title stringlengths 0 901 | abstract stringlengths 3 9.89k | PMID int64 22 25.3M | embedding listlengths 768 768 |
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Mind-wandering, cognition, and performance: a theory-driven meta-analysis of attention regulation. | The current meta-analysis accumulates empirical findings on the phenomenon of mind-wandering, integrating and interpreting findings in light of psychological theories of cognitive resource allocation. Cognitive resource theory emphasizes both individual differences in attentional resources and task demands together to predict variance in task performance. This theory motivated our conceptual and meta-analysis framework by introducing moderators indicative of task-demand to predict who is more likely to mind-wander under what conditions, and to predict when mind-wandering and task-related thought are more (or less) predictive of task performance. Predictions were tested via a random-effects meta-analysis of correlations obtained from normal adult samples (k = 88) based on measurement of specified episodes of off-task and/or on-task thought frequency and task performance. Results demonstrated that people with fewer cognitive resources tend to engage in more mind-wandering, whereas those with more cognitive resources are more likely to engage in task-related thought. Addressing predictions of resource theory, we found that greater time-on-task-although not greater task complexity-tended to strengthen the negative relation between cognitive resources and mind-wandering. Additionally, increases in mind-wandering were generally associated with decreases in task performance, whereas increases in task-related thought were associated with increased performance. Further supporting resource theory, the negative relation between mind-wandering and performance was more pronounced for more complex tasks, though not longer tasks. Complementarily, the positive association between task-related thought and performance was stronger for more complex tasks and for longer tasks. We conclude by discussing implications and future research directions for mind-wandering as a construct of interest in psychological research. | 25,089,941 | [
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Electronic cigarettes: a review of safety and clinical issues. | This clinical case conference discusses 3 cases of patients using electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes, also referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems or "e-cigarettes," generally consist of a power source (usually a battery) and a heating element (commonly referred to as an atomizer) that vaporize a solution (e-liquid). The user inhales the resulting vapor. E-liquids contain humectants such as propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and usually, but not always, nicotine. Each patient's information is an amalgamation of actual patients and is presented and then followed by a discussion of clinical issues. | 25,089,953 | [
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Science and electronic cigarettes: current data, future needs. | Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs), also referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems or "e-cigarettes," generally consist of a power source (usually a battery) and heating element (commonly referred to as an atomizer) that vaporizes a solution (e-liquid). The user inhales the resulting vapor. Electronic cigarettes have been increasing in popularity since they were introduced into the US market in 2007. Many questions remain about these products, and limited research has been conducted. This review describes the available research on what ECIGs are, effects of use, survey data on awareness and use, and the utility of ECIGs to help smokers quit using tobacco cigarettes. This review also describes arguments for and against ECIGs and concludes with steps to move research on ECIGs forward. | 25,089,952 | [
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Acceptability and feasibility of using non-specialist health workers to deliver mental health care: stakeholder perceptions from the PRIME district sites in Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Uganda. | Three-quarters of the global mental health burden exists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet the lack of mental health services in resource-poor settings is striking. Task-sharing (also, task-shifting), where mental health care is provided by non-specialists, has been proposed to improve access to mental health care in LMICs. This multi-site qualitative study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of task-sharing mental health care in LMICs by examining perceptions of primary care service providers (physicians, nurses, and community health workers), community members, and service users in one district in each of the five countries participating in the PRogramme for Improving Mental health carE (PRIME): Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Uganda. Thirty-six focus group discussions and 164 in-depth interviews were conducted at the pre-implementation stage between February and October 2012 with the objective of developing district level plans to integrate mental health care into primary care. Perceptions of the acceptability and feasibility of task-sharing were evaluated first at the district level in each country through open-coding and then at the cross-country level through a secondary analysis of emergent themes. We found that task-sharing mental health services is perceived to be acceptable and feasible in these LMICs as long as key conditions are met: 1) increased numbers of human resources and better access to medications; 2) ongoing structured supportive supervision at the community and primary care-levels; and 3) adequate training and compensation for health workers involved in task-sharing. Taking into account the socio-cultural context is fundamental for identifying local personnel who can assist in detection of mental illness and facilitate treatment and care as well as training, supervision, and service delivery. By recognizing the systemic challenges and sociocultural nuances that may influence task-sharing mental health care, locally-situated interventions could be more easily planned to provide appropriate and acceptable mental health care in LMICs. | 25,089,962 | [
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Theoretical study on temperature features of a sealed cesium vapor cell pumped by laser diodes. | The diode-pumped alkali laser (DPAL) is a new type of laser source which has been widely studied in the recent years. The temperature distribution of a sealed vapor cell, which is the crucial component in a DPAL system, produces an important effect on the output performance of a DPAL. In this paper, the strict solution of the heat conduction equation for a cesium vapor cell is obtained by using a finite difference procedure. The temperature distribution of a dummy open cell is first analyzed, and then the temperature distributions of two independent windows, regarded as the boundary conditions of solving a sealed cell, are evaluated in detail. By combining the results of the two steps together, we finally acquire the temperature distribution of a real sealed cesium vapor cell. The results reveal that the temperature gradients on both radial and longitudinal directions change with the pump power, cell radius, and absorption coefficient when the sealed cesium vapor cell is heated or pumped with the laser diodes. The conclusions are helpful for accurately evaluating the output characteristics of a DPAL. | 25,089,977 | [
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Spectral line polarimetry with a channeled polarimeter. | Channeled spectropolarimetry or spectral polarization modulation is an accurate technique for measuring the continuum polarization in one shot with no moving parts. We show how a dual-beam implementation also enables spectral line polarimetry at the intrinsic resolution, as in a classic beam-splitting polarimeter. Recording redundant polarization information in the two spectrally modulated beams of a polarizing beam-splitter even provides the possibility to perform a postfacto differential transmission correction that improves the accuracy of the spectral line polarimetry. We perform an error analysis to compare the accuracy of spectral line polarimetry to continuum polarimetry, degraded by a residual dark signal and differential transmission, as well as to quantify the impact of the transmission correction. We demonstrate the new techniques with a blue sky polarization measurement around the oxygen A absorption band using the groundSPEX instrument, yielding a polarization in the deepest part of the band of 0.160±0.010, significantly different from the polarization in the continuum of 0.2284±0.0004. The presented methods are applicable to any dual-beam channeled polarimeter, including implementations for snapshot imaging polarimetry. | 25,089,978 | [
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Inverse analysis of the rainbow for the case of low-coherent incident light to determine the diameter of a glass fiber. | The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility of a noninvasive, optical characterization of a transparent (glass) fiber on the basis of scattered light in the vicinity of a primary rainbow. Computational studies show that with the use of a spectrally adjusted incident beam of light, it is possible to form a rainbow with no strong nonlinearities typical for coherent light and that may be interpreted in terms of Airy's theory of rainbow. An inverse analysis is applied to obtain the fiber diameter with the help of a straightforward mathematical formula based on the Airy integral, corrected by comparison with the solution according to the complex angular momentum method. | 25,089,986 | [
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Simultaneous measurement of vibration and parameters of a semiconductor laser using self-mixing interferometry. | Laser diode (LD)-based self-mixing interferometry (SMI) is a promising technique for noncontact sensing and its instrumentation. According to the well-known Lang-Kobayashi equations, an SMI waveform is shaped by multiple parameters, including linewidth enhancement factor (denoted as α), optical feedback level factor (denoted as C), and the movement of the external cavity of an LD. This paper presents a new algorithm for simultaneously retrieving the multiple parameters from a piece of SMI signal. First, a set of linear equations is derived based on the existing SMI model. By careful selection of data samples, the linear equations can be made independent and used to determine a set of variables, and thus the values of α and C, as well as the reconstruction coefficients of the external movement. The work in this paper lifts the restrictions existing in SMI-based sensing methods, such as prerequisite knowledge of either α and C or vibration information of an external target. Simulations and experiments are conducted to verify the proposed algorithm. | 25,089,988 | [
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Modeling the turbulent trailing ship wake in the infrared. | The sea surface turbulent trailing wake of a ship, which can be rather easily observed in the infrared by airborne surveillance systems, is a consequence of the difference in roughness and temperature between the wake and the sea background. We have developed a phenomenological model for the infrared radiance of the turbulent wake by assuming that the sea surface roughness is dependent upon the turbulent intensity near the sea surface. Describing the sea surface roughness with a Cox and Munk probability distribution function of slopes, we distinguish on the sea surface between the sea background and the turbulent wake by the variance of sea surface slopes, σCM2=constant and σTW2(x,y)≠constant. The latter dependence is assumed to be inversely proportional to the turbulent intensity of the wake, U<sub>rms</sub>(x,y). Given the incident solar, atmospheric, and sky infrared radiances, we calculate the reflected and emitted sea surface radiance from both the wake and the background. We compare the infrared contrast of the wake with infrared image data obtained in an airborne trial. Our predictions and the measurements agree very well in trend over a significant range of observer zenith angles. Our calculations reveal the strong dependence of the wake radiance on the observer zenith angle, allowing for positive and negative contrasts with the background. | 25,089,992 | [
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Numerical analysis of an end-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser with variation of a fractional thermal load. | An analytical model is developed to describe the dynamic behavior of an end-pumped Yb:YAG thin disk laser. Within the model, the rate equations, including the nonradiative relaxation process, are calculated taking into account the dependence of the fractional thermal load on the temperature of the thin disk crystal and intracavity laser intensity. The fractional thermal load is analyzed, or can be evaluated clearly, under lasing or nonlasing conditions. The stable temperature and fractional thermal load in a thin disk crystal for different radiative quantum efficiencies are obtained using the numerical iterative method. Furthermore, the dependence of the laser output intensity on variables such as pumping intensity, coupler reflectivity, radiative quantum efficiency, and the temperature of thin disk crystal is discussed. | 25,090,000 | [
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Theoretical model predictions and experimental results for a wavelength switchable Tm:YAG laser. | We present a theoretical model study of a quasi-three-level laser with particular attention given to the Tm:YAG laser. The oscillating conditions of this laser were theoretically analyzed from the point of the pump threshold while taking into account reabsorption loss. The laser oscillation at 2.02 μm with large stimulated emission sections was suppressed by selecting the appropriate coating for the cavity mirrors, then an efficient laser-diode side-pumped continuous-wave Tm:YAG crystal laser operating at 2.07 μm was realized. Experiments with the Tm:YAG laser confirmed the accuracy of the model, and the model was able to accurately predict that the high Stark sub-level within the H3<sub>6</sub> ground state manifold has a low laser threshold and long laser wavelength, which was achieved by decreasing the transmission of the output coupler. | 25,090,001 | [
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Geographical and temporal body size variation in a reptile: roles of sex, ecology, phylogeny and ecology structured in phylogeny. | Geographical body size variation has long interested evolutionary biologists, and a range of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the observed patterns. It is considered to be more puzzling in ectotherms than in endotherms, and integrative approaches are necessary for testing non-exclusive alternative mechanisms. Using lacertid lizards as a model, we adopted an integrative approach, testing different hypotheses for both sexes while incorporating temporal, spatial, and phylogenetic autocorrelation at the individual level. We used data on the Spanish Sand Racer species group from a field survey to disentangle different sources of body size variation through environmental and individual genetic data, while accounting for temporal and spatial autocorrelation. A variation partitioning method was applied to separate independent and shared components of ecology and phylogeny, and estimated their significance. Then, we fed-back our models by controlling for relevant independent components. The pattern was consistent with the geographical Bergmann's cline and the experimental temperature-size rule: adults were larger at lower temperatures (and/or higher elevations). This result was confirmed with additional multi-year independent data-set derived from the literature. Variation partitioning showed no sex differences in phylogenetic inertia but showed sex differences in the independent component of ecology; primarily due to growth differences. Interestingly, only after controlling for independent components did primary productivity also emerge as an important predictor explaining size variation in both sexes. This study highlights the importance of integrating individual-based genetic information, relevant ecological parameters, and temporal and spatial autocorrelation in sex-specific models to detect potentially important hidden effects. Our individual-based approach devoted to extract and control for independent components was useful to reveal hidden effects linked with alternative non-exclusive hypothesis, such as those of primary productivity. Also, including measurement date allowed disentangling and controlling for short-term temporal autocorrelation reflecting sex-specific growth plasticity. | 25,090,025 | [
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Frequency division multiplexing for interferometric planar Doppler velocimetry. | A new method of acquiring simultaneously the signal and reference channels used for interferometric planar Doppler velocimetry is proposed and demonstrated. The technique uses frequency division multiplexing (FDM) to facilitate the capture of the requisite images on a single camera, and is suitable for time-averaged flow measurements. Furthermore, the approach has the potential to be expanded to allow the multiplexing of additional measurement channels for multicomponent velocity measurement. The use of FDM for interferometric referencing is demonstrated experimentally with measurements of a single velocity component of a seeded axisymmetric air jet. The expansion of the technique to include multiple velocity components was then investigated theoretically and experimentally to account for bandwidth, crosstalk, and dynamic range limitations. The technique offers reduced camera noise, automatic background light suppression, and crosstalk levels of typically <10%. Furthermore, as this crosstalk is dependent upon the channel modulations applied, it can be corrected for in postprocessing. | 25,090,054 | [
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Switchable and tunable thulium-doped fiber laser incorporating a Sagnac loop mirror. | A thulium-doped fiber laser employing a Sagnac loop mirror made by a 145.5 cm polarization-maintaining fiber is demonstrated, which can operate with stable dual-wavelength lasing or tunable single-wavelength lasing around 1860 nm. Both stable dual-wavelength and tunable single-wavelength lasing are achieved by adjusting a polarization controller in the Sagnac loop mirror. The experimental results show that the output of the reported fiber laser with two different operation modes is rather stable at room temperature. | 25,090,056 | [
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Inexpensive mount for a large millimeter-wavelength telescope. | A telescope mount with a single-point force support at the center of gravity of the primary mirror is proposed in order to eliminate much of the structure and cost of a large, millimeter-wavelength telescope. The single-point support gives repeatable thermal and gravitational deformation, so the surface of the primary can be controlled based on lookup tables for elevation and temperature. The new design is most appropriate for a survey telescope because locating the support above the vertex of the primary limits the range of motion of the mount to about 1 rad. A 30 m diameter, λ=850 μm telescope with the proposed mount is a factor of 4 lighter than a design with a conventional elevation-over-azimuth mount, and roughly half the cost. | 25,090,062 | [
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Autofocus using adaptive prediction approximation combined search for the fluorescence microscope in second-generation DNA sequencing system. | Autofocus is an important technique for high-speed image acquisition in the second-generation DNA sequencing system, and this paper studies the passive focus algorithm for the system, which consists of two parts: focus measurement (FM) and focus search (FS). Based on the properties of DNA chips' images, we choose the normalized variance as the FM algorithm and develop a new robust FS named adaptive prediction approximation combined search (APACS). APACS utilizes golden section search (GSS) to approximate the focus position and engages the curve-fitting search (CFS) to predict the position simultaneously in every step of GSS. When the difference between consecutive predictions meets the set precision, the search finishes. Otherwise, it ends as GSS. In APACS, we also propose an estimation method, named the combination of centroid estimation and overdetermined equations estimation by least squares solution, to calculate the initial vector for the nonlinear equations in APACS prediction, which reduces the iterations and accelerates the search. The simulation and measured results demonstrate that APACS not only maintains the stability but also reduces the focus time compared with GSS and CFS, which indicates APACS is a robust and fast FS for the fluorescence microscope in a sequencing system. | 25,090,072 | [
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The stress-buffering effects of a brief dyadic interaction before an acute stressor. | Although previous studies have confirmed that affectionate interaction can reduce the effects of stress, whether or not this effect is due more to habituation or the accumulation of affection remains an area of debate. The goal of the present study was to determine how specific acts of affection mitigate the effects of stress. Sixty mixed-sex dyads (half platonic friends and half dating partners) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, affectionate interaction, quiet rest with the friend/romantic partner present, or separation from the friend/romantic partner, before one of the partners experienced a series of stressful activities. Results revealed that participants in the affection condition experienced the smallest increase in cardiovascular arousal regardless of relationship status. Participants' endocrine responses were more nuanced and depended on both their biological sex and the nature of the relationship with the companion. Given that these systems did not act in concert with one another, results provide mixed evidence for both an accumulation and habituation effect. | 25,090,099 | [
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Phase transitions in supported lipid bilayers studied by AFM. | We review the capabilities of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in the study of phase transitions in Supported Lipid Bilayers (SLBs). AFM represents a powerful technique to cover the resolution range not available to fluorescence imaging techniques and where spectroscopic data suggest what the relevant lateral scale for domain formation might be. Phase transitions of lipid bilayers involve the formation of domains characterized by different heights with respect to the surrounding phase and are therefore easily identified by AFM in liquid solution once the bilayer is confined to a flat surface. Even if not endowed with high time resolution, AFM allows light to be shed on some aspects related to lipid phase transitions in the case of both a single lipid component and lipid mixtures containing sterols also. We discuss here the obtained results in light of the peculiarities of supported lipid bilayer model systems. | 25,090,108 | [
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Interpreting uncertainty terms. | Uncertainty terms (e.g., some, possible, good, etc.) are words that do not have a fixed referent and hence are relatively ambiguous. A model is proposed that specifies how, from the hearer's perspective, recognition of facework as a potential motive for the use of an uncertainty term results in a calibration of the intended meaning of that term. Four experiments are reported that examine the impact of face threat, and the variables that affect it (e.g., power), on the manner in which a variety of uncertainty terms (probability terms, quantifiers, frequency terms, etc.) are interpreted. Overall, the results demonstrate that increased face threat in a situation will result in a more negative interpretation of an utterance containing an uncertainty term. That the interpretation of so many different types of uncertainty terms is affected in the same way suggests the operation of a fundamental principle of language use, one with important implications for the communication of risk, subjective experience, and so on. | 25,090,127 | [
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New approach for correction of error associated with keratometric estimation of corneal power in keratoconus. | The aim of this study was to obtain the exact value of the keratometric index (nkexact) and to clinically validate a variable keratometric index (nkadj) that minimizes this error. The nkexact value was determined by obtaining differences (ΔPc) between keratometric corneal power (Pk) and Gaussian corneal power ((Equation is included in full-text article.)) equal to 0. The nkexact was defined as the value associated with an equivalent difference in the magnitude of ΔPc for extreme values of posterior corneal radius (r2c) for each anterior corneal radius value (r1c). This nkadj was considered for the calculation of the adjusted corneal power (Pkadj). Values of r1c ∈ (4.2, 8.5) mm and r2c ∈ (3.1, 8.2) mm were considered. Differences of True Net Power with (Equation is included in full-text article.), Pkadj, and Pk(1.3375) were calculated in a clinical sample of 44 eyes with keratoconus. nkexact ranged from 1.3153 to 1.3396 and nkadj from 1.3190 to 1.3339 depending on the eye model analyzed. All the nkadj values adjusted perfectly to 8 linear algorithms. Differences between Pkadj and (Equation is included in full-text article.)did not exceed ±0.7 D (Diopter). Clinically, nk = 1.3375 was not valid in any case. Pkadj and True Net Power and Pk(1.3375) and Pkadj were statistically different (P < 0.01), whereas no differences were found between (Equation is included in full-text article.)and Pkadj (P > 0.01). The use of a single value of nk for the calculation of the total corneal power in keratoconus has been shown to be imprecise, leading to inaccuracies in the detection and classification of this corneal condition. Furthermore, our study shows the relevance of corneal thickness in corneal power calculations in keratoconus. | 25,090,162 | [
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Absorption effects in diffusing wave spectroscopy. | The effect of absorption in diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS) was studied using an absorption-dependent diffusive equation for describing the light propagation within a turbid liquid where dielectric microspheres have been embedded. Here, we propose an expression for the time-averaged light intensity autocorrelation function that correctly describes the time fluctuations for the scattered light, in the regime where the diffusion approximation accurately describes the light propagation. This correction was suspected previously, but it was not formally derived from a light diffusive equation. As in the case of no absorption, we obtained that time fluctuations of the scattered light can be related to the mean square displacement of the embedded particles. However, if a correction for absorption is not taken into account, the colloidal dynamics can be misinterpreted. Experimental results show that this new formulation correctly describes the time fluctuations of scattered light. This new procedure extends the applicability of DWS, and it opens the possibility of doing microrheology with this optical method in systems where absorption cannot be avoided. | 25,090,203 | [
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Generation of Laguerre-Gaussian LGp0 beams using binary phase diffractive optical elements. | In recent years, considerable attention has been devoted to laser beams with specific intensity profile, i.e., non-Gaussian. In this work, we present a novel technique to generate high-radial-order Laguerre-Gaussian beams LG(p0) based on the use of a binary phase diffractive optical element (BPDOE). The latter is a phase plate made up of annular zones introducing alternatively a phase shift equal to 0 or π modeled on positions which do not coincide with the position of the zeros of the desired LG(p0) beam. The LG(p0) beams are obtained by transforming a fundamental Gaussian beam through an appropriate BPDOE. The design of the latter is based on the calculation of the Fresnel-Kirchhoff integral, and the diffracted intensity at the focus plane of a lens has been modeled analytically for the first time. The numerical simulations and experiment demonstrate a good beam quality transformation. Obtained LG(p0) are suitable for atom trap and pumping solid state laser applications. | 25,090,215 | [
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Hierarchically porous titania networks with tunable anatase:rutile ratios and their enhanced photocatalytic activities. | Mixed-phase hierarchically porous titania networks (PTNs) with 3D interconnected porous frameworks and tunable rutile contents have been synthesized via a facile sol-gel templating and calcination process. The products were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen gas sorption analysis, and their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by measuring the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, a typical effluent from the textile industry, under UV light illumination. The hierarchically macro-/mesoporous titania structure formed after templating followed by calcination in air. The reduced interfaces between titania nanocrystals in these PTN materials can significantly decrease interface nucleation of the rutile phase and effectively retard the anatase to rutile phase transformation, therefore giving rise to porous titania photocatalysts featuring tunable rutile ratios (from 0 to 100 wt %), reduced crystal sizes, hierarchically porous structure, and relatively high specific surface areas (up to 71.0 m(2) g(-1)). The photocatalytic performance of the materials was correlated to the anatase:rutile ratio and specific surface area of the materials, with the mixed-phase (rutile content of 15.4%) nanocrystalline titania calcined at 600 °C for 6 h showing the highest photocatalytic activity. This study demonstrates that a substantial improvement in photocatalytic activity of the titania can be achieved by controlling morphology and carefully tuning phase composition via a feasible solid-state phase transformation at a relatively low temperature (600 °C). This concept for the rational design and development of high-performance photocatalysts using an industrially simple process would be capable of mass production. | 25,090,241 | [
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IGF2 expression and β-catenin levels are increased in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. | Frozen Shoulder Syndrome is a fibrosis of the shoulder joint capsule that is clinically associated with Dupuytren's disease, a fibrosis of the palmar fascia. Little is known about any commonalities in the pathophysiology of these connective tissue fibroses. β-catenin, a protein that transactivates gene expression, and levels of IGF2 mRNA, encoding insulin-like growth factor-II, are elevated in Dupuytren's disease. The aim of this study was to determine if correlating changes in β-catenin levels and IGF2 expression are evident in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. Tissue from patients with Frozen Shoulder Syndrome and rotator cuff tear were obtained during shoulder arthroscopies. Total protein extracts were prepared from tissue aliquots and β-catenin immunoreactivity was assessed by Western immunoblotting. In parallel, primary fibroblasts were derived from these tissues and assessed for IGF2 expression by quantitative PCR. β-catenin levels were significantly increased in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome relative to rotator cuff tear when assessed by Western immunoblotting analyses. IGF2 mRNA levels were significantly increased in primary fibroblasts derived from frozen shoulder syndrome tissues relative to fibroblasts derived from rotator cuff tissues. As in Dupuytren's disease, β-catenin levels and IGF2 expression are elevated in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. These findings support the hypothesis that these connective tissue fibroses share a common pathophysiology. | 25,090,267 | [
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Low levels of the reverse transactivator fail to induce target transgene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. | Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a genetic disease with multiple features that are suggestive of premature aging. Most patients with HGPS carry a mutation on one of their copies of the LMNA gene. The LMNA gene encodes the lamin A and lamin C proteins, which are the major proteins of the nuclear lamina. The organs of the cardiovascular system are amongst those that are most severely affected in HGPS, undergoing a progressive depletion of vascular smooth muscle cells, and most children with HGPS die in their early teens from cardio-vascular disease and other complications from atherosclerosis. In this study, we developed a transgenic mouse model based on the tet-ON system to increase the understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to the most lethal aspect of HGPS. To induce the expression of the most common HGPS mutation, LMNA c.1824C>T; p.G608G, in the vascular smooth muscle cells of the aortic arch and thoracic aorta, we used the previously described reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator, sm22α-rtTA. However, the expression of the reverse sm22α-transactivator was barely detectable in the arteries, and this low level of expression was not sufficient to induce the expression of the target human lamin A minigene. The results from this study are important because they suggest caution during the use of previously functional transgenic animal models and emphasize the importance of assessing transgene expression over time. | 25,090,270 | [
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Interview with faz chowdhury. | Faz Chowdhury is the Chief Executive Officer of Nemaura Pharma (Loughborough, UK), a pharmaceutical drug-delivery company developing patented formulation technologies alongside transdermal systems. Having originally trained as a pharmaceutical scientist, Dr Chowdhury received his PhD in Nanomedicine from the University of Oxford (Oxford, UK). With recognized expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and the holder of more than 15 patents on drug-delivery systems, Dr Chowdhury discussed the challenges faced in microneedle-based drug delivery, an area widely expected to revolutionize the transdermal field over the coming years. Interview conducted by James Potticary, Commissioning Editor. | 25,090,277 | [
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Formulation considerations for dry powder inhalers. | The market for inhalable dry powder medication has consistently grown over past years. Targeting the lungs has been recognized to offer several advantages compared with oral application of drugs. The successive development of inhalation products has led to advances in local treatment of different respiratory diseases, but has also demonstrated the possibility to utilize the lungs for systemic drug delivery. Since a dry powder inhalation product is always a combination of drug formulation and inhalation device, the requirements for the development of such a system may be particularly complex. Therefore, this review aims to give an overview of the necessary considerations for a successful dry powder inhaler development. | 25,090,281 | [
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Generation speed and reconstructed image quality enhancement of a long-depth object using double wavefront recording planes and a GPU. | A method for fast computer hologram generation for long-depth objects using double wavefront recording planes (WRPs) and a graphics-processing unit (GPU) is presented. The WRPs are placed between the object and the hologram plane. Each WRP records the wavefront from a section of the object. Double WRPs can provide a shorter calculation time and enhanced reconstructed image quality compared with a single WRP, especially for long-depth objects. The average generation speed of two WRPs is 2.5 times that of one WRP. The correlation efficiency of the reconstructed layer relative to the original is 94% for two WRPs and 88.3% for one WRP at the close depth layer. | 25,090,310 | [
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Algorithm for detecting seam cracks in steel plates using a Gabor filter combination method. | Presently, product inspection based on vision systems is an important part of the steel-manufacturing industry. In this work, we focus on the detection of seam cracks in the edge region of steel plates. Seam cracks are generated in the vertical direction, and their width range is 0.2-0.6 mm. Moreover, the gray values of seam cracks are only 20-30 gray levels lower than those of the neighboring surface. Owing to these characteristics, we propose a new algorithm for detecting seam cracks using a Gabor filter combination method. To enhance the performance, we extracted features of seam cracks and employed a support vector machine classifier. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is suitable for detecting seam cracks. | 25,090,315 | [
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Calibration-free self-absorption model for measuring nitric oxide concentration in a pulsed corona discharge. | The effect of self-absorption on emission intensity distributions can be used for species concentration measurements. A calculation model is developed based on the Beer-Lambert law to quantify this effect. And then, a calibration-free measurement method is proposed on the basis of this model by establishing the relationship between gas concentration and absorption strength. The effect of collision parameters and rotational temperature on the method is also discussed. The proposed method is verified by investigating the nitric oxide emission bands (A²Σ⁺→X²∏) that are generated by a pulsed corona discharge at various gas concentrations. Experiment results coincide well with the expectations, thus confirming the precision and accuracy of the proposed measurement method. | 25,090,323 | [
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Determination of absorption coefficient based on laser beam thermal blooming in gas-filled tube. | Thermal blooming of a laser beam propagating in a gas-filled tube is investigated both analytically and experimentally. A self-consistent formulation taking into account heating of the gas and the resultant laser beam spreading (including diffraction) is presented. The heat equation is used to determine the temperature variation while the paraxial wave equation is solved in the eikonal approximation to determine the temporal and spatial variation of the Gaussian laser spot radius, Gouy phase (longitudinal phase delay), and wavefront curvature. The analysis is benchmarked against a thermal blooming experiment in the literature using a CO₂ laser beam propagating in a tube filled with air and propane. New experimental results are presented in which a CW fiber laser (1 μm) propagates in a tube filled with nitrogen and water vapor. By matching laboratory and theoretical results, the absorption coefficient of water vapor is found to agree with calculations using MODTRAN (the MODerate-resolution atmospheric TRANsmission molecular absorption database) and HITRAN (the HIgh-resolution atmospheric TRANsmission molecular absorption database). | 25,090,334 | [
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Multi-stable variable optical attenuator based on a liquid crystal gel-filled photonic crystal fiber. | This work demonstrates a multi-stable variable optical attenuator (VOA) that is fabricated by infiltrating a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a liquid crystal (LC) gel. Varying the cooling rate or biasing the electric field during gelation yields various degrees of scattering. Therefore, LC gel-filled PCFs with various transmittances can be realized. At a wavelength of 1550 nm, an attenuation rate of -33.4 dB/cm is obtained at a cooling rate of 30°C/min and a biasing voltage of 400 V during gelation. The proposed all-in-fiber VOA exhibits tunable attenuation and multiple stable states at room temperature. | 25,090,354 | [
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Depression moderates treatment efficacy of an HIV secondary-prevention intervention for HIV-positive late middle-age and older adults. | An estimated one-third of HIV-positive older adults continues to engage in sexual behaviors that risk HIV transmission or the acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections. A recently completed pilot randomized controlled trial of telephone-administered motivational interviewing (Tele-MI) targeting sexual risk behavior in 100 HIV-positive late middle-age and older adults found that a four-session Tele-MI intervention reduced episodes of non-condom-protected anal and vaginal intercourse. This secondary analysis examined the moderating effect of baseline depressive symptoms on intervention efficacy. When compared to one session of Tele-MI or standard of care, four sessions of Tele-MI produced greater reductions in sexual risk behavior in participants with subsyndromal depression at baseline but was no more efficacious than the other two conditions for participants with no or elevated baseline depressive symptoms. Large-scale studies that further elucidate the role of depression in sexual risk reduction interventions for HIV-positive persons are needed. | 25,090,365 | [
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Effects of radiation and temperature on iodide sorption by surfactant-modified bentonite. | Bentonite, which is used as an engineered barrier in geological repositories, is ineffective for sorbing anionic radionuclides because of its negatively charged surface. This study modified raw bentonite using a cationic surfactant (i.e., hexadecyltrimethylammonium [HDTMA]-Br) to improve its sorption capability for radioactive iodide. The effects of temperature and radiation on the iodide sorption of surfactant-modified bentonite (SMB) were also evaluated under alkaline pH condition similar to that found in repository environments. Different amounts of surfactant, equivalent to the 50, 100, and 200% cation-exchange capacity of the bentonite, were used to produce the HDTMA-SMB for iodide sorption. The sorption reaction of the SMB with iodide reached equilibrium rapidly within 10 min regardless of temperature and radiation conditions. The rate of iodide sorption increased as the amount of the added surfactant was increased and nonlinear sorption behavior was exhibited. However, high temperature and γ-irradiation ((60)Co) resulted in significantly (∼2-10 times) lower iodide Kd values for the SMB. The results of FTIR, NMR, and XANES spectroscopy analysis suggested that the decrease in iodide sorption may be caused by weakened physical electrostatic force between the HDTMA and iodide, and by the surfactant becoming detached from the SMB during the heating and irradiation processes. | 25,090,368 | [
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Development of deft amplification refractory mutation sequencing system (ARMSS) for discriminating Pilos antler based on a short cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. | Pilos antler (Lu-Rong in Chinese) is a famous traditional medicine in China. Many adulterants have been discovered in Chinese markets in recent years. However, few DNA-based methods are effective for discrimination of this DNA-degraded animal medicine. Here, novel and deft amplification refractory mutation sequencing system (ARMSS), integrating the advantages of the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and the short DNA barcode, was first developed to discriminate Pilos antler from its adulterants. We aimed to provide a new sight and inspiration for deft detection. The results showed that developed ARMS achieved strong specificity and high sensitivity in rapid identification, while the short Cytb gene was of excellent identification power in terms of accurate identification, which suggested that ARMSS successfully integrated the advantages of the ARMS and short DNA barcode, and that it was useful for deft detection. Our study determined that the deft ARMSS could be the well candidate for discrimination of Pilos antler, as well as be a valuable tool for deft identification of Chinese medicine. | 25,090,397 | [
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Intravenous immunoglobulin for hypogammaglobulinemia after lung transplantation: a randomized crossover trial. | We aimed to determine the effects of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin on bacterial infections in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) after lung transplantation. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled two-period crossover trial of immune globulin intravenous (IVIG), 10% Purified (Gamunex, Bayer, Elkhart, IN) monthly in eleven adults who had undergone lung transplantation more than three months previously. We randomized study participants to three doses of IVIG (or 0.1% albumin solution (placebo)) given four weeks apart followed by a twelve week washout and then three doses of placebo (or IVIG). The primary outcome was the number of bacterial infections within each treatment period. IVIG had no effect on the number of bacterial infections during the treatment period (3 during IVIG and 1 during placebo; odds ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 27.6, p = 0.24). There were no effects on other infections, use of antibiotics, or lung function. IVIG significantly increased trough IgG levels at all time points (least square means, 765.3 mg/dl during IVIG and 486.3 mg/dl during placebo, p<0.001). Four serious adverse events (resulting in hospitalization) occurred during the treatment periods (3 during active treatment and 1 during the placebo period, p = 0.37). Chills, flushing, and nausea occurred during one infusion of IVIG. Treatment with IVIG did not reduce the short-term risk of bacterial infection in patients with HGG after lung transplantation. The clinical efficacy of immunoglobulin supplementation in HGG related to lung transplantation over the long term or with recurrent infections is unknown. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00115778. | 25,090,414 | [
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Anion binding studies on receptors derived from the indolo[2,3-a]carbazole scaffold having different binding cavity sizes. | The indolo[2,3-a]carbazole scaffold is a fused polyheteroaromatic system bearing two NH groups which suitably converge as hydrogen bond donor sites for the recognition of anions. A simple derivatisation of the indolocarbazole system at positions 1 and 10 with different functional groups, namely alcohols and amides, has contributed to modulate the anion binding selectivity and sensibility. A particularly good response has been obtained for the benzoate anion. | 25,090,420 | [
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Genetic structure of Qiangic populations residing in the western Sichuan corridor. | The Qiangic languages in western Sichuan (WSC) are believed to be the oldest branch of the Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, and therefore, all Sino-Tibetan populations might have originated in WSC. However, very few genetic investigations have been done on Qiangic populations and no genetic evidences for the origin of Sino-Tibetan populations have been provided. By using the informative Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers, we analyzed the genetic structure of Qiangic populations. Our results revealed a predominantly Northern Asian-specific component in Qiangic populations, especially in maternal lineages. The Qiangic populations are an admixture of the northward migrations of East Asian initial settlers with Y chromosome haplogroup D (D1-M15 and the later originated D3a-P47) in the late Paleolithic age, and the southward Di-Qiang people with dominant haplogroup O3a2c1*-M134 and O3a2c1a-M117 in the Neolithic Age. | 25,090,432 | [
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Quantum-enhanced metrology for multiple phase estimation with noise. | We present a general quantum metrology framework to study the simultaneous estimation of multiple phases in the presence of noise as a discretized model for phase imaging. This approach can lead to nontrivial bounds of the precision for multiphase estimation. Our results show that simultaneous estimation (SE) of multiple phases is always better than individual estimation (IE) of each phase even in noisy environment. The utility of the bounds of multiple phase estimation for photon loss channels is exemplified explicitly. When noise is low, those bounds possess the Heisenberg scale showing quantum-enhanced precision with the O(d) advantage for SE, where d is the number of phases. However, this O(d) advantage of SE scheme in the variance of the estimation may disappear asymptotically when photon loss becomes significant and then only a constant advantage over that of IE scheme demonstrates. Potential application of those results is presented. | 25,090,445 | [
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How way leads on to way. | In this article, I briefly recount the historical events in my native country that led me to become a plant pathologist. I started as a field pathologist specializing in fungal diseases of legumes, moved to biochemical research on virulence factors, and then on to molecular plant-microbe interactions. I describe the impact my graduate studies at the University of California (UC)-Davis had on my career. My life's work and teaching can be said to reflect the development in plant pathology during the past 40 years. I have included a concise review of the development of plant pathology in Israel and the ways it is funded. Dealing with administrative duties while conducting research has contributed to my belief in the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and of preserving the applied approach in the teaching of plant pathology. | 25,090,476 | [
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THz-wave generation via difference frequency mixing in strained silicon based waveguide utilizing its second order susceptibility χ((2)). | Terahertz (THz) wave generation via difference frequency mixing (DFM) process in strain silicon membrane waveguides by introducing the straining layer is theoretically investigated. The Si(3)N(4) straining layer induces anisotropic compressive strain in the silicon core and results in the appearance of the bulk second order nonlinear susceptibility χ((2)) by breaking the crystal symmetry. We have proposed waveguide structures for THz wave generation under the DFM process by .using the modal birefringence in the waveguide core. Our simulations show that an output power of up to 0.95 mW can be achieved at 9.09 THz. The strained silicon optical device may open a widow in the field of the silicon-based active THz photonic device applications. | 25,090,484 | [
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Kinoform diffractive lenses for efficient nano-focusing of hard X-rays. | A nano-focusing module based on two linear Fresnel zone plates is presented. The zone plates are designed to generate a kinoform phase profile in tilted geometry, thus overcoming the efficiency limitations of binary diffractive structures. Adjustment of the tilt angle enables tuning of the setup for optimal efficiency over a wide range of photon energies, ranging from 5 to 20 keV. Diffraction efficiency of more than 50% was measured for the full module at 8 keV photon energy. A diffraction limited spot size of 100 nm was verified by ptychographic reconstruction for a lens module with a large entrance aperture of 440 μm × 400 μm. | 25,090,486 | [
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Three-directional motion compensation-based novel-look-up-table for video hologram generation of three-dimensional objects freely maneuvering in space. | A new three-directional motion compensation-based novel-look-up-table (3DMC-NLUT) based on its shift-invariance and thin-lens properties, is proposed for video hologram generation of three-dimensional (3-D) objects moving with large depth variations in space. The input 3-D video frames are grouped into a set of eight in sequence, where the first and remaining seven frames in each set become the reference frame (RF) and general frames (GFs), respectively. Hence, each 3-D video frame is segmented into a set of depth-sliced object images (DOIs). Then x, y, and z-directional motion vectors are estimated from blocks and DOIs between the RF and each of the GFs, respectively. With these motion vectors, object motions in space are compensated. Then, only the difference images between the 3-directionally motion-compensated RF and each of the GFs are applied to the NLUT for hologram calculation. Experimental results reveal that the average number of calculated object points and the average calculation time of the proposed method have been reduced compared to those of the conventional NLUT, TR-NLUT and MPEG-NLUT by 38.14%, 69.48%, and 67.41% and 35.30%, 66.39%, and 64.46%, respectively. | 25,090,509 | [
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100-kHz shot-to-shot broadband data acquisition for high-repetition-rate pump-probe spectroscopy. | Shot-to-shot broadband detection is common in ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy. Taking advantage of the intensity correlation of subsequent laser pulses improves the signal-to-noise ratio. Finite data readout times of CCD chips in the employed spectrometer and the maximum available speed of mechanical pump-beam choppers typically limit this approach to lasers with repetition rates of a few kHz. For high-repetition (≥ 100 kHz) systems, one typically averages over a larger number of laser shots leading to inferior signal-to-noise ratios or longer measurement times. Here we demonstrate broadband shot-to-shot detection in transient absorption spectroscopy with a 100-kHz femtosecond laser system. This is made possible using a home-built high-speed chopper with external laser synchronization and a fast CCD line camera. Shot-to-shot detection can reduce the data acquisition time by two orders of magnitude compared to few-kHz lasers while keeping the same signal-to-noise ratio. | 25,090,512 | [
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Absolute shape measurement of high NA focusing microobjects in digital holographic microscope with arbitrary spherical wave illumination. | In this paper a new high NA shape measurement technique working with an arbitrary spherical wave illumination is presented. The main contribution of this work are formulas, derived from exact reflection and refraction laws for both the reflection and the transmission configurations, which enable accurate shape calculations in systems with an arbitrary location of the illuminating point source. The proposed algorithms permit measurement of multiple samples of arbitrary shapes using a single hologram. An accuracy of this method is confirmed with numerical simulations, which show superiority of this approach over a standard procedure utilizing paraxial approximation. The method is validated experimentally using a reflective measurement of a microlens topography, whose NA in reflection is 0.7. Furthermore, a new measurement configuration is presented that extends the capabilities of transmission systems for characterization of high gradient shapes. | 25,090,514 | [
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A 7.81 W 355 nm ultraviolet picosecond laser using La2CaB10O19 as a nonlinear optical crystal. | We demonstrate high-power 355 nm ultraviolet (UV) picosecond (ps) laser using a type I phase-matching nonlinear optical crystal of La(2)CaB(10)O(19) (LCB), which possesses the characteristic of non-hygroscopicity. The high-power third harmonic generation was successfully achieved from two types of 1064 nm ps fundamental lasers. The maximum output power of 7.81 W of 355 nm UV laser was obtained with a pump of 35.2 W 1064 nm ps laser (80 MHz repetition rate, 10 ps pulse width) with optical conversion efficiency of 22.2%. The experimental results show that the LCB crystal is a promising candidate for generating high-power UV laser. | 25,090,532 | [
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Optical reflectionless potentials for broadband, omnidirectional antireflection. | Reflectionless potentials (RPs) represent a class of potentials that offer total transmission in the context of one dimensional scattering. An optical realization of RP can exhibit a truly broadband omni-directional antireflection. We report our experimental observations confirming the reflectionless behavior. Stratified media conforming to RP's are designed and fabricated using Al(2)O(3) and TiO(2) heterolayers. They showed < 0.5% reflection over the broad wavelength range of 350 nm to 2500 nm for angles of incidence 0 - 50 degrees. These RPs can be designed on substrates and are thus interesting for optical instrumentation as broadband, omni-directional antireflection coatings. | 25,090,551 | [
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Nyquist WDM superchannel using offset-16QAM and receiver-side digital spectral shaping. | The performance of Nyquist WDM superchannel using advanced modulation formats with coherent detection is degraded due to the existence of both inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-channel interference (ICI). Here, we propose and numerically investigate a Nyquist WDM superchannel using offset-16QAM and receiver-side digital spectral shaping (RS-DSS), achieving a spectral efficiency up to 7.44 bit/s/Hz with 7% hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) overhead. Compared with Nyquist WDM superchannel using 16QAM and RS-DSS, the proposed system has 1.4 dB improvement of required OSNR at BER = 10(-3) in the case of back-to-back (B2B) transmission. Furthermore, the range of launched optical power allowed beyond HD-FEC threshold is drastically increased from -6 dBm to 1.2 dBm, after 960 km SSMF transmission with EDFA-only. In particular, no more than 1.8 dB required OSNR penalty at BER = 10(-3) is achieved for the proposed system even with the phase difference between channels varying from 0 to 360 degree. | 25,090,558 | [
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Experimental evaluation of a digitized fiber-wireless system employing sigma delta modulation. | Digitized radio-over-fiber (D-RoF) transport schemes are being pointed as viable alternative solutions to their analog counterparts, in order to avoid distortion/dynamic range problems. Here we propose a novel D-RoF architecture that takes advantage of a bandpass sigma-delta modulator at the transmitter which subsequently permits the usage of a simpler/cheaper base station that avoids the employment of a digital to analog converter. The proposed architecture exploits the properties of the digital signal to enable the extraction of an higher carrier frequency through the employment of a bandpass filter. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive analysis regarding the impact of a low-cost electro-optic modulation on the quality of received demodulated signal. Finally, a comparison performance analysis between the conventional D-RoF and the proposed architecture is presented. We conclude that although the proposed architecture performs similarly to conventional D-RoF schemes, it is more competitive for either upgrading installed systems as well as for new deployments. | 25,090,566 | [
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Risk assessment of population inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds and carbonyls in urban China. | Over the past three decades, China has experienced rapid urbanization. The risks to its urban population posed by inhalation exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have not been well characterized. Here, we summarize recent measurements of 16 highly prevalent HAPs in urban China and compile their distribution inputs. Based on activity patterns of urban Chinese working adults, we derive personal exposures. Using a probabilistic risk assessment method, we determine cancer and non-cancer risks for working females and males. We also assess the uncertainty associated with risk estimates using Monte Carlo simulation, accounting for variations in HAP concentrations, cancer potency factors (CPFs) and inhalation rates. Average total lifetime cancer risks attributable to HAPs are 2.27×10(-4) (2.27 additional cases per 10,000 people exposed) and 2.93×10(-4) for Chinese urban working females and males, respectively. Formaldehyde, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, benzene and 1,3-butadiene are the major risk contributors yielding the highest median cancer risk estimates, >1×10(-5). About 70% of the risk is due to exposures occurring in homes. Outdoor sources contribute most to the risk of benzene, ethylbenzene and carbon tetrachloride, while indoor sources dominate for all other compounds. Chronic exposure limits are not exceeded for non-carcinogenic effects, except for formaldehyde. Risks are overestimated if variation is not accounted for. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that the major contributors to total variance are range of inhalation rates, CPFs of formaldehyde, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, benzene and 1,3-butadiene, and indoor home concentrations of formaldehyde and benzene. Despite uncertainty, risks exceeding the acceptable benchmark of 1×10(-6) suggest actions to reduce exposures. Future efforts should be directed toward large-scale measurements of air pollutant concentrations, refinement of CPFs and investigation of population exposure parameters. The present study is a first effort to estimate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of inhalation exposure to HAPs for the large working populations of Chinese cites. | 25,090,575 | [
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AAPE proliposomes for topical atopic dermatitis treatment. | Anti-inflammatory effect of advanced adipose stem cell derived protein extract (AAPE) could be improved by minimising protein degradation. To develop a proliposomal formulation of AAPE for the treatment of topical atopic dermatitis. Proliposomal powder was manufactured by evaporating a solution of soy phosphatidyl choline, AAPE and Poloxamer 407 in ethanol under vacuum on sorbitol powder. Characterisation of proliposomes (zeta potential, diameter, stability and flowability) as well as in vivo efficacy in a dermatitis mouse model was investigated. Reconstitution of the proliposomal powder formed liposomes of 589 ± 3.6 nm diameter with zeta potential of -51.33 ± 0.36 mV. Protein stability was maintained up to 90 days at 25 °C as proliposomes. In vivo studies on atopic dermatitis mouse model showed a significant reduction in IgE levels after topical AAPE proliposome treatment. AAPE proliposomes maintained protein stability and showed promising results for atopic dermatitis treatment. | 25,090,594 | [
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The role of particle physico-chemical properties in pulmonary drug delivery for tuberculosis therapy. | There is increasing interest in the use of inhaled aerosol drug therapy for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). A number of methods of preparation of particles have been employed including spray drying, solvent evaporation, emulsion and phospholipid methods to create microparticles, macroaggregated nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles and liposomes. Each of these methods involves the use of different proportions of additives to aid in the particle formation or to achieve important physico-chemical properties such as ease of dispersion. While these approaches all have merit their practical value is limited by constraints on dose and means of delivery as an aerosol in order to achieve a therapeutic effect. A review of a number of approaches is presented and placed in the context of the need for effective aerosol delivery systems for the treatment of TB as a guide to selection of appropriate excipients, processes and delivery strategies to support product development activities. | 25,090,595 | [
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Veterans with depression in primary care: provider preferences, matching, and care satisfaction. | Primary care is often the first point of care for individuals with depression. Depressed patients often have comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding variations in treatment preferences and care satisfaction in this population can improve care planning and outcomes. The design involved a cross-sectional comparison of veterans screening positive for depression. Veterans receiving primary care during the previous year were contacted (n = 10, 929) and were screened for depression using the PHQ-2/PHQ-9. Those with probable depression (n = 761) underwent a comprehensive assessment including screens for AUD and PTSD, treatment provider preferences, treatments received, and satisfaction with care. Treatment provider preferences differed based on specific mental health comorbidities, and satisfaction with care was associated with receipt of preferred care. Depressed veterans with comorbid PTSD were more likely to prefer care from more than one provider type (e.g., a psychiatrist and a primary care provider) and were more likely to receive treatment that matched their preferences than veterans without comorbid PTSD. Veterans receiving full or partial treatment matches affirmed satisfaction with care at higher rates, and veterans with comorbid PTSD were least satisfied when care did not match their preferences. Patient satisfaction with care is an increasingly important focus for health care systems. This study found significant variations in depressed patients' satisfaction with care in terms of treatment matching, particularly among those with comorbid PTSD. Delivery of care that matches patient treatment preferences is likely to improve depressed patient's satisfaction with the care provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). | 25,090,611 | [
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Randomised double-blind comparison of placebo and active drugs for effects on risks associated with blood pressure variability in the Systolic Hypertension in Europe trial. | In the Systolic Hypertension in Europe trial (NCT02088450), we investigated whether systolic blood pressure variability determines prognosis over and beyond level. Using a computerised random function and a double-blind design, we randomly allocated 4695 patients (≥60 years) with isolated systolic hypertension (160-219/<95 mm Hg) to active treatment or matching placebo. Active treatment consisted of nitrendipine (10-40 mg/day) with possible addition of enalapril (5-20 mg/day) and/or hydrochlorothiazide (12.5-25.0 mg/day). We assessed whether on-treatment systolic blood pressure level (SBP), visit-to-visit variability independent of the mean (VIM) or within-visit variability (WVV) predicted total (n = 286) or cardiovascular (n = 150) mortality or cardiovascular (n = 347), cerebrovascular (n = 133) or cardiac (n = 217) endpoints. At 2 years, mean between-group differences were 10.5 mm Hg (p<0.0001) for SBP, 0.29 units (p = 0.20) for VIM, and 0.07 mm Hg (p = 0.47) for WVV. Active treatment reduced (p≤0.048) cardiovascular (-28%), cerebrovascular (-40%) and cardiac (-24%) endpoints. In analyses dichotomised by the median, patients with low vs. high VIM had similar event rates (p≥0.14). Low vs. high WVV was not associated with event rates (p≥0.095), except for total and cardiovascular mortality on active treatment, which were higher with low WVV (p≤0.0003). In multivariable-adjusted Cox models, SBP predicted all endpoints (p≤0.0043), whereas VIM did not predict any (p≥0.058). Except for an inverse association with total mortality (p = 0.042), WVV was not predictive (p≥0.15). Sensitivity analyses, from which we excluded blood pressure readings within 6 months after randomisation, 6 months prior to an event or both were confirmatory. The double-blind placebo-controlled Syst-Eur trial demonstrated that blood-pressure lowering treatment reduces cardiovascular complications by decreasing level but not variability of SBP. Higher blood pressure level, but not higher variability, predicted risk. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02088450. | 25,090,617 | [
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... |
Understanding phase-change behaviors of carbon-doped Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ for phase-change memory application. | Phase-change materials are highly promising for next-generation nonvolatile data storage technology. The pronounced effects of C doping on structural and electrical phase-change behaviors of Ge2Sb2Te5 material are investigated at the atomic level by combining experiments and ab initio molecular dynamics. C dopants are found to fundamentally affect the amorphous structure of Ge2Sb2Te5 by altering the local environments of Ge-Te tetrahedral units with stable C-C chains. The incorporated C increases the amorphous stability due to the enhanced covalent nature of the material with larger tetrahedral Ge sites. The four-membered rings with alternating atoms are reduced greatly with carbon addition, leading to sluggish phase transition and confined crystal grains. The lower RESET power is presented in the PCM cells with carbon-doped material, benefiting from its high resistivity and low thermal conductivity. | 25,090,618 | [
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5-azacytidine promotes the transdifferentiation of cardiac cells to skeletal myocytes. | The DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine is widely used to stimulate the cardiac differentiation of stem cells. However, 5-azacytidine has long been employed as a tool for stimulating skeletal myogenesis. Yet, it is unclear whether the ability of 5-azacytidine to promote both cardiac and skeletal myogenesis is dependent strictly on the native potential of the starting cell population or if this drug is a transdifferentiation agent. To address this issue, we examined the effect of 5-azacytidine on cultures of adult mouse atrial tissue, which contains cardiac but not skeletal muscle progenitors. Exposure to 5-azacytidine caused atrial cells to elongate and increased the presence of fat globules within the cultures. 5-Azacytidine also induced expression of the skeletal myogenic transcription factors MyoD and myogenin. 5-Azacytidine pretreatments allowed atrial cells to undergo adipogenesis or skeletal myogenesis when subsequently cultured with either insulin and dexamethasone or low-serum media, respectively. The presence of skeletal myocytes in atrial cultures was indicated by dual staining for myogenin and sarcomeric α-actin. These data demonstrate that 5-azacytidine converts cardiac cells to noncardiac cell types and suggests that this drug has a compromised efficacy as a cardiac differentiation factor. | 25,090,621 | [
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Comparative toxicity of new halophenolic DBPs in chlorinated saline wastewater effluents against a marine alga: halophenolic DBPs are generally more toxic than haloaliphatic ones. | Using seawater for toilet flushing effectively reduces the consumption of precious freshwater resources, yet it introduces bromide and iodide ions into a wastewater treatment system, which may form bromo- and iodo-disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during chlorination of the wastewater effluent. Most of the newly identified DBPs in chlorinated wastewater effluents were halophenolic compounds. It has been reported that the newly identified bromo- and iodo-phenolic DBPs were generally significantly more toxic to a heterotrophic marine polychaete than the commonly known haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes. This has raised a concern over the discharge of chlorinated saline wastewater effluents into the marine ecosystem. In this study, the toxicity of new halophenolic DBPs and some haloaliphatic DBPs was tested against an autotrophic marine alga, Tetraselmis marina. The alga and polychaete bioassays gave the same toxicity orders for many groups of halo-DBPs. New halophenolic DBPs also showed significantly higher toxicity to the alga than the commonly known haloacetic acids, indicating that the emerging halophenolic DBPs deserve more attention. However, two bioassays did exhibit a couple of disparities in toxicity results, mainly because the alga was capable of metabolizing some (nitrogenous) halophenolic DBPs. A quantitative structure-toxicity relationship was developed for the halophenolic DBPs, by employing three physicochemical descriptors (log K(ow), pKa and molar topological index). This relationship presented the toxicity mechanism of the halophenolic DBPs to T. marina and gave a good prediction of the algal toxicity of the tested halophenolic DBPs. | 25,090,624 | [
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Catch and Release: Photocleavable Cationic Diblock Copolymers as a Potential Platform for Nucleic Acid Delivery. | Binding interactions between DNA and cationic carriers must be sufficiently strong to prevent nuclease-mediated degradation, yet weak enough to permit transcription. We demonstrate cationic diblock copolymers containing PEG and <io</i-nitrobenzyl moieties that facilitated tailorable DNA complexation and light-activated release. This design unlocks a new approach to advance non-viral gene packaging. | 25,090,637 | [
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Regulation of nasal airway homeostasis and inflammation in mice by SHP-1 and Th2/Th1 signaling pathways. | Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease orchestrated by Th2 lymphocytes. Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP)-1 is known to be a negative regulator in the IL-4α/STAT-6 signaling pathway of the lung. However, the role of SHP-1 enzyme and its functional relationship with Th2 and Th1 cytokines are not known in the nasal airway. In this study, we aimed to study the nasal inflammation as a result of SHP-1 deficiency in viable motheaten (mev) mice and to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved. Cytology, histology, and expression of cytokines and chemokines were analyzed to define the nature of the nasal inflammation. Targeted gene depletion of Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-13) cytokines was used to identify the critical pathways involved. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were studied to demonstrate the clearance mechanism of recruited inflammatory cells into the nasal airway. We showed here that mev mice had a spontaneous allergic rhinitis-like inflammation with eosinophilia, mucus metaplasia, up-regulation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13), chemokines (eotaxin), and MMPs. All of these inflammatory mediators were clearly counter-regulated by Th2 and Th1 cytokines. Deletion of IFN-γ gene induced a strong Th2-skewed inflammation with transepithelial migration of the inflammatory cells. These findings suggest that SHP-1 enzyme and Th2/Th1 paradigm may play a critical role in the maintenance of nasal immune homeostasis and in the regulation of allergic rhinitis. | 25,090,641 | [
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Mutation of the melastatin-related cation channel, TRPM3, underlies inherited cataract and glaucoma. | Inherited forms of cataract are a clinically important and genetically heterogeneous cause of visual impairment that usually present at an early age with or without systemic and/or other ocular abnormalities. Here we have identified a new locus for inherited cataract and high-tension glaucoma with variable anterior segment defects, and characterized an underlying mutation in the gene coding for transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member-3 (TRPM3, melastatin-2). Genome-wide linkage analysis mapped the ocular disease locus to the pericentric region of human chromosome 9. Whole exome and custom-target next-generation sequencing detected a heterozygous A-to-G transition in exon-3 of TRPM3 that co-segregated with disease. As a consequence of alternative splicing this missense mutation was predicted to result in the substitution of isoleucine-to-methionine at codon 65 (c.195A>G; p.I65 M) of TRPM3 transcript variant 9, and at codon 8 (c.24A>G; p.I8 M) of a novel TRPM3 transcript variant expressed in human lens. In both transcript variants the I-to-M substitution was predicted in silico to exert damaging effects on protein function. Furthermore, transient expression studies of a recombinant TRPM3-GFP reporter product predicted that the I-to-M substitution introduced an alternative translation start-site located 89 codons upstream from the native initiator methionine found in eight other TRPM3 transcript variants (1-8). Collectively, these studies have provided the first evidence that TRPM3 is associated with inherited ocular disease in humans, and further provide support for the important role of this cation channel in normal eye development. | 25,090,642 | [
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Anisotropic quantum transport in a network of vertically aligned graphene sheets. | Novel anisotropic quantum transport was observed in a network of vertically aligned graphene sheets (VAGSs), which can be regarded as composed of plenty of quasi-parallel, nearly intrinsic, freestanding monolayers of graphene. When a magnetic field was perpendicular to most graphene sheets, magnetoresistance (MR) curves showed a weak localization (WL) effect at low field and a maximum value at a critical field ascribed to diffusive boundary scattering. While the magnetic field was parallel to the graphene sheets, the MR maximum disappeared and exhibited a transition from WL to weak antilocalization (WAL) with increasing temperature and magnetic field. Edges as atomically sharp defects are the main elastic and inelastic intervalley scattering sources, and inelastic scattering is ascribed to electron-electron intervalley scattering in the ballistic regime. This is the first time simultaneously observing WL, WAL and diffusive boundary scattering in such a macroscopic three-dimensional graphene system. These indicate the VAGS network is a robust platform for the study of the intrinsic physical properties of graphene. | 25,090,659 | [
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[Chemical variability of essential oils in peels collected in different time from Citrus reticulata 'Ponkan']. | To study the chemical variation of essential oils in peels collected from Citrus reticulata' Ponkan' in different time. The volatile oils were extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The oil components were identified by their mass spectra and Kovats retention indices (RIs) and quantified by the area normalization method. A total of 68 compounds were identified in 6 samples harvested in different time, and the total contents of identified compounds in each sample were from 94.27% to 97.12%. The highest content compounds were d-limonene, gamma-terpinene and linalool representing 56.862%-67.728%, 9.298%-11.081% and 4.792%-7.893%, respectively. There was little difference in the chemical components between different samples, but a great variation in quantitation between the former 2 samples and the latter 4 samples. The chemical variability of essential oils from 6 Citrus reticulata 'Ponkan' peel samples presents a regularity. | 25,090,671 | [
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[Study on macroscopic and microscopic identification of Saposhnikovia divaricata and its counterfeits]. | To provide an identification method for the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata and its three counterfeits. Macroscopic identification and microscopic identification of root transverse section and powder were carried out to distinguish these four species. For macroscopic characteristics, Saposhnikoviae Radix and its counterfeits can be distinguished by the head of the residual leaf and sections. As for microscopic identification, the feature was not obvious. But there were some differences to distinguish them,such as the number of cork layer, cambium was evident or not, the number of the xylem catheter,the presence or absence of large oil pipe and longitudinal cracks between the part from cortex to xylem. This is a simple and accurate method for distinguish Saposhnikoviae Radix and its counterfeits. | 25,090,676 | [
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[Chemical constituents of Desmodium caudatum]. | To study the chemical constituents of Desmodium caudatum. Silica column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and recrystallization were used to separate and purify the chemical composition of Desmodium caudatum. Their chemical structures were identified by infrared spectrum (IR), mass spectrum (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other physicochemical methods. Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as lacceroic acid(1), gheddic acid(2), stigmasterol(3), betulin(4), citrusinol(5), yukovanol(6), kaempferol(7), protocatechuic acid(8), sophocarpine(9), matrine(10), N, Ndimethyltryptamine(11) and 5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine(12). Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 8-12 are isolated from this plant for the first time. | 25,090,679 | [
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[Analysis of volatile constituents of Astragali Complanati semen by HS-SPME combined with GC-MS]. | To analyze the compositions of volatile constituents in Astragali Complanati Semen. The volatile constituents were extracted with headspace solid phase micro extraction (HS-SPME), and identified by GC-MS. 51 compounds were separated from Astragali Complanati Semen and 25 of them were identified, which made up 78.85% of the total amount. The main components obtained from Astragali Complanati Semen were L-Bornyl acetate (14.1%), Camphor (5.98%) and L(-)-Borneol (4.27%). The compounds in Astragali Complanati Semen are firstly confirmed,which provides scientific evidence for the development of Astragali Complanati Semen. | 25,090,683 | [
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[Study on prevention effect of huoluotongnao tablet on stroke (I)]. | To study the prevention effect of Huoluotongnao tablet on stroke. Thrombosis on arteriovenous shunt rats model, platelet aggregation and hypertension combined high cholesterol rats model were used. Huoluotongnao tablet high and low dosage could inhibit the formation of arteriovenous thrombosis and platelet aggregation significantly ,the inhibition rate was 17.71%, 22.69%, 20.34% and 24.43%, respectively. Pretreatment of Huoluotongnao tablet could inhibit the formation of arteriovenous thrombosis significantly; The levels of CHOz in all treatment groups of hypertension combined high cholesterol rats model were decreased significantly,the levels of TGz and LDL-C were decreased in the high dosage group,the blood pressure was decreased in the middle dosage group. eta bL, eta P and eta r (B/P) were decreased in the middle and high dosage groups. eta bM, AI and CY were decreased in the middle and high dosage groups. Huoluotongnao tablet had effect on blood lipid,blood pressure and hemorheology and in a dose-dependence manner. Its minimal effecting dose was the middle dose. g/kg (crude drug) and has certain prevention effect on stroke. Huoluotongnao tablet's minimal effecting dose is 1.28 | 25,090,686 | [
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[Optimization of ultrasonic extraction conditions of safflower yellow from Carthamus tinctorius by response surface methodology]. | To investigate the optimization of extraction conditions of safflower yellow from Cartbamus tirwtorius by response surface methodology. Experimental factors and levels were selected by one-factor test, and then according to the central composite experimental design principle, response surface'-methodology with three factors and three levels was used to establish a mathematical model to obtain the optimal extraction conditions with hydroxysafflower yellow A being the target and its extraction yield as response value. The optimal extraction conditions of safflower yellow were as follows: extraction temperature was 55 t, ratio of water to raw material was 16:1 and extraction time was 39 mm for three times. Under these conditions, the extraction yield of safflower yellow is 1.798%, and the relative error between the predicted value with actual value is 2.758%. The optimized method can provide reference for the efficient extraction of safflower yellow from Carthomos tinctorius | 25,090,689 | [
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Intra-articular shoulder infiltrations. A study of Dutch and Flemish shoulder specialists. | It has been demonstrated that the use of echography during intra-articular shoulder infiltrations provides superior results. The correct infiltration technique and the related (contra-) indications are still under discussion. The authors' objective was to ascertain how intra-articular shoulder infiltrations are done in Holland and Flanders. An electronic questionnaire was answered by 35 members of the FLESSS (Flanders) and 30 members of the WSE (Netherlands) and was then processed statistically. 21.54% of those questioned think they have sufficient experience with the use of echography during intra-articular infiltrations. 87.7% of the orthopaedists give a normal dose of corticoids to diabetes patients and more than 71% infiltrate when anticoagulants are used. Whereas 68.57% of the Flemish use posterior infiltration, 76.67% of the Dutch give an anterior injection. Echography is not used enough as an aid for intra-articular shoulder infiltrations. Neither diabetes mellitus nor anticoagulants are considered to be contra-indications. The Flemish shoulder specialists mainly administer posterior infiltration with methylprednisolone. The Dutch orthopaedists mainly administer anterior infiltration with triamcinolone. | 25,090,787 | [
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Frozen shoulder--comparison of different surgical treatment options. | In this study data from 54 patients with persisting primary frozen shoulder were collected and evaluated retrospectively. All included patients underwent a specific kind of surgical treatment of the shoulder. Three different surgical techniques were compared to each other. A group of 21 patients received a combination of arthroscopic capsular release and subacromial decompression. 18 patients were treated by subacromial decompression combined with mobilization under anesthesia and 15 patients underwent selective arthroscopic capsular release. We evaluated glenohumeral range of motion in every patient pre-and postoperatively. The investigated directions of motion were abduction, flexion and external rotation. The collected results were compared statistically. The mean follow-up of the treated patients was 37 weeks (range 11-52 weeks). All three surgical treatments improved the range of movement in every glenohumeral direction significantly. They achieved equal improvements in abduction and flexion. Regarding external rotation selective arthroscopic capsular release revealed not significantly better results than the other two surgical treatments, but there was a trend towards significance (p-value 0.0694). This study showed that all performed surgical techniques improved ranges of movement in the glenohumeral joint in patients with persistent frozen shoulder. Arthroscopic capsular release, alone or with subacromial decompression, is a safe procedure and showed the best results postoperatively. In our opinion arthroscopic capsular release should be recommended as the first choice treatment in persistent frozen shoulder. | 25,090,788 | [
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The importance and the differences of bone morphogenetic proteins for osteoporotic hip fractures. | Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), major contributors to tissue repair, have become one of the most exciting fields in rheumatic and orthopaedic research. In our study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between osteoporotic hip fractures and the serum levels of BMPs to reveal their potential roles in the diagnosis of patients. The study group included 62 patients with osteoporotic hip fracture (Group 1; intertrochanteric fracture, Group 2; collum femoris fracture) and the control group. All fractures were due to low energy trauma, simple falls. For all subjects BMD measurements were in agreement for osteoporosis and no significant differences were observed between the two fracture groups. Biochemical markers; BMP-4 and BMP-7 (pg/mL) were determined by commercial Elisa kits from the serum samples. The mean and standard error values of serum samples for BMP-4 and BMP-7 in Group 1 (100.70 +/- 10.03, 74.41 +/- 6.31 respectively) and in Group 2 (112.34 +/- 11.52, 81.91 +/- 10.14 respectively) were not statistically different however for both groups only BMP-7 values increased statistically when compared to the control group. BMP-7 measurements may not only serve as potential biochemical markers for determining disease severity but also the increased levels, an osteogenic factor and bone stimulating agent in vivo, after trauma elevated levels are adaptive or protective and therefore may reduce the severity of the fracture. | 25,090,795 | [
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Wedgeless 'V' shaped distal femoral osteotomy with internal fixation for genu valgum in adolescents and young adults. | The treatment of angular malalignment includes restoration of normal mechanical axis alignment and joint orientation.The supracondylar wedgeless distal femoral 'V' osteotomy, as a treatment modality, is sparsely explored in the literature. This study was conducted at a tertiary level teaching referral hospital from October 2010 to September 2012. Forty six lower limbs (in 30 patients) were operated with a wedgeless 'V' osteotomy that was fixed with a buttress 'L' plate. The pre-operative deformity, post-operative correction and knee range of movement were noted. Mobilisation was started at 3 weeks after surgery and full weight-bearing was allowed at 3 months. The knee score by Bostman et al. was used for functional outcome. The mean age of the patients in our study was 16.9 years (range: 15 years to 23 years). The patients were followed up for a mean period of 19.8 months (range, 15 months to 29 months). The mean radiological tibiofemoral angle was 22.2 degrees (range, 16 degrees to 29 degrees) before surgery, that improved to a mean postoperative value of 5.1 degrees (range, 0 degrees to 10 degrees) (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative lateral distal femoral angle was 79.23 degrees that improved to a mean value of 89.13 degrees after surgery (p < 0.001). The mean mechanical axis deviation was 19.56 mm before surgery that improved to a mean postoperative value of 3.7 mm (p < 0.001). All patients reached a correction of the deformity and 44 cases out of a total of 46 had an excellent functional outcome, 2 patients had a good functional outcome. None had an unsatisfactory outcome. Two cases had a deep wound infection that subsided after implant removal. None of the cases had other complications. The distal femoral 'V' shaped osteotomy is a simple procedure for the correction of genu valgum in individuals nearing skeletal maturity and is easy to perform. It has the advantage of being wedgeless as it does not cause limb length discrepancy. Internal fixation helps in early rehabilitation after surgery. | 25,090,798 | [
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Prospective randomized comparative study on V-Y and pants-over-vest capsulorraphy in chevron and scarf osteotomy. | The contribution of capsulorraphy techniques at hallux valgus surgery to sustain the longevity of the achieved correction is not well documented. This study aims to evaluate the outcome of two different capsulorraphies (V-Y and pants-over-vest). 88 feet were prospectively included and followed for 2 years. Capsulorraphy type was determined by randomisation. Primary outcome was the correction of the intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and the metatarso-phalangeal angle (MPA). Secondary endpoints were the Kitaoka-MTP1-score and the SF-36. A linear model for repeated measures was used for statistical analysis. VY and PV showed a comparable evolution for IMA (p = 0.42) and MPA (p = 0.36). However, a tendency to loss of MPA correction was noted in the scarf group for PV as compared to VY (p = 0.037). Secondary outcomes showed no significant differences between PV and VY in evolution over time for SF-36 total (p = 0.45) nor for the Kitaoka score (p = 0.15). We observed a complication rate comparable with those previously reported. The 2 year follow up did not reveal significant loss of correction of the IMA, regardless of the capsulorraphy used. The SF-36 and Kitaoka score results were stable over the study period. | 25,090,804 | [
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Can zinc levels predict response to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C genotype 4 infected Egyptian patients? | Zinc has been found to be low in chronic hepatitis patients. Its level was correlated with response to Interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. In Egypt, inexpensive predictors to treatment response in Hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients are desperately needed. We aim to explore if pretreatment zinc serum levels correlate with response to pegylated- interferon and ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients. This is an observational prospective study where 57 treatment naive hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients that were Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency virus negative were recruited in a hospital setting. The study was performed from October 2010 till June 2012. Patients had Liver biopsy and basic biochemical profiles were performed pretreatment for all patients. Treatment consisted of 48 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha2a and ribavirin therapy. Blood samples were withdrawn from 21 healthy subjects to compare zinc levels and other biochemical markers. Patients were followed up to 72 weeks. Pretreatment serum zinc levels were significantly lower in hepatitis C infected patients compared to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Moreover, zinc levels correlated to sustained virological response in treated patients (p = 0.00). Serum zinc levels can be used as an inexpensive predictor to effective Pegylated-interferon/ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients infected with Hepatitic C genotype 4. | 25,090,819 | [
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Bowel preparation for colonoscopy: efficacy, tolerability and safety. | Adequate cleansing of the bowel is important for a reliable and diagnostic colonoscopy. Proper bowel preparation is directly correlated to the diagnostic performance of colonoscopy, procedure time, cost price and the complication rate. The ideal bowel preparation agent should be efficient, safe and well tolerated by the patient. Numerous agents have become commercially available overtime. Current agents can be classified according to their tonicity, as being isotonic or hypertonic. Poly-ethylene glycol based solutions balanced with electrolytes are the prototype of isotonic bowel preparations. Poly-ethylene solutions are safe and efficient in cleaning the bowel. Volume related side-effects are common, leading to innovations such as split dosing, and low volume solution combined with another laxative. Sodium phosphate and magnesium oxide are hypertonic agents. They are efficient and well tolerated, but safety issues regarding sodium phosphate has hampered its success. Because most physician are likely to prescribe bowel preparation agents for colonoscopy, they should be aware of the range of preparations commercially available and their limitations. This review focuses on the efficacy, tolerability and safety of current available bowel preparation agents. | 25,090,824 | [
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[Marie-Victor Ernest Baudrimont, a famous pharmacist from Compiègne, France]. | Ernest Baudrimont is a pharmacist born in Compiègne in 1821. He is the nephew of the pharmacist chemist Alexandre Baudrimont and is from a family of Compiègne pharmacists. First prize and gold medal in 1846 of the School of Pharmacy in Paris, he obtained in 1852 his Ph D in pharmacy for a dissertation on the formation and composition of mineral waters, and in 1864 is Ph D of physical sciences for a dissertation on the chlorides and bromides of phosphorus. Hospitals Chief Pharmacist in 1854, he had his first position at the Sainte Eugénie children's Hospital, today Trousseau hospital in Paris, position he held until 1875 prior to his appointment as Director of the Paris Civilian Hospitals central Pharmacy. Member of the french Botanical Society, the Society of Medical Hydrology, secretary of the Society of Pharmacy, he was also associate professor of Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy of Paris. His scientific publications focus on the mineral chemistry i.e he described the nature of white phosphorus; mineral waters and some plants chemistry. One of the major contributions of Ernest Baudrimont was his involvment to the successive editions of the dictionary of the alterations and falsifications of foodstuffs of A. Chevallier. Member of the french Academy of Medicine in 1881, he died in Paris in September 1885. | 25,090,838 | [
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[Etiological factors of carpal tunnel syndrome in subjects occupationally exposed to monotype wrist movements]. | Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common neuropathy of upper limbs and a leading cause of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, in terms of work exposure, repetitive and forceful exertions of the hand and use of vibrating hand tools. The aim of the study was to evaluate etiological factors of carpal tunnel syndrome in subjects occupationally exposed to monotype movements in wrist. We conducted the retrospective analysis of 300 patients (261 women, 39 men), mean age 52 years (standard deviation: +/-6.93) hospitalized with the suspicion of occupational CTS. The study revealed high percentage (68.7%) of diseases and systemic factors involved in the pathogenesis of CTS in the analyzed population, especially obesity (32%), thyroid diseases (28.7%), hormone replacement therapy and/or oophorectomy (16.3%) and diabetes mellitus (12%). In 111 patients the coexistence of at least a couple of potential etiological factors of the neuropathy was recognized. Clinical analysis and occupational exposure allowed to diagnose occupational carpal tunnel syndrome in 18 (6%) patients only. The undeniable long-term (20(.2+/-9.3 years) occupational exposure to repetitive, forceful movements in the wrist was observed in this group. The results of our study indicated that non-occupational etiological factors of CTS predominated and in 37% of patients at least several factors were found. The analysis showed the high prevalence of CTS in workers employed in various sectors of industry, including so called "blue collar" workers. Our study confirmed the multifactorial etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome, however, occupational agents contributed to only 6% of cases. | 25,090,855 | [
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The expression of δ-catenin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its correlations with prognosis of patients. | As a member of the catenin family, expression of δ-catenin and its clinical implication in numerous tumors remain unclear. In the present study, expression of δ-catenin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its correlations with patient prognosis were explored. We detected the expression of δ-catenin, by immunohistochemistry, in ESCC tissues from 299 cases and analyzed the correlation between δ-catenin expression and patient clinicopathological features. Compared with a lack of expression in adjacent normal esophageal epithelium (0%, 0/47), the frequency of δ-catenin protein was increased in ESCC tissues to 41.5% (124/299, P < .001) and expression correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P = .025 and .019, respectively). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with high δ-catenin expression had shorter survival than patients with low expression (P = .010), and multivariate Cox analysis revealed that high δ-catenin expression was also an independent prognostic factor (P = .001). In transwell assays, migration of ESCC cells was enhanced by δ-catenin overexpression, whereas proliferation of ESCC cells was unchanged. Together, our results suggest that δ-catenin acts as an oncoprotein when overexpressed in ESCC, and its expression is associated with poor prognosis and malignant cell behavior. | 25,090,917 | [
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Sequence variation in virulence-related genes of Bordetella pertussis isolates from Poland in the period 1959-2013. | This study aimed to characterise Bordetella pertussis isolates circulating in Poland since 1959. Sequence analysis of ptxA, ptxC, prn, tcfA, fim2, fim3 and ptxP for 175 clinical isolates and currently and previously used vaccine strains was performed. Clinical isolates from the period 1995-2013 were found to be different to three currently used vaccine strains harbouring the allelic combination ptxA2-ptxC1-ptxP1-prn1-tcfA2-fim2-1-fim3-1, seen frequently in Poland in the early pertussis vaccination period but not found after 1995. Generally, among B. pertussis isolates from the period 2000-2013, two genotypes predominated, ptxA1-ptxC1-ptxP1-prn1-tcfA2-fim2-2-fim3-1 and ptxA1-ptxC1-ptxP1-prn2-tcfA2-fim2-1-fim3-1, with frequencies of 45% and 32.5%, respectively. The isolates harbouring ptxA1-ptxC2-ptxP3-prn2-tcfA2-fim2-1-fim3-2 and ptxA1-ptxC2-ptxP3-prn2-tcfA2-fim2-1-fim3-1 profiles, currently highly prevalent within other European Union (EU) countries, were rarely found in Poland, as they circulated in the period 2000-2013 with frequencies of 10% and 5%, respectively. We hypothesise that several previous changes of strain composition in whole-cell pertussis vaccine produced locally and used since 1960 in Poland resulted in a more diverse immune pressure in the population, resulting in different prevalence of alleles compared to elsewhere. | 25,090,968 | [
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Novel therapeutic targets in the management of atrial fibrillation. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, contributing to increased morbidity and reduced survival through its associations with stroke and heart failure. AF contributes to a four- to fivefold increase in the risk of stroke in the general population and is responsible for 10-15 % of all ischemic strokes. Diagnosis and treatment of AF require considerable health care resources. Current therapies to restore sinus rhythm in AF are suboptimal and are limited either by their pro-arrhythmic effects or by their procedure-related complications. These limitations have necessitated identification of newer therapeutic targets to expand the treatment options. There has been a considerable amount of research interest in investigating the mechanisms of initiation and propagation of AF. Despite extensive research focused on the pathogenesis of AF, a thorough understanding of various pathways mediating initiation and propagation of AF still remains limited. Research efforts focused on the identification of these pathways and molecular mediators have generated a great degree of interest for developing more targeted therapies. This review discusses the potential therapeutic targets and the results from experimental and clinical research investigating these targets. | 25,090,973 | [
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Bioprocessing of bagasse hydrolysate for ethanol and xylitol production using thermotolerant yeast. | Fermentation of xylose-rich and glucose-rich bagasse hydrolysates, obtained from the two-stage acid hydrolysis was studied using the thermotolerant yeast Kluyveromyces sp. IIPE453. The yeast could grow on xylose-rich hydrolysate at 50 °C with the dry cell weight, cell mass yield and maximum specific growth rate of 5.35 g l(-1), 0.58 g g(-1) and 0.13 h(-1), respectively. The yeast was found to be very promising for ethanol as well as xylitol production from the sugars obtained from the lignocellulosic biomass. Batch fermentations of xylose-rich and glucose-rich hydrolysates yielded 0.61 g g(-1) xylitol and 0.43 g g(-1) ethanol in the broth, respectively based on the sugars present in the hydrolysate. Overall ethanol yield of 165 g (210 ml) and 183 g xylitol per kg of bagasse was obtained, when bagasse hydrolysate was used as a substrate. Utilization of both the glucose and xylose sugars makes the process most economical by producing both ethanol and xylitol based on biorefinery concept. On validating the experimental data of ethanol fermentation, the modified Luong kinetic model for product inhibition as well as inhibition due to inhibitory compounds present in hydrolysate, the model was found to be the best fit for ethanol formation from bagasse hydrolysate using Kluyveromyces sp. IIPE453. | 25,090,978 | [
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Effectiveness of ethics education as perceived by nursing students: development and testing of a novel assessment instrument. | The effectiveness of ethics education continues to be disputed. No studies exist on how nursing students perceive the effectiveness of nursing ethics education in Flanders, Belgium. To develop a valid and reliable instrument, named the 'Students' Perceived Effectiveness of Ethics Education Scale' (SPEEES), to measure students' perceptions of the effectiveness of ethics education, and to conduct a pilot study in Flemish nursing students to investigate the perceived efficacy of nursing ethics education in Flanders. Content validity, comprehensibility and usability of the SPEEES were assessed. Reliability was assessed by means of a quantitative descriptive non-experimental pilot study. 86 third-year baccalaureate nursing students of two purposefully selected university colleges answered the SPEEES. Formal approval was given by the ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained and anonymity was ensured for both colleges and their participating students. The scale content validity index/Ave scores for the subscales were 1.00, 1.00 and 0.86. The comprehensibility and user-friendliness were favourable. Cronbach's alpha was 0.94 for general effectiveness, 0.89 for teaching methods and 0.85 for ethical content. Students perceived 'case study', 'lecture' and 'instructional dialogue' to be effective teaching methods and 'general ethical concepts' to contain effective content. 'Reflecting critically on their own values' was mentioned as the only ethical competence that, was promoted by the ethics courses. The study revealed rather large differences between both schools in students' perceptions of the contribution of ethics education to other ethical competences. The study revealed that according to the students, ethics courses failed to meet some basic objectives of ethics education. Although the SPEEES proved to be a valid and reliable measure, the pilot study suggests that there is still space for improvement and a need for larger scale research. Additional insights will enable educators to improve current nursing ethics education. | 25,091,002 | [
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Development of automated quantification methodologies of immunohistochemical markers to determine patterns of immune response in breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study. | Lymph nodes are one of the main sites where an effective immune response develops. Normally, axillary nodes are the first place where breast cancer produces metastases. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of immune cells, especially dendritic cells, in the evolution of breast cancer. The goal of the project is to identify differences in the patterns of immune infiltrates, with particular emphasis on dendritic cells, in tumour and axillary node biopsies between patients with and without metastases in the axillary nodes at the time of diagnosis. It is expected that these differences will be able to explain differences in survival, relapse and clinicopathological variables between the two groups. The study will involve 100 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2000 and 2007, 50% of whom have metastases in the axillary lymph node at diagnosis. In selected patients, two cylinders from biopsies of representative areas of tumour and axillary nodes (with and without metastasis) will be selected and organised in tissue microarrays. Samples will be stained using immunohistochemical techniques for different markers of immune response and dendritic cells. Two images of each cylinder will be captured under standardised conditions for each marker. Each marker will be quantified automatically by digital image procedures using Image-Pro Plus and Image-J software. Associations of survival, relapse and other clinicopathological variables with the automatically quantified levels of immune infiltrates in patients with and without axillary node metastasis will be sought. The present project has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII (Ref: 22p/2011). Those patients whose biopsies and clinical data are to be used will give their signed informed consent. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. | 25,091,015 | [
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Aspects of the Macroscopic Testicular and Epididymal Morphology in the Greater Rhea, Rhea Americana (Linneaus - 1758) Birds. | The purpose of this research was to study the macroscopic testicular and epididymal morphology of the greater rhea. The testicles of 54 greater rhea bred in captivity were utilized. The samples were collected November 2005 (n = 14), December 2006 (n = 20) and May 2007 (n = 20). During commercial slaughter, the testicles and epididymides were collected and their following morphometric parameters were immediately measured: length, width, thickness, circumference, volume, weight of the parenchyma and the tunica albuginea, also aspects such as shape, cavity implantation, relationship with other organs and vascularization. The testicles presented cylindrical shape, with a thin, dense and transparent tunica albuginea, and the vascularization was accomplished by the testicular artery that ramifies from the cranial rectal artery. In the samples from December 2006 and May 2007, the media from the macroscopic measures of the right testicles were volume 58.7 and 14.7 ml, length 9.87 and 3.5 cm, width 2.4 and 0.6 cm, thickness 2.4 and 0.5 cm, circumference 8.0 and 2.3 cm, parenchyma weight 27.6 and 6.1 g and tunica albuginea weight 1.0 and 0.3 g, P < 0.05, respectively. The epididymides, the media from macroscopic measures December 2006 and May 2007 were volume 7.7 and 3.0 ml, length 5.8 and 1.3 cm, width 0.7 and 0.3 cm, thickness 0.6 and 0.3 cm, circumference 2.5 and 1.2 cm, tissue weight 6.4 and 2.8 g and capsule weight 0.4 and 0.1 g, P < 0.05, respectively. Some measures from the right testicle and epididymis were superior to measures taken from the left ones (P < 0.05), but these were not characterizing asymmetry. The morphometric parameters observed during November 2005 remained on an intermediate situation (P < 0.05); however, they were quantitatively closer to the means of December 2006, which may characterize it as a potential transition period between repose and sexual activity. Morphologically, the testicles and epididymides of greater rhea have common points with other researched birds; however, differences were observed. The testicles and epididymides of the Rhea americana are influenced by the environment, presenting reproductive activity season (November-December) during late spring, early summer and sexual repose season (May) during autumn-winter. The morphometric testicular and epididymal measurements were introduced. The morphometric parameters of testicles and epididymides exhibited differences between winter and spring-summer that could be established like sexual activity season. | 25,091,030 | [
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A nucleolytic lupus autoantibody is toxic to BRCA2-deficient cancer cells. | Cancer cells with defects in DNA repair are highly susceptible to DNA-damaging agents, but delivery of therapeutic agents into cell nuclei can be challenging. A subset of lupus autoantibodies is associated with nucleolytic activity, and some of these antibodies are capable of nuclear penetration. We hypothesized that such antibodies might have potential as therapeutic agents targeted towards DNA repair-deficient malignancies. We identified the lupus autoantibody 5C6 as a cell-penetrating nucleolytic antibody and found that 5C6 has a differential effect on a matched pair of BRCA2-proficient and deficient DLD1 colon cancer cells. 5C6 selectively induced γH2AX in, and suppressed the growth of, the BRCA2-deficient cells. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of 5C6 in targeted therapy for DNA repair-deficient malignancies and strengthen the rationale for studies of additional lupus autoantibodies in order to identify the best candidates for development as therapeutic agents. In addition, the toxic effect of 5C6 on BRCA2-deficient cells provides further support for the hypothesis that some lupus autoantibodies contribute to the lower risk of specific cancers associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. | 25,091,037 | [
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SOX2 expression in the developing, adult, as well as, diseased prostate. | SOX2 is a member of SOX (SRY-related high mobility group box) family of transcription factors. In this study, we examined the expression of SOX2 in murine and human prostatic specimens by immunohistochemistry. We found that SOX2 was expressed in murine prostates during budding morphogenesis and in neuroendocrine (NE) prostate cancer (PCa) murine models. Expression of SOX2 was also examined in human prostatic tissue. We found that SOX2 was expressed in 26 of the 30 BPH specimens. In these BPH samples, expression of SOX2 was limited to basal epithelial cells. In contrast, 24 of the 25 primary PCa specimens were negative for SOX2. The only positive primary PCa was the prostatic NE tumor, which also showed co-expression of synaptophysin. Additionally, the expression of SOX2 was detected in all prostatic NE tumor xenograft lines. Furthermore, we have examined the expression of SOX2 on a set of tissue microarrays consisting of metastatic PCa tissues. Expression of SOX2 was detected in at least one metastatic site in 15 of the 24 patients with metastatic castration-resistant PCa; and the expression of SOX2 was correlated with synaptophysin. SOX2 was expressed in developing prostates, basal cells of BPH, as well as prostatic NE tumors. | 25,091,041 | [
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Concept mapping One-Carbon Metabolism to model future ontologies for nutrient-gene-phenotype interactions. | Advances in the development of bioinformatic tools continue to improve investigators' ability to interrogate, organize, and derive knowledge from large amounts of heterogeneous information. These tools often require advanced technical skills not possessed by life scientists. User-friendly, low-barrier-to-entry methods of visualizing nutrigenomics information are yet to be developed. We utilized concept mapping software from the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition to create a conceptual model of diet and health-related data that provides a foundation for future nutrigenomics ontologies describing published nutrient-gene/polymorphism-phenotype data. In this model, maps containing phenotype, nutrient, gene product, and genetic polymorphism interactions are visualized as triples of two concepts linked together by a linking phrase. These triples, or "knowledge propositions," contextualize aggregated data and information into easy-to-read knowledge maps. Maps of these triples enable visualization of genes spanning the One-Carbon Metabolism (OCM) pathway, their sequence variants, and multiple literature-mined associations including concepts relevant to nutrition, phenotypes, and health. The concept map development process documents the incongruity of information derived from pathway databases versus literature resources. This conceptual model highlights the importance of incorporating information about genes in upstream pathways that provide substrates, as well as downstream pathways that utilize products of the pathway under investigation, in this case OCM. Other genes and their polymorphisms, such as TCN2 and FUT2, although not directly involved in OCM, potentially alter OCM pathway functionality. These upstream gene products regulate substrates such as B12. Constellations of polymorphisms affecting the functionality of genes along OCM, together with substrate and cofactor availability, may impact resultant phenotypes. These conceptual maps provide a foundational framework for development of nutrient-gene/polymorphism-phenotype ontologies and systems visualization. | 25,091,042 | [
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Mental health care and average happiness: strong effect in developed nations. | Mental disorder is a main cause of unhappiness in modern society and investment in mental health care is therefore likely to add to average happiness. This prediction was checked in a comparison of 143 nations around 2005. Absolute investment in mental health care was measured using the per capita number of psychiatrists and psychologists working in mental health care. Relative investment was measured using the share of mental health care in the total health budget. Average happiness in nations was measured with responses to survey questions about life-satisfaction. Average happiness appeared to be higher in countries that invest more in mental health care, both absolutely and relative to investment in somatic medicine. A data split by level of development shows that this difference exists only among developed nations. Among these nations the link between mental health care and happiness is quite strong, both in an absolute sense and compared to other known societal determinants of happiness. The correlation between happiness and share of mental health care in the total health budget is twice as strong as the correlation between happiness and size of the health budget. A causal effect is likely, but cannot be proved in this cross-sectional analysis. | 25,091,049 | [
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Evaluation of postgastrectomy symptoms after distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45 (PGSAS-45). | Distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction (DGBI) is the most commonly used treatment approach for gastric cancer patients in Japan. The aim of this study was to assess and elucidate the effect of different surgical DGBI techniques on postgastrectomy syndrome (PGS) using the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale-45 (PGSAS-45). The newly created PGSAS-45 composed of 45 questions was used in this study. The scale was distributed to 2,922 patients who underwent gastrectomy >1 year prior. Completed forms were returned by 2,520 patients (86 %), of which 909 underwent DGBI. The effects of performing the Kocher maneuver, differences in the size of the gastric remnant and differences the anastomosis technique had on the main outcome measures of PGSAS-45 were analyzed. Patients for whom the Kocher maneuver was performed experienced significantly worse meal-related distress and poorer quality of ingestion. Additionally, a less satisfactory physical and mental component summary from the SF-8 was reported. Patients with larger gastric remnants showed significantly better scores on the diarrhea subscale, a slightly better trend for the need for additional meals and dissatisfaction with eating. Regarding the anastomosis technique, there was no difference between the hand-sewn, circular stapler (CS) and linear stapler end-to-end anastomosis, and there was also no difference between the end-to-end and side-to-end anastomosis with the CS. The Kocher maneuver may increase meal-related distress, reduce the quality of ingestion and impart a negative effect on quality of life (QOL). The larger gastric remnants may cause reduction in diarrhea and an improvement in meal-related scores. | 25,091,080 | [
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Posterior cruciate ligament graft fixation angles, part 2: biomechanical evaluation for anatomic double-bundle reconstruction. | Prior studies have suggested that anatomic double-bundle (DB) posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR) reduces residual laxity compared with the intact state better than single-bundle PCLR. Although the anterolateral bundle (ALB) and posteromedial bundle (PMB) reportedly act codominantly, few studies have compared commonly used graft fixation angles and the influence that graft fixation angles have on overall graft forces and knee laxity. Graft fixation angle combinations of 0°/75° (PMB/ALB), 0°/90°, 0°/105°, 15°/75°, 15°/90°, and 15°/105° would significantly reduce knee laxity from the sectioned PCL state while preventing in vitro graft forces from being overloaded between any of the graft fixation angles. Controlled laboratory study. Nine cadaveric knees were evaluated for the kinematics of the intact, PCL-sectioned, and DB PCLR techniques. The DB technique was varied by fixing the PMB and ALB grafts at the following 6 randomly ordered fixation angle combinations: 0°/75° (PMB/ALB), 0°/90°, 0°/105°, 15°/75°, 15°/90°, and 15°/105°. A 6 degrees of freedom robotic testing system subjected each specimen to an applied 134-N posterior tibial load at 0° to 120° of flexion and 5-N·m external, 5-N·m internal, and 10-N·m valgus rotation torques applied at 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, and 120° of flexion. The ALB and PMB grafts were fixed to load cells that concurrently measured graft forces throughout kinematic testing. t tests compared the kinematics between groups, and 2-factor models assessed the contribution of ALB and PMB grafts after DB PCLR (P < .05). Consistently, DB PCLR significantly reduced posterior translation compared with the sectioned PCL and was comparable with the intact state during applied posterior tibial loads at flexion angles of greater than 90°; a mean residual laxity of 1.5 mm remained compared with the intact state during applied posterior tibial loads. Additionally, fixing the PMB graft at 15° resulted in significantly larger PMB graft forces compared with fixation at 0° during applied posterior loading, internal rotation, external rotation, and valgus rotation. Similarly, fixing the ALB graft at 75° resulted in significantly larger ALB graft forces compared with fixation of the ALB graft at 90° or 105° during all loading conditions. Fixation of the PMB graft at 0° to 15° and the ALB graft at 75° to 105° during DB PCLR were successful in significantly reducing knee laxity from the sectioned state. However, fixation of the PMB graft at 15° versus 0° resulted in significantly increased loads through the PMB graft, and fixation of the ALB graft at 75° versus 90° or 105° resulted in significantly increased loads through the ALB graft. This study found that all 6 fixation angle combinations significantly improved knee kinematics compared with the sectioned state at time zero; however, it is recommended that fixation of the PMB graft be performed at 0° because of the significant increases in PMB graft loading that occur with fixation at 15° and that fixation of the ALB graft be performed at 90° or 105° rather than 75° to minimize ALB graft forces, which could lead to graft attenuation or failure over time. | 25,091,116 | [
