bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sudden infant death syndrome in an urban Aboriginal community
Authors: Knight Jennifer , Webster Vana , Kemp Lynn , Comino Elizabeth
Published: June 2013

Aim

The study aims to understand sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) risk and preventive practices in an urban Aboriginal community, through exploration of mothers' knowledge and practices and examination of coroner case records.

Methods

Data were collected from the mothers of Aboriginal infants participating in the Gudaga Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study. At 2–3 weeks post‐natal, mothers were asked about SIDS risk‐reduction practices, infant sleeping position and smoking practices within the home. Questions were repeated when study infants were 6 months of age. During the first 18 months of the study, three infants within the cohort died. All deaths were identified as SIDS related. The Coroner reports for these infants were reviewed.

Results

At the 2–3 weeks data collection point, approximately 66.2% (n = 98) of mothers correctly identified two or more SIDS risk‐reduction strategies. At this same data point, approximately 82% (n = 122) of mothers were putting their infants to sleep on their backs (supine). Higher maternal education was significantly associated (P < 0.01), with identification of two or more correct SIDS risk‐reduction strategies and supine sleeping position at 2–3 weeks. The Coroner considered two infants who had been sleeping in an unsafe sleeping environment.

Conclusion

Rates of SIDS deaths within the study community were much higher than the national average. Most mothers were putting their infant to sleep correctly even though they may be unaware that their practice was in accordance with recommended guidelines. Best practice safe sleeping environments are difficult to achieve for some families living in low socio‐economic settings.
Cerebral oedema is not responsible for motor or cognitive deficits in rats with hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Cauli Omar , Llansola Marta , Agustí Ana , Rodrigo Regina , Hernández‐Rabaza Vicente , Rodrigues Tiago B. , López‐Larrubia Pilar , Cerdán Sebastián , Felipo Vicente
Published: June 2013

Background & Aims

Low‐grade cytotoxic oedema is considered a main contributor to the neurological (motor and cognitive) alterations in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This assumption is mainly based on studies with cultured astrocytes treated with very large ammonia concentrations or with animal models of acute liver failure with strong HE. However, the possible contribution of cerebral oedema (vasogenic or cytotoxic) to cognitive or motor alterations in chronic mild HE has not been demonstrated. The aim of this work was to assess whether cerebral oedema contributes to cognitive and/or motor alterations in rats with chronic mild HE.

Methods

Motor activity and coordination and different types of learning and memory were assessed in rats with porta‐caval shunts (PCS). Brain oedema was assessed by gravimetry in cerebellum and cortex and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) by magnetic resonance in 16 areas.

Results

Four weeks after surgery, PCS rats show reduced motor activity and coordination, impaired ability to learn a conditional discrimination task in the Y maze and reduced spatial memory in the Morris water maze. PCS rats did not show increased brain water content at 4 or 10 weeks or changes in ADC at 4 weeks. At 10 weeks, increased ADC in some areas is compatible with vasogenic but not cytotoxic oedema.

Conclusion

Cerebral oedema is not involved in motor and cognitive alterations in rats (and likely in humans) with mild HE. Proper understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the neurological alterations in HE is necessary to design efficient treatments.
Nonparallelism inMHCIIβ diversity accompanies nonparallelism in pathogen infection of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) species pairs as revealed by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Pavey Scott A. , Sevellec Maelle , Adam William , Normandeau Eric , Lamaze Fabien C. , Gagnaire Pierre‐Alexandre , Filteau Marie , Hebert Francois Olivier , Maaroufi Halim , Bernatchez Louis
Published: June 2013

Major histocompatibility (MHC) immune system genes may evolve in response to pathogens in the environment. Because they also may affect mate choice, they are candidates for having great importance in ecological speciation. Here, we use next‐generation sequencing to test the general hypothesis of parallelism in patterns ofMHCIIβ diversity and bacterial infections among five dwarf and normal whitefish sympatric pairs. A second objective was to assess the functional relationships between specificMHCIIβ alleles and pathogens in natural conditions. Each individual had between one and four alleles, indicating two paralogous loci. InCliff Lake, the dwarf ecotype was monomorphic for the most common allele. InWebster Lake, the skew in the allelic distribution was towards the same allele but in the normal ecotype, underscoring the nonparallel divergence among lakes. Our signal of balancing selection matched putative peptide binding region residues in some cases, but not in others, supporting other recent findings of substantial functional differences in fishMHCIIβ compared with mammals. Individuals with fewer alleles were less likely to be infected; thus, we found no evidence for the heterozygote advantage hypothesis.MHCIIβ alleles and pathogenic bacteria formed distinct clusters in multivariate analyses, and clusters of certain alleles were associated with clusters of pathogens, or sometimes the absence of pathogens, indicating functional relationships at the individual level. Given that patterns ofMHCIIβ and bacteria were nonparallel among dwarf and normal whitefish pairs, we conclude that pathogens drivingMHCIIβ evolution did not play a direct role in their parallel phenotypic evolution.
Effect of Meloxicam on Pregnancy Rate of Recipient Heifers Following Transfer ofIn VitroProduced Embryos
Authors: Aguiar TS , Araújo CV , Tirloni RR , Martins LR
Published: June 2013

