bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population genetics of Haemophilus influenzae serotype a in three Canadian provinces
Authors: Tsang Raymond S.W. , Shuel Michelle , Wylie John , Lefebvre Brigitte , Hoang Linda , Law Dennis K.S.
Published: April 2013

Haemophilus influenzae serotype a (Hia) is an important pathogen since the introduction of vaccines for control of disease due to serotype b strains. Using a sodC-based polymerase chain reaction, Hia can be divided into 2 phylogenetic divisions, each with their own unique multilocus sequence types. Most Canadian Hia belongs to clonal division I and the ST-23 clonal complex. The recently described hypervirulent clone of ST-4 was found in a single Canadian isolate. Therefore, surveillance of invasive H. influenzae disease should include serotyping to detect Hia and multilocus sequence typing to detect hypervirulent clones.
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL COSMOLOGY AND DSR–GUP
Authors: ZEYNALI K. , DARABI F. , MOTAVALLI H.
Published: April 2013

A multi-dimensional cosmology with FRW type metric having four-dimensional spacetime and d-dimensional Ricci-flat internal space is considered with a higher-dimensional cosmological constant. The classical cosmology in commutative and Doubly Special Relativity–Generalized Uncertainty Principle (DSR–GUP) contexts is studied and the corresponding exact solutions for negative and positive cosmological constants are obtained. In the positive cosmological constant case, it is shown that unlike the commutative as well as GUP cases, in DSR–GUP case both scale factors of internal and external spaces after accelerating phase will inevitably experience decelerating phase leading simultaneously to a big crunch. This demarcation from GUP originates from the difference between the GUP and DSR–GUP algebras. The important result is that unlike GUP which results in eternal acceleration, DSR–GUP at first generates acceleration but prevents the eternal acceleration at late-times and turns it into deceleration.
SIMULATION AND CIRCUIT IMPLEMENTATION OF SPROTT CASE H CHAOTIC SYSTEM AND ITS SYNCHRONIZATION APPLICATION FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Authors: ÇİÇEK SERDAR , UYAROĞLU YILMAZ , PEHLİVAN İHSAN
Published: April 2013

Nowadays, many simulations, implementations, synchronization and secure communication applications of chaotic circuits have been introduced in literature. However, electronics circuit design and implementation of nonlinear Sprott Case H chaotic system and its synchronization were not found in the literature. In this paper, numerical model, electronics circuit simulation and implementation electronics circuits of the Sprott Case H chaotic system and its synchronization by the method of Pecora and Carroll (P–C) complete replacement (CR) were performed. The simulation and implementation results showed that the Sprott Case H chaotic system can be synchronized and thus can be used for secure communication and encryption applications.
Understanding Phenotypic Variation in Rodent Models with Germline Apc Mutations
Authors: Zeineldin Maged , Neufeld Kristi L.
Published: April 2013

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is best known for its crucial role in colorectal cancer suppression. Rodent models with various Apc mutations have enabled experimental validation of different Apc functions in tumors and normal tissues. Since the development of the first mouse model with a germline Apc mutation in the early 1990s, 20 other Apc mouse and rat models have been generated. This article compares and contrasts currently available Apc rodent models with particular emphasis on providing potential explanations for their reported variation in three areas: (i) intestinal polyp multiplicity, (ii) intestinal polyp distribution, and (iii) extraintestinal phenotypes. Cancer Res; 73(8); 2389–99. ©2013 AACR.
Hrk Mediates 2-Methoxyestradiol–Induced Mitochondrial Apoptotic Signaling in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Chang Inik , Majid Shahana , Saini Sharanjot , Zaman Mohd S. , Yamamura Soichiro , Chiyomaru Takeshi , Shahryari Varahram , Fukuhara Shinichiro , Deng Guoren , Dahiya Rajvir , Tanaka Yuichiro
Published: April 2013

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in males and ranks as the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), an endogenous estrogen metabolite, is a promising anticancer agent for various types of cancers. Although 2-ME has been shown to activate c-Jun-NH2-kinase (JNK) and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic signaling pathways, the underlying mechanisms, including downstream effectors, remain unclear. Here, we report that the human Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only protein harakiri (Hrk) is a critical effector of 2-ME–induced JNK/mitochondria–dependent apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Hrk mRNA and protein are preferentially upregulated by 2-ME, and Hrk induction is dependent on the JNK activation of c-Jun. Hrk knockdown prevents 2-ME–mediated apoptosis by attenuating the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, subsequent cytochrome c (cyt c) release, and caspase activation. Involvement of the proapoptotic protein Bak in this process suggested the possible interaction between Hrk and Bak. Thus, Hrk activation by 2-ME or its overexpression displaced Bak from the complex with antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL, whereas deletion of the Hrk BH3 domain abolished its interaction with Bcl-xL, reducing the proapoptotic function of Hrk. Finally, Hrk is also involved in the 2-ME–mediated reduction of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis through Bak activation in prostate cancer cells. Together, our findings suggest that induction of the BH3-only protein Hrk is a critical step in 2-ME activation of the JNK-induced apoptotic pathway, targeting mitochondria by liberating proapoptotic protein Bak. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(6); 1049–59. ©2013 AACR.
Immunohistochemical Localization and Characterization of Putative Mesenchymal Stem Cell Markers in the Retinal Capillary Network of Rodents
Authors: Wittig Dierk , Jászai József , Corbeil Denis , Funk Richard H.W.
Published: April 2013

