bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct and GABA‐mediated indirect effects of nicotinic ACh receptor agonists on striatal neurones
Authors: Luo Ruixi , Janssen Megan J. , Partridge John G. , Vicini Stefano
Published: October 2012

Key points

Pharmacological activation of nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) excites striatal interneurones and induces a GABA‐mediated current in medium spiny projecting neurones (MSNs) via feedforward inhibition.

Striatal interneurones identified as neuropeptide Y (NPY)+, parvalbumin (PV)+ and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)+ have somatic expression of nAChRs.

The neurogliaform (NGF) subtype of NPY+ interneurones exhibits the most robust nicotinic response and has high synaptic connectivity with MSNs.

Antagonism of nAChR responses suggests the expression of distinct receptor subtypes between interneurone classes.

NPY+ NGF and TH+ interneurones mediate cholinergic control of MSNs and thus striatal output via GABAA receptors.

Abstract  Choline acetyltransferase‐expressing interneurones (ChAT)+ of the striatum influence the activity of medium spiny projecting neurones (MSNs) and striatal output via a disynaptic mechanism that involves GABAergic neurotransmission. Using transgenic mice that allow visual identification of MSNs and distinct populations of GABAergic interneurones expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY)+, parvalbumin (PV)+ and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)+, we further elucidate this mechanism by studying nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR)‐mediated responses. First, we determined whether striatal neurones exhibit pharmacologically induced nicotinic responses by performing patch‐clamp recordings. With high [Cl−]i, our results showed increased spontaneous IPSC frequency and amplitude in MSNs as well as in the majority of interneurones. However, direct nAChR‐mediated activity was observed in interneurones but not MSNs. In recordings with physiological [Cl−]i, these responses manifested as inward currents in the presence of tetrodotoxin and bicuculline methobromide. Nicotinic responses in MSNs were primarily mediated through GABAA receptors in feedforward inhibition. To identify the GABAergic interneurones that mediate the response, we performed dual recordings from GABAergic interneurones and MSNs. Both TH+ and neurogliaform subtypes of NPY+ (NPY+ NGF) interneurones form synaptic connections with MSNs, although the strength of connectivity, response kinetics and pharmacology differ between and within the two populations. Importantly, both cell types appear to contribute to nAChR‐mediated GABAergic responses in MSNs. Our data offer insight into the striatal network activity under cholinergic control, and suggest that subclasses of recently identified TH+ and NPY+ interneurones are key mediators of striatal nicotinic responses via GABAergic tonic and phasic currents.
Taurine activates delayed rectifier KV channels via a metabotropic pathway in retinal neurons
Authors: Bulley Simon , Liu Yufei , Ripps Harris , Shen Wen
Published: October 2012

Key points

Although taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in human tissues, and serves a number of important functions ranging from cell development to cytoprotection, its precise mode of action is often obscure.

Here we present evidence that, in the vertebrate retina, taurine regulates voltage‐gated potassium (KV) channels that are sensitive to the inhibitors of KV1, KV2 and KV4 subunits.

Taurine's effect was shown to be a metabotropic response, involving a G‐protein linked, PKC‐dependent intracellular pathway.

Noteworthy was the finding that responses to taurine were blocked by a specific antagonist of 5‐HT2A receptors. Taurine activation of 5‐HT2A receptors was further confirmed in HEK cells that expressed recombinant 5‐HT2A receptors.

Taurine has been shown to be beneficial in the management of a number of brain disorders. Its interaction with serotonergic pathways suggests that taurine may also play a role in various cognitive functions of the CNS.

Abstract  Taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the retina, throughout the CNS, and in heart and muscle cells. In keeping with its broad tissue distribution, taurine serves as a modulator of numerous basic processes, such as enzyme activity, cell development, myocardial function and cytoprotection. Despite this multitude of functional roles, the precise mechanism underlying taurine's actions has not yet been identified. In this study we report findings that indicate a novel role for taurine in the regulation of voltage‐gated delayed rectifier potassium (KV) channels in retinal neurons by means of a metabotropic receptor pathway. The metabotropic taurine response was insensitive to the Cl− channel blockers, picrotoxin and strychnine, but it was inhibited by a specific serotonin 5‐HT2A receptor antagonist, MDL11939. Moreover, we found that taurine enhanced KV channels via intracellular protein kinase C‐mediated pathways. When 5‐HT2A receptors were expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, taurine and AL34662, a non‐specific 5‐HT2 receptor activator, produced a similar regulation of KIR channels. In sum, this study provides new evidence that taurine activates a serotonin system, apparently via 5‐HT2A receptors and related intracellular pathways.
Relationship between membrane Cl− conductance and contractile endurance in isolated rat muscles
Authors: de Paoli Frank Vincenzo , Broch‐Lips Martin , Pedersen Thomas Holm , Nielsen Ole Bækgaard
Published: October 2012

Key points

Excitable cells commonly regulate their ability to generate and propagate action potentials through modulating the properties of the membrane ion channels. Recently it was shown that muscle activity is associated with rapid, protein kinase C (PKC)‐dependent ClC‐1 Cl− channel inhibition.

Here the functional significance of this ClC‐1 inhibition for contractile endurance was determined in isolated slow‐ and fast‐twitch rat muscles.

