bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological inhibition of PTEN limits myocardial infarct size and improves left ventricular function postinfarction
Authors: Keyes Kyle T. , Xu Jing , Long Bo , Zhang Congfang , Hu Zhaoyong , Ye Yumei
Published: January 2010

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) mediates myocardium protective signaling through phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol (Ptdins) to produce Ptdins(3,4,5)P3. Lipid phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN) antagonizes PI3K activity by dephosphorylating Ptdins(3,4,5)P3; therefore, the inhibition of PTEN enhances PI3K/Akt signaling and could prevent myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Here we studied 1) whether the pharmacological inhibition of PTEN by bisperoxovanadium molecules [BpV(HOpic)] attenuates simulated I/R (SIR) injury in vitro and 2) whether the administration of BpV(HOpic) either before or after ischemia limits myocardial infarct size (IS) and ameliorates cardiodysfunction caused by infarction. First, adult rat cardiomyocytes were treated with or without BpV(HOpic) and then exposure to SIR. Second, anesthetized rats received BpV(HOpic) either before or after ischemia. IS was assessed at 4 h reperfusion, and left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography at 28 days postreperfusion. As a result, BpV(HOpic) decreased cell death, improved 3-[4,5-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability, and reduced apoptosis in cells exposed to SIR. These protective effects of BpV(HOpic) are associated with increased phospho-Akt and the repression of caspase-3 activity. Second, the administration of BpV(HOpic) significantly reduced IS and suppressed caspase-3 activity following I/R injury and consequentially improved cardiac function at 28 day postinfarction. These beneficial effects of BpV(HOpic) are attributed to increases in myocardial levels of phosphorylation of Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), ERK-1/2, and calcium-dependent nitric oxide synthase activity. In conclusion, the pharmacological inhibition of PTEN protects against I/R injury through the upregulation of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS/ERK prosurvival pathway, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy to combat I/R injury.
Effects of dietary omega–3 fatty acids on ventricular function in dogs with healed myocardial infarctions: in vivo and in vitro studies
Authors: Billman George E. , Nishijima Yoshinori , Belevych Andriy E. , Terentyev Dmitry , Xu Ying , Haizlip Kaylan M. , Monasky Michelle M. , Hiranandani Nitisha , Harris William S. , Gyorke Sandor , Carnes Cynthia A. , Janssen Paul M. L.
Published: January 2010

Since omega–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) can alter ventricular myocyte calcium handling, these fatty acids could adversely affect cardiac contractile function, particularly following myocardial infarction. Therefore, 4 wk after myocardial infarction, dogs were randomly assigned to either placebo (corn oil, 1 g/day, n = 16) or n-3 PUFAs supplement [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl esters; 1, 2, or 4 g/day; n = 7, 8, and 12, respectively] groups. In vivo, ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography before and after 3 mo of treatment. At the end of the 3-mo period, hearts were removed and in vitro function was evaluated using right ventricular trabeculae and isolated left ventricular myocytes. The treatment elicited significant ( P < 0.0001) dose-dependent increases (16.4-fold increase with 4 g/day) in left ventricular tissue and red blood cell n-3 PUFA levels (EPA + DHA, placebo, 0.42 ± 0.04; 1 g/day, 3.02 ± 0.23; 2 g/day, 3.63 ± 0.17; and 4 g/day, 6.97 ± 0.33%). Regardless of the dose, n-3 PUFA treatment did not alter ventricular function in the intact animal (e.g., 4 g/day, fractional shortening: pre, 42.9 ± 1.6 vs. post, 40.1 ± 1.7%; placebo: pre, 39.2 ± 1.3 vs. post, 38.4 ± 1.6%). The developed force per cross-sectional area, changes in length- and frequency-dependent behavior in contractile force, and the inotropic response to β-adrenoceptor activation were also similar for trabeculae obtained from placebo- or n-3 PUFA-treated dogs. Finally, calcium currents and calcium transients were the same in myocytes from n-3 PUFA- and placebo-treated dogs. Thus dietary n-3 PUFAs did not adversely alter either in vitro or in vivo ventricular contractile function in dogs with healed infarctions.
Ductus venosus velocimetry in acute fetal acidemia and impending fetal death in a sheep model of increased placental vascular resistance
Authors: Mäkikallio Kaarin , Acharya Ganesh , Erkinaro Tiina , Kavasmaa Tomi , Haapsamo Mervi , Huhta James C , Räsänen Juha
Published: January 2010

