bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Viewing the art and the science of pediatric nursing through the lens of paradigms: The impact on hope for the future
Authors: Bally Jill M. G.
Published: April 2012

Purpose.  The purpose of this study was to examine the strengths and limitations of common research paradigms used in the study of the hope of parents who have children with a variety of illnesses.

Conclusions.  Research findings on parental hope extracted from only one paradigm present limitations to related knowledge development. To take into account the contributions from each paradigm and to allow for a multidimensional understanding of parental hope, a multiparadigmatic approach is needed.

Practice Implications.  The complementary findings from multiple research paradigms can lead to a comprehensive base of knowledge that can guide future research and develop effective, family‐centered pediatric nursing care.
Dung Beetles Reduce Clustering of Tropical Tree Seedlings
Authors: Lawson Callum R. , Mann Darren J. , Lewis Owen T.
Published: April 2012

We used manipulative field exclusion experiments to investigate the effects of dung beetles on the spatial aggregation of emerging seedlings of two tropical tree species. The results provide the first direct demonstration that tropical dung beetles reduce seedling clustering, with important implications for plant densities and demography.
NUTRITIONAL AND SENSORY SURVEY OF CITRUS SINENSIS (L.) CULTIVARS GROWN AT THE MOST NORTHERN LIMIT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN LATITUDE
Authors: CANTERINO SARA , DONNO DARIO , MELLANO M. GABRIELLA , BECCARO GABRIELE L. , BOUNOUS GIANCARLO
Published: April 2012

This report describes Citrus sinensis fruit grown in the Lake Maggiore area (Italy), the upmost Northern distribution range of the genus Citrus in Europe. Total ascorbic acid (TAA), bioflavonoids, total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity, total soluble solid, total acidity and sensory characteristics were evaluated on oranges harvested during the 2009–2010 season. The range of values detected was as follows: TAA from 36.89 to 67.34 mg/100 mL, hesperidin from 18.97 to 31.87 mg/100 mL, narirutin from 17.30 to 29.28 mg/100 mL and rutin from 4.39 to 5.36 mg/100 mL; antioxidant activity (ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) from 8.62 to 17.00 mmol Fe2+/kg, fresh fruit weight; TPC (Folin–Ciocalteu method) from 87.16 to 135.16 mg GAE/100 g. This first attempt to characterize cultivars grown in the Piedmont region showed that these oranges had acceptable nutritional components and sensory quality, if compared with bibliographic data about cultivars grown in the subtropical and Mediterranean area.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The identification, characterization and valorization of old cultivars are essential to avoid loss of potentially useful germplasm. The reduction of biodiversity of cultivars found in agriculture could lead to problems such as higher susceptibility to widespread outbreaks of plant diseases and pests, and at the same time, the loss of precious source of nutrients. This survey was carried out to characterize a germplasm that could also be used in breeding programs to obtain new cold‐tolerant varieties.
INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT CASINGS ON SALAMI PRODUCED WITH MEAT FROM BUFFALO AND PODOLIAN CATTLE
Authors: CONTE A. , MARINO R. , DELLA MALVA A. , SEVI A. , DEL NOBILE M.A.
Published: April 2012

The effect of different casings on the quality of new types of salami from buffalo and Podolian young bull meat was investigated. To this aim, three casings were used: a natural casing (NC), a modified natural casing (MNC) and a synthetic casing (SC). Their effects on processed meat were analyzed by evaluating salami quality at the end of the ripening time. Nutritional properties, microbial loads, pH, color parameters, texture and sensory properties were assessed. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the casings were measured. Results highlighted that both meat were suitable to produce salami; better results in terms of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were recorded with Podolian meat. The NC and the SC exerted similar mechanical properties, very different from those of the MNC. The superior properties of the NC in terms of texture and color characteristics conferred to the fermented sausages could allow suggesting this casing as the most recommended solution to package unusual salami.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The increasing consumer interest in products with high energetic and nutritional value, authentic, tasty, rich in protein and low in lipid and cholesterol content gives rise to promote consumption of alternative meat to pork. Therefore, the influence of different casings on salami produced by boneless buffalo and young bull could be of crucial importance for industry that cares about consumer satisfaction.
EFFECTS OF NISIN AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING (MAP) ON THE QUALITY OF EMULSION‐TYPE SAUSAGE
Authors: KHAJEHALI ELLAHE , SHEKARFOROUSH SEYED SHAHRAM , NAZER ABDOLLAH H.K. , HOSEINZADEH SAIED
Published: April 2012

The aim of this work was to study the effects of nisin (30 ppm) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the chemical, microbial and sensory properties of emulsion‐type sausage stored under two different atmospheres (%CO2/%N2/%CO/%O2): 39.5/60/0.5/0 and 39.5/20/0.5/40. The samples were stored at 3 ± 1C for 42 days. Microbial count, values of pH, CIE L*, a* and b* color parameters, lipid oxidation, production of nitrosomyoglobin and sensory properties were assessed throughout the storage period. The data showed that nisin was able to reduce the growth of mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria. In addition, the MAP did not show any significant effects on microbial growth. However, free O2 MAP, in combination with nisin, reduced the growth of yeast and mold. MAP could produce a stabilized red color and minimize the oxidative reactions in the samples. Packaging conditions had no significant effect on pH and sensory properties.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The results of this study confirmed that nisin can reduce the growth rate of lactic acid bacteria, psychrotrophic and mesophilic bacteria in emulsion‐type sausage, and free O2 MAP, in combination with nisin, inhibits the growth of yeast and mold. The use of 30 ppm nisin, in combination with MAP containing 39.5% CO2 and 0.5% CO gases, can lead to better quality preservation of the emulsion‐type sausages stored at low temperature and can extend their shelf life.
Coalition Formation and Cost Allocation for Joint Replenishment Systems
Authors: Elomri Adel , Ghaffari Asma , Jemai Zied , Dallery Yves
Published: April 2012

This paper focuses on the issues of coalition formation and cost allocation in a joint replenishment system involving a set of independent and freely interacting retailers purchasing an item from one supplier to meet a deterministic demand. The papers dealing with this problem are mainly focused on supperadditive games, where the cost savings associated with a coalition increase with the number of players in the coalition. The most relevant question addressed then is how to allocate the savings to the players. In this paper, we propose to go further by dealing with a non‐supperadditive game, where a set of independent retailers have the common understanding to share the cost savings according to the cost‐based proportional rule. In this setting, the global cost optimization is no longer a relevant approach to identify appealing coalitions for any retailer. Here, we provide an iterative procedure to form the so‐called efficient coalition structure and we show that this coalition structure has the nice properties of being (i) weakly stable in the sense of the coalition structure core and (ii) strongly stable under a given assumption. An exact fractional programming based solution is also given to generate such efficient coalitions.
Streptococcus oralis coaggregation receptor polysaccharides induce inflammatory responses in human aortic endothelial cells
Authors: de Toledo A. , Nagata E. , Yoshida Y. , Oho T.
Published: April 2012

Streptococcus oralis, belonging to the oral viridans group streptococci, has been detected in human cardiovascular lesions including infective endocarditis and atheromatous plaques. The organism has coaggregation receptor polysaccharides (RPS) on the cell wall, which function as receptors for surface adhesins on other members of the oral biofilm community. The present study examined the capacity of S. oralis RPS to induce inflammatory responses in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Purified RPS was used to stimulate HAECs, and the induction of cytokines, adhesion molecules and Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) was examined. Involvement of RPS in HAEC invasion by S. oralis was also examined. RPS‐stimulated HAECs produced more cytokines (interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 than non‐stimulated HAECs. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of cytokines and adhesion molecules in RPS‐stimulated HAECs increased markedly compared with that in non‐stimulated HAECs. Upregulation of TLR‐2 mRNA expression was demonstrated in RPS‐stimulated HAECs. Moreover, TLR‐2 mRNA expression and cytokine production were reduced by the incubation of HAECs with inhibitors against p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase and nuclear factor‐κB. An RPS‐defective mutant of S. oralis showed greater invasion into HAECs than an RPS‐possessing strain. However, HAECs invaded by the RPS‐defective mutant produced less cytokines than HAECs invaded by the RPS‐possessing strain, indicating that RPS can stimulate HAECs intracellularly. These results suggest that S. oralis RPS may be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases such as infective endocarditis and atherosclerosis.
Kummer surfaces and the computation of the Picard group
Authors: Elsenhans Andreas-Stephan , Jahnel Jörg
Published: April 2012

We test R. van Luijk’s method for computing the Picard group of a K3 surface. The examples considered are the resolutions of Kummer quartics in ℙ3. Using the theory of abelian varieties, the Picard group may be computed directly in this case. Our experiments show that the upper bounds provided by van Luijk’s method are sharp when sufficiently many primes are used. In fact, there are a lot of primes that yield a value close to the exact one. However, for many but not all Kummer surfaces V of Picard rank 18, we have ${\rm rk}\,{\rm Pic}(V_{\overline {\mathbb F}_{\hspace *{-.8pt}p}}) \geq 20$ for a set of primes of density at least 1/2.
Irregular Inhomogeneities in an Anisotropic Piezoelectric Plane
Authors: Sun L. G. , Xu K. Y. , Pan E.
Published: April 2012

This paper presents an analytical solution for the Eshelby problem of polygonal inhomogeneity in an anisotropic piezoelectric plane. By virtue of the equivalent body-force concept of eigenstrain, the induced elastic and piezoelectric fields in the corresponding inclusion are first expressed in terms of the line integral along its boundary with the integrand being the Green’s functions, which is carried out analytically. The Eshelby inhomogeneity relation for the elliptical shape is then extended to the polygonal inhomogeneity, with the final induced field involving only elementary functions with small steps of iteration. Numerical solutions are compared to the results obtained from other methods, which verified the accuracy of the proposed method. Finally, the solution is applied to a triangular and a rectangular quantum wire made of InAs within the semiconductor GaAs full-plane substrate.
Dual Solutions for the Magnetohydrodynamic Stagnation-Point Flow of a Power-Law Fluid Over a Shrinking Sheet
Authors: Ray Mahapatra Tapas , Kumar Nandy Samir , Vajravelu Kuppalapalle , Van Gorder Robert A.
Published: April 2012

We show that there exist bounded self-similar solutions to the steady state problem of the MHD stagnation point flow of a power-law fluid over a shrinking sheet. We then discuss the stability of the unsteady solutions about each steady solution, showing that one steady state solution corresponds to a stable solution whereas the other corresponds to an unstable solution. The stable solution corresponds to the physically relevant solution. Further, we obtain numerical results for each solution, which enable us to discuss the features of the respective solutions. Our method of finding dual solutions and analyzing stability is of practical application to those interested in engineering analysis, as it provides one with a way to determine whether a given steady state solution is physically meaningful. Hence, our study is useful not only as a discussion of the problem of the MHD stagnation point flow of a power-law fluid over a stretching or shrinking sheet but as a demonstration of the treatment of fluid flow problems with multiple solutions.
Ellipsoidal Bounds of Elastic Composites
Authors: Xu X. Frank
Published: April 2012

The formulation of rigorous bounds for the physical properties of composites constitutes one of the most fundamental parts of applied mechanics. In this work, the so-called ellipsoidal bounds, as a generalization of the Hashin-Shtrikman spherical bounds, are formulated for elastic moduli of multiphase composites. Explicit formulas are derived to estimate the bounds for the elastic moduli of isotropic composites. Asymptotic analyses are conducted for composites containing needlelike and disklike fillers with aspect ratios approaching infinity and zero, respectively. The new bounds and estimates are expected to be useful for polycrystals and composites containing fillers, especially with large or small aspect ratios, such as nanowires, nanotubes, and nanoplatelets.
Why Statistics?
Authors: Davidian Marie , Louis Thomas A.
Published: April 2012

Popular media and science publications sound the drum: “Big Data” will drive our future, from translating genomic information into new therapies, to harnessing the Web to untangle complex social interactions, to detecting infectious disease outbreaks. Statistics is the science of learning from data, and of measuring, controlling, and communicating uncertainty; and it thereby provides the navigation essential for controlling the course of scientific and societal advances. This field will become ever more critical as academia, businesses, and governments rely increasingly on data-driven decisions, expanding the demand for statistics expertise.
How Bacterial Lineages Emerge
Authors: Papke R. Thane , Gogarten J. Peter
Published: April 2012

Bacterial speciation is driven by interplay between natural selection, genetic linkage, and lateral gene transfer.
Watching Solution Growth of Nanoparticles in Graphene Cells
Authors: Colliex Christian
Published: April 2012

The growth and coalescence of platinum nanocrystals held in a pocket created by graphene sheets is followed at atomic resolution in an electron microscope.
Growth Detection Failures by the Nonradiometric Bactec MGIT 960 Mycobacterial Culture System
Authors: Peña Jeremy A. , Ferraro Mary Jane , Hoffman Colleen G. , Branda John A.
Published: April 2012

Mycobacterial growth in liquid culture can go undetected by automated, nonradiometric growth detection systems. In our laboratory, instrument-negative tubes from the Bactec MGIT 960 system are inspected visually for clumps suggestive of mycobacterial growth, which (if present) are examined by acid-fast smear analysis. A 3-year review demonstrated that ∼1% of instrument-negative MGIT cultures contained mycobacterial growth and that 10% of all cultures yielding mycobacteria were instrument negative. Isolates from instrument-negative MGIT cultures included both tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria.
Use of Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing for Diagnosis of Anorectal Sexually Transmitted Infections
Authors: Cosentino Lisa A. , Campbell Tracy , Jett Abi , Macio Ingrid , Zamborsky Tracy , Cranston Ross D. , Hillier Sharon L.
Published: April 2012

Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) has become the preferred method to detect
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
, but no commercial tests are cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with rectal swab samples. This study evaluated the performance of strand displacement amplification (SDA) and transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) to detect
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
and to determine if TMA could also detect
Mycoplasma genitalium
and
Trichomonas vaginalis
in men and women reporting a history of receptive anal intercourse. Discordant results between the NAATs were reevaluated using the Aptima CT or Aptima GC assay, each of which targets primers other than those targeted by the Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) assay, as the confirmatory test. Of 497 evaluable participants, 41 (8.2%) were positive for
C. trachomatis
, 21 (4.2%) were positive for
N. gonorrhoeae
, 26 (5.2%) were positive for
T. vaginalis
, and 47 (9.5%) were positive for
M. genitalium
. The sensitivity and specificity of the
C. trachomatis
test were 100% and 99.8% for AC2 and 56.1% and 100% for SDA, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the
N. gonorrhoeae
test were 100% and 100% for AC2 and 76.2% and 100% for SDA, respectively, while culture was only 23.8% sensitive. Of the 114 participants who had a positive result for any of the four infectious agents, 16 were positive for two pathogens and 3 were positive for three pathogens. These data suggest that rectal infection is common and that the AC2 is superior to SDA for the detection of
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
from rectal swab samples.
Findings from a national improvement collaborative: are improvements sustained?
Authors: Glasgow Justin M , Davies Michael L , Kaboli Peter J
Published: April 2012

Background

Despite considerable efforts to improve healthcare quality and patient safety, broad measures of patient outcomes show little improvement. Many factors, including limited programme evaluations and understanding of whether quality improvement (QI) efforts are sustained, potentially contribute to the lack of widespread improvements in quality. This study examines whether hospitals participating in a Veterans Health Affairs QI collaborative have made and then sustained improvements.

Methods

Separate patient-level risk-adjusted time-series models for two primary outcomes (hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of discharges before noon) as well as three secondary outcomes (30-day all-cause hospital readmission, in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality). The models considered 2 years of pre-intervention data, 1 year of data to measure improvements and then 2 years of post-intervention data to see whether improvements were sustained.

Results

Among 130 Veterans Affairs hospitals, 35% and 46% exhibited improvements beyond baseline trends on LOS and discharges before noon, respectively. 60% of improving LOS hospitals exhibited sustained improvements, but only 32% for discharges by noon. Additional subgroup analyses by hospital size and region found a similar performance across most groups.

Conclusions

This quasi-experimental evaluation found lower rates of improvements than normally reported in studies of QI collaboratives. The most striking observation was that a majority of hospitals increased their rates of discharges before noon, but after completing the collaborative their performance declined. Future work needs to qualitatively and quantitatively assess what organisational features distinguish those hospitals that can improve and sustain quality.
Morbidity in adults with a normal limited scaphoid MRI: a retrospective cohort study and follow-up questionnaire
Authors: Bowles Fiona , Keeton Helen , Adlington Harry , Cumberbatch Gary L A , Markham David
Published: April 2012

Introduction

The scaphoid bone is the most commonly fractured carpal bone. MRI is now recognised to be more sensitive and specific than serial plain films in the diagnosis of occult scaphoid fracture. What is not known is whether it is safe to discharge, without follow-up, those with a normal limited extremity MRI. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether a normal limited scaphoid MRI safely excludes clinically significant injury. The secondary objectives were to determine morbidity and patient experiences of those without fracture on MRI.

Methods

This is a cohort study with retrospective case note review and a written follow-up questionnaire conducted in a South of England emergency department soft tissue review clinic.

Results

214 limited extremity MRIs were performed between January 2006 and July 2008 for suspected scaphoid injury. 152 participants were included in the study. 122 (80%) MRIs showed no fracture. In 72 (47%), there were no traumatic findings. The most significant finding in 33 (22%) was bony bruising and joint oedema in 17 (11%). One (0.9%) clinically important injury was missed. There was significant morbidity in those with normal MRIs. Worst-case scenario analysis shows that at least 12.5% of patients with a normal MRI still had symptoms and 14% still had abnormal function a year or more after injury.

Discussion

This study shows that limited extremity MRI can safely exclude clinically important injury. Significant symptoms do persist, however, for many patients with a normal MRI.
ORBITAL EFFECTS OF A TIME-DEPENDENT PIONEER-LIKE ANOMALOUS ACCELERATION
Authors: IORIO L.
Published: April 2012

We work out the impact that the recently determined time-dependent component of the Pioneer Anomaly (PA), if interpreted as an additional exotic acceleration of gravitational origin with respect to the well-known PA-like constant one, may have on the orbital motions of some planets of the solar system. By assuming that it points towards the Sun, it turns out that both the semi-major axis a and the eccentricity e of the orbit of a test particle would experience secular variations. For Saturn and Uranus, for which modern data records cover at least one full orbital revolution, such predicted anomalies are up to 2–3 orders of magnitude larger than the present-day accuracies in empirical determinations of their orbital parameters from the usual orbit determination procedures in which the PA was not modeled. Given the predicted huge sizes of such hypothetical signatures, it is unlikely that their absence from the presently available processed data can be attributable to an "absorption" for them in the estimated parameters caused by the fact that they were not explicitly modeled. The magnitude of a constant PA-type acceleration at 9.5 au cannot be larger than 9×10-15 m s-2 according to the latest observational results for the perihelion precession of Saturn.
CHIRAL ZERO MODES ON VORTEX-TYPE INTERSECTING HETEROTIC FIVE-BRANES
Authors: YATA MASAYA
Published: April 2012

We solve the gaugino Dirac equation on a smeared intersecting five-brane solution in E8×E8 heterotic string theory to search for localized chiral zero modes on the intersection. The background is chosen to depend on the full two-dimensional overall transverse coordinates to the branes. Under some appropriate boundary conditions, we compute the complete spectrum of zero modes to find that, among infinite towers of Fourier modes, there exist only three localized normalizable zero modes, one of which has opposite chirality to the other two. This agrees with the result previously obtained in the domain-wall type solution, supporting the claim that there exists one net chiral zero mode localized on the heterotic five-brane system.
OBJECT PICTURE, QUASINORMAL MODES AND LATE TIME TAILS OF FERMION PERTURBATIONS IN STRINGY BLACK HOLES WITH U(1) CHARGES
Authors: PIEDRA OWEN PAVEL FERNÁNDEZ , NUÑEZ FIDEL SOSA , CASTILLO JOSE BERNAL , SANTANA YULIER JIMENEZ
Published: April 2012

The aim of the present report is the study of massless fermion perturbations outside five-dimensional stringy black holes with U(1) charges. The Dirac equation was numerically solved to obtain the time profiles for evolving fermion fields, and the quasinormal frequencies at intermediate times are computed by numerical Prony fitting and semi-analytical Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) expansion at sixth-order. We also computed numerically the latetime power law decay factors, showing that there are in correspondence with previously reported results for the case of boson fields in higher-dimensional odd spacetimes. The dependence of quasinormal frequencies with U(1) compactification charges are studied.
A LOW-BIAS SIMULATION SCHEME FOR THE SABR STOCHASTIC VOLATILITY MODEL
Authors: CHEN BIN , OOSTERLEE CORNELIS W. , VAN DER WEIDE HANS
Published: April 2012

The Stochastic Alpha Beta Rho Stochastic Volatility (SABR-SV) model is widely used in the financial industry for the pricing of fixed income instruments. In this paper we develop a low-bias simulation scheme for the SABR-SV model, which deals efficiently with (undesired) possible negative values in the asset price process, the martingale property of the discrete scheme and the discretization bias of commonly used Euler discretization schemes. The proposed algorithm is based the analytic properties of the governing distribution. Experiments with realistic model parameters show that this scheme is robust for interest rate valuation.
GAUSSIAN HARMONIZATION OF CROOKS' PROBABILITY THEOREM
Authors: GRAFOV BORIS M.
Published: April 2012

The Crooks' probability theorem should be considered as the outstanding result, importance of which is comparable with importance of the Nyquist fluctuation dissipation theorem. In order to understand what the Crooks probability theorem means for the noise electrochemical systems, we have applied the Crooks theorem to a Markovian electrochemical circuit consisting of a double layer capacity and a noise Faradaic resistance (noise RC-circuit). We found that the Crooks probability theorem is ambiguous. Harmonization of Crooks' theorem takes place undoubtedly for a Faradaic process with a Gaussian noise. The question about the applicability of Crooks theorem to non-Gaussian electrochemical systems deserves the separate careful investigations.
MESOSCOPIC FOUNDATION OF LIFE-TO-FAILURE CURVE FOR CYCLIC FATIGUE IN THE LONG LIFE LIMIT
Authors: FEDCHENIA IGOR I.
Published: April 2012

Using the Phase Field approach a combined system of equations for stress distribution in a solid body subjected to external periodic load and order parameter for mesoscopic defect accumulation has been reduced to the problem of the first passage time to reach the last stable steady state which has been defined as a failure point. Asymptotic formula of the time-to-failure for the large in units of kT Peierls potential barrier for defect dynamics has been obtained in terms of the amplitude of the periodic load and parameters of generic Peierls potential. Asymptotic formula for remaining life of the material subjected to long periodic loads has been obtained for classical sinusoidal Peierls potential.
THE KURAMOTO MODEL SUBJECT TO A FLUCTUATING ENVIRONMENT: APPLICATION TO BRAINWAVE DYNAMICS
Authors: HALE A. C. , HANSARD T. , SHEPPARD L. W. , McCLINTOCK P. V. E. , STEFANOVSKA A.
Published: April 2012

We consider the phase dynamics of an ensemble of Kuramoto oscillators whose eigenfrequencies are perturbed to model the openness of living systems, and we show that it exhibits time-localized epochs of synchrony. A new quantitative measure is used to show that the model compares well with electroencephalography data recorded from a healthy awake human.
TRPV4 in porcine lens epithelium regulates hemichannel-mediated ATP release and Na-K-ATPase activity
Authors: Shahidullah Mohammad , Mandal Amritlal , Delamere Nicholas A.
Published: April 2012

In several tissues, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels are involved in the response to hyposmotic challenge. Here we report TRPV4 protein in porcine lens epithelium and show that TRPV4 activation is an important step in the response of the lens to hyposmotic stress. Hyposmotic solution (200 mosM) elicited ATP release from intact lenses and TRPV4 antagonists HC 067047 and RN 1734 prevented the release. In isosmotic solution, the TRPV4 agonist GSK1016790A (GSK) elicited ATP release. When propidium iodide (PI) (MW 668) was present in the bathing medium, GSK and hyposmotic solution both increased PI entry into the epithelium of intact lenses. Increased PI uptake and ATP release in response to GSK and hyposmotic solution were abolished by a mixture of agents that block connexin and pannexin hemichannels, 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid and probenecid. Increased Na-K-ATPase activity occurred in the epithelium of lenses exposed to GSK and 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid + probenecid prevented the response. Hyposmotic solution caused activation of Src family kinase and increased Na-K-ATPase activity in the lens epithelium and TRPV4 antagonists prevented the response. Ionomycin, which is known to increase cytoplasmic calcium, elicited ATP release, the magnitude of which was no greater when lenses were exposed simultaneously to ionomycin and hyposmotic solution. Ionomycin-induced ATP release was significantly reduced in calcium-free medium. TRPV4-mediated calcium entry was examined in Fura-2-loaded cultured lens epithelium. Hyposmotic solution and GSK both increased cytoplasmic calcium that was prevented by TRPV4 antagonists. The cytoplasmic calcium rise in response to hyposmotic solution or GSK was abolished when calcium was removed from the bathing solution. The findings are consistent with hyposmotic shock-induced TRPV4 channel activation which triggers hemichannel-mediated ATP release. The results point to TRPV4-mediated calcium entry that causes a cytoplasmic calcium increase which is an essential early step in the mechanism used by the lens to sense and respond to hyposmotic stress.
Matrix metalloproteinases in kidney homeostasis and diseases
Authors: Tan Roderick J. , Liu Youhua
Published: April 2012

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that have been increasingly linked to both normal physiology and abnormal pathology in the kidney. Collectively able to degrade all components of the extracellular matrix, MMPs were originally thought to antagonize the development of fibrotic diseases solely through digestion of excessive matrix. However, increasing evidence has shown that MMPs play a wide variety of roles in regulating inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. We now have robust evidence for MMP dysregulation in a multitude of renal diseases including acute kidney injury, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, inherited kidney disease, and chronic allograft nephropathy. The goal of this review is to summarize current findings regarding the role of MMPs in kidney diseases as well as the mechanisms of action of this family of proteases.
Angiotensin-(1–7) attenuates diabetic nephropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats
Authors: Giani Jorge F. , Burghi Valeria , Veiras Luciana C. , Tomat Analía , Muñoz Marina C. , Cao Gabriel , Turyn Daniel , Toblli Jorge E. , Dominici Fernando P.
Published: April 2012

Angiotensin (ANG)-(1–7) is known to attenuate diabetic nephropathy; however, its role in the modulation of renal inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes is poorly understood. Thus in the present study we evaluated the renal effects of a chronic ANG-(1–7) treatment in Zucker diabetic fatty rats (ZDF), an animal model of type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. Sixteen-week-old male ZDF and their respective controls [lean Zucker rats (LZR)] were used for this study. The protocol involved three groups: 1) LZR + saline, 2) ZDF + saline, and 3) ZDF + ANG-(1–7). For 2 wk, animals were implanted with subcutaneous osmotic pumps that delivered either saline or ANG-(1–7) (100 ng·kg−1·min−1) ( n = 4). Renal fibrosis and tissue parameters of oxidative stress were determined. Also, renal levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), ED-1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. ANG-(1–7) induced a reduction in triglyceridemia, proteinuria, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) together with a restoration of creatinine clearance in ZDF. Additionally, ANG-(1–7) reduced renal fibrosis, decreased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and restored the activity of both renal superoxide dismutase and catalase in ZDF. This attenuation of renal oxidative stress proceeded with decreased renal immunostaining of IL-6, TNF-α, ED-1, HIF-1α, and NGAL to values similar to those displayed by LZR. Angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) and ANG II levels remained unchanged after treatment with ANG-(1–7). Chronic ANG-(1–7) treatment exerts a renoprotective effect in ZDF associated with a reduction of SBP, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers. Thus ANG-(1–7) emerges as a novel target for treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Longitudinal changes in muscle activity during infants' treadmill stepping
Authors: Teulier Caroline , Sansom Jennifer K. , Muraszko Karin , Ulrich Beverly D.
Published: April 2012

Previous research has described kinetic characteristics of treadmill steps in very stable steppers, in cross-sectional designs. In this study we examined, longitudinally, muscle activation patterns during treadmill stepping, without practice, in 12 healthy infants at 1, 6, and 12 mo of age. We assessed lateral gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris as infants stepped on a treadmill during twelve 20-s trials. Infants showed clear changes in kinematics, such as increased step frequency, increased heel contact at touch down, and more flat-footed contact at midstance. Electromyographic data showed high variability in muscle states (combinations), with high prevalence of all muscles active initially, reducing with age. Agonist-antagonist muscle coactivation also decreased as age increased. Probability analyses showed that across step cycles, the likelihood a muscle was on at any point tended to be <50%; lateral gastrocnemius was the exception, showing an adultlike pattern of probability across ages. In summary, over time, healthy infants produce a wide variety of muscle activation combinations and timings when generating stepping patterns on a treadmill, even if some levels of muscle control arose with time. However, the kinematic stability improved much more clearly than the underlying kinetic strategies. We conclude that although innate control of limb movement improves as infants grow, explore, and acquire functional movement, stepping on a treadmill is a novel and unpracticed one. Hence, developing stable underlying neural activations will only arise as functional practice ensues, similarly to that observed for other functional movements in infancy.
Administration of Anesthesia in a Patient with Allgrove Syndrome
Authors: Ozer Ayse B. , Erhan Omer L. , Sumer Cevdet , Yildizhan Ozden
Published: April 2012