Experiments showed that PKC inhibition led to reduced contractile endurance, an effect of PKC that disappeared when extracellular Cl− was removed or ClC‐1 channels were inhibited.

Experiments where resting Cl− conductance (GCl) was manipulated by reduction of solution Cl− or inhibition of ClC‐1 Cl− channels suggest a biphasic dependency of contractile endurance on GCl with an optimum close to the GCl observed in active muscles.

The biphasic relation between GCl and endurance seems to reflect that lowered GCl on one side increases muscle excitability but on the other side reduces the ability of the muscle fibres to maintain K+ homeostasis and membrane potential during contractions.

This study suggested that PKC‐dependent ClC‐1 Cl− channel regulation is important for the maintenance of contractile endurance in working muscle.

Abstract  Resting skeletal muscle fibres have a large membrane Cl− conductance (GCl) that dampens their excitability. Recently, however, muscle activity was shown to induce PKC‐mediated reduction in GCl in rat muscles of 40–90%. To examine the physiological significance of this PKC‐mediated GCl reduction for the function of muscles, this study explored effects of GCl reductions on contractile endurance in isolated rat muscles. Contractile endurance was assessed from the ability of muscle to maintain force during prolonged stimulation under conditions when GCl was manipulated by: (i) inhibition of PKC, (ii) reduction of solution Cl− or (iii) inhibition of ClC‐1 Cl− channels using 9‐anthracene‐carboxylic acid (9‐AC). Experiments showed that contractile endurance was optimally preserved by reductions in GCl similar to what occurs in active muscle. Contrastingly, further GCl reductions compromised the endurance. The experiments thus show a biphasic relationship between GCl and contractile endurance in which partial GCl reduction improves endurance while further GCl reduction compromises endurance. Intracellular recordings of trains of action potentials suggest that this biphasic dependency of contractile endurance on GCl reflects that lowering GCl enhances muscle excitability but low GCl also increases the depolarisation of muscle fibres during excitation and reduces their ability to re‐accumulate K+ lost during excitation. If GCl becomes very low, the latter actions dominate causing reduced endurance. It is concluded that the PKC‐mediated ClC‐1 channel inhibition in active muscle reduces GCl to a level that optimises contractile endurance during intense exercise.
Computer modeling of the Schottky electron source
Authors: Swanson Lynwood W. , Schwind Gregory A. , Kellogg Sean M. , Liu Kun
Published: October 2012

A computer modeling program that is able to imitate the polyhedral shape of the ZrO/W(100) Schottky cathode is used to compute emission parameters such as the electric field distribution and reduced brightness Br for the various observed end form shapes. This program includes the electron–electron interactions in the beam and their effect on Br. A relationship between the axial field factor β = F/Ve and the axial lens factor K = (I′/J)1/2 (where F, Ve, I′, and J are the applied electric field, extraction voltage, beam angular intensity, and surface current density, respectively) was obtained from the data which allow β, K, and the work function to be calculated from experimental I′(Ve) data. In addition, an empirical relation, independent of the end form shapes, was obtained that allows Br to be calculated from the intrinsic reduced brightness. Experimental energy distribution measurements are presented which allows one to compare the energy spread and Br values for emitters with various values of β. An empirical relation, also independent of the end form shape, showing the Boersch contribution to the energy spread to be a function of β and J was obtained from the data thereby allowing the axial energy spread to be calculated from I′(Ve) data.
Process considerations for layer-by-layer 3D patterning of silicon, using ion implantation, silicon deposition, and selective silicon etching
Authors: Gylfason Kristinn B. , Fischer Andreas C. , Gunnar Malm B. , Radamson Henry H. , Belova Lyubov M. , Niklaus Frank
Published: October 2012

The authors study suitable process parameters, and the resulting pattern formation, in additive layer-by-layer fabrication of arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional (3D) silicon (Si) micro- and nanostructures. The layer-by-layer fabrication process investigated is based on alternating steps of chemical vapor deposition of Si and local implantation of gallium ions by focused ion beam writing. In a final step, the defined 3D structures are formed by etching the Si in potassium hydroxide, where the ion implantation provides the etching selectivity.
High-resolution nondestructive patterning of isolated organic semiconductors
Authors: Lo Yi-Chen , Li Dawen , Sun Zhenzhong , Shaik Shoieb , Cheng Xing
Published: October 2012

In this work, a nondestructive patterning method for organic semiconductors is demonstrated using nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and polymer sacrificial template. After patterning amorphous fluorinated polymer (Teflon-AF) structures by NIL, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film is spin-coated on the Teflon-AF template. The sacrificial template is then removed by a fluorinated solvent, leaving patterned P3HT structures on the substrate. P3HT lines and squares of various sizes (0.35 μm to tens of microns) are obtained by this method. This technique is also extended to fabricate passive-matrix organic light-emitting diode arrays for flat-panel display applications. By avoiding oxygen RIE on organic semiconductor, this patterning technique is nondestructive to organic semiconductors. Moreover, this method is capable of making high-resolution (deep submicron) organic semiconductor patterns to potentially enable nanoscale organic electronic devices with high performance or organic integrated systems with high integration density.
Low-pressure inductively coupled plasma etching of benzocyclobutene with SF6/O2 plasma chemistry
Authors: Douglas Erica A. , Stevens Jeffrey , Fishgrab Kira , Ford Christine , Shul Randy J. , Pearton Stephen J.
Published: October 2012