We investigated whether hypoxemia without acidemia affects ductus venosus (DV) blood velocity waveform pattern in sheep fetuses with intact placenta and whether worsening acidemia and impending fetal death are related to changes in DV velocimetry in fetuses with increased placental vascular resistance. A total of 34 fetuses were instrumented at 115–136/145 days of gestation. Placental embolization was performed in 22 fetuses on the fourth postoperative day, 24 h before the experiment. The control group was comprised of 12 fetuses with intact placenta. The experimental protocol consisted of fetal hypoxemia that was induced by replacing maternal inhaled oxygen with medical air. To further deteriorate fetal oxygenation and blood-gas status, uterine artery volume blood flow was reduced by maternal hypotension. Fetuses that underwent placental embolization were divided into two groups according to fetal outcome. Group 1 consisted of 12 fetuses that completed the experiment, and group 2 comprised 10 fetuses that died during the experiment. DV pulsatility index for veins (PIV) and fetal cardiac outputs (COs) were calculated. Placental volume blood flow, fetal blood pressures, and acid base and lactate values were monitored invasively. On the experimental day, the mean gestational age did not differ significantly between the groups. In groups 1 and 2, the baseline mean DV PIV and fetal COs were not statistically significantly different from the control group. In the control group, the DV PIV values increased significantly with hypoxemia. In groups 1 and 2, the DV PIV values did not change significantly, even with worsening acidemia and imminent fetal death in group 2. During the experiment, the fetal COs remained unchanged. We conclude that fetal hypoxemia increases the pulsatility of DV blood velocity waveform pattern. In fetuses with elevated placental vascular resistance, DV pulsatility does not increase further in the presence of severe and worsening fetal acidemia and impending fetal death.
Intrauterine growth restriction delays surfactant protein maturation in the sheep fetus
Authors: Orgeig Sandra , Crittenden Tamara A. , Marchant Ceilidh , McMillen I. Caroline , Morrison Janna L.
Published: January 2010

Pulmonary surfactant is synthesized by type II alveolar epithelial cells to regulate the surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the air-breathing lung. Developmental maturation of the surfactant system is controlled by many factors including oxygen, glucose, catecholamines, and cortisol. The intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetus is hypoxemic and hypoglycemic, with elevated plasma catecholamine and cortisol concentrations. The impact of IUGR on surfactant maturation is unclear. Here we investigate the expression of surfactant protein (SP) A, B, and C in lung tissue of fetal sheep at 133 and 141 days of gestation (term 150 ± 3 days) from control and carunclectomized Merino ewes. Placentally restricted (PR) fetuses had a body weight <2 SD from the mean of control fetuses and a mean gestational PaO2<17 mmHg. PR fetuses had reduced absolute, but not relative, lung weight, decreased plasma glucose concentration, and increased plasma cortisol concentration. Lung SP-A, -B, and -C protein and mRNA expression was reduced in PR compared with control fetuses at both ages. SP-B and -C but not SP-A mRNA expression and SP-A but not SP-B or -C protein expression increased with gestational age. Mean gestational PaO2was positively correlated with SP-A, -B, and -C protein and SP-B and -C mRNA expression in the younger cohort. SP-A and -B gene expression was inversely related to plasma cortisol concentration. Placental restriction, leading to chronic hypoxemia and hypercortisolemia in the carunclectomy model, results in significant inhibition of surfactant maturation. These data suggest that IUGR fetuses are at significant risk of lung complications, especially if born prematurely.
Rapid effects of estrogen on intracellular Ca2+ regulation in human airway smooth muscle
Authors: Townsend Elizabeth A. , Thompson Michael A. , Pabelick Christina M. , Prakash Y. S.
Published: January 2010

The severity of asthma, a disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation, is enhanced in some women during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy but relieved in others. These clinical findings suggest that sex steroids modulate airway tone. Based on well-known relaxant effects of estrogens on vascular smooth muscle, we hypothesized that estrogens relax airway smooth muscle (ASM), thus facilitating bronchodilation. In ASM tissues from female patients, Western and immunocytochemical analyses confirmed the presence of both estrogen receptor (ER) isoforms, ERα and ERβ. In fura 2-loaded, dissociated ASM cells maintained in culture, acute exposure to physiological concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2; 100 pM to 10 nM) decreased the intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) response to 1 μM histamine, an effect reversed by the ER antagonist ICI-182,780. The ERα-selective agonist (R,R)-THC had a greater reducing effect on [Ca2+]i responses to histamine and 1 μM ACh compared with the ERβ-selective agonist (DPN). The effects of E2 on [Ca2+]i were mediated, at least in part, via decreased Ca2+ influx through l-type channels and store-operated Ca2+ entry but not via Ca2+-activated K+ channels, receptor-operated entry, or sarcoplasmic reticulum reuptake. Overall, these data support our hypothesis that estrogens relax ASM and suggest a potentially novel therapeutic target in airway hyperresponsiveness.
Near-infrared spectroscopy and indocyanine green derived blood flow index for noninvasive measurement of muscle perfusion during exercise
Authors: Habazettl Helmut , Athanasopoulos Dimitris , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Wagner Harrieth , Roussos Charis , Wagner Peter D. , Ungruhe Juergen , Zakynthinos Spyros , Vogiatzis Ioannis
Published: January 2010

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with the tracer indocyanine green (ICG) may be used for measuring muscle blood flow (MBF) during exercise, if arterial ICG concentration is measured simultaneously. Although pulse dye densitometry allows for noninvasive measurement of arterial dye concentration, this technique is sensitive to motion and may not be applicable during exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate a noninvasive blood flow index (BFI), which is derived solely from the muscle ICG concentration curve. In 10 male cyclists 5 mg ICG were injected into an antecubital vein at rest and during cycling at 30, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100% of previously determined maximal work load. Simultaneously blood was withdrawn through a photodensitometer at 20 ml/min from the radial artery to measure arterial ICG concentration. To measure muscle tissue ICG concentrations, two sets of NIRS optodes were positioned on the skin, one over the left seventh intercostal space and the other over the left vastus lateralis muscle. MBF was calculated from the arterial and muscle concentration data according to Fick's principle. BFI was calculated solely from the muscle concentration curve as ICG concentration difference divided by rise time between 10 and 90% of peak. During exercise mean BFI values changed similarly to MBF in both intercostal and quadriceps muscles and showed excellent correlations with MBF: r = 0.98 and 0.96, respectively. Individual data showed some scattering among BFI and MBF values but still reasonable correlations of BFI with MBF: r = 0.73 and 0.72 for intercostal and quadriceps muscles, respectively. Interobserver variability, as analyzed by Bland-Altman plots, was considerably less for BFI than MBF. These data suggest that BFI can be used for measuring changes in muscle perfusion from rest to maximal exercise. Although absolute blood flow cannot be determined, BFI has the advantages of being essentially noninvasive and having low interobserver variability.
Sustained preinspiratory cortical potentials during prolonged inspiratory threshold loading in humans
Authors: Tremoureux Lysandre , Raux Mathieu , Jutand Luce , Similowski Thomas
Published: January 2010

