bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF THE ANTIDEPRESSANT EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF PILEA MICROPHYLLA IN MICE
Authors: IBRAHIM DARAH , CHAHARDEHI AMIR MODARRESI , ABOLHASSANI FARID
Published: February 2013

To date, the search for novel pharmacotherapy from medicinal plants for psychiatric illnesses has significantly progressed. This study investigated the effect of selected crude extracts from Pilea microphylla in the mouse forced test (FST) and in the tail suspension test (TST), two models predictive of antidepressant activity. Selected crude extracts from Pilea microphylla produced an antidepressant–like effect, since the acute treatment of mice with extracts by intraperitoneal (i.p.) route significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST (50 and 100 mg/kg) and TST (50 and 100 mg/kg), as compared to positive controls (haloperidol and fluoxetine) at 1 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. The antidepressant–like effect of extracts was found to be significant at high doses, followed by an increase in the immobility time at dose of 100 mg/kg. A significant decreased of immobility was also found on the third day at the concentration of 100 mg/kg of chloroform extract of Pilea microphylla from extraction method II (CEPM II) and ethyl acetate extract of Pilea microphyllafrom extraction method II (EAEPM II); (except methanol extract ofPilea microphylla from extraction method I (MEPM I) at 100 mg/kg) with respect to the first day. Ethyl acetate and chloroform extract from extraction method II when administered at an acute dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight (P < 0.05) reduced the immobility time. Among all the three selected extracts with two doses administered there were differences compared to the control, EAEPM II led to reduction of immobility time, in the FST method by 38.50% for 50 mg/kg to as much as 75.97% for 100 mg/kg. Similar results of increased antidepressant effect, that was, of immobility time depending on the concentration administered, were obtained with the TST method. These results suggested the anti–depression activity of the plant extract. Therefore, P. microphylla may be served as a potential resource for natural psychotherapeutic agent against depression. However, further studies are still required.
Controlling the silicon nanowire tapering angle in dense arrays of silicon nanowires using deep reactive ion etching
Authors: Engstrom Daniel S. , Soh Yeong-Ah
Published: February 2013

The authors report on a method to control the tapering of dense arrays of sub-100 nm diameter silicon nanowires with aspect ratios larger than 30:1 using a dynamic modulation of the etch cycle time in a deep reactive ion etch process using the Bosch method. They show that when using static process parameters, dense arrays of silicon nanowires suffer from an incomplete removal of deposited passivation layer, resulting in tapered nanowires that are thicker at the base and that this effect is enhanced for dense nanowire arrays. When the gap between the nanowires is reduced from 500 to 200 nm, the tapering angle increases by up to 2°. By gradually ramping up the etch cycle time, the authors show that the nanowire tapering angle can be changed by more than 5°. The authors also show that the tapering angle sensitivity to etch cycle ramping depends on the platen power due to changes in the ion collimation.
Protein Complex–Based Analysis Framework for High-Throughput Data Sets
Authors: Vinayagam Arunachalam , Hu Yanhui , Kulkarni Meghana , Roesel Charles , Sopko Richelle , Mohr Stephanie E. , Perrimon Norbert
Published: February 2013

An analysis tool maps network dynamics at the protein complex level in multiple species.
Keeping Antibody Production Going
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2013

Autophagy is required for the maintenance of antibody production by plasma cells.
Mutant HSP70 Reverses Autoimmune Depigmentation in Vitiligo
Authors: Mosenson Jeffrey A. , Zloza Andrew , Nieland John D. , Garrett-Mayer Elizabeth , Eby Jonathan M. , Huelsmann Erica J. , Kumar Previn , Denman Cecele J. , Lacek Andrew T. , Kohlhapp Frederick J. , Alamiri Ahmad , Hughes Tasha , Bines Steven D. , Kaufman Howard L. , Overbeck Andreas , Mehrotra Shikhar , Hernandez Claudia , Nishimura Michael I. , Guevara-Patino Jose A. , Le Poole I. Caroline
Published: February 2013

Vitiligo can be reversed through immune targeting with mutant heat shock protein 70.
The Buzz in Chronic Wound Treatment
Authors: Shrout Joshua D.
Published: February 2013

Honey can be used as an antimicrobial to treat common bacteria in chronic skin wound infections.
Regulation of Herpes Simplex Virus gB-Induced Cell-Cell Fusion by Mutant Forms of gH/gL in the Absence of gD and Cellular Receptors
Authors: Atanasiu Doina , Cairns Tina M. , Whitbeck J. Charles , Saw Wan Ting , Rao Samhita , Eisenberg Roselyn J. , Cohen Gary H.
Published: February 2013

Herpesvirus entry requires the viral glycoprotein triad of gB and gH/gL to carry out fusion between the virion envelope and a cellular membrane in order to release the nucleocapsid into the target cell. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) also requires glycoprotein gD to initiate the fusion cascade by binding a cell receptor such as nectin 1 or herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM). While the structure of gB is that of a class III fusion protein, gH/gL has no features that resemble other viral fusion proteins. Instead, it is suggested that gH/gL acts as a regulator of gB. The crystal structure of HSV-2 gH/gL was obtained with a functional protein that had a deletion of 28 residues at the gH N terminus (gHΔ48/gL). Unexplainably, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with virus-neutralizing activity map to these residues. To reconcile these two disparate observations, we studied the ability of gHΔ48/gL to regulate fusion. Here, we show that the protein induces low (constitutive) levels of fusion by gB in the absence of gD and/or receptor. However, when gD and receptor are present, this mutant functions as well as does wild-type (wt) gH/gL for fusion. We propose that gHΔ48/gL has an intermediate structure on the pathway leading to full regulatory activation. We suggest that a key step in the pathway of fusion is the conversion of gH/gL to an activated state by receptor-bound gD; this activated gH/gL resembles gHΔ48/gL.