Highly anisotropic features of benzocyclobutene, a promising low stress layer for microelectromechanical systems, were achieved by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching with fluorine/oxygen based chemistry. The effects of chamber pressure, platen power, ICP power, and SF6/O2 relative concentration were studied on etch rate, selectivity, and sidewall morphology. Highly anisotropic features were achieved with sidewall slopes ∼88° for almost all conditions. Grass-like residue, due to redeposition of etch material, was observed under certain conditions and is shown to be dependent on pressure, ICP power, and feature dimensions.
Fetal Programming of Brain Development: Intrauterine Stress and Susceptibility to PsychopathologyA Presentation from the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) New Inroads to Child Health (NICHe) Conference on Stress Response and Child Health in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 18 to 20 May 2012.
Authors: Buss Claudia , Entringer Sonja , Wadhwa Pathik D.
Published: October 2012

Intrauterine stress and maternal obesity are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Gut Heal Thyself
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: October 2012

Repair of the intestinal epithelium requires both cell proliferation and replacement of crypt stem cells.
Reversing Autism in Mice
Authors: Stern Peter R.
Published: October 2012

Deficiency or mutation of the postsynaptic adhesion protein Neuroligin-3 may contribute to cognitive defects in autism.
Intrarectal Instillation of Clostridium difficile Toxin A Triggers Colonic Inflammation and Tissue Damage: Development of a Novel and Efficient Mouse Model of Clostridium difficile Toxin Exposure
Authors: Hirota Simon A. , Iablokov Vadim , Tulk Sarah E. , Schenck L. Patrick , Becker Helen , Nguyen Jimmie , Al Bashir Samir , Dingle Tanis C. , Laing Austin , Liu Jianrui , Li Yan , Bolstad Jeff , Mulvey George L. , Armstrong Glen D. , MacNaughton Wallace K. , Muruve Daniel A. , MacDonald Justin A. , Beck Paul L.
Published: October 2012

Clostridium difficile, a major cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, triggers disease through the release of two toxins, toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB). These toxins disrupt the cytoskeleton of the intestinal epithelial cell, increasing intestinal permeability and triggering the release of inflammatory mediators resulting in intestinal injury and inflammation. The most prevalent animal model to study TcdA/TcdB-induced intestinal injury involves injecting toxin into the lumen of a surgically generated “ileal loop.” This model is time-consuming and exhibits variability depending on the expertise of the surgeon. Furthermore, the target organ ofC. difficileinfection (CDI) in humans is the colon, not the ileum. In the current study, we describe a new model of CDI that involves intrarectal instillation of TcdA/TcdB into the mouse colon. The administration of TcdA/TcdB triggered colonic inflammation and neutrophil and macrophage infiltration as well as increased epithelial barrier permeability and intestinal epithelial cell death. The damage and inflammation triggered by TcdA/TcdB isolates from the VPI and 630 strains correlated with the concentration of TcdA and TcdB produced. TcdA/TcdB exposure increased the expression of a number of inflammatory mediators associated with human CDI, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and IL-1β. Finally, we were able to demonstrate that TcdA was much more potent at inducing colonic injury than was TcdB but TcdB could act synergistically with TcdA to exacerbate injury. Taken together, our data indicate that the intrarectal murine model provides a robust and efficient system to examine the effects of TcdA/TcdB on the induction of inflammation and colonic tissue damage in the context of human CDI.
Polymorphisms in the Fc Gamma Receptor IIIA and Toll-Like Receptor 9 Are Associated with Protection against Severe Malarial Anemia and Changes in Circulating Gamma Interferon Levels
Authors: Munde Elly O. , Okeyo Winnie A. , Anyona Samwel B. , Raballah Evans , Konah Stephen , Okumu Wilson , Ogonda Lilian , Vulule John , Ouma Collins
Published: October 2012

An understanding of the immunogenetic basis of naturally acquired immunity toPlasmodium falciparuminfection would aid in the designing of a rationally based malaria vaccine. Variants within the Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) mediate immunity through engagement of immunoglobulin G and other immune mediators, such as gamma interferon (IFN-γ), resulting in erythrophagocytosis and production of inflammatory cytokines in severe malarial anemia (SMA). The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) trigger transcription of proinflammatory cytokines and induce adaptive immune responses. Therefore, these receptors may condition malaria disease pathogenesis through alteration in adaptive and innate immune responses. To further delineate the impacts of FcγRIIIA and TLR9 in SMA pathogenesis, the associations between FcγRIIIA −176F/V and TLR9 −1237T/C variants, SMA (hemoglobin [Hb] < 6.0 g/dl), and circulating IFN-γ levels were investigated in children (n= 301) from western Kenya with acute malaria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (controlling for potential confounders) revealed that children with the FcγRIIIA −176V/TLR9 −1237C (VC) variant combination had 64% reduced odds of developing SMA (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20 to 0.64;P= 0.001), while carriers of the FcγRIIIA −176V/TLR9 −1237T (VT) variant combination were twice as susceptible to SMA (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.19 to 3.50;P= 0.009). Children with SMA had higher circulating IFN-γ levels than non-SMA children (P= 0.008). Hemoglobin levels were negatively correlated with IFN-γ levels (r= −0.207,P= 0.022). Consistently, the FcγRIIIA −176V/TLR9 −1237T (VT) carriers had higher levels of circulating IFN-γ (P= 0.011) relative to noncarriers, supporting the observation that higher IFN-γ levels are associated with SMA. These results demonstrate that FcγRIIIA-176F/V and TLR9 −1237T/C variants condition susceptibility to SMA and functional changes in circulating IFN-γ levels.
Interleukin 13 Exposure Enhances Vitamin D-Mediated Expression of the Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide 18/LL-37 in Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Schrumpf J. A. , van Sterkenburg M. A. J. A. , Verhoosel R. M. , Zuyderduyn S. , Hiemstra P. S.
Published: October 2012

