bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of fifteen ecdysone-inducible Drosophila genes reveal unexpected complexities in ecdysone regulation.
Authors: Hurban P , Thummel C S
Published: October 2015

Our insights into the regulatory mechanisms by which the steroid hormone ecdysone triggers Drosophila melanogaster metamorphosis have largely depended on puffs in the larval salivary gland polytene chromosomes as a means of identifying genes of interest. Here, we describe an approach that provides access to ecdysone-inducible genes that are expressed in most larval and imaginal tissues, regardless of their ability to form puffs in the polytene chromosomes. Several hundred cDNAs were picked at random from subtracted cDNA libraries and subjected to a rapid and sensitive screen for their ability to detect mRNAs induced by ecdysone in the presence of cycloheximide. Of the 15 genes identified in this manner, 2 correspond to early puffs in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes, at 63F and 75B, confirming that this screen functions at the desired level of sensitivity and is capable of identifying novel primary-response genes. Three of the genes, Eig45-1, Eig58, and Eig87, are expressed coordinately with the salivary gland early genes; one of them, Eig58, maps to the 58BC puff that is active when the 74EF and 75B early puffs are at their maximal size. Another gene identified in this screen, Eig17-1, encodes a novel cytochrome P-450. On the basis of its sequence identity and temporal profile of expression, this gene may play a role in steroid hormone metabolism and thus could provide a mechanism for feedback regulation of ecdysone production. Although all 15 genes have patterns of transcription that are consistent with ecdysone regulation in vivo, 5 genes do not appear to be induced by the late larval ecdysone pulse. This indicates that ecdysone induction in larval organs cultured with cycloheximide is not always indicative of a primary response to the hormone.
A mitogen-responsive promoter region that is synergistically activated through multiple signalling pathways.
Authors: Ouyang Q , Bommakanti M , Miskimins W K
Published: October 2015

A regulatory region of the human transferrin receptor gene promoter was found to be required for increased expression in response to serum or growth factors. This region contains two elements that appear to cooperate for full responsiveness. We found that sodium orthovanadate treatment of cells significantly activated expression of promoter constructs containing these elements. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate alone induced a twofold increase in expression but acted synergistically with vanadate to generate a highly elevated level of expression. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone had no effect on expression, but when added together with vanadate and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, led to superinduction of the promoter construct. Induction of expression by these reagents was delayed several hours, and the kinetics were identical to those observed for serum induction.
A nuclear factor for interleukin-6 expression (NF-IL6) and the glucocorticoid receptor synergistically activate transcription of the rat alpha 1-acid glycoprotein gene via direct protein-protein interaction.
Authors: Nishio Y , Isshiki H , Kishimoto T , Akira S
Published: October 2015

The acute-phase reaction is accompanied by an increase in a variety of serum proteins, named acute-phase proteins. The synthesis of these proteins is synergistically controlled by glucocorticoids and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Recently, we have cloned nuclear factor-IL-6 (NF-IL6), a transcription factor that activates the IL-6 gene, and have demonstrated its involvement in the expression of acute-phase-protein genes. We report here an analysis of the molecular mechanisms by which inflammatory cytokines and glucocorticoid act synergistically to activate expression of the rat alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) gene. We found that NF-IL6 and ligand-activated rat glucocorticoid receptor acted synergistically to transactivate the AGP gene and that maximal transcriptional activation of the AGP gene required expression of both intact NF-IL6 and rat glucocorticoid receptor. Surprisingly, however, transcriptional synergism was still observed even when one of the two factors lacked either its DNA-binding or transcriptional-activation function. We present evidence for a direct protein-protein interaction between these two distinct transcription factors and propose that this may be responsible for the synergistic activation of the rat AGP gene.
Mos stimulates MAP kinase in Xenopus oocytes and activates a MAP kinase kinase in vitro.
Authors: Posada J , Yew N , Ahn N G , Vande Woude G F , Cooper J A
Published: October 2015

Several protein kinases, including Mos, maturation-promoting factor (MPF), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), are activated when Xenopus oocytes enter meiosis. De novo synthesis of the Mos protein is required for progesterone-induced meiotic maturation. Recently, bacterially synthesized maltose-binding protein (MBP)-Mos fusion protein was shown to be sufficient to initiate meiosis I and MPF activation in fully grown oocytes in the absence of protein synthesis. Here we show that MAP kinase is rapidly phosphorylated and activated following injection of wild-type, but not kinase-inactive mutant, MBP-Mos into fully grown oocytes. MAP kinase activation by MBP-Mos occurs within 20 min, much more rapidly than in progesterone-treated oocytes. The MBP-Mos fusion protein also activates MPF, but MPF activation does not occur until approximately 2 h after injection. Extracts from oocytes injected with wild-type but not kinase-inactive MBP-Mos contain an activity that can phosphorylate MAP kinase, suggesting that Mos directly or indirectly activates a MAPKK. Furthermore, activated MBP-Mos fusion protein is able to phosphorylate and activate a purified, phosphatase-treated, rabbit muscle MAPKK in vitro. Thus, in oocytes, Mos is an upstream activator of MAP kinase which may function through direct phosphorylation of MAPKK.
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor mediates activation of ras through different signaling pathways in different cell types.
Authors: Satoh T , Fantl W J , Escobedo J A , Williams L T , Kaziro Y
Published: October 2015

