bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High prevalence of fractures and osteoporosis in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis
Authors: van der Veer E. , van der Goot W. , de Monchy J. G. R. , Kluin‐Nelemans H. C. , van Doormaal J. J.
Published: January 2012

Background: 

Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a rare disease characterized by accumulation of abnormal mast cells in various tissues, including bone marrow. Symptoms are usually related to release of mast cell mediators. The aims are to establish the prevalence of osteoporotic fractures in ISM and to investigate the association with serum tryptase and the urinary histamine metabolites, methylhistamine (MH), and methylimidazole acetic acid.

Methods: 

The fracture prevalence in 157 patients (65 men; 92 women), mean age 54 ± 12 years, was assessed by vertebral morphometry and data from patient records, supplemented by a questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured, and tryptase and histamine metabolites were analysed.

Results: 

We registered 235 lifetime fractures in 154 patients, including 140 osteoporotic (low‐energy trauma) fractures, of which 62% were vertebral, 1% hip and 36% other nonvertebral fractures. Osteoporotic fractures and osteoporosis were found in 37% and 28% of the patients, respectively. In men, the prevalence of these osteoporotic manifestations (46% <50 years; 73% ≥50 years) was much higher compared with women (18% <50 years; 58% ≥50 years). Older age, male gender, and higher urinary MH were independently related to the osteoporotic manifestations.

Conclusions: 

This first publication about prevalence of fractures and osteoporosis in patients with ISM shows that the risk of osteoporotic fractures is high, especially in men. Higher urinary MH levels are associated with a higher risk of osteoporotic manifestations. Routine measurements of BMD and vertebral morphometry are warranted in these patients for early detection of osteoporosis.
The origin and ecological significance of multiple branches for histidine utilization in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
Authors: Gerth Monica L. , Ferla Matteo P. , Rainey Paul B.
Published: January 2012

Pseudomonas proliferate in a wide spectrum of harsh and variable environments. In many of these environments, amino acids, such as histidine, are a valuable source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. Here, we demonstrate that the histidine uptake and utilization (hut) pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 contains two branches from the intermediate formiminoglutamate to the product glutamate. Genetic analysis revealed that the four‐step route is dispensable as long as the five‐step route is present (and vice versa). Mutants with deletions of either the four‐step (HutE) or five‐step (HutFG) branches were competed against each other and the wild‐type strain to test the hypothesis of ecological redundancy; that is, that the presence of two pathways confers no benefit beyond that delivered by the individual pathways. Fitness assays performed under several environmental conditions led us to reject this hypothesis; the four‐step pathway can provide an advantage when histidine is the sole carbon source. An IclR‐type regulator (HutR) was identified that regulates the four‐step pathway. Comparison of sequenced genomes revealed that P. aeruginosa strains and P. fluorescens Pf‐5 have branched hut pathways. Phylogenetic analyses suggests that the gene encoding formiminoglutamase (hutE) was acquired by horizontal gene transfer from a Ralstonia‐like ancestor. Potential barriers to inter‐species transfer of the hutRE module were explored by transferring it from P. aeruginosa PAO1 to P. fluorescens SBW25. Transfer of the operon conferred the ability to utilize histidine via the four‐step pathway in a single step, but the fitness cost of acquiring this new operon was found to be environment dependent.
A new genus of Devonian tetrapod from North‐East Greenland, with new information on the lower jaw ofIchthyostega
Authors: CLACK JENNIFER A. , AHLBERG PER E. , BLOM HENNING , FINNEY SARAH M.
Published: January 2012

Abstract: A new genus and species of Devonian tetrapod has been identified from material collected in 1947 from the southern slope of Mt. Celsius, Ymer Ø, North‐East Greenland. The specimen preserves both lower jaws, partial palate, premaxillae and maxillae, with a natural mould of parts of the shoulder girdle. The new taxon,Ymeria denticulata, shows differences in dentition, skull ornament and lateral line expression from bothAcanthostegaandIchthyostega, but it shows a closer resemblance to the latter. A cladistic analysis not only suggests thatYmerialies adjacent toIchthyostegaon the tetrapod stem, but also reveals substantial topological instability. As the third genus and the fifth species of tetrapod identified from North‐East Greenland, it demonstrates the high diversity of Devonian tetrapods in that region.
A new species of long‐snouted lungfish from the Late Devonian of Australia, and its functional and biogeographical implications
Authors: CLEMENT ALICE M.
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  A new species of the Late Devonian lungfish Rhinodipterus is described from the Frasnian Gogo Formation, northern Western Australia. The description is based on a single specimen preserved in a small concretion, represented by elements of the skull roof, lower jaw, palate, neurocranium, hyoid arch, pectoral girdle and other parts of the postcranial skeleton. Rhinodipterus kimberleyensis sp. nov. differs from other species in the shape of its parasphenoid, number of tooth rows, nature of the tooth plates and characteristics of the skull roof. Functional morphology suggests Rhinodipterus kimberleyensis sp. nov. had a weak bite and may have fed off the reef substrate. Rhinodipterus kimberleyensis sp. nov. possessed a suite of skeletal characters that suggest it may have breathed air. Morphological comparison and a cladistic analysis place Rhinodipterus crown‐ward of all other Gogo lungfishes and closely related to Oervigia, Andreyevichthys and Orlovichthys. Faunal comparisons between Australia and Laurussia indicate palaeobiogeographical links existed between these landmasses during the Middle to Late Devonian.
Topical application of disodium isostearyl 2‐O‐L‐ascorbyl phosphate, an amphiphilic ascorbic acid derivative, reduces neuropathic hyperalgesia in rats
Authors: Okubo Kazumasa , Nakanishi Hiroki , Matsunami Maho , Shibayama Hiroharu , Kawabata Atsufumi
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cav3.2 T‐type calcium channels, targeted by H2S, are involved in neuropathic hyperalgesia in rats and ascorbic acid inhibits Cav3.2 channels. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of intraplantar (i.pl.) administration of ascorbic acid or topical application of disodium isostearyl 2‐O‐L‐ascorbyl phosphate (DI‐VCP), a skin‐permeable ascorbate derivative on hyperalgesia induced by NaHS, an H2S donor, and on neuropathic hyperalgesia.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