Perivascular cells of microvascular niches are the prime candidates for being a reservoire of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cells in many tissues and organs that could serve as a potential source of cells and a target of novel cell-based therapeutic approaches. In the present study, by utilising typical markers of pericytes (neuronal-glial antigen 2, NG2, a chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan) and those of MSCs (CD146 and CD105) and primitive pluripotent cells (sex-determining region Y-box 2, Sox2), the phenotypic traits and the distribution of murine and rat retinal perivascular cells were investigated in situ. Our findings indicate that retinal microvessels of juvenile rodents are highly covered by NG2-positive branching processes of pericytic (perivascular) cells that are less prominent in mature capillary networks of the adult retina. In the adult rodent retinal vascular bed, NG2 labeling is mainly confined to membranes of the cell body resulting in a pearl-chain-like distribution along the vessels. Retinal pericytes, which were identified by their morphology and NG2 expression, simultaneously express CD146. Furthermore, CD146-positive cells located at small arteriole-to-capillary branching points appear more intensely stained than elsewhere. Evidence for a differential expression of the two markers around capillaries that would hint at a clonal heterogeneity among pericytic cells, however, is lacking. In contrast, the expression of CD105 is exclusively restricted to vascular endothelial cells and Sox2 is detected neither in perivascular nor in endothelial cells. In dissociated retinal cultures, however, simultaneous expression of NG2 and CD105 was observed. Collectively, our data indicate that vascular wall resident retinal pericytes share some phenotypic features (i.e. CD146 expression) with archetypal MSCs, which is even more striking in dissociated retinal cultures (i.e. CD105 expression). These findings might have implications for the treatment of retinal pathologies.
Karyotype Heterogeneity and Unclassified Chromosomal Abnormalities
Authors: Heng H.H.Q. , Liu G. , Stevens J.B. , Abdallah B.Y. , Horne S.D. , Ye K.J. , Bremer S.W. , Chowdhury S.K. , Ye C.J.
Published: April 2013

In a departure from traditional gene-centric thinking with regard to cytogenetics and cytogenomics, the recently introduced genome theory calls upon a re-focusing of our attention on karyotype analyses of disease conditions. Karyotype heterogeneity has been demonstrated to be directly involved in the somatic cell evolution process which is the basis of many common and complex diseases such as cancer. To correctly use karyotype heterogeneity and apply it to monitor system instability, we need to include many seemingly unimportant non-specific chromosomal aberrations into our analysis. Traditionally, cytogenetic analysis has been focused on identifying recurrent types of abnormalities, particularly those that have been linked to specific diseases. In this perspective, drawing on the new framework of 4D-genomics, we will briefly review the importance of studying karyotype heterogeneity. We have also listed a number of overlooked chromosomal aberrations including defective mitotic figures, chromosome fragmentation as well as genome chaos. Finally, we call for the systematic discovery/characterization and classification of karyotype abnormalities in human diseases, as karyotype heterogeneity is the common factor that is essential for somatic cell evolution.
The Effects of Arterial Blood Pressure Reduction on Endocan and Soluble Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs) and CAMs Ligands Expression in Hypertensive Patients on Ca-Channel Blocker Therapy
Authors: Tadzic Refmir , Mihalj Martina , Vcev Aleksandar , Ennen Johann , Tadzic Arijan , Drenjancevic-Peric Ines
Published: April 2013

Background/Aims: To determine the effect of arterial blood pressure (BP) reduction on endocan and soluble cell adhesion molecules' (sCAM) plasma concentration and expression of their ligands on circulatory leukocyte subpopulations. Methods: 24 hypertensive subjects of both sexes (age: 53±8 yrs) were treated with Ca-channel blocker, amlodipin (5-10 mg/day for 8 weeks; to reach BP≤139/89mmHg). The serum sCAMs and endocan concentrations were determined by ELISA kits. Level of ICAM/VCAM ligands on leukocytes was assessed by flow cytometry. Paired t-test, or t-test were used as appropriate, with Pearson's correlation calculated; p<0.05 was considered significant (SigmaPlot v.11). Results: sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were decreased (p≤0.001 and p=0.002, respectively), while E-selectin concentration was increased after amlodipin treatment (P=0.014). CD11a/LFA-1 (ICAM-1 and endocan ligand) was significantly increased in all three cell types with BP decrease. CD15 and CD49d/VLA-4 (VCAM-1 ligand) did not change after the treatment. There was significant positive correlation of systolic and diastolic BP with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and significant negative correlation of systolic BP with CD11a/LFA-1. Endocan significantly positively correlated with ICAM-1. Conclusions: The increased expression of ICAM/VACM ligands, together with decrease of sCAMs and endocan suggests the de-activation of endothelium with reduction in BP, decreasing the adherence of circulatory leukocytes to endothelium; subsequently decreasing the risk for development of atherosclerosis.
Serum Cystatin C is Associated with Renal Function Recovery in Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Zhang Z. , Xu X. , Ni H. , Jin N.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: Serum cystatin C (sCyC) has long been known as a reliable biomarker of renal injury. However, it remains to be tested whether sCyC is a reliable biomarker to predict renal recovery after continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients admitted to a tertiary 18-bed intensive care unit from January 2008 to December 2011 was performed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to test the independent predictors of renal recovery. The diagnostic value of sCyC in predicting renal recovery was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: Older age and higher sCyC were independent risk factors of renal nonrecovery (OR: 1.40 and 4.76, respectively). The area under the ROC of sCyC to predict renal recovery was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82-0.92), with a sensitivity and specificity of 80.5% and 83.5% at the cutoff of 2.98 mg/l. Conclusion: A high sCyC level at the initiation of CRRT is associated with poor renal outcome.
Clinical Characteristics of 274 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in China
Authors: Chen Yan , Han Sheng , Zheng Min-Juan , Xue Yan , Liu Wen-Chao
Published: April 2013