Humans can program and control movements, including breathing-related movements. On the electroencephalogram (EEG), this preparation is accompanied by a low-amplitude negativity starting ∼2.5 s before inspiration that is best known as a Bereitschaftspotential (BP). The presence of BPs has been described during the compensation of mechanical inspiratory loading, thus identifying a cortical involvement in the corresponding ventilatory behavior. The pathophysiological interpretation of this cortical involvement depends on its transient or enduring nature. This study addressed this issue by looking for BPs during sustained inspiratory loading (1 h). Nine healthy male volunteers were studied during unloaded quiet breathing and inspiratory threshold loading (with unloaded expiration). Analyses of EEG signal and ventilatory variables were used to compare beginning and end of sessions. Inspiratory threshold loading caused ventilatory modifications that persisted, unchanged, for an hour. The presence of a BP at the beginning and end of a session was the most frequent occurrence (6 of 9 cases with a 17-cmH2O threshold load; 8 of 9 cases with a 23-cmH2O load). These observations support the hypothesis that the cerebral cortex is involved in the compensation of sustained experimental inspiratory loading. How this translates to respiratory disease involving acute changes in respiratory mechanics remains to be determined.
Association between Residential Proximity to PERC Dry Cleaning Establishments and Kidney Cancer in New York City
Authors: Ma Jing , Lessner Lawrence , Schreiber Judith , Carpenter David O.
Published: January 2010

Perchloroethylene (PERC) is commonly used as a dry cleaning solvent and is believed to be a human carcinogen, with occupational exposure resulting in elevated rates of kidney cancer. Living near a dry cleaning facility using PERC has been demonstrated to increase the risk of PERC exposure throughout the building where the dry cleaning is conducted, and in nearby buildings. We designed this study to test the hypothesis that living in an area where there are many PERC dry cleaners increases PERC exposure and the risk of kidney cancer. We matched the diagnosis of kidney cancer from hospitalization discharge data in New York City for the years 1994–2004 by zip code of patient residence to the zip code density of dry cleaners using PERC, as a surrogate for residential exposure. We controlled for age, race, gender, and median household income. We found a significant association between the density of PERC dry cleaning establishments and the rate of hospital discharges that include a diagnosis of kidney cancer among persons 45 years of age and older living in New York City. The rate ratio increased by 10 to 27% for the populations in zip codes with higher density of PERC dry cleaners. Because our exposure assessment is inexact, we are likely underestimating the real association between exposure to PERC and rates of kidney cancer. Our results support the hypothesis that living near a dry cleaning facility using PERC increases the risk of PERC exposure and of developing kidney cancer. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate an association between residential PERC exposure and cancer risk.
Human Papillomavirus Type Distribution and Correlation with Cyto-Histological Patterns in Women from the South of Italy
Authors: Menegazzi Paola , Barzon Luisa , Palù Giorgio , Reho Elisa , Tagliaferro Luigi
Published: January 2010

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific distribution was evaluated in genital samples collected from 654 women from the South of Italy undergoing voluntary screening and correlated with cyto-histological abnormalities. HPV DNA was detected in 45.9% of the samples, 41.7% of which had multiple infection and 89.0% had high-risk HPV infection. The prevalence of HPV infection and the rate of multiple infections decreased with age, suggesting natural selection of HPV types with better fitness. In line with other Italian studies, the most common HPV types were HPV-6 and HPV-16, followed by HPV-51, HPV-31, HPV-53, and HPV-66, in women with both normal and abnormal cytology. Cervical intraepithelial lesions grade 2 or 3 were associated with high-risk HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-51 infection. These data indicate that prophylactic HPV vaccination is expected to reduce the burden of HPV-related cervical lesions in this population, but also suggest the potential utility of new vaccines with larger type coverage.
A New Approximation Scheme Combining the Viscosity Method with Extragradient Method for Mixed Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Peng Jian-Wen , Wu Soon-Yi
Published: January 2010

We introduce a new approximation scheme combining the viscosity method with extragradient method for finding a common element of the set of solutions of a mixed equilibrium problem and the set of fixed points of a finite family of nonexpansive mappings and the set of the variational inequality for a monotone, Lipschitz continuous mapping. We obtain a strong convergence theorem for the sequences generated by these processes in Hilbert spaces. Based on this result, we also get some new and interesting results. The results in this paper generalize, extend, and improve some well-known results in the literature.
Nucleotide-Dependent Reprogramming of mRNAs Encoding Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase and Lipoxygenase in Relation to the Fat Contents of Peanut
Authors: Osuji G. O. , Brown T. K. , South S. M.
Published: January 2010