In rats mechanical hyperalgesia was evoked by i.pl. NaHS, and neuropathic hyperalgesia was induced by L5 spinal nerve cutting (L5SNC) or by repeated administration of paclitaxel, an anti‐cancer drug. Dermal ascorbic acid levels were determined colorimetrically.

KEY RESULTS

The NaHS‐evoked Cav3.2 channel‐dependent hyperalgesia was inhibited by co‐administered ascorbic acid. Topical application of DI‐VCP, but not ascorbic acid, prevented the NaHS‐evoked hyperalgesia, and also increased dermal ascorbic acid levels. Neuropathic hyperalgesia induced by L5SNC or paclitaxel was reversed by i.pl. NNC 55–0396, a selective T‐type calcium channel blocker, ascorbic acid or DI‐VCP, and by topical DI‐VCP, but not by topical ascorbic acid. The effects of i.pl. ascorbic acid and topical DI‐VCP in the paclitaxel‐treated rats were characterized by the faster onset and greater magnitude, compared with their effects in the L5SNC rats. Dermal ascorbic acid levels in the hindpaw significantly decreased after paclitaxel treatment, but not L5SNC, which was reversed by topical DI‐VCP.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Ascorbic acid, known to inhibit Cav3.2 channels, suppressed neuropathic hyperalgesia. DI‐VCP ointment for topical application may be of benefit in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Scientific problems in the regulation of red blood cell products
Authors: Hess John R. ,   for the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: For the past 30 years, red blood cell (RBC) storage systems have been licensed in the United States based on the demonstration that 24‐hour in vivo recovery was greater than 75% and hemolysis was less than 1%. Now additional requirements for storage system licensure have being added. The meaning and value of these new requirements have been questioned.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The literature regarding the performance of present and suggested new tests for RBC licensure was reviewed.

RESULTS: 51Cr 24‐hr in vivo recovery has an intrinsic 4% error of measurement whereas the error in measures of hemolysis is less than 0.1%. Both measures have large donor‐dependent end‐of‐storage variability; nevertheless, they have successfully guided RBC storage system development for six decades. Adenosine 5′‐triphosphate and 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate are difficult to measure accurately and international shared‐sample studies suggest 6 and 11% coefficients of variation across laboratories. There is no readily available way to measure the oxygen equilibrium curve accurately. The new failure criteria provide no useful information and randomly fail good products.

CONCLUSIONS: Attempts to expand the useful regulatory requirements for RBC storage system licensure are limited by poor understanding of the storage lesion and its effect of RBC performance. Measures of 51Cr 24‐hour in vivo recovery remain critical and resources for this measure are limiting. The interaction between limited testing resources and large donor variability remains a major limit on RBC storage system development. It is important that new required tests contribute meaningful information and not make development and licensure of better products more difficult.
Comparison of red blood cell survival in sheep determined using red blood cells labeled with either biotin at multiple densities or [14C]cyanate: validation of a model to study human physiology and disease
Authors: Mock Donald M. , Matthews Nell I. , Zhu Shan , Strauss Ronald G. , Schmidt Robert L. , Zimmerman M. Bridget , Nalbant Demet , Freise Kevin J. , Saleh Mohammad , Veng‐Pedersen Peter , Widness John A.
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: Measurement of red blood cell (RBC) survival (RCS) is important for investigating pathophysiology and treatment of anemia. Our objective was to validate the multidensity biotin method for RCS determination in sheep, a commonly used model of RBC physiology. [14C]Cyanate served as the reference method for long‐term RCS because the 51Cr method (the reference method for humans) is not reliable in sheep.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Aliquots of autologous RBCs from eight adult sheep were labeled with [14C]cyanate and four separate densities of biotin (BioRBCs) and reinfused. Short‐term RCS was assessed by posttransfusion recovery at 24 hours (PTR24); long‐term RCS was assessed by the time to 50% survival (T50) and mean potential life span (MPL).

RESULTS: Values for PTR24 of the four BioRBC densities were not different. Values for RCS as reflected by T50 and MPL were nearly identical for [14C]cyanate and the two intermediate‐density BioRBC populations. In contrast, the lowest‐density BioRBC population survived slightly longer (p < 0.01), but with a difference of no clinical significance. The highest‐density BioRBC population importantly shortened RCS (p < 0.01 compared to the two intermediate densities).