Background: The mortality from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China is increasing, and studies about clinical characteristics of recent NSCLC are rare. The primary objective of this study was to explore clinical features in a large general hospital in Northwest China, and to determine risk factors for stage, pathology and survival, with a view to prevention and treatment of NSCLC as well as establishment and improvement of national medical insurance policies. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of NSCLC patients (n = 274), as well as risk factors for advanced stage and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Survival features in different groups were analyzed, as well as risk factors of survival. Follow-up was at least 3 years. Results: 179 were male (65.3%); 136 had adenocarcinoma (49.6%) and 109 had SCC (39.8%); 186 (67.9%) had advanced-stage disease (IIIB-IV); 130 (47.4%) had smoking habits; 195 came from an urban area (71.2%); 69 had local urban resident basic medical insurance; 58% were younger than 60 years. Female, adenocarcinoma, rural patients were significantly younger than male, SCC, and urban patients. Pathology was the only independent risk factor for advanced stage. Age, sex, and smoking status were independent prognostic factors for SCC. The proportion of male SCC was higher than female SCC even without the influence of smoking. Without local urban resident basic medical insurance, higher stage and not having surgery, but not smoking status, were independent risk factors for lower median progression-free survival (PFS). Patients with adenocarcinoma and SCC in advanced stage accepting EGFR-TKI during treatment had a higher 1-year survival rate and longer overall survival (OS) compared with those never accepting EGFR-TKI. EGFR-TKI treatment and chemotherapy regimen numbers were independent risk factor for median OS in advanced adenocarcinoma and SCC patients. Conclusion: More prevention and screening should be carried out for the female and rural population. EGFR-TKI could benefit advanced NSCLCs. China's medical insurance policy has some adverse effect on NSCLC survival calling for further improvement.
Defining and Predicting Complete Remission of Type 2 Diabetes: A Short-Term Efficacy Study of Open Gastric Bypass
Authors: Yan Hongtao , Tang Lijun , Chen Tao , Kral John G. , Jiang Li , Li Yunming , Hu Ruidong , Cui Jiangfeng , Li Shi , Tian Fuzhou
Published: April 2013

Objective: To investigate the metabolic effects of open Roux-en Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on pancreatic endocrine reserve in overweight/obese Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes during postoperative year 1. Methods: Retrospective analysis comparing pre- and postoperative results of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) with determinations of insulin and C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and BMI at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months in 99 overweight patients (BMI 26.3 ± 4.0 kg/m2; 59 men) with type 2 diabetes at the General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region. Results: 79 patients (80%) achieved complete remission (maintaining random blood glucose levels < 11.1 mmol/l, fasting blood glucose levels < 7.0 mmol/l, 2-hour OGTT blood glucose levels < 11.1 mmol/l, and glycated hemoglobin < 6.5%). Nine cases (9%) were ‘improved' (reduced medication or diet controlled blood sugar), and 11 cases did not meet either criterion (‘unchanged'). Patients in complete remission were younger and heavier, more often men, had significantly shorter history of diabetes (4.3 ± 3.8 years vs. 7.6 ± 3.8 years, p < 0.05), and exhibited significantly higher fasting and OGTT levels of C-peptide and insulin, and HOMA-IR than the other 2 groups (p < 0.05-0.01). Conclusion: Open gastric bypass achieved complete remission of type 2 diabetes in Chinese overweight/obese, heavier, younger, predominantly male patients with shorter duration of disease exhibiting greater pancreatic endocrine reserve.
Genetic Stabilization of Transthyretin, Cerebrovascular Disease, and Life Expectancy
Authors: Hornstrup Louise S. , Frikke-Schmidt Ruth , Nordestgaard Børge G. , Tybjærg-Hansen Anne
Published: April 2013

Objective—

Transthyretin can cause amyloidosis attributable to destabilization of transthyretin tetramers in plasma. We tested the hypothesis that genetic stabilization of transthyretin associates with reduced risk of vascular disease and increased life expectancy.