Contents

The main objective of this study was to determine if administration of meloxicam, a cyclooxygenase (COX) two inhibitor, to heifers in which embryo transfer (ET) is more difficult and requires a greater manipulation of the tract, would be beneficial. Nulliparous recipient heifers were divided in two groups:CON(n = 102), in which animals received 10 ml of saline IM (the same volume of meloxicam) andMEL(n = 105) animals that were treated with meloxicam. According to the degree in passing the catheter, recipients from both groups were classified as Grade I, easy (< 60 s), and Grade II (more than 80 s), difficult. Immediately after embryo transfer,MELrecipients received an injection of 200 mg of meloxicam (10 ml).There was no difference in the pregnancy rates on Day 35 considering animals which presented Grade I cervix independently whether the treatment was performed or not (p = 0.22). There was a statistical difference in the pregnancy rates (p < 0.01) between both groups (49.0% and 66.7% forCONandMEL, respectively) when cervical grade was not considered, on Day 35. Considering the animals that presented Grade II cervix, the pregnancy rate was higher forMEL(21.15% and 78.84%, respectively) in both examinations (p < 0.01).The authors concluded that meloxicam had a positive influence on general pregnancy rate of treated heifers in comparison to non‐treated heifers. It was also observed that pregnancy rate was not influenced by meloxicam administration in Grade I heifers. Treatment increased the pregnancy rate of Grade II heifers.
Culture Clash and Second Home Ownership in the U.S. Northern Forest
Authors: Armstrong Andrea , Stedman Richard C.
Published: June 2013

Culture clash, or intracommunity tensions related to rapid in‐migration, between permanent and newcomer residents has been well studied in relation to environmental conservation in natural amenity communities; however, less is known about culture clash within communities characterized by high rates of second home ownership. We examine the causes of perceived culture clash in communities of the U.S. Northern Forest using mail survey data from four case studies within New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. In contrast to past culture clash research, we consider multiple dimensions of cultural capital that are independent of second home owners' rural or urban origins, and how key aspects of culture compare to economic standing and social interaction as drivers of perceived culture clash. Permanent residents perceive greater levels of culture clash than second home owners, net other measures, indicating that seasonal migration in and of itself encourages notions of otherness between residents. More frequent social interaction between resident groups helps to ameliorate intracommunity tensions. Cultural capital and social interaction measures were equally effective in explaining variation in perceived culture clash. Our findings indicate that the culture clash concept extends beyond scenarios of environmental conflict and applies to more general forms of intergroup tensions.
Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus RNA and antibody in first‐time, lapsed, and repeat blood donations across five international regions and relative efficacy of alternative screening scenarios
Authors: Bruhn Roberta , Lelie Nico , Custer Brian , Busch Michael , Kleinman Steven ,   International NAT Study Group
Published: June 2013

Background

Twenty‐one blood organizations from five geographical regions provided HIV individual donation (ID)‐NAT and serology data on 11,787,610 donations. Infections were classified as anti‐HIV‐/RNA+ window period (WP), anti‐HIV+/RNA+ concordant positive (CP) or anti‐HIV+/RNA‐ elite controller (EC). Residual risk and efficacy of several screening scenarios were estimated for first time, lapsed and repeat donations.

Methods

WP residual risk estimates assumed a 50% infectious dose of 3.16 virions and a 50% detection limit of 2.7 HIV RNA copies/mL for ID‐NAT and 10,000 copies/mL for p24Ag. Infectivity for CP (100%) and EC (2.2%) donations was estimated based on viral load distributions and 100‐fold reduced infectivity by antibody neutralization as reported elsewhere. Efficacy was calculated as proportion of transmission risk removed from baseline (i.e. in absence of any screening).

Results

There was no significant difference in transmission risk between lapsed and repeat donations in any region. Risk was 3.8‐fold higher in first time than combined lapsed/repeat donations in South Africa but not in other regions. Screening strategies were most efficacious at interdicting infectious transfusions in first time (98.7‐99.8%) followed by lapsed (97.6‐99.7%) and repeat (86.8‐97.7%) donations in all regions combined. In each donor category the efficacy of ID‐NAT alone (97.7‐99.8%) was superior to that of minipool (MP)‐NAT/anti‐HIV (95.0‐99.6%) and p24 Ag/anti‐HIV (89.8‐99.1%).

Conclusions

Efficacy patterns were similar by donor/donation status in each region despite large differences in HIV prevalence and transmission risk. As similar data become available for HBV and HCV, this modeling may be useful in cost effectiveness analyses of alternative testing scenarios.
A dominant avirulence gene in Orobanche cumana triggers Or5 resistance in sunflower
Authors: Rodríguez‐Ojeda M I , Pineda‐Martos R , Alonso L C , Fernández‐Escobar J , Fernández‐Martínez J M , Pérez‐Vich B , Velasco L
Published: June 2013

Orobanche cumana is a weed that grows as a root parasite on sunflower. In general, the O. cumana–sunflower parasitic system is regarded to follow the gene‐for‐gene model, although this has never been demonstrated at the genetic level in O. cumana. The Or5 dominant gene in sunflower confers resistance to O. cumana race E, but not to race F. The objective of this research was to study the inheritance of avirulence/virulence in crosses between plants of O. cumana lines classified as races E and F. Four race E and three race F lines were developed, from which four race E × race F cross‐combinations were made, in three cases including reciprocals. In all cases, F1 seeds did not have the ability to parasitise sunflower line P‐1380 carrying the Or5 gene, indicating dominance of race E avirulence allele(s). Five F2 populations comprising a total of 387 F2:3 families were evaluated on sunflower line P‐1380. In all cases, one‐fourth of the F2:3 families did not possess the ability to parasitise P‐1380 plants, suggesting that race E avirulence and race F virulence on P‐1380 are allelic and controlled by a single locus. This study demonstrated the gene‐for‐gene interaction in the O. cumana–sunflower parasite system and provided useful information to identify genes involved in O. cumana virulence. The approach followed in this research can contribute to define precisely races of the parasite on the basis of the presence of avirulence genes.
On the -purity of isolated log canonical singularities
Authors: Fujino Osamu , Takagi Shunsuke
Published: June 2013