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that BioRBCs labeled at four biotin densities can be used to independently and simultaneously measure short‐term RCS and that BioRBCs labeled at the three lowest biotin densities can be used to accurately and simultaneously measure long‐term RCS. Because the sheep RBC model is comparable to humans, this nonradioactive method has promise for use in RBC kinetic studies in neonates and pregnant women.
Evaluation of particle gel immunoassays for the detection of severe immunoglobulin A deficiency and anti‐human immunoglobulin A antibodies
Authors: Palmer Douglas S. , O'Toole Joan , Montreuil Therese , Scalia Vito , Goldman Mindy
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A (IgA)‐deficient patients with anti‐IgA (Ab) require transfusions using blood components with less than 0.05 mg IgA/dL as they are known to be safe for these patients. Identification of severely IgA‐deficient (IgA SD) donors involved preliminary screening by the Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion assay followed by confirmatory testing at the required level of sensitivity for IgA and Ab at an external reference laboratory. Two in vitro particle gel immunoassays (ID‐PaGIA IgA deficiency test and anti‐IgA test) were also evaluated for their suitability in identifying IgA SD individuals and determining their Ab status.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Samples from 198 donors and 36 patients, subjected to confirmatory testing for IgA SD and Ab over a 2‐year period, were also evaluated using the ID‐PaGIA kits.

RESULTS: DiaMed test sensitivity and specificity for detection of IgA SD in donors was 98% whereas for Ab, test sensitivity was 91% at a specificity of 94%. In patients, sensitivity was 94% for IgA SD and 67% for Ab, both tests at a specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS: The ID‐PaGIA IgA deficiency test was a sensitive and specific tool for identifying IgA SD donors or patients. Sensitivity of the Ab test was high for donors but reduced for patients and of high specificity in both groups. Further studies with patients are needed to confirm this latter observation. Implementation of these tests would make it possible to supply appropriate products from IgA SD donors to prevent anaphylactic transfusion reactions in patients.
Detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum in chorionic tissues of high‐risk pregnant women
Authors: Tateishi Fumi , Hasegawa‐Nakamura Kozue , Nakamura Toshiaki , Oogai Yuichi , Komatsuzawa Hitoshi , Kawamata Kazuya , Douchi Tsutomu , Hatae Masayuki , Noguchi Kazuyuki
Published: January 2012

Aim

This study was undertaken to investigate the existence of a periodontopathic bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, in chorionic tissues of pregnant women, and the effects of F. nucleatum on human chorion‐derived cells.

Materials and Methods

Oral and chorionic tissue samples were collected from 24 high‐risk pregnant women and 15 normal pregnant women. The presence of F. nucleatum in the samples was detected using polymerase chain reaction. Chorion‐derived cells and Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐2 or TLR‐4 gene‐silenced chorion‐derived cells were stimulated with F. nucleatum lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin (IL)‐6 and corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the culture supernatants were measured using ELISA.

Results

F. nucleatum was detected in all oral samples and seven chorionic tissues from the high‐risk pregnant women, but was not detected in chorionic tissues from the normal pregnant women. F. nucleatum LPS significantly increased IL‐6 and CRH secretion by chorion‐derived cells. The F. nucleatum LPS‐induced IL‐6 and CRH levels were significantly reduced in TLR‐2 or TLR‐4 gene‐silenced chorion‐derived cells.

Conclusions

We suggest that F. nucleatum is detected in chorionic tissues of high‐risk pregnant women, but not in chorionic tissues of normal pregnant women, and that F. nucleatum induces IL‐6 and CRH production via both TLR‐2 and TLR‐4 in chorion‐derived cells.
Risk and Subversion in Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth
Authors: Shinbrot Victoria
Published: January 2012

This essay argues that a strong undercurrent runs throughout The House of Mirth, which subtly combines the themes of risk‐taking, gambling, and aesthetic play and thereby exposes the randomness and indeterminacy that the predominant value systems of Lily’s universe attempt to disguise or negate. The presence of risk is felt as a variable whose attributive value or meaning differs widely depending on varying and often contradictory contexts from the economic to the aesthetic, the material to the spiritual, and the individual to the communal.
Screening for elder mistreatment in dental and medical clinics
Authors: Fulmer Terry , Strauss Shiela , Russell Stefanie L , Singh Geetika , Blankenship Jamie , Vemula Roja , Caceres Billy , Valenti Michael , Sutin David
Published: January 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00405.x
 
Screening for elder mistreatment in dental and medical clinics

Objective:  Elder mistreatment (EM) is a potentially fatal and largely unrecognised problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of EM in busy clinics and specifically, we report on the feasibility of screening for EM as well as the appropriate instrumentation for screening.

Background:  Prevalence estimates for elder mistreatment vary, but recent data from a national sample of community‐residing adults over 60 years of age indicate that 11.4% of older adults report some form of elder mistreatment. There is a paucity of research related to screening in dental and medical clinics to understand the prevalence in such practice settings.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional study was conducted from January 2008 to March 2009. We enrolled 241 patients at two clinics: a medical clinic (n = 102) and dental clinics (n = 139). A mini‐mental status exam was conducted with a minimum of 18 or better for inclusion. An elder mistreatment screen was next used [elder assessment instrument (EAI‐R) for medical and Hwalek–Sengstock elder abuse screening test (HS‐EAST) for dental].