A series of pieces of evidence have shown that Ras protein acts as a transducer of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-mediated signaling pathway: (i) formation of Ras.GTP is detected immediately on PDGF stimulation, and (ii) a dominant inhibitory mutant Ras, as well as a neutralizing anti-Ras antibody, can interfere with PDGF-induced responses. On the other hand, several signal transducing molecules including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), GTPase-activating protein (GAP), and phospholipase C gamma (PLC gamma) bind directly to the PDGF receptor and become tyrosine phosphorylated. Recently, it was shown that specific phosphorylated tyrosines of the PDGF receptor are responsible for interaction between the receptor and each signaling molecule. However, the roles of these signaling molecules have not been elucidated, and it remains unclear which molecules are implicated in the Ras pathway. In this study, we measured Ras activation in cell lines expressing mutant PDGF receptors that are deficient in coupling with specific molecules. In fibroblast CHO cells, a mutant receptor (Y708F/Y719F [PI3-K-binding sites]) was unable to stimulate Ras, whereas another mutant (Y739F [the GAP-binding site]) could do so, suggesting an indispensable role of PI3-K or a protein that binds to the same sites as PI3-K for PDGF-stimulated Ras activation. By contrast, both of the above mutants were capable of stimulating Ras protein in a pro-B-cell line, BaF3. Furthermore, a mutant receptor (Y977F/Y989F [PLC gamma-binding sites]) could fully activate Ras, and the direct activation of protein kinase C and calcium mobilization had almost no effect on the GDP/GTP state of Ras in this cell line. These results suggest that, in the pro-B-cell transfectants, each of the above pathways (PI3-K, GAP, and PLC gamma) can be eliminated without a loss of Ras activation. It remains unclear whether another unknown essential pathway which regulates Ras protein exists within BaF3 cells. Therefore, it is likely that several different PDGF receptor-mediated signaling pathways function upstream of Ras, and the extent of the contribution of each pathway for the regulation of Ras may differ among different cell types.
Genetic and biochemical characterization of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Authors: Flick J S , Thorner J
Published: October 2015

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) generates two second messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol. The polymerase chain reaction was used to isolate a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene (PLC1) that encodes a protein of 869 amino acids (designated Plc1p) that bears greatest resemblance to the delta isoforms of mammalian PI-PLC in terms of overall sequence similarity and domain arrangement. Plc1p contains the conserved X and Y domains found in all higher eukaryotic PI-PLCs (51 and 29% identity, respectively, to the corresponding domains of rat delta 1 PI-PLC) and also contains a presumptive Ca(2+)-binding site (an E-F hand motif). Plc1p, modified by in-frame insertion of a His6 tract and a c-myc epitope near its amino terminus, was overexpressed from the GAL1 promoter, partially purified by nickel chelate affinity chromatography, and shown to be an active PLC enzyme in vitro with properties similar to those of its mammalian counterparts. Plc1p activity was strictly Ca2+ dependent: at a high Ca2+ concentration (0.1 mM), the enzyme hydrolyzed PIP2 at a faster rate than phosphatidylinositol, and at a low Ca2+ concentration (0.5 microM), it hydrolyzed PIP2 exclusively. Cells carrying either of two different deletion-insertion mutations (plc1 delta 1::HIS3 and plc1 delta 2::LEU2) were viable but displayed several distinctive phenotypes, including temperature-sensitive growth (inviable above 35 degrees C), osmotic sensitivity, and defects in the utilization of galactose, raffinose, and glycerol at permissive temperatures (23 to 30 degrees C). The findings reported here suggest that hydrolysis of PIP2 in S. cerevisiae is required for a number of nutritional and stress-related responses.
Developmental gene expression in Leishmania donovani: differential cloning and analysis of an amastigote-stage-specific gene.
Authors: Charest H , Matlashewski G
Published: October 2015

Leishmania protozoans are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a major parasitic disease in humans. During their life cycle, Leishmania protozoans exist as flagellated promastigotes in the sand fly vector and as nonmotile amastigotes in the mammalian hosts. The promastigote-to-amastigote transformation occurs in the phagolysosomal compartment of the macrophage cell and is a critical step for the establishment of the infection. To study this cytodifferentiation process, we differentially screened an amastigote cDNA library with life cycle stage-specific cDNA probes and isolated seven cDNAs representing amastigote-specific transcripts. Five of these were closely related (A2 series) and recognized, by Northern (RNA) blot analyses, a 3.5-kb transcript in amastigotes and in amastigote-infected macrophages. Expression of the amastigote-specific A2 gene was induced in promastigotes when they were transferred from culture medium at 26 degrees C and pH 7.4 to medium at 37 degrees C and pH 4.5, conditions which mimic the macrophage phagolysosomal environment. A2 genes are clustered in tandem arrays, and a 6-kb fragment corresponding to a unit of the cluster was cloned and partially sequenced. An open reading frame found within the A2-transcribed region potentially encoded a 22-kDa protein containing repetitive sequences. The recombinant A2 protein produced in Escherichia coli cells was specifically recognized by immune serum from a patient with visceral leishmaniasis. The A2 protein repetitive element has strong homology with an S antigen of Plasmodium falciparum, the protozoan parasite responsible for malaria. Both the A2 protein of Leishmania donovani and the S antigen of P. falciparum are stage specific and developmentally expressed in mammalian hosts.
Constitutive NF-kappa B activity in neurons.
Authors: Kaltschmidt C , Kaltschmidt B , Neumann H , Wekerle H , Baeuerle P A
Published: October 2015