Vitamin D is an important regulator of the expression of antimicrobial peptides, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with respiratory infections. Regulating expression of antimicrobial peptides, such as the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide 18 (hCAP18)/LL-37, by vitamin D in bronchial epithelial cells requires local conversion of 25(OH)-vitamin D
3
(25D
3
) into its bioactive metabolite, 1,25(OH)
2
-vitamin D
3
(1,25D
3
), by CYP27B1. Low circulating vitamin D levels in childhood asthma are associated with more-severe exacerbations, which are often associated with infections. Atopic asthma is accompanied by Th2-driven inflammation mediated by cytokines such as interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-13, and the effect of these cytokines on vitamin D metabolism and hCAP18/LL-37 expression is unknown. Therefore, we investigated this with well-differentiated bronchial epithelial cells. To this end, cells were treated with IL-13 with and without 25D
3
, and expression of hCAP18/LL-37, CYP27B1, the 1,25D
3
-inactivating enzyme CYP24A1, and vitamin D receptor was assessed by quantitative PCR. We show that IL-13 enhances the ability of 25D
3
to increase expression of hCAP18/LL-37 and CYP24A1. In addition, exposure to IL-13 resulted in increased CYP27B1 expression, whereas vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression was not significantly affected. The enhancing effect of IL-13 on 25D
3
-mediated expression of hCAP18/LL-37 was further confirmed using SDS-PAGE Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. In conclusion, we demonstrate that IL-13 induces vitamin D-dependent hCAP18/LL-37 expression, most likely by increasing CYP27B1. These data suggest that Th2 cytokines regulate the vitamin D metabolic pathway in bronchial epithelial cells.
Sequential right then left acute dacryoadenitis in Crohn's disease
Authors: Boukouvala Stavroula , Giakoup-Oglou Ismail , Puvanachandra Narman , Burton Benjamin J L
Published: October 2012

A 41-year-old woman presented with painful swelling of the lateral aspect of the right upper lid along with ipsilateral conjunctival injection. Her right eye had limited abduction and pain on attempted lateral gaze. Funduscopy was normal. Medical history included Crohn's disease treated with sulphasalazine and azathioprine. White blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein were raised. CT of orbits revealed right-sided lacrimal gland enlargement, with signs of abscess formation within it. She was treated initially with intravenous antibiotics for 3 days and then switched to orals but it took 2 weeks for full resolution of symptoms. Eight months later, she presented again with signs of acute left-sided dacryoadenitis, not responding at all to oral antibiotics after 3 days. She was subsequently started on oral steroids, and her symptoms resolved within 48 h. Steroids were tapered without any recurrence after a period of 6 months.
Intensity versus duration of physical activity: implications for the metabolic syndrome. A prospective cohort study
Authors: Laursen Adam Hoegsbro , Kristiansen Ole P , Marott Jacob Louis , Schnohr Peter , Prescott Eva
Published: October 2012

Objectives

To explore the relative importance of leisure time physical activity (LTPA), walking and jogging on risk of developing the metabolic syndrome (MS).

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

The Copenhagen City Heart Study.

Participants

10 135 men and women aged 21–98 years who attended an initial examination in 1991–1994 and were re-examined after 10 years.

Outcome measures

The association of LTPA, jogging, walking speed and walking volume with MS at baseline and at 10-year follow-up was investigated by multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

Baseline prevalence of MS was 20.7% in women and 27.3% in men. In both women and men, MS prevalence was associated with lower LTPA and walking speed and was lower in joggers compared to non-joggers. In subjects free of MS at baseline, 15.4% had developed MS at 10-year follow-up. Risk of developing MS was reduced in subjects with moderate or high LTPA, higher walking speed and in joggers whereas a higher volume of walking was not associated with reduced risk. After multiple adjustment, odds ratio (OR) of developing MS in moderate/high LTPA was 0.71 (95% CI 0.50 to 1.01), fast walking speed 0.51 (0.33 to 0.80) and joggers 0.60 (0.37 to 0.95) and walking >1 h daily 1.22 (0.91 to 1.65).

Conclusions

Our results confirm the role of physical activity in reducing MS risk and suggest that intensity more than volume of physical activity is important.
Unlocking the potential: longitudinal audit finds multifaceted education for general practice increases HIV testing and diagnosis
Authors: Pillay Timesh D , Mullineux Judith , Smith Colette J , Matthews Philippa
Published: October 2012

Background

This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted educational intervention (Sexual Health in Practice, SHIP) on general practice HIV testing rates in a high prevalence London area.