The nucleotide-dependent reprogramming of the mRNAs encoding acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC, EC 6.4.1.2) and lipoxygenase (LO, EC 1.13.11.12) was studied by Northern analysis. Equal concentrations of total RNA from the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. “Valencia”) seedlings were probed with those glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)-synthesized RNAs that were homologous to the mRNAs encoding ACC and LO. Treatment (4NTPs solution) of the peanuts increased the abundance of the mRNAs encoding the LO and ACC about 5 and 10 folds respectively but decreased the fat accumulation by 37% compared with the control peanut. Treatments (pyrimidine NTPs)of the peanut induced up to 60% more fat accumulation than the control. The high fat (40.0–44.0%) contents of the UTP-, and 3NTP-treated peanuts were characterized by very high abundance of the mRNA for ACC, but low abundance of the mRNA for LO. The inverse relationship between the abundance of the mRNAs encoding ACC and LO compared with the seedlings fat contents was due to the plus/minus strands sequence homologies between the Northern probes for ACC and LO. Therefore, LO, ACC, and the GDH-synthesized RNAs participated in the regulation of the fat contents. These results could be useful in the environmental manipulation of the quantity and quality of peanut oil.
Slow Motion and Zoom in HD Digital Videos Using Fractals
Authors: Murroni Maurizio , Perra Cristian , Giusto Daniele D.
Published: January 2010

Slow motion replay and spatial zooming are special effects used in digital video rendering. At present, most techniques to perform digital spatial zoom and slow motion are based on interpolation for both enlarging the size of the original pictures and generating additional intermediate frames. Mainly, interpolation is done either by linear or cubic spline functions or by motion estimation/compensation which both can be applied pixel by pixel, or by partitioning frames into blocks. Purpose of this paper is to present an alternative technique combining fractals theory and wavelet decomposition to achieve spatial zoom and slow motion replay of HD digital color video sequences. Fast scene change detection, active scene detection, wavelet subband analysis, and color fractal coding based on Earth Mover's Distance (EMD) measure are used to reduce computational load and to improve visual quality. Experiments show that the proposed scheme achieves better results in terms of overall visual quality compared to the state-of-the-art techniques.
Experiences from Implementing a Mobile Multiplayer Real‐Time Game for Wireless Networks with High Latency
Authors: Wang Alf Inge , Jarrett Martin , Sorteberg Eivind
Published: January 2010

This paper describes results and experiences from designing, implementing, and testing a multiplayer real‐time game over mobile networks with high latency. The paper reports on network latency and bandwidth measurements from playing the game live over GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and WLAN using the TCP and the UDP protocols. These measurements describe the practical constraints of various wireless networks and protocols when used for mobile multiplayer game purposes. Further, the paper reports on experiences from implementing various approaches to minimize issues related to high latency. Specifically, the paper focuses on a discussion about how much of the game should run locally on the client versus on the server to minimize the load on the mobile device and obtain sufficient consistency in the game. The game was designed to reveal all kinds of implementation issues of mobile network multiplayer games. The goal of the game is for a player to push other players around and into traps where they loose their lives. The game relies heavily on collision detection between the players and game objects. The paper presents experiences from experimenting with various approaches that can be used to handle such collisions, and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches.
Common Fixed Points for Maps on Topological Vector Space ValuedCone Metric Spaces
Authors: Beg Ismat , Azam Akbar , Arshad Muhammad
Published: January 2010

We introduced a notion of topological vector space valued cone
metric space and obtained some common fixed point results. Our results generalize
some recent results in the literature.
Fixed Point Theorems in Cone Banach Spaces
Authors: Karapınar Erdal
Published: January 2010

In this manuscript, a class of self-mappings on cone Banach spaces which have at least one fixed point is considered. More precisely, for a closed and convex subset "Equation missing" of a cone Banach space with the norm "Equation missing", if there exist "Equation missing", "Equation missing", "Equation missing" and "Equation missing" satisfies the conditions "Equation missing" and "Equation missing" for all "Equation missing" , then "Equation missing" has at least one Fixed point.
Noninteractive, Anonymously Authenticated, and Traceable Message Transmission for VANETs
Authors: Ibrahim Maged Hamada
Published: January 2010

Unlike sensor and other ad-hoc wireless networks, vehicular
ad-hoc networks (VANETs) are characterized by its
high mobility which allows a very short communication
interval among onboard units (OBUs) and between an
OBU and road-side units (RSUs). This major characterization
motivates the design of communication protocols
that are noninteractive or at least require a very limited
number of rounds between units. The challenging issue
is that such protocols must satisfy a number of security
services that could be complex by their nature.
In secure VANETs protocols, anonymity and traceability
are two important services, yet, achieving a satisfactory
security level for both of them—with acceptable complexity—is not an easy task due to the contradicting requirements: anonymous transmission must not be traceable
by any individual while if a transmission is traceable,
then anonymity is threatened. Existing secure VANETs
protocols for anonymous and traceable transmissions either,
provide unconditional anonymity where traceability
and revocation are impossible, or grant trust to a thirdparty
not to reveal the identity of a unit unless there is a
legal reason. In this paper, we propose the first secure VANET protocol
that allows authenticated transmission among OBUs
and RSUs and at the same time enjoys the following properties.
(i) The transmission among OBUs and RSUs is
noninteractive (i.e., a one-move transmission without any
interactive setup requirements). (ii) The authenticated
transmission between any pair of units is anonymous (i.e.,
no single authority knows any information about the identity
of the communicating OBU). (iii) In serious road
crimes (e.g., hit-and-run, road rage, etc.) and under court
order, an OBU could be traced to its clear identity.
We also show how our protocol could be used to setup
a confidential session between any pair of units without
relying on extensive number of interactive rounds.
A Seizure Attributed to Ofloxacine in a Woman Undergoing Detoxification for Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Lahmek Pierre , Michel Laurent , Meunier Nadine , Aubin Henri-Jean
Published: January 2010

