bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X(3872) AND ITS PARTNERS IN HEAVY QUARK QCD
Authors: HIDALGO C. , NIEVES J. , OZPINECI A. , ZAMIRALOV V. S.
Published: January 2014

The properties of X(3872) are analyzed starting from a correlation function written in terms of the quark and gluon degrees of freedom. It is shown that in the infinite charm quark mass limit, X(3872) meson should have three other degenerate meson partners. The possible isospin structure of X(3872) is also analyzed and it is concluded that although the observed isospin violation in the decays of X(3872) into the final states J/ψρ and J/ψω is small, X(3872) can contain a sizable I = 1 component.
N* RESONANCES IN NEUTRINO INTERACTIONS
Authors: ALVAREZ-RUSO L.
Published: January 2014

The role of N* resonances in neutrino interactions with nucleons is discussed, stressing the relevance for neutrino cross-section and oscillation experiments. The cross section for single N* weak excitation is expressed in terms of vector and axial transition form factors, which can be partially constrained using the available experimental information from photon, electron and pion reactions on the nucleon. New measurements on hydrogen and deuterium are necessary to reduce further the uncertainties.
DETERMINATION OF E AND G OBSERVABLES IN η PHOTOPRODUCTION ON THE CLAS FROZEN SPIN TARGET (FROST)
Authors:   (for the CLAS Collaboration), SENDEROVICH IGOR , MORRISON B. T. , DUGGER M. , RITCHIE B. , TUCKER R.
Published: January 2014

Polarization observables are vital for disentangling overlapping resonances in the baryon spectrum. Extensive data have been collected at Jefferson Lab in Hall B with circularly and linearly polarized tagged photon beam incident on longitudinally polarized protons provided by the Frozen Spin Target (FROST). The focus of the described work is on η photoproduction, which acts as an "isospin filter", isolating the N*(I = 1/2) resonances. Preliminary results for the double-polarization observables E and G are presented. There are currently no data on these in the world database for η photoproduction.
CHARMING BARYONS
Authors: GARCIA-RECIO C. , SALCEDO L. L. , GAMERMANN D. , NIEVES J. , ROMANETS O. , TOLOS L.
Published: January 2014

We study odd-parity baryonic resonances with one heavy and three light flavors, dynamically generated by meson-baryon interactions. Special attention is paid to Heavy Quark Spin Symmetry (HQSS), hence pseudoscalar and vector mesons and baryons with Jπ = 1/2+ and 3/2+ are considered as constituent hadrons. For the hidden-charm sector ([Formula: see text]), the meson-baryon Lagrangian with Heavy Flavor Symmetry is constructed by a minimal extension of the SU(3) Weinberg-Tomozawa (WT) Lagrangian to fulfill HQSS, such that not new parameters are needed. This interaction can be presented in different formal ways: as a Field Lagrangian, as Hadron creation-annihilation operators, as SU(6)×HQSS group projectors and as multichannel matrices. The multichannel Bethe-Salpeter equation is solved for odd-parity light baryons, hidden-charm N and Δ and Beauty Baryons (Λb). Results of calculations with this model are shown in comparison with other models and experimental values for baryonic resonances.
The Surgeon General Report on Smoking and Health 50 Years Later: Breast Cancer and the Cost of Increasing Caution
Authors: Glantz Stanton A. , Johnson Kenneth C.
Published: January 2014

Despite the Surgeon General's strong track record and the rapidly expanding body of solid scientific work demonstrating that smoking caused a wide range of diseases, the decision making process for concluding “causality” in Surgeon General reports has become increasingly cautious and defensive. Whereas, the 1964 report did not conclude that smoking caused heart disease, it recommended that “from the public health viewpoint [one should] assume that the established association has causative meaning rather than to suspend judgment until no uncertainty remains,” the de facto practice has become to do just the opposite. In particular, the 2004 report reached an affirmative negative conclusion that active smoking did not cause breast cancer and the 2006 report on passive smoking only found the link “suggestive.” In contrast, in 2005 the California EPA found both active and passive smoking caused breast cancer in younger women. The evidence has continued to strengthen since 2005: there are now 12 large cohort studies that consistently demonstrate a dose–response relationship with smoking before first birth and increased breast cancer risk. The Surgeon General's increasing caution is preventing young women around the world from appreciating the risks that smoking and secondhand smoke pose for developing breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(1); 37–46. ©2014 AACR.
Influence of Different Cosmetic Formulations on the Human Skin Barrier
Authors: Heinrich K. , Heinrich U. , Tronnier H.
Published: January 2014

The human skin barrier is an important part of the skin's intactness and its functionality is a precondition for healthy skin. Ingredients in cosmetic formulations, especially penetration enhancers, can influence this barrier function as they transport active agents into deeper skin layers. In this study different cosmetic formulations were tested by 60 healthy female volunteers over a period of 4 weeks. The skin hydration and barrier function before and during the application were measured. Significant changes in both parameters were determined. A negative influence on the barrier function by penetration enhancers could be observed, but it was also found that lamellar lipid structures (DermaMembranSysteme®, DMS®) are able to enhance the skin barrier. Both penetration enhancers as well as DMS can increase skin hydration.
Regeneration of Calvarial Defects with Escherichia coli-Derived rhBMP-2 Adsorbed in PLGA Membrane
Authors: Ono Mitsuaki , Sonoyama Wataru , Nema Kazuki , Hara Emilio Satoshi , Oida Yasutaka , Pham Hai Thanh , Yamamoto Katushi , Hirota Kazuo , Sugama Kazushige , Sebald Walter , Kuboki Takuo
Published: January 2014

