bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic potential of placenta‐derived stem cells for liver diseases: Current status and perspectives
Authors: Miki Toshio , Grubbs Brendan
Published: November 2013

Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the human placenta as a unique source of stem cells. The placenta is a fetal organ that is normally discarded following delivery. Therefore, it is readily available as a source of cells without the ethical concerns normally associated with embryonic stem cells. These cells also carry less risk for age‐ and environmental‐related DNA damage. In addition to these practical advantages of placenta‐derived cells, amniotic epithelial cells possess unique stem cell‐like biological characteristics. In contrast to other parts of the placenta, cells from the amniotic epithelium are derived from pluripotent epiblasts and possess the ability to differentiate into all three germ layers. From a translational perspective, amnion‐derived stem cells are very attractive candidates for clinical application. These cells are genetically stable and do not demonstrate tumorigenicity upon transplantation, and may be endowed with immunomodulatory and/or anti‐inflammatory properties. These unique characteristics have made amniotic epithelial cells attractive for use as stem cell‐based therapies for liver disease. Human and rodent amniotic epithelial cells have already demonstrated their therapeutic efficacy in multiple animal models. Although the detailed mechanism by which the transplanted cells generate a therapeutic effect is not yet totally understood, these dramatic results have generated significant interest for consideration of these amnion‐derived stem cells for clinical applications. This review covers recent findings of the therapeutic potential of amnion‐derived stem cells for liver diseases, and provides perspectives for future developments.
Prognostic significance of overexpression of p53 in uterine endometrioid adenocarcinomas with an analysis of nuclear grade
Authors: Urabe Rie , Hachisuga Toru , Kurita Tomoko , Kagami Seiji , Kawagoe Toshinori , Matsuura Yusuke , Shimajiri Shohei
Published: November 2013

Aim

Although overexpression of p53 is usually found in uterine serous carcinoma (USC), it is also found in some uterine endometrioid adenocarcinomas (UEA). This report describes the clinicopathological features of the UEA with overexpression of p53 with special reference to a prognostic significance of nuclear grade.

Material and Methods

Immunohistochemical expression of p53 was examined in 322 UEA and 34 USC. Greater than 50% staining was defined as the overexpression for p53. Cox's univariate and multivariate analyses for UEA were made.

Results

There were 57 UEA (20.7%) showing overexpression of p53 and 31 USC (91.2%). The cancer‐specific survival rate of patients with UEA without overexpression of p53, UEA with overexpression of p53 and USC was 88.2%, 76.3% and 45.7%, respectively. Univariate analyses showed overexpression of p53 to be a significant prognostic indicator in patients with UEA (P < 0.02). However, multivariate analyses for UEA showed that age, surgical stage, nuclear grade, myometrial invasion and lymphovascular space invasion were independent prognostic factors, while the significances of p53 immunoreactivity and architectural grade disappeared. In correlation between overexpression of p53 and nuclear grade, the patients with nuclear grade 1 and 2 UEA had a good prognosis, regardless of overexpression of p53. The cancer‐specific survival rates of patients with nuclear grade 3 UEA with overexpression of p53 was 52.7% and was not significantly different from that of patients with nuclear grade 3 UEA without overexpression of p53 (66.7%) and USC.

Conclusions

The prognostic significance of p53 immunostaining could not show in nuclear grade 3 UEA.
Magnetic Resonance Characteristics and Susceptibility Weighted Imaging of the Brain in Gadolinium Encephalopathy
Authors: Samardzic Dejan , Thamburaj Krishnamoorthy
Published: November 2013

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To report the brain imaging features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in inadvertent intrathecal gadolinium administration.

METHODS

A 67‐year‐old female with gadolinium encephalopathy from inadvertent high dose intrathecal gadolinium administration during an epidural steroid injection was studied with multisequence 3T MRI.

RESULTS

T1‐weighted imaging shows pseudo‐T2 appearance with diffusion of gadolinium into the brain parenchyma, olivary bodies, and membranous labyrinth. Nulling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signal is absent on fluid attenuation recovery (FLAIR). Susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI) demonstrates features similar to subarachnoid hemorrhage. CT may demonstrate a pseudo‐cerebral edema pattern given the high attenuation characteristics of gadolinium.

CONCLUSION

Intrathecal gadolinium demonstrates characteristic imaging features on MRI of the brain and may mimic subarachnoid hemorrhage on susceptibility‐weighted imaging. Identifying high dose gadolinium within the CSF spaces on MRI is essential to avoid diagnostic and therapeutic errors.
Effect of dosage and application mode of l‐carnitine on plasma lipid and egg‐yolk cholesterol of turkeys, hatchability of eggs and post‐hatch growth of their offsprings
Authors: Oso A. O. , Fafiolu A. O. , Adeleke M. A. , Ladokun O. A. , Sobayo R. A. , Jegede A. V. , Peters S. O. , Oyebamiji O. A. , Akinsola J.
Published: November 2013