IMPORTANCE
Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) cause many human diseases, from mild cold sores to lethal neonatal herpes. As an enveloped virus, HSV must fuse its membrane with a host membrane in order for replication to take place. The virus uses four glycoproteins for this process, gD, gB, and gH/gL, and either of two cell receptors, herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) and nectin 1. Although the virus can enter the cell by direct fusion at the plasma membrane or via endocytosis, the same four glycoproteins are involved. The absence of any of these proteins abolishes the entry process. Here, we show that a mutant form of gH/gL, gHΔ48/gL, can induce fusion of gB-expressing cells in the absence of gD and a gD receptor. Our study supports the concept that gB is the HSV fusogen and its activity is regulated by gH/gL.
Detection of potential suberinase-encoding genes in Streptomyces scabiei strains and other actinobacteria
Authors: Komeil Doaa , Simao-Beaunoir Anne-Marie , Beaulieu Carole
Published: February 2013

Streptomyces scabiei causes common scab, an economically important disease of potato tubers. Some authors have previously suggested that S. scabiei penetration into host plant tissue is facilitated by secretion of esterase enzymes degrading suberin, a lipidic biopolymer of the potato periderm. In the present study, S. scabiei EF-35 showed high esterase activity in suberin-containing media. This strain also exhibited esterase activity in the presence of other biopolymers, such as lignin, cutin, or xylan, but at a much lower level. In an attempt to identify the esterases involved in suberin degradation, translated open reading frames of S. scabiei 87-22 were examined for the presence of protein sequences corresponding to extracellular esterases of S. scabiei FL1 and of the fungus Coprinopsis cinerea VTT D-041011, which have previously been shown to be produced in the presence of suberin. Two putative extracellular suberinase genes, estA and sub1, were identified. The presence of these genes in several actinobacteria was investigated by Southern blot hybridization, and both genes were found in most common-scab-inducing strains. Moreover, reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction performed with S. scabiei EF-35 showed that estA was expressed in the presence of various biopolymers, including suberin, whereas the sub1 gene appeared to be specifically expressed in the presence of suberin and cutin.
Impact of age and sex on response to ischemic preconditioning in the rat heart: differential role of the PI3K–AKT pathway
Authors: Ledvenyiova Veronika , Pancza Dezider , Matejiková Jana , Ferko Miroslav , Bernatova Iveta , Ravingerova Tanya
Published: February 2013

Sex and aging represent important factors that determine morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in the human population. This study aimed to investigate the impact of aging on the response to ischemia–reperfusion in male and female rat hearts, and to explore a potential role of the PI3K–Akt pathway in the cardioprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in the myocardium of younger and older adult males and females. Langendorff-perfused nonpreconditioned and preconditioned hearts of 12- and 18-week-old male and female Wistar rats were subjected to regional ischemia and reperfusion with or without prior perfusion with the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin for the evaluation of ischemia-induced arrhythmias and the size of myocardial infarction (infarct size; IS). Aging did not modify IS in both sexes; however, it markedly increased susceptibility to arrhythmias. Although IPC effectively reduced IS in males and females of both ages, only the hearts of males and 18-week-old females benefited from its antiarrhythmic effect. In the preconditioned 12-week-old females, but not the 18-week-old females, and in males of both ages, wortmannin blunted the anti-infarct effect of IPC. In conclusion, activation of the PI3K–Akt pathway plays an important role in protection against lethal injury conferred by IPC in males irrespective of age. The IS-limiting effect of IPC appears to be PI3K–Akt-dependent only in the 12-week-old females.
SPACETIMES WITH ALL SCALAR CURVATURE INVARIANTS IN TERMS OF A COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
Authors: McNUTT DAVID
Published: February 2013

In this paper we provide an invariant characterization for all spacetimes with all polynomial scalar invariants constructed from the Riemann tensor and its covariant derivatives vanishing except those zeroth-order curvature invariants expressed as polynomials in Λ, the cosmological constant. Using this invariant description we provide an explicit forms for the metric.
COHERENT STATES IN GRAVITATIONAL QUANTUM MECHANICS
Authors: PEDRAM POURIA
Published: February 2013