Intervention

SHIP offered training in sexual health clinical skills to general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) in Haringey. SHIP training aims to break down stigma in sexual health and provide sexual history and communication tools (e.g. differential diagnosis), and provides resources to practices (including condoms).

Design

Numbers of GP HIV tests were collected from laboratories for 24 months prior, 19 months during and 5 months after training. Attendance data and practice list sizes were obtained.

Results

39 of 51 practices had at least one trained individual. These `trained' practices conducted an average 526 HIV tests p.a. before training began which rose to a projected 1556 p.a. (on the basis of the last 6 months of data). Testing rates of trained and untrained practices increased from 2.29 to 6.66 and 1.54 to 1.90 tests/1000 registered patients/year (p=0.0016 and p=0.5195) respectively. The rate of positive diagnosis was high in the trained group (18.0 and 16.7 positives/1000 tests before and after training began; p=0.7908). This equates to a rise from 9.5 to 22 new diagnoses p.a.

Conclusions

The training intervention has been found to significantly increase general practice HIV testing rates in the absence of financial incentives. Positivity rates are substantially higher than that found in pilots of screening in London, suggesting that the training nurtured and supplemented complex clinical skills.
LOCALIZATION OF EPILEPTIC FOCI USING MULTIMODALITY NEUROIMAGING
Authors: OLSON LARRY D. , PERRY M. SCOTT
Published: October 2012

Approximately 30% of epilepsy patients are medically intractable. Epilepsy surgery may offer cure or palliation, and neuromodulation and direct drug delivery are being developed as alternatives. Successful treatment requires correct localization of seizure onset zones and understanding surrounding functional cortex to avoid iatrogenic disability. Several neurophysiologic and imaging localization techniques have inherent individual weaknesses which can be overcome by multimodal analysis. We review common noninvasive techniques, then illustrate the value of multimodal analysis to localize seizure onset for targeted treatment.
SUBOPTIMAL GRAPH ISOMORPHISM USING BIPARTITE MATCHING
Authors: FANKHAUSER STEFAN , RIESEN KASPAR , BUNKE HORST , DICKINSON PETER
Published: October 2012

Graphs provide us with a flexible and powerful way to represent objects in various areas of computer science. One of the main drawbacks is, however, that many standard algorithms on graphs have a high computational complexity. The present paper considers the problem of graph isomorphism, i.e. checking two graphs for identity. A novel approach for the efficient computation of graph isomorphism is presented. The proposed algorithm is based on bipartite graph matching by means of an assignment algorithm. The algorithmic framework is suboptimal in the sense of possibly rejecting pairs of graphs without making a decision. As an advantage, however, it offers polynomial runtime. In experiments on diverse graph data sets we demonstrate substantial speedups of our proposed method over several standard procedures for graph isomorphism. Furthermore, although the computational framework for isomorphism is suboptimal, we show that the proposed algorithm rejects only very few pairs of graphs and otherwise returns correct results.
A LOW-COMPUTATION APPROACH FOR HUMAN FACE RECOGNITION
Authors: FANG WEI-LI , YANG YING-KUEI , PAN JUNG-KUEI
Published: October 2012

Several 2DPCA-based face recognition algorithms have been proposed hoping to achieve the goal of improving recognition rate while mostly at the expense of computation cost. In this paper, an approach named SI2DPCA is proposed to not only reduce the computation cost but also increase recognition performance at the same time. The approach divides a whole face image into smaller sub-images to increase the weight of features for better feature extraction. Meanwhile, the computation cost that mainly comes from the heavy and complicated operations against matrices is reduced due to the smaller size of sub-images. The reduced amount of computation has been analyzed and the integrity of sub-images has been discussed thoroughly in the paper. The experiments have been conducted to make comparisons among several better-known approaches and SI2DPCA. The experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed approach works well on reaching the goals of reducing computation cost and improving recognition performance simultaneously.
INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL SURFACE-KNOT THEORY
Authors: TAKEDA YASUSHI
Published: October 2012

In this paper, we introduce the notion of a virtual surface-knot as a 2-dimensional generalization of a virtual knot. We define the upper and lower groups of a virtual surface-knot to prove that there are infinitely many non-classical virtual surface-knots.
EXPLORING THE DYNAMICS OF CAPPED INVERSION FROM SODAR DATA
Authors: ROY SREEMOYEE , MUKHERJEE ABHIK
Published: October 2012

The time evolution of planetary boundary layer can be studied from sodar data. Normally most of the sound wave transmitted above gets backscattered from a single inversion layer. However, during turbulent atmospheric conditions, there are multiple layers from where the signal gets backscattered with varying echo strengths. The present work describes a methodology for computer analysis of multilayered structures. Two distinct backscatter heights are extracted from observed echograms. This noisy measurement is filtered to estimate the layer heights using an a priori system model. The process and measurement noise covariances used by the filter algorithm are tuned from physical considerations to get good filter performance. Data from sodar installed at Maitree station of Antarctica with capping over an inversion layer is used to prove the concept.
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES AND MÖSSBAUER SPECTRA OF Fe7S8 NANORODS
Authors: WANG WEIGAO , LI FAGEN , ZHAO FAN , WANG JUN , ZHAO GUOMENG
Published: October 2012

