on the Interface between Low and High Loss Dielectrics
Authors: Eremenko Z. E.
Published: December 2010

The wave propagation on closed curved interface (a rod or ball) between low and high loss dielectrics was studied and compared with well-known wave propagation problem on flat plane interface between low loss and high loss media. We have studied the propagation of a cylindrical wave along a round dielectric rod immersed into a high loss medium and a spherical wave forming by the oscillations in a dielectric ball immersed into a high loss medium as well. These waves have surface character similar to the wave known as the Zenneck surface wave. The distinctive characteristic of such cylindrical or spherical waves: the more loss in high loss medium the greater its surface character. We showed that the wave attenuation is essentially small at enough big dissipative loss in outer medium of dielectric structures.
Bilateral Vallecular Cysts as a Cause of Dysphagia: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Romak Jonathan J. , Olsen Steven M. , Koch Cody A. , Ekbom Dale C.
Published: December 2010

Cysts of the vallecula are rare, accounting for 10.5% to 20.1% of all laryngeal cysts. Vallecular cysts may present with diverse symptoms affecting the voice, airway, and swallowing. We describe the evaluation and treatment of a 70-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia caused by large bilateral vallecular cysts.
Ectopic Hidradenoma Papilliferum
Authors: Rosmaninho Aristóteles David Neiva , de Almeida Maria Teresa Duarte Pinto , Costa Vírgilio , Sanches Maria Madalena Vasconcelos , Lopes Carlos , Selores Gomes Meirinhos Maria Manuela
Published: December 2010

Hidradenoma papilliferum is a rare tumor that occurs almost exclusively in females on the anogenital area. Rare cases of ectopic (nongenital) hidradenoma papilliferum have been described. The lesions usually present as an asymptomatic slow‐growing, red, firm, mobile, well‐delimitated nodule that grows for a long time before resection. We describe a case of an 26‐year‐old man that presented with an enlarging nodule on his right eyelid. The histological findings revealed a hidradenoma papilliferum. So far, among the very few reports of ectopic hidradenoma papilliferum, only a very small number were localized to the eyelid.
Subdural Effusions with Hydrocephalus after Severe Head Injury: Successful Treatment with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement: Report of 3 Adult Cases
Authors: Tzerakis N. , Orphanides G. , Antoniou E. , Sioutos P. J. , Lafazanos S. , Seretis A.
Published: December 2010

Background. Subdural collections of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with associated hydrocephalus have been described by several different and sometimes inaccurate terms. It has been proposed that a subdural effusion with hydrocephalus (SDEH) can be treated effectively with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (V-P shunt). In this study, we present our experience treating patients with SDEH without directly treating the subdural collection.Methods. We treated three patients with subdural effusions and hydrocephalus as a result of a head injury. All the patients were treated with a V-P shunt despite the fact that there was an extra-axial CSF collection with midline shift.Results. In all of the patients, the subdural effusions subsided and the ventricular dilatation improved in the postoperative period. The final clinical outcome remains difficult to predict and depends not only on the successful CSF diversion but also on the primary and secondary brain insult.Conclusion. Subdural effusions with hydrocephalus can be safely and effectively treated with V-P shunting, without directly treating the subdural effusion which subsides along with the treatment of hydrocephalus. However, it is extremely important to make an accurate diagnosis of an SDEH and differentiate this condition from other subdural collections which require different management.
Photodynamic Therapy with the Silicon Phthalocyanine Pc 4 Induces Apoptosis in Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome
Authors: Lam Minh , Lee YooJin , Deng Min , Hsia Andrew H. , Morrissey Kelly A. , Yan Chunlin , Azzizudin Kashif , Oleinick Nancy L. , McCormick Thomas S. , Cooper Kevin D. , Baron Elma D.
Published: December 2010

Our current focus on the effects of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) using silicon phthalocyanine Pc 4 photosensitizer on malignant T lymphocytes arose due to preclinical observations that Jurkat cells, common surrogate for human T cell lymphoma, were more sensitive to Pc 4-PDT-induced killing than epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Mycosis fungoides (MF) as well as Sezary syndrome (SS) are variants of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in which malignant T-cells invade the epidermis. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of Pc 4-PDT in peripheral blood cells obtained from patients with SS and in skin biopsies of patients with MF. Our data suggest that Pc 4-PDT preferentially induces apoptosis of CD4+CD7−malignant T-lymphocytes in the blood relative to CD11b+monocytes and nonmalignant T-cells.In vivoPc 4-PDT of MF skin also photodamages the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2.
Marine Resource Management in the Hawaiian Archipelago: The Traditional Hawaiian System in Relation to the Western Approach
Authors: Jokiel P. L. , Rodgers K. S. , Walsh W. J. , Polhemus D. A. , Wilhelm T. A.
Published: December 2010

Over a period of many centuries the Polynesians who inhabited Hawai‘i developed a carefully regulated and sustainable “ahupua‘a” management system that integrated watershed, freshwater and nearshore marine resources based on the fundamental linkages between all ecosystems from the mountain tops to the sea. This traditional scheme employed adaptive management practices keyed to subtle changes in natural resources. Sophisticated social controls on resource utilization were an important component of the system. Over the past two centuries a “Western system” gradually replaced much of the traditional Hawaiian system. There are major differences between the two systems in the areas of management practices, management focus, knowledge base, dissemination of information, resource monitoring, legal authority, access rights, stewardship and enforcement. However, there is a recent shift toward incorporating elements of the traditional scheme using methods and terminology acceptable and appropriate to present day realities. This trend is exemplified by the management plan for the newly formed Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This is one of the largest protected areas in the world and is being managed with a focus on Native Hawaiian cultural values in relation to conservation, ecological, historical, scientific, and educational resource protection.
Pharmacotherapies for Obesity: Past, Current, and Future Therapies
Authors: Ioannides-Demos Lisa L. , Piccenna Loretta , McNeil John J.
Published: December 2010

Past therapies for the treatment of obesity have typically involved pharmacological agents usually in combination with a calorie-controlled diet. This paper reviews the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapies for obesity focusing on drugs approved for long-term therapy (orlistat), drugs approved for short-term use (amfepramone [diethylpropion], phentermine), recently withdrawn therapies (rimonabant, sibutamine) and drugs evaluated in Phase III studies (taranabant, pramlintide, lorcaserin and tesofensine and combination therapies of topiramate plus phentermine, bupropion plus naltrexone, and bupropion plus zonisamide). No current pharmacotherapy possesses the efficacy needed to produce substantial weight loss in morbidly obese patients. Meta-analyses support a significant though modest loss in bodyweight with a mean weight difference of 4.7 kg (95% CI 4.1 to 5.3 kg) for rimonabant, 4.2 kg (95% CI 3.6 to 4.8 kg) for sibutramine and 2.9 kg (95% CI 2.5 to 3.2 kg) for orlistat compared to placebo at ≥12 months. Of the Phase III pharmacotherapies, lorcaserin, taranabant, topiramate and bupropion with naltrexone have demonstrated significant weight loss compared to placebo at ≥12 months. Some pharmacotherapies have also demonstrated clinical benefits. Further studies are required in some populations such as younger and older people whilst the long term safety continues to be a major consideration and has led to the withdrawal of several drugs.
Industrial Semi-Solid Rheocasting of Aluminum A356 Brake Calipers
Authors: Curle U. A. , Wilkins J. D. , Govender G.
Published: December 2010