NF-kappa B is inducible transcription factor present in many cell types in a latent cytoplasmic form. So far, only immune cells including mature B cells, thymocytes, and adherent macrophages have been reported to contain constitutively active forms of NF-kappa B in the nucleus. A recent study showed that the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promoter is highly active in several brain regions of transgenic mice (J. R. Corboy, J. M. Buzy, M. C. Zink, and J. E. Clements, Science 258:1804-1807, 1992). Since the activity of this viral enhancer is governed mainly by two binding sites for NF-kappa B, we were prompted to investigate the state of NF-kappa B activity in neurons. Primary neuronal cultures derived from rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex showed a high constitutive expression of an HIV-1 long terminal repeat-driven luciferase reporter gene, which was primarily dependent on intact NF-kappa B binding sites and was abolished upon coexpression of the NF-kappa B-specific inhibitor I kappa B-alpha. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy showed that the activity of NF-kappa B correlated with the presence of the NF-kappa B subunits p50 and RelA (p65) in nuclei of cultured neurons. NF-kappa B was also constitutively active in neurons in vivo. As investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, constitutive NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity was highly enriched in fractions containing neuronal nuclei prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Nuclear NF-kappa B-specific immunostaining was also seen in cryosections from mouse cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Only a subset of neurons was stained. Activated NF-kappa B in the brain is likely to participate in normal brain function and to reflect a distinct state of neuronal activity or differentiation. Furthermore, it may explain the high level of activity of the HIV-1 enhancer in neurons, an observation potentially relevant for the etiology of the AIDS dementia complex caused by HIV infection of the central nervous system.
Induction of the mouse serum amyloid A3 gene by cytokines requires both C/EBP family proteins and a novel constitutive nuclear factor.
Authors: Huang J H , Liao W S
Published: October 2015

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute-phase protein synthesized and secreted mainly by the liver. In response to acute inflammation, its expression may be induced up to 1,000-fold, primarily as a result of a 200-fold increase in the rate of SAA gene transcription. We have previously demonstrated that a 350-bp promoter fragment from the mouse SAA3 gene was necessary and sufficient to confer liver-specific and cytokine-induced expression. Deletion studies identified a distal response element that is responsible for the cytokine response and has properties of an inducible transcriptional enhancer. In this study, we further analyzed the distal response element and showed that it consists of three functionally distinct elements: the A element constitutes a weak binding site for C/EBP family proteins, the B element also interacts with C/EBP family proteins but with a much higher binding affinity, and the C element interacts with a novel constitutive nuclear factor, SEF-1. Site-specific mutation studies revealed that all three elements were required for maximum promoter activity. C/EBP alpha, C/EBP beta, and C/EBP delta were capable of interacting with elements A and B. Under noninduced conditions, C/EBP alpha was the major binding factor; however, upon cytokine stimulation C/EBP beta- and C/EBP delta-binding activities were dramatically increased and became the predominant binding factors. Consistent with these binding studies were the cotransfection experiments in which C/EBP beta and C/EBP delta were shown to be potent transactivators for the SAA3 promoter. Moreover, the transactivation required an intact B element despite the presence of other functional C/EBP-binding sites. Interestingly, although element C did not interact with C/EBP directly, it was nevertheless required for maximum transactivation by C/EBP delta. Our studies thus demonstrate that both C/EBP family proteins and SEF-1 are required to transactivate the SAA3 gene.
Biochemical and genetic analysis of dominant-negative mutations affecting a yeast G-protein gamma subunit.
Authors: Grishin A V , Weiner J L , Blumer K J
Published: October 2015