Objective:Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (E-BMP-2) has been shown to be as effective as mammalian cell-derived BMP-2. However, several in vitro and in vivo experiments are still necessary to validate the effectiveness of E-BMP-2 due to the difference in synthesis process, mainly related to protein nonglycosylation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether biodegradable polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) membrane is a suitable carrier for E-BMP-2 delivery for bone regeneration of critical-sized defects in rat calvaria. Materials and Methods: First, the osteoinductive effect of E-BMP-2 was confirmed in vitro in mouse bone marrow stromal cells by analysis of osteocalcin mRNA levels, and calcium deposition was detected by alizarin red staining. Before in vivo experiments, the release profile of E-BMP-2 from PLGA membranes was determined by ELISA. E-BMP-2 (0, 1, 5 and 10 μg/μl) was applied for ectopic and orthotopic bone formation and was analyzed by X-ray, micro-CT and histology. Results: Release-profile testing showed that PLGA membrane could retain 94% of the initially applied E-BMP-2. Ectopic bone formation assay revealed that combination of E-BMP-2/PLGA membrane strongly induced bone formation. Stronger osteoinductivity with complete repair of critical-sized defects was observed only with PLGA membranes adsorbed with 5 and 10 μg/μl of E-BMP-2, whereas no bone formation was observed in the groups that received no membrane or 0-μg/μl dose of E-BMP-2. Conclusion: PLGA membrane was shown to be a suitable carrier for sustained release of E-BMP-2, and the E-BMP-2/PLGA membrane combination was demonstrated to be efficient in bone regeneration in a model of critical-sized defects.
Unmasking Cryptococcal Meningitis Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome due to Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Use in a Patient with a Poorly Differentiated Germ Cell Neoplasm
Authors: Bahr Nathan C. , Wallace James , Frosch Anne E.P. , Boulware David R.
Published: January 2014

Cryptococcal meningitis immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is frequently seen in patients with HIV and less frequently in patients on immune suppressive medications for other conditions. Here, we describe the first reported case of unmasking cryptococcal IRIS due to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor used in an HIV-negative patient with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
nab-Paclitaxel in Combination with Carboplatin for a Previously Treated Thymic Carcinoma
Authors: Makimoto Go , Fujiwara Keiichi , Watanabe Hiromi , Kameyama Nobuhisa , Matsushita Mizuho , Rai Kammei , Sato Ken , Yonei Toshiro , Sato Toshio , Shibayama Takuo
Published: January 2014

We present the case of a 40-year-old man with previously treated thymic carcinoma, complaining of gradually worsening back pain. Computed tomography scans of the chest showed multiple pleural disseminated nodules with a pleural effusion in the right thorax. The patient was treated with carboplatin on day 1 plus nab-paclitaxel on day 1 and 8 in cycles repeated every 4 weeks. Objective tumor shrinkage was observed after 4 cycles of this regimen. In addition, the elevated serum cytokeratin 19 fragment level decreased, and the patient's back pain was relieved without any analgesics. Although he experienced grade 4 neutropenia and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) injection, the severity of thrombocytopenia and nonhematological toxicities such as reversible neuropathy did not exceed grade 1 during the treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the efficacy of combination chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel against thymic carcinoma. This case report suggests that nab-paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin can be a favorable chemotherapy regimen for advanced thymic carcinoma.
Comparison of Postprocessing Methods for the Calibration of 100-m Wind Ensemble Forecasts at Off- and Onshore Sites
Authors: Junk Constantin , von Bremen Lueder , Kühn Martin , Späth Stephan , Heinemann Detlev
Published: January 2014

Ensemble forecasts are a valuable addition to deterministic wind forecasts since they allow the quantification of forecast uncertainties. To remove common deficiencies of ensemble forecasts such as biases and ensemble spread deficits, various postprocessing methods for the calibration of wind speed (univariate calibration) and wind vector (bivariate calibration) ensemble forecasts have been developed in recent years. The objective of this paper is to compare the performance of state-of-the-art calibration methods at distinct off- and onshore sites in central Europe. The aim is to identify calibration- and site-dependent improvements in forecast skill over uncalibrated 100-m ensemble forecasts from the ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System. The ensemble forecasts were evaluated at four onshore and three offshore measurement towers in central Europe at 100-m height for lead times up to 5 days. The results show that the recursive and adaptive wind vector calibration (AUV) outperforms calibration methods such as univariate ensemble model output statistics (EMOS), bivariate EMOS, variance deficit calibration, and ensemble copula coupling in terms of the root-mean-square error and continuous ranked probability score at almost all sites. It was found that exponential downweighting of past measurements in AUV contributes to higher forecast skill since similar downweighting approaches in the other calibration methods improved forecast skill. Proposing a bidimensional bias correction in bivariate EMOS similar to the approach taken in AUV yields bivariate EMOS skill at onshore sites that is similar to AUV skill. Deterministic and probabilistic improvements are usually much lower at offshore sites and increase with increasing complexity of the site characteristics since systematic forecast errors and ensemble underdispersion are larger at high-roughness sites.
An Empirical Relation between U.S. Tornado Activity and Monthly Environmental Parameters
Authors: Tippett Michael K. , Sobel Adam H. , Camargo Suzana J. , Allen John T.
Published: January 2014

In previous work the authors demonstrated an empirical relation, in the form of an index, between U.S. monthly tornado activity and monthly averaged environmental parameters. Here a detailed comparison is made between the index and reported tornado activity. The index is a function of two environmental parameters taken from the North American Regional Reanalysis: convective precipitation (cPrcp) and storm relative helicity (SRH). Additional environmental parameters are considered for inclusion in the index, among them convective available potential energy, but their inclusion does not significantly improve the overall climatological performance of the index. The aggregate climatological dependence of reported monthly U.S. tornado numbers on cPrcp and SRH is well described by the index, although it fails to capture nonsupercell and cool season tornadoes. The contributions of the two environmental parameters to the index annual cycle and spatial distribution are examined with the seasonality of cPrcp (maximum during summer) relative to SRH (maximum in winter) accounting for the index peak value in May. The spatial distribution of SRH establishes the central U.S. “tornado alley” of the index, while the spatial distribution of cPrcp enhances index values in the South and Southeast and suppresses them west of the Rockies and over elevation. At the scale of the NOAA climate regions, the largest deficiency of the index climatology occurs over the central region where the index peak in spring is too low and where the late summer drop-off in the reported number of tornadoes is poorly captured. This index deficiency is related to its sensitivity to SRH, and increasing the index sensitivity to SRH improves the representation of the annual cycle in this region. The ability of the index to represent the interannual variability of the monthly number of U.S. tornadoes can be ascribed during most times of the year to interannual variations of cPrcp rather than of SRH. However, both factors are important during the peak spring period. The index shows some skill in representing the interannual variability of monthly tornado numbers at the scale of NOAA climate regions.
Contributing Factors to the Recent High Level of Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) and Power Dissipation Index (PDI) in the North Atlantic*
Authors: Murakami Hiroyuki , Li Tim , Hsu Pang-Chi
Published: January 2014