A singularity in characteristic zero is said to be of dense $F$-pure type if its modulo $p$ reduction is locally Frobenius split for infinitely many $p$. We prove that if $x\in X$ is an isolated log canonical singularity with $\mu (x\in X)\leq 2$ (where the invariant $\mu $ is as defined in Definition 1.4), then it is of dense $F$-pure type. As a corollary, we prove the equivalence of log canonicity and being of dense $F$-pure type in the case of three-dimensional isolated $ \mathbb{Q} $-Gorenstein normal singularities.
Product Family Design Through Ontology-Based Faceted Component Analysis, Selection, and Optimization
Authors: Liu Ying , Lim Soon Chong Johnson , Lee Wing Bun
Published: June 2013

Product family design (PFD) is a widely adopted strategy for product realization, especially when design requirements are diversified and multi-faceted. Due to ever-changing customer needs and the increasingly complex and integrated product design structure, PFD and its optimization have been concerned more about a rapid and contextual product analysis and variant derivation based on a multi-objective optimization scheme subject to design concerns, which are often cross disciplinary, such as product service, carbon footprint, user experience, esthetics, etc. Existing PFD modeling approaches, which are primarily structured using component attributes and assembly relationships, possess notable limitations in representing complex component and design relationships. Hence, it has restricted comprehensive PFD analysis in an agile and contextual manner. Previously, we have studied and demonstrated the feasibility of using ontology for product family modeling and have suggested a framework of faceted information search and retrieval for product family design. In this paper, several new perspectives towards PFD based on ontology modeling are presented. Firstly, new metrics of ontology-based commonality that better reveal conceptual similarity under various design perspectives are formed. Secondly, faceted concept ranking is proposed as a new ranking approach for ontology-based component search under complex and heterogeneous design requirements. Thirdly, using these ranked results, a platform selection approach that considers a maximum aggregated ranking with a minimal platform modification among various platform choices is researched. From the selected platform and the newly proposed metrics, a modified multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with an embedded feature of configuration incompatibility check is studied and deployed for the optimal selection of components. A case study of PFD using four laptop computer families is reported as our first attempt to showcase how faceted component analysis, selection, and optimization can be accomplished based on the proposed family ontology.
Targeting Transparency
Authors: Weil David , Graham Mary , Fung Archon
Published: June 2013

Research explores how policy goals might be reached by simply requiring that information be made public.
A Story of Swapped Ends
Authors: Rowley Janet D.
Published: June 2013

Forty years ago, a chromosomal translocation was discovered to cause leukemia and revealed cancer as a genetic disease.

[Also see Book Review by
Nadkarni
]
Monsoon Melee
Authors: Qiu Jane
Published: June 2013

The rhythms of life across South Asia depend on the Indian monsoon. Climate scientists are locking horns over the cause of the summer deluges.
Pattern of the Epitope-Specific IgG/IgM Response against Human Cytomegalovirus in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Bogner Elke , Pecher Gabriele
Published: June 2013

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family and represents a major human pathogen causing severe disease in newborns and immunocompromised patients, e.g., organ transplant recipients and patients with AIDS. One characteristic of herpesviruses is their ability to establish lifelong latency in their hosts; thus, reactivation during immunosuppression leads to recurrent episodes of disease. In several recent reports, it has been shown that HCMV infection may occur in patients with malignancy. This study focused on HCMV infection in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). In order to determine the IgM and IgG humoral immune response, sera from MM patients and healthy donors were analyzed with an accredited immunoblot test, and the IgM response was analyzed with an accredited enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A response against HCMV was detected in 80% of the MM patients. While the IgG pattern varied in each patient, the most prominent IgM response was against the tegument protein pp150 and two nonstructural proteins, the processivity factor (pUL44) and the single-stranded DNA binding protein (pUL57). An IgG avidity test revealed that 4 out of 20 MM patients had a fresh infection and 2 MM patients had a recent infection. The combination of IgG avidity and the IgM pattern will be a useful tool for reliable clinical diagnostics concerning HCMV and for application of early therapy for those MM patients suffering from a high viral load.
Challenges for Standardization of Clostridium difficile Typing Methods
Authors: Huber Charlotte A. , Foster Niki F. , Riley Thomas V. , Paterson David L.
Published: June 2013

Typing of
Clostridium difficile
facilitates understanding of the epidemiology of the infection. Some evaluations have shown that certain strain types (for example, ribotype 027) are more virulent than others and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. Although restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis have been widely used in the past, PCR ribotyping is the current method of choice for typing of
C. difficile
. However, global standardization of ribotyping results is urgently needed. Whole-genome sequencing of
C. difficile
has the potential to provide even greater epidemiologic information than ribotyping.
Multilocus Sequence Typing of Pneumocystis jirovecii from Clinical Samples: How Many and Which Loci Should Be Used?
Authors: Maitte Céline , Leterrier Marion , Le Pape Patrice , Miegeville Michel , Morio Florent
Published: June 2013