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) consisting of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits mediate signalling between cell surface receptors and intracellular effectors in eukaryotic cells. To define signalling functions of G gamma subunits (STE18 gene product) involved in pheromone response and mating in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we isolated and characterized dominant-negative STE18 alleles. We obtained dominant-negative mutations that disrupt C-terminal sequences required for prenylation of G gamma precursors (CAAX box) and that affect residues in the N-terminal half of Ste18p. Overexpression of mutant G gamma subunits in wild-type cells blocked signal transduction; this effect was suppressed upon overexpression of G beta subunits. Mutant G gamma subunits may therefore sequester G beta subunits into nonproductive G beta gamma dimers. Because mutant G gamma subunits blocked the constitutive signal resulting from disruption of the G alpha subunit gene (GPA1), they are defective in functions required for downstream signalling. Ste18p bearing a C107Y substitution in the CAAX box displayed reduced electrophoretic mobility, consistent with a prenylation defect. G gamma subunits carrying N-terminal substitutions had normal electrophoretic mobilities, suggesting that these proteins were prenylated. G gamma subunits bearing substitutions in their N-terminal region or C-terminal CAAX box (C107Y) supported receptor-G protein coupling in vitro, whereas C-terminal truncations caused partial defects in receptor coupling.
Retinal damage induced by mirror-reflected light from a laser pointer
Authors: Thanos Solon , Böhm Michael R R , Meyer zu Hörste Melissa , Schmidt Peter-Fritz
Published: October 2015

The safety of laser pointers is a major public health issue since class I and II laser pointers are available worldwide and used as toys by children despite several reports cautioning such use. Here we present the first case of retinal injury caused by the laser beam of a toy laser pointer operated by a school boy and directed via the rear-view mirror of a bus into the eye of the driver. This case emphasises the great importance of cautious and appropriate use of low-energy laser pointers. Laser pointers of any class should not be made available to children because they are unlikely to understand the risks of such lasers when using them in play.
Unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleed, when OGD could be fatal
Authors: Khehra Raman , Agrawal Satyanisth , Aoun Elie , Midian Robin
Published: October 2015

A 57-year-old man presented with chest pain, dyspnoea and coffee grounds emesis. He was haemodynamically stable without significant drop in haemoglobin. He suddenly developed cardiac arrest with wide complex tachycardia and became comatose. CT scan of the head revealed pneumocephalus and multiple infarcts. Given the recent history of radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation, atrio-oesophageal fistula (AOF) was suspected. CT angiography of the thorax showed a 5 mm diverticulum on the posterior wall of the left atrium, also raising suspicion for AOF. The patient was taken to the operating room. An AOF was found and repaired. He did not have any further gastrointestinal bleeding. There was no neurological recovery at day 11 and life support was withdrawn per his family's request. This case highlights the importance of obtaining history of recent cardiac procedures in patients presenting with an upper gastrointestinal bleed. An oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in this patient could have been instantaneously deadly.
DRESS syndrome presenting after initiation ofmycobacterium aviumcomplex osteomyelitis treatment
Authors: Blair Paul W , Herrin Douglas , Abaalkhail Nawaf , Fiser Wesley
Published: October 2015

Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is characterised by fever, rash, eosinophilia and organ damage that develops 2–6 weeks after the initiation of a medication. We report a case of DRESS syndrome in a 79-year-old man that developed after the introduction of rifabutin, ethambutol and clarithromycin used to treatMycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC) vertebral osteomyelitis. This case highlights treatment and management challenges in a patient with known MAC vertebral osteomyelitis requiring prolonged steroids. Steroids are the mainstays of treatment for moderate to severe cases of DRESS syndrome. Initiation of steroids for the treatment of DRESS syndrome among patients with concomitant infections requires multidisciplinary collaboration for optimal management.
Drug Reaction, Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome secondary to allopurinol with early lymphadenopathy and symptom relapse
Authors: Turney Rhiannon , Skittrall Jordan Peter , Donovan Joseph , Agranoff Daniel
Published: October 2015

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare condition with a mortality rate of up to 10%. Herein, we describe a case of DRESS syndrome secondary to allopurinol and which may have been precipitated by amoxicillin, the diagnostic challenge it represented and the successful treatment of the condition with corticosteroids.
Retroperitoneal haematoma associated with enoxaparin use in an elderly woman with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Triscott Jean , Mercer Susan , Tian Peter George Jaminal , Dobbs Bonnie
Published: October 2015

An 81-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease was on enoxaparin (1 mg/kg subcutaneously two times a day) for 4 months to manage pulmonary embolism. While admitted for diagnostic evaluation of frequent falls, transient ischaemic attacks and pain management, she developed vomiting, diarrhoea, melena and hypotension. Her estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased from an admission value of 34 mL/min/1.73 m2to 13 mL/min/1.73 m2. CT scan showed retroperitoneal haematoma. She was placed in intensive care and stabilised with aggressive fluid replacement, blood transfusion, and discontinuation of enoxaparin and concomitant aspirin. We attribute this major bleeding to enoxaparin use in an elderly woman with chronic kidney disease and concomitant aspirin intake. We will review reported cases of enoxaparin-associated retroperitoneal haematoma. We suggest that enoxaparin be used with caution in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease, and stress that treatment monitoring and reversal may not be readily available.
Uplift tests on full-scale pipe segment in lumpy soft clay backfill
Authors: Chen R.P. , Zhu B. , Ni W.J.
Published: October 2015