The effect of dosage and application mode of l‐carnitine on plasma lipid and egg‐yolk cholesterol of breeder turkeys, hatchability of eggs and post‐hatch growth response was investigated using 180 breeder hens. The hens were assigned to six dietary treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangements of two application modes of l‐carnitine (diet and drinking water) supplemented at 0, 50 and 100 ppm (mg/kg or mg/l) levels, respectively. Each treatment was replicated five times with six hens per replicate. Dietary inclusion of 50 ppm l‐carnitine showed the lowest (p < 0.01) plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low‐density lipoprotein concentration (LDL). Breeder hens offered 50 ppm l‐carnitine with no regard to application mode recorded the highest (p < 0.01) plasma high‐density lipoprotein (HDL). Hens offered 50 and 100 ppm l‐carnitine irrespective of application mode also showed reduced (p < 0.01) egg‐yolk TC concentration at 32 weeks of age. Dietary supplementation of 50 ppm l‐carnitine for breeder turkeys recorded the lowest (p < 0.01) egg‐yolk triglyceride (TG) at 40 weeks of age. Hens offered 50 ppm l‐carnitine irrespective of application mode recorded the highest (p < 0.05) hen‐day egg production. Incidence of dead‐in‐shell also reduced (p < 0.05) with increasing dosage of l‐carnitine. Dietary supplementation of 50 ppm and oral application in drinking water of 100 ppm l‐carnitine for breeder turkeys resulted in highest (p < 0.05) egg fertility. Offsprings from breeder hens fed diets supplemented with l‐carnitine recorded no post‐hatch mortality. Highest (p < 0.05) post‐hatch final live weight and weight gain was obtained with poults obtained from hens fed diet supplemented with 50 ppm l‐carnitine. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 50 ppm l‐carnitine for turkey hens showed improved serum lipid profile, egg fertility, reduced dead‐in‐shell, egg‐yolk cholesterol and resulted in improved post‐hatch growth performance.
The monospecific genus Meredithia (Kallymeniaceae, Gigartinales) is species rich and geographically widespread with species from temperate Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
Authors: Schneider Craig W. , Saunders Gary W. , Lane Christopher E.
Published: November 2013

Using sequences of 5′ region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene, large subunit rDNA, and ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit gene as genetic markers to elucidate their phylogenetic positions, six unknown species from Western Australia, Tasmania, Lord Howe Is., and Norfolk Is. cluster with Meredithia in the Kallymeniaceae (Gigartinales), and are described as new members of this previously monospecific genus. Specimens from Bermuda referable to Kallymenia limminghei Mont. in the 20th century also clustered with this genetic grouping, not with the generitype of Kallymenia. The Bermudian specimens are further shown to be morphologically distinct from the type of K. limminghei (Guadeloupe, Caribbean Sea) and are described as a new species, Meredithia crenata. Using these Indo‐Pacific and Bermudian collections, our analyses further show that Psaromenia is closely related to Meredithia, and that Cirrulicarpus nanus sensu stricto should be returned to Meredithia.
Integrative Health Care in Israel and Traditional Arab Herbal Medicine: When Health Care Interfaces with Culture and Politics
Authors: Keshet Yael , Popper‐Giveon Ariela
Published: November 2013

This article contributes to contemporary critical debate in medical anthropology concerning medical pluralism and integrative medicine by highlighting the issue of exclusion of traditional medicine (TM) and presenting attempts at border crossing. Although complementary medicine (CM) modalities are integrated into most Israeli mainstream health care organizations, local indigenous TM modalities are not. Ethnographic fieldwork focused on a group of Israeli dual‐trained integrative physicians that has recently begun to integrate traditional herbal medicine preferred by the Arab minority, using it as a boundary object to bridge professional gaps between biomedicine, CM, and TM. This article highlights the relevance of political tensions, ethnicity, and medical inequality to the field of integrative health care. It shows that using herbal medicine as a boundary object can overcome barriers and provide opportunities for dialog and reciprocal learning.
Forecasting Euro‐Area Macroeconomic Variables Using a Factor Model Approach for Backdating
Authors: Brüggemann Ralf , Zeng Jing
Published: November 2013

We suggest to use a factor model based backdating procedure to construct historical Euro‐area macroeconomic time series data for the pre‐Euro period. We argue that this is a useful alternative to standard contemporaneous aggregation methods. The article investigates for a number of Euro‐area variables whether forecasts based on the factor‐backdated data are more precise than those obtained with standard area‐wide data. A recursive pseudo‐out‐of‐sample forecasting experiment using quarterly data is conducted. Our results suggest that some key variables (e.g. real GDP, inflation and long‐term interest rate) can indeed be forecasted more precisely with the factor‐backdated data.
NewMiddleCambrian bivalved arthropods from theBurgessShale (BritishColumbia,Canada)
Authors: Legg David A. , Caron Jean‐Bernard
Published: November 2013