Fe7S8 nanorods have been successfully synthesized using a chemical evaporation method. X-ray diffraction pattern showed that the as-prepared products were Fe7S8 with no impurity phase. The results of scanning electron microscopy indicated that the samples synthesized at 750°C and 900°C were rod and sheet-like, respectively. The magnetic properties of the iron sulfide nanorods were measured over a wide temperature range (4 K–750 K) using a quantum design vibrating sample magnetometer. It was found that the nanorods were ferromagnetic with the Curie temperature of about 581 K. The Mössbauer spectra showed that the iron sulfide nanorods consisted of hexagonal pyrrhotites, whose spectra were asymmetrical according to correlation between the isomer shift and the hyperfine field.
A NEW MULTIMODAL PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM BASED ON GREEDY ALGORITHM
Authors: LIU YU , LV MINGWEI , ZUO WEI
Published: October 2012

A new multimodal particle swarm optimization algorithm based on greedy algorithm (GAPSO) is proposed in this paper. A ring topology is employed in each niche instead of a fully connected topology in GAPSO. More importantly, GAPSO does not depend on any niching parameter, which improves its effectiveness and efficiency greatly. A range of standard test functions are employed to test this proposed algorithm's performance. Experimental results demonstrate that GAPSO performs as well as existed optimization algorithms, and needs smaller number of evaluations to locate all the global optima for simple problems. For complex problems, GAPSO can achieve better and more consistent performance, and can locate more global optima than SPSO, ANPSO and rpso, which makes it possible to be widely used in the real world.
EFFECT OF SINGLE-WALL CARBON NANOTUBE ON SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX) REGENERATION FROM MATURE COTYLEDONARY NODE EXPLANTS
Authors: WANG X. H. , HUANG Q. M. , WANG L. , WANG L. Z.
Published: October 2012

One of the major limitations in producing transgenic soybeans using the agrobacterium-mediated cotyledonary-node method is low regeneration frequency. An improved highly efficient regeneration system of soybean was established herein. Cotyledonary node explants were placed in shoot initiation medium with single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) for adventitious shoots regeneration, and adventitious shoots were subcultured in shoot elongation medium with SWNT for shoot elongation and rooting. 40 mg/L SWNT supplemented in shoot initiation medium was found to be the optimal concentration with shoots regeneration frequency significantly increased by 21.5% compared with the control treatment, while for 4 mg/L and 400 mg/L, the increase was 4.6% and 6.5%, respectively. Faster elongation and rooting of adventitious shoots was observed in shoot elongation medium with 40 mg/L SWNT. Soybean plantlet formation frequency within the limited four weeks supplemented with 40 mg/L SWNT reached 48.4% while in the other three treatments: 4 mg/L, 400 mg/L and control, 0% were observed. These results indicate that supplement of SWNT in the soybean medium can efficiently promote adventitious shoots formation frequency, increase plantlet formation frequency and shorten the regeneration period.
Two-stage development of the Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene Darende Basin: implications for closure of Neotethys in central eastern Anatolia (Turkey)
Authors: Booth Matthew G. , Robertson Alastair H. F. , Tasli Kemal , İnan Nurdan , Ünlügenç Ulvi Can , Vincent Stephen
Published: October 2012

The Darende Basin is an excellent example of an important, but little known, type of sedimentary basin that can form on the top of emplaced ophiolites prior to and during continental collision. The basin formation was preceded by southward emplacement of accretionary mélange and ophiolites onto the Tauride carbonate platform during latest Cretaceous. Sedimentation began during the Maastrichtian with non-marine clastic sediments accumulating in palaeovalleys. This was followed by a Maastrichtian marine transgression, triggered by extension along the basin margins. Rudist-rich patch reefs and a carbonate shelf developed in different areas. A second transgression during the Mid-Eocene was preceded by emergence, a hiatus (Paleocene), localized faulting and low-angle (<5–10°) tilting. Middle Eocene hemipelagic marls, shallow-marine
Nummulites
-rich carbonates, calciturbidites and sparse alkaline volcanism culminated in Late Eocene shallowing, emergence and then deformation. The first phase of basin development (Maastrichtian) is seen as extensional, related to slab-pull that resulted from northward subduction of remnant oceanic lithosphere beneath Eurasia in the Pontides to the north. The second phase of basin development (Mid–Late Eocene) is explained by crustal downflexure to form an under-filled foreland basin during the final collision of the Tauride continent with Eurasia. Basin uplift was delayed until after a Mid-Miocene marine incursion.

Supplementary material:

Full results of the palaeontological determination of collected samples from the Eocene aged sedimentary rocks of the Darende Basin are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18544
Fluid Dynamics of Human Phonation and Speech
Authors: Mittal Rajat , Erath Byron D. , Plesniak Michael W.
Published: October 2012

This article presents a review of the fluid dynamics, flow-structure interactions, and acoustics associated with human phonation and speech. Our voice is produced through the process of phonation in the larynx, and an improved understanding of the underlying physics of this process is essential to advancing the treatment of voice disorders. Insights into the physics of phonation and speech can also contribute to improved vocal training and the development of new speech compression and synthesis schemes. This article introduces the key biomechanical features of the laryngeal physiology, reviews the basic principles of voice production, and summarizes the progress made over the past half-century in understanding the flow physics of phonation and speech. Laryngeal pathologies, which significantly enhance the complexity of phonatory dynamics, are discussed. After a thorough examination of the state of the art in computational modeling and experimental investigations of phonatory biomechanics, we present a synopsis of the pacing issues in this arena and an outlook for research in this fascinating subject.
Sand Ripples and Dunes
Authors: Charru François , Andreotti Bruno , Claudin Philippe
Published: October 2012

An erodible bed sheared by a fluid flow, gas or liquid, is generally unstable, and bed forms grow. This review discusses the following issues, in light of the recent literature: What are the relevant dynamical mechanisms controlling the emergence of bed forms? Do they form by linear instability or nonlinear processes such as pattern coarsening? What determines their timescales and length scales, so different in air and water? What are the similarities and differences between aeolian and subaqueous patterns? What is the influence of the mode of transport: bed load, saltation, or suspension? Can bed forms emerge under any hydrodynamical regime, laminar and turbulent? Guided by these questions, we propose a unified description of bed-form growth and saturation, emphasizing the hydrodynamical regime in the inner layer and the relaxation phenomena associated with particle transport.
Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Sievers Eric L. , Senter Peter D.
Published: October 2012

An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) provides the possibility of selectively ablating cancer cells by combining the specificity of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for a target antigen with the delivery of a highly potent cytotoxic agent. ADC target antigens are typically highly expressed on the surface of cancer cells compared to normal cells. The tumor target, the cytotoxic agent, and the manner in which the agent is attached to the antibody are key determinants of clinical activity and tolerability. Recently, several clinical trials have demonstrated that ADCs achieve higher clinical response rates than unconjugated mAbs targeting the same cell surface antigen. Brentuximab vedotin represents one such ADC that has recently been approved for the treatment of relapsed Hodgkin and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphomas—both characterized by high expression of the target antigen, CD30, on the surface of malignant cells. This review summarizes key characteristics of current, clinically active ADCs and highlights recent clinical data illustrating the benefit of antibody-targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents to cancer cells.
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Views of Selectivity, Sensitivity, and Clinical Performance
Authors: Levitzki Alexander
Published: October 2012

With the manufacture of imatinib, researchers introduced tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) into the clinical setting in 2000 to treat cancers; approximately fifteen other TKIs soon followed. Imatinib remains the most successful agent, whereas all the others have had modest effects on the cancers that they target. The current challenge is to identify the agents that need to be combined with TKIs to maximize their efficacy. One of the most promising approaches is to combine immune therapy with TKI treatment. In this review, the therapeutic potential of TKIs for treatment is discussed.
Estrogen and Cancer
Authors: Liang Jing , Shang Yongfeng
Published: October 2012

Estrogen exhibits a broad spectrum of physiological functions ranging from regulation of the menstrual cycle and reproduction to modulation of bone density, brain function, and cholesterol mobilization. Despite the beneficial actions of endogenous estrogen, sustained exposure to exogenous estrogen is a well-established risk factor for various cancers. We summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of estrogen signaling in normal and cancer cells and discuss the major challenges to existing antiestrogen therapies.
Metabolic and Neuropsychiatric Effects of Calorie Restriction and Sirtuins
Authors: Libert Sergiy , Guarente Leonard
Published: October 2012

Most living organisms, including humans, age. Over time the ability to do physical and intellectual work deteriorates, and susceptibility to infectious, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases increases, which leads to general fitness decline and ultimately to death. Work in model organisms has demonstrated that genetic and environmental manipulations can prevent numerous age-associated diseases, improve health at advanced age, and increase life span. Calorie restriction (CR) (consumption of a diet with fewer calories but containing all the essential nutrients) is the most robust manipulation, genetic or environmental, to extend longevity and improve health parameters in laboratory animals. However, outside of the protected laboratory environment, the effects of CR are much less certain. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of CR may lead to the development of novel therapies to combat diseases of aging and to improve the quality of life. Sirtuins, a family of NAD+-dependent enzymes, mediate a number of metabolic and behavioral responses to CR and are intriguing targets for pharmaceutical interventions. We review the molecular understanding of CR; the role of sirtuins in CR; and the effects of sirtuins on physiology, mood, and behavior.
Low Temperature Growth of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from Pt Catalysts under Low Ethanol Pressure by Alcohol Gas Source Method
Authors: Kondo Hiroki , Fukuoka Naoya , Maruyama Takahiro
Published: October 2012

Growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was carried out on SiO2/Si substrates with Pt catalysts at 400, 450, and 700°C under various ethanol pressures using an alcohol gas source method in a high vacuum, and the grown SWNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Irrespective of the growth temperature, both G band and RBM peaks were observed in the Raman spectra under the optimal ethanol pressure (~1×10−3Pa), indicating that SWNTs grew below 450°C from Pt. At 400°C, both average diameter and diameter distribution were drastically reduced, and those were fairly smaller and narrower, compared to those for SWNTs grown with Co.
A Measure of Depression in a Modern Asian Community: Singapore
Authors: Chang Weining C. , Koh Jessie Bee Kim
Published: October 2012