In recent decades, tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the North Atlantic has shown a marked positive anomaly in genesis number, mean lifespan, number of intense hurricanes, and mean maximum intensity. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), which is defined as the sum of the square of the maximum surface wind velocity throughout the lifetime of a TC, is one of the measures that can be used to synthesize these factors. Similar to the ACE, the power dissipation index (PDI), which is defined as the integrated third power of maximum surface wind velocity, has also been used to describe TC activity. The basin-total ACE and PDI for the North Atlantic have also followed a large positive anomaly during the period 1995–2012; however, the relative importance of factors such as TC genesis number, TC track property (e.g., duration and lifespan), and TC intensity remains unclear in terms of their contribution to the positive anomalies in ACE and PDI. This study uses a new empirical statistical approach to analyze the TC data and finds that the increase in the TC genesis number is primarily responsible for the positive anomalies in ACE and PDI. Other factors, such as TC track property and TC intensity, appear to be minor influences.
Cold Tongue and Warm Pool ENSO Events in CMIP5: Mean State and Future Projections
Authors: Taschetto Andréa S. , Gupta Alexander Sen , Jourdain Nicolas C. , Santoso Agus , Ummenhofer Caroline C. , England Matthew H.
Published: January 2014

The representation of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) under historical forcing and future projections is analyzed in 34 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). Most models realistically simulate the observed intensity and location of maximum sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies during ENSO events. However, there exist systematic biases in the westward extent of ENSO-related SST anomalies, driven by unrealistic westward displacement and enhancement of the equatorial wind stress in the western Pacific. Almost all CMIP5 models capture the observed asymmetry in magnitude between the warm and cold events (i.e., El Niños are stronger than La Niñas) and between the two types of El Niños: that is, cold tongue (CT) El Niños are stronger than warm pool (WP) El Niños. However, most models fail to reproduce the asymmetry between the two types of La Niñas, with CT stronger than WP events, which is opposite to observations. Most models capture the observed peak in ENSO amplitude around December; however, the seasonal evolution of ENSO has a large range of behavior across the models. The CMIP5 models generally reproduce the duration of CT El Niños but have biases in the evolution of the other types of events. The evolution of WP El Niños suggests that the decay of this event occurs through heat content discharge in the models rather than the advection of SST via anomalous zonal currents, as seems to occur in observations. No consistent changes are seen across the models in the location and magnitude of maximum SST anomalies, frequency, or temporal evolution of these events in a warmer world.
Orographic Effects of the Tibetan Plateau on the East Asian Summer Monsoon: An Energetic Perspective
Authors: Chen Jinqiang , Bordoni Simona
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates the dynamical processes through which the Tibetan Plateau (TP) influences the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) within the framework of the moist static energy (MSE) budget, using both observations and atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) simulations. The focus is on the most prominent feature of the EASM, the so-called meiyu–baiu (MB), which is characterized by a well-defined, southwest–northeast elongated quasi-stationary rainfall band, spanning from eastern China to Japan and into the northwestern Pacific Ocean between mid-June and mid-July.

Observational analyses of the MSE budget of the MB front indicate that horizontal advection of moist enthalpy, and primarily of dry enthalpy, sustains the front in a region of otherwise negative net energy input into the atmospheric column. A decomposition of the horizontal dry enthalpy advection into mean, transient, and stationary eddy fluxes identifies the longitudinal thermal gradient due to zonal asymmetries and the meridional stationary eddy velocity as the most influential factors determining the pattern of horizontal moist enthalpy advection. Numerical simulations in which the TP is either retained or removed show that the TP influences the stationary enthalpy flux, and hence the MB front, primarily by changing the meridional stationary eddy velocity, with reinforced southerly wind over the MB region and northerly wind to its north. Changes in the longitudinal thermal gradient are mainly confined to the near downstream of the TP, with the resulting changes in zonal warm air advection having a lesser impact on the rainfall in the extended MB region.
Can Catholic Social Thought Help to Alleviate Liturgical Tensions?
Authors: Gascoigne Robert
Published: January 2014

For Catholic social thought, the liturgy is fundamentally a divine site where the inadequacies of even our noblest ethical strivings are offered in humble hope for God’s Kingdom. Yet the liturgy is also a work of humankind, and deeply affected by tensions between the Church and contemporary secularity, manifested, for example, in the decline in participation in the Eucharist and controversies over translation. Since these tensions stem from social experience, Catholic social thought is called upon to understand them and to offer perspectives which can help to name and clarify the connections within this field of tensions. The aim of this article is to draw on some contemporary insights in liturgical theology and in Catholic social thought, in particular the work of Charles Taylor and José Casanova, that relate to this field of tensions and to explore ways in which they might mutually illuminate each other.
Lonergan on Wisdom
Authors: Dadosky John
Published: January 2014

This article surveys Lonergan’s transposition of wisdom from Aquinas. While the latter contained metaphysical and epistemological aspects, Lonergan attempts to provide an additional type of wisdom upon which the principles of the two aspects are grounded. In addition, the article addresses the natural and supernatural forms of wisdom in Lonergan’s thinking. Finally, while Frederick Crowe refers to the ‘strange disappearance’ of wisdom explicitly from Lonergan’s later writing, especially Method in Theology, it is argued that the function of wisdom not only remains but permeates it. 1
Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii subtelomeric-like regions: identification of a long-range compositional bias that is also associated with gene-poor regions
Authors: Dalmasso María C , Carmona Santiago J , Angel Sergio O , Agüero Fernán
Published: January 2014

Background

Chromosome ends are composed of telomeric repeats and subtelomeric regions, which are patchworks of genes interspersed with repeated elements. Although chromosome ends display similar arrangements in different species, their sequences are highly divergent. In addition, these regions display a particular nucleosomal composition and bind specific factors, therefore producing a special kind of heterochromatin. Using data from currently available draft genomes we have characterized these putative Telomeric Associated Sequences in Toxoplasma gondii.

Results

An all-vs-all pairwise comparison of T. gondii assembled chromosomes revealed the presence of conserved regions of ∼ 30 Kb located near the ends of 9 of the 14 chromosomes of the genome of the ME49 strain. Sequence similarity among these regions is ∼ 70%, and they are also highly conserved in the GT1 and VEG strains. However, they are unique to Toxoplasma with no detectable similarity in other Apicomplexan parasites. The internal structure of these sequences consists of 3 repetitive regions separated by high-complexity sequences without annotated genes, except for a gene from the Toxoplasma Specific Family. ChIP-qPCR experiments showed that nucleosomes associated to these sequences are enriched in histone H4 monomethylated at K20 (H4K20me1), and the histone variant H2A.X, suggesting that they are silenced sequences (heterochromatin). A detailed characterization of the base composition of these sequences, led us to identify a strong long-range compositional bias, which was similar to that observed in other genomic silenced fragments such as those containing centromeric sequences, and was negatively correlated to gene density.