The morphology of two new bivalved arthropods,Loricicaris spinocaudatusgen. et sp. nov. andNereocaris briggsisp. nov. from themiddleCambrian (Series 3,Stage 5)BurgessShaleFormation (CollinsQuarry locality onMountStephen,YohoNationalPark,BritishColumbia,Canada), is described. The material was originally assigned to the genusBranchiocaris, but exhibits distinctive character combinations meriting its assignment to other taxa.Loricicaris spinocaudatuspossesses an elongate and spinose abdomen comparable to the contemporaneousPerspicarisandCanadaspis, as well as chelate second head appendages and subtriangular exopods, comparable toBranchiocaris.Nereocaris briggsipossesses a laterally compressed carapace, elongate and delicate appendages and a medial eye located between a pair of lateral eyes on a rhomboidal eye stalk. Although undoubtedly congeneric withNereocaris exilisfrom a slightly younger horizon of theBurgessShaleFormation,N. briggsidiffers in overall proportions and segment number, warranting assignment to a new species. The newly described taxa were coded into an extensive cladistic analysis of 755 characters, and 312 extinct and extant panarthropods, including a variety ofCambrian bivalved arthropods from both theBurgessShale and theChengjiangLagerstätten. Cambrian bivalved arthropods consistently resolved as a paraphyletic assemblage at the base ofArthropoda. Important innovations in arthropod history such as the specialization of the deutocerebral head appendages and a shift from a nekton‐benthic deposit feeding habit to a benthic scavenging/predatory habit, the symplesiomorphic feeding condition ofEuarthropoda (crown‐group arthropods), were found to have occurred among basal bivalved arthropods.
New species of Franchia and Protozigzagiceras (Ammonoidea, Middle Jurassic): the phyletic origin of Zigzagiceratinae
Authors: Fernandez‐Lopez Sixto R. , Pavia Giulio
Published: November 2013

Three genera and seven species belonging to the subfamily Zigzagiceratinae (family Perisphinctidae) are described from the Lower Bathonian of France and Saudi Arabia. Intraspecific dimorphism is recognized. A revision of the genus Franchia proposed by Sturani (1967), based on the syntypes and new specimens from south‐east France, is presented. Franchia arkelli Sturani, Franchia subalpina sp. nov., Protozigzagiceras torrensi (Sturani), Protozigzagiceras tethycum sp. nov., Protozigzagiceras flexum sp. nov. and Protozigzagiceras densum sp. nov. are described from the Digne–Castellane region of south‐east France. Megazigzagiceras subarabicum, gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Dharma region of Saudi Arabia. The successive Early Bathonian species of Franchia and Protozigzagiceras herein identified in West Tethyan areas, as members of the Mediterranean–Caucasian Subrealm, formed lasting separate peramorphoclines characterized by increasing hydrodynamic coiling of the shell. In contrast, rapid proterogenesis originated and diversified the earliest Bathonian zigzagiceratin lineages, giving paedomorphic members, commonly neotenic and more scarcely progenetic. Procerites–Siemiradzkia seems to be the oldest zigzagiceratin member in the French Subalpine, Iberian and Lusitanian basins, branched off by paedomorphosis from leptosphinctins at the Bajocian–Bathonian transition. The Mediterranean–Caucasian genera Franchia, Zigzagiceras, Zigzagites and Wagnericeras branched from successive species of Protozigzagiceras, in turn, a direct derivative of Procerites. The oldest lineages of the clade Zigzagiceratinae evolved by iterative, rapid, paedomorphic changes and additional, lasting, peramorphic modifications during the Early Bathonian.
MovingPictures? Experimental Evidence of Cinematic Influence on Political Attitudes
Authors: Adkins Todd , Castle Jeremiah J.
Published: November 2013

Objectives

Media effects research has generally ignored the possibility that popular films can affect political attitudes. This omission is puzzling for two reasons. First, research on public opinion finds the potential for persuasion is highest when respondents are unaware that political messages are being communicated. Second, multiple studies have found that entertainment media can alter public opinion. Together, this suggests that popular films containing political messages should possess the potential to influence attitudes.

Methods

We develop a laboratory experiment where subjects were randomly assigned to watch a control movie with no political messages, a movie with subtle political messages, or a movie with strong and explicit political messages.

Results

We find that popular movies possess the ability to change political attitudes, especially on issues that are unframed by the media. Furthermore, we show such influence persists over time and is not moderated by partisanship, ideology, or political knowledge.

Conclusions

Our key findings suggest that a renewed scholarly interest in the political influence of popular movies is clearly warranted.
Positron emission tomography detects greater blood flow and less blood flow heterogeneity in the exercising skeletal muscles of old compared with young men during fatiguing contractions
Authors: Rudroff Thorsten , Weissman Jessica A. , Bucci Marco , Seppänen Marko , Kaskinoro Kimmo , Heinonen Ilkka , Kalliokoski Kari K.
Published: November 2013

Key points

The results of previous studies that attempted to demonstrate the effects of ageing on skeletal muscle blood flow are controversial because these studies used indirect assessments of skeletal muscle blood flow obtained via whole limb blood flow measurements that provide no information on the distribution of blood flow within particular muscles.

We used positron emission tomography to measure blood flow per gram of muscle in old and young men with similar levels of physical activity.

Resting muscle blood flow was similar in both groups and exercising muscle blood flow was greater and less heterogeneous in the older men.

Old and young men achieved similar maximal voluntary contraction forces and endurance times during two types of fatiguing isometric task.

These findings indicate that physically active old men have intact neural drive to the muscle and achieve adequate exercise hyperaemia despite the age‐induced decrease in their muscle volume.

The purpose of this study was to investigate blood flow and its heterogeneity within and among the knee muscles in five young (26 ± 6 years) and five old (77 ± 6 years) healthy men with similar levels of physical activity while they performed two types of submaximal fatiguing isometric contraction that required either force or position control. Positron emission tomography (PET) and [15O]‐H2O were used to determine blood flow at 2 min (beginning) and 12 min (end) after the start of the tasks. Young and old men had similar maximal forces and endurance times for the fatiguing tasks. Although muscle volumes were lower in the older subjects, total muscle blood flow was similar in both groups (young men: 25.8 ± 12.6 ml min−1; old men: 25.1 ± 15.4 ml min−1; age main effect, P = 0.77) as blood flow per unit mass of muscle in the exercising knee extensors was greater in the older (12.5 ± 6.2 ml min−1 (100 g)−1) than the younger (8.6 ± 3.6 ml min−1 (100 g)−1) men (age main effect, P = 0.001). Further, blood flow heterogeneity in the exercising knee extensors was significantly lower in the older (56 ± 27%) than the younger (67 ± 34%) men. Together, these data show that although skeletal muscles are smaller in older subjects, based on the intact neural drive to the muscle and the greater, less heterogeneous blood flow per gram of muscle, old fit muscle achieves adequate exercise hyperaemia.
Capacitance and conductance versus voltage characterization of Al2O3 layers prepared by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition at 25 °C≤ T ≤ 200 °C
Authors: Henkel Karsten , Gargouri Hassan , Gruska Bernd , Arens Michael , Tallarida Massimo , Schmeißer Dieter
Published: November 2013

In this work, plasma enhanced atomic layer deposited (PE-ALD) samples were prepared at substrate temperatures in the range between room temperature (RT) and 200 °C and investigated by capacitance–voltage and conductance–voltage recordings. The measurements are compared to standard thermal atomic layer deposition (T-ALD) at 200 °C. Very low interface state density (Dit) ∼1011 eV−1 cm−2 could be achieved for the PE-ALD process at 200 °C substrate temperature after postdeposition anneal (PDA) in forming gas at 450 °C. The PDA works very effectively for both the PE-ALD and T-ALD at 200 °C substrate temperature delivering also similar values of negative fixed charge density (Nfix) around −2.5 × 1012 cm−2. At the substrate temperature of 150 °C, highest Nfix (−2.9 × 1012 cm−2) and moderate Dit (2.7 × 1011 eV−1 cm−2) values were observed. The as deposited PE-ALD layer at RT shows both low Dit in the range of (1 to 3) × 1011 eV−1 cm−2 and low Nfix (−4.4 × 1011 cm−2) at the same time. The dependencies of Nfix, Dit, and relative permittivity on the substrate temperatures and its adjustability are discussed.
Interactive initialization of 2D/3D rigid registration
Authors: Gong Ren Hui , Güler Özgür , Kürklüoglu Mustafa , Lovejoy John , Yaniv Ziv
Published: November 2013

Purpose:

Registration is one of the key technical components in an image‐guided navigation system. A large number of 2D/3D registration algorithms have been previously proposed, but have not been able to transition into clinical practice. The authors identify the primary reason for the lack of adoption with the prerequisite for a sufficiently accurate initial transformation, mean target registration error of about 10 mm or less. In this paper, the authors present two interactive initialization approaches that provide the desired accuracy for x‐ray/MR and x‐ray/CT registration in the operating room setting.

Methods:

The authors have developed two interactive registration methods based on visual alignment of a preoperative image, MR, or CT to intraoperative x‐rays. In the first approach, the operator uses a gesture based interface to align a volume rendering of the preoperative image to multiple x‐rays. The second approach uses a tracked tool available as part of a navigation system. Preoperatively, a virtual replica of the tool is positioned next to the anatomical structures visible in the volumetric data. Intraoperatively, the physical tool is positioned in a similar manner and subsequently used to align a volume rendering to the x‐ray images using an augmented reality (AR) approach. Both methods were assessed using three publicly available reference data sets for 2D/3D registration evaluation.

Results:

In the authorsˈ experiments, the authors show that for x‐ray/MR registration, the gesture based method resulted in a mean target registration error (mTRE) of 9.3 ± 5.0 mm with an average interaction time of 146.3 ± 73.0 s, and the AR‐based method had mTREs of 7.2 ± 3.2 mm with interaction times of 44 ± 32 s. For x‐ray/CT registration, the gesture based method resulted in a mTRE of 7.4 ± 5.0 mm with an average interaction time of 132.1 ± 66.4 s, and the AR‐based method had mTREs of 8.3 ± 5.0 mm with interaction times of 58 ± 52 s.

Conclusions:

Based on the authorsˈ evaluation, the authors conclude that the registration approaches are sufficiently accurate for initializing 2D/3D registration in the OR setting, both when a tracking system is not in use (gesture based approach), and when a tracking system is already in use (AR based approach).
Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants in Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Taken from Military Treatment Facilities
Authors: Taitt Chris Rowe , Leski Tomasz A. , Stockelman Michael G. , Craft David W. , Zurawski Daniel V. , Kirkup Benjamin C. , Vora Gary J.
Published: November 2013

Multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Acinetobacter baumannii
infections are of particular concern within medical treatment facilities, yet the gene assemblages that give rise to this phenotype remain poorly characterized. In this study, we tested 97 clinical
A. baumannii
isolates collected from military treatment facilities (MTFs) from 2003 to 2009 by using a molecular epidemiological approach that enabled for the simultaneous screening of 236 antimicrobial resistance genes. Overall, 80% of the isolates were found to be MDR, each strain harbored between one and 17 resistant determinants, and a total of 52 unique resistance determinants or gene families were detected which are known to confer resistance to β-lactam (e.g.,
bla
GES-11
,
bla
TEM
,
bla
OXA-58
), aminoglycoside (e.g.,
aphA1
,
aacC1
,
armA
), macrolide (
msrA
,
msrB
), tetracycline [e.g.,
tet
(A),
tet
(B),
tet
(39)], phenicol (e.g.,
cmlA4
,
catA1
,
cat4
), quaternary amine (
qacE
,
qacE
Δ
1
), streptothricin (
sat2
), sulfonamide (
sul1
,
sul2
), and diaminopyrimidine (
dfrA1
,
dfrA7
,
dfrA19
) antimicrobial compounds. Importantly, 91% of the isolates harbored
bla
OXA-51-like
carbapenemase genes (including six new variants), 40% harbored the
bla
OXA-23
carbapenemase gene, and 89% contained a variety of aminoglycoside resistance determinants with up to six unique determinants identified per strain. Many of the resistance determinants were found in potentially mobile gene cassettes; 45% and 7% of the isolates contained class 1 and class 2 integrons, respectively. Combined, the results demonstrate a facile approach that supports a more complete understanding of the genetic underpinnings of antimicrobial resistance to better assess the load, transmission, and evolution of MDR in MTF-associated
A. baumannii
.
Prevotella intermedia Induces Severe Bacteremic Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Mice with Upregulated Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor Expression
Authors: Nagaoka Kentaro , Yanagihara Katsunori , Morinaga Yoshitomo , Nakamura Shigeki , Harada Tatsuhiko , Hasegawa Hiroo , Izumikawa Koichi , Ishimatsu Yuji , Kakeya Hiroshi , Nishimura Masaharu , Kohno Shigeru
Published: November 2013

Streptococcus pneumoniaeis the leading cause of respiratory infection worldwide. Although oral hygiene has been considered a risk factor for developing pneumonia, the relationship between oral bacteria and pneumococcal infection is unknown. In this study, we examined the synergic effects ofPrevotella intermedia, a major periodontopathic bacterium, on pneumococcal pneumonia. The synergic effects of the supernatant ofP. intermedia(PiSup) on pneumococcal pneumonia were investigated in mice, and the stimulation of pneumococcal adhesion to human alveolar (A549) cells by PiSup was assessed. The effects of PiSup on platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) transcript levelsin vitroandin vivowere analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR, and the differences between the effects of pneumococcal infection induced by various periodontopathic bacterial species were verified in mice. Mice inoculated withS. pneumoniaeplus PiSup exhibited a significantly lower survival rate, higher bacterial loads in the lungs, spleen, and blood, and higher inflammatory cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (macrophage inflammatory protein 2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) than those infected without PiSup. In A549 cells, PiSup increased pneumococcal adhesion and PAFR transcript levels. PiSup also increased lung PAFR transcript levels in mice. Similar effects were not observed in the supernatants ofPorphyromonas gingivalisorFusobacterium nucleatum. Thus,P. intermediahas the potential to induce severe bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia with enhanced pneumococcal adhesion to lower airway cells.
Fbp1-Mediated Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway Controls Cryptococcus neoformans Virulence by Regulating Fungal Intracellular Growth in Macrophages
Authors: Liu Tong-Bao , Xue Chaoyang
Published: November 2013

Cryptococcus neoformans
is a human fungal pathogen that often causes lung and brain infections in immunocompromised patients, with a high fatality rate. Our previous results showed that an F-box protein, Fbp1, is essential for
Cryptococcus
virulence independent of the classical virulence factors, suggesting a novel virulence control mechanism. In this study, we show that Fbp1 is part of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and we further investigated the mechanism of Fbp1 function during infection. Time course studies revealed that the
fbp1
Δ mutant causes little damage in the infected lung and that the fungal burden in the lung remains at a low but persistent level throughout infection. The
fbp1
Δ mutant cannot disseminate to other organs following pulmonary infection in the murine inhalation model of cryptococcosis but still causes brain infection in a murine intravenous injection model, suggesting that the block of dissemination of the
fbp1
Δ mutant is due to its inability to leave the lung. The
fbp1
Δ mutant showed a defect in intracellular proliferation after phagocytosis in a
Cryptococcus
-macrophage interaction assay, which likely contributes to its virulence attenuation. To elucidate the molecular basis of the SCF(Fbp1) E3 ligase function, we analyzed potential Fbp1 substrates based on proteomic approaches combined with phenotypic analysis. One substrate, the inositol phosphosphingolipid-phospholipase C1 (Isc1), is required for fungal survival inside macrophage cells, which is consistent with the role of Fbp1 in regulating
Cryptococcus
-macrophage interaction and fungal virulence. Our results thus reveal a new determinant of fungal virulence that involves the posttranslational regulation of inositol sphingolipid biosynthesis.
Acquired stuttering due to recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma
Authors: Peters Katherine B , Turner Scott
Published: November 2013

Acquired (neurogenic) stuttering is a rare phenomenon seen after cerebral infarction or brain injury. Aetiology of this symptom is unclear, but recent evidence supports that it is a disturbance in the left hemispheric neural network involving the interplay between the cortex and basal ganglia. We present the case of a patient who develops acquired stuttering after a recurrence of a right temporoparietal anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III). We also review other cases of acquired stuttering and known anatomical correlates.
Haemophilus influenzaeinfection of a prosthetic knee joint in a patient with CLL: a vaccine preventable disease
Authors: Khan Sheema , Reddy Srinivasulu
Published: November 2013