Approach and Results—

We included 68 602 participants from 2 prospective studies of the general population. We genotyped for 2 stabilizing genetic variants in the transthyretin gene (
TTR
), R104H and T119M, and determined the association of genotypes with plasma levels of transthyretin, measures of thyroid function, risk of vascular disease, and life expectancy. During a mean follow-up of 32 years, 10 636 participants developed vascular disease. We identified 321 heterozygotes for T119M (frequency, 0.47%); R104H was not detected. First, mean plasma transthyretin and thyroxine levels were increased by 17% (26 µg/mL) and 20% (19 nmol/L), respectively, in heterozygotes versus noncarriers (
P
=0.007 and
P
<0.0001), demonstrating functionality of this variant in the general population. Second, corresponding hazard ratios were 0.70 (95% confidence interval, 0.51–0.97) for all vascular diseases, 0.85 (0.59–1.23) for cardiovascular disease, 0.45 (0.25–0.81) for cerebrovascular disease, 0.47 (0.25–0.88) for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and 0.31 (0.04–2.22) for hemorrhagic stroke. The cumulative incidence of cerebrovascular disease as a function of age was decreased in heterozygotes versus noncarriers (
P
=0.005). Third, median age at death from all causes, from vascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and after diagnosis of vascular disease, and median age at diagnosis of vascular disease, was increased by 5 to 10 years in heterozygotes versus noncarriers (
P
=0.002–0.05).

Conclusions—

These results are compatible with an association between genetic stabilization of transthyretin and decreased risk of cerebrovascular disease, and with increased life expectancy in the general population.
Inhibition of Late Sodium Current by Mexiletine
Authors: Gao Yuanfeng , Xue Xiaolin , Hu Dayi , Liu Wenling , Yuan Yue , Sun Hongmei , Li Lei , Timothy Katherine W. , Zhang Li , Li Cuilan , Yan Gan-Xin
Published: April 2013

Background—

Timothy syndrome (TS) is a rare long-QT syndrome caused by
CACNA1C
mutations G406R in exon 8A (TS1) and G402S/G406R in exon 8 (TS2). Management of TS is a challenge and prognosis is poor. This study aimed to explore the inheritance pattern and mechanism of an I
Na
blocker, mexiletine, to improve clinical manifestations in TS.

Methods and Results—

A 2-year-old Chinese girl with a typical TS1 phenotype underwent candidate gene screening. Qualitative and quantitative cloning sequence and analyses for mosaicism were performed on family members. Therapeutic effects of mexiletine were evaluated using ECG and Holter monitoring. The electrophysiological effect of mexiletine was evaluated in a TS model using rabbit ventricular wedges. The proband with severe syndactyly and delayed language skills was identified harboring a G406R mutation in
CACNA1C
. Her baseline ECG showed markedly prolonged QTc, 2:1 AV block and macro-T wave alternans. G406R was absent in her mother but expressed in her father’s oral mucosa, sperm, and white blood cells, indicating a mosaic carrier. Although asymptomatic, he exhibited mild QTc prolongation (470–490 ms) and syndactyly. Mexiletine shortened QTc from 584 to 515 ms, blunted QT–RR relationship, and abolished 2:1 AV block and T wave alternans in the girl. In in vitro studies, mexiletine inhibited late I
Na
with IC
50
of 17.6±1.9 µmol/L and attenuated brady-dependent QT prolongation and reduced QT–RR slope in the TS model using BayK 8644.

Conclusions—

Mexiletine shortened QTc, attenuated QT–RR slope, abolished 2:1 AV block and T wave alternans in a TS1 patient and TS model via inhibition of late I
Na
.
Moving towards gender-sensitive evaluation? Practices and challenges in international-development evaluation
Authors: Espinosa Julia
Published: April 2013

Gender equality was introduced into international-development evaluation two decades ago. Over the years, there have been different experiences in incorporating gender issues into the diverse phases of the evaluative process. This article reviews the practices of international-development agencies based on meta-evaluation studies and the most relevant material published by international organizations. The article also explores what it means to carry out a gender-sensitive evaluation, basing it on gender and feminist contributions and different methodological options. Finally, the article describes the key challenges of incorporating the gender perspective into the whole evaluative process.
Experimental investigation on phase transformation of Cu–Ni–Si alloy melts during cooling
Authors: Jia L , Xie H , Lu Z L , Wang X , Lin X
Published: April 2013

Rapid water quenching experiments were first carried out according to differential scanning calorimetry results, and then the microstructure and phase composition of such water quenching Cu–8·33Ni–1·67Si (wt-) samples were investigated. Subsequently, calculation on the competition nucleation of the primary phase was also carried out. Based on the experimental and calculational results, the phase transformation behaviour of Cu–8·33Ni–1·67Si melts during the cooling process was discussed, and the results can be summarised as follows. First, the α-Cu phase formed as a primary phase due to the shorter incubation time and higher time dependent nucleation rate. Subsequently, a eutectic reaction occurred in the interdendritic residual liquid phase of the primary α-Cu grains, and its product was α-Cu+Ni3Si. The third and fourth phase transformation could be described to the precipitation of the δ-Ni2Si phase in the region close to the grain boundary phase and the internal of the primary α-Cu grains respectively.
INTEROCC case–control study: lack of association between glioma tumors and occupational exposure to selected combustion products, dusts and other chemical agents
Authors: Lacourt Aude , Cardis Elisabeth , Pintos Javier , Richardson Lesley , Kincl Laurel , Benke Geza , Fleming Sarah , Hours Martine , Krewski Daniel , McLean Dave , Parent Marie-Elise , Sadetzki Siegal , Schlaefer Klaus , Schlehofer Brigitte , Lavoue Jerome , van Tongeren Martie , Siemiatycki Jack
Published: April 2013

Background

The aim was to investigate possible associations between glioma (an aggressive type of brain cancer) and occupational exposure to selected agents: combustion products (diesel and gasoline exhaust emissions, benzo(a)pyrene), dusts (animal dust, asbestos, crystalline silica, wood dust) and some other chemical agents (formaldehyde, oil mist, sulphur dioxide).

