http://www.hindawi.comThe latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation© 2012, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/oci/2012/482952/Concise and accessible approaches to pyrrolidine-2-ones were studied. The synthesis involves the conversion of erythruronolactone to pyrrolidine-2-ones in good yields.Chahrazed BenhaouaCopyright © 2012 Chahrazed Benhaoua. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/obgyn/2012/971213/Intestinal obstruction is an uncommon complication of pregnancy and pueperium. It has different etiologies and voluvlus is one of the common causes. High index of suspicion is needed to diagnose it as initial presentation is nonspecific and that is critical to avoid adverse outcomes. We presented here one of these cases that followed vaginal delivery and ended with caecal perforation and hemicolectomy.M. M. Abdullah AghaCopyright © 2012 M. M. Abdullah Agha. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/otolaryngology/2012/262958/The posttraumatic cholesteatoma is a rare complication of different types of the temporal bone damage. Its diagnosis is often done after several years of evolution, sometimes even at the stage of complications. A case of posttraumatic cholesteatoma is presented that was revealed by a facial nerve paralysis 23 years after a crash of the external auditory canal underlining the importance of the otoscopic and radiological regular monitoring of the patients with a traumatism of the temporal bone.M. Chihani, A. Aljalil, M. Touati, B. Bouaity, and H. AmmarCopyright © 2012 M. Chihani et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/psychiatry/2012/674136/A 24-year-old pregnant female patient presented with complains of bilateral lower limb swelling and fever for 1 month. On examination, blood pressure was 144/94 mmHg along with pitting pedal edema. She had bizarre skin lesions, aligned longitudinally and distributed over the approachable site of the body with tapering ends and in various stages of healing. Lower limbs examination also revealed similar lesions with signs of cellulitis. Her scalp had short and distorted hair suggesting pulling and plucking. These skin lesions and the denial of self-infliction by the patient made us reach the diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta with trichotillomania. Psychotherapy was advocated along with conservative management of skin lesions. The patient improved and is under our follow up.Neeraj Varyani, Sunny Garg, Garima Gupta, Shivendra Singh, and Kamlakar TripathiCopyright © 2012 Neeraj Varyani et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/arp/2012/475015/Fontan and Baudet described in 1971 the separation of the pulmonary and systemic circulations resulting in univentricular physiology. The evolution of the Fontan procedure, most notably the substitution of right atrial-to-pulmonary artery anastomosis with cavopulmonary connections, resulted in significantly improved late outcomes. Many patients survive well into adulthood and are able to lead productive lives. While ideally under medical care at specialized centers for adult congenital cardiac pathology, these patients may present to the outside hospitals for emergency surgery, electrophysiologic interventions, and pregnancy. This presentation presents a “train of thought,” linking the TEE images to the perioperative physiologic considerations faced by an anesthesiologist caring for a patient with Fontan circulation in the perioperative settings. Relevant effects of mechanical ventilation on pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary blood flow and cardiac preload, presence of coagulopathy and thromboembolic potential, danger of abrupt changes of systemic vascular resistance and systemic venous return are discussed.Edward Gologorsky, Angela Gologorsky, and Eliot RosenkranzCopyright © 2012 Edward Gologorsky et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2012/592806/There is evidence for an unexpected role of diferric transferrin as a terminal oxidase for the transplasma membrane oxidation of cytosolic NADH. In the original studies which showed the reduction of iron in transferrin by the plasma membranes NADH oxidase, the possible role of the reduction on iron uptake was emphasized. The rapid reoxidation of transferrin iron under aerobic conditions precludes a role for surface reduction at neutral pH for release of iron for uptake at the plasma membrane. The stimulation of cytosolic NADH oxidation by diferric transferrin indicates that the transferrin can act as a terminal oxidase for the transplasma membrane NADH oxidase or can bind to a site which activates the oxidase. Since plasma membrane NADH oxidases clearly play a role in cell signaling, the relation of ferric transferrin stimulation of NADH oxidase to cell control should be considered, especially in relation to the growth promotion by transferrin not related to iron uptake. The oxidase can also contribute to control of cytosolic NAD concentration, and thereby can activate sirtuins for control of ageing and growth.Frederick L. Crane and Hans LöwCopyright © 2012 Frederick L. Crane and Hans Löw. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cdi/2012/480429/Despite advances in conventional treatment modalities for malignant brain tumors—surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy—the prognosis for patients with high-grade astrocytic tumor remains dismal. The highly heterogeneous and diffuse nature of astrocytic tumors calls for the development of novel therapies. Advances in genomic and proteomic research indicate that treatment of brain tumor patients can be increasingly personalized according to the characteristics of the targeted tumor and its environment. Consequently, during the last two decades, a novel class of investigative drug candidates for the treatment of central nervous system neoplasia has emerged: recombinant fusion protein conjugates armed with cytotoxic agents targeting tumor-specific antigens. The clinical applicability of the tumor-antigen-directed cytotoxic proteins as a safe and viable therapy for brain tumors is being investigated. Thus far, results from ongoing clinical trials are encouraging, as disease stabilization and patient survival prolongation have been observed in at least 109 cases. This paper summarizes the major findings pertaining to treatment with the different antiglioma cytotoxins at the preclinical and clinical stages.Vidyalakshmi Chandramohan, John H. Sampson, Ira Pastan, and Darell D. BignerCopyright © 2012 Vidyalakshmi Chandramohan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/vmi/2012/471760/A study was conducted to assess the effect of multiple stresses (thermal, nutritional, and walking stress) on the reproductive performance of Malpura ewes. The study was conducted for a period of 35 days covering two estrous cycles during summer season (April-May). The ewes were randomly allocated into two groups of twelve animals each namely, GI (n=12; Control), and GII (n=1 2; Multiple stresses). GI ewes were maintained in the shed, while GII ewes were subjected to multiple stresses (thermal, nutritional, and walking stress). The estrus % differed significantly (P< 0.05) between the groups. Estrus duration also showed similar trend to that of estrus %. Both conception and lambing rate also differed significantly (P< 0.05) between the control and multiple-stress group. In addition plasma estradiol and progesterone also showed significant difference between the groups. The study proved the detrimental effects of multiple-stresses on various reproductive parameters studied. Hence it is very pertinent to conclude that when two or more than two stressors occur simultaneously, the total impact may be severe on reproductive functions of the animals.V. Sejian, V. P. Maurya, K. Kumar, and S. M. K. NaqviCopyright © 2012 V. Sejian et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijac/2012/809513/A liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for the determination of carbaryl, a phenyl-N-methylcarbamate, and its main metabolite 1-naphthol, using a C18 column (250 mm  ×  4.6 mm) with a micellar mobile phase and fluorescence detection at maximum excitation/emission wavelengths of 225/333 nm, respectively. In the optimization step, surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Brij-35 and N-cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate, and organic solvents propanol, butanol, and pentanol were considered. The selected mobile phase was 0.15 M SDS-6% (v/v)-pentanol-0.01 M NaH2PO4 buffered at pH 3. Validation studies, according to the ICH Tripartite Guideline, included linearity (r>0.999), limit of detection (5 and 18 ng mL-1, for carbaryl and 1-naphthol, resp.), and limit of quantification (15 and 50 ng mL-1, for carbaryl and 1-naphthol, resp.), with intra- and interday precisions below 1%, and robustness parameters below 3%. The results show that the procedure was adequate for the routine analysis of these two compounds in water, soil, and vegetables samples.Mei-Liang Chin-Chen, Maria Rambla-Alegre, Abhilasha Durgbanshi, Devasish Bose, Sandeep K. Mourya, Josep Esteve-Romero, and Samuel Carda-BrochCopyright © 2012 Mei-Liang Chin-Chen et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pm/2012/816541/Based on clinical and radiological findings, Cottin defined combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) as pulmonary emphysema in the upper lungs and interstitial pneumonia in the lower lungs with various radiological patterns. Pathologic findings of CPFE probably corresponded with diffuse interstitial pneumonia with pulmonary emphysema, emphysema with fibrosis, and the combination of both. We described reported radiological findings of CPFE.Fumikazu Sakai, Junya Tominaga, Akiko Kaga, Yutaka Usui, Minoru Kanazawa, Takashi Ogura, Noriyo Yanagawa, and Tamiko TakemuraCopyright © 2012 Fumikazu Sakai et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmb/2012/405191/Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well adapted to grow in anaerobic environments in the presence of nitrogen oxides by generating energy through denitrification. Environmental cues, such as oxygen and nitrogen oxide concentrations, are important in regulating the gene expression involved in this process. Recent data indicate that P. aeruginosa also employs cell-to-cell communication signals to control the denitrifying activity. The regulation of denitrification by these signalling molecules may control nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide, in turn, functions as a signalling molecule by activating certain regulatory proteins. Moreover, under denitrifying conditions, drastic changes in cell physiology and cell morphology are induced that significantly impact group behaviours, such as biofilm formation.Masanori Toyofuku, Hiroo Uchiyama, and Nobuhiko NomuraCopyright © 2012 Masanori Toyofuku et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pm/2012/867870/Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a recently defined syndrome, in which centrilobular and/or paraseptal emphysemas in upper lung zones coexist with pulmonary fibrosis in lower lobes in individuals. These patients have a characteristic lung function profile, with unexpected subnormal dynamic and static lung volumes, contrasting with a significant reduction of carbon monoxide transfer (DLco) and exercise hypoxemia. Pulmonary hypertension is highly prevalent in CPFE and is the leading determinant of death. Tobacco smoking has been proposed as the main factor in its etiology, though the pathophysiology and its natural history remain to be determined. High-resolution computed axial tomography is the mandatory tool to confirm the diagnosis. Currently, there is no consensus about its treatment since those published to date on this issue are limited to well-characterised series of cases; hence, a better understanding of this entity may help in the development of future therapeutic approaches.Karina Portillo and Josep MoreraCopyright © 2012 Karina Portillo and Josep Morera. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jps/2012/834107/A general notion of bootstrapped ϕ-divergence estimates constructed by exchangeably weighting sample is introduced. Asymptotic properties of these generalized bootstrapped ϕ-divergence estimates are obtained, by means of the empirical process theory, which are applied to construct the bootstrap confidence set with asymptotically correct coverage probability. Some of practical problems are discussed, including, in particular, the choice of escort parameter, and several examples of divergences are investigated. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators.Salim Bouzebda and Mohamed CherfiCopyright © 2012 Salim Bouzebda and Mohamed Cherfi. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/endocrinology/2012/842357/Patients with Graves' disease can be medically prepared before surgery in different ways, which may have various effects on iodine stores. Thyroid specimens were collected at surgery from two patients pretreated with propylthiouracil (PTU) and stable iodine, respectively. A quantitative analysis of iodine content was performed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) in frozen tissue and a qualitative analysis of aldehyde-fixed material with Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Iodine concentrations were 0.9 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL in the thyroid tissue from the patients treated with PTU and stable iodine respectively. TOF-SIMS showed iodine in the follicle lumina in both. However, in the PTU case, iodine was also seen within the thyrocytes indicating accumulation of iodinated compounds from uninhibited hormone release. XRF and TOF-SIMS can be used to follow iodine distribution within the thyroid and the intricate processes following the different medical treatment alternatives in Graves' disease.Marie Hansson, Helena Filipsson Nyström, Svante Jansson, Jukka Lausmaa, and Gertrud BergCopyright © 2012 Marie Hansson et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/810501/High molecular-weight phthalates, such as diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), are widely used as plasticizers in the manufacturing of polymers and consumer products. Human biological monitoring studies have employed the metabolites of DINP and DIDP as biomarkers to assess human exposure. In this review, we summarize and analyze publicly available scientific data on chemistry, metabolism, and excretion kinetics, of DINP and DIDP, to identify specific and sensitive metabolites. Human biological monitoring data on DINP and DIDP are scrutinised to assess the suitability of these metabolites as biomarkers of exposure. Results from studies carried out in animals and humans indicate that phthalates are metabolised rapidly and do not bioaccmulate. During Phase-I metabolism, ester hydrolysis of DINP and DIDP leads to the formation of hydrolytic monoesters. These primary metabolites undergo further oxidation reactions to produce secondary metabolites. Hence, the levels of secondary metabolites of DINP and DIDP in urine are found to be always higher than the primary metabolites. Results from human biological monitoring studies have shown that the secondary metabolites of DINP and DIDP in urine were detected in almost all tested samples, while the primary metabolites were detected in only about 10% of the samples. This indicates that the secondary metabolites are very sensitive biomarkers of DINP/DIDP exposure while primary metabolites are not. The NHANES data indicate that the median concentrations of MCIOP and MCINP (secondary metabolites of DINP and DIDP, resp.) at a population level are about 5.1 μg/L and 2.7 μg/L, respectively. Moreover, the available biological monitoring data suggest that infants/children are exposed to higher levels of phthalates than adults.Gurusankar Saravanabhavan and Janine MurrayCopyright © 2012 Gurusankar Saravanabhavan and Janine Murray. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jb/2012/936950/We evaluated the effects of cadmium on phenolic composition of Erica andevalensis, an endemic protected heather that grows in mine affected soils. Plants cultivated under laboratory-controlled conditions were exposed to acute doses of cadmium to investigate the mechanisms this species possesses to survive in the presence of toxic metals in its natural habitat. Cadmium increased the total levels of phenolics and flavonoids compounds, and the total antioxidant capacity. Cinnamic acid derivatives, epicatechin, and rutin were increased in the presence of cadmium when applied in levels that did not alter the ratio of chlorophylls. Phenolic compounds play an important role in the metabolism of E. andevalensis to survive in heavy metal polluted soils.Belén Márquez-García, M. Ángeles Fernández-Recamales, and Francisco CórdobaCopyright © 2012 Belén Márquez-García et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/apc/2011/786759/TiO2-based nanomaterials play currently a major role in the development of novel photochemical systems and devices. One of the key parameters determining the photoactivity of TiO2-based materials is the position of the band edges. Although its knowledge is an important prerequisite for understanding and optimizing the performance of photochemical systems, it has been often rather neglected in recent research, particularly in the field of heterogeneous photocatalysis. This paper provides a concise account of main methods for the determination of the position of the band edges, particularly those suitable for measurements on nanostructured materials. In the first part, a survey of key photophysical and photochemical concepts necessary for understanding the energetics at the semiconductor/solution interface is provided. This is followed by a detailed discussion of several electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical methods that can be applied for the determination of band edge positions in compact and nanocrystalline thin films, as well as in nanocrystalline powders.Radim BeranekCopyright © 2011 Radim Beranek. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/josteo/2012/631243/Surgical treatment of secondary (SHPT) and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT) may involve various surgical approaches. The aim of this paper was to evaluate presternal intramuscular autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue as a surgical option in SHPT and THPT treatment. 66 patients with renal chronic disease underwent surgery from April 2000 to April 2005 at Universidade Federal São Paulo, Brazil. There were 38 SHPT patients (24 women/14 men), mean age of 39.yrs (range: 14–58), and 28 THPT patients (14 women/14 men), mean age of 43.4 yrs (range: 24–62). Postoperative average followup was 42.9 months (range: 12–96). Postoperative intact PTH increased throughout followup from 73.5 pg/mL to 133 pg/mL on average from 1st to the 5th year, respectively, in SHPT and from 54.9 pg/mL to 94.7 pg/mL on average from 1st to 5th year, respectively, in THPT group. Definitive hypoparathyroidism was observed in 4 (6.06%) patients and graft-dependent recurrence in 6 (9.09%). Presternal intramuscular autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue is a feasible and safe surgical option in SHPT and THPT treatment.R. O. Santos, M. N Ohe, A. B. Carvalho, M. C. Neves, I. Kunii, M. Lazaretti-Castro, M. Abrahão, O. Cervantes, and J. G. H. VieiraCopyright © 2012 R. O. Santos et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mis/2012/592970/Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perceptions of skills and practice patterns of gynecologists attending a course on total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). This course employed extensive use of pelvic trainer boxes to accomplish the Holiotomy Challenge. The “Holiotomy Challenge” entailed suturing two plastic pieces with six figure-of-N sutures tied with four square knots each. Methods. A survey was administered before the course and 3 months later. Data were analyzed by paired t-tests, McNemar’s Chi Squares, and ANCOVAs with significance set P<.05. Results. At baseline, 216 surgeons and at 3 months 102 surgeons returned the survey. Surgeons’ self-perceptions of their skills significantly increased from 6.24 to 7.28. Their reports of their surgical practice at home revealed significantly increased rates of minimally invasive procedures, from 42% to 54%. Significantly more surgeons reported having the ability to close the vagina, or a small cystotomy or enterotomy. Participation in the cadaver lab and presence of their practice partner did not impact these rates. Conclusions. A comprehensive course employing laparoscopic surgical simulation focused on basic surgical skills essential to TLH has a positive impact on attendees' self-rated skill level and rate of laparoscopic approaches. Many had begun performing TLH after the course.Katherine A. O'Hanlan, Kelli R. Beingesser, and Suzanne L. DibbleCopyright © 2012 Katherine A. O'Hanlan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/endocrinology/2012/238364/We report the case of a 30-year-old African-American male with osteopetrosis and hypophosphatemia, presenting with diffuse myalgias. Laboratory evaluation performed revealed a low serum phosphorus level with urinary phosphate wasting, low calcium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, as well as elevated alkaline phosphatase. Skull and pelvic radiographs revealed high bone density consistent with high bone mass found on bone mineral density reports. PHEX gene mutation analysis was negative. Patient was started on calcium and phosphorus replacement, and he clinically improved. This paper will review the different subtypes of osteopetrosis, and the evaluation of hypophosphatemia.Zahi Mitri and Vin TangprichaCopyright © 2012 Zahi Mitri and Vin Tangpricha. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/arp/2012/968642/Morbidly obese patients may present a challenge during airway management. When airway tube exchange is required, it can even be more challenging than the primary intubation. With the increasing prevalence of morbid obesity over the years, there will be increasing numbers of these patients presenting for surgical procedures, including ones that require endotracheal tube exchanges. It is therefore important for anesthesiologists to be familiar with options and limitations of the airway tube exchanger techniques.Danai UdomtechaCopyright © 2012 Danai Udomtecha. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2012/951920/Current evidence supports the central role of neuropeptides in the molecular mechanisms underlying dental pain. In particular, substance P, a neuropeptide produced in neuron cell bodies localised in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia, contributes to the transmission and maintenance of noxious stimuli and inflammatory processes. The major role of substance P in the onset of dental pain and inflammation is increasingly being recognised. Well-grounded experimental and clinical observations have documented an increase in substance P concentration in patients affected by caries, pulpitis, or granulomas and in those undergoing standard orthodontic or orthodontic/dental care procedures. This paper focuses on the role of substance P in the induction and maintenance of inflammation and dental pain, in order to define future lines of research for the evaluation of therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the complex effects of this mediator in oral tissues.Paola Sacerdote and Luca LevriniCopyright © 2012 Paola Sacerdote and Luca Levrini. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pm/2012/829608/Background. Inflammation and remodeling are integral parts of asthma pathophysiology. We sought to describe the clinical and pathologic features of near fatal asthma exacerbation (NFE). Methods. Bronchial biopsies were collected prospectively from NFE I subjects. Another NFE II group and a moderate severity exacerbation control group (ME II) were retrospectively identified—no biopsies obtained. Results. All NFE II (n=9) subjects exhibited remodeling and significant inflammation (eosinophilic, neutrophilic). NFE II group (n=37) had a significant history of prior intubation and inhaled corticosteroids usage compared to ME II group (n=41). They also exhibited leukocytosis, eosinophilia, and longer hospitalization days. Conclusions. Remodeling, eosinophilic, and neutrophilic inflammation were observed in NFE. NFE is associated with prior intubation and inhaled corticosteroids usage.Richard G. Barbers, Ilias C. Papanikolaou, Michael N. Koss, Ashish Patel, Elton Katagihara, Maggie Arenas, Khalid Chan, Colleen G. Azen, and Om P. SharmaCopyright © 2012 Richard G. Barbers et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmb/2012/325907/Municipal solid waste contains high amounts of cellulose, which is an ideal organic waste for the growth of most of microorganism as well as composting by potential microbes. In the present study, Congo red test was performed for screening of microorganism, and, after selecting a potential strains, it was further used for biodegradation of organic municipal solid waste. Forty nine out of the 250 different microbes tested (165 belong to fungi and 85 to bacteria) produced cellulase enzyme and among these Trichoderma viride was found to be a potential strain in the secondary screening. During the biodegradation of organic waste, after 60 days, the average weight losses were 20.10% in the plates and 33.35% in the piles. There was an increase in pH until 20 days. pH however, stabilized after 30 days in the piles. Temperature also stabilized as the composting process progressed in the piles. The high temperature continued until 30 days of decomposition, after which the temperature dropped to 40°C and below during the maturation. Good quality compost was obtained in 60 days.S. P. Gautam, P. S. Bundela, A. K. Pandey, Jamaluddin, M. K. Awasthi, and S. SarsaiyaCopyright © 2012 S. P. Gautam et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/obgyn/2012/641093/Colonic obstruction due to sigmoid colon volvulus during pregnancy is a rare but complication with significant maternal and fetal mortality. We describe a case of sigmoid volvulus in a patient with 33 weeks of gestation that developed complete necrosis of the left colon. Case. 27-year-old woman was admitted with 3 days of abdominal distention, vomit, and the stoppage of the passage of gases and feces. She was admitted with poor clinical conditions with septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and signs of diffuse peritonitis. Abdominal radiography showed severe dilation of the colon with horseshoe signal suggesting a sigmoid volvulus, pneumoperitoneum and we could not we could not identify fetal heartbeats. With a diagnosis of complicate sigmoid volvulus she was underwent to the laparotomy where we found necrosis of all descending colon due to double twist volvulus of the sigmoid. We performed a colectomy with a confection of a proximal colostomy, and closing of the rectal stump. Due to an uncontrollable uterine bleeding during cesarean due, it was required a hysterectomy. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course thereafter and was discharged on a regular diet on the 15th postoperative day.Enzo Fabrício Ribeiro Nascimento, Michelle Chechter, Fábio Piovezan Fonte, Nara Puls, Juliana Santos Valenciano, Cláudio Luciano Penna Fernandes Filho, Ronaldo Nonose, Crhistiny Emmanuelle Gabriel Bonassa, and Carlos Augusto Real MartinezCopyright © 2012 Enzo Fabrício Ribeiro Nascimento et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfm/2012/453450/Background. In Australia most chronic disease management is funded by Medicare Australia through General Practitioner Management Plans (GPMPs) and Team Care Arrangements (TCAs). Identified barriers may be reduced effectively using a broadband-based network known as the Chronic Disease Management Service (CDMS). Aims. To measure the uptake and adherence to CDMS, test CDMS, and assess the adherence of health providers and patients to GPMPs and TCAs generated through CDMS. Methods. A single cohort before and after study. Results. GPMPs and TCAs increased. There was no change to prescribed medicines or psychological quality of life. Attendance at allied health professionals increased, but decreased at pharmacies. Overall satisfaction with CDMS was high among GPs, allied health professionals, and patients. Conclusion. This study demonstrates proof of concept, but replication or continuation of the study is desirable to enable the impact of CDMS on diabetes outcomes to be determined.Kay Jones, Trisha Dunning, Beth Costa, Kristine Fitzgerald, Akuh Adaji, Colin Chapman, Leon Piterman, Moira Paterson, Peter Schattner, and John CatfordCopyright © 2012 Kay Jones et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnm/2012/451473/Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized using Fe/ZnO catalyst by a dual-furnace thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method at 800–1000°C using nitrogen gas with a constant flow rate of 150 sccm/min as a gas carrier. Palm olein (PO), ferrocene in the presence of 0.05 M zinc nitrate, and a p-type silicon wafer were used as carbon source, catalyst precursor, and sample target, respectively. D, G, and G′ bands were observed at 1336–1364, 1559–1680, and 2667–2682 cm-1, respectively. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with the highest degree of crystallinity were obtained at around 8000°C, and the smallest diameter of about 2 nm was deposited on the silicon substrate at 1000°C.Syazwan Afif Mohd Zobir, Suriani Abu Bakar, Saifollah Abdullah, Zulkarnain Zainal, Siti Halimah Sarijo, and Mohamad RusopCopyright © 2012 Syazwan Afif Mohd Zobir et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/450150/Background. Pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is a lifesaving treatment that often results in physical and psychological discomfort. An acupressure-massage intervention may improve symptom management in this setting. Methods. This randomized controlled pilot trial compared a combined massage-acupressure intervention to usual care. Children were offered three practitioner-provided sessions per week throughout hospitalization. Parents were trained to provide additional acupressure as needed. Symptoms were assessed using nurses' reports and two questionnaires, the behavioral affective and somatic experiences scale and the Peds quality of life cancer module. Results. We enrolled 23 children, ages 5 to 18. Children receiving the intervention reported fewer days of mucositis (Hedges' g effect size ES=0.63), lower overall symptom burden (ES=0.26), feeling less tired and run-down (ES=0.86), having fewer moderate/severe symptoms of pain, nausea, and fatigue (ES=0.62), and less pain (ES=0.42). The intervention group showed trends toward increasing contentness/serenity (ES=+0.50) and decreasing depression (ES=−0.45), but not decreased anxiety (ES=+0.42). Differences were not statistically significant. Discussion. Feasibility of studying massage-acupressure was established in children undergoing HCT. Larger studies are needed to test the efficacy of such interventions in reducing HCT-associated symptoms in children.Wolf E. Mehling, E. Anne Lown, Christopher C. Dvorak, Morton J. Cowan, Biljana N. Horn, Elizabeth A. Dunn, Michael Acree, Donald I. Abrams, and Frederick M. HechtCopyright © 2012 Wolf E. Mehling et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crim/2012/256315/This paper presents a clinical report demonstrating combined restorative bioadhesive treatment and prosthetic rehabilitation of uncommon type of dental injury in an eighteen-year-old female involving crown fracture of all the permanent first molars and left upper premolars due to a bicycle riding accident. To restore the coronal fracture with invasion of biologic width, flap surgery with osteotomy and osteoplasty localized on the fractured teeth was performed, and the tooth remnant was reattached to the crown with a self-etch adhesive system. Frank pulp exposure was treated by self-etch dentin adhesive after surface disinfection prior to sealing of the wound site. At 2-year recall, the teeth continue to be aesthetically and functionally stable with a favourable pulpal and periapical environment.Pragati MirikarCopyright © 2012 Pragati Mirikar. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jo/2012/358341/Background/Aims. Intraperitoneal intraoperative hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of HIPEC after cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer. Patients/Methods. From 2006 to 2010 patients with advanced ovarian cancer were enrolled in a prospective nonrandomized study to undergo cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC. Clinical and histopathological variables were correlated to hospital mortality, morbidity, survival, and recurrences. Results. The mean age of 43 women was 59.9±13.8 (16–82) years. The hospital mortality and morbidity rate were 4.7% and 51.2%, respectively. Complete cytoreduction was possible in 69.8%. The overall 5-year survival rate was 54%. The prognostic indicators of survival were the extent of prior surgery (P=0.048) and the extent of peritoneal dissemination (P=0.011). The recurrence rate was 30.2%. Conclusions. Maximal cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC is a well-tolerated, feasible, and promising method of treatment in advanced ovarian cancer.Antonios-Apostolos K. Tentes, Stylianos Kakolyris, Dimitrios Kyziridis, and Christina KaramveriCopyright © 2012 Antonios-Apostolos K. Tentes et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/646794/Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex disorder defined by a cluster of abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension; the condition is recognized as a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study assessed the effects of the Sasang constitution group (SCG) on the risk of MS in Korean subjects. We have analyzed 1,617 outpatients of Korean oriental medicine hospitals who were classified into three SCGs, So-Yang, So-Eum, and Tae-Eum. Significant differences were noted in the prevalence of MS and the frequencies of all MS risk factors among the three SCGs. The odds ratios for MS as determined via multiple logistic regression analysis were 2.004 for So-Yang and 4.521 for Tae-Eum compared with So-Eum. These results indicate that SCG may function as a significant risk factor of MS; comprehensive knowledge of Sasang constitutional medicine may prove helpful in predicting susceptibility and developing preventive care techniques for MS.Kwang Hoon Song, Sung-Gon Yu, and Jong Yeol KimCopyright © 2012 Kwang Hoon Song et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jam/2012/268537/Among spinning objects, the tippe top exhibits one of the most bizarre and counterintuitive behaviours. The commercially available tippe tops basically consist of a section of a sphere with a rod. After spinning on its rounded body, the top flips over and continues spinning on the stem. The commonly used simplified mathematical model for the tippe top is a sphere whose mass distribution is axially but not spherically symmetric, spinning on a flat surface subject to a small friction force that is due to sliding. Three main different dynamical behaviours are distinguished: tipping, nontipping, hanging, that is, the top rises but converges to an intermediate state instead of rising all the way to the vertical state. Subclasses according to the stability of relative equilibria can further be distinguished. Our concern is the degree of confidence in the mathematical model predictions, we applied 3D printing and rapid prototyping to manufacture a “3-in-1 toy” that could catch the three main characteristics defining the three main groups in the classification of spherical tippe tops as mentioned above. We propose three designs. This “toy” is suitable to validate the mathematical model qualitatively and quantitatively.M. C. Ciocci, B. Malengier, B. Langerock, and B. GrimonprezCopyright © 2012 M. C. Ciocci et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/econ/2012/818716/In an incomplete regulation framework, the regulator cannot replicate all the possible outcomes by himself since he has no influence over some firms in the market. Due to asymmetric information, it may be better for the regulator to allow the unregulated firms to extract a truthful report from the regulated firm through side-payments under collusion, and therefore the “collusion-proofness principle” may not hold. In fact, by introducing an exogenous number of unregulated firms, social welfare differences seem to favour a collusion-allowing equilibrium. However, such result will depend on the relative importance given by the regulator to the consumer surplus in the social welfare function.Marco Meireles and Paula SarmentoCopyright © 2012 Marco Meireles and Paula Sarmento. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2012/162034/We introduce an adaptive numerical method for computing blow-up solutions for ODEs and well-known reaction-diffusion equations. The method is based on the implicit midpoint method and the implicit Euler method. We demonstrate that the method produces superior results to the adaptive PECE-implicit method and the MATLAB solver of comparable order.P. G. Dlamini and M. KhumaloCopyright © 2012 P. G. Dlamini and M. Khumalo. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijae/2012/191879/Intergranular attack (IG) and exfoliation corrosion (EC) have a detrimental impact on the structural integrity of aircraft structures of all types. Understanding the mechanisms and methods for dealing with these processes and with corrosion in general has been and is critical to the safety of critical components of aircraft. Discussion of cases where IG attack and exfoliation caused issues in structural integrity in aircraft in operational fleets is presented herein along with a much more detailed presentation of the issues involved in dealing with corrosion of aircraft. Issues of corrosion and fatigue related to the structural integrity of aging aircraft are introduced herein. Mechanisms of pitting nucleation are discussed which include adsorption-induced, ion migration-penetration, and chemicomechanical film breakdown theories. In addition, pitting corrosion (PC) fatigue models are presented as well as a critical assessment of their application to aircraft structures and materials. Finally environmental effects on short crack behavior of materials are discussed, and a compilation of definitions related to corrosion and fatigue are presented.David W. Hoeppner and Carlos A. ArriscorretaCopyright © 2012 David W. Hoeppner and Carlos A. Arriscorreta. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jam/2012/157067/The flow of an incompressible electrically conducting viscous fluid in convergent or divergent channels under the influence of an externally applied homogeneous magnetic field is studied both analytically and numerically. Navier-Stokes equations of fluid mechanics and Maxwell’s electromagnetism equations are reduced into highly non-linear ordinary differential equation. The resulting non-linear equation has been solved analytically using a very efficient technique, namely, differential transform method (DTM). The DTM solution is compared with the results obtained by a numerical method (shooting method, coupled with fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme). The plots have revealed the physical characteristics of flow by changing angles of the channel, Hartmann and Reynolds numbers.Reza Hosseini, Sadegh Poozesh, and Saeed DinarvandCopyright © 2012 Reza Hosseini et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jfsa/2012/678171/We study the weighted p→q-boundedness of Hardy-type operators in Morrey spaces ℒp,λ(ℝn) (or ℒp,λ(ℝ+1) in the one-dimensional case) for a class of almost monotonic weights. The obtained results are applied to a similar weighted p→q-boundedness of the Riesz potential operator. The conditions on weights, both for the Hardy and potential operators, are necessary and sufficient in the case of power weights. In the case of more general weights, we provide separately necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of Matuszewska-Orlicz indices of weights.Natasha SamkoCopyright © 2012 Natasha Samko. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ddns/2012/672756/Through analyzing the data about the releases, comment, and forwarding of 120,000 microblog messages in a year, this paper finds out that the intervals between information releases and comment follow a power law; besides, the analysis of data in each 24 hours reveals obvious differences between microblogging and website visit, email, instant communication, and the use of mobile phone, reflecting how people use fragments of time via mobile internet technology. The paper points out the significant influence of the user's activity on the intervals of information releases and thus demonstrates a positive correlation between the activity and the power exponent. The paper also points out that user's activity is influenced by social identity in a positive way. The simulation results based on the social identity mechanism fit well with the actual data, which indicates that this mechanism is a reasonable way to explain people's behavior in the mobile Internet.Qiang Yan, Lianren Wu, and Lanli YiCopyright © 2012 Qiang Yan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijz/2012/317568/Identifying individual animals is important in understanding their ecology and behaviour, as well as providing estimates of population sizes for conservation efforts. We produce identification keys from photographs of green sea turtles to identify them while foraging in Akumal Bay, Mexico. We create three keys, which (a) minimise the length of the key, (b) present the most obvious differential characteristics first, and (c) remove the strict dichotomy from key b. Keys were capable of identifying >99% of turtles in >2500 photographs during the six-month study period. The keys differed significantly in success rate for students to identify individual turtles, with key (c) being the best with >70% success and correctly being followed further than other keys before making a mistake. User-friendly keys are, therefore, a suitable method for the photographic identification of turtles and could be used for other large marine vertebrates in conservation or behavioural studies.Jane R. Lloyd, Miguel Á. Maldonado, and Richard StaffordCopyright © 2012 Jane R. Lloyd et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/em/2012/984195/Fournier's gangrene is a very serious surgical emergency seen all over the world. With the newer advancement of surgical techniques and critical care medicine, the mortality and morbidity of this disease has come down significantly over a period of time. An early diagnosis including evaluation of predisposing and etiological factors, metabolic and physiological parameters with prompt resuscitation, aggressive surgical debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage, and continuous monitoring of all the parameters is essential for a good outcome, therefore reducing the high mortality and morbidity of this condition. In this study, we report 2 different cases of Fournier gangrene. Our first case was a young, nondiabetic, and without any multiorgan failure, who was managed successfully with good outcome. The second case was a 67-year-old man with diabetes and multiorgan dysfunction with extensive gangrene at presentation, who recovered well, but with a stormy postoperative period.Prasan Kumar HotaCopyright © 2012 Prasan Kumar Hota. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijped/2012/527891/Objectives: To study the outcome of disconnective epilepsy surgery for intractable hemispheric and sub-hemispheric pediatric epilepsy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the epilepsy surgery database was done in all children (age <18 years) who underwent a peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) or a peri-insular posterior quadrantectomy (PIPQ) from April 2000 to March 2011. All patients underwent a detailed pre surgical evaluation. Seizure outcome was assessed by the Engel’s classification and cognitive skills by appropriate measures of intelligence that were repeated annually. Results: There were 34 patients in all. Epilepsy was due to Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE), Infantile hemiplegia seizure syndrome (IHSS), Hemimegalencephaly (HM), Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS) and due to post encephalitic sequelae (PES). Twenty seven (79.4%) patients underwent PIH and seven (20.6%) underwent PIPQ. The mean follow up was 30.5 months. At the last follow up, 31 (91.1%) were seizure free. The age of seizure onset and etiology of the disease causing epilepsy were predictors of a Class I seizure outcome. Conclusions: There is an excellent seizure outcome following disconnective epilepsy surgery for intractable hemispheric and subhemispheric pediatric epilepsy. An older age of seizure onset, RE, SWS and PES were good predictors of a Class I seizure outcome.Santhosh George Thomas, Ari George Chacko, Maya Mary Thomas, K. Srinivasa Babu, Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar Russell, and Roy Thomas DanielCopyright © 2012 Santhosh George Thomas et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jo/2012/351089/The multistep process of metastasis is a major hallmark of cancer progression involving the cointeraction and coevolution of the tumor and its microenvironment. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells and the surrounding stromal cells aberrantly secrete matricellular proteins, which are a family of nonstructural proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that exert regulatory roles via a variety of molecular mechanisms. Matricellular proteins provide signals that support tumorigenic activities characteristic of the metastastic cascade such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition, angiogenesis, tumor cell motility, proliferation, invasion, evasion from immune surveillance, and survival of anoikis. Herein, we review the current understanding of the following matricellular proteins and highlight their pivotal and multifacted roles in metastatic progression: angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), CCN family members cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61/CCN1) and CCN6, osteopontin (OPN), secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), tenascin C (TNC), and thrombospondin-1 and -2 (TSP1, TSP2). Insights into the signaling mechanisms resulting from the interaction of these matricellular proteins and their respective molecular partner(s), as well as their subsequent contribution to tumor metastasis, are discussed. In addition, emerging evidences of their promising potential as therapeutic options and/or targets in the treatment of cancer are also highlighted.Han Chung Chong, Chek Kun Tan, Royston-Luke Huang, and Nguan Soon TanCopyright © 2012 Han Chung Chong et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jtd/2012/574596/This article provided a research for the trend of heat transfer and flow field through a 2-dimensional wavy duct. To construct a grid mesh, the physical domain was transferred to the computational domain and finite volume scheme was used for discretizing the governing equations. Through the simulation, the flow regime stayed in laminar mode. Constant temperature boundary condition has been used for solid walls. Air was used as a working fluid. Existence of waves makes some phenomenon like flow separation. Effect of Reynolds number, wave width, and wave number has been analyzed and velocity distribution, heat transfer coefficient, and tangential stress were computed for different cases. The final results were compared with the same straight duct. The entropy generation minimization method has been used for better comparison between final results.Ouldouz Nourani Zonouz and Mehdi SalmanpourCopyright © 2012 Ouldouz Nourani Zonouz and Mehdi Salmanpour. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jfsa/2012/982360/Let G0 and G∞ be, respectively, bounded and unbounded components of a plane curve Γ satisfying Dini's smoothness condition. In addition to partial sum of Faber series of f belonging to weighted Smirnov-Orlicz space EM,ω (G0), we prove that interpolating polynomials and Poisson polynomials are near best approximant for f. Also considering a weighted fractional moduli of smoothness, we obtain direct and converse theorems of trigonometric polynomial approximation in Orlicz spaces with Muckenhoupt weights. On the bases of these approximation theorems, we prove direct and converse theorems of approximation, respectively, by algebraic polynomials and rational functions in weighted Smirnov-Orlicz spaces EM,ω(G0) and EM,ω(G∞).Ramazan AkgünCopyright © 2010 Ramazan Akgün. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/grp/2012/875323/Aim. Delayed bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric epithelial neoplasms is a major complication. We investigated factors related to post-ESD bleeding to identify preventive measures. Methods. The study included 161 gastric epithelial neoplasms in 142 patients from June 2007 to September 2010. Post-ESD bleeding was defined as an ulcer with active bleeding or apparent exposed vessels diagnosed by an emergency endoscopy or a planned follow-up endoscopy. We analyzed associations between bleeding and the following factors: age, sex, morphology, pathology, tumor depth, ulcer presence/absence, location, size of the resected lesion, duration of the procedure, the number of times bleeding occurred during ESD, and the use of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet drugs. Subsequently, we examined characteristics of bleeding cases. Results. Post-ESD bleeding occurred in 21 lesions. Univariate analysis of these cases showed that ulcer presence/absence (P<0.001), middle or lower third lesions (P=0.036), circumference (P=0.014), and a post-ESD ulcer with an extended lesser curve (P=0.009) were significant predictors of bleeding. Multivariate analysis showed that ulcer presence/absence (OR 9.73, 95% CI 2.28–41.53) was the only significant predictor. Conclusion. Ulcer presence/absence was considered the most significant predictor of post-ESD bleeding.Shinichi Mukai, Songde Cho, Takahiro Kotachi, Akinori Shimizu, Genta Matuura, Michihiro Nonaka, Toshihide Hamada, Ken Hirata, and Toshio NakanishiCopyright © 2012 Shinichi Mukai et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2012/473847/The travel time of left-turning vehicles at signalized intersection was discussed. Under the assumption that the opposing through vehicles headway follows M3 distribution, the travel time model was established on the basis of gap theory and queue theory. Comparison was done with the common model based on the assumption that the opposing through vehicles headway follows negative exponential distribution. The results show that the model in this paper has stronger applicability and its most relative error is less than 15%. In addition, the sensitivity analysis was done. The results show that the opposing through flow rate has significant impact on travel time. The impact of left-turning flow rate and following headway is light when the opposing through flow rate is small, the threshold is about 0.18 veh/s. The model established in this paper can well calculate travel time of left-turning vehicles at intersection, and the methodology may provide reference to other occasions.Leng Jun-qiang, Feng Yu-qin, Zhai Jing, Bao Lei, and He YiCopyright © 2012 Leng Jun-qiang et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijac/2012/341260/Immunoimaging scanning probe microscopy was utilized for the low-level detection and quantification of biotinylated G4 poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers. Results were compared to those of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and found to provide a vastly improved analytical method for the low-level detection of dendrimers, improving the limit of detection by a factor of 1000 (LOD=2.5×10−13 moles). The biorecognition method is reproducible and shows high specificity and good accuracy. In addition, the capture assay platform shows a promising approach to patterning dendrimers for nanotechnology applications.Chevelle A. Cason, Thomas A. Fabré, Andrew Buhrlage, Kristi L. Haik, and Heather A. BullenCopyright © 2012 Chevelle A. Cason et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jfsa/2012/202987/We introduce and study the concept of (p,k)-variation (1<p<∞, k∈N) of a real function on a compact interval. In particular, we prove that a function u:[a,b]→R has bounded (p,k)-variation if and only if u(k-1) is absolutely continuous on [a,b] and u(k) belongs to Lp[a,b]. Moreover, an explicit connection between the (p,k)-variation of u and the Lp-norm of u(k) is given which is parallel to the classical Riesz formula characterizing functions in the spaces RVp[a,b] and Ap[a,b]. This may also be considered as an alternative characterization of the one variable Sobolev space Wpk[a,b].N. Merentes, S. Rivas, and J. L. SanchezCopyright © 2012 N. Merentes et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/156435/Healthy People 2020 aims to achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups. Regular physical activity (PA) improves overall health and fitness and has the capability to reduce risk for chronic diseases. Identifying barriers which relate to the Hispanic population is important when designing PA interventions. Therefore, the purpose was to review existing PA interventions targeting Hispanic adults published between 1988 and 2011. This paper was limited to interventions which included more than 35% Hispanic adults (n=20). Most of the interventions were community based (n=16), although clinical, family-based, and faith-based settings were also represented. Interventions incorporated theory (n=16), with social cognitive theory and transtheoretical model being used most frequently. Social support was integral, building on the assumption that it is a strong motivator of PA. Each of the interventions reported success related to PA, social support, and/or BMI. Lessons learned should be incorporated into future interventions.Melinda J. Ickes and Manoj SharmaCopyright © 2012 Melinda J. Ickes and Manoj Sharma. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crim/2012/623142/Tailgut cysts, also known as retrorectal cystic hamartomas, are rare developmental abnormalities that typically occur in the retrorectal space. They are believed to arise from remnants of the embryonic hindgut (Hjermstad and Helwig, 1988). They can present as incidental findings during routine examination but over half of patients are thought to present with symptoms. MRI has become the modality of choice to image these frequently misdiagnosed cysts. Biopsy is not recommended. Complete intact surgical excision is advised to avoid the potential complications of these cysts which include infection, fistula formation, and the possibility of malignant transformation (Hjermstad and Helwig (1988), Mathis et al. (2010)). We describe the case of a 46-year-old female who presented with a 6-month history of low back pain. CT and MRI imaging demonstrated a complex retrorectal lesion with supralevator and infralevator components. This was removed using a combined transperineal and transabdominal approach. Histology confirmed a tailgut cyst.E. A. Joyce, D. O. Kavanagh, and D. C. WinterCopyright © 2012 E. A. Joyce et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crim/2012/356743/A 36-year-old man visited our hospital because of blurred vision and redness of the conjunctiva. Slit-lamp examination showed panuveitis. Two days later, he suddenly experienced dizziness, speech disturbance, paralysis of his right extremities, and gait disturbances. Neurological examinations suggested that his symptoms were caused by a left lateral medullary lesion. He also had erythema mainly on his trunk. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his brain demonstrated a small infarct on the left side of the medulla oblongata. Clinical presentation and MRI findings were consistent with the diagnosis of a Wallenberg’s syndrome. He also had bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. A skin biopsy showed granulomatous nodular dermatitis compatible with sarcoidosis. He was treated with steroid pulse therapy and his neurological and ocular symptoms immediately improved. Only seven similar cases of intracranical sarcoidosis have been reported, but none had been treated with steroid pulse therapy. We recommend that steroid pulse therapy be considered to treat patients with sarcoidosis with signs of lesions in the central nervous system.Natsuyo Yoshida-Hata, Shigeko Yashiro, Noritoshi Arai, and Sousuke TakeuchiCopyright © 2012 Natsuyo Yoshida-Hata et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijac/2012/546282/An efficient and environmentally friendly sample preparation method based on the application of hydrophobic 1-Hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate [Hpy][PF6] ionic liquid (IL) as a microextraction solvent was proposed to preconcentrate terazosin. The performance of the microextraction method was improved by introducing a common ion of pyridinium IL into the sample solution. Due to the presence of the common ion, the solubility of IL significantly decreased. As a result, the phase separation successfully occurred even at high ionic strength, and the volume of the settled IL-phase was not influenced by variations in the ionic strength (up to 30% w/v). After preconcentration step, the enriched phase was introduced to the spectrofluorimeter for the determination of terazosin. The obtained results revealed that this system did not suffer from the limitations of that in conventional ionic-liquid microextraction. Under optimum experimental conditions, the proposed method provided a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.027 μg L−1 and a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 2.4%. The present method was successfully applied to terazosin determination in actual pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples. Considering the large variety of ionic liquids, the proposed microextraction method earns many merits, and will present a wide application in the future.Mohsen Zeeb and Mahdi SadeghiCopyright © 2012 Mohsen Zeeb and Mahdi Sadeghi. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijped/2012/359430/We performed an economic analysis of an intervention to decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevalence in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) at two Nicaraguan hospitals to determine the cost of the intervention and how effective it needs to be in order to be cost-neutral. A matched cohort study determined differences in costs and outcomes among ventilated patients. VAP cases were matched by sex and age for children older than 28 days and by weight for infants under 28 days old to controls without VAP. Intervention costs were determined from accounting and PICU staff records. The intervention cost was approximately $7,000 for one year. If VAP prevalence decreased by 0.5%, hospitals would save $7,000 and the strategy would be cost-neutral. The finding that the intervention required only modest effectiveness to be cost-neutral and has potential to generate substantial cost savings argues for implementation of VAP prevention strategies in low-income countries like Nicaragua on a broader scale.Edward I. Broughton, Sergio R. López, María Nela Aguilar, María Mercedes Somarriba, Magaly Pérez, and Nieves SánchezCopyright © 2012 Edward I. Broughton et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/409823/Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells are characterized by strong drug resistance and high metastatic incidence. In this study, the effects of ten kinds of Chinese herbs on RCC cell migration and proliferation were examined. Aqueous extract of Paeonia suffruticosa (PS-A) exerted strong inhibitory effects on cancer cell migration, mobility, and invasion. The results of mouse xenograft experiments showed that the treatment of PS-A significantly suppressed tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis. We further found that PS-A markedly decreased expression of VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) and phosphorylation of FAK in RCC cells. Moreover, the activation of Rac-1, a modulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, was remarkably reduced by PS-A. Additionally, PS-A suppressed polymerization of actin filament as demonstrated by confocal microscopy analysis and decreased the ratio of F-actin to G-actin in RCC cells, suggesting that PS-A inhibits RCC cell migration through modulating VEGFR-3/FAK/Rac-1 pathway to disrupt actin filament polymerization. In conclusion, this research elucidates the effects and molecular mechanism for antimigration of PS-A on RCC cells and suggests PS-A to be a therapeutic or adjuvant strategy for the patients with aggressive RCC.Shih-Chin Wang, Sai-Wen Tang, Sio-Hong Lam, Chung-Chieh Wang, Yu-Huei Liu, Hsuan-Yuan Lin, Shoei-Sheng Lee, and Jung-Yaw LinCopyright © 2012 Shih-Chin Wang et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/953459/Yokukansan, one of the traditional Japanese herbal medicines, ameliorated neuropathic pain symptoms in patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of yokukansan on neuropathic pain in chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. Oral administration of yokukansan significantly inhibited mechanical and cold allodynia in the von Frey hair or acetone test, respectively. In comparison, amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, demonstrated moderate, but not significant, antiallodynic effects in the mechanical and cold tests. Yokukansan significantly inhibited the cerebrospinal fluid dialysate level of glutamate that had increased by the stimulation of brush or acetone. Glutamate transporter inhibitors, DL-threo-beta-hydroxy aspartate and dihydrokainate, decreased the yokukansan-induced antiallodynic actions in CCI rats. Our results suggest that yokukansan was confirmed to have antiallodynic effects in CCI rats, which are related to a blockade of glutamatergic neurotransmission via activation of glutamate transporters in the spinal cord.Yasuyuki Suzuki, Hiromasa Mitsuhata, Mitsutoshi Yuzurihara, and Yoshio KaseCopyright © 2012 Yasuyuki Suzuki et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/radiology/2012/946317/Microcalcifications in the breast are highly suggestive of malignancy; they can occur in many pathological conditions. A 36-years-old nondiabetic woman came to the gynaecologist with a suspect palpable mass in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Histopathological examination confirmed a calcification of a small artery (diameter: 0.45 mm). Arterial calcifications can mimic a malignant lesion in the breast.Katrin Janzen and Jan JanzenCopyright © 2012 Katrin Janzen and Jan Janzen. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2012/861358/Development-perched watertables and subsurface lateral flows in texture-contrast soils (duplex) are commonly believed to occur as a consequence of the hydraulic discontinuity between the A and B soil horizons. However, in catchments containing shallow bedrock, subsurface lateral flows result from a combination of preferential flow from the soil surface to the soil—bedrock interface, undulations in the bedrock topography, lateral flow through macropore networks at the soil—bedrock interface, and the influence of antecedent soil moisture on macropore connectivity. Review of literature indicates that some of these processes may also be involved in the development of subsurface lateral flow in texture contrast soils. However, the extent to which these mechanisms can be applied to texture contrast soils requires further field studies. Improved process understanding is required for modelling subsurface lateral flows in order to improve the management of waterlogging, drainage, salinity, and offsite agrochemicals movement.Marcus A. Hardie, Richard B. Doyle, William E. Cotching, and Shaun LissonCopyright © 2012 Marcus A. Hardie et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijrc/2012/504815/Massively parallel reconfigurable architectures, which offer massive parallelism coupled with the capability of undergoing run-time reconfiguration, are gaining attention in order to meet the increased computational demands of high-performance embedded systems. We propose that the occam-pi language is used for programming of the category of massively parallel reconfigurable architectures. The salient properties of the occam-pi language are explicit concurrency with built-in mechanisms for interprocessor communication, provision for expressing dynamic parallelism, support for the expression of dynamic reconfigurations, and placement attributes. To evaluate the programming approach, a compiler framework was extended to support the language extensions in the occam-pi language and a backend was developed to target the Ambric array of processors. We present two case-studies; DCT implementation exploiting the reconfigurability feature of occam-pi and a significantly large autofocus criterion calculation based on the dynamic parallelism capability of the occam-pi language. The results of the implemented case studies suggest that the occam-pi-language-based approach simplifies the development of applications employing run-time reconfigurable devices without compromising the performance benefits. Zain-ul-Abdin and Bertil SvenssonCopyright © 2012 Zain-ul-Abdin and Bertil Svensson. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jcnc/2012/303465/Deployment of a large number of femtocells to jointly provide coverage in an enterprise environment raises critical challenges especially in future self-organizing networks which rely on plug-and-play techniques for configuration. This paper proposes a multi-objective heuristic based on a genetic algorithm for a centralized self-optimizing network containing a group of UMTS femtocells. In order to optimize the network coverage in terms of handled load, coverage gaps, and overlaps, the algorithm provides a dynamic update of the downlink pilot powers of the deployed femtocells. The results demonstrate that the algorithm can effectively optimize the coverage based on the current statistics of the global traffic distribution and the levels of interference between neighboring femtocells. The algorithm was also compared with the fixed pilot power scheme. The results show over fifty percent reduction in pilot power pollution and a significant enhancement in network performance. Finally, for a given traffic distribution, the solution quality and the efficiency of the described algorithm were evaluated by comparing the results generated by an exhaustive search with the same pilot power configuration.Lina S. Mohjazi, Mahmoud A. Al-Qutayri, Hassan R. Barada, Kin F. Poon, and Raed M. ShubairCopyright © 2012 Lina S. Mohjazi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2012/589243/For the problem that the energy efficiency of the cloud computing data center is low, from the point of view of the energy efficiency of the servers, we propose a new energy-efficient multi-job scheduling model based on Google’s massive data processing framework. To solve this model, we design a practical encoding and decoding method for the individuals and construct an overall energy efficiency function of the servers as the fitness value of each individual. Meanwhile, in order to accelerate the convergent speed of our algorithm and enhance its searching ability, a local search operator is introduced. Finally, the experiments show that the proposed algorithm is effective and efficient.Xiaoli Wang, Yuping Wang, and Hai ZhuCopyright © 2012 Xiaoli Wang et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/genetics/2012/681747/We describe a familial pattern of gonosomal-autosomal translocation between the X and 18 chromosomes, balanced and unbalanced forms, in male and female siblings. The proposita was consulted for hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Karyotype analysis revealed a balanced 46, X, t(X;18)(q22.3;q23) genotype. The sister of the proband presented with oligomenorrhea with irregular menses and possesses an unbalanced form of the translocation 46, X, der(X), t(X;18)(q22.3;q23). The brother of the proband was investigated and was found to possess the balanced form of the same translocation, resulting in disrupted spermatogenesis. Maternal investigation revealed the progenitor karyotype 46, X, t(X;18)(q22.3;q23). Maternal inheritance and various genomic events contributed to the resultant genotypes. Primary infertility was initially diagnosed in all progeny; however, the male individual recently fathered twins. We briefly review the mechanisms associated with X;18 translocations and describe a pattern of inheritance, where breakpoints and translocation of the Xq22.3;18q23 regions have resulted in variable fertility.Attila Szvetko, Nicole Martin, Chris Joy, Andrea Hayward, Bob Watson, Andrew Cary, and Stephen WithersCopyright © 2012 Attila Szvetko et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ari/2012/583798/Some male seasonal breeders undergo testicular growth and regression throughout the year. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of seasonality on: (i) microvasculature of cat testes; (ii) angiogenic activity in testicular tissue in vitro; and (iii) testicular endothelial cells expression throughout the year. Testicular vascular areas increased in March and April, June and July, being the highest in November and December. Testes tissue differently stimulated in vitro angiogenic activity, according to seasonality, being more evident in February, and November and December. Even though CD143 expression was higher in December, smaller peaks were present in April and July. As changes in angiogenesis may play a role on testes vascular growth and regression during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, data suggest that testicular vascularisation in cats is increased in three photoperiod windows of time, November/December, March/April and June/July. This increase in testicular vascularisation might be related to higher seasonal sexual activity in cats, which is in agreement with the fact that most queens give birth at the beginning of the year, between May and July, and in September.Graça Alexandre-Pires, Luísa Mateus, Catarina Martins, and Graça Ferreira-DiasCopyright © 2012 Graça Alexandre-Pires et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2012/618148/The rational surfaces and their offsets are commonly used in modeling and manufacturing. The purpose of this paper is to present relationships between rational surfaces and orientation-preserving similarities of the Euclidean 3-space. A notion of a similarity surface offset is introduced and applied to different constructions of rational generalized offsets of a rational surface. It is shown that every rational surface possesses a rational generalized offset. Rational generalized focal surfaces are also studied.Georgi Hristov GeorgievCopyright © 2012 Georgi Hristov Georgiev. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijd/2012/584138/Purpose. To compare errors in digital panoramic radiographs of permanent and mixed dentitions. Methods. 143 and 146 digital radiographs of mixed and permanent dentitions were examined. Results. Significantly fewer errors presented in the mixed dentition. Positioning too forward significantly prevalent in the mixed dentition; slumped position and nonpositioning of chin properly were significantly prevailed in the permanent dentition. Blurred or shortened upper incisors were significantly more prevalent in the mixed dentition. Diagnostic ability could be improved by manipulating the brightness or contrast in nearly 45% of all radiographs. In the mixed dentition, tilting the chin down and a slumped position made the lower incisors significantly nondiagnostic. In the permanent dentition, tilting the chin down made the lower incisors to be significantly nondiagnostic. Conclusions. More errors were prevalent in panoramic radiographs of permanent dentitions. Properly positioning the patient is the most important factor in preventing a cascade of errors.Benjamin Peretz, Maya Gotler, and Israel KaffeCopyright © 2012 Benjamin Peretz et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijrm/2012/581658/Savonius turbine is simple in design and easy to fabricate at a lower cost. The drag is the basic driving force for Savonius turbine. Savonius turbines are mainly used for the small-scale electricity generation in remote areas. In real life, multiple Savonius turbines are to be arranged to form a farm to scale up the electricity generation. So, it is important to study the interaction among them to avoid the power loss due to negative interaction between turbines. The purpose of this investigation is to examine closely the effect of interaction between two Savonius turbines arranged in line. Experimental investigations are carried out to study the mutual interaction between turbines with water as the working medium at a Reynolds number of 1.2×105 based on the diameter of the turbine. Influence of separation gap between the two Savonius turbines is studied by varying the separation gap ratio (X/R) from 3 to 8. As the separation gap ratio increases from 3 to 8, becomes lesser the mutual interaction between the turbines. Results conclude that two turbines placed at a separation gap ratio of 8 performed independently without affecting the performance of each other.Kailash Golecha, T. I. Eldho, and S. V. PrabhuCopyright © 2012 Kailash Golecha et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/srcm/2012/410973/Background. We report on 19 cases of giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) affecting the spine or sacrum and evaluate the outcome of different treatment modalities. Methods. Nineteen patients with GCT of the spine (n=6) or sacrum (n=13) have been included in this study. The mean followup was 51.6 months. Ten sacral GCT were treated by intralesional procedures of which 4 also received embolization, and 3 with irradiation only. All spinal GCT were surgically treated. Results. Two (15.4%) patients with sacral and 4 (66.7%) with spinal tumors had a local recurrence, two of the letter developed pulmonary metastases. One local recurrence of the spine was successfully treated by serial arterial embolization, a procedure previously described only for sacral tumors. At last followup, 9 patients had no evidence of disease, 8 had stable disease, 1 had progressive disease, 1 died due to disease. Six patients had neurological deficits. Conclusions. GCT of the axial skeleton have a high local recurrence rate. Neurological deficits are common. En-bloc spondylectomy combined with embolization is the treatment of choice. In case of inoperability, serial arterial embolization seems to be an alternative not only for sacral but also for spinal tumors.Maurice Balke, Marcel P. Henrichs, Georg Gosheger, Helmut Ahrens, Arne Streitbuerger, Michael Koehler, Viola Bullmann, and Jendrik HardesCopyright © 2012 Maurice Balke et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2012/378259/An analysis is carried out for axisymmetric stagnation flow of a micropolar nanofluid in a moving cylinder with finite radius. The coupled nonlinear partial differential equations of the problem are simplified with the help of similarity transformations and the resulting coupled nonlinear differential equations are solved analytically by homotopy analysis method (HAM). The features of the flow phenomena, inertia, heat transfer, and nanoparticles are analyzed and discussed.S. Nadeem, Abdul Rehman, K. Vajravelu, Jinho Lee, and Changhoon LeeCopyright © 2012 S. Nadeem et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/econ/2012/137412/The countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have gone through immense political and socioeconomic restructuring after the collapse of communism around 1990. Such transition has affected the lives of populations in these countries in many significant respects. A key aspect of life and wellbeing in any society is that of population health. This paper traces the transitions in population health—life expectancies and mortality rates for both males and females—in seven of the CEE countries during the two decades after the fall of communism. We estimate a series of panel data models to identify some of the common factors that would explain health transitions in these countries, while allowing for country-specific variability. Our findings indicate that the health transitions are strongly country specific. Moreover, income per capita and trade openness are statistically significant common contributors to health transitions.Jalil SafaeiCopyright © 2012 Jalil Safaei. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfm/2012/876381/Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in North Carolina with increasing incidence of HIV infection. Gender roles, cultural expectations, and acculturation of women may explain some of Hispanic women’s risks. The perspectives of Hispanic female immigrants and community-based providers were sought to identify services they offer, understand HIV risk factors, and support the adaptation of a best-evidence HIV behavioural intervention for Hispanic women. Two sets of focus groups were conducted to explicate risks and the opportunities to reach women or couples and the feasibility to conduct HIV prevention in an acceptable manner. Salient findings were that Hispanic female immigrants lacked accurate HIV/AIDS and STI knowledge and that traditional gender roles shaped issues surrounding sexual behaviour and HIV risks, as well as condom use, partner communication, and multiple sexual partnerships. Intervention implications are discussed such as developing and adapting culturally appropriate HIV prevention interventions for Hispanics that address gender roles and partner communication.Amy M. Hernandez, William A. Zule, Rhonda S. Karg, Felicia A. Browne, and Wendee M. WechsbergCopyright © 2012 Amy M. Hernandez et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jece/2012/850637/Distortion allocation varying with wavelength in lossy compression of hyperspectral imagery is investigated, with the aim of minimizing the spectral distortion between original and decompressed data. The absolute angular error, or spectral angle mapper (SAM), is used to quantify spectral distortion, while radiometric distortions are measured by maximum absolute deviation (MAD) for near-lossless methods, for example, differential pulse code modulation (DPCM), or mean-squared error (MSE) for lossy methods, for example, spectral decorrelation followed by JPEG 2000. Two strategies of interband distortion allocation are compared: given a target average bit rate, distortion may be set to be constant with wavelength. Otherwise, it may be allocated proportionally to the noise level of each band, according to the virtually lossless protocol. Comparisons with the uncompressed originals show that the average SAM of radiance spectra is minimized by constant distortion allocation to radiance data. However, variable distortion allocation according to the virtually lossless protocol yields significantly lower SAM in case of reflectance spectra obtained from compressed radiance data, if compared with the constant distortion allocation at the same compression ratio.Bruno Aiazzi, Luciano Alparone, Stefano Baronti, Cinzia Lastri, and Massimo SelvaCopyright © 2012 Bruno Aiazzi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijap/2012/838962/A millimetre wave-folded magic-T junction compensated with metal cone is designed using a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. An off-centred metallic frustum was used to enhance the bandwidth and a metallic post is used to compensate the mismatched E-arm. The geometrical parameters of the frustum and the post are optimized by PSO. The optimized magic-T for W-band application is designed and tested. The design features are simple in structure and easy to fabricate. The 2% bandwidth with centre frequency of 94 GHz and return loss less than −20 dB is achieved.Guang Hua, Jiefu Zhang, Jiudong Wu, and Wei HongCopyright © 2012 Guang Hua et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/741925/The aim of the present study was to investigate, in vivo, the effect of a Brugmansia arborea extract (BRU), chromatographic fractions (FA and FNA), and isolated alkaloids on the expression and the acquisition of morphine tolerance and dependence. Substances were acutely (for expression) or repeatedly (for acquisition) administered in mice treated with morphine twice daily for 5 or 6 days, in order to make them tolerant or dependent. Morphine tolerance was assessed using the tail-flick test at 1st and 5th days. Morphine dependence was evaluated through the manifestation of withdrawal symptoms induced by naloxone injection at 6th day. Results showed that BRU significantly reduced the expression of morphine tolerance, while it was ineffective to modulate its acquisition. Chromatographic fractions and pure alkaloids failed to reduce morphine tolerance. Conversely BRU, FA, and pure alkaloids administrations significantly attenuated both development and expression of morphine dependence. These data suggest that Brugmansia arborea Lagerh might have human therapeutic potential for treatment of opioid addiction.Laura Mattioli, Antonio Bracci, Federica Titomanlio, Marina Perfumi, and Vincenzo De FeoCopyright © 2012 Laura Mattioli et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijol/2012/684835/Fungal Rhinosinusitis (FRS) is a well known entity, but only in more recent times have the types of FRS been more fully defined. In this study, we evaluate the diagnosis of FRS in a single medical center. Cases were divided into 2 main categories, non-invasive and invasive. Non-invasive FRS included fungus ball (FB) and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS). Invasive FRS included acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS), chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS), and chronic invasive granulomatous fungal rhinosinusitis (CGFRS). Fungal culture data, if available was reviewed. 400 patients with FRS were identified. 87.25% were non-invasive (45% AFRS, 40% FB, and 2% combined AFRS and FB and 12.5% were invasive 11% AIFRS 1.2% CIFRS 0.5% CGFRS. One patient (0.25%) had combined FB/CGFRS. Aspergillus sp. or dematiaceous species were the most common fungi isolated in AFS while Aspergillus sp. was most common in FB and AIFRS. In our experience, most FRS is non-invasive. In our patient population, invasive FRS is rare with AIFRS representing >90% of cases. Culture data supports that a variety of fungal agents are responsible for FRS, but Aspergillus sp. appears to be one of the most common organisms in patients with FRS.Kathleen T. Montone, Virginia A. Livolsi, Michael D. Feldman, James Palmer, Alexander G. Chiu, Donald C. Lanza, David W. Kennedy, Laurie A. Loevner, and Irving NachamkinCopyright © 2012 Kathleen T. Montone et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/pediatrics/2012/813963/An 8-year-old boy was referred to our institute with dysmorphic features such as mild lupus, micrognathia, low hair line, hypoplasia, hemi atrophy of left side of the face, abnormal size of ears, hypothenar, hypoplasia of chin, and tongue tie. MRI scan was found to be normal and EEG suggestive of generalized seizure disorder. Cytogenetic evaluation of the proband revealed a pericentric inversion of chromosome 8 with 46, XY, and inv 8 (p11.2; q21.2) karyotype.Venkateshwari Ananthapur, Srilekha Avvari, Sujatha Madireddi, Pratibha Nallari, and Jyothy AkkaCopyright © 2012 Venkateshwari Ananthapur et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/au/2012/816274/Congenital anomalies such as meningomyelocele and diseases/damage of the central, peripheral, or autonomic nervous systems may produce neurogenic bladder dysfunction, which untreated can result in progressive renal damage, adverse physical effects including decubiti and urinary tract infections, and psychological and social sequelae related to urinary incontinence. A comprehensive bladder-retraining program that incorporates appropriate education, training, medication, and surgical interventions can mitigate the adverse consequences of neurogenic bladder dysfunction and improve both quantity and quality of life. The goals of bladder retraining for neurogenic bladder dysfunction are prevention of urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, detrusor overdistension, and progressive upper urinary tract damage due to chronic, excessive detrusor pressures. Understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of micturition is essential to select appropriate pharmacologic and surgical interventions to achieve these goals. Future perspectives on potential pharmacological, surgical, and regenerative medicine options for treating neurogenic bladder dysfunction are also presented.Peter T. Dorsher and Peter M. McIntoshCopyright © 2012 Peter T. Dorsher and Peter M. McIntosh. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijelc/2012/986025/This paper describes recent work performed with electronic tongue systems utilizing electrochemical sensors. The electronic tongues concept is a new trend in sensors that uses arrays of sensors together with chemometric tools to unravel the complex information generated. Initial contributions and also the most used variant employ conventional ion selective electrodes, in which it is named potentiometric electronic tongue. The second important variant is the one that employs voltammetry for its operation. As chemometric processing tool, the use of artificial neural networks as the preferred data processing variant will be described. The use of the sensor arrays inserted in flow injection or sequential injection systems will exemplify attempts made to automate the operation of electronic tongues. Significant use of biosensors, mainly enzyme-based, to form what is already named bioelectronic tongue will be also presented. Application examples will be illustrated with selected study cases from the Sensors and Biosensors Group at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.Manel del ValleCopyright © 2012 Manel del Valle. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jtran/2012/642787/Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas that causes permanent changes in the function and structure of the pancreas. It is most commonly a complication of cystic fibrosis or due to a genetic predisposition. Chronic pancreatitis generally presents symptomatically as recurrent abdominal pain, which becomes persistent over time. The pain eventually becomes disabling. Once specific medical treatments and endoscopic interventions are no longer efficacious, total pancreatectomy is the alternative of choice for helping the patient achieve pain control. While daily administrations of digestive enzymes cannot be avoided, insulin-dependent diabetes can be prevented by transplanting the isolated pancreatic islets back to the patient. The greater the number of islets infused, the greater the chance to prevent or at least control the effects of surgical diabetes. We present here a technical approach for the isolation and preservation of the islets proven to be efficient to obtain high numbers of islets, favoring the successful treatment of young patients.Rita Bottino, Suzanne Bertera, Maria Grupillo, Patricia R. Melvin, Abhinav Humar, George Mazariegos, A. James Moser, R. Matthew Walsh, John Fung, Andres Gelrud, Adam Slivka, Kyle Soltys, Martin Wijkstrom, and Massimo TruccoCopyright © 2012 Rita Bottino et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/crim/psychiatry/2012/749796/Objective. Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), may play a role in the development of anxiety. Memantine partially blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors' glutamate channels located in the CNS. This paper evaluates memantine as an augmentation therapy for treatment of anxiety. Methods. 