A 71-year-old man was admitted with a 2-day history of the hot and swollen right knee in December 2012. He had undergone a primary cemented right total knee replacement (TKR) in 2002. He also had a history of chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), haemolytic anaemia and splenomegaly, and was in partial remission following chemotherapy in 2008. He underwent arthroscopic washout of right TKR on admission. Blood cultures on admission and joint fluid specimen grewHaemophilus influenzae(Hi). The isolate was identified as a non-encapsulated Hi strain by the reference laboratory. Non-encapsulated Hi strains rarely cause invasive disease. CLL with splenomegaly may have predisposed our patient to severe invasive disease. A recently licensed 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine conjugated to the immunogenic outer membrane protein D of Hi could potentially prevent invasive Hi disease. Routine vaccination should be considered in all patients with prosthetic joints and predisposing comorbidities.
Paraganglioma as a rare cause of left ventricular thrombus in the setting of preserved ejection fraction: discussing the literature
Authors: Shafiq Ali , Nguyen Phuc , Hudson Michael P , Rabbani Bobak
Published: November 2013

Paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-secreting tumours which if remain undiagnosed may cause severe morbidity and mortality. In rare circumstances these tumours can cause left ventricular (LV) thrombi to form by inducing cardiomyopathy and subsequent embolic complications. After a thorough literature review, six previous cases were found that presented the formation of an LV thrombus in the setting of a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. A majority of these cases were associated with significant wall motion abnormalities and their cardiac ejection fraction (EF) was compromised. This is a rare case of a patient developing LV thrombi in the setting of a paraganglioma with normal cardiac EF. We present this case to compare the similarities and differences of our case with previously reported cases and emphasise the importance of suspecting these LV thrombi in patients with these neuroendocrine tumours.
Yin and yang, or peas in a pod? Individual-sport versus team-sport athletes and altitude training
Authors: Aughey Robert J , Buchheit Martin , Garvican-Lewis Laura A , Roach Gregory D , Sargent Charli , Billaut François , Varley Matthew C , Bourdon Pitre C , Gore Christopher J
Published: November 2013

The question of whether altitude training can enhance subsequent sea-level performance has been well investigated over many decades. However, research on this topic has focused on athletes from individual or endurance sports, with scant number of studies on team-sport athletes. Questions that need to be answered include whether this type of training may enhance team-sport athlete performance, when success in team-sport is often more based on technical and tactical ability rather than physical capacity per se.

This review will contrast and compare athletes from two sports representative of endurance (cycling) and team-sports (soccer). Specifically, we draw on the respective competition schedules, physiological capacities, activity profiles and energetics of each sport to compare the similarities between athletes from these sports and discuss the relative merits of altitude training for these athletes. The application of conventional live-high, train-high; live-high, train-low; and intermittent hypoxic training for team-sport athletes in the context of the above will be presented. When the above points are considered, we will conclude that dependent on resources and training objectives, altitude training can be seen as an attractive proposition to enhance the physical performance of team-sport athletes without the need for an obvious increase in training load.
The proportion of excessive fast-food consumption attributable to the neighbourhood food environment among youth living within 1 km of their school
Authors: Laxer Rachel E. , Janssen Ian
Published: November 2013

The study objective was to estimate the proportion of excessive fast-food consumption by youth that is attributable to living and attending school in a neighbourhood with a moderate or high density of fast-food restaurants. This was a cross-sectional study of 6099 Canadian youths (aged 11–15 years) from 255 school neighbourhoods. All participants lived within 1 km of their school. The density of chain fast-food restaurants within a 1-km circular buffer surrounding each school was determined using geographic information systems. Excessive fast-food consumption (≥2 times per week) was assessed by questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations. The population attributable risk estimates of excessive fast-food consumption due to neighbourhood exposure to fast-food restaurants were determined based on the prevalence of exposure and the results from the logistic regression. Eight percent of participants were excessive fast-food consumers. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors (i.e., gender, race, and socioeconomic status), it was found that youths from neighbourhoods with a moderate (odds ratio (OR), 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–2.54) or high (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.12–2.56) density of chain fast-food restaurants were more likely to be excessive fast-food consumers than were youths from neighbourhoods with no chain fast-food restaurants. Approximately 31% of excessive consumption was attributable to living in neighbourhoods with a moderate or high density of fast-food restaurants. Thus, the fast-food retail environment within which youth live and go to school is an important contributor to their eating behaviours.
The South Barra shear zone: A composite Inverian–Laxfordian shear zone and possible Terrane boundary in the Lewisian gneiss complex of the Isle of Barra, NW Scotland
Authors: MacDonald John M. , Goodenough Kathryn M.
Published: November 2013

Synopsis

The Lewisian Gneiss Complex (LGC) of NW Scotland largely comprises Archaean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) gneisses variably reworked in the Palaeoproterozoic. One form of this heterogeneous reworking is the formation of major shear zones in the earliest Palaeoproterozoic which are then reactivated in the late Palaeoproterozoic. Recent remapping of the LGC of SE Barra, in the southern Outer Hebrides, has led to the interpretation of such a composite shear zone, the Southeast Barra Shear Zone (SBSZ). The SBSZ separates a block of heterogeneously overprinted pyroxene-bearing TTG gneisses from a dioritic meta-igneous complex to the west. Despite a lack of geochronological data, the juxtaposition of different protolith rocks along the SBSZ raises the possibility it may be a previously unrecognized terrane boundary.
A Metal Matrix CNTS Modified Electrode Fabricated Using Micromachining‐Based Implantation Method for Improving Sensitivity and Stability
Authors: Wang Yan , Ran Chen , Yang Yuan , Ding Guifu , Wang Hong
Published: November 2013