Conclusions

We identified and characterized a region present in most Toxoplasma assembled chromosomes. Based on their location, sequence features, and nucleosomal markers we propose that these might be part of subtelomeric regions of T. gondii. The identified regions display a unique trinucleotide compositional bias, which is shared (despite the lack of any detectable sequence similarity) with other silenced sequences, such as those making up the chromosome centromeres. We also identified other genomic regions with this compositional bias (but no detectable sequence similarity) that might be functionally similar.
Unexplained diarrhoea in HIV-1 infected individuals
Authors: Oude Munnink Bas B , Canuti Marta , Deijs Martin , de Vries Michel , Jebbink Maarten F , Rebers Sjoerd , Molenkamp Richard , van Hemert Formijn J , Chung Kevin , Cotten Matthew , Snijders Fransje , Sol Cees JA , van der Hoek Lia
Published: January 2014

Background

Gastrointestinal symptoms, in particular diarrhoea, are common in non-treated HIV-1 infected individuals. Although various enteric pathogens have been implicated, the aetiology of diarrhoea remains unexplained in a large proportion of HIV-1 infected patients. Our aim is to identify the cause of diarrhoea for patients that remain negative in routine diagnostics.

Methods

In this study stool samples of 196 HIV-1 infected persons, including 29 persons with diarrhoea, were examined for enteropathogens and HIV-1. A search for unknown and unexpected viruses was performed using virus discovery cDNA-AFLP combined with Roche-454 sequencing (VIDISCA-454).

Results

HIV-1 RNA was detected in stool of 19 patients with diarrhoea (66%) compared to 75 patients (45%) without diarrhoea. In 19 of the 29 diarrhoea cases a known enteropathogen could be identified (66%). Next to these known causative agents, a range of recently identified viruses was identified via VIDISCA-454: cosavirus, Aichi virus, human gyrovirus, and non-A non-B hepatitis virus. Moreover, a novel virus was detected which was named immunodeficiency-associated stool virus (IASvirus). However, PCR based screening for these viruses showed that none of these novel viruses was associated with diarrhoea. Notably, among the 34% enteropathogen-negative cases, HIV-1 RNA shedding in stool was more frequently observed (80%) compared to enteropathogen-positive cases (47%), indicating that HIV-1 itself is the most likely candidate to be involved in diarrhoea.

Conclusion

Unexplained diarrhoea in HIV-1 infected patients is probably not caused by recently described or previously unknown pathogens, but it is more likely that HIV-1 itself plays a role in intestinal mucosal abnormalities which leads to diarrhoea.
Sorting and identification of side population cells in the human cervical cancer cell line HeLa
Authors: Qi Wenjuan , Zhao Chao , Zhao Lijun , Liu Ning , Li Xiaoping , Yu Weidong , Wei Lihui
Published: January 2014

Background

Several reports have revealed that cancer stem cells (CSCs) exist in many types of solid tumors. Some studies have demonstrated that side population (SP) cells isolated from diverse cancer lines harbor cancer stem-like properties, but there are few reports examining the characteristic of SP cells in human cervical cancer. The aim of this study is 1) to find out a feasible way to detect the tumor stem-like cells in cervical cancer, and 2) to analyze the properties of the SP cells being sorted.

Methods

Isolated SP and non-SP cells from human cervical cancer cell line Hela by Hoechst 33342 dying method and flow cytometry analysis. Observing morphology of SP and non-SP cells. The expression of various biomarkers putatively related to cancer stem cells were investigated by immucytochemistry of SP and non-SP cells. We also analyzed cell cycle and cell apoptosis for sorted cells. The oncogenicity of the SP and non-SP cells were analyzed by tumor formation in nonobesediabeti- c/severe combined immune- deficient (NOD/SCID) mice. The drug-resistant and radiation-resistant index between SP, non-SP and Hela cells was estimated by MTS assay.

Results

The fraction of SP cells in Hela was approximately 1.07 ± 0.32%. SP cells were smaller and rounder in shape than non-SP cells, and mostly showed colony-like growth. Immunocytochemistry showed that stem cell makers (Oct3/4, CD133, BCRP) were highly expressed in SP cells. Moreover, the number of apoptotic cells among non-SP cells (17.6 ± 3.7%) was significantly higher compared with that among SP cells (4.4 ± 1.2%). The HE staining of in vivo grown tumors result from SP cells showed more poor differentiation, though no significant differences were shown between SP and non-SP cells in NOD/SCID mice tumorigenicity. Furthermore, SP cells demonstrated a higher degree of drug resistance against trichostatin A (TSA) compared with that of non-SP and Hela cells. SP cells were also found to be more resistant against radiotherapy.

Conclusions

SP cells possess some characteristics of CSCs, namely high proliferation ability, chemoresistance and radioresistance, which may be helpful to elucidate novel targets for effective clinical treatments of cervical cancer in the future.
Identification of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins and alpha-fetoprotein in fallow deer (Dama dama) placenta
Authors: Bériot Mathilde , Tchimbou Aline Flora , Barbato Olimpia , Beckers Jean-François , de Sousa Noelita M
Published: January 2014

Background

This paper describes the isolation and characterization of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) from fetal cotyledonary tissue (FCT) and maternal caruncular tissue (MCT) collected from fallow deer (Dama dama) pregnant females. Proteins issued from FCT and MCT were submitted to affinity chromatographies by using Vicia villosa agarose (VVA) or anti-bovine PAG-2 (R#438) coupled to Sepharose 4B gel. Finally, they were characterized by SDS-PAGE and N-terminal microsequencing.