Objective. To report one case of seizure following administration of ofloxacin.Case Summary. A 38-year-old woman with alcohol dependence but no prior history of seizure disorder admitted in our inpatient alcohol detoxification program was prescribed ofloxacin four days after admission for a lower urinary tract infection. She was currently prescribed diazepam 30 mg per day. This treatment was continued without modification following admission. Forty eight hours after starting ofloxacin and after receiving five doses of oral ofloxacin, the patient experienced a seizure. Ofloxacin treatment was stopped and no further seizures occurred. Neurological examination of the patient, laboratory tests, computerized tomography with contrast enhancement and electroencephalography did not detect any abnormalities. Up to the last consultation, six months after admission, the patient has reported no recurrence of the seizure.Discussion. Quinolone antibiotics vary in their ability to induce seizures, with ofloxacin having one of the least potentials. In the present case, the seizure could be attributed in all probability to taking ofloxacin; since she had no previous history of seizures, she did not present an alcohol withdrawal syndrome, benzodiazepine treatment was not modified, the seizure occurred 48 h after taking ofloxacin, but seven days after stopping drinking, no alternative aetiologies for the seizure could be identified and no seizure recurrence was reported over the following seven months. Of reported cases of seizures in patients treated with fluoroquinolones, none concerned patients with alcohol dependence or patients treated with benzodiazepines.Conclusions. The present case alerts us to the possibility that seizures may occur in alcohol dependent patients treated with benzodiazepines who concomitantly prescribed a fluoroquinolone. These widely-used antibiotics should thus be prescribed with caution to patients undergoing detoxification for alcohol dependence, particularly if they are also taking benzodiazepines, irrespective of whether they have a previous history of seizures or not.
A Fourier Approach to Model Electromagnetic Fields Scattered by a Buried Rectangular Cavity
Authors: Fleming John L. , Moser Jessica
Published: January 2010

We consider the problem of a two‐dimensional rectangular cavity in a PEC half plane covered by layers of material with uniform thickness. The rectangular geometry allows for an application of Fourier methods to solve the problem. The paper will also discuss how to compute the far field scattering once the solution is found. The fast mode matching approximation technique
developed by Morgan and Schwering will be applied to this layered cavity problem setting. Numerical results will show that using the Fourier solution on the layered problem combined with Morgan and Schwering′s technique can produce good approximations while using much less computation time than would be required for the entire solution.
Fixed Point Theorems for Nonlinear Operators with and without Monotonicity in Partially Ordered Banach Spaces
Authors: Ding Hui-Sheng , Liang Jin , Xiao Ti-Jun
Published: January 2010

We establish two fixed point theorems for nonlinear operators on Banach spaces partially ordered by a cone. The first fixed point theorem is concerned with a class of mixed monotone operators. In the second fixed point theorem, the nonlinear operators are neither monotone nor mixed monotone. We also provide an illustrative example for our second result.
Are the Immunocompetence and the Presence of Metazoan Parasites in Cyprinid Fish Affected by Reproductive Efforts of Cyprinid Fish?
Authors: Rohlenová Karolína , Šimková Andrea
Published: January 2010

Each organism has the limited resources of energy that is distributed among important life traits. A trade-off between immune response and other physiological demands of organism especially costly reproduction is expected.Leuciscus cephalus, the cyprinid fish, was investigated during three periods varying in reproductive investment, that is, before-breeding, breeding, and after-breeding periods. We tested whether a potentially limited investment in immunity during the breeding is associated with higher susceptibility to the metazoan parasites. Following the immunocompetence handicap and sperm protection hypotheses, males expressing more elaborated sexual ornamentation should produce better quality sperm and be more parasitized. We found that reproductive investments in fish play an important role for energy allocation into somatic condition, immunity, and reproduction. The immune parameters including respiratory burst and leukocyte count were higher in breeding; however, parasite species richness and abundance appeared low. Males investing more in spawning tubercles reached high spermatocrite and were more parasitized by digeneans.
FPGA-Based Software Implementation of Series Harmonic Compensation for Single Phase Inverters
Authors: Selvajyothi K. , Janakiraman P. A.
Published: January 2010