The metal matrix carbon nanotubes modified electrode (MCME) has been fabricated by a novel process involving preparation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polyimide (PI) composite film, wet, etching, sputtering, electroplating, and wet‐etch releasing. Pretreated CNTs are dispersed in PI by mechanical ball milling and then CNTs solution is spin‐coated on the substrate. The CNTs/PI composite film is etched away a layer of PI to expose tips of CNTs using buffering solution. These exposed tips of CNTs are covered by metal particles in sputtering process as metal seed layer, followed by metal supporting film formed by electroplating. The MCME is obtained after releasing PI film from the metal supporting film. The MCME shows well morphology of uniform distributional protruding tips of CNTs and increased electron transfer efficiency with strong bonding connection between CNTs and metal matrix, which greatly improves sensitivity and stability of the MCME. The oxidation peak of the MCME in cyclic voltammeter (CV) test is 1.7 times more than that of CNTs suspension spin‐coated metal electrode (SCME). The decline of peak current of the MCME after fifty cycles is only 1.8% much less than 67% of the SCME. Better sensitivity and stability may be helpful for CNTs modified electrodes wide application for trace test of many special materials.
Optical Waveguiding Organic Nanorods Coated with Reversibly Switchable Fe(II) Spin Transition Nanoparticles
Authors: Basak Supratim , Botcha Ajay Kumar , Ansari M. Thameem , Chandrasekar Rajadurai
Published: November 2013

A dual functional nanohybrid object combining photonic and magnetic properties was successfully prepared through a “bottom-up” self-assembly approach. In this method, spin transition Fe(II) coordination nanoparticles and optical wave guiding organic nanorods were generated in situ and successfully integrated together in a single pot through self-assembly. The Fe(II) nanoparticles coated on organic nanorods (nanohybrids) display temperature dependent reversible spin transition (Paramagnetic; diamagnetic; ) behavior. The nano-hybrids show efficient optical wave guiding behavior, which demonstrates the future possibility to perform light induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) experiments on a single spin transition nanoparticle level. These photonic and magnetic “nanohybrids” offer promising option to externally manipulate spin state of the spin transition nanoparticles using temperature as well as remote laser light.
Preparation and Oxygen Permeability of BaCo0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3-δ Membrane Modified by Ce0.8Y0.2O2-δ Porous Layer on the Air Side
Authors: Qiang Yuan , Qiang Zhen , Rong Li
Published: November 2013

BaCo0.7Fe0.2Nb0.1O3−δ (BCFN) dense ceramic membrane with submicron‐Ce0.8Y0.2O2−δ (YDC) porous layer was investigated by the partial oxidation of coke oven gas (COG) in hydrogen production. XRD analysis showed this composite had good stability and no chemical reaction at high temperature. SEM and TEM characterization further showed BCFN membrane was uniformly modified by YDC porous layer (about 5~6 μm thickness) formed by the accumulation of relative nanoparticles. At the respective COG flux and air flux of 108 mL/min and 173 mL/min, the oxygen permeation flux of BCFN modified by submicron‐YDC porous layer reached 16.62 mL·min−1·cm−2, which was about 23.5% higher than that of pure BCFN membrane. Therefore, submicron‐YDC porous layer obviously improved the oxygen permeation flux of BCFN membrane and its stability at 875°C.
Study of Correlation between Driver Emergency Measures and Pedestrian Injury Based on Combined Driving Simulator and Computer Simulation
Authors: Yuan Quan , Li Yibing , Liao Yue , Tang Shenjun
Published: November 2013

Driving simulator and computer simulation are combined to reconstruct the kinematic process of pedestrian-vehicle crash. Firstly, in-depth data from 158 accident cases in Beijing is analyzed. Additionally, the typical accident factors, collision characteristics, road status, and drivers' emergency behavior are classified and integrated to establish virtual scenarios of pedestrian vehicle accidents. Moreover, volunteer drivers are tested on the driving simulator while data of vehicles' real-time kinetic parameters from different emergency measure stages is recorded. Furthermore, the process of pedestrian-vehicle crash is modeled and simulated by accident analysis software PC-CRASH to obtain the data of pedestrian's head centroid acceleration, and the HIC value is calculated as an injury indicator. Finally, the collected data is analyzed to find out the relation between drivers' various emergency measures and pedestrians' injury severity. The results show that steering with braking is the most effective measure among drivers' various measures. This paper may provide some valuable suggestions on research of driving safety as well as intelligent transportation.
An Equilibrium Model of Interbank Networks Based on Variational Inequalities
Authors: Li Shouwei , He Jianmin
Published: November 2013

We develop an equilibrium model of credit network and trust network in the interbank market. We consider two kinds of decision makers including banks with liquidity surplus and banks with liquidity shortage. We model the behavior of the decision makers, derive the equilibrium conditions, and establish the variational inequality formulation for interbank credit network and trust network. We then utilize the variational inequality formulation to obtain qualitative properties of the equilibrium pattern in terms of existence and uniqueness.
Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer during Steam Condensation in a Converging Microchannel with Different Convergence Angles
Authors: Fu Ben-Ran , Chang T. H. , Pan Chin
Published: November 2013