We present the coherent states of the harmonic oscillator in the framework of the generalized (gravitational) uncertainty principle (GUP). This form of GUP is consistent with various theories of quantum gravity such as string theory, loop quantum gravity and black-hole physics and implies a minimal measurable length. Using a recently proposed formally self-adjoint representation, we find the GUP-corrected Hamiltonian as a generator of the generalized Heisenberg algebra. Then following Klauder's approach, we construct exact coherent states and obtain the corresponding normalization coefficients, weight functions and probability distributions. We find the entropy of the system and show that it decreases in the presence of the minimal length. These results could shed light on possible detectable Planck-scale effects within recent experimental tests.
ON ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS OF f(R) MODIFIED GRAVITY THEORIES IN FLRW COSMOLOGIES
Authors: DOMAZET SILVIJE , RADOVANOVIĆ VOJA , SIMONOVIĆ MARKO , ŠTEFANČIĆ HRVOJE
Published: February 2013

A novel analytical method for f(R) modified theories without matter in Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) spacetimes is introduced. The equation of motion for the scale factor in terms of cosmic time is reduced to the equation for the evolution of the Ricci scalar R with the Hubble parameter H. The solution of equation of motion for actions of the form of power law in Ricci scalar R is presented with a detailed elaboration of the action quadratic in R. The reverse use of the introduced method is exemplified in finding functional forms f(R), which leads to specified scale factor functions. The analytical solutions are corroborated by numerical calculations with excellent agreement. Possible further applications to the phases of inflationary expansion and late-time acceleration as well as f(R) theories with radiation are outlined.
Synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and catalytic properties in DDT reductive dechlorinationin of iron(II) phthalocyanine, 2,3- and 3,4-tetrapyridinoporphyrazine complexes
Authors: Shao Jianguo , Richards Kema , Rawlins Dwayne , Han Baocheng , Hansen Christopher A.
Published: February 2013

Iron(II) 2,3- and 3,4-tetrapyridinoporphyrazine complexes (2,3-PyD and 3,4-PyD) were synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemistry, UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry and catalytic properties towards the reductive dechlorination of 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (p,p′-DDT) in pyridine, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N′-dimethylacetamide (DMA) and N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF). These properties were compared with those of the unsubstituted iron(II) phthalocyanine ((Pc) Fe ). Electrochemistry indicates that there are up to three reductions and one oxidation in the three investigated derivatives. The easiest reduction takes place for 3,4-PyD while the most difficult one occurs for (Pc) Fe in all of the solvents investigated. The first reduction is metal-centered corresponding to the formation of [P(-2)Fe(I)]- while the second and third reductions are ring-centered leading stepwise to the generation of [P(-3)Fe(I)]2- · and [P(-4)Fe(I)]3- , where P = phthalocyanine or tetrapyridinoporphyrazine rings. Aggregation exists in the solutions of all three iron complexes and its extent depends upon the nature and concentration of the iron compounds and the binding property of each solvent. The order of the extent of aggregation for the three iron derivatives is 3,4-PyD > 2,3-PyD > (Pc) Fe . Stronger binding solvents such as pyridine and DMSO do not favor the aggregation. The singly and doubly reduced species of investigated complexes, [P(-2)Fe(I)]- and [P(-3)Fe(I)]2- · , are active in DDT reductive dechlorination, the latter of which has better catalytic performance. As a result, three products, 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane (p,p′-DDD), 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), and 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethylene (p,p′-DDMU), were obtained after the dechlorination of DDT catalyzed by each iron complex. The increasing order of catalytic performance is 3,4-PyD < 2,3-PyD < (Pc) Fe in pyridine, which is superior to DMSO and DMA for the DDT dechlorination reaction. An overall electrocatalytic mechanism is proposed for DDT reductive degradation based on the electrochemical and UV-visible spectroelectrochemical results.
Shattering-Extremal Set Systems of Small VC-Dimension
Authors: Mészáros Tamás , Rónyai Lajos
Published: February 2013

We say that a set system ℱ⊆2[n] shatters a given set S⊆[n] if 2S={F∩S:F∈ℱ}. The Sauer inequality states that in general, a set system ℱ shatters at least |ℱ| sets. Here, we concentrate on the case of equality. A set system is called shattering-extremal if it shatters exactly |ℱ| sets. We characterize shattering extremal set systems of Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension 1 in terms of their inclusion graphs. Also, from the perspective of extremality, we relate set systems of bounded Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension to their projections.
Are We Learning Enough Pathology in Medical School to Prepare Us for Postgraduate Training and Examinations?
Authors: Marsdin Emma , Biswas Seema
Published: February 2013

Medical schools responded to the first publication of Tomorrow’s Doctors with an abbreviated syllabus and a reduction in didactic teaching hours. Prescribing errors, however, have increased, and there is a perception amongst clinicians that junior doctors know less about the pathological basis of disease. We asked junior doctors how useful they thought their undergraduate teaching in pathology had been in their postgraduate training. We had 70 questionnaire responses from junior doctors within a single deanery and found that although almost every doctor, (96%), thought that pathology formed a major component of their postgraduate exams, most, (67%), thought that their undergraduate teaching left them unprepared for their postgraduate careers, and they had to learn basic principles, as they revised for postgraduate exams. Few used a pathology text for learning, most doctors, (91%), relying on question and answer revision resources for exam preparation. Perhaps, as revision materials are used so widely, they might be adapted for long-term deep learning, alongside clinical work. This presents an opportunity for pathologists, deaneries, royal colleges, and publishing houses to work together in the preparation of quality written and online material readily accessible to junior doctors in their workplace.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Review of Recent Advancements
Authors: Gomez Palacio Schjetnan Andrea , Faraji Jamshid , Metz Gerlinde A. , Tatsuno Masami , Luczak Artur
Published: February 2013