Pneumocystis jirovecii
pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection with airborne transmission and remains a major cause of respiratory illness among immunocompromised individuals. In recent years, several outbreaks of PCP, occurring mostly in kidney transplant recipients, have been reported. Currently, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) performed on clinical samples is considered to be the gold standard for epidemiological investigations of nosocomial clusters of PCP. However, until now, no MLST consensus scheme has emerged. The aim of this study was to evaluate the discriminatory power of eight distinct loci previously used for the molecular typing of
P. jirovecii
(internal transcribed spacer 1 [ITS1], cytochrome
b
[
CYB
], mitochondrial rRNA gene [mt26S], large subunit of the rRNA gene [26S], superoxide dismutase [
SOD
], β-tubulin [β-
TUB
], dihydropteroate synthase [
DHPS
], and dihydrofolate reductase [
DHFR
]) using a cohort of 33 epidemiologically unrelated patients having respiratory samples that were positive for
P. jirovecii
and who were admitted to our hospital between 2006 and 2011. Our results highlight that the choice of loci for MLST is crucial, as the discriminatory power of the method was highly variable from locus to locus. In all, the eight-locus-based scheme we used displayed a high discriminatory power (Hunter [H] index, 0.996). Based on our findings, a simple and alternative MLST scheme relying on three loci only (mt26S,
CYB
, and
SOD
) provides enough discriminatory power (H-index, 0.987) to be used for preliminary investigations of nosocomial clusters of PCP.
Susceptibility Breakpoint for Enrofloxacin against Swine Salmonella spp
Authors: Hao Haihong , Pan Huafang , Ahmad Ijaz , Cheng Guyue , Wang Yulian , Dai Menghong , Tao Yanfei , Chen Dongmei , Peng Dapeng , Liu Zhenli , Huang Lingli , Yuan Zonghui
Published: June 2013

Susceptibility breakpoints are crucial for prudent use of antimicrobials. This study has developed the first susceptibility breakpoint (MIC ≤ 0.25 μg/ml) for enrofloxacin against swineSalmonellaspp. based on wild-type cutoff (COWT) and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) cutoff (COPD) values, consequently providing a criterion for susceptibility testing and clinical usage of enrofloxacin.
Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Haemophilus parasuis Isolates Exhibit More Putative Virulence Factors than Their Susceptible Counterparts
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Liu Jiantao , Yan Shuxian , Yang Yujie , Zhang Anding , Jin Meilin
Published: June 2013

The prevalence of 23 putative virulence factors among fluoroquinolone-susceptible and -resistant
Haemophilus parasuis
isolates was analyzed. Putative hemolysin precursor, fimbrial assembly chaperone, and type I site-specific restriction modification system R subunit genes were more prevalent among fluoroquinolone-resistant
H. parasuis
isolates than among fluoroquinolone-susceptible
H. parasuis
isolates. Fluoroquinolone resistance may be associated with an increase in the presence of some virulence factors.
Retrovirus Restriction by TRIM5 Proteins Requires Recognition of Only a Small Fraction of Viral Capsid Subunits
Authors: Shi Jiong , Friedman David B. , Aiken Christopher
Published: June 2013

The host restriction factors TRIM5α and TRIMCyp potently inhibit retrovirus infection by binding to the incoming retrovirus capsid. TRIM5 proteins are dimeric, and their association with the viral capsid appears to be enhanced by avidity effects owing to formation of higher-order oligomeric complexes. We examined the stoichiometric requirement for TRIM5 functional recognition by quantifying the efficiencies of restriction of HIV-1 and murine leukemia virus (MLV) particles containing various proportions of restriction-sensitive and -insensitive CA subunits. Both TRIMCyp and TRIM5α inhibited infection of retrovirus particles containing as little as 25% of the restriction-sensitive CA protein. Accordingly, we also observed efficient binding of TRIMCyp
in vitro
to capsid assemblies containing as little as one-fourth wild-type CA protein. Paradoxically, the ability of HIV-1 particles to abrogate TRIMCyp restriction in
trans
was more strongly dependent on the fraction of wild-type CA than was restriction of infection. Collectively, our results indicate that TRIM5 restriction factors bind to retroviral capsids in a highly cooperative manner and suggest that TRIM5 can engage a capsid lattice containing a minimum of three or fewer recognizable subunits per hexamer. Our study supports a model in which localized binding of TRIM5 to the viral capsid nucleates rapid polymerization of a TRIM5 lattice on the capsid surface.
Structure of the C-Terminal Domain of Lettuce Necrotic Yellows Virus Phosphoprotein
Authors: Martinez Nicolas , Ribeiro Euripedes A. , Leyrat Cédric , Tarbouriech Nicolas , Ruigrok Rob W. H. , Jamin Marc
Published: June 2013

Lettuce necrotic yellows virus (LNYV) is a prototype of the plant-adapted cytorhabdoviruses. Through a meta-prediction of disorder, we localized a folded C-terminal domain in the amino acid sequence of its phosphoprotein. This domain consists of an autonomous folding unit that is monomeric in solution. Its structure, solved by X-ray crystallography, reveals a lollipop-shaped structure comprising five helices. The structure is different from that of the corresponding domains of other
Rhabdoviridae
,
Filoviridae
, and
Paramyxovirinae
; only the overall topology of the polypeptide chain seems to be conserved, suggesting that this domain evolved under weak selective pressure and varied in size by the acquisition or loss of functional modules.
Point Mutations in the Paramyxovirus F Protein That Enhance Fusion Activity Shift the Mechanism of Complement-Mediated Virus Neutralization
Authors: Johnson John B. , Schmitt Anthony P. , Parks Griffith D.
Published: June 2013

Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) activates and is neutralized by the alternative pathway (AP) in normal human serum (NHS) but not by heat-inactivated (HI) serum. We have tested the relationship between the fusion activity within the PIV5 F protein, the activation of complement pathways, and subsequent complement-mediated virus neutralization. Recombinant PIV5 viruses with enhanced fusion activity were generated by introducing point mutations in the F fusogenic peptide (G3A) or at a distal site near the F transmembrane domain (S443P). In contrast to wild-type (WT) PIV5, the mutant G3A and S443P viruses were neutralized by both NHS and HI serum. Unlike WT PIV5, hyperfusogenic G3A and S443P viruses were potent C4 activators, C4 was deposited on NHS-treated mutant virions, and the mutants were neutralized by factor B-depleted serum but not by C4-depleted serum. Antibodies purified from HI human serum were sufficient to neutralize both G3A and S443P virusesin vitrobut were ineffective against WT PIV5. Electron microscopy data showed greater deposition of purified human antibodies on G3A and S443P virions than on WT PIV5 particles. These data indicate that single amino acid changes that enhance the fusion activity of the PIV5 F protein shift the mechanism of complement activation in the context of viral particles or on the surface of virus-infected cells, due to enhanced binding of antibodies. We present general models for the relationship between enhanced fusion activity in the paramyxovirus F protein and increased susceptibility to antibody-mediated neutralization.
Imaging of the Alphavirus Capsid Protein during Virus Replication
Authors: Zheng Yan , Kielian Margaret
Published: June 2013

Alphaviruses are enveloped viruses with highly organized structures. The nucleocapsid (NC) core contains a capsid protein lattice enclosing the plus-sense RNA genome, and it is surrounded by a lipid bilayer containing a lattice of the E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins. Capsid protein is synthesized in the cytoplasm and particle budding occurs at the plasma membrane (PM), but the traffic and assembly of viral components and the exit of virions from host cells are not well understood. To visualize the dynamics of capsid protein during infection, we developed a Sindbis virus infectious clone tagged with a tetracysteine motif. Tagged capsid protein could be fluorescently labeled with biarsenical dyes in living cells without effects on virus growth, morphology, or protein distribution. Live cell imaging and colocalization experiments defined distinct groups of capsid foci in infected cells. We observed highly motile internal puncta that colocalized with E2 protein, which may represent the transport machinery that capsid protein uses to reach the PM. Capsid was also found in larger nonmotile internal structures that colocalized with cellular G3BP and viral nsP3. Thus, capsid may play an unforeseen role in these previously observed G3BP-positive foci, such as regulation of cellular stress granules. Capsid puncta were also observed at the PM. These puncta colocalized with E2 and recruited newly synthesized capsid protein; thus, they may be sites of virus assembly and egress. Together, our studies provide the first dynamic views of the alphavirus capsid protein in living cells and a system to define detailed mechanisms during alphavirus infection.
A COMPREHENSIVE MECHANISM REPRODUCING THE MASS AND MIXING PARAMETERS OF QUARKS AND LEPTONS
Authors: BAKER MICHAEL J. , BORDES JOSÉ , CHAN HONG-MO , TSOU SHEUNG TSUN
Published: June 2013

It is shown that if, from the starting point of a universal rank-one mass matrix long favored by phenomenologists, one adds the assumption that it rotates (changes its orientation in generation space) with changing scale, one can reproduce, in terms of only six real parameters, all the 16 mass ratios and mixing parameters of quarks and leptons. Of these 16 quantities so reproduced, 10 for which data exist for direct comparison (i.e. the CKM elements including the CP-violating phase, the angles θ12, θ13, θ23 in ν-oscillation, and the masses mc, mμ, me) agree well with experiment, mostly to within experimental errors; four others (ms, mu, md, mν2), the experimental values for which can only be inferred, agree reasonably well; while two others (mν1, δ CP for leptons), not yet measured experimentally, remain as predictions. In addition, one gets as bonuses, estimates for (i) the right-handed neutrino mass mνR and (ii) the strong CP angle θ inherent in QCD. One notes in particular that the output value for sin 2 2 θ13 from the fit agrees very well with recent experiments. By inputting the current experimental value with its error, one obtains further from the fit two new testable constraints: (i) that θ23 must depart from its "maximal" value: sin 2 2 θ23 ~ 0.935 ±0.021, (ii) that the CP-violating (Dirac) phase in the PMNS would be smaller than in the CKM matrix: of order only | sin δ CP | ≤ 0.31 if not vanishing altogether.
GEANT4 SIMULATION FOR THE ZENITH ANGLE DEPENDENCE OF COSMIC MUON INTENSITIES AT TWO DIFFERENT GEOMAGNETIC LOCATIONS
Authors: ARSLAN HALIL , BEKTASOGLU MEHMET
Published: June 2013