Results:  For the 241 patients, we were able to compare data from the EAI‐R with the HS‐EAST. This pilot work demonstrates the feasibility of screening for EM in busy clinics since we documented patient enrolment of 20% in the medical clinics and 66% in dental clinics. Patients are willing to answer extremely‐sensitive questions related to elder mistreatment and are also willing to use computer technology for interviewing.

Conclusion:  Dental and medical clinics are important practice venues to screen for elder mistreatment.
Relationship between oral impacts on daily performance and chewing ability among independent elders residing in Daejeon City, Korea
Authors: Hwang Soo‐Jeong , Patton Lauren L. , Kim Jae‐Hong , Kim Hae‐Young
Published: January 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00504.x
 
Relationship between oral impacts on daily performance and chewing ability among independent elders residing in Daejeon City, Korea

Objective:  The aim of this study was to assess the association between oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) measured by the oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) inventory and chewing ability.

Methods:  The cluster sampling method was used to select a sample of 634 socially active independent community‐dwelling elders. An oral examination was conducted and a questionnaire was implemented. After bivariate comparisons, a multivariable two‐level logistic model was developed for the dichotomous OIDP indicator using the generalised linear mixed model.

Results:  The mean age of the participants was 74 years and 56.6% were women. Eight percent were edentulous, and the mean number of teeth was 17.7. Overall, 39.3% of participants had one or more oral impacts on daily performance. Elders with chewing ability of 0–49, 50–74 and 75–99% were approximately 120, 20 and seven times more likely to have oral impacts compared with those with full chewing ability, respectively. Elders reporting their oral health as ‘fair’ or ‘better’ were 68% less likely to have oral impacts than those with poor or very poor self‐reported oral health.

Conclusion:  Among independent elders, amelioration of chewing ability including delivery of appropriate prosthodontic care might independently contribute to improving OHRQoL of elders by improving their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
Melatonin and the metabolic syndrome: a tool for effective therapy in obesity‐associated abnormalities?
Authors: Nduhirabandi F. , du Toit E. F. , Lochner A.
Published: January 2012

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Apart from its powerful antioxidant properties, the pineal gland hormone melatonin has recently attracted the interest of various investigators as a multifunctional molecule. Melatonin has been shown to have beneficial effects in cardiovascular disorders including ischaemic heart disease and hypertension. However, its role in cardiovascular risk factors including obesity and other related metabolic abnormalities is not yet established, particularly in humans. New emerging data show that melatonin may play an important role in body weight regulation and energy metabolism. This review will address the role of melatonin in the MetS focusing on its effects in obesity, insulin resistance and leptin resistance. The overall findings suggest that melatonin should be exploited as a therapeutic tool to prevent or reverse the harmful effects of obesity and its related metabolic disorders.
Clinical prognostic variables in young patients (under 40 years) with hepatitis B virus‐associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: WANG Qin , LUAN Wei , VILLANUEVA Gerald A. , RAHBARI Nuh N. , YEE Herman T. , MANIZATE Fotini , HIOTIS Spiros P
Published: January 2012

OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this study was to determine the impact of hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) screening in chronic hepatitis B patients who did not meet the current screening recommendations.

METHODS:  Patients who were admitted to Bellevue Hospital Center with HCC were assessed for risk factors, cirrhosis and tumor‐specific factors. Eligibility for liver transplantation or resection with favorable outcome was determined by applying Milan criteria.

RESULTS:  In all 93 patients were diagnosed with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐associated HCC, 18 of whom were under 40 years. Cirrhosis was infrequently associated with HCC in this group, with most cancers occurring in non‐cirrhotic patients (12/18, 66.7%). No patient developed HCC outside the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) cancer screening recommendations (young age, non‐cirrhotic) were eligible for liver transplantation or resection with favorable outcomes (within Milan criteria). However, HCC patients who were diagnosed within AASLD screening recommendations did meet Milan criteria in 17.3% (14/81) patients.

CONCLUSIONS:  Current guidelines for HCC screening in patients with HBV may lead to a delay in diagnosis in non‐cirrhotic patients under 40 years. Consideration should be given to modifying current recommendations to advocate entering HBV patients into a cancer‐screening program at young age.
Can a targeted psychological intervention be effective for young people following a first manic episode? Results from an 18‐month pilot study
Authors: Macneil Craig A. , Hasty Melissa , Cotton Sue , Berk Michael , Hallam Karen , Kader Linda , McGorry Patrick , Conus Philippe
Published: January 2012

Aim: There is a scarce literature describing psychological interventions for a young, first‐episode cohort who have experienced psychotic mania. This study aimed to assess whether a manualized psychological intervention could be effective in reducing symptomatology and relapse, and improve functional outcome in this population.