Upheaval buckling of pipelines caused by thermal- and pressure-induced loading is an important issue in pipeline design. The uplift capacity of pipelines is determined by the pipe–soil interaction during pipeline upheaval in soil. Pipelines to be installed in soft clay are usually placed into trenches and then backfilled. In this paper, a set of test devices were developed and a series of full-scale model tests were carried out on a pipe segment buried in lumpy soft clay backfill, including backfilling tests, load-controlled uplift tests, and a displacement-controlled test. Eight total pressure transducers were embedded in the wall of the pipe segment to measure soil pressures on the pipe segment, and five linear variable differential displacement transducers (LVDTs) were arranged to record the vertical displacement of the pipe segment and the surface of the soft clay ground. The stabilizing force keeping the pipe segment in place during the backfilling process was found to fit a nearly linear relationship with the dimensionless undrained shear strength of soft clay. The variation of soil pressures on the pipe segment during uplift loading was significantly affected by the buried depth of the pipe segment and the undrained shear strength of the soil. For all present load-controlled tests in lumpy soft clay backfill, the test ultimate uplift resistances were only about 19%–81% of the results calculated by the Det Norske Veritas approach. Mainly due to the voids’ compression, shearing and strain softening of lumpy soft clay backfill, the difference between initial and stable displacements in a loading step for a load-controlled test or initial and stable loads in a displacement step for a displacement-controlled test is remarkable. The limits of uplift resistances are recommended for the instant and sustaining behaviors of the pipe segment, respectively.
Influence of stand attributes and skid trail area on stand-scale ground flora diversity
Authors: Wei Liping , Chevalier Richard , Archaux Frédéric , Gosselin Frédéric
Published: October 2015

Mechanisation is increasingly used in European forest management, but so far, few studies have investigated the combined effects of stand attributes and skid trails on stand-scale ground flora diversity. Our study assessed the effects of stand attributes (age, stand type, basal area) and skid trail area on ground flora diversity in 400 m2 plots in oak forest stands in the northern half of France. We calculated the richness and abundance of ecological groups based on successional status and light preference. We developed and compared generalized linear models and assessed the magnitude of the effects of each variable. At the ecological group level, floristic variations among plots were mostly associated with stand attributes (stand type or basal area). Although we found non-negligible effects of skid trails on all herbaceous groups, these effects disappeared when tree stand attribute effects were incorporated into the statistical models. At the species level, when incorporating stand attribute effects into the models, skid trail area had weak or inconclusive effects on species (occurrence > 25%) abundance. Because mechanisation is a recent practice in European forests, stronger effects might be expected in the long term.
Significant factors impacting export decisions of small- and medium-sized softwood sawmill firms in North America
Authors: Sasatani Daisuke , Eastin Ivan L.
Published: October 2015

An augmented internationalization process (AIP) model is developed to explain important factors influencing decisions of small- and medium-sized softwood sawmill firms in the United States (US) and Canada. The decision to participate in exporting (i.e., export orientation) and the decision to intensify exporting activities (i.e., export involvement) are analyzed using ordinal probit hurdle regression model. Production capacity, geographical location, and the degree of differentiation strategies are factors playing important roles in determining the level of internationalization of the firm (i.e., export orientation + export involvement). Larger US firms are more likely to participate in exporting activities, whereas Canadian firms of all sizes are exporters. Also, firms in the US South are unlikely to participate in international business activities unless they adopt a product differentiation strategy, and even then they are more likely to use intermediary firms rather than undertake export activities directly. Firms adopting a differentiation strategy rather than a cost-leadership strategy are more likely to have a higher degree of internationalization. A major conclusion of the analysis is that developing a product differentiation strategy is a key to participation in international markets.
Influence of water quality on nitrifier regrowth in two full-scale drinking water distribution systems
Authors: Scott Daniel B. , Van Dyke Michele I. , Anderson William B. , Huck Peter M.
Published: October 2015

The potential for regrowth of nitrifying microorganisms was monitored in 2 full-scale chloraminated drinking water distribution systems in Ontario, Canada, over a 9-month period. Quantitative PCR was used to measure amoA genes from ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), and these values were compared with water quality parameters that can influence nitrifier survival and growth, including total chlorine, ammonia, temperature, pH, and organic carbon. Although there were no severe nitrification episodes, AOB and AOA were frequently detected at low concentrations in samples collected from both distribution systems. A culture-based presence–absence test confirmed the presence of viable nitrifiers. AOB were usually present in similar or greater numbers than AOA in both systems. As well, AOB showed higher regrowth potential compared with AOA in both systems. Statistically significant correlations were measured between several water quality parameters of relevance to nitrification. Total chlorine was negatively correlated with both nitrifiers and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria, and ammonia levels were positively correlated with nitrifiers. Of particular importance was the strong correlation between HPC and AOB, which reinforced the usefulness of HPC as an operational parameter to measure general microbiological conditions in distribution systems.
Spinor field with polynomial nonlinearity in LRS Bianchi type-I space–time
Authors: Saha Bijan
Published: October 2015

Within the scope of the locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-I cosmological model the role of spinor field on the evolution of the Universe is investigated. In doing so, we have considered a polynomial type of nonlinearity. It is found that, depending on the sign of the self-coupling constant, the model allows either an accelerated mode of expansion or an oscillatory mode of evolution. While the non-diagonal components of the energy–momentum tensor of the spinor field in the case of a full Bianchi type-I model lead to the vanishing mass and nonlinear term in the spinor field Lagrangian, in the case of an LRS Bianchi type-I model neither the mass term nor the nonlinear term of the spinor field vanish.
Heavy metal detoxification and tolerance mechanisms in plants: Implications for phytoremediation
Authors: Kushwaha Anamika , Rani Radha , Kumar Sanjay , Gautam Aishvarya
Published: October 2015

Heavy metals, such as cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc, are essential in trace amounts for growth by plants and other living organisms. However, in excessive amounts these heavy metals have deleterious effects. Like other organisms, plants possess a variety of detoxification mechanisms to counter the harmful effects of heavy metals. These include the restriction of heavy metals by mycorrhizal association, binding with plant cell wall and root excretions, metal efflux from the plasma membrane, metal chelation by phytochelatins and metallothioneins, and compartmentalization within the vacuole. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that uses plants and their associated rhizospheric microorganisms to remove pollutants from contaminated sites. This technology is inexpensive, efficient, and ecofriendly. This review focuses on potential cellular and molecular adaptations by plants that are necessary to tolerate heavy metal stress.
Investigation of dielectric behavior of water and thermally aged of XLPE/BaTiO3composites in the low-frequency range
Authors: Madani Lakhdar , Belkhiat Saad , Berrag Amine , Nemdili Saad
Published: October 2015

Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) is widely used as insulation in electrical engineering, especially as cable insulation sheaths. In order to improve the dielectric properties susceptible to be modified under the effects of thermal aging and water in an absorption environment, polymers are mixed with ceramics. In this paper, the influence of barium titanate (BaTiO3), on the dielectric properties of XLPE has been studied. Dielectric parameters have been measured using an impedance analyzer RLC (WAYNE KERR 6420 type). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used as characterization techniques. The study has been carried out on two samples of XLPE. A pure sample of each were studied as a unloaded samples to be compared with samples of 5%wt, 10%wt, 15%wt and 20%wt. BaTiO3loaded XLPE. Afterwards, the composites were subject to humidity and to thermal aging. The incorporation of BaTiO31[Formula: see text]C does not modify the crystallinity and morphology of the XLPE and 2[Formula: see text]C reduces the space charges therefore the dielectric losses. [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and loss index are measured. Frequency response analysis has been followed in the frequency range (20–300 Hz). Experimental results show well that BaTiO3as nano-filler improves the dielectric properties of XLPE but in excessive content can drive to the cracking and therefore to absorption of water.
Pairing phase transition in 106,107,108Pd
Authors: Kadi H. , Benhamouda N.
Published: October 2015

The pairing phase transition is investigated in hot even–even and even–odd Pd isotopes such as 106 ≤ A ≤ 108 in a framework of a microscopic approach that takes into account the statistical fluctuations. In this aim, one considers the Modified BCS method (MBCS). The latter is extended to the odd system case, where the blocking effect is included. The model was applied to the evaluation of the thermal properties such as the excitation energy, entropy and heat capacity. The obtained results are compared on one hand to the usual finite temperature BCS (FTBCS) method and on the other hand to the experimental data. The obtained results allow to show that the thermal fluctuations smooth out the superfluid-normal (SN) phase transition observed in the usual FTBCS results. Moreover, in the region where the pairing phase transition occurs, the experimental data of thermal properties are better reproduced when statistical fluctuations are considered in MBCS method instead of the FTBCS approach.
Population Genomics for Understanding Adaptation in Wild Plant Species
Authors: Weigel Detlef , Nordborg Magnus
Published: October 2015

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is the foundation of modern biology. However, it has proven remarkably difficult to demonstrate at the genetic, genomic, and population level exactly how wild species adapt to their natural environments. We discuss how one can use large sets of multiple genome sequences from wild populations to understand adaptation, with an emphasis on the small herbaceous plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We present motivation for such studies; summarize progress in describing whole-genome, species-wide sequence variation; and then discuss what insights have emerged from these resources, either based on sequence information alone or in combination with phenotypic data. We conclude with thoughts on opportunities with other plant species and the impact of expected progress in sequencing technology and genome engineering for studying adaptation in nature.
The Affective Neuroscience of Aging
Authors: Mather Mara
Published: October 2015

Although aging is associated with clear declines in physical and cognitive processes, emotional functioning fares relatively well. Consistent with this behavioral profile, two core emotional brain regions, the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, show little structural and functional decline in aging, compared with other regions. However, emotional processes depend on interacting systems of neurotransmitters and brain regions that go beyond these structures. This review examines how age-related brain changes influence processes such as attending to and remembering emotional stimuli, regulating emotion, and recognizing emotional expressions, as well as empathy, risk taking, impulsivity, behavior change, and attentional focus.
Detecting Malware Based on DNS Graph Mining
Authors: Zou Futai , Zhang Siyu , Rao Weixiong , Yi Ping
Published: October 2015

Malware remains a major threat to nowadays Internet. In this paper, we propose a DNS graph mining-based malware detection approach. A DNS graph is composed of DNS nodes, which represent server IPs, client IPs, and queried domain names in the process of DNS resolution. After the graph construction, we next transform the problem of malware detection to the graph mining task of inferring graph nodes’ reputation scores using the belief propagation algorithm. The nodes with lower reputation scores are inferred as those infected by malwares with higher probability. For demonstration, we evaluate the proposed malware detection approach with real-world dataset. Our real-world dataset is collected from campus DNS servers for three months and we built a DNS graph consisting of 19,340,820 vertices and 24,277,564 edges. On the graph, we achieve a true positive rate 80.63% with a false positive rate 0.023%. With a false positive of 1.20%, the true positive rate was improved to 95.66%. We detected 88,592 hosts infected by malware or C&C servers, accounting for the percentage of 5.47% among all hosts. Meanwhile, 117,971 domains are considered to be related to malicious activities, accounting for 1.5% among all domains. The results indicate that our method is efficient and effective in detecting malwares.
CT Perfusion Characteristics Identify Metastatic Sites in Liver
Authors: Wang Yuan , Hobbs Brian P. , Ng Chaan S.
Published: October 2015

Tissue perfusion plays a critical role in oncology because growth and migration of cancerous cells require proliferation of new blood vessels through the process of tumor angiogenesis. Computed tomography (CT) perfusion is an emerging functional imaging modality that measures tissue perfusion through dynamic CT scanning following intravenous administration of contrast medium. This noninvasive technique provides a quantitative basis for assessing tumor angiogenesis. CT perfusion has been utilized on a variety of organs including lung, prostate, liver, and brain, with promising results in cancer diagnosis, disease prognostication, prediction, and treatment monitoring. In this paper, we focus on assessing the extent to which CT perfusion characteristics can be used to discriminate liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors from normal liver tissues. The neuroendocrine liver metastases were analyzed by distributed parameter modeling to yield tissue blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), permeability (PS), and hepatic arterial fraction (HAF), for tumor and normal liver. The result reveals the potential of CT perfusion as a tool for constructing biomarkers from features of the hepatic vasculature for guiding cancer detection, prognostication, and treatment selection.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Utilization of Traditional Medicine among the Communities of Merawi Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wassie Samuel Masresha , Aragie Leul Lisanework , Taye Belaynew Wasie , Mekonnen Laychiluh Bantie
Published: October 2015

Background. In Ethiopia, up to 80% of the population use traditional medicine for primary health care. Studies on the current knowledge and practices of communities in the era of modern health care expansion are lacking. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional medicine among communities in Merawi town.Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 403 residents of Merawi town. A systematic random sampling was used to select households. Data was collected through house to house interview.Results. 392 out of 403 questionnaires were analysed. Among the participants, 220 (56.1%) were female. The mean (±s.d.) age of the participants was 32.5 (±12.4) years. Nearly two-thirds, 241 (61.5%), of study participants have good knowledge about traditional medicines. Three-quarters of participants prefer modern medicine to traditional drugs. 70.9% of participants had the experience of personal use of traditional therapies.Conclusions. The population in Merawi has good knowledge with high acceptability and use of traditional medicine. The main reasons for high acceptability and practice were cultural acceptability, lesser cost, and good outcome of traditional medicine.
The Ocular Biometry of Adult Cataract Patients on Lifeline Express Hospital Eye-Train in Rural China
Authors: Cao Xiaoguang , Hou Xianru , Bao Yongzhen
Published: October 2015

Aims. To describe and explore the distribution of ocular biometric parameters of adult cataract patients in rural China.Methods. Three Lifeline Express Hospital Eye-Train missions of Peking University People’s Hospital in China were chosen. 3828 adult cataract patients aged 29 to 88 years with axial length (AL) less than 27.0 mm were enrolled. The ocular biometry including visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure, AL, corneal power (K1 andK2), and corneal endothelial counting (CEC) were collected and analysis. Corneal radius (CR) was calculated from the corneal power.Results. The participants in Zhoukou of these three missions had the worse preoperative VA (p<0.001), the lowestK1 (p<0.001),K2 (p<0.001), andK(p<0.001) and the highestK1-K2(p<0.001), moreover AL/CR more closely to 3.0. The AL,K1-K2, and AL/CR were normally distributed. But theK1,K2,K, and CEC were not normal distributions. ExceptK1, all parameters were positively skewed and peaked.Conclusion. Our study provides normative ocular biometry in a large, representative rural Chinese population. The AL is normally distributed with a positive skew and big kurtosis. The corneal powers are not normal distribution. The corneal astigmatism might have a significant effect on the visual acuity.
YIG: Bi2O3 Nanocomposite Thin Films for Magnetooptic and Microwave Applications
Authors: Nur-E-Alam M. , Vasiliev Mikhail , Alameh Kamal , Kotov Viacheslav , Demidov Victor , Balabanov Dmitry
Published: October 2015