Methods

The INTEROCC study included cases diagnosed with glioma during 2000–2004 in sub-regions of seven countries. Population controls, selected from various sampling frames in different centers, were frequency or individually matched to cases by sex, age and center. Face-to-face interviews with the subject or a proxy respondent were conducted by trained interviewers. Detailed information was collected on socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics, medical history and work history. Occupational exposure to the 10 selected agents was assessed by a job exposure matrix (JEM) which provides estimates of the probability and level of exposure for different occupations. Using a 25% probability of exposure in a given occupation in the JEM as the threshold for considering a worker exposed, the lifetime prevalence of exposure varied from about 1% to about 15% for the different agents. Associations between glioma and each of the 10 agents were estimated by conditional logistic regression, and using three separate exposure indices: i) ever vs. never; ii) lifetime cumulative exposure; iii) total duration of exposure.

Results

The study sample consisted of 1,800 glioma cases and 5,160 controls. Most odds ratio estimates were close to the null value. None of the ten agents displayed a significantly increased odds ratio nor any indication of dose–response relationships with cumulative exposure or with duration of exposure.

Conclusion

Thus, there was no evidence that these exposures influence risk of glioma.
Medicinal plants, traditional medicine, markets and management in far-west Nepal
Authors: Kunwar Ripu M , Mahat Laxmi , Acharya Ram P , Bussmann Rainer W
Published: April 2013

Background

Modern therapeutic medicine is historically based on indigenous therapies and ethnopharmacological uses, which have become recognized tools in the search for new sources of pharmaceuticals. Globalization of herbal medicine along with uncontrolled exploitative practices and lack of concerted conservation efforts, have pushed many of Nepal's medicinal plants to the verge of extinction. Sustainable utilization and management of medicinal plants, based on traditional knowledge, is therefore necessary.

Methods

After establishing verbal informed consent with participating communities, five field surveys, roughly 20 days in duration, were carried out. In all, 176 schedules were surveyed, and 52 participants were consulted through focus group discussions and informal meetings. Altogether, 24 key informants were surveyed to verify and validate the data. A total of 252 individuals, representing non-timber forest product (NTFP) collectors, cultivators, traders, traditional healers (Baidhya), community members, etc. participated in study. Medicinal plants were free-listed and their vernacular names and folk uses were collected, recorded, and applied to assess agreement among respondents about traditional medicines, markets and management.

Results

Within the study area, medicinal herbs were the main ingredients of traditional therapies, and they were considered a main lifeline and frequently were the first choice. About 55% plants were ethnomedicinal, and about 37% of ethnomedicinal plants possessed the highest informant consensus value (0.86–1.00). Use ofCordyceps sinensisas an aphrodisiac,Berberis asiaticafor eye problems,Bergenia ciliatafor disintegration of calculi,Sapindus mukorossifor dandruff, andZanthoxylum armatumfor toothache were the most frequently mentioned. These species possess potential for pharmacology.

Conclusion

Medicinal plants are inseparable from local livelihoods because they have long been collected, consumed, and managed through local customs and knowledge. Management of traditional therapies is urged, because the therapies are empirically and knowledge based, often culturally inherited and important to pharmacology and local livelihoods. However, traditional therapies are currently being eroded due to changing lifestyles, perceptions, social transformations, and acculturation.
The serum levels of the cytokines involved in the Th17 and Th1 cell commitment are increased in individuals with borderline thrombocytopenia
Authors: Rocha Andreia Maria Camargos , Souza Cláudia , Rocha Gifone Aguiar , de Melo Fabrício Freire , Clementino Nelma Cristina Diogo , Marino Marília Campos Abreu , Queiroz Dulciene Maria Magalhães
Published: April 2013

The definition of immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) as a peripheral blood platelet count less than 100 × 109/L instead of the historical criteria of 150 × 109/L renders subjects with platelets between 100 and 150 × 109/L without a diagnosis. Here, we demonstrated that these subjects have enhanced levels of proinflammatory cytokines linked to Th1 and Th17 cell response, and are more frequently carriers of polymorphisms in genes that code cytokines involved in the commitment of Th1 and Th17 immune response, when compared with controls, similarly to that observed in patients with ITP.
Genome-wide distribution of histone H4 Lysine 16 acetylation sites and their relationship to gene expression
Authors: Horikoshi Nobuo , Kumar Pankaj , Sharma Girdhar G , Chen Min , Hunt Clayton R , Westover Kenneth , Chowdhury Shantanu , Pandita Tej K
Published: April 2013

Background

Histone post-translational modifications are critical determinants of chromatin structure and function, impacting multiple biological processes including DNA transcription, replication, and repair. The post-translational acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16 (H4K16ac) was initially identified in association with dosage compensation of the Drosophila male X chromosome. However, in mammalian cells, H4K16ac is not associated with dosage compensation and the genomic distribution of H4K16ac is not precisely known. Therefore, we have mapped the genome-wide H4K16ac distribution in human cells.