Methods: The study was an open‐label design, drawn from a larger pharmacotherapy trial. All participants in the pharmacotherapy trial were offered a manualized psychological intervention in addition to case management. Inclusion in the psychotherapy group was based on participant's choice, and on completion of four or more of the eight modules offered. All clinical files were audited to ensure accuracy of group allocation. Forty young people aged 15 to 25 years old who had experienced a manic episode with psychotic features were recruited into the study, with 20 people in the combined treatment as usual plus psychotherapy group (P+TAU), and an equal number of matched control participants who received treatment as usual (TAU) within the same service. All participants were prescribed antipsychotic and mood‐stabilizing medication. Symptomatic, functional and relapse measures were taken both at baseline and at 18‐month follow‐up.

Results: Manic symptoms improved significantly for both groups, with no differences between groups. Depression scores and overall symptom severity were significantly lower in the P + TAU group. No differences were evident between groups with regard to numbers or type of relapse. The P + TAU group had significantly better social and occupational functioning after 18 months.

Conclusion: This study suggests that a manualized psychological intervention targeted to a first‐episode population can be effective in reducing depression and overall symptom severity, and can improve functional outcome following a first episode of psychotic mania.
Can we understand modern humans without considering pathogens?
Authors: Thomas Frédéric , Daoust Simon P. , Raymond Michel
Published: January 2012

Throughout our evolutionary history, humankind has always lived in contact with large numbers of pathogens. Some cultural traits, such as sedentarization and animal domestication, have considerably increased new parasitic contacts and epidemic transitions. Here, we review the various phenotypic traits that have been proposed to be affected by the highly parasitic human environment, including fertility, birth weight, fluctuating asymmetry, body odours, food recipes, sexual behaviour, pregnancy sickness, language, religion and intellectual quotient. We also discuss how such knowledge is important to understanding several aspects of the current problems faced by humanity in our changing world and to predicting the long‐term consequences of parasite eradication policies on our health and well‐being. The study of the evolutionary interactions between humans and parasites is a burgeoning and most promising field, as demonstrated by the recent increasing popularity of Darwinian medicine.
A review of the oro‐dento‐facial characteristics of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type III (familial dysautonomia)
Authors: Mass Eliyahu
Published: January 2012

The oro‐dento‐facial features and dysfunction of children with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type III, known as familial dysautonomia or Riley–Day syndrome, was first described in the scientific literature in 1949. They include dental trauma; dental and soft tissue self‐mutilation; normal dental age; normal sequence and timing of eruption and exfoliation of teeth; smaller tooth size; different and disproportional tooth components; normal alveolar bone height; small jaws, mild crowding, and malocclusions. These persons have craniofacial morphology that is different from accepted norms but they resemble norms of their ethnic origin. The subjects can have gray, pale, shiny faces with an asymmetric suffering expression; frontal bossing, with eventual hypertelorism and narrow lips; a low‐caries rate; drooling, and hypersalivation. They can have changes in salivary composition and content, which influences plaque and calculus and increases the risk of gingival and periodontal diseases. They also have difficulty in controlling oral muscles; a progressive decrease in number of tongue fungiform papillae, accompanied by lack of taste buds; and specific dys‐geusia, but a normal sense of smell.
Curating a Bhopal People’s Movement: An Opportunity for Indian Museums
Authors: Lakshmi Rama
Published: January 2012

Abstract  This article explores the curatorial opportunities and challenges that emerge from an exhibition project in the central Indian city of Bhopal, the site of one of the world’s worst industrial tragedies in 1984, involving the Union Carbide pesticide factory. The government wants to build a memorial at the site, but some survivor groups say the government does not have the moral right to memorialize because it is complicit in the injustice meted out to the community. The survivors are now developing their own traveling exhibition, which they hope will eventually be a permanent museum in the city. They have enlisted me for the project because I advocate for contemporary social histories and people’s movements in Indian museums. The traveling exhibition has the potential to help guide India’s museums—which are locked in patterns of patriotic cultural showcasing—to confront troubling social discourses for the first time.
Turbulence–Radiation Interaction: From Theory to Application in Numerical Simulations
Authors: Coelho Pedro J.
Published: January 2012

Theoretical analysis and experimental investigations have shown that the mean heat fluxes in turbulent gaseous flows are influenced not only by the mean scalar fields (temperature and molar fraction of the species) but also by the scalar fluctuations. It is widely recognized that the increase of radiative fluxes in comparison with laminar flows may exceed 100%. This interaction between turbulence and radiation is mainly due to the nonlinearity between radiative emission and temperature. It is particularly important in reactive flows, since temperature fluctuations are typically higher in these flows than in nonreactive ones. In this paper, a survey of the theory concerning turbulence–radiation interaction (TRI) is presented, along with applications in numerical simulations. We first present experimental and theoretical fundamentals on TRI. Then, direct numerical simulation and stochastic methods are addressed. Although they provide reliable information on TRI, they are too computationally demanding for practical applications. We will then focus on methods based on the solution of the time-averaged form of the conservation equations. Although many different approaches are available, we will concentrate on two methods. One is based on the solution of the time-averaged form of the radiative transfer equation using the optically thin fluctuation approximation and a combustion model based on a prescribed probability density function (pdf) approach. The second one is based on the photon Monte Carlo method for radiative transfer calculations in media represented by discrete particle fields and a combustion model based on the Monte Carlo solution of the transport equation for the joint pdf of scalars. Finally, the role of TRI in large eddy simulation is discussed, and the main consequences of TRI in combustion systems are summarized.
Amplitude Independent Frequency Synchroniser for a Cubic Planar Polynomial System
Authors: Boussaada Islam
Published: January 2012