15 consecutive partially responding anxious patients were treated with adjunctive memantine for 10 weeks. Memantine was dosed 5–20 mg/day. Result. Memantine augmentation resulted in clinically relevant reduction in anxiety symptoms when compared to baseline. Forty percent of patients achieved remission (HAM-A ≥ 7). Memantine improved sleep quality. Mean dose was 14 mg/d (range 5–20 mg/d). Typical adverse events included nausea and headache. Conclusion. The NMDA receptor antagonist memantine may be an effective augmentation therapy in patients with treatment-resistant anxiety.Thomas L. Schwartz, Umar A. Siddiqui, and Shafi RazaCopyright © 2012 Thomas L. Schwartz et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jfsa/2012/265092/For C1-functions f, given in the complex space Cn, integral representations of the form f=P(f)−T(∂¯f) are obtained. Here, P is the orthogonal projector of the space L2{Cn;e−σ|z|ρ|z|γdm(z)} onto its subspace of entire functions and the integral operator T appears by means of explicitly constructed kernel Φ which is investigated in detail.Arman H. KarapetyanCopyright © 2012 Arman H. Karapetyan. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jm/2012/531915/The effect of annealing temperature on electrical characteristics of iridium (Ir) and iridium/gold (Ir/Au) Schottky contacts to n-type InGaN have been investigated by means of current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) techniques. It is observed that the barrier height of Ir/n-InGaN and Au/Ir/n-InGaN Schottky diodes increases after annealing at 300∘C for 1 min in N2 ambient compared to the as-deposited. However, the barrier heights are found to be decreased somewhat after annealing at 500∘C for the both Ir and Ir/Au Schottky contacts. From the above observations, it is clear that the optimum annealing temperature for both Ir and Ir/Au Schottky contacts is 300∘C. Moreover, the barrier height (ϕb), ideality factor (n) and series resistance (RS) are determined using Cheung’s and Norde methods. Besides, the energy distribution of interface state densities are determined from the forward bias I-V characteristics by taking into account the bias dependence of the effective barrier height. Based on the above results, it is clear that both Ir and Ir/Au Schottky contacts exhibit a kind of thermal stability during annealing.V. Rajagopal Reddy, B. Prasanna Lakshmi, and R. PadmaCopyright © 2012 V. Rajagopal Reddy et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnume/2012/351796/We previously demonstrated that black bean (BB) and soy flour (SF)-based diets inhibit azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer. The objective of this study was to identify genes altered by carcinogen treatment in normal-appearing colonic mucosa and those attenuated by bean feeding. Ninety-five male F344 rats were fed control (AIN) diets upon arrival. At 4 and 5 weeks, rats were injected with AOM (15 mg/kg) or saline and one week later administered an AIN, BB-, or SF-based diet. Rats were sacrificed after 31 weeks, and microarrays were conducted on RNA isolated from the distal colonic mucosa. AOM treatment induced a number of genes involved in immunity, including several MHC II-associated antigens and innate defense genes (RatNP-3, Lyz2, Pla2g2a). BB- and SF-fed rats exhibited a higher expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and water and sodium absorption and lower expression of innate (RatNP-3, Pla2g2a, Tlr4, Dmbt1) and cell cycle-associated (Cdc2, Ccnb1, Top2a) genes. Genes involved in the extracellular matrix (Col1a1, Fn1) and innate immunity (RatNP-3, Pla2g2a) were induced by AOM in all diets, but to a lower extent in bean-fed animals. This profile suggests beans inhibit colon carcinogenesis by modulating cellular kinetics and reducing inflammation, potentially by preserving mucosal barrier function.Elizabeth A. Rondini and Maurice R. BenninkCopyright © 2012 Elizabeth A. Rondini and Maurice R. Bennink. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jop/2012/327326/Purpose. To determine whether the patterns of visual field damage between high-tension glaucoma (HTG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) are equivalent. Methods. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, fifty-one NTG and 57 HTG patients were recruited. For each recruited patient only the left eye was chosen. Glaucomatous patients had abnormal visual fields and/or glaucomatous changes at the optic nerve head. They were classified as HTG or NTG on the basis of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Patients' visual fields were analyzed by using Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA), program 30-2, full threshold. The visual field sensitivity values and the pattern deviation map values of the 72 tested points were considered. Then a pointwise analysis and an area analysis, based on the Glaucoma Hemifield test criteria, were performed, and a comparison between the two subgroups was made by Student’s t test. Results. Between NTG and HTG, no significant difference was found pointwise for almost all the visual field points, except for two locations. One was under the blind spot, and the other was in the inferior hemifield around the twenty-degree position. When area analysis was considered, three areas showed a significantly different sensitivity between HTG and NTG. Conclusions. These data suggested that there was no relevant difference in the pointwise analysis between NTG and HTG; however, when visual field areas were compared, no difference in paracentral areas was found between NTG and HTG, but superior nasal step and inferior and superior scotomata showed to be deeper in HTG than in NTG.Michele Iester, Fabio De Feo, and Gordon R. DouglasCopyright © 2012 Michele Iester et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aav/2012/172625/We introduce a multiengine speech processing system that can detect the location and the type of audio signal in variable noisy environments. This system detects the location of the audio source using a microphone array; the system examines the audio first, determines if it is speech/nonspeech, then estimates the value of the signal to noise (SNR) using a Discrete-Valued SNR Estimator. Using this SNR value, instead of trying to adapt the speech signal to the speech processing system, we adapt the speech processing system to the surrounding environment of the captured speech signal. In this paper, we introduced the Discrete-Valued SNR Estimator and a multiengine classifier, using Multiengine Selection or Multiengine Weighted Fusion. Also we use the SI as example of the speech processing. The Discrete-Valued SNR Estimator achieves an accuracy of 98.4% in characterizing the environment's SNR. Compared to a conventional single engine SI system, the improvement in accuracy was as high as 9.0% and 10.0% for the Multiengine Selection and Multiengine Weighted Fusion, respectively.Ahmad R. Abu-El-Quran, Adrian D. C. Chan, and Rafik A. GoubranCopyright © 2012 Ahmad R. Abu-El-Quran et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbb/2012/103702/Since organism development and many critical cell biology processes are organized in modular patterns, many algorithms have been proposed to detect modules. In this study, a new method, MOfinder, was developed to detect overlapping modules in a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. We demonstrate that our method is more accurate than other 5 methods. Then, we applied MOfinder to yeast and human PPI network and explored the overlapping information. Using the overlapping modules of human PPI network, we constructed the module-module communication network. Functional annotation showed that the immune-related and cancer-related proteins were always together and present in the same modules, which offer some clues for immune therapy for cancer. Our study around overlapping modules suggests a new perspective on the analysis of PPI network and improves our understanding of disease.Qi Yu, Gong-Hua Li, and Jing-Fei HuangCopyright © 2012 Qi Yu et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijqsr/2012/985152/We propose an asymptotic nonparametric confidence interval for quantile-based process capability indices (PCIs) based on the superstructure CNp(u,v) modified from Cp(u,v) which contains the four basic PCIs, Cp, Cpk, Cpm, and Cpmk, as special cases. Since the asymptotic variance of the estimator for quantile-based PCIs involves the density function of the underlying process, the existing asymptotic results cannot be used directly to construct confidence limits for PCIs. To obtain a consistent estimator for the asymptotic variance of the estimated quantile-based PCIs, in this paper, we propose to use the kernel density estimator for the underlying process. Consequently, the confidence limits for PCIs are established based on the consistent estimates. A real-life example from manufacturing engineering is used to illustrate the implementation of the proposed methods. Simulation studies are also presented in this paper to compare the two quantile estimators that are used in the definition of PCIs.Cheng Peng and Jiaqing XuCopyright © 2012 Cheng Peng and Jiaqing Xu. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijic/2012/568797/New Schiff base (HL) ligand is prepared via condensation of isatins and amino acids in 1:1 molar ratio. Metal complexes are prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, electronic, infrared, and multinuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR, 13C NMR, and 119Sn NMR). The analytical data showed that the ligand acts as bidentate toward metal ions via azomethine nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen by a stoichiometric reaction of metal : ligand (1 : 2) to from metal complexes (Pb(II)(L)2 and Bu2Sn(L)2, where L is the Schiff base ligands of histidine and methionine). The conductivity values between 15 and 25 Ω−1cm2 mol−1 in DMF imply the presence of nonelectrolyte species. On the basis of the above spectral studies, distorted octahedral and tetrahedral geometry have been proposed for the resulting organotin(IV) and lead(II) complexes.Har Lal Singh and J. B. SinghCopyright © 2012 Har Lal Singh and J. B. Singh. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aa/2011/327641/Our groups in Brazil, France and Italy have been active, among others in the world, in performing experiments on physical-chemical effects induced by fast ions colliding with solids (frozen gases, carbonaceous and organic materials, silicates, etc.) of astrophysical interest. The used ions span a very large range of energies, from a few keV to hundreds MeV. Here we present a summary of the results obtained so far on the formation of oxidants (hydrogen peroxide and ozone) after ion irradiation of frozen water, carbon dioxide and their mixtures. Irradiation of pure water ice produces hydrogen peroxide whatever is the used ion and at different temperatures. Irradiation of carbon dioxide and water frozen mixtures result in the production of molecules among which hydrogen peroxide and ozone. The experimental results are discussed in the light of the relevance they have to support the presence of an energy source for biosphere on Europa and other icy moons in the outer Solar System.Philippe Boduch, Enio Frota da Silveira, Alicja Domaracka, Oscar Gomis, Xue Yang Lv, Maria Elisabetta Palumbo, Sergio Pilling, Hermann Rothard, Eduardo Seperuelo Duarte, and Giovanni StrazzullaCopyright © 2011 Philippe Boduch et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmb/2012/317828/Controlled drug delivery technology represents one of the most rapidly advancing areas of science. They offer numerous advantages compared to conventional dosage forms including improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, improved patient compliance and convenience. Over the past several decades, many delivery tools or methods were developed such as viral vector, liposome-based delivery system, polymer-based delivery system, and intelligent delivery system. Recently, nonviral vectors, especially those based on biodegradable polymers, have been widely investigated as vectors. Unlike the other polymers tested, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been intensively investigated as a family of biodegradable and biocompatible materials for in vivo applications as implantable tissue engineering material as well as release vectors for various drugs. On the other hand, the direct use of these polyesters has been hampered by their hydrophobic character and some physical shortcomings, while its random copolymers fulfilled the expectation of biomedical researchers by exhibiting significant mechanical and thermal properties. This paper reviews the strategies adapted to make functional polymer to be utilized as delivery system.Sujatha Kabilan, Mahalakshmi Ayyasamy, Sridhar Jayavel, and Gