bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nanosil strengthening of PMMA composite panels
Authors: Singh D , Kumar A , Rai KN 
Published: August 2011

This paper presents the results of strength evaluation of poly methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) composite panels, bonded with polymeric adhesives containing nano silica (called ‘nanosil’ onward) particulates. Vertical weight drop and gas pressure propelled projectile impact methods were used in evaluating mechanical integrity of the transparent PMMA composite panels. Panels pressed with nanosil dispersed styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) adhesives exhibited maximum impact tolerance with adequate optical transmission. The relation between projectile impact energy E (joules) and the panel thickness N (where N is the number of PMMA sheets in each panel) follows a linear relation of the type: E = pN2 + qN + r, with p, q, r as constants. This finding generalizes the nature of the relation between impact resistance and panel thickness behavior. Change in impact damage mode has also been verified.
Relationship between −344T/C polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase gene and atrial fibrillation in patients with essential hypertension
Authors: Sun Xiaojian , Yang Jun , Hou Xiaofei , Li Jun , Shi Yu , Jing Yanyan 
Published: August 2011

Introduction: Aldosterone plays an important role in the pathogenesis of non-familial atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested the hypothesis that the −344T/C polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase gene may be associated with non-familial AF in Chinese patients with hypertension. Materials and methods: We performed a 1:1 paired case–control study in 310 cases of hypertension with AF and same number matched controls. The −344T/C polymorphism was determined with polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: The distribution of the CYP11B2 genotypes (TT, TC and CC) was 41.9%, 50.6%, and 7.4% in AF patients, which was not different from controls (48.4%, 44.5%, and 7.1%, χ2 = 2.675, p = 0.263). The difference between the C allele (32.3% vs. 29.4%) was also not significant between two groups (χ2 = 1.661, p = 0.197). Logistic regression analysis showed that LAD and LVEDD (both p < 0.001), rather than the C allele of the CYP11B2 gene ( p= 0.107) were significant predictors for AF. The LAD of C allele carriers is significantly larger than that of non-C allele carriers ( p = 0.009). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the −344T/C polymorphism in the aldostrone synthase gene is not associated with AF but it might be associated with atrial remodelling in hypertensives.
Association of angiotensin II type 1-receptor gene polymorphisms with the risk of developing hypertension in Mexican individuals
Authors: Martínez-Rodríguez Nancy , Posadas-Romero Carlos , Cardoso Guillermo , Pérez-Rodríguez José Manuel , Pérez-Hernández Nonanzit , Vallejo Maite , Vargas-Alarcón Gilberto 
Published: August 2011

Introduction: Hypertension is a complex disease in which a significant interaction between genetic and environmental factors takes place. The renin–angiotensin system plays an important role regulating blood pressure to maintain homeostasis and vascular tone. In the present work, the role of angiotensin II type 1-receptor (AGTR1) gene polymorphisms as susceptibility markers for hypertension was evaluated. Materials and methods: Five polymorphisms in the AGTR1 gene were genotyped by 5′ exonuclease TaqMan genotyping assays in 239 hypertensive and 371 non-hypertensive individuals. Results: A similar distribution of rs275651, rs275652, rs275653, and rs5183 polymorphisms was observed in both studied groups. Different distribution of rs5182 genotypes was observed between the studied groups ( p = 0.016). According to the co-dominant model, individuals with rs5182 CC genotype have a 1.83-fold increased risk of developing hypertension ( p = 0.009). Polymorphisms were distributed in two blocks: block 1 included the rs275651, rs275652, and rs275653 polymorphisms, whereas block 2 included the rs5183 and rs5182 polymorphisms. Individuals with hypertension showed increased frequency of ‘ CA’ haplotype of block 2 when compared to non-hypertensive individuals ( p = 0.015, odds ratio = 1.33). Conclusion: The results suggest that the rs5182 gene polymorphism could be involved in the risk of developing hypertension in Mexican individuals.
Mechanical Loading of Articular Cartilage Reduces IL-1-Induced Enzyme Expression
Authors: Torzilli P. A. , Bhargava M. , Chen C. T. 
Published: August 2011

Objective: Exposure of articular cartilage to interleukin-1 (IL-1) results in increased synthesis of matrix degrading enzymes. Previously mechanical load applied together with IL-1 stimulation was found to reduce aggrecan cleavage by ADAMTS-4 and 5 and MMP-1, -3, -9, and -13 and reduce proteoglycan loss from the extracellular matrix. To further delineate the inhibition mechanism the gene expression of ADAMTS-4 and 5; MMP-1, -3, -9, and -13; and TIMP-1, -2, and -3 were measured. Design: Mature bovine articular cartilage was stimulated with a 0.5 MPa compressive stress and 10 ng/ml of IL-1α for 3 days and then allowed to recover without stimulation for 1 additional day. The media was assayed for proteoglycan content on a daily basis, while chondrocyte gene expression (mRNA) was measured during stimulation and 1 day of recovery. Results: Mechanical load alone did not change the gene expression for ADAMTS, MMP, or TIMP. IL-1 caused an increase in gene expression for all enzymes after 1 day of stimulation while not affecting the TIMP levels. Load applied together with IL-1 decreased the expression levels of ADAMTS-4 and -5 and MMP-1 and -3 and increased TIMP-3 expression. Conclusions: A mechanical load appears to modify cartilage degradation by IL-1 at the cellular level by reducing mRNA.
Characterizations of the solution sets of pseudoinvex programs and variational inequalities
Authors: Liu Caiping , Yang Xinmin , Lee Heungwing 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
A new concept of nondifferentiable pseudoinvex functions is introduced. Based on the basic properties of this class of pseudoinvex functions, several new and simple characterizations of the solution sets for nondifferentiable pseudoinvex programs are given. Our results are extension and improvement of some results obtained by Mangasarian (Oper. Res. Lett., 7, 21-26, 1988), Jeyakumar and Yang (J. Optim. Theory Appl., 87, 747-755, 1995), Ansari et al. (Riv. Mat. Sci. Econ. Soc., 22, 31-39, 1999), Yang (J. Optim. Theory Appl., 140, 537-542, 2009). The concepts of Stampacchia-type variational-like inequalities and Minty-type variational-like inequalities, defined by upper Dini directional derivative, are introduced. The relationships between the variational-like inequalities and the nondifferentiable pseudoinvex optimization problems are established. And, the characterizations of the solution sets for the Stampacchia-type variational-like inequalities and Minty-type variational-like inequalities are derived.
Ploidy influences cellular responses to gross chromosomal rearrangements in saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Jung Paul P , Fritsch Emilie S , Blugeon Corinne , Souciet Jean-Luc , Potier Serge , Lemoine Sophie , Schacherer Joseph , de Montigny Jacky 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs) such as aneuploidy are key factors in genome evolution as well as being common features of human cancer. Their role in tumour initiation and progression has not yet been completely elucidated and the effects of additional chromosomes in cancer cells are still unknown. Most previous studies in which Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model for cancer cells have been carried out in the haploid context. To obtain new insights on the role of ploidy, the cellular effects of GCRs were compared between the haploid and diploid contexts.

Results
A total number of 21 haploid and diploid S. cerevisiae strains carrying various types of GCRs (aneuploidies, nonreciprocal translocations, segmental duplications and deletions) were studied with a view to determining the effects of ploidy on the cellular responses. Differences in colony and cell morphology as well as in the growth rates were observed between mutant and parental strains. These results suggest that cells are impaired physiologically in both contexts. We also investigated the variation in genomic expression in all the mutants. We observed that gene expression was significantly altered. The data obtained here clearly show that genes involved in energy metabolism, especially in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, are up-regulated in all these mutants. However, the genes involved in the composition of the ribosome or in RNA processing are down-regulated in diploids but up-regulated in haploids. Over-expression of genes involved in the regulation of the proteasome was found to occur only in haploid mutants.

Conclusion
The present comparisons between the cellular responses of strains carrying GCRs in different ploidy contexts bring to light two main findings. First, GCRs induce a general stress response in all studied mutants, regardless of their ploidy. Secondly, the ploidy context plays a crucial role in maintaining the stoichiometric balance of the proteins: the translation rates decrease in diploid strains, whereas the excess protein synthesized is degraded in haploids by proteasome activity.
Role of inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway on methotrexate-induced intestinal mucositis in rodents
Authors: Leitão Renata FC , Brito Gerly AC , Oriá Reinaldo B , Braga-Neto Manuel B , Bellaguarda Emmanuelle AL , Silva Johann V , Gomes Antoniella S , Lima-Júnior Roberto CP , Siqueira Francisco JWS , Freire Rosemeyre S , Vale Mariana L , Ribeiro Ronaldo A 
Published: August 2011

AbstractBackgroundMethotrexate treatment has been associated to intestinal epithelial damage. Studies have suggested an important role of nitric oxide in such injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO), specifically iNOS on the pathogenesis of methotrexate (MTX)-induced intestinal mucositis.MethodsIntestinal mucositis was carried out by three subcutaneous MTX injections (2.5 mg/kg) in Wistar rats and in inducible nitric oxide synthase knock-out (iNOS-/-) and wild-type (iNOS+/+) mice. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with the NOS inhibitors aminoguanidine (AG; 10 mg/Kg) or L-NAME (20 mg/Kg), one hour before MTX injection and daily until sacrifice, on the fifth day. The jejunum was harvested to investigate the expression of Ki67, iNOS and nitrotyrosine by immunohistochemistry and cell death by TUNEL. The neutrophil activity by myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay was performed in the three small intestine segments.ResultsAG and L-NAME significantly reduced villus and crypt damages, inflammatory alterations, cell death, MPO activity, and nitrotyrosine immunostaining due to MTX challenge. The treatment with AG, but not L-NAME, prevented the inhibitory effect of MTX on cell proliferation. MTX induced increased expression of iNOS detected by immunohistochemistry. MTX did not cause significant inflammation in the iNOS-/-mice.ConclusionThese results suggest an important role of NO, via activation of iNOS, in the pathogenesis of intestinal mucositis.
Non-nosocomial healthcare-associated infective endocarditis in Taiwan: an underrecognized disease with poor outcome
Authors: Wu Kuan-Sheng , Lee Susan Shin-Jung , Tsai Hung-Chin , Wann Shue-Ren , Chen Jui-Kuang , Sy Cheng-Len , Wang Yung-Hsin , Tseng Yu-Ting , Chen Yao-Shen 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Non-nosocomial healthcare-associated infective endocarditis (NNHCA-IE) is a new category of IE of increasing importance. This study described the clinical and microbiological characteristics and outcome of NNHCA-IE in Taiwan.

Methods
A retrospective study was conducted of all patients with IE admitted to the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan over a five-year period from July 2004 to July 2009. The clinical and microbiological features of NNHCA-IE were compared to those of community-acquired and nosocomial IE. Predictors for in-hospital death were determined.

Results
Two-hundred episodes of confirmed IE occurred during the study period. These included 148 (74%) community-acquired, 30 (15%) non-nosocomial healthcare-associated, and 22 (11%) nosocomial healthcare-associated IE. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen. Patients with NNHCA-IE compared to community-acquired IE, were older (median age, 67 vs. 44, years, p < 0.001), had more MRSA (43.3% vs. 9.5%, p < 0.001), more comorbidity conditions (median Charlson comorbidity index [interquartile range], 4[2-6] vs. 0[0-1], p < 0.001), a higher in-hospital mortality (50.0% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.001) and were less frequently recognized by clinicians on admission (16.7% vs. 47.7%, p = 0.002). The overall in-hospital mortality rate for all patients with IE was 25%. Shock was the strongest risk factor for in-hospital death (odds ratio 7.8, 95% confidence interval 2.4-25.2, p < 0.001).

Conclusions
NNHCA-IE is underrecognized and carries a high mortality rate. Early recognition is crucial to provide optimal management and improve outcome.
No association of TNFRSF1B variants with type 2 diabetes in Indians of Indo-European origin
Authors: Tabassum Rubina , Mahajan Anubha , Chauhan Ganesh , Dwivedi Om Prakash , Dubey Himanshu , Sharma Vasudha , Kundu Bratashree , Ghosh Saurabh , Tandon Nikhil , Bharadwaj Dwaipayan 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
There has been no systematic evaluation of the association between genetic variants of type 2 receptor for TNFα (TNFR2) and type 2 diabetes, despite strong biological evidence for the role of this receptor in the pathogenesis of this complex disorder. In view of this, we performed a comprehensive association analysis of TNFRSF1B variants with type 2 diabetes in 4,200 Indo-European subjects from North India.

Methods
The initial phase evaluated association of seven SNPs viz. rs652625, rs496888, rs6697733, rs945439, rs235249, rs17883432 and rs17884213 with type 2 diabetes in 2,115 participants (1,073 type 2 diabetes patients and 1,042 control subjects). Further, we conducted replication analysis of three associated SNPs in 2,085 subjects (1,047 type 2 diabetes patients and 1,038 control subjects).

Results
We observed nominal association of rs945439, rs235249 and rs17884213 with type 2 diabetes (P < 0.05) in the initial phase. Haplotype CC of rs945439 and rs235249 conferred increased susceptibility for type 2 diabetes [OR = 1.19 (95%CI 1.03-1.37), P = 0.019/P
perm = 0.076] whereas, TG haplotype of rs235249 and rs17884213 provided protection against type 2 diabetes [OR = 0.83 (95%CI 0.72-0.95, P = 7.2 × 10-3/P
perm = 0.019]. We also observed suggestive association of rs496888 with plasma hsCRP levels [P = 0.042]. However, the association of rs945439, rs235249 and rs17884213 with type 2 diabetes was not replicated in the second study population. Meta-analysis of the two studies also failed to detect any association with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions
Our two-stage association analysis suggests that TNFRSF1B variants are not the determinants of genetic risk of type 2 diabetes in North Indians.
Evaluation of Abelmoschus moschatus extracts for antioxidant, free radical scavenging, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities using in vitro assays
Authors: Gul Mir Z , Bhakshu Lepakshi M , Ahmad Farhan , Kondapi Anand K , Qureshi Insaf A , Ghazi Irfan A 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background

Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. leaves and seeds are considered as valuable traditional medicine. The aromatic seeds of this plant are aphrodisiac, ophthalmic, cardio tonic, antispasmodic and used in the treatment of intestinal complaints and check queasiness. To give a scientific basis for traditional usage of this medicinal plant, the seed and leaf extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant, free radical scavenging, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities.

Methods
In this study, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of A. moschatus extracts were evaluated in a series of in vitro assay involving free radicals, reactive oxygen species and their IC50 values were also determined. The antioxidant activities of the seed and leaf extracts of A. moschatus were determined by total antioxidant, DPPH, and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods. In addition, the antiproliferative activity was also evaluated using colorectal adenocarcinoma and retinoblastoma human cancer cell lines. Moreover, six bacterial reference strains, two gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), four gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella enterica paratyphi) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans) were used to evaluate its antimicrobial activity.

Results
The results from this study showed that the antioxidant activities of A. moschatus as determined by the total phenol, flavonoids, total antioxidant and FRAP methods were higher in leaf than that of the seed extracts. On the other hand, the aqueous overnight seed extract (AMS-I) has shown significant radical scavenging activity as in 1, 1- Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, superoxide and lipid peroxidation as compared to other seed and leaf extracts. The AMS-I and AML-IV have shown activity against six and seven microorganisms respectively. Simulteneously, AMS-IV and AML-IV have demonstrated potential antiproliferative activity against two human cell lines - Colorectal adenocarcinoma (COLO-205) and retinoblastoma (Y79).

Conclusion
The seed and leaf extracts of A. moschatus possess significant antioxidant activity and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavenger, or substitute, probably as primary antioxidants. The plant possesses moderate antibacterial activity against bacterial strains used in this study. Hydroalcoholic seed and leaf extracts also exhibited antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines. A. moschatus may therefore, be a good candidate for functional foods as well as pharmaceutics.
Performance of the international physical activity questionnaire (short form) in subgroups of the Hong Kong chinese population
Authors: Lee Paul H , Yu YY , McDowell Ian , Leung Gabriel M , Lam TH , Stewart Sunita M 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) has been validated and recommended as an efficient method to assess physical activity, but its validity has not been investigated in different population subgroups. We examined variations in IPAQ validity in the Hong Kong Chinese population by six factors: sex, age, job status, educational level, body mass index (BMI), and visceral fat level (VFL).

Methods
A total of 1,270 adults (aged 42.9 ± SD 14.4 years, 46.1% male) completed the Chinese version of IPAQ (IPAQ-C) and wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph) for four days afterwards. The IPAQ-C and the ActiGraph were compared in terms of estimated Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes per week (MET-min/wk), minutes spent in activity of moderate or vigorous intensity (MVPA), and agreement in the classification of physical activity.

Results
The overall Spearman correlation (ρ) of between the IPAQ-C and ActiGraph was low (0.11 ± 0.03; range in subgroups 0.06-0.24) and was the highest among high VFL participants (0.24 ± 0.05). Difference between self-reported and ActiGraph-derived MET-min/wk (overall 2966 ± 140) was the smallest among participants with tertiary education (1804 ± 208). When physical activity was categorized into over or under 150 min/wk, overall agreement between self-report and accelerometer was 81.3% (± 1.1%; subgroup range: 77.2%-91.4%); agreement was the highest among those who were employed full-time in physically demanding jobs (91.4% ± 2.7%).

Conclusions
Sex, age, job status, educational level, and obesity were found to influence the criterion validity of IPAQ-C, yet none of the subgroups showed good validity (ρ = 0.06 to 0.24). IPAQ-SF validity is questionable in our Chinese population.
PKIS: practical keyword index search on cloud datacenter
Authors: Park Hyun-A , Park Jae Hyun , Lee Dong Hoon 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
This paper highlights the importance of the interoperability of the encrypted DB in terms of the characteristics of DB and efficient schemes. Although most prior researches have developed efficient algorithms under the provable security, they do not focus on the interoperability of the encrypted DB. In order to address this lack of practical aspects, we conduct two practical approaches--efficiency and group search in cloud datacenter. The process of this paper is as follows: first, we create two schemes of efficiency and group search--practical keyword index search--I and II; second, we define and analyze group search secrecy and keyword index search privacy in our schemes; third, we experiment on efficient performances over our proposed encrypted DB. As the result, we summarize two major results: (1)our proposed schemes can support a secure group search without re-encrypting all documents under the group-key update and (2)our experiments represent that our scheme is approximately 935 times faster than Golle's scheme and about 16 times faster than Song's scheme for 10,000 documents. Based on our experiments and results, this paper has the following contributions: (1) in the current cloud computing environments, our schemes provide practical, realistic, and secure solutions over the encrypted DB and (2) this paper identifies the importance of interoperability with database management system for designing efficient schemes.
Autologous bone marrow stem cell intralesional transplantation repairing bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw
Authors: Cella Luigi , Oppici Aldo , Arbasi Mariacristina , Moretto Mauro , Piepoli Massimo , Vallisa Daniele , Zangrandi Adriano , Di Nunzio Camilla , Cavanna Luigi 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Purpose
Bisphosphonate - related osteonecrosis of the JAW (BRONJ) is a well known side effect of bisphosphonate therapies in oncologic and non oncologic patients. Since to date no definitive consensus has been reached on the treatment of BRONJ, novel strategies for the prevention, risk reduction and treatment need to be developed. We report a 75 year old woman with stage 3 BRONJ secondary to alendronate and pamidronate treatment of osteoporosis. The patient was unresponsive to recommended treatment of the disease, and her BRONJ was worsening. Since bone marrow stem cells are know as being multipotent and exhibit the potential for differentiation into different cells/tissue lineages, including cartilage, bone and other tissue, we performed autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation into the BRONJ lesion of the patient.

Methods
Under local anesthesia a volume of 75 ml of bone marrow were harvested from the posterior superior iliac crest by aspiration into heparinized siringes. The cell suspension was concentrated, using Ficoll - Hypaque® centrifugation procedures, in a final volume of 6 ml. Before the injection of stem cells into the osteonecrosis, the patient underwent surgical toilet, local anesthesia was done and spongostan was applied as a carrier of stem cells suspension in the bone cavity, then 4 ml of stem cells suspension and 1 ml of patient's activated platelet-rich plasma were injected in the lesion of BRONJ.

Results
A week later the residual spongostan was removed and two weeks later resolution of symptoms was obtained. Then the lesion improved with progressive superficialization of the mucosal layer and CT scan, performed 15 months later, shows improvement also of bone via concentric ossification: so complete healing of BRONJ (stage 0) was obtained in our patient, and 30 months later the patient is well and without signs of BRONJ.

Conclusion
To our knowledge this is the first case of BRONJ successfully treated with autologous stem cells transplantation with a complete response.