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising technique to treat a wide range of neurological conditions including stroke. The pathological processes following stroke may provide an exemplary system to investigate how tDCS promotes neuronal plasticity and functional recovery. Changes in synaptic function after stroke, such as reduced excitability, formation of aberrant connections, and deregulated plastic modifications, have been postulated to impede recovery from stroke. However, if tDCS could counteract these negative changes by influencing the system’s neurophysiology, it would contribute to the formation of functionally meaningful connections and the maintenance of existing pathways. This paper is aimed at providing a review of underlying mechanisms of tDCS and its application to stroke. In addition, to maximize the effectiveness of tDCS in stroke rehabilitation, future research needs to determine the optimal stimulation protocols and parameters. We discuss how stimulation parameters could be optimized based on electrophysiological activity. In particular, we propose that cortical synchrony may represent a biomarker of tDCS efficacy to indicate communication between affected areas. Understanding the mechanisms by which tDCS affects the neural substrate after stroke and finding ways to optimize tDCS for each patient are key to effective rehabilitation approaches.
Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome: A Rare Case of Disorder of Sex Development
Authors: Pizzo Alfonsa , Laganà Antonio Simone , Borrielli Irene , Dugo Nella
Published: February 2013

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) could be considered as a disease that causes resistance to androgens actions, influencing both the morphogenesis and differentiation of the body structures, and systems in which this hormone exerts its effects. It depends on an X-linked mutations in the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene that express a variety of phenotypes ranging from male infertility to completely normal female external genitalia. The clinical phenotypes of AIS could vary and be classified into three categories, as complete (CAIS), partial (PAIS), and mild (MAIS) forms, according to the severity of androgen resistance. We will describe a case of CAIS in a 16-year-old patient.
Prevalence of Oral Habits in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Barsi Paula Caroline , Ribeiro da Silva Thaieny , Costa Beatriz , da Silva Dalben Gisele
Published: February 2013

This study investigated the prevalence of oral habits in children with clefts aged three to six years, compared to a control group of children without clefts in the same age range, and compared the oral habits between children with clefts with and without palatal fistulae. The sample was composed of 110 children aged 3 to 6 years with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate and 110 children without alterations. The prevalence of oral habits and the correlation between habits and presence of fistulae (for children with clefts) were analyzed by questionnaires applied to the children caretakers. The cleft influenced the prevalence of oral habits, with lower prevalence of pacifier sucking for children with cleft lip and palate and higher prevalence for all other habits, with significant association (). There was no significant association between oral habits and presence of fistulae (). The lower prevalence of pacifier sucking and higher prevalence of other oral habits agreed with the postoperative counseling to remove the pacifier sucking habit when the child is submitted to palatoplasty, possibly representing a substitution of habits. There was no causal relationship between habits and presence of palatal fistulae.
Cooling Performance Characteristics on Mobile Air-Conditioning System for Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Lee Ho-Seong , Lee Moo-Yeon
Published: February 2013

This study investigates the cooling performance characteristics of the mobile air-conditioning system using R744 (CO2) for the hybrid electric vehicle as an alternative to both the R-134a and the conventional air-conditioning system. The developed air-conditioning system is operated with an electric driven compressor in the battery driving mode and a belt driven compressor in the engine driving mode. The cooling performance characteristics of the developed system have been analyzed by experiments under various operating conditions of inlet air temperature, air flow rates for the gas cooler side and evaporator side, and electric compressor revolution respectively. As a result, cooling performances of the tested air-conditioning system for the EDC driving mode (electricity driven compressor) were better than those for the BDC driving mode (belt driven compressor). The cooling capacity and cooling COP of the tested air-conditioning system for both driving modes were over 5.0 kW and 2.0, respectively. The observed cooling performance of the tested air-conditioning system may be sufficient for the cabin cooling of hybrid electric vehicles.
Syngas Generation from Methane Using a Chemical‐Looping Concept: A Review of Oxygen Carriers
Authors: Li Kongzhai , Wang Hua , Wei Yonggang
Published: February 2013

Conversion of methane to syngas using a chemical‐looping concept is a novel method for syngas generation. This process is based on the transfer of gaseous oxygen source to fuel (e.g., methane) by means of a cycling process using solid oxides as oxygen carriers to avoid direct contact between fuel and gaseous oxygen. Syngas is produced through the gas‐solid reaction between methane and solid oxides (oxygen carriers), and then the reduced oxygen carriers can be regenerated by a gaseous oxidant, such as air or water. The oxygen carrier is recycled between the two steps, and the syngas with a ratio of H2/CO = 2.0 can be obtained successively. Air is used instead of pure oxygen allowing considerable cost savings, and the separation of fuel from the gaseous oxidant avoids the risk of explosion and the dilution of product gas with nitrogen. The design and elaboration of suitable oxygen carriers is a key issue to optimize this method. As one of the most interesting oxygen storage materials, ceria‐based and perovskite oxides were paid much attention for this process. This paper briefly introduced the recent research progresses on the oxygen carriers used in the chemical‐looping selective oxidation of methane (CLSOM) to syngas.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Associated with FOLFOX Chemotherapy
Authors: Porcello Marrone Luiz Carlos , Marrone Bianca Fontana , Pascoal Tharick Ali , Schilling Lucas Porcello , Soder Ricardo Bernardi , Ferreira Sheila Schuch , Gadonski Giovani , da Costa Jaderson Costa
Published: February 2013