Industrial semi-solid casting trials of aluminum A356 brake calipers were performed over five days with the CSIR-RCS and high-pressure die casting process cell. Consecutive visual passed castings were used as the measure of process stability, and common defects between trials were categorized. Short fill results are erratic and caused by unintended underdosing by the furnace or incomplete billet discharge at the delivery point in the shot sleeve. Cold shuts can be significantly reduced by adjusting the shot control profile. Surface finish defects include surface roughness and staining caused by lubricant burn off. Visual passed castings display none of the above-mentioned external defects. X-ray examination and pressure testing of heat-treated castings from the consecutive visual passed castings show improvement over the five days. These initial-stage industrialization efforts pave the way for process commercialization.
Slice-to-Volume Nonrigid Registration of Histological Sections to MR Images of the Human Brain
Authors: Osechinskiy Sergey , Kruggel Frithjof
Published: December 2010

Registration of histological images to three-dimensional imaging modalities is an important step in quantitative analysis of brain structure, in architectonic mapping of the brain, and in investigation of the pathology of a brain disease. Reconstruction of histology volume from serial sections is a well-established procedure, but it does not address registration of individual slices from sparse sections, which is the aim of the slice-to-volume approach. This study presents a flexible framework for intensity-based slice-to-volume nonrigid registration algorithms with a geometric transformation deformation field parametrized by various classes of spline functions: thin-plate splines (TPS), Gaussian elastic body splines (GEBS), or cubic B-splines. Algorithms are applied to cross-modality registration of histological and magnetic resonance images of the human brain. Registration performance is evaluated across a range of optimization algorithms and intensity-based cost functions. For a particular case of histological data, best results are obtained with a TPS three-dimensional (3D) warp, a new unconstrained optimization algorithm (NEWUOA), and a correlation-coefficient-based cost function.
Role of IL-17 and Th17 Cells in Liver Diseases
Authors: Hammerich Linda , Heymann Felix , Tacke Frank
Published: December 2010

Unbalanced Th1/Th2 T-cell responses in the liver are a characteristic of hepatic inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis. The recently discovered Th17 cells, a subtype of CD4+T-helper cells mainly producing IL-17 and IL-22, have initially been linked to host defense against infections and to autoimmunity. Their preferred differentiation upon TGFβand IL-6, two cytokines abundantly present in injured liver, makes a contribution of Th17 cells to hepatic inflammation very likely. Indeed, initial studies in humans revealed activated Th17 cells and Th17-related cytokines in various liver diseases. However, functional experiments in mouse models are not fully conclusive at present, and the pathogenic contribution of Th17 cells to liver inflammation might vary upon the disease etiology, for example, between infectious and autoimmune disorders. Understanding the chemokines and chemokine receptors promoting hepatic Th17 cell recruitment (possibly CCR6 or CCR4) might reveal new therapeutic targets interfering with Th17 migration or differentiation in liver disease.
Evaluation of Effectiveness of Vitamins C and E on Prevention of Renal Scar due to Pyelonephritis in Rat
Authors: Emamghorashi Fatemeh , Owji Seyed Mohamad , Motamedifar Mohammad
Published: December 2010

Aimwas evaluation of the effects of cosupplementation of, vitamins E and C, in preventing renal scarring in acute pyelonephritis.Animals and Treatments. Sixty rats were used, bacteria was injected through kidney. The rats were arranged randomly in 3 groups of 20 rats each. Rats in groups 1 and 2 were given once-daily intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin for ten consecutive days, beginning on the third day after inoculation. In group 2, vitamins E and C cotreatment and in group 3, vitamins E and C cotreatment without gentamicin injection were started. Three rats in each group were killed 24 hours after the inoculation (for infection and inflammation document) and forty-eight hours after the antibiotic injection (for efficacy of treatment). After eight weeks, the rest of rats were killed, and kidneys evaluated for percent of scaring.Result. There was also significant difference of degree of scar formation (1.4 and 3.4% versus 8.6%, ). The group which received gentamicin only had moderate to severe scaring, but the two groups which received vitamin C and vitamin E showed no or mild renal scaring.Conclusion. The study showed that administration of antioxidants can protect scaring due to pyelonephritis with or without antibiotic administration.