Results

Four distinct fallow deer PAG (fdPAG) sequences were identified and submitted to Swiss-Prot database. Comparison of fdPAG with PAG sequences identified in other ruminant species exhibited 64 to 83% identity. Additionally, alpha-fetoprotein was identified in fetal and maternal tissues.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate the efficacy of VVA and bovine PAG-2 affinity chromatographies for the isolation of PAG molecules expressed in deer placenta. This is the first report giving four specific amino acid sequences of PAG isolated from feto-maternal junction (FCT and MCT) in the Cervidae family.
Low skeletal muscle area is a risk factor for mortality in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients
Authors: Weijs Peter JM , Looijaard Wilhelmus GPM , Dekker Ingeborg M , Stapel Sandra N , Girbes Armand R , Straaten Heleen M Oudemans-van , Beishuizen Albertus
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with lower mortality in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. However, it is yet unclear which body component is responsible for this relationship.

Methods

This retrospective analysis in 240 mechanically ventilated critically ill patients included adult patients in whom a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen was made on clinical indication between 1 day before and 4 days after admission to the intensive care unit. CT scans were analyzed at the L3 level for skeletal muscle area, expressed as square centimeters. Cutoff values were defined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis: 110 cm2 for females and 170 cm2 for males. Backward stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate low-muscle area in relation to hospital mortality, with low-muscle area, sex, BMI, Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, and diagnosis category as independent variables.

Results

This study included 240 patients, 94 female and 146 male patients. Mean age was 57 years; mean BMI, 25.6 kg/m2. Muscle area for females was significantly lower than that for males (102 ± 23 cm2 versus 158 ± 33 cm2; P < 0.001). Low-muscle area was observed in 63% of patients for both females and males. Mortality was 29%, significantly higher in females than in males (37% versus 23%; P = 0.028). Low-muscle area was associated with higher mortality compared with normal-muscle area in females (47.5% versus 20%; P = 0.008) and in males (32.3% versus 7.5%; P < 0.001). Independent predictive factors for mortality were low-muscle area, sex, and APACHE II score, whereas BMI and admission diagnosis were not. Odds ratio for low-muscle area was 4.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 9.0, P < 0.001). When applying sex-specific cutoffs to all patients, muscle mass appeared as primary predictor, not sex.

Conclusions

Low skeletal muscle area, as assessed by CT scan during the early stage of critical illness, is a risk factor for mortality in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, independent of sex and APACHE II score. Further analysis suggests muscle mass as primary predictor, not sex. BMI is not an independent predictor of mortality when muscle area is accounted for.
(Re)Positioning (Asian) Queer Studies
Authors: Welker James
Published: January 2014

This essay examines four books recently published as part of the Queer Asia series, launched by Hong Kong University Press in 2008. These multidisciplinary monographs and edited collections offer a glimpse of the increasing diversity of scholarship in Asian queer studies, and they attest to the significance of queer knowledge production within and about a loosely defined Asia. In addition, these works help trouble the centrality of “Western” culture and theory within queer studies as a whole, and — via their juxtaposition within the series — suggest the potential of intraregional dialogue as an important tool to advance that project.
The Limits of Desire
Authors: Johnson González Bill
Published: January 2014

The small-budget independent film On the Downlow, directed by Tadeo Garcia and released in 2004, represents the star-crossed romance between two male Latino members of a Chicago street gang. I argue that the film provides a critique of the city's racialized organization of space, as well as a critique of the paradoxical hypermasculine homosociality of the street gang itself. The film's protagonist must decide whether he will remain loyal to his gang or loyal to his lover — but he is incapable of embracing a queer identity. Since the film dramatizes a failed and tragic love affair, I suggest that it provides an important counternarrative to the mainstream gay movement's celebration of well-adjusted, happy homosexuals.
ERM proteins in cancer progression
Authors: Clucas Jarama , Valderrama Ferran
Published: January 2014

Members of the ezrin–radixin–moesin (ERM) family of proteins are involved in multiple aspects of cell migration by acting both as crosslinkers between the membrane, receptors and the actin cytoskeleton, and as regulators of signalling molecules that are implicated in cell adhesion, cell polarity and migration. Increasing evidence suggests that the regulation of cell signalling and the cytoskeleton by ERM proteins is crucial during cancer progression. Thus, both their expression levels and subcellular localisation would affect tumour progression. High expression of ERM proteins has been shown in a variety of cancers. Mislocalisation of ERM proteins reduces the ability of cells to form cell–cell contacts and, therefore, promotes an invasive phenotype. Similarly, mislocalisation of ERM proteins impairs the formation of receptor complexes and alters the transmission of signals in response to growth factors, thereby facilitating tumour progression. In this Commentary, we address the structure, function and regulation of ERM proteins under normal physiological conditions as well as in cancer progression, with particular emphasis on cancers of epithelial origin, such as those from breast, lung and prostate. We also discuss any recent developments that have added to the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways these proteins are involved in during cancer progression.
Ιβυκος μυθολόγος. Ερις και έρως
Authors: Χατζημαυρουδή Ελένη
Published: January 2014

Στην παρούσα εργασία εξετάζονται τα Ιβύκεια αποσπάσματα που αναφέρονται στην τρωϊκή έριδα και τον έρωτα. Ο άξονας έρως-έρις αποδεικνύεται ιδιαίτερα χρήσιμος τόσο θεματικά, αφού συχνά τα δύο μοτίβα συνδυάζονται άμεσα ή έμμεσα, όσο και ποιητολογικά, εφόσον ο λυρικός "ερωτροπεί" και "ερίζει" με την παράδοση, προκειμένου να συνθέσει τη δική του ποιητική πρόταση. Στο Α' κεφ. προτείνεται μια νέα ερμηνευτική προσέγγιση της ωδής που απευθύνεται στον Πολυκράτη(5151), ενώ διατυπώνεται μια εικασία σχετικά με την ενότητα του προκειμένου ποιήματος και ενδεχομένως της ωδής ως είδους. Στο β' κεφ. η προσέγγιση παραλλαγών σχετικών με την τρωϊκή έριδα και τον έρωτα, που απαντούν σε άλλα αποσπάσματα του Ρηγίνου Λυρικού αποσαφηνίζουν το βάθος και το εύρος της Ιβύκειας ανάγνωσης. Στο τελευταίο τμήμα του γίνεται λόγος για τα τρία γνωστά ως "ερωτικά" αποσπάσματα του Ρηγίνου(286-288 DAV), όπου μύθος και σύγχρονη του δημιουργού πραγματικότητα διαπλέκονται, προκειμένου να συγκροτηθεί μυθοπλασία ερωτική. Στο Γ' κεφ. ανασυγκροτείται, δειγματοληπτικά ως προς την επιλογή των εξεταζόμενων προσώπων, το ηρωϊκό "ήθος" : όνομα, γενεαλογία και επίθετα ως προσσδιορισμοί συνθέτουν την ταυτότητα των ηρώων αποκαλύπτοντας καίριες ιδιότητές τους στο πλαίσιο της λυρικής ωδής.
Επιφανειακές κατεργασίες μετάλλων με χρήση στερεάς και ρευστοστερεάς κλίνης
Authors: Χριστόγλου Χρήστος
Published: January 2014