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiologic entity characterized by headaches, altered mental status, seizures, visual loss, and characteristic imaging pattern in brain MRI. The cause of PRES is not yet understood. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman that developed PRES after the use of FOLFOX 5 (oxaliplatin/5-Fluoracil/Leucovorin) chemotherapy for a colorectal cancer.
A Comparison between Revised NCEP ATP III and IDF Definitions in Diagnosing Metabolic Syndrome in an Urban Sri Lankan Population: The Ragama Health Study
Authors: Chackrewarthy S. , Gunasekera D. , Pathmeswaren A. , Wijekoon C. N. , Ranawaka U. K. , Kato N. , Takeuchi F. , Wickremasinghe A. R.
Published: February 2013

Background. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) within individual cohorts varies with the definition used. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of MetS between IDF and revised NCEP ATP III criteria in an urban Sri Lankan population and to investigate the characteristics of discrepant cases. Methods. 2985 individuals, aged 35–65 years, were recruited to the study. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and laboratory investigations were carried out following standard protocols.
Results. Age and sex-adjusted prevalences of MetS were 46.1% and 38.9% by revised NCEP and IDF definitions, respectively. IDF criteria failed to identify 21% of men and 7% of women identified by the revised NCEP criteria. The discrepant group had more adverse metabolic profiles despite having a lower waist circumference than those diagnosed by both criteria. Conclusion. MetS is common in this urban Sri Lankan cohort regardless of the definition used. The revised NCEP definition was more appropriate in identifying the metabolically abnormal but nonobese individuals, especially among the males predisposed to type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to determine the suitability of the currently accepted Asian-specific cut-offs for waist circumference in Sri Lankan adults.
Buckling of Euler Columns with a Continuous Elastic Restraint via Homotopy Analysis Method
Authors: Eryılmaz Aytekin , Atay M. Tarık , Coşkun Safa B. , Başbük Musa
Published: February 2013

Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM) is applied to find the critical buckling load of the Euler columns with continuous elastic restraints. HAM has been successfully applied to many linear and nonlinear, ordinary and partial, differential equations, integral equations, and difference equations. In this study, we presented the application of HAM to the critical buckling loads for Euler columns with five different support cases continuous elastic restraints. The results are compared with the analytic solutions.
Determination of NH4+ in Environmental Water with Interfering Substances Using the Modified Nessler Method
Authors: Jeong Heonsang , Park Jongtaek , Kim Hyunook
Published: February 2013

Nitrogen is an essential element in the environment. If excess nitrogen including is present in water, however, it can result in algae blooming and eventually the destruction of the aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, the determination of in streams, lakes, and effluents of the treatment facilities has long been carried out. The Nessler method is the most common spectrophotometric method to measure in water. However, the result of the method becomes inaccurate if there are interfering substances such as Cl2, Cl−, hardness‐causing compounds (e.g., Mg2+), and Fe2+ in target water samples. In this study, therefore, the traditional Nessler method has been modified to eliminate the effects of interfering substances; the so‐called MS was added to water samples. In addition, the polyvinyl alcohol reagent as a dispersing agent was added to water samples to increase the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method. The modified method could successfully analyze of water samples even with the interfering substance at high concentration.
A New Case of dic(1;15)(p11;p11) in AML M1: Apropos of a Case and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Şahin Deniz Gören , Durak Beyhan , Gündüz Eren , Artan Sevilhan , Akay Olga Meltem
Published: February 2013

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) develops as the consequence of a series of genetic changes in a hematopoietic precursor cell. Specific cytogenetic abnormalities have been identified by karyotype analysis in AML. One of the rare chromosomal abnormalities is a dicentric chromosome, which is defined as an aberrant chromosome having two centromeres. In the literature, a limited number of cases have been reported with dic(1;15) in myeloid disorders, but only one case has been reported with in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. Herein, we report a case of acute myelogenous leukemia without maturation with a dic(1;15)(p11;p11), resulting in trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 1. To date, this is the second case of dic(1;15) in acute myelogenous leukemia and the first case in acute myeloblastic leukemia without maturation.
Client-Driven Joint Cache Management and Rate Adaptation for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP
Authors: Liu Chenghao , Hannuksela Miska M. , Gabbouj Moncef
Published: February 2013