This paper presents a single chip FPGA (Altera Cyclone II) controlled single phase inverter, programmed for the reduction of harmonics in the output voltage. Separate composite digital observers have been designed for extracting the fundamental and harmonic components of the voltage and the highly distorted current signals, particularly when the inverter supplies nonlinear loads. These observers have been embedded into the FPGA along with the controllers and I/O interfaces. The multiple observers yield very pure in-phase and quadrature voltage signals for use in the outer loop and similar signals for stabilizing the inner current loop. The Inverter could be modeled as a feed back control system with the fundamental component of the voltage as the desired output while the voltage harmonics take the role of noise creeping into the output. To obtain a very low total harmonic distortion in the voltage waveform, the well-known control strategy of using a very large feed back around the noise signal has been employed.
Cross-Correlation of Motor Activity Signals from dc-Magnetoencephalography, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, and Electromyography
Authors: Sander Tilmann H. , Leistner Stefanie , Wabnitz Heidrun , Mackert Bruno-Marcel , Macdonald Rainer , Trahms Lutz
Published: January 2010

Neuronal and vascular responses due to finger movements were synchronously measured using dc-magnetoencephalography (dcMEG) and time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy (trNIRS). The finger movements were monitored with electromyography (EMG). Cortical responses related to the finger movement sequence were extracted by independent component analysis from both the dcMEG and the trNIRS data. The temporal relations between EMG rate, dcMEG, and trNIRS responses were assessed pairwise using the cross-correlation function (CCF), which does not require epoch averaging. A positive lag on a scale of seconds was found for the maximum of the CCF between dcMEG and trNIRS. A zero lag is observed for the CCF between dcMEG and EMG. Additionally this CCF exhibits oscillations at the frequency of individual finger movements. These findings show that the dcMEG with a bandwidth up to 8 Hz records both slow and faster neuronal responses, whereas the vascular response is confirmed to change on a scale of seconds.
Volume Loss of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures in Subjective Memory Impairment
Authors: Striepens Nadine , Scheef Lukas , Wind Andrea , Popp Julius , Spottke Annika , Cooper-Mahkorn Déirdre , Suliman Husam , Wagner Michael , Schild Hans H. , Jessen Frank
Published: January 2010

Background/Aims: Subjective memory impairment (SMI) has been suggested as a manifestation of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) preceding mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this study, we determined the volumes of the hippocampus, the entorhinal cortex (EC) and the amygdala to provide biological evidence for AD in SMI. Methods: Regional volumetric measures were manually traced on 3-Tesla MRI scans. Results: Total brain volume did not differ between the groups. Individuals with SMI had reduced volumes of the hippocampus bilaterally (right p = 0.001; left p < 0.001), the bilateral EC (right p = 0.031, left p = 0.006) and the right amygdala (p = 0.01) compared to the control group. Conclusion: Volume reduction of bilateral hippocampus, bilateral EC and right amygdala supports the concept of SMI as a very early manifestation of AD prior to MCI. SMI may indicate awareness of a degenerative process that can still be functionally compensated.
Phylloid Hypermelanosis and Melanocytic Nevi with Aggregated and Disfigured Melanosomes: Causal Relationship between Phylloid Pigment Distribution and Chromosome 13 Abnormalities
Authors: Oiso Naoki , Tsuruta Daisuke , Imanishi Hisayoshi , Sayasa Haruyo , Narita Tomohiko , Kobayashi Hiromi , Ikegami Hiroshi , Kawada Akira
Published: January 2010

The mosaic pattern of phylloid hypomelanosis is mostly associated with chromosome 13 abnormalities. Recently, 1 case of hypermelanosis in a phylloid pattern has been described. We describe a 29-year-old Japanese male with mental retardation, phylloid hypermelanosis and histopathologically and ultrastructurally peculiar melanocytic nevi, which were associated with 3 aberrant chromosome 13 cell lines. The karyotyping of 30 peripheral blood lymphocytes showed 46,XY,r(13)(p11.2q34) in 21 cells, 45,XY,–13 in 7 cells and 46,XY,dic r(13)(p11.2q34) in 2 cells. Immunohistochemical staining with HMB45 showed a positive reaction to basal keratinocytes in phylloid hypermelanosis. HMB45 staining reacted to the nevus cells and keratinocytes in the melanocytic nevi. Electron microscopy of a specimen excised from a melanocytic nevus showed an unusual finding of aggregated and disfigured melanosomes in the keratinocytes. This case suggests that chromosome 13 abnormalities may be related to the development of phylloid hypermelanosis and the bizarre melanosomes in the keratinocytes of melanocytic nevi.
Sleepwalking in Italian Operas: A Window on Popular and Scientific Knowledge on Sleep Disorders in the 19th Century
Authors: Riva Michele Augusto , Sironi Vittorio Alessandro , Tremolizzo Lucio , Lombardi Carolina , De Vito Giovanni , Ferrarese Carlo , Cesana Giancarlo
Published: January 2010

There is little knowledge on sleepwalking in ancient times even though it is a very common condition. The aim of this report is to describe the backgrounds of medical knowledge on somnambulism in the 19th century, a key period in the development of neurosciences, by analysing its representation in two famous Italian operas: La Sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini and Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi. The 19th-century operas may be considered as a crossing point between the popular and intellectual world because they mirror popular answers to phenomena that were still awaiting scientific explanations. Shakespeare’s play Macbeth was also considered. In Shakespeare’s play and in Verdi’s Macbeth, sleepwalking is looked upon as a neuropsychiatric disorder, a manifestation of internal anxiety. In La Sonnambula by Bellini, this condition is considered as common disorder that anticipates scientific theories. The analysed Italian operas provide two different views on sleepwalking, probably because they are based on texts belonging to different periods. Their examination allows one to understand the gradual evolution of theories on sleepwalking, from demoniac possession to mental disorder and sleep disease. At the same time, this analysis throws some light on the history of psychological illnesses.
Combating Complications following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting in a New Centre
Authors: Emejulu Jude Kennedy C. , Ugwu Jideofor O.
Published: January 2010