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Inhibition of histone deacetylase 4 increases cytotoxicity of docetaxel in gastric cancer cells. | New treatment options for gastric cancer are in great demand. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are exciting therapeutic targets, but only the class I HDACs 1, 2, and 3 have been studied in gastric cancer. We have investigated class IIa HDAC expression and inhibition in gastric cancer cells. We measured the level of 27 (phospho)proteins related to class IIa HDAC expression and function in ten laser-capture microdissection gastric tumor samples compared to patient-matched adjacent normal mucosa. Following, we evaluated class IIa HDAC inhibition by MC1568 in SNU-16 gastric cancer cells alone and in combination with cisplatin or docetaxel. We demonstrate for the first time an increase of HDAC4 in gastric tumor cells. HDAC4 inhibition had a synergistic effect with docetaxel treatment, shifting the cellular response from a cytostatic to a cytotoxic phenotype. This effect was associated with increased levels of cleaved caspases 3 and 9 and increased acetylated histone H3 Lys9/Lys14. These data support in vivo studies investigating the potential clinical use of HDAC4 inhibitors in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of gastric cancer, lowering treatment doses of docetaxel to reduce the burden of adverse side effects on patients. | 25,091,122 | [
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Treatment of cervicogenic headache with cervical epidural steroid injection. | Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is defined as referred pain from various cervical structures innervated by the upper three cervical spinal nerves. Such structures are potential pain generators, and include the atlanto-occipital joint, atlantoaxial joint, C2-3 zygapophysial joint, C2-3 intervertebral disc, cervical myofascial trigger points, as well as the cervical spinal nerves. Various interventional techniques, including cervical epidural steroid injection (CESI), have been proposed to treat this disorder. And while steroids administered by cervical epidural injection have been used in clinical practice to provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that may alleviate pain in patients with CGH, the use of CESI in the diagnosis and treatment of CGH remains controversial. This article describes the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and classification of CGH as well as a review of the available literature describing CESI as treatment for this debilitating condition. | 25,091,129 | [
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Headache in Behçet's syndrome: review of literature and NYU Behçet's syndrome center experience. | Headache, a common and disabling symptom in Behçet's syndrome, may be associated with a variety of neurologic syndromes and ocular inflammation, or may present as an isolated feature. Our objective is to describe the various neurologic and ocular syndromes of Behçet's syndrome of which headache is a symptom, and to review the features of isolated headaches in Behçet's. We also report results of a study of headache in Behçet's syndrome patients who are followed at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, the first study of its kind in North American patients, and the first to document prevalence of both episodic and chronic daily headache in Behçet's. | 25,091,130 | [
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Experimental and kinetic study on the cometabolic biodegradation of phenol and 4-chlorophenol by psychrotrophic Pseudomonas putida LY1. | This study investigated the kinetics of phenol and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) biodegradation by a cold-adapted bacteria, Pseudomonas putida LY1, isolated from Songhua River sediment. The results showed that P. putida LY1 cannot grow on 4-CP as a sole carbon source. P. putida LY1 had the potential to cometabolic biodegrade phenol and 4-CP in a wide range of temperature (varying from 5 to 35 °C) with the optimal temperature around 25 °C. Mixture of phenol and 4-CP were completely removed at two 4-CP concentrations (15 and 40 mg/L) over a wide range of phenol (20-400 mg/L) concentrations, whereby the ratio of 4-CP/biomass (S 2/X) was lower than 0.03. The kinetic models of cometabolic biodegradation of phenol and 4-CP were proposed, considering the growth and nongrowth substrate inhibition. These models successfully simulate the processes of cometabolic degradation of phenol and 4-CP. | 25,091,164 | [
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Photosynthesis light-independent reactions are sensitive biomarkers to monitor lead phytotoxicity in a Pb-tolerant Pisum sativum cultivar. | Lead (Pb) environmental contamination remains prevalent. Pisum sativum L. plants have been used in ecotoxicological studies, but some cultivars showed to tolerate and accumulate some levels of Pb, opening new perspectives to their use in phytoremediation approaches. However, the putative use of pea plants in phytoremediation requires reliable toxicity endpoints. Here, we evaluated the sensitivity of a large number of photosynthesis-related biomarkers in Pb-exposed pea plants. Plants (cv. "Corne de Bélier") were exposed to Pb concentrations up to 1,000 mg kg(-1) soil during 28 days. The photosynthetic potential biomarkers that were analyzed included pigments, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, gas exchange, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) activity, and carbohydrates. Flow cytometry (FCM) was also used to assess the morpho-functional status of chloroplasts. Finally, Pb-induced nutrient disorders were also evaluated. Net CO2 assimilation rate (A) and RuBisCO activity decreased strongly in Pb-exposed plants. Plant dry mass (DM) accumulation, however, was only reduced in the higher Pb concentrations tested (500 and 1,000 mg kg(-1) soil). Pigment contents increased solely in plants exposed to the largest Pb concentration, and in addition, the parameters related to the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, Fv/Fm and ΦPSII, were not affected by Pb exposure. In contrast to this, carbohydrates showed an overall tendency to increase in Pb-exposed plants. The morphological status of chloroplasts was affected by Pb exposure, with a general trend of volume decrease and granularity increase. These results point the endpoints related to the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis as more sensitive predictors of Pb-toxicity than the light-dependent reactions ones. Among the endpoints related to the light-independent photosynthesis reactions, RuBisCO activity and A were found to be the most sensitive. We discuss here the advantages of using these parameters as biomarkers for Pb toxicity in plants. Finally, we report that, despite showing physiological disorders, these cultivar plants survived and accumulated high doses of Pb, and their use in environmental/decontamination studies is open to debate. | 25,091,165 | [
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Techno-economic and environmental assessment of sewage sludge wet oxidation. | Today, several technologies and management strategies are proposed and applied in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to minimise sludge production and contamination. In order to avoid a shifting of burdens between different areas, their techno-economic and environmental performance has to be carefully evaluated. Wet oxidation (WO) is an alternative solution to incineration for recovering energy in sewage sludge while converting it to mostly inorganic residues. This paper deals with an experimentation carried out within the EU project "ROUTES". A mass balance was made for a WWTP (500,000 person equivalents) in which a WO stage for sludge minimisation was considered to be installed. Both bench- and full-scale test results were used. Design of treatment units and estimation of capital and operational costs were then performed. Subsequently, technical and economic aspects were evaluated by means of a detailed methodology which was developed within the ROUTES project. Finally, an assessment of environmental impacts from a life cycle perspective was performed. The integrated assessment showed that for the specific upgrade considered in this study, WO technology, although requiring a certain increase of technical complexity at the WWTP, may contribute to environmental and economic advantages. The paper provides guidance in terms of which aspects need a more thorough evaluation in relation to the specific case in which an upgrade with WO is considered. | 25,091,166 | [
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Is there a role for neck dissection in T1 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma? The UCLA experience. | We sought to examine prognostic and therapeutic implications, including cost-effectiveness, of elective neck dissection in the management of patients with clinically-determined T1N0 oral tongue carcinoma. A retrospective review of patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgical extirpation of primary tumor, with or without elective neck dissection, at UCLA Medical Center from 1990 to 2009 was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess effects of variables on time to first loco-regional recurrence. A healthcare costs analysis of elective neck dissection was performed by querying the SEER-Medicare linked database. Of the 123 patients identified with cT1N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue, 88 underwent elective neck dissection at the time of tumor resection while 35 did not. For all patients, disease-free survival at 3, 5, and 10 years was 93%, 82%, and 79%. Of the 88 patients undergoing elective neck dissection, 20 (23%) demonstrated occult metastatic disease. Male gender, tumor size, perineural invasion, and occult metastatic disease were individually associated with higher rates of loco-regional recurrence. There was no significant difference in loco-regional recurrence between those who underwent elective neck dissection and those who did not (HR=0.76, p=0.52). On cost analysis, neck dissection was not associated with any significant difference in Medicare payments. The high rate of occult metastasis (23%) following elective neck dissection, which did not confer additional healthcare costs, leads to the recommendation of elective neck dissection in patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. | 25,091,179 | [
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Postoperative PTH monitoring of hypocalcemia expedites discharge after thyroidectomy. | Hypocalcemia is the most common complication after total thyroidectomy. Some patients need to stay in the hospital for monitoring of hypocalcemic symptoms and serum calcium levels for several days. We investigated the efficacy and safety of using early postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) results for early discharge after thyroidectomy. A retrospective cohort study of 2 sequential groups of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy between January 2010 and March 2013 was undertaken. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In Group 1 (before June 2011), patients had daily monitoring of serum calcium level and hypocalcemic symptoms. They were discharged when calcium level was static and asymptomatic. Postoperative PTH was not utilized for discharge plan. In Group 2 (after June 2011), postoperative PTH and calcium level on day 1 were utilized to dictate subsequent management and discharge plan. Of the 107 patients reviewed, 54 (50.5%) were in Group 1 and 53 (49.5%) were in Group 2. A total of 51 (47.7%) patients developed hypocalcemia. The two groups were comparable in demographic data, early postoperative PTH value, rate of hypocalcemia, the need for oral calcium and vitamin D supplements and rate of permanent hypoparathyroidism. Fewer patients in Group 2 experienced hypocalcemic symptoms, p=0.005. None of the patients in Group 2 needed intravenous calcium supplement (p=0.003). The median postoperative hospital stay for Group 1 was 4 days and for Group 2 was 1 day (p<0.0001). Postoperative PTH level after total thyroidectomy facilitates early supplementation therapy and abates symptomatic hypocalcemia. It also allows early and safe patient discharge. | 25,091,178 | [
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Current utilization of balloon dilation versus endoscopic techniques in pediatric sinus surgery. | To study the utilization of balloon catheter dilation (BCD) compared to traditional endoscopic surgery (ESS) in pediatric patients. Cross-sectional analysis. Hospital and freestanding ambulatory surgery centers in California, Florida, Maryland, and New York Patients less than 18 years who underwent BCD(316) or ESS(2346), as identified by CPT codes from the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases 2011. Patient and facility demographics, mean charges, and operating room time were examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 2662 children underwent surgery, with BCD used in 10.6% of maxillary, 8.4% of sphenoid, and 11.8% of frontal procedures. Adjusted analysis found that children with asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), GERD, or concomitant adenoidectomy were more likely to have BCD compared to patients without these comorbidities, asthma odds ratio (OR) = 1.94 (95% CI, 1.84-3.41), AR OR = 1.77 (95% CI, 1.03-3.07), GERD OR = 2.79 (95% CI, .59-4.90), or without adenoidectomy OR = 2.50 (95% CI, 1.84-3.41). Patients with cystic fibrosis were less likely to have BCD, OR = 0.33 (95% CI, 0.11-0.95). Median charges for patients undergoing maxillary antrostomy alone by BCD (P = .042) or with adenoidectomy (P < .001) were approximately $2100 and $4200 greater than the median of patients undergoing those procedures with ESS. However, operating room time was similar (P = .81) between patients undergoing maxillary antrostomy, regardless of whether BCD was used, but was longer (P < .001) in those undergoing maxillary antrostomy and adenoidectomy when BCD was utilized. BCD was used in 11.9% of pediatric sinus surgery and had higher average charges with no decrease in OR time compared to procedures that only utilized ESS. Future research is necessary to evaluate whether BCD may lead to improved outcomes and eventually decreased operating room time for pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. | 25,091,194 | [
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Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is independently associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease whereas leptin and adiponectin vary between genders. | Alterations of adipocytokine levels and clinical parameters in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are crucial for the prognosis and complications of the diseases. However, the key adipocytokines independently associated with NAFLD have not been identified, and we aimed to investigate them. This study was conducted on a consecutive series of 210 Taiwanese NAFLD patients and 420 sex- and age-matched controls. Fatty liver was diagnosed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The enrolled subjects' body mass indexes, homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, blood pressure, metabolic syndrome (yes/no), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio indexes, leptin, adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were analyzed to determine their association with NAFLD. Univariate analysis showed that all of the aforementioned factors were associated with NAFLD, whereas multivariate analysis revealed that only PAI-1 (odds ratio: 1.39, P = 0.039) was independently associated with NAFLD. Subgroup analysis showed that females consistently had higher leptin (P < 0.001) and adiponectin (P < 0.001) levels than males, whereas their PAI-1 levels were similar. Males with NAFLD had higher leptin but lower adiponectin levels than their subgroup counterparts (all P < 0.001). Among the female subgroups, hyperleptinemia and hypoadiponectinemia were only observed in the NAFLD patients ≥ 45 years. PAI-1 is independently associated with NAFLD after adjusting for other factors, including leptin and adiponectin. Male and female NAFLD patients show distinct patterns of leptin and adiponectin alterations; special attention is required when evaluating these alterations in female NAFLD patients < 45 years. | 25,091,195 | [
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Sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is stabilized by additional proline residues and an interdomain salt bridge. | Sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDS) exhibits enhanced stability compared to the somatic isoenzyme (GAPD). A comparative analysis of the structures of these isoenzymes revealed characteristic features, which could be important for the stability of GAPDS: six specific proline residues and three buried salt bridges. To evaluate the impact of these structural elements into the stability of this isoenzyme, we obtained two series of mutant GAPDS: 1) six mutants each containing a substitution of one of the specific prolines by alanine, and 2) three mutants each containing a mutation breaking one of the salt bridges. Stability of the mutants was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and by their resistance towards guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl). The most effect on thermostability was observed for the mutants P326A and P164A: the Tm values of the heat-absorption curves decreased by 6.0 and 3.3°C compared to the wild type protein, respectively. The resistance towards GdnHCl was affected most by the mutation D311N breaking the salt bridge between the catalytic and NAD(+)-binding domains: the inactivation rate constant in the presence of GdnHCl increased six-fold, and the value of GdnHCl concentration corresponding to the protein half-denaturation decreased from 1.83 to 1.35M. Besides, the mutation D311N enhanced the enzymatic activity of the protein two-fold. The results suggest that the residues P164 (β-turn), P326 (first position of α-helix), and the interdomain salt bridge D311-H124 are significant for the enhanced stability of GAPDS. The salt bridge D311-H124 enhances stability of the active site of GAPDS at the expense of the catalytic activity. | 25,091,199 | [
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0.4237749,
0.2047489,
-0.04370916,... |
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