Due to the fact that proxy-driven proxy cache management and the client-driven streaming solution of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) are two independent processes, some difficulties and challenges arise in media data management at the proxy cache and rate adaptation at the DASH client. This paper presents a novel client-driven joint proxy cache management and DASH rate adaptation method, named CLICRA, which moves prefetching intelligence from the proxy cache to the client. Based on the philosophy of CLICRA, this paper proposes a rate adaptation algorithm, which selects bitrates for the next media segments to be requested by using the predicted buffered media time in the client. CLICRA is realized by conveying information on the segments that are likely to be fetched subsequently to the proxy cache so that it can use the information for prefetching. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional segment-fetch-time-based rate adaptation and the proxy-driven proxy cache management significantly not only in streaming quality at the client but also in bandwidth and storage usage in proxy caches.
Sliding Mode Control for Markovian Switching Singular Systems with Time-Varying Delays and Nonlinear Perturbations
Authors: Yang Guowei , Kao Yonggui , Li Wei
Published: February 2013

This paper is devoted to investigating sliding mode control (SMC) for Markovian switching singular systems with time-varying delays and nonlinear perturbations. The sliding mode controller is designed to guarantee that the nonlinear singular system is stochastically admissible and its trajectory can reach the sliding surface in finite time. By using Lyapunov functional method, some criteria on stochastically admissible are established in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the obtained results.
Establishing Reference Intervals for Bone Turnover Markers in the Healthy Shanghai Population and the Relationship with Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Hu Wei-Wei , Zhang Zeng , He Jin-Wei , Fu Wen-Zhen , Wang Chun , Zhang Hao , Yue Hua , Gu Jie-Mei , Zhang Zhen-Lin
Published: February 2013

The reference ranges of bone turnover markers (BTMs) were important during the treatment of osteoporosis, and the associations with bone mineral density (BMD) were controversial. The aim of this study was to establish the reference ranges of N-terminal procollagen of type l collagen (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC), and beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX) in Shanghai area and to investigate the relationships between BTMs and BMD in postmenopausal women. 2,799 subjects recruited in Shanghai City were measured BTMs to establish the reference ranges. Additional 520 healthy postmenopausal women were also measured BTMs, these women measured BMD in addition. BTMs were measured using the Roche electrochemiluminescence system. We used the age range of 35 to 45-year-olds to calculate reference intervals. The reference range of OC was 4.91 to 13.90 ng/mL for women and 5.58 to 16.57 ng/mL for men, P1NP was 13.72 to 32.90 ng/mL for women and 16.89 to 42.43 ng/mL for men, andβ-CTX was 0.112 to 0.210 ng/mL for women and 0.100 to 0.378 ng/mL for men. BTMs significantly negatively correlated with lumbar spine and femoral and total hip in postmenopausal women ( = −0.157~−0.217,P< 0.001). We established the normal reference ranges of P1NP, OC, andβ-CTX in the Shanghai area. This study also found that BTMs correlated with BMD and suggested that BTMs were the key determining factors of early BMD decreases.
Long-Term Use of a Static Hand-Wrist Orthosis in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Andringa Aukje , van de Port Ingrid , Meijer Jan-Willem
Published: February 2013

Background. Long-term splinting, using static orthoses to prevent contractures, is widely accepted in stroke patients with paresis of the upper limb. A number of stroke patients complain about increased pain and spasticity, which leads to the nonuse of the orthosis and a risk of developing a clenched fist.Objectives. Evaluating long-term use of static hand-wrist orthoses and experienced comfort in chronic stroke patients.Methods. Eleven stroke patients who were advised to use a static orthosis for at least one year ago were included. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted to explore the long-term use and experienced comfort with the orthosis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results. After at least one year, seven patients still wore the orthosis for the prescribed hours per day. Two patients were unable to wear the orthosis 8 hours per day, due to poor comfort. Two patients stopped using the orthosis because of an increase in spasticity or pain.Conclusions. These pilot data suggest that a number of stroke patients cannot tolerate a static orthosis over a long-term period because of discomfort. Without appropriate treatment opportunities, these patients will remain at risk of developing a clenched fist and will experience problems with daily activities and hygiene maintenance.
Contribution of Transcriptomics to Systems-Level Understanding of MethanogenicArchaea
Authors: Browne Patrick D. , Cadillo-Quiroz Hinsby
Published: February 2013

Methane-producingArchaeaare of interest due to their contribution to atmospheric change and for their roles in technological applications including waste treatment and biofuel production. Although restricted to anaerobic environments, methanogens are found in a wide variety of habitats, where they commonly live in syntrophic relationships with bacterial partners. Owing to tight thermodynamic constraints of methanogenesis alone or in syntrophic metabolism, methanogens must carefully regulate their catabolic pathways including the regulation of RNA transcripts. The transcriptome is a dynamic and important control point in microbial systems. This paper assesses the impact of mRNA (transcriptome) studies on the understanding of methanogenesis with special consideration given to how methanogenesis is regulated to cope with nutrient limitation, environmental variability, and interactions with syntrophic partners. In comparison with traditional microarray-based transcriptome analyses, next-generation high-throughput RNA sequencing is greatly advantageous in assessing transcription start sites, the extent of 5′ untranslated regions, operonic structure, and the presence of small RNAs. We are still in the early stages of understanding RNA regulation but it is already clear that determinants beyond transcript abundance are highly relevant to the lifestyles of methanogens, requiring further study.
Giant Improvement on the Afterglow of Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+,Dy3+ Phosphor by Systematic Investigation on Various Parameters
Authors: Luitel Hom Nath , Watari Takanori , Chand Rumi , Torikai Toshio , Yada Mitsunori
Published: February 2013