The construct validity of two depression measures, Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Asian Adolescents Depression Scale (AADS), was investigated. Three studies were conducted using two samples collected in two stages, and the results were used to construct the Asian Depression Scale (ADS). Participants responded to the SDS and AADS in random order of presentation during stage 1; two months later, validation variables were collected. Study 1 found that the SDS is a reliable and valid measure of depression for Singaporean Chinese, but it does not cover the interpersonal dimension found in the AADS. Study 2 combined the two measures and found six factors. One of these factors, negative social self, which was a unique Asian depressive symptom cluster, consisted only of AADS items, while the affective manifestation and psychosomatic symptoms factor primarily consisted of items from the SDS. Study 3 selected high-loading items from the identified factors to construct the ADS, which showed excellent internal reliability, and good convergent and discriminant validity. Incremental predictive validity found on criterion data collected in stage 2, supported the nonspuriousness of the Asian Depression Scale.
Steady State Solution to Atmospheric Circulation Equations with Humidity Effect
Authors: Luo Hong
Published: October 2012

The steady state solution to atmospheric circulation equations with humidity effect is studied. A sufficient condition of existence of steady state solution to atmospheric circulation equations is obtained, and regularity of steady state solution is verified.
Inference for the Sharpe Ratio Using a Likelihood-Based Approach
Authors: Liu Ying , Rekkas Marie , Wong Augustine
Published: October 2012

The Sharpe ratio is the prominent risk-adjusted performance measure used by practitioners. Statistical testing of this ratio using its asymptotic distribution has lagged behind its use. In this paper, highly accurate likelihood analysis is applied for inference on the Sharpe ratio. Both the one- and two-sample problems are considered. The methodology hasO(n−3/2)distributional accuracy and can be implemented using any parametric return distribution structure. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the method's superior accuracy over existing methods used for testing in the literature.
A Crossover Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Panda Rutuparna , Naik Manoj Kumar
Published: October 2012

This paper presents a modified bacterial foraging optimization algorithm called crossover bacterial foraging optimization algorithm, which inherits the crossover technique of genetic algorithm. This can be used for improvising the evaluation of optimal objective function values. The idea of using crossover mechanism is to search nearby locations by offspring (50 percent of bacteria), because they are randomly produced at different locations. In the traditional bacterial foraging optimization algorithm, search starts from the same locations (50 percent of bacteria are replicated) which is not desirable. Seven different benchmark functions are considered for performance evaluation. Also, comparison with the results of previous methods is presented to reveal the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Drosophila melanogasterSelection for Survival ofBacillus cereusInfection: Life History Trait Indirect Responses
Authors: Ma Junjie , Benson Andrew K. , Kachman Stephen D. , Hu Zhen , Harshman Lawrence G.
Published: October 2012

To study evolved resistance/tolerance in an insect model, we carried out an experimental evolution study using D. melanogaster and the opportunistic pathogen B. cereus as the agent of selection. The selected lines evolved a 3.0- to 3.3-log increase in the concentration of spores required for 50% mortality after 18–24 generations of selection. In the absence of any treatment, selected lines evolved an increase in egg production and delayed development time. The latter response could be interpreted as a cost of evolution. Alternatively, delayed development might have been a target of selection resulting in increased adult fat body function including production of antimicrobial peptides, and, incidentally, yolk production for oocytes and eggs. When treated with autoclaved spores, the egg production difference between selected and control lines was abolished, and this response was consistent with the hypothesis of a cost of an induced immune response. Treatment with autoclaved spores also reduced life span in some cases and elicited early-age mortality in the selected and wound-control lines both of which were consistent with the hypothesis of a cost associated with induction of immune responses. In general, assays on egg production yielded key outcomes including the negative effect of autoclaved spores on egg production.
Preparation of the Inclusion Complex-Type Nonlinear Optical Polymer
Authors: Wang Li-Fen , Chen Jyun-Wun , Chen Jyun-Wei
Published: October 2012

This study uses the inclusion complex method to import nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores, disperse red1 (DR1), and spiropyran (SP), into theγ-CD cavity of theγ-cyclodextrin polymer (γ-CDP) to prepare orderly aligned nonphotocontrollable and photocontrollable nonlinear optical polymers. Calculations support the ultraviolet/visible analyses and suggest the formation of the 1 : 2 DR1/γ-CDP and 1 : 2 SP/γ-CDP inclusion complexes. Upon complexation, the DR1 and SP molecules are free to align themselves along an applied electric field and show high order parameters of approximately 0.48 and 0.20, respectively. Reversible photochromic reactions exhibit that the SP/γ-CDP complex still retains the photochromic properties following corona poling.
An Efficient Oxidation of Benzoins to Benzils by Manganese(II) Schiff Base Complexes Using Green Oxidant
Authors: Safari Javad , Zarnegar Zohre , Rahimi Fatemeh
Published: October 2012

A simple, highly efficient and mild catalytic oxidation of benzoins to the corresponding benzils was developed using manganese(II) Schiff base complexes as novel and reusable catalyst in the presence of acetonitrile as solvent and H2O2 as green oxidant. This simple method affords benzil derivatives at room temperature in short reaction times with high yield and purity. This convenient procedure will allow a further increase of the diversity within the benzil family.