Y3Fe5O12‐Bi2O3 composite thin films are deposited onto Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) substrates and their annealing crystallization regimes are optimized (in terms of both process temperatures and durations) to obtain high‐quality thin film layers possessing magnetic properties attractive for a range of technological applications. The amount of bismuth oxide content introduced into these nanocomposite‐type films is controlled by adjusting the RF power densities applied to both Y3Fe5O12 and Bi2O3 sputtering targets during the cosputtering deposition processes. The measured material properties of oven‐annealed YIG‐Bi2O3 films indicate that cosputtering of YIG‐Bi2O3 composites can provide the flexibility of application‐specific YIG layers fabrication of interest for several existing, emerging, and also frontier technologies. Experimental results demonstrate large specific Faraday rotation (of more than 1°/µm at 532 nm), achieved simultaneously with low optical losses in the visible range and very narrow peak‐to‐peak ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of around ΔHpp= 6.1 Oe at 9.77 GHz.
Synchronous Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Auricular Myxoma
Authors: González-Cantú Yessica M. , Rodriguez-Padilla Cristina , Tena-Suck Martha Lilia , García de la Fuente Alberto , Mejía-Bañuelos Rosa María , Díaz Mendoza Raymundo , Quintanilla-Garza Samuel , Batisda-Acuña Yolaester
Published: October 2015

Synchronic occurrence of benign and malignant tumors is extremely rare. Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma represents 1% to 2% of all hepatocarcinomas, while myxomas represent about half of all the cases of primary tumors of the heart. We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with a left atrial myxoma that was surgically removed. Several weeks later, the patient returned to the hospital with abdominal pain. CT scan showed a mass in the left lobe of the liver that was resected and diagnosed as fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. As of this writing, the patient is healthy.
Identification of Chemical Toxicity Using Ontology Information of Chemicals
Authors: Jiang Zhanpeng , Xu Rui , Dong Changchun
Published: October 2015

With the advance of the combinatorial chemistry, a large number of synthetic compounds have surged. However, we have limited knowledge about them. On the other hand, the speed of designing new drugs is very slow. One of the key causes is the unacceptable toxicities of chemicals. If one can correctly identify the toxicity of chemicals, the unsuitable chemicals can be discarded in early stage, thereby accelerating the study of new drugs and reducing the R&D costs. In this study, a new prediction method was built for identification of chemical toxicities, which was based on ontology information of chemicals. By comparing to a previous method, our method is quite effective. We hope that the proposed method may give new insights to study chemical toxicity and other attributes of chemicals.
Effects of P-15 Peptide Coated Hydroxyapatite on Tibial Defect Repair In Vivo in Normal and Osteoporotic Rats
Authors: Hestehave Pedersen Rasmus , Rasmussen Marina , Overgaard Søren , Ding Ming
Published: October 2015

This study assessed the efficacy of anorganic bone mineral coated with P-15 peptide (ABM/P-15) on tibia defect repair longitudinally in both normal and osteoporotic rats in vivo. A paired design was used. 24 Norwegian brown rats were divided into normal and osteoporotic groups. 48 cylindrical defects were created in proximal tibias bilaterally. Defects were filled with ABM/P-15 or left empty. Osteoporotic status was assessed by microarchitectural analysis. Microarchitectural properties of proximal tibial defects were evaluated at 4 time points. 21 days after surgery, tibias were harvested for histology and histomorphometry. Significantly increased bone volume fraction, surface density, and connectivity were seen in all groups at days 14 and 21 compared with day 0. Moreover, the structure type of ABM/P-15 group was changed toward typical plate-like structure. Microarchitectural properties of ABM/P-15 treated newly formed bones at 21 days were similar in normal and osteoporotic rats. Histologically, significant bone formation was seen in all groups. Interestingly, significantly increased bone formation was seen in osteoporotic rats treated with ABM/P-15 indicating optimized healing potential. Empty defects showed lower healing potential in osteoporotic bone. In conclusion, ABM/P-15 accelerated bone regeneration in osteoporotic rats but did not enhance bone regeneration in normal rats.
Classical Behavior of Alumina (Al2O3) Nanofluids in Antifrogen N with Experimental Evidence
Authors: Saleemi M. , Vanapalli S. , Nikkam N. , Toprak M. S. , Muhammed M.
Published: October 2015

A nanofluid is a suspension containing nanoparticles in conventional heat transfer fluids. This paper reports on an investigation of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles in Antifrogen N, also called AFN, which is a popular antifreeze coolant consisting primarily of ethylene glycol and other additives to impede corrosion. The base carrier fluid is 50% by weight of water and 50% by weight of AFN. We systematically measured the nanomaterials and heat transfer data of nanofluids for four different size particles, namely, 20, 40, 150, and 250 nm alumina particles. The pH of all the nanofluids is adjusted to have a stable dispersion. The material characterizations include SEM and DLS particle measurements. We measured thermal conductivity, viscosity, and heat transfer coefficient in developing flow of the nanofluids. We observed that these nanofluids behave as any other classical fluids in thermally developing flow and classical heat transfer correlations can be used to completely describe the characteristics of these nanofluids.