Results

We performed H4K16ac chromatin immunoprecipitation from human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells followed by hybridization to whole-genome tiling arrays and identified 25,893 DNA regions (false discovery rate <0.005) with average length of 692 nucleotides. Interestingly, although a majority of H4K16ac sites localized within genes, only a relatively small fraction (~10%) was found near promoters, in contrast to the distribution of the acetyltransferase, MOF, responsible for acetylation at K16 of H4. Using differential gene expression profiling data, 73 genes (> ±1.5-fold) were identified as potential H4K16ac-regulated genes. Seventeen transcription factor-binding sites were significantly associated with H4K16ac occupancy (p < 0.0005). In addition, a consensus 12-nucleotide guanine-rich sequence motif was identified in more than 55% of the H4K16ac peaks.

Conclusions

The results suggest that H4K16 acetylation has a limited effect on transcription regulation in HEK293 cells, whereas H4K16ac has been demonstrated to have critical roles in regulating transcription in mouse embryonic stem cells. Thus, H4K16ac-dependent transcription regulation is likely a cell type specific process.
An analysis of AVO inversion for postcritical offsets in HTI media
Authors: Skopintseva Lyubov , Alkhalifah Tariq
Published: April 2013

Azimuthal variations of wavefield characteristics, such as traveltime or reflection amplitude, play an important role in the identification of fractured media. A transversely isotropic medium with a horizontal symmetry axis (HTI medium) is the simplest azimuthally anisotropic model typically used to describe one set of vertical fractures. There exist many techniques in industry to recover anisotropic parameters based on moveout equations and linearized reflection coefficients using such a model. However, most of the methods have limitations in defining properties of the fractures due to linearizations and physical approximations used in their development. Thus, azimuthal analysis of traveltimes based on normal moveout ellipses recovers a maximum of three medium parameters instead of the required five. Linearizations made in plane-wave reflection coefficients (PWRCs) limit the amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis to small incident angles and weak-contrast interfaces. Inversion based on azimuthal AVO for small offsets encounters nonuniqueness in the resolving power of the anisotropy parameters. Extending the AVO analysis and inversion to and beyond the critical reflection angle increases the amount of information recovered from the medium. However, well-accepted PWRCs are not valid in the vicinity of the critical angle and beyond it, due to frequency and spherical wave effects. Recently derived spherical and effective reflection coefficient (ERC) methods overcome this problem. We extended the ERCs approach to HTI media to analyze the potential of near- and postcritical reflections in azimuthal AVO analysis. From the sensitivity analysis, we found that ERCs are sensitive to different sets of parameters prior to and beyond the critical angle, which is useful in enhancing our resolution of the anisotropy parameters. Additionally, the resolution of the parameters depends on a sufficient azimuthal coverage in the acquisition setup. The most stable AVO results for the azimuthal acquisition setup with minimum number of lines (three) are achieved when the azimuthal angle between lines is greater than 45°.
Double beamforming processing in a seismic prospecting context
Authors: Boué Pierre , Roux Philippe , Campillo Michel , de Cacqueray Benoit
Published: April 2013

The use of larger numbers of sensors is becoming more common at the large, continental scale for deep-structure imaging in seismology, and at a smaller scale with exploration geophysics objectives. Seismic arrays require array processing from which new types of observables contribute to a better understanding of the wave propagation complexity. From among these array processing techniques, this study focuses on a way to select and identify different phases between two source-receiver arrays based on the double beamforming (DBF) method. At the exploration geophysics scale, the goal is to identify and separate low-amplitude body waves from high-amplitude dispersive surface waves. A synthetic data set from a finite-difference time-domain simulation is first used to validate the array processing method. From directional information obtained with DBF, and due to the double-plane wave projection, it is demonstrated that surface and body waves can be extracted with a higher efficacy compared to classical beamforming even at short offset. A seismic prospecting data set in a laterally heterogeneous medium is then investigated. This data set is a high-resolution survey which provides a perfect control on source and receiver arrays geometry. The separation between the direct surface and body waves is observed after DBF and ray bending is discussed from the additional azimuthal information.
Boundary‐trapped, inhalant siphon and drain flows: Pipe entry revisited numerically
Authors: Jumars Peter A.
Published: April 2013

Lay Abstract

Many seafloor exchange processes are controlled or strongly influenced by pumping of water into projecting tubes or burrow openings flush with the seabed. Quantitative descriptions of flow inside tubes and burrow openings rely primarily on a model that assumes uniform flow at the pipe entrance and lacks any description of the upstream geometry or flow field. Quantifications of flows in front of the entrance generally assume omnidirectional, convergent flow into the pipe opening. Numerical models of a tube drawing water from a large volume and of a drain flush with the bottom drawing from the center of a large tank explicitly connect flow inside the pipe to the flow outside. They indicate—for slow, viscous, and small‐diameter (of the pipe) flows—that considerable flow adjustment occurs upstream of the pipe entrance and that uniform velocity at the entrance is a poor assumption. For these cases, flow entering the pipe comes from a relatively small, cylindrical region parallel with the pipe rather than being drawn from all possible directions. Uniform entrance flow never becomes a good approximation because much of the flow entering faster, less viscous, and larger‐diameter pipes enters with appreciable radial velocity that affects flow well into the pipe. These results alter estimates of pumping costs, which can represent appreciable fractions of animal energy budgets. They also determine the regions from which food and chemosensory information can be obtained. The results demonstrate the necessity for most applications to replace textbook models based on uniform entry flow.
Heat stress survival in the pre-adult stage of the life cycle in an intercontinental set of recombinant inbred lines ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Sambucetti Pablo , Scannapieco Alejandra C. , Loeschcke Volker , Norry Fabian M.
Published: April 2013