Στην παρούσα διατριβή πραγματοποιήθηκε η θεωρητική και πειραματική διερεύνηση της τεχνολογίας επιφανειακής κατεργασίας μεταλλικών υλικών, που βασίζεται στη διεργασία Χημικής Εναπόθεσης Ατμών (CVD - Chemical Vapour Deposition) με χρήση Στερεάς Κλίνης (PBCVD) και Ρευστοστερεάς Κλίνης (FBCVD). Η προστασία των μετάλλων επιτυγχάνεται με την εναπόθεση επιστρωμάτων, τα οποία έχουν σκοπό να παρέχουν αντιδιαβρωτική προστασία στα υλικά. Μελετήθηκαν τέσσερις επιμέρους διεργασίες: I. Διεργασίες σχηματισμού αλουμινιούχων επιστρωμάτων σε υποστρώματα Ni, Fe, Fe-15Cr με τη μέθοδο FBCVD υψηλών θερμοκρασιών, στην περιοχή των 1000 °C. II. Διεργασίες σχηματισμού αλουμινιούχων αντιδιαβρωτικών επιστρωμάτων σε υποστρώματα Ni, Fe, Inconel 738, NiCr23Fe και SS 304, με τη μέθοδο FBCVD χαμηλών θερμοκρασιών, στην περιοχή των 600 °C. III. Διεργασίες σχηματισμού πολυσυστατικών αντιδιαβρωτικών επιστρωμάτων σε υποστρώματα Ni και Fe με τη μέθοδο PBCVD με διεργασία ενός σταδίου υψηλών θερμοκρασιών (Al-Cr-Hf/Y) και με τη μέθοδο FBCVD με διεργασία ενός σταδίου υψηλών θερμοκρασιών (Al-Cr) καθώς και χαμηλής - υψηλής θερμοκρασίας δύο σταδίων (Al-Cr). IV. Διεργασίες σχηματισμού αλουμινιούχων επιστρωμάτων σε υποστρώματα Mg και κραμάτων του με τις μεθόδους PBCVD και FBCVD, καθώς και εμβάπτισης σε αλουμινιούχο αιώρημα ακετόνης. Η θεωρητική μελέτη έδειξε πως όλες οι διεργασίες αυτές μπορούν να οδηγήσουν στο σχηματισμό επιστρωμάτων, τα οποία παρέχουν αντιδιαβρωτική προστασία. Τα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα έδειξαν πως ο σχηματισμός τέτοιων επιστρωμάτων με τις μεθόδους που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν είναι εφικτός. Προσδιορίστηκαν οι πειραματικές αδυναμίες και τα όρια των διεργασιών αυτών. Τέλος, αξιολογήθηκαν τα σχηματιζόμενα επιστρώματα ως προς τα χαρακτηριστικά τους, όπως η συνάφεια με το υπόστρωμα, το πάχος, η ομοιομορφία, η χημική σύσταση, η σκληρότητα, η τραχύτητα και η συμπεριφορά σε διάβρωση. Από τα αποτελέσματα της θεωρητικής και της πειραματικής μελέτης, προτάθηκαν κάποια μαθηματικά μοντέλα τα οποία επιτρέπουν την πρόβλεψη της ανάπτυξης των επιστρωμάτων, ανάλογα με τις εκάστοτε πειραματικές συνθήκες. Τα αποτελέσματα των υπολογισμών βρίσκονται σε αρκετά καλή συμφωνία με τα πειραματικά, ακόμη και εκείνα άλλων ερευνητών.
Η φασματοσκοπία Raman ως εργαλείο ποιοτικής μελέτης των ενώσεων του Βολφραμίου σε τήγματα χλωριούχων αλκαλίων και ποσοτικής ανάλυσης του μετασχηματισμού φάσεων της πολυκρυσταλλικής ζιρκονίας
Authors: Καρούντζος Γεώργιος
Published: January 2014

Στην παρούσα εργασία μελετήθηκαν και χαρακτηρίστηκαν με χρήση της δονητικής φασματοσκοπίας Raman, ως ποιοτικό εργαλείο προσδιορισμού, τα χημικά είδη που σχηματίζονται στα τηγμένα συστήματα LiCl/KCl(eut)-WCl6 και LiCl/KCl(eut)-WCl6-M (όπου Μ = Al, Zn, Pb, W). Βρέθηκε ότι το εξασθενές Βολφράμιο ανάγεται στο τήγμα απευθείας από το ελεύθερο χλωροανιόν (Cl-) προς σχηματισμό του συμπλόκου ιόντος WCl6 -. Προσθήκη μετάλλου στο σύστημα προκαλεί περαιτέρω αναγωγή του πεντασθενούς Βολφραμίου και εμφάνιση του συμπλόκου ιόντος WCl6 2- και καθαρού μετάλλου. Ενδιάμεσες οξειδωτικές βαθμίδες δεν παρατηρήθηκαν. Στην ίδια εργασία η δονητική φασματοσκοπία Raman χρησιμοποιήθηκε επιτυχώς ως ποσοτικό, αυτή τη φορά, εργαλείο προσδιορισμού του μετασχηματισμού της κυβικής σε μονοκλινική Ζιρκονία. Το ενδιαφέρον για αυτή τη μελέτη προέκυψε από την ανάγκη κατασκευής αισθητήρα οξυγόνου ανθεκτικού σε λειτουργία εντός διαβρωτικού περιβάλλοντος τήγματος φθοριούχων αλάτων κατά την ηλεκτροχημική διεργασία επιμετάλλωσης χαλύβδινων εξαρτημάτων με πυρίμαχα μέταλλα (Nb, Ta). Η πολύ καλή αντιδιαβρωτική και πυρίμαχη συμπεριφορά της πλήρως σταθεροποιημένης Ζιρκονίας, σε συνδυασμό με τις βελτιωμένες μηχανικές ιδιότητες και την υψηλή ιοντική αγωγιμότητα που παρουσιάζει, οδήγησαν στην επιλογή του συγκεκριμένου υλικού ως πρώτη ύλη για την κατασκευή του αισθητήρα οξυγόνου. Η μελέτη προτύπων μιγμάτων γνωστής περιεκτικότητας σε μονοκλινική και κυβική σκόνη Ζιρκονίας, οδήγησε στην εξαγωγή ευθειών βάσει των οποίων μπορεί να προσδιορισθεί παγκοσμίως το γραμμομοριακό κλάσμα της μονοκλινικής φάσης οποιουδήποτε μίγματος και των δύο φάσεων, από τις εντάσεις των κορυφών ενός φάσματος Raman και επομένως να εξαχθεί συμπέρασμα για το βαθμό διάβρωσης ενός κεραμικού πλήρως σταθεροποιημένης Ζιρκονίας.
Συμμετρίες στην πυρηνική ύλη και στους Σ υπερπυρήνες
Authors: Γιαπιτζάκης Ιωάννης
Published: January 2014