The zenith angle dependence of cosmic muon flux at sea level in the western, eastern, southern and northern azimuths have been investigated separately for Calcutta, India and Melbourne, Australia for muon momenta up to ~500 GeV /c using Geant4 simulation package. These two locations were selected due to the fact that they significantly differ in geomagnetic cutoff rigidity. The exponent n, which is defined by the relation I(θ) = I(0°) cos nθ, was obtained for each azimuth in Calcutta and Melbourne. By acquiring an agreement between the simulation results and the experimental ones, the simulation study was extended for different azimuth angles and higher muon momenta. It was shown that the angular dependence of the cosmic muon intensity decreases with the increase of muon momentum at both locations. Moreover, the exponent becomes independent of both geomagnetic location and the azimuth angle for muons with momentum above 10 GeV /c, and it is nearly zero above 50 GeV /c. Therefore, it can be concluded that the cosmic muons with momenta between 50 GeV /c and ~500 GeV /c reach the sea level almost isotropically.
Optimum Conditions for Efficient Hydrogen Generation by Water Electrolysis in an Electrochemical Cell Powered either by Power Supply or Solar Cells
Authors: Frites Mourad , Khan Shahed U.M.
Published: June 2013

A comparative study was carried out in this work to determine the optimum power supplied either by a power supply or silicon solar cells, for efficient water splitting in an electrochemical cell. The hydrogen current generated during water electrolysis was found to be very close to the current supplied from a power supply or from solar cells only when the applied potential was above certain optimum value. After 60 minutes the solar to hydrogen efficiency (%STHE) for water electrolysis was found to be 8.52%, 4.05%, and 1.63% driven by solar cells having maximum power densities of 22.5 mW cm-2 (Vmax = 3.8 V), 20.5 mW cm-2 (Vmax = 2.2 V) and 8.5 mW cm-2 (Vmax = 1.5 V) respectively. The differences in these % STHE values were attributed to the effect of maximum photovoltage, Vmax, on water electrolysis.
Polycrystalline Cu(In, Ga)Se2 Thin Films and PV Devices Sputtered From a Binary Target without Additional Selenization
Authors: Jheng Bao-Tang , Liu Po-Tsun , Chang Ying-Pin , Wu Meng-Chyi
Published: June 2013

This work presents a novel method to form polycrystalline CuIn1−xGaxSe2 (CIGS) thin film by co-sputtering of In–Se and Cu–Ga alloy targets without an additional selenization process. An attempt was also made to thoroughly elucidate the surface morphology, crystalline phases, physical properties, and chemical properties of the CIGS films by using material analysis methods. Experimental results indicate that CIGS thin films featured densely packed grains and chalcopyrite phase peaks of (112), (220), (204), (312), and (116). Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed chalcopyrite CIGS phase with Raman shift at 175cm−1, while no signal at 258cm−1 indicated the exclusion of Cu2-xSe phase. Devices built with these films exhibit efficiencies as high as 8.6%.
Transport Phenomena in Bi-Cells for Portable Fuel Cell Power Source
Authors: Grew Kyle N , Chu Deryn
Published: June 2013

The specific energy of neat liquid methanol tends to provide direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) systems with large energy densities, making them ideal for portable power applications. However, portable DMFC systems are larger than desired. The balance of plant (BOP) is the key contributor to the system volume, and specifically components used for water management. In this study, a theoretical approach is taken to better understand the water management requirements. A passive bi-cell, or pseudo bipolar, configuration is used as a baseline for this study.
Akt/eNOS signaling and PLN S-sulfhydration are involved in H2S-dependent cardiac effects in frog and rat
Authors: Mazza Rosa , Pasqua Teresa , Cerra Maria Carmela , Angelone Tommaso , Gattuso Alfonsina
Published: June 2013

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has recently emerged as an important mediator of mammalian cardiovascular homeostasis. In nonmammalian vertebrates, little is known about the cardiac effects of H2S. This study aimed to evaluate, in the avascular heart of the frog, Rana esculenta, whether and to what extent H2S affects the cardiac performance, and what is the mechanism of action responsible for the observed effects. Results were analyzed in relation to those obtained in the rat heart, used as the mammalian model. Isolated and perfused (working and Langendorff) hearts, Western blot analysis, and modified biotin switch (S-sulfhydration) assay were used. In the frog heart, NaHS (used as H2S donor, 10−12/10−7M) dose-dependently decreased inotropism. This effect was reduced by glibenclamide (KATPchannels blocker), NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (NOS inhibitor), 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), KT5823(PKG inhibitor), and it was blocked by Akt1/2 (Akt inhibitor) and by detergent Triton X-100. In the rat, in addition to the classic negative inotropic effect, NaHS (10−12/10−7M) exhibited negative lusitropism. In both frog and rat hearts, NaHS treatment induced Akt and eNOS phosphorylation and an increased cardiac protein S-sulfhydration that, in the rat heart, includes phospholamban. Our data suggest that H2S represents a phylogenetically conserved cardioactive molecule. Results obtained on the rat heart extend the role of H2S also to cardiac relaxation. H2S effects involve KATPchannels, the Akt/NOS-cGMP/PKG pathway, and S-sulfhydration of cardiac proteins.
Tissue-specific changes in fatty acid oxidation in hypoxic heart and skeletal muscle
Authors: Morash Andrea J. , Kotwica Aleksandra O. , Murray Andrew J.
Published: June 2013

Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia is sufficient to decrease cardiac PCr/ATP and alters skeletal muscle energetics in humans. Cellular mechanisms underlying the different metabolic responses of these tissues and the time-dependent nature of these changes are currently unknown, but altered substrate utilization and mitochondrial function may be a contributory factor. We therefore sought to investigate the effects of acute (1 day) and more sustained (7 days) hypoxia (13% O2) on the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and its targets in mouse cardiac and skeletal muscle. In the heart, PPARα expression was 40% higher than in normoxia after 1 and 7 days of hypoxia. Activities of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) I and β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HOAD) were 75% and 35% lower, respectively, after 1 day of hypoxia, returning to normoxic levels after 7 days. Oxidative phosphorylation respiration rates using palmitoyl-carnitine followed a similar pattern, while respiration using pyruvate decreased. In skeletal muscle, PPARα expression and CPT I activity were 20% and 65% lower, respectively, after 1 day of hypoxia, remaining at this level after 7 days with no change in HOAD activity. Oxidative phosphorylation respiration rates using palmitoyl-carnitine were lower in skeletal muscle throughout hypoxia, while respiration using pyruvate remained unchanged. The rate of CO2 production from palmitate oxidation was significantly lower in both tissues throughout hypoxia. Thus cardiac muscle may remain reliant on fatty acids during sustained hypoxia, while skeletal muscle decreases fatty acid oxidation and maintains pyruvate oxidation.
Vestibular benefits to task savings in motor adaptation
Authors: Sarwary A. M. E. , Selen L. P. J. , Medendorp W. P.
Published: June 2013

In everyday life, we seamlessly adapt our movements and consolidate them to multiple behavioral contexts. This natural flexibility seems to be contingent on the presence of movement-related sensorimotor cues and cannot be reproduced when static visual or haptic cues are given to signify different behavioral contexts. So far, only sensorimotor cues that dissociate the sensorimotor plans prior to force field exposure have been successful in learning two opposing perturbations. Here we show that vestibular cues, which are only available during the perturbation, improve the formation and recall of multiple control strategies. We exposed subjects to inertial forces by accelerating them laterally on a vestibular platform. The coupling between reaching movement (forward-backward) and acceleration direction (leftward-rightward) switched every 160 trials, resulting in two opposite force environments. When exposed for a second time to the same environment, with the opposite environment in between, subjects showed retention resulting in an ∼3 times faster adaptation rate compared with the first exposure. Our results suggest that vestibular cues provide contextual information throughout the reach, which is used to facilitate independent learning and recall of multiple motor memories. Vestibular cues provide feedback about the underlying cause of reach errors, thereby disambiguating the various task environments and reducing interference of motor memories.
Thermal Decomposition Behavior of Melaminium Benzoate Dihydrate
Authors: Kanagathara N. , Marchewka M. K. , Pawlus K. , Gunasekaran S. , Anbalagan G.
Published: June 2013

Crystals of melaminium benzoate dihydrate (MBDH) have been grown from aqueous solution by slow solvent evaporation method at room temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that MBDH crystallizes in the monoclinic system (C2/c). Thermal decomposition behavior of MBDH has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis at three different heating rates: 10, 15, and 20°C/min. Nonisothermal studies of MBDH revealed that the decomposition occurs in three stages. The values of effective activation energy (Ea) and preexponential factor (lnA) of each stage of thermal decomposition for all heating rates were calculated by model free methods: Arrhenius, Flynn-Wall, Friedman, Kissinger, and Kim-Park methods. A significant variation of effective activation energy (Ea) with conversion (α) indicates that the process is kinetically complex. The linear relationship between theAandEavalues was established (compensation effect). Avrami-Erofeev model (A3), contracting cylinder (R2), and Avrami-Erofeev model (A4) were accepted by stages I, II, and III, respectively. DSC has also been performed.
The Bernstein Operational Matrices for Solving the Fractional Quadratic Riccati Differential Equations with the Riemann-Liouville Derivative
Authors: Baleanu Dumitru , Alipour Mohsen , Jafari Hossein
Published: June 2013

We obtain the approximate analytical solution for the fractional quadratic Riccati differential equation with the Riemann-Liouville derivative by using the Bernstein polynomials (BPs) operational matrices. In this method, we use the operational matrix for fractional integration in the Riemann-Liouville sense. Then by using this matrix and operational matrix of product, we reduce the problem to a system of algebraic equations that can be solved easily. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are illustrated by several examples.
Detection of Otosclerosis-Specific Measles Virus Receptor (Cd46) Protein Isoforms
Authors: Liktor Balázs , Csomor Péter , Karosi Tamás
Published: June 2013

Genetic predisposition of otosclerosis has long been suspected, but unclarified. Unique coexpression pattern of measles virus receptor (CD46) splicing isoforms in the human otic capsule is assumed, since otosclerosis is a measles virus-associated organ-specific disease. In order to identify CD46 involved in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis, we used representative groups of histologically diagnosed otosclerotic, nonotosclerotic, and normal stapes footplates(n=109). Consecutive histopathological examinations and CD46-specific Western blot analysis were performed. Normal and nonotosclerotic stapes footplates showed consistent expression of the conventionalc, d, e, f, andlCD46 isoforms. In contrast, four novel isoforms(os1–4)translated as intact proteins were additionally detected in each otosclerotic specimen. The study herein presented provides evidence for the otosclerosis-associated expression pattern of CD46. This finding might explain the organ-specific, virus-associated and autoimmune-inflammatory pathogenesis of otosclerosis. Regarding our current knowledge, this is the first report that confirms the presence of four new disease-specific protein variants of CD46.
The Rational Third-Kind Chebyshev Pseudospectral Method for the Solution of the Thomas-Fermi Equation over Infinite Interval
Authors: Tavassoli Kajani Majid , Kılıçman Adem , Maleki Mohammad
Published: June 2013