In insects, pre-adult stages of the life cycle are exposed to variation in temperature that may differ from that in adults. However, the genetic basis for adaptation to environmental temperature could be similar between the pre-adult and the adult stages of the life cycle. Here, we tested quantitative trait loci (QTL) for heat-stress survival in larvae of D. melanogaster, with and without a mild-heat-stress pre-treatment. Two sets of recombinant inbred lines derived from lines artificially selected for high and low levels of knockdown resistance to high temperature in young flies were used as mapping population. There was no apparent increase in heat-shock survival between heat-pretreated and non-pretreated larvae. There was a positive correlation between the two experimental conditions of heat-shock survival (with and without a heat pre-treatment) except for males from one set of lines. Several QTL were identified involving all three major chromosomes. Many QTL for larval thermotolerance overlapped with thermotolerance-QTL identified in previous studies for adults. One new thermotolerance-QTL was found but these QTL explained only a small fraction of the phenotypic variance and were only significant in larvae that received no heat pre-treatment. Several candidate genes mapped within QTL ranges. We discuss an overall co-localization for thermotolerance-QTL between the adult fly in previous studies and the pre-adult stage of the life cycle in this study.
The effect of vasopressin 1b receptors (V1bRs) blockade on the HPA axis activity in rats exposed to acute heat stress
Authors: Jasnic Nebojsa I. , Djordjevic Jelena , Vujovic Predrag , Lakic Iva , Djurasevic Sinisa , Cvijic Gordana
Published: April 2013

Thermal stressors such as low and high ambient temperature elicit an abundance of neuroendocrine responses including activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) release. The exposure to heat is particularly interesting model for AVP action studying since this kind of stressor represents not only an unpleasant experience, but a threat to the osmotic homeostasis as well. As AVP has long been recognized as a hormone involved in the modulation of HPA axis activity, the aim of this study was to elucidate the AVP role in acutely heat exposed rats using Nelivaptan, a selective V1b receptor antagonist. Rats were exposed to high ambient temperature (38°C) for 60 minutes. The circulating hormones were determined by ELISA test or chemiluminescence method and Western blot was employed for determination of intrapituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and V1bR level. The obtained results show that V1bR blockade negatively affected blood ACTH increase, caused by heat exposure. This treatment alone, or in combination with Nelivaptan decreased intrapituitary V1bR amount, while circulating AVP concentration was increased under the same conditions. Furthermore, strong correlation was observed between blood ACTH and corticosterone concentration. In conclusion, our results directly confirmed the positive role of AVP in the regulation of ACTH secretion from the pituitary in animals exposed to heat. Moreover, the results suggest that AVP from general circulation influence the pituitary V1bR.
Thermal physiology of the fingered limpet Lottia digitalis under emersion and immersion
Authors: Bjelde Brittany , Todgham Anne
Published: April 2013

Marine animals living high in the rocky intertidal zone experience long durations of aerial-emersion, sometimes enduring rapid increases in temperature. To date, much of our understanding of the thermal physiology of intertidal organisms comes from studies in which organisms are exposed to increasing temperatures when immersed, with the added effect of aerial emersion rarely considered. In this study, we examined the physiological response of the finger limpet, Lottia digitalis, to increases in temperature under both immersed and emersed conditions. We investigated the thermal sensitivity and upper temperature tolerance of limpets through assessments of cardiac performance, metabolic rate, glycogen depletion and maintenance of protein integrity. Cardiac performance in response to ecologically relevant increases in temperature was similar in emersed and immersed limpets from 15 to 35°C and showed multiple break patterns in heart rate as temperature was increased. Overall, emersed limpets had a greater upper thermal limit on cardiac performance with the ability to maintain heart rate 3-5°C higher than immersed limpets. Metabolism in limpets also differed significantly between emersion and immersion, where a significant depression in aerobic metabolic rate was observed under immersion with increasing temperature. Greater levels of ubiquitin-conjugated proteins were found under emersed conditions compared to immersed limpets. Maintaining cardiac performance and aerobic metabolism to higher temperatures under emersed conditions is likely reflective of physiological adaptations to live in an aerially exposed environment. Measured field temperatures where fingered limpets were collected demonstrated that limpets have a narrow thermal safety margin for aerobic performance, and currently experience multiple days where summer temperatures might exceed their threshold limits.
Gas-Phase Acidities of α- and α,α-SO2CF3-Substituted Toluenes. Varying Resonance Demand in the Electron-Rich System
Authors: Zhang Min , Badal Md Mizanur Rahman , Koppel Ilmar A , Mishima Masaaki
Published: April 2013