Στην παρούσα Διατριβή μελετώνται οι ενέργειες και ακτίνες δέκα πυρήνων (, , ), και τριών υπερπυρήνων (, , ). Οι πυρήνες ερευ­νώνται συγχρόνως κβαντομηχανικά και ημικλασσικά, ενώ οι υπερπυ­ρήνες μόνο ημικλασσικά λόγω έλλειψης επαρκών πειραματικών δεδομέ­νων. Επιπλέον της θεμελιώδους κατάστασης, για τα ισότοπα μελε­τώνται τα φάσματα χαμηλών διεγέρσεων. Πέραν του ενδιαφέροντος που παρουσιάζει αυτή καθαυτή η παραπάνω μελέτη των δέκα πυρήνων και η καλή συμφωνία μεταξύ των θεωρητικών προβλέψεων και αντιστοίχων πειραματικών αποτελεσμάτων, η εκλογή των προαναφερθέντων πυρήνων επιτρέπει τη διερεύνηση πιθανού κοινού αιτίου για την εμφάνιση ορισμένων φαινομένων που έχουν παρατηρηθεί πρόσφατα σε ορισμένους από τους λεγόμενους εξωτικούς πυρήνες [π.χ. στο , όπως υπερμεγέθεις ακτίνες νουκλεονίων σθένους, πολύ μικρή ενέργεια σύνδεσης των παραπάνω νου­κλεονίων, ανώμαλη διαδοχή κβαντικών καταστάσεων, κ.α.] και στους πολύ ελαφρείς σταθερούς πυρήνες [δηλαδή στα ισότοπα του και , όπως υψηλές τιμές ορμής για νουκλεόνια του εσωτερικού του πυρήνα και πα­ρουσία ανάμειξης κατάστασης σε πυρήνες του φλοιού 1s]. Φαίνεται ότι πράγματι υπάρχει κοινό αίτιο της εμφάνισης όλων των παραπάνω φαινομένων που είναι η εμφάνιση μιας εσωτερικής συλλογικής περιστροφής ορισμένων νουκλεονίων σε όλους αυτούς τους πυρήνες, ως συνέπεια μιας ατελούς σύζευξης των στροφορμών των νουκλεονίων των πυρήνων αυτών. Η εμπειρία από τους παραπάνω ελαφρείς πυρήνες μεταφέρεται στους ελα­φρείς υπερπυρήνες, γεγονός που αφ’ ενός επιτρέπει μια πρώτη μελέτη τους και αφ’ετέρου οδηγεί σε μια πρώτη πρόβλεψη ύπαρξης παρομοίων ασυνήθων φαινομένων και σ’αυτούς.
Αριθμητική επίλυση διαφορικών εξισώσεων με χρήση ειδικών μεθόδων
Authors: Αναστάση Ζαχαρίας
Published: January 2014

Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εξετάζουμε συστήματα πρωτοβάθμιων συνήθων διαφορικών εξισώσεων με λύση ταλαντωτικής μορφής, τα οποία ολοκληρώνουμε αριθμητικά. Για την επίλυσή τους χρησιμοποιούμε άμεσες μεθόδους Runge-Kutta που ολοκληρώνουν ακριβώς ένα σύνολο από ειδικές συναρτήσεις. Η διατριβή αποτελείται από δύο βασικά μέρη. Στο πρώτο μέρος ασχολούμαστε με τις ιδιότητες της υστέρησης φάσης και της απώλειας. Αρχικά παράγουμε μια οικογένεια μεθόδων πέμπτης αλγεβρικής τάξης με σταθερούς ή μεταβλητούς συντελεστές που έχουν αντίστοιχα μεγιστοποιημένη ή άπειρη τάξη υστέρησης φάσης. Τις μεθόδους αυτές μαζί με μια ομάδα κλασικών μεθόδων τις δοκιμάζουμε σε πέντε γνωστά προβλήματα με ταλαντωτική λύση. Στη συνέχεια κατασκευάζουμε μια μέθοδο με πέμπτη αλγεβρική τάξη, άπειρη τάξη υστέρησης φάσης και άπειρη τάξη απώλειας την οποία συγκρίνουμε με άλλες μεθόδους κατά την ολοκλήρωση τριών γνωστών τροχιακών προβλημάτων. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της διατριβής μελετούμε την ανεξάρτητη του χρόνου μονοδιάστατη ακτινική εξίσωση Schrodinger και κατασκευάζουμε δύο οικογένειες εκθετικά προσαρμοσμένων μεθόδων για την ολοκλήρωσή της. Η πρώτη οικογένεια αποτελείται από δύο μεθόδους πέμπτης αλγεβρικής τάξης και πρώτης και δεύτερης εκθετικής, ενώ η δεύτερη οικογένεια αποτελείται από τρεις μεθόδους έκτης αλγεβρικής τάξης και πρώτης, δεύτερης και τρίτης εκθετικής. Μετά από ανάλυση του τοπικού σφάλματος αποκοπής όλων των μεθόδων επισημαίνουμε τον κρίσιμο ρόλο που παίζει ο μέγιστος εκθέτης της ενέργειας στο σφάλμα. Παρατηρούμε την αύξηση της αποδοτικότητας των εκθετικά προσαρμοσμένων μεθόδων σε σχέση με τις κλασικές και ειδικά για μεγάλες τιμές της ενέργειας.
Εικονική πραγματικότητα και μοντέλα παραμόρφωσης στην ιατρική εκπαίδευση μέσω διαδικτύου
Authors: Δημητρόπουλος Κοσμάς
Published: January 2014