Background: Over the years, different approaches to the treatment of hydrocephalus have evolved across all age groups; however, ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) remains the most widely used procedure, albeit with many complications. Aims: The aim of our study is to prospectively look at the incidence of complications following VPS in our centre, and to suggest ways of minimizing these complications. Patients and Methods: Between April 2006 and March 2008, all patients who had VPS in our centre were recruited for the study using a structured protocol from the time of admission to the time of discharge; data were augmented with case notes along with clinic and theatre records. Our centre is located in south-east Nigeria, and we commenced neurosurgical services in April 2006. Results: Within this 2-year period, 49 patients were definitively diagnosed with hydrocephalus and 32 underwent VPS, following which 9 (28%) had various complications – with shunt infection being the most common (n = 3; 9.3%). Conclusion: VPS is the definitive treatment modality for hydrocephalus in our centre, and shunt infection (as reported by several other authors) is the most common complication we encounter. Adopting a strict protocol for the prevention of perioperative contamination, as well as educating caregivers, is advocated to reduce this complication in any new neurosurgical centre.
Superiority of Radioisotope over Blue Dye for Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Breast Cancer
Authors: Hayashida T. , Jinno H. , Sakata M. , Takahashi M. , Onishi T. , Seki H. , Sato T. , Nakahara T. , Shigematsu N. , Mukai M. , Hibi T. , Kitajima M. , Kitagawa Y.
Published: January 2010

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is commonly performed using radioisotopes and/or blue dye. However, it is still undefined which reagent is more suitable for identifying sentinel lymph nodes (SLN). Patients and Methods: A consecutive series of 640 breast cancer patients who had undergone SLNB at the Keio University Hospital from 2001 to 2006 was analyzed. The SLN was identified by a combination of technetium-99m tin colloid and isosulfan blue dye. The correlation between clinicopathological factors and the distribution of radioisotopes and blue dye was analyzed. The single metastatic lymph node revealed by axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is the ‘true SLN’, and the distribution of radioisotopes and blue dye to the ‘true SLN’ was also analyzed. Results: Blue-dye- and radioisotope-positive SLN were identified in 79.6 and 94.7% of the patients, respectively. Taken together, SLN were identified in 625 patients (97.7%) by radioisotope and/or blue dye. No significant correlation was observed between clinicopathological features and the distribution of the reagents. ALND found 73 patients with single lymph node metastasis, and 73 ‘true SLN’ were identified by blue dye in 65.7% (48/73), and by radioisotope in 95.9% (70/73) of the cases. Conclusion: These data suggest that radioisotopes are superior to blue dye in detecting SLN in breast cancer.
Effects of Exercise on Electroencephalographic Mean Frequency in Depressed Elderly Subjects
Authors: Silveira Heitor , Deslandes Andréa C. , de Moraes Helena , Mouta Raphael , Ribeiro Pedro , Piedade Roberto , Laks Jerson
Published: January 2010

Background: An analysis of cortical activity by electroencephalogram (EEG) may show different patterns in depressed and normal individuals. Objectives: Our study aimed (1) to compare the total mean frequency (TMF) and mean EEG frequency per bands (MFB) in depressed and healthy elderly individuals, and (2) to verify the effect of exercise as an additional treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD; according to DSM-IV) via an assessment of depressive symptoms, TMF and MFB. Methods: This research was divided into 2 studies. In study 1, we assessed 45 elderly individuals (13 normal and 32 depressive) in a cross-sectional design to search for differences in TMF and MFB. In study 2, we conducted a longitudinal study to assess the effect of exercise on MDD. Twenty depressed elderly persons who were on clinical treatment were allocated to a control group or an exercise group. Subjects were assessed at baseline and after 6 months with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, also assessing the TMF and MFB. Results: Our cross-sectional study showed that a lower mean frequency (MF) in posterior areas is related to depression in the elderly. Moreover, in our longitudinal study, we observed that depressed elderly individuals showed a better response to treatment and an increase in MF after physical training. Conclusion: The interaction between exercise and pharmacological treatment may increase the TMF in posterior areas of depressed elderly individuals after 6 months.
1 Enoch—Complementary or Alternative toMosaic Torah?
Authors: Heger Paul
Published: January 2010

The lack of explicit reference to the Sinaitic revelation in 1 Enoch led scholars to posit a dissident group of Enochic Judaism that abandoned the Torah, preferring Enoch’s revelation. However, the absence of Sinai was imperative for upholding 1 Enoch’s fictitious primeval origin, while implicit references to Sinai abound. Moreover, omission is not proof of non-existence, since many “normative” texts do not mention the Mosaic Torah either. The opinion that so-called Enochians fostered natural law against Torah is untenable, because it does not explain the ritual rules acknowledged by all of Israel. Also there is no evidence for either a split in Jewish society by this purported Enochian group or existence of theological disputes.
Revelation and Human Artefact:The Inspiration of the Pentateuch in the Book of Aristeas
Authors: Scott Ian W.
Published: January 2010