The aim of the present paper is to report the anesthesia administration to a patient who was planned to undergo Heller myotomy for achalasia. There wasnot property in the patient whom allgrove syndrome was excepted any steroid treatment in preoperative period. The night before the operation 18 mg of prednisolone was administered intravenously. Induction of anesthesia was performed with thiopental sodium, vecuronium and fentanyl and the patient received endotracheal intubation. Eyes were taped closed and protected with ointment during surgery. Maintenance of anesthesia was achieved with 2% sevoflurane concentration in 50% O2-50% N2O. 25 mg of prednisolone was infused preoperatively, and intervention with insulin treatment was initiated when blood glucose level rose to 18 mmol/L at 2 hours. Safe anesthesia can be achieved by observing the preoperative development of tracheal aspiration, adrenal insufficiency and, autonomic dysfunction carefully and maintaining eye protection.
Ranging Performance of the IEEE 802.15.4a UWB Standard under FCC/CEPT Regulations
Authors: Gigl Thomas , Troesch Florian , Preishuber-Pfluegl Josef , Witrisal Klaus
Published: April 2012

The IEEE 802.15.4a standard for wireless sensor
networks is designed for high‐accuracy ranging using ultra‐wideband (UWB) signals. It supports coherent and noncoherent
(energy detector) receivers, thus the performance‐complexity‐tradeoff
can be decided by the implementer. In this paper,
the maximum operating range and the maximum allowed
pathloss are analyzed for ranging and both receiver types, under
FCC/CEPT regulations. The analysis is based on the receiver
working points and a link budget calculation assuming a frees‐pace
pathloss model. It takes into consideration the parameters
of the preamble, which influence the transmit power allowed by
the regulators. The best performance is achieved with the code
sequences having the longest pulse spacing. Coherent receivers
can achieve a maximum operating range up to several thousand
meters and energy detectors up to several hundred meters.
Numerical Investigation of Nanofluid Forced Convection in Channels with Discrete Heat Sources
Authors: Rahim Mashaei Payam , Hosseinalipour Seyed Mostafa , Bahiraei Mehdi
Published: April 2012

Numerical simulation is performed to investigate the laminar force convection of Al2O3/water nanofluid in a flow channel with discrete heat sources. The heat sources are placed on the bottom wall of channel which produce much thermal energy that must be evacuated from the system. The remaining surfaces of channel are kept adiabatic to exchange energy between nanofluid and heat sources. In the present study the effects of Reynolds number (Re = 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1000), particle volume fraction (ϕ = 0 (distilled water), 1 and 4%) on the average heat transfer coefficient (h), pressure drop (ΔP), and wall temperature (Tw) are evaluated. The use of nanofluid can produce an asymmetric velocity along the height of the channel. The results show a maximum value 38% increase in average heat transfer coefficient and 68% increase in pressure drop for all the considered cases when compared to basefluid (i.e., water). It is also observed that the wall temperature decreases remarkably as Re and ϕ increase. Finally, thermal‐hydraulic performance (η) is evaluated and it is seen that best performance can be obtained for Re = 1000 and ϕ = 4%.
The Flow Pattern in Single and Multiple Submerged Channels with Gas Evolution at the Electrodes
Authors: Alexiadis A. , Dudukovic M. P. , Ramachandran P. , Cornell A. , Wanngård J. , Bokkers A.
Published: April 2012

We show that the gas-liquid flow pattern in a single gas-evolving electrochemical channel can be remarkably different from the flow pattern in multiple submerged gas-evolving electrochemical channels. This is due to the fact that in a single channel there is a higher accumulation of small bubbles and these can considerably affect the liquid velocity pattern which in turn may affect the performance of a cell. Since experimental work is often carried out in single channels, while industrial applications almost always involve multiple channels, this study provides insight into the factors that affect the flow pattern in each situation and establishes the basis for relating the behavior of single-and multiple-channel devices.
Strong Convergence of a Projected Gradient Method
Authors: Fan Shunhou , Yao Yonghong
Published: April 2012

The projected‐gradient method is a powerful tool for solving constrained convex optimization problems and has extensively been studied. In the present paper, a projected‐gradient method is presented for solving the minimization problem, and the strong convergence analysis of the suggested gradient projection method is given.
A General Iterative Method for a Nonexpansive Semigroup in Banach Spaces with Gauge Functions
Authors: Nammanee Kamonrat , Suantai Suthep , Cholamjiak Prasit
Published: April 2012

We study strong convergence of the sequence generated by implicit and
explicit general iterative methods for a one‐parameter nonexpansive semigroup
in a reflexive Banach space which admits the duality mapping Jφ, where φ is a gauge function on [0, ∞). Our results improve and extend those announced by G. Marino and H.‐K. Xu (2006) and many authors.
Quenching for a Non‐Newtonian Filtration Equation with a Singular Boundary Condition
Authors: Li Xiliu , Mu Chunlai , Zhang Qingna , Zhou Shouming
Published: April 2012

This paper deals with a nonlinear p‐Laplacian equation with singular boundary conditions. Under proper conditions, the solution of this equation quenches in finite time and the only quenching point thatis x = 1
are obtained. Moreover, the quenching rate of this equation is established. Finally, we give an example of an application of our results.
Revealing −1 Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting Mechanisms by Single-Molecule Techniques and Computational Methods
Authors: Chang Kai-Chun
Published: April 2012

Programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) serves as an intrinsic translational regulation mechanism employed by some viruses to control the ratio between structural and enzymatic proteins. Most viral mRNAs which use PRF adapt an H-type pseudoknot to stimulate −1 PRF. The relationship between the thermodynamic stability and the frameshifting efficiency of pseudoknots has not been fully understood. Recently, single-molecule force spectroscopy has revealed that the frequency of −1 PRF correlates with the unwinding forces required for disrupting pseudoknots, and that some of the unwinding work dissipates irreversibly due to the torsional restraint of pseudoknots. Complementary to single-molecule techniques, computational modeling provides insights into global motions of the ribosome, whose structural transitions during frameshifting have not yet been elucidated in atomic detail. Taken together, recent advances in biophysical tools may help to develop antiviral therapies that target the ubiquitous −1 PRF mechanism among viruses.
Performance Analysis of a Manufacturing Line Operated under Optimal Surplus‐Based Production Control
Authors: Starkov K. K. , Feoktistova V. , Pogromsky A. Y. , Matveev A. , Rooda J. E.
Published: April 2012

We examine optimality and performance of a tandem manufacturing line driven by a surplus‐based decentralized production control strategy. The main objective of this type of production strategies is to guarantee that the cumulative number of produced products follows the cumulative production demand on the output of the given network. The basic idea of surplus‐based control strategy is presented for the case of one manufacturing machine. We prove that this strategy is optimal. Then, a flow model of a line composed of arbitrarily many machines with bounded buffers is analyzed. We prove that the surplus‐based production control enables this network to efficiently follow the product demand and establish the relation between the efficiency in the production tracking error and the intermediate inventory levels of a line. Performance and robustness of the flow model of the closed‐loop manufacturing line are illustrated by computer simulations.
Understanding Delayed T-Cell Priming, Lung Recruitment, and Airway Luminal T-Cell Responses in Host Defense against Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Shaler Christopher R. , Horvath Carly , Lai Rocky , Xing Zhou
Published: April 2012

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb), the causative bacterium of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), is a serious global health concern. Central toM.tbeffective immune avoidance is its ability to modulate the early innate inflammatory response and prevent the establishment of adaptive T-cell immunity for nearly three weeks. When compared with other intracellular bacterial lung pathogens, such asLegionella pneumophila, or even closely related mycobacterial species such asM. smegmatis, this delay is astonishing. Customarily, the alveolar macrophage (AM) acts as a sentinel, detecting and alerting surrounding cells to the presence of an invader. However, in the case ofM.tb,this may be impaired, thus delaying the recruitment of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to the lung. Upon uptake by APC populations,M.tbis able to subvert and delay the processing of antigen, MHC class II loading, and the priming of effector T cell populations. This delay ultimately results in the deferred recruitment of effector T cells to not only the lung interstitium but also the airway lumen. Therefore, it is of upmost importance to dissect the mechanisms that contribute to the delayed onset of immune responses followingM.tbinfection. Such knowledge will help design the most effective vaccination strategies against pulmonary TB.
Magneto-Optical and Magnetic Studies of Co-Rich Glass-Covered Microwires
Authors: Chizhik Alexander , Zhukova Valentina
Published: April 2012

The magnetization reversal process in the surface and volume areas of Co-rich glass-covered microwires has been investigated. The study has been performed in the wide series of microwires with chemical composition, geometry (thickness of glass coating) with the purpose of the tailoring of the giant magnetoimpedance effect. The comparative analysis of the magnetoelectric, magnetic, and magneto-optical experiments permits to optimise the giant magnetoimpedance ratio and elucidate the main properties of the magnetization reversal process in the different parts of the Co-rich microwire.
Frequency-Dependent Streaming Potential of Porous Media—Part 2: Experimental Measurement of Unconsolidated Materials
Authors: Glover P. W. J. , Walker E. , Ruel J. , Tardif E.
Published: April 2012

Frequency-dependent streaming potential coefficient measurements have been made upon Ottawa sand and glass bead packs using a new apparatus that is based on an electromagnetic drive. The apparatus operates in the range 1 Hz to 1 kHz with samples of 25.4 mm diameter up to 150 mm long. The results have been analysed using theoretical models that are either (i) based upon vibrational mechanics, (ii) treat the geological material as a bundle of capillary tubes, or (iii) treat the material as a porous medium. The best fit was provided by the Pride model and its simplification, which is satisfying as this model was conceived for porous media rather than capillary tube bundles. Values for the transition frequency were derived from each of the models for each sample and were found to be in good agreement with those expected from the independently measured effective pore radius of each material. The fit to the Pride model for all four samples was also found to be consistent with the independently measured steady-state permeability, while the value of the streaming potential coefficient in the low-frequency limit was found to be in good agreement with other steady-state streaming potential coefficient data.
Existence and Uniqueness of Mild Solutions to Some Neutral Stochastic Partial Functional Integrodifferential Equations with Non-Lipschitz Coefficients
Authors: Diop Mamadou Abdoul , Ezzinbi Khalil , Lo Modou
Published: April 2012

This paper presents the result on existence, uniqueness of mild solutions to neutral stochastic partial functional integrodifferential equations under the Carathéodory-type conditions on the coefficients. The results are obtained by using the method of successive approximation. An example is provided to illustrate the results of this work.