The problem of local linearizability of the planar linear center perturbed by cubic non- linearities in all generalities on the system parameters (14 parameters) is far from being solved. The synchronization problem (as noted in Pikovsky, A., Rosenblum, M., and Kurths, J., 2003, Synchronization: A Universal Concept in Nonlinear Sciences, Cambridge Nonlinear Science Series, Cambridge University Press, UK, and Blekhman, I. I., 1988, Synchronisation in Science and Technology, ASME Press Translations, New York) consists in bringing appropriate modifications on a given system to obtain a desired dynamic. The desired phase portrait along this paper contains a compact region around a singular point at the origin in which lie periodic orbits with the same period (independently from the chosen initial conditions). In this paper, starting from a five parameters non isochronous Chouikha cubic system (Chouikha, A. R., 2007, “Isochronous Centers of Lienard Type Equations and Applications,” J. Math. Anal. Appl., 331, pp. 358–376) we identify all possible monomial perturbations of degree d ∈ {2, 3} insuring local linearizability of the perturbed system. The necessary conditions are obtained by the Normal Forms method. These conditions are real algebraic equations (multivariate polynomials) in the parameters of the studied ordinary differential system. The efficient algorithm FGb (J. C. Faugère, “FGb Salsa Software,” http://fgbrs.lip6.fr) for computing the Gröbner basis is used. For the family studied in this paper, an exhaustive list of possible parameters values insuring local linearizability is established. All the found cases are already known in the literature but the contexts are different since our object is the synchronisation rather than the classification. This paper can be seen as a direct continuation of several new works concerned with the hinting of cubic isochronous centers, (in particular Bardet, M., and Boussaada, I., 2011, “Compexity Reduction of C-algorithm,” App. Math. Comp., in press; Boussaada, I., Chouikha, A. R., and Strelcyn, J.-M., 2011, “Isochronicity Conditions for some Planar Polynomial Systems,” Bull. Sci. Math, 135(1), pp. 89–112; Bardet, M., Boussaada, I., Chouikha, A. R., and Strelcyn, J.-M., 2011, “Isochronicity Conditions for some Planar Polynomial Systems,” Bull. Sci. Math, 135(2), pp. 230–249; and furthermore, it can be considered as an adaptation of a qualitative theory method to a synchronization problem.
Photoluminescence study of self-assembled GaAs quantum wires on (631)A-oriented GaAs substrates
Authors: Cruz-Hernández E. , Vázquez-Cortés D. , Cisneros-de-la-Rosa A. , López-Luna E. , Méndez-García V. H. , Shimomura S.
Published: January 2012

The authors report a low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) study of multiple GaAs layers grown between AlAs(0.6 nm)/GaAs(0.6 nm) short-period superlattice barriers (SLBs) simultaneously grown on both GaAs(631)A and (100) substrates. Five GaAs-layers of different nominal thicknesses (LW, ranging from 12 to 2.4 nm) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. By using (631)A-oriented substrates a self-organized and highly ordered corrugation is obtained in the growth of the GaAs layers, and at the end of the SLB growth, flat surfaces are found. Whereas, for the (100)-oriented sample, flat interfaces are confirmed after the growth of GaAs and SLB layers. By reducing LW below ∼3.6 nm in the (631) sample, strong quantum wire (QWR)-like confinement is achieved as deduced from polarized PL spectroscopy where polarization degrees as large as 0.43 are obtained. The PL emission energy of the (631)-QWRs is redshifted, as compared with the transitions of the (100)-oriented quantum wells, when LW is reduced. The authors explain this energy shift by the widening of the effective thickness of the confinement regions in the GaAs layers.
Polymicrobial Interactions: Impact on Pathogenesis and Human Disease
Authors: Peters Brian M. , Jabra-Rizk Mary Ann , O'May Graeme A. , Costerton J. William , Shirtliff Mark E.
Published: January 2012

Microorganisms coexist in a complex milieu of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses on or within the human body, often as multifaceted polymicrobial biofilm communities at mucosal sites and on abiotic surfaces. Only recently have we begun to appreciate the complicated biofilm phenotype during infection; moreover, even less is known about the interactions that occur between microorganisms during polymicrobial growth and their implications in human disease. Therefore, this review focuses on polymicrobial biofilm-mediated infections and examines the contribution of bacterial-bacterial, bacterial-fungal, and bacterial-viral interactions during human infection and potential strategies for protection against such diseases.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors: Samal Jasmine , Kandpal Manish , Vivekanandan Perumal
Published: January 2012

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a complex clinical entity frequently associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The persistence of HBV genomes in the absence of detectable surface antigenemia is termed occult HBV infection. Mutations in the surface gene rendering HBsAg undetectable by commercial assays and inhibition of HBV by suppression of viral replication and viral proteins represent two fundamentally different mechanisms that lead to occult HBV infections. The molecular mechanisms underlying occult HBV infections, including recently identified mechanisms associated with the suppression of HBV replication and inhibition of HBV proteins, are reviewed in detail. The availability of highly sensitive molecular methods has led to increased detection of occult HBV infections in various clinical settings. The clinical relevance of occult HBV infection and the utility of appropriate diagnostic methods to detect occult HBV infection are discussed. The need for specific guidelines on the diagnosis and management of occult HBV infection is being increasingly recognized; the aspects of mechanistic studies that warrant further investigation are discussed in the final section.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen
Authors: Brooke Joanna S.
Published: January 2012