Highly intense, long persistent Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+,Dy3+ blue-green phosphor with different B3+, Eu2+, Dy3+, and Ag+ contents was prepared by solid-phase reaction at various temperatures in reductive atmosphere of 10% H2 in N2. The effects of synthesis parameters like calcination temperature and time, calcination environment, effect of stoichiometry of the host composition, and additives like addition of boron and rare earth ions (Eu, Dy) were studied in detail. Results revealed that the phosphor containing ~40 mol% H3BO3 showed dense and pure Sr4Al14O25 phase with higher emission intensity, but in the samples containing less than 20 mol% H3BO3 mixed phases consisting of Al2O3, SrAl12O19 and SrAl2O4 were observed, while in higher H3BO3 content, SrAl2B2O7 phases predominated. When the stoichiometry of Al/Sr was 3.7, the best phosphorescence and afterglow were noted. The phosphor containing 4 at.% of Eu and 8 at.% of Dy, and 3 at.% Ag exhibited the maximum initial intensity of 5170 mcd·m−2 and the longest persistency of greater than 30 hours over the value of 5 mcd·m−2, higher than the commercial products and applicable for various display applications involving indoor as well as outdoor uses.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Studies of New Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes Containing Noninnocent Ligands
Authors: Taheri Sofia , Behzad Mahdi , Nazari Hossein , Khaleghian Ali
Published: February 2013

Two new polypyridyl complexes [Ru(ttp)(L1)Cl]PF6(1) and [Ru(ttp)(L2)Cl]PF6(2) with noninnocent o-benzoquinonediimine (L1; bqdi) and 4,5-dimethyle-o-benzoquinonediimine (L2; 4,5-di-Mebqdi) ligands were synthesized and characterized (ttp = -p-toloyle-2,: ,-terpyridine). Cyclic voltammetry studies suggest that noninnocent ligands are coordinated in their benzoquinonediimine form. Preliminary ruthenium complexes-induced DNA dysfunction was studied onE. coliGM109 DNA by means of melting temperature analysis (Tm). Our results suggest that complex (2) inhibited DNA function more strongly compared to (1). Antibacterial activities of the complexes againstE. colibacteria were studied, and Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were evaluated. Both complexes showed great antibacterial activities.
Quality by Design Approach for the Development and Validation of Glipizide, an Antidiabetic Drug, by RP-UPLC with Application to Formulated Forms and Urine
Authors: Xavier Cijo M. , Basavaiah Kanakapura , Vinay K. B. , Swamy N.
Published: February 2013

Quality by design (QbD) refers to the achievement of certain predictable quality with desired and predetermined specifications. The objective of this study was to develop and demonstrate an integrated multivariate approach to develop and quantify the constituent concentrations of glipizide (GPZ) drug in its pure and tablet forms. The method was developed using Zorbax Extend C-18 (50 mm × 4.6 mm × 1.8 μm) column with mobile phase consisting of a mixture of phosphate buffer of pH 3.5 and acetonitrile (60 : 40 v/v). The method fulfilled validation criteria and was shown to be sensitive, with limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 0.001 and 0.005 μg mL−1, respectively. The percentage relative standard deviations for robustness and ruggedness were observed within the range of 0.1 and 0.99. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.005–300 μg mL−1. The applicability of the method was shown by the analysis of formulated drug and spiked urine samples. The proposed method can be used for routine analysis in quality control laboratories for its bulk and formulated product, and this is the first UPLC method reported for the assay of GPZ in bulk, formulated form and urine.
Engineering a Biocompatible Scaffold with Either Micrometre or Nanometre Scale Surface Topography for Promoting Protein Adsorption and Cellular Response
Authors: Le Xuan , Poinern Gérrard Eddy Jai , Ali Nurshahidah , Berry Cassandra M. , Fawcett Derek
Published: February 2013

Surface topographical features on biomaterials, both at the submicrometre and nanometre scales, are known to influence the physicochemical interactions between biological processes involving proteins and cells. The nanometre-structured surface features tend to resemble the extracellular matrix, the natural environment in which cells live, communicate, and work together. It is believed that by engineering a well-defined nanometre scale surface topography, it should be possible to induce appropriate surface signals that can be used to manipulate cell function in a similar manner to the extracellular matrix. Therefore, there is a need to investigate, understand, and ultimately have the ability to produce tailor-made nanometre scale surface topographies with suitable surface chemistry to promote favourable biological interactions similar to those of the extracellular matrix. Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology have produced many new nanomaterials and numerous manufacturing techniques that have the potential to significantly improve several fields such as biological sensing, cell culture technology, surgical implants, and medical devices. For these fields to progress, there is a definite need to develop a detailed understanding of the interaction between biological systems and fabricated surface structures at both the micrometre and nanometre scales.
Time Reversal of Volterra Processes Driven Stochastic Differential Equations
Authors: Decreusefond L.
Published: February 2013