In sharp contrast to other highly Hellenized Jewish works, the Book of Aristeas depicts the Pentateuch as a purely human composition. Moses was endowed by God with a prodigious intellect so that he could compose a law superior to any other, but Israel’s legislator received no direct revelation or guidance. Likewise, the LXX translation is depicted as a purely human achievement. If the law is “inspired” for the author of Aristeas, it is only in the sense that skilled rational insight amounts to perception of the divine mind.
Life of Josephus: The Autobiography of Flavius Josephus
Authors: Stern Pnina
Published: January 2010

The autobiographic work of Flavius Josephus Life of Josephus (further Life), which focuses on the man Josephus, was exceptional in the Jewish literature of that time. An inquiry into the structure of Life, its components, contents, and the way Josephus described himself both as an individual and as a public figure indicates that Josephus wrote his autobiography in a manner that would suit the social and political criteria of the Roman society, within which he lived when he wrote this work. Josephus’ explanations of Jewish concepts in Life and the findings of our inquiry show that he intended his work to be read mainly by foreign readers, and moreover, that he wanted to be perceived as a positive public figure fitting the standards prevailing in their culture.
Materialen Und Industrien Aus Dem Iranischen Hochland in Den Nahöstlichen Märkten Des 4. Bis 2. Jahrtausends V. Chr
Authors: Derakhshani Jahanshah
Published: January 2010

Die frühe Präsenz der vor- und frühgeschichtlichen Iranier (Arier)1 im Vorderen und Mittleren Orient ist Gegenstand einer Untersuchung, die der Autor anhand positiver materieller und sprachlicher Evidenzen vorgenommen hat. Teile von dieser Untersuchung sind bereits veröffentlicht, und der andere Teil (Hauptwerk) erscheint in Kürze.2 Das vorliegende Referat ist ein Auszug der im Hauptwerk eingehend behandelten materiellen Aspekte, die dort in größerem Umfang sowie in Verbindung mit sprachlichen Evidenzen ausführlicher behandelt werden. Zu den sprachlichen Evidenzen, die eine frühe Präsenz der Arier in weiten Gebieten des Nahen und Mittleren Ostens belegen, gehört auch die Spurensuche nach den Kultur- und Handelsbeziehungen unter den altorientalischen Ländern. Die Untersuchung von bestimmten Mineralstoffen, die ein beschränktes Vorkommen in der Region aufweisen, sowie Industrien bestimmter Art, sind von Bedeutung. Die Analyse solcher Stoffe zeichnet ein eindeutiges Bild von den Quellen und Märkten des Alten Orients in den frühesten Perioden. Nach den archäologischen und literarischen Zeugnissen zu urteilen, haben unter allen Mineralstoffen des Nahen und Mittleren Ostens Kupfer, Zinn und Lapislazuli die weitesten Wege zurückgelegt, um an den Zielmarkt zu gelangen. Nach dem Zeugnis alter Texte und archäologischen Funden waren Afghanistan, Zentralasien und Iran die Quellen von Lapislazuli, Zinn und zumindest einer besonderen Sorte von Kupfer sowie anderen Halbedelsteinen, Steinen zur Herstellung von Statuen, heilsamen Kräutern, Salben, Farben etc. Auch der leichte zweirädrige Streitwagen stammte aus dem Iranischen Hochland. Im folgenden werden unter diesen mannigfaltigen Materialien und Industrien nur solche näher behandelt, welche von sich nicht nur Spuren in den textlichen Quellen hinterlassen haben, sondern auch als arische bzw. uriranische Lehnwörter in den Sprachen der nahöstlichen Völker aufgenommen worden sind.
Future Change of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Tracks: Projection by a 20-km-Mesh Global Atmospheric Model*
Authors: Murakami Hiroyuki , Wang Bin
Published: January 2010

Possible future change in tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the North Atlantic (NA) was investigated by comparison of 25-yr simulations of the present-day climate and future change under the A1B emission scenario using a 20-km-mesh Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) and Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) atmospheric general circulation model. The present-day simulation reproduces many essential features of observed climatology and interannual variability in TC frequency of occurrence and tracks over the NA. For the future projection, the model is driven by the sea surface temperature (SST) that includes a trend projected by the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) multimodel ensemble and a year-to-year variation derived from the present-day climate. A major finding is that the future change of total TC counts in the NA is statistically insignificant, but the frequency of TC occurrence will decrease in the tropical western NA (WNA) and increase in the tropical eastern NA (ENA) and northwestern NA (NWNA). The projected change in TC tracks suggests a reduced probability of TC landfall over the southeastern United States, and an increased influence of TCs on the northeastern United States. The track changes are not due to changes of large-scale steering flows; instead, they are due to changes in TC genesis locations. The increase in TC genesis in the ENA arises from increasing background ascending motion and convective available potential energy. In contrast, the reduced TC genesis in the WNA is attributed to decreases in midtropospheric relative humidity and ascending motion caused by remotely forced anomalous descent. This finding indicates that the impact of remote dynamical forcing is greater than that of local thermodynamical forcing in the WNA. The increased frequency of TC occurrence in the NWNA is attributed to reduced vertical wind shear and the pronounced local warming of the ocean surface. These TC changes appear to be most sensitive to future change in the spatial distribution of rising SST. Given that most IPCC models project a larger increase in SST in the ENA than in the WNA, the projected eastward shift in TC genesis is likely to be robust.