Οι εφαρμογές προσομοιώσεων μέσω του διαδικτύου με σκοπό την εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευση στην ιατρική αποτελούν μία ανερχόμενη και πολλά υποσχόμενη τεχνολογία, η οποία αναμένεται τα επόμενα χρόνια να διαδραματίσει σημαντικό ρόλο στην εκπαίδευση των φοιτητών της ιατρικής. Πέρα από τα σημαντικά πλεονεκτήματα που επιτυγχάνονται από τη χρήση του διαδικτύου ως μέσου μετάδοσης της πληροφορίας, ο απώτερος σκοπός της νέας αυτής τεχνολογίας είναι να αποτελέσει το έναυσμα της δημιουργίας μιας διαδικτυακής πλατφόρμας, η οποία θα είναι προσβάσιμη από όλους τους χρήστες του διαδικτύου και θα αποτελείται από ένα πλήθος προσομοιώσεων για την κάλυψη ενός μεγάλου φάσματος ιατρικών εφαρμογών στα πλαίσια μιας ενοποιημένης διαδικτυακής εκπαίδευσης. Η ανάπτυξη, ωστόσο, τέτοιου είδους εφαρμογών παραμένει ακόμα περιορισμένη παρά τις σύγχρονες δυνατότητες που προσφέρουν τόσο η τεχνολογία του διαδικτύου όσο και αυτή της εικονικής πραγματικότητας. Ο λόγος είναι οι υψηλές απαιτήσεις των εφαρμογών αυτών από πλευράς ρεαλισμού και ταχύτητας καθιστώντας απαραίτητη τη ρεαλιστική μοντελοποίηση τόσο της αναπαράστασης όσο και της συμπεριφοράς των τρισδιάστατων μοντέλων. Ιδιαίτερα στην περίπτωση της μοντελοποίησης της συμπεριφοράς των ιατρικών μοντέλων απαιτείται η χρησιμοποίηση κατάλληλων αλγορίθμων, οι οποίοι ονομάζονται μοντέλα παραμόρφωσης, που θα επιτυγχάνουν ρεαλιστικά αποτελέσματα σε πραγματικό χρόνο. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής επιχειρήθηκε η μελέτη του παραπάνω ερευνητικού χώρου με σκοπό την ανάπτυξη μιας νέας μεθόδου μοντελοποίησης της παραμόρφωσης λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τις συγκεκριμένες απαιτήσεις των ιατρικών διαδικτυακών προσομοιώσεων. Παράλληλα, επιχειρήθηκε η ανάπτυξη μιας εφαρμογής διαδικτυακής ιατρικής προσομοίωσης, σε συνεργασία με την Ιατρική Σχολή του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου, αποσκοπώντας στην τρισδιάστατη αναπαράσταση της κυτταρικής δομής του ανθρώπινου ήπατος αλλά και στην παρουσίαση της εξέλιξης μιας συγκεκριμένης παθολογικής κατάστασης με τη βοήθεια του μοντέλου παραμόρφωσης, που αναπτύχθηκε στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής. Τέλος, μελετώντας το γενικότερο πρόβλημα της εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευσης των φοιτητών της ιατρικής και θεωρώντας ότι η ιατρική εκπαίδευση δε μπορεί να περιορίζεται απλώς στην ανάπτυξη συστημάτων προσομοιώσεων, επιχειρήθηκε η καινοτόμος σχεδίαση και ανάπτυξη ενός ολοκληρωμένου υπερμεσικού εκπαιδευτικού εικονικού περιβάλλοντος, το οποίο συνδυάζει χαρακτηριστικά που αναπτύσσονται σε μία πραγματική εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία με τη δυνατότητα χρήσης ιατρικών προσομοιώσεων.
Πειραματικοί σχεδιασμοί και γραφήματα
Authors: Καραγιάννης Βασίλης
Published: January 2014

H παρούσα διατριβή αποτελεί μια μελέτη επάνω στην κατασκευή πειραματικών σχεδιασμών (τον πρώτο από τους τρεις στόχους της επιστήμης της Στατιστικής R.A.Fisher). Συγκεκριμένα μελετώνται οι κορεσμένοι d-βέλτιστοι s1xs2xs3 παραγοντικοί σχεδιασμοί εκτιμητικής τάξης ΙΙΙ, δηλαδή σχέδια πειραμάτων στα οποία υπεισέρχονται τρεις παράγοντες με οποιοδήποτε πλήθος σταθμών και τα οποία έχουν ως στόχο την εκτίμηση των κυρίων επιδράσεων των σταθμών των παραγόντων ελαχιστοποιώντας τη γενικευμένη διασπορά και χρησιμοποιώντας το ελάχιστο πλήθος πειραματικών μονάδων. Παρουσιάζονται και αποδεικνύονται αρκετές ιδιότητες αυτών των σχεδιασμών για κάθε τιμή των παραμέτρων s1, s2,, s3. Αποδεικνύεται η τιμή του άνω φράγματος της ορίζουσας του πίνακα πληροφορίας για τις περιπτώσεις 3xs2xs3, s3>=s2+1, s2>=3 και 3xs2 για κάθε s>=3, ενώ στη συνέχεια κατασκευάζονται με τη μέθοδο της σύνθεσης με περιττά μονοπάτια (αυτιά) τα γραφήματα των οποίων η απόλυτη τιμή της ορίζουσας του πίνακα συνδέσεων πετυχαίνει τα αντίστοιχα προηγούμενα άνω φράγματα. Τέλος χρησιμοποιώντας σημασμένα γραφήματα δίνουμε τους συνδυασμούς των σταθμών των παραγόντων (αγωγές) που πρόκειται να συμπεριληφθούν κατά την εκτέλεση των αντίστοιχων βέλτιστων πειραμάτων για οποιεσδήποτε τιμές των παραμέτρων. Οι αποδεικτικές διαδικασίες που ακολουθούμε βασίζονται κυρίως σε μεθόδους της Θεωρίας των Γραφημάτων και γενικότερα των Διακριτών Μαθηματικών, ενώ χαρακτηριστικό της μελέτης είναι ότι ο υπολογισμός των οριζουσών των πινάκων στηρίζεται εξ’ ολοκλήρου στις πράξεις της πρόσθεσης και της αφαίρεσης