The present study experimentally investigates the effect of convergence angle of microchannel on two-phase flow and heat transfer during steam condensation. Three condensation regimes, from the inlet to the outlet, are identified: mist/annular flow, injection flow, and slug-bubbly flow. Flow pattern maps are constructed using superficial vapor and liquid velocities as the coordinates, wherein relatively distinct boundaries between the flow patterns can be identified. The experimental results show that the condensation heat flux increases with an increase in the convergence angle and/or the steam mass flux at a given coolant flow ratebut decreases with an increase in the coolant flow rate at a given steam mass flux. The results further demonstrate that the local condensation heat transfer coefficient in the mist/annular flow region is much higher than that in other condensation regimes. Moreover, the local condensation heat transfer coefficient in the mist/annular flow and injection flow region decreases with an increase in the convergence angle.
Combinatorial Clustering Algorithm of Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization and Cloud Model
Authors: Shan Mi-Yuan , Zhang Ren-Long , Zhang Li-Hong
Published: November 2013

We propose a combinatorial clustering algorithm of cloud model and quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (COCQPSO) to solve the stochastic problem. The algorithm employs a novel probability model as well as a permutation-based local search method. We are setting the parameters of COCQPSO based on the design of experiment. In the comprehensive computational study, we scrutinize the performance of COCQPSO on a set of widely used benchmark instances. By benchmarking combinatorial clustering algorithm with state-of-the-art algorithms, we can show that its performance compares very favorably. The fuzzy combinatorial optimization algorithm of cloud model and quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (FCOCQPSO) in vague sets (IVSs) is more expressive than the other fuzzy sets. Finally, numerical examples show the clustering effectiveness of COCQPSO and FCOCQPSO clustering algorithms which are extremely remarkable.
Vascular Tree Segmentation in Medical Images Using Hessian-Based Multiscale Filtering and Level Set Method
Authors: Jin Jiaoying , Yang Linjun , Zhang Xuming , Ding Mingyue
Published: November 2013

Vascular segmentation plays an important role in medical image analysis. A novel technique for the automatic extraction of vascular trees from 2D medical images is presented, which combines Hessian-based multiscale filtering and a modified level set method. In the proposed algorithm, the morphological top-hat transformation is firstly adopted to attenuate background. Then Hessian-based multiscale filtering is used to enhance vascular structures by combining Hessian matrix with Gaussian convolution to tune the filtering response to the specific scales. Because Gaussian convolution tends to blur vessel boundaries, which makes scale selection inaccurate, an improved level set method is finally proposed to extract vascular structures by introducing an external constrained term related to the standard deviation of Gaussian function into the traditional level set. Our approach was tested on synthetic images with vascular-like structures and 2D slices extracted from real 3D abdomen magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images along the coronal plane. The segmentation rates for synthetic images are above 95%. The results for MRA images demonstrate that the proposed method can extract most of the vascular structures successfully and accurately in visualization. Therefore, the proposed method is effective for the vascular tree extraction in medical images.
UV Enhanced Oxygen Response Resistance Ratio of ZnO Prepared by Thermally Oxidized Zn on Sapphire Substrate
Authors: Yu Cheng-Chang , Hsu Yu-Ting , Lan Wen-How , Shih Ming-Chang , Hong Jin-Hua , Huang Kai-Feng , Huang Chien-Jung
Published: November 2013

ZnO thin film was fabricated by thermally oxidized Zn at 600°C for 1 h. A surface containing nanostructured dumbbell and lines was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The ZnO resistor device was formed after the following Ti/Au metallization. The device resistance was characterized at different oxygen pressure environment in the dark and under ultraviolet (UV) light illumination coming from the mercury lamp with a short pass filter. The resistance increases with the increase of oxygen pressure. The resistance decreases and response increases with the increase of light intensity. Models considering the barrier height variation caused by the adsorbed oxygen related species were used to explain these results. The UV light illumination technology shows an effective method to enhance the detection response for this ZnO resistor oxygen sensor.
Investigation of Low‐Pressure Bimetallic Cobalt‐Iron Catalyst‐Grown Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Their Electrical Properties
Authors: Mohammad Haniff Muhammad Aniq Shazni , Lee Hing Wah , Lee Wai Yee , Bien Daniel C. S. , Wahid Khairul Anuar , Lee Mai Woon , Azid Ishak Abd.
Published: November 2013

A bimetallic cobalt‐iron catalyst was utilized to demonstrate the growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at low gas pressure through thermal chemical vapor deposition. The characteristics of multiwalled CNTs were investigated based on the effects of catalyst thickness and gas pressure variation. The results revealed that the average diameter of nanotubes increased with increasing catalyst thickness, which can be correlated to the increase in particle size. The growth rate of the nanotubes also increased significantly by ~2.5 times with further increment of gas pressure from 0.5 Torr to 1.0 Torr. Rapid growth rate of nanotubes was observed at a catalyst thickness of 6 nm, but it decreased with the increase in catalyst thickness. The higher composition of 50% cobalt in the cobalt‐iron catalyst showed improvement in the growth rate of nanotubes and the quality of nanotube structures compared with that of 20% cobalt. For the electrical properties, the measured sheet resistance decreased with the increase in the height of nanotubes because of higher growth rate. This behavior is likely due to the larger contact area of nanotubes, which improved electron hopping from one localized tube to another.