We consider stochastic differential equations driven by some Volterra processes. Under time reversal, these equations are transformed into past-dependent stochastic differential equations driven by a standard Brownian motion. We are then in position to derive existence and uniqueness of solutions of the Volterra driven SDE considered at the beginning.
Genotoxicological Evaluation of NUTRALYS Pea Protein Isolate
Authors: Aouatif Chentouf , Looten Ph. , Parvathi M. V. S. , Raja Ganesh S. , Paranthaman V.
Published: February 2013

NUTRALYS Pea Protein Isolate, a protein supplement, is a high-quality source of protein which is primarily emulsifying functional protein. We evaluated the genotoxic potential of NUTRALYS isolated from dry yellow pea, using three established genotoxicity tests (AMES test in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and in vivo micronucleus test) employing OECD guidelines under GLP conditions. In the bacterial reverse mutation test, NUTRALYS did not show positive responses in strains detecting point and frame shift mutations. In the chromosomal aberration test, NUTRALYS did not induce chromosome aberrations in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. In the bone marrow micronucleus test, NUTRALYS did not induce significant increases of micronucleated immature (polychromatic) erythrocytes in bone marrow of test animals.
The Preparation of Carbon Nanotube/MnO2 Composite Fiber and Its Application to Flexible Micro‐Supercapacitor
Authors: Li Li , Chen Chen , Xie Jing , Shao Zehuai , Yang Fuxin
Published: February 2013

In recent years, flexible electronic devices pursued for potential applications. The design and the fabrication of a novel flexible nanoarchitecture by coating electrical conductive MWCNT fiber with ultrathin films of MnO2 to achieve high specific capacitance, for micro‐supercapacitors electrode applications, are demonstrated here. The MWCNT/MnO2 composite fiber electrode was prepared by the electrochemical deposition which was carried out through using two different methods: cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic methods. The cyclic voltammetry method can get “crumpled paper ball” morphology MnO2 which has bigger specific capacitances than that achieved by potentiostatic method. The flexible micro‐supercapacitor was fabricated by twisting two aligned MWCNT fibers and showed an area specific capacitance of 2.43 mF/cm2. The flexible micro‐supercapacitors also enable promising applications in various fields.
A Case of Mucosal Cancer of the Stomach Treated by Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection after Which Nodal Metastasis Became Evident
Authors: Obana Takashi , Fujita Naotaka , Noda Yutaka , Hirasawa Dai , Ito Kei , Sugawara Toshiki , Harada Yoshihiro , Oohira Tetsuya , Honda Hiroshi , Sawai Takashi
Published: February 2013

An 82-year-old male was referred to our institution for evaluation and treatment of a protruding lesion in the stomach. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a small protruding lesion and a large superficial elevated lesion on the lesser curvature of the stomach (macroscopic type: 0-I and 0-IIa, resp.). CT and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) visualized a small round lymph node (LN) 11 mm in size near the lesser curvature, although submucosal invasion was not evident. These two lesions were resected en bloc by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (tub2) and well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (tub1), respectively, which were limited to the mucosal layer. Because lymphatic-vascular involvement was not detected by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, additional gastrectomy was not performed. Two months after ESD, follow-up EUS and CT showed an enlarged LN. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for the LN revealed metastasis. Therefore, total gastrectomy with LN dissection was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful. After discharge, he has been followed up at the outpatient department without any sign of recurrence for 5 years. Histological reexamination of the ESD specimen using immunohistochemistry showed lymphatic invasion of cancer cells in the lamina propria of the 0-I lesion 13 mm in size.
Early and Late Shift of Brain Laterality in STG, HG, and Cerebellum with Normal Aging during a Short-Term Memory Task
Authors: Abdul Manan Hanani , Yusoff Ahmad Nazlim , Franz Elizabeth A. , Sarah Mukari Siti Zamratol-Mai
Published: February 2013

Evidence suggests that cognitive performance deteriorates in noisy backgrounds and the problems are more pronounced in older people due to brain deficits and changes. The present study used functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate the neural correlates of this phenomenon during short-term memory using a forward repeat task performed in quiet (STMQ) and in noise: 5-dB SNR (STMN) on four groups of participants of different ages. The performance of short-term memory tasks was measured behaviourally. No significant difference was found across age groups in STMQ. However, older adults (50–65 year olds) performed relatively poorly on the STMN. fMRI results on the laterality index indicate changes in hemispheric laterality in the superior temporal gyrus (STG), Heschl’s gyrus (HG), and cerebellum, and a leftward asymmetry in younger participants which changes to a more rightward asymmetry in older participants. The results also indicate that the onset of the laterality shift varies from one brain region to another. STG and HG show a late shift while the cerebellum shows an earlier shift. The results also reveal that noise influences this shifting. Finally, the results support the hypothesis that functional networks that underlie STG, HG, and cerebellum undergo reorganization to compensate for the neural deficit/cognitive decline.
Bendamustine Associated with Irreversible Ascending Paralysis
Authors: Alhafez Ashraf , Aljitawi Omar S. , Lin Tara L. , Ganguly Siddhartha , Abhyankar Sunil , McGuirk Joseph P.
Published: February 2013

Bendamustine is an alkylating agent currently used in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders. Many adverse effects, including a rare case of reversible neurotoxicity, have been reported in association with bendamustine. Herein, we report the first case of irreversible ascending paralysis related to bendamustine.