We propose a pseudospectral method for solving the Thomas-Fermi equation which is a nonlinear ordinary differential equation on semi-infinite interval. This approach is based on the rational third-kind Chebyshev pseudospectral method that is indeed a combination of Tau and collocation methods. This method reduces the solution of this problem to the solution of a system of algebraic equations. Comparison with some numerical solutions shows that the present solution is highly accurate.
Dual Protection and Dual Methods in Women Living with HIV: The Brazilian Context
Authors: Tsuyuki Kiyomi , Barbosa Regina María , Pinho Adriana de Araujo
Published: June 2013

The cooccurrence of HIV and unintended pregnancy has prompted a body of work on dual protection, the simultaneous protection against HIV and unintended pregnancy. This study examines dual protection and dual methods as a risk-reduction strategy for women living with HIV. Data are from a cross-sectional sample of HIV-positive women attended in Specialized STI/AIDS Public Health Service Clinics in 13 municipalities from all five regions of Brazil 2003-2004 (N=834). Descriptive techniques and logistic regression were used to examine dual protection among women living with HIV. We expand the definition of dual protection to include consistent condom use and reversible/irreversible contraceptive methods, we test the dual methods hypothesis that women who use dual methods will use condoms less consistently than women who use only condoms, and we identify predictors of dual protection. Dual protection is common in our sample. Women who use dual methods have lower odds of consistent condom use than women who only use condoms. Among dual method users, we find that women who use an irreversible method use condoms more consistently than women who use a reversible method. Women on ART and with an HIV-serodiscordant partner have greater odds of consistent condom use than their counterparts.
Metastatic Pattern, Local Relapse, and Survival of Patients with Myxoid Liposarcoma: A Retrospective Study of 45 Patients
Authors: Fuglø Hanna M. , Maretty-Nielsen Katja , Hovgaard Dorrit , Keller Johnny Ø. , Safwat Akmal A. , Petersen Michael M.
Published: June 2013

Purpose. To assess the metastatic pattern of the histological subtype myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) with no or few round cells.Methods. Forty-five patients (F/M = 27/18, mean age 49 (range 17–85) years) were diagnosed with MLS at two Danish sarcoma centres in the period 1995–2004. A retrospective review of patients' files combined with an extraction of survival data from the Danish Centralised Civil Register was performed.Results. Seven patients had distant metastases during the observation period. Two patients had metastases at the time of diagnosis, while metastases occurred within 2.5 years in four patients, and in one patient 11.9 years after primary diagnosis. All metastases occurred at extrapulmonary sites. The first local relapse occurred within 3 years after surgery in six patients, in one patient after 4.0 years, and in one patient 7.7 years after surgery. The 5- and 10-year overall survival was 80% and 69%, respectively. Both the 5- and 10-year distant metastases-free survival was, respectively, 86%. The 5- and 10-year local relapse-free survival was, respectively, 83% and 80%.Conclusions. Patients with MLS had only extra-pulmonary metastases, and no lung metastases were found. Most local relapses and distant metastases occurred within the first 2-3 years after surgery.
Antiulcerogenic Activity of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Leaves ofCroton campestrisA. St.-Hill in Rodents
Authors: Júnior Francisco E. B. , de Oliveira Dayanne R. , Bento Elizângela B. , Leite Laura H. I. , Souza Daniele O. , Siebra Ana Luiza A. , Sampaio Renata S. , Martins Anita O. P. B. , Ramos Andreza G. B. , Tintino Saulo R. , Lacerda-Neto Luiz J. , Figueiredo Patricia R. L. , Oliveira Larissa R. , Rodrigues Cristina K. S. , Sales Valterlúcio S. , Figueiredo Francisco R. S. D. N. , Nascimento Emmily P. , Monteiro Alefe B. , Amaro Érika N. , Costa José G. M. , Douglas Melo Coutinho Henrique , Menezes Irwin R. A. de , Kerntopf Marta R.
Published: June 2013

Croton campestrisA. St.-Hill., popularly known as “velame do campo,” is a species native to the savannah area of Northeast Brazil, which is used by traditional communities in folk medicine for variety of health problems, especially detoxification, inflammation, and gastritis. The hydroalcoholic extract ofC. campestrisleaves (HELCC) was assessed for its antiulcerogenic effect in gastric lesion models and effect on intestinal motility in mice, and possible mechanisms of action were examined. HELCC showed significant gastroprotective action in all models of gastric ulcer evaluated; the results suggest that this action probably involves the nitric oxide pathway. HELCC did not show alteration of intestinal motility in mice. It was also found thatC. campestrisrepresents a promising natural source with important biological potential, justifying some of its uses in folk medicine.
On the Nature of Bifurcation in a Ratio-Dependent Predator-Prey Model with Delays
Authors: Xu Changjin , Wu Yusen
Published: June 2013

A ratio-dependent predator-prey model with two delays is investigated. The conditions which ensure the local stability and the existence of Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium of the system are obtained. It shows that the two different time delays have different effects on the dynamical behavior of the system. An example together with its numerical simulations shows the feasibility of the main results. Finally, main conclusions are included.