Stenotrophomonas maltophiliais an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogen. The increasing incidence of nosocomial and community-acquiredS. maltophiliainfections is of particular concern for immunocompromised individuals, as this bacterial pathogen is associated with a significant fatality/case ratio.S. maltophiliais an environmental bacterium found in aqueous habitats, including plant rhizospheres, animals, foods, and water sources. Infections ofS. maltophiliacan occur in a range of organs and tissues; the organism is commonly found in respiratory tract infections. This review summarizes the current literature and presentsS. maltophiliaas an organism with various molecular mechanisms used for colonization and infection.S. maltophiliacan be recovered from polymicrobial infections, most notably from the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients, as a cocolonizer withPseudomonas aeruginosa. Recent evidence of cell-cell communication between these pathogens has implications for the development of novel pharmacological therapies. Animal models ofS. maltophiliainfection have provided useful information about the type of host immune response induced by this opportunistic pathogen. Current and emerging treatments for patients infected withS. maltophiliaare discussed.
The Malassezia Genus in Skin and Systemic Diseases
Authors: Gaitanis Georgios , Magiatis Prokopios , Hantschke Markus , Bassukas Ioannis D. , Velegraki Aristea
Published: January 2012

In the last 15 years, the genusMalasseziahas been a topic of intense basic research on taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, ecology, immunology, and metabolomics. Currently, the genus encompasses 14 species. The 1996 revision of the genus resulted in seven accepted taxa:M. furfur,M. pachydermatis,M. sympodialis,M. globosa,M. obtusa,M. restricta, andM. slooffiae.In the last decade, seven new taxa isolated from healthy and lesional human and animal skin have been accepted:M. dermatis,M. japonica,M. yamatoensis,M. nana,M. caprae,M. equina, andM. cuniculi.However, forthcoming multidisciplinary research is expected to show the etiopathological relationships between these new species and skin diseases. Hitherto, basic and clinical research has established etiological links betweenMalasseziayeasts, pityriasis versicolor, and sepsis of neonates and immunocompromised individuals. Their role in aggravating seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, folliculitis, and onychomycosis, though often supported by histopathological evidence and favorable antifungal therapeutic outcomes, remains under investigation. A close association between skin andMalasseziaIgE binding allergens in atopic eczema has been shown, while laboratory data support a role in psoriasis exacerbations. Finally, metabolomic research resulted in the proposal of a hypothesis on the contribution ofMalassezia-synthesized aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands to basal cell carcinoma through UV radiation-induced carcinogenesis.
Bed Bugs: Clinical Relevance and Control Options
Authors: Doggett Stephen L. , Dwyer Dominic E. , Peñas Pablo F. , Russell Richard C.
Published: January 2012

Since the late 1990s, bed bugs of the speciesCimex lectulariusandCimex hemipterushave undergone a worldwide resurgence. These bed bugs are blood-sucking insects that readily bite humans. Cutaneous reactions may occur and can start out as small macular lesions that can develop into distinctive wheals of around 5 cm in diameter, which are accompanied by intense itching. Occasionally, bullous eruptions may result. If bed bugs are numerous, the patient can present with widespread urticaria or eythematous rashes. Often, bites occur in lines along the limbs. Over 40 pathogens have been detected in bed bugs, but there is no definitive evidence that they transmit any disease-causing organisms to humans. Anemia may result when bed bugs are numerous, and their allergens can trigger asthmatic reactions. The misuse of chemicals and other technologies for controlling bed bugs has the potential to have a deleterious impact on human health, while the insect itself can be the cause of significant psychological trauma. The control of bed bugs is challenging and should encompass a multidisciplinary approach utilizing nonchemical means of control and the judicious use of insecticides. For accommodation providers, risk management procedures should be implemented to reduce the potential of bed bug infestations.
HIGH ENERGY SCATTERING IN THE QUASIPOTENTIAL APPROACH
Authors: NGUYEN SUAN HAN , LE THI HAI YEN , NGUYEN NHU XUAN
Published: January 2012

Asymptotic behavior of the scattering amplitude for two scalar particles by scalar, vector and tensor exchanges at high energy and fixed momentum transfers is reconsidered in quantum field theory. In the framework of the quasipotential approach and the modified perturbation theory a systematic scheme of finding the leading eikonal scattering amplitudes and its corrections are developed and constructed. The connection between the solutions obtained by quasipotential and functional approaches is also discussed. The first correction to leading eikonal amplitude is found.
IMPROVEMENT OF COLORIZATION REALISM VIA THE STRUCTURE TENSOR
Authors: DREW MARK S. , FINLAYSON GRAHAM D.
Published: January 2012