The gas-phase acidities (GA) of aryl(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methanes (ArCH2SO2CF3; 1) and arylbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methanes (ArCH(SO2CF3)2; 2) were determined by measuring proton-transfer equilibria. Substituent effects for acidities of a series of ArCH(R1)R2 including 1 and 2 have been analyzed successfully in terms of the Yukawa–Tsuno equation. The resonance demand parameter r− value was found to decrease linearly with increasing acidity of the GA values of the unsubstituted parent carbon acids, and the change of the r− value was correlated with the acidifying effect of the phenyl group (R = Ph) in the RCH2(R1)R2. In addition, the geometric features and natural charges of the conjugate anions calculated at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) were found to be correlated linearly with the r− values. Such behavior of the resonance demand parameter in the electron-rich system, ArC−(R1)R2, is completely consistent with that observed for the electron-deficient system, ArC+(R1)R2, revealing that the resonance demand is contingent upon the structure of carbanions and carbocations. Furthermore, it was found that the ρ values also decreased with increasing acidity of the GA values of the unsubstituted parent carbon acids. This would be related to the distribution of the charge between the aromatic moiety and the C(R1)R2 moiety.
Optimal Dynamic Assortment Planning with Demand Learning
Authors: Sauré Denis , Zeevi Assaf
Published: April 2013

We study a family of stylized assortment planning problems, where arriving customers make purchase decisions among offered products based on maximizing their utility. Given limited display capacity and no a priori information on consumers' utility, the retailer must select which subset of products to offer. By offering different assortments and observing the resulting purchase behavior, the retailer learns about consumer preferences, but this experimentation should be balanced with the goal of maximizing revenues. We develop a family of dynamic policies that judiciously balance the aforementioned trade-off between exploration and exploitation, and prove that their performance cannot be improved upon in a precise mathematical sense. One salient feature of these policies is that they “quickly” recognize, and hence limit experimentation on, strictly suboptimal products.
Linking Cyclicality and Product Quality
Authors: Sosa Manuel E. , Mihm Jürgen , Browning Tyson R.
Published: April 2013

This paper examines the impact of architectural decisions on the level of defects in a product. We view products as collections of components linked together to work as an integrated whole. Previous work has established modularity (how decoupled a component is from other product components) as a critical determinant of defects, and we confirm its importance. Yet our study also provides empirical evidence for a relationship between product quality and cyclicality (the extent to which a component depends on itself via other product components). We find cyclicality to be a determinant of quality that is distinct from, and no less important than, modularity. Extending this main result, we show how the cyclicality–quality relationship is affected by the centrality of a component in a cycle and the distribution of a cycle across product modules. These findings, which are based on an analysis of open source software development projects, have implications for the study and design of complex systems.
The Peripheral Knowledge Paradox: Interfirm Knowledge Partitioning and Integration in Services Contracting
Authors: Tiwana Amrit
Published: April 2013

Specialized firms engaged in service offshoring contracts often face a tension between specializing in their own domain and maintaining knowledge in their partners' domains. When knowledge is “peripheral” to a firm's own specialty (e.g., an information technology (IT) service contractor's knowledge of a client's business domain or a client's technical knowledge of a contractor's domain), firms face a paradoxical dilemma of how much of such knowledge to invest in. This paper explores when it is important for clients and contractors to have in-house knowledge beyond their own, to be effective in IT service offshoring. We explore IT service engagements where it is more important for (a) the client to have deeper technical knowledge and (b) the contractor to have deeper business domain knowledge. We define the pattern of client–contractor knowledge overlaps as interfirm knowledge partitioning.

The central thesis is that ex ante alignment between interfirm knowledge partitioning and service engagement newness enhances interfirm knowledge integration in offshoring engagements. To effectively organize service offshoring, solutions to interfirm knowledge integration problems in the presence of interfirm specialization are required; this is the underlying idea of this paper. The proposed model is tested using data on IT service offshoring engagements by 209 U.S. firms to foreign IT service firms. The findings offer novel theoretical insights into optimal interfirm knowledge partitioning in services contracting. Implications for service science theory and practice are also discussed.
Diffraction Limited Ultra-High-Power Fiber Lasers
Authors: Gapontsev Valentin , Fomin V. , Ferin A. , Abramov M.
Published: April 2013

Power scaling of high-power single-mode fiber lasers is limited primarily by three inter-dependent obstacles: Insufficient-pump-brightness, excess-heat-generation, and non-linearities in the fiber. In this paper, we review these challenges and describe a novel pumping approach which serves to overcome them. Article not available.
Imaging Systems in the Army
Authors: Reago Don
Published: April 2013

Article not available.
Advanced Imaging Systems for Navy Applications
Authors: Waterman James
Published: April 2013

Imaging system capability in the infrared has been advanced significantly over the past 5 years due to innovations in detector, readout circuit, electronics, optics, and image processing technology. This paper presents a snapshot of progress in each of these areas through a discussion of a number of systems that are being developed for a wide range of sea, land, and air based Navy applications. These will include wide area coverage sensors for surveillance, situational awareness, and warning applications, and high resolution narrow field of view sensors for long range identification and intent determination. Sensors with spectral bands from the shortwave through the mid-wave are discussed. Broad band, narrow band, and dual color cameras will be described. Passive, active, and dual mode systems will be represented in this survey as well.