Colorization is a color manipulation mechanism employing user-assisted color hints for changing grayscale images into colored ones. Several colorization algorithms have been constructed, and many of these methods are able to produce appropriately colorized images given a surprisingly sparse set of hints supplied by the user. However, these color images may not in fact look realistic. Moreover, the contrast in the colorized image may not match the gradient perceived in the original grayscale image. We argue that it is this departure from the original gradient that contributes to the unreal appearance in some colorizations. To correct this, we make use of the Di Zenzo gradient of a color image derived from the structure tensor, and adjust the colorized image such that the Di Zenzo definition of the maximum-contrast gradient agrees with the gradient in the original gray image. We present a heuristic method to this end and guided by this approach devise an optimization-based method. Our gradient projection tends to result in more natural-looking images in the resulting adjusted colorization. To explore the proposed method we utilize minimalist sets of color hints and find in particular that "hotspots" of unrealistic color are subdued into regions of more realistic color. This paper is not aimed at introducing a new basic colorization but instead our method is meant to make any colorization look more realistic; we demonstrate that this is the case for several different basic methods. In fact, we even find that a very simplistic colorization algorithm can be used provided the projection proposed here is then used to make the colorization more realistic looking.
CULTIVATION OF CHONDROCYTES AND MENISCUS CELLS IN THERMO-RESPONSIVE HYDROGELS CONTAINING CHITOSAN AND HYALURONIC ACID UNDER MECHANICAL TENSILE STIMULATION
Authors: CHEN JYH-PING , LIAO HAN-TSUNG , CHENG TAI-HONG
Published: January 2012

Temperature-responsive hydrogel scaffold containing chitosan and hyaluronic acid was used to entrap primary chondrocytes and meniscus cells. The effect of dynamic tensile strain on the cells/hydrogel constructs was evaluated by measuring cell proliferation, biosynthetic activity, and viability. The results demonstrated that mechanical deformation applied at 15% tensile strain, 0.5 Hz, and 10 min per day for 43 days resulted in substantial increases in glycosaminoglycan (36% for chondrocytes and 31% for meniscus cells) and collagen productions (37% for chondrocytes and 52% for meniscus cells) over static controls while not significantly affecting cell proliferation and viability.
IN VITRO EXPERIMENTS ON LASER SINTERED POROUS PCL SCAFFOLDS WITH POLYMER HYDROGEL FOR BONE REPAIR
Authors: LEE MING-YIH , LIU SI-WEN , CHEN JYH-PING , LIAO HAN-TSUNG , TSAI WEN-WEI , WANG HSIU-CHEN
Published: January 2012

Bone defects caused by tumors, diseased infection, trauma or abnormal bone development create a lot of serious health problems. Tissue engineering aims to fabricate tissues or organs using patients' cells for repairing the damaged tissues or organs in clinic. The aim of this study was to design and fabricate polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds using the inhouse-built selective laser sintering (SLS) rapid prototyping (RP) machine and combining with polymer hydrogel for in vitro study for bone repair. In this study, three configurations of scaffolds structure (0/45/0/45°, 0/90/0/90°, and 0/45/90/135° patterns) were designed and produced. The compressive modulus, porosity and pore size of porous scaffolds were first determined. In addition, polymer hydrogel was combined with PCL scaffolds with three loading methods (i.e., immersion method, injection method and titration method) to enhance scaffolds surface hydrophilicity for cell proliferation. Mesenchymal stem cells from New Zealand White rabbits were loaded on PCL scaffolds and induced to osteoblasts in vitro. Bone formation was determined by MTS assays, von Kossa stains and ALP activities. The experimental results showed the compressive moduli of scaffolds with 0/45/0/45°, 0/90/0/90°, and 0/45/90/135° patterns was 2 MPa, 3.4 MPa, and 3.75 MPa, respectively. The porosity of scaffolds was 72%, 76%, and 83%, respectively. The ranges of pore size of scaffolds were 350–400 μm, 400–500 μm, and 350–400 μm, respectively. By comparing three kinds of polymer hydrogel loading methods, titration method had the best result. The in vitro experimental results revealed that OD values of MTS tests and ALP activities increased from day 7 to day 21 and von Kossa stain revealed dark brown mineralized tissue, indicating cells could proliferate and differentiate in polymer hydrogel and scaffolds.
THE ABILITY TO INTEGRATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE AND ITS EFFECT ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE
Authors: RUNDQUIST JONAS
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a firm's ability to integrate knowledge on their innovation performance, in order to help firm's prioritise their resources, used for knowledge integration, more effectively. Data were collected from a survey mailed to R&D managers in firms with between 100–1,000 employees in a cross-section of industries. Five hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis with and without interaction terms. The results indicate that a categorisation of knowledge is useful for understanding knowledge integration. The study also shows that the ability to integrate domain-specific knowledge is significantly related to innovation performance. Furthermore, the results indicate that technology turbulence in the industry has a positive moderating effect on the above relation. Managerial implications suggest how managers can focus their efforts in order to effectively integrate knowledge in product development projects.
SOME LACUNARY DIFFERENCE SEQUENCE SPACES DEFINED BY MUSIELAK–ORLICZ FUNCTIONS
Authors: Hazarika Bipan
Published: January 2012

In this article we introduce the lacunary difference sequence spaces defined by Musielak–Orlicz functions and study their algebraic and topological properties. Also we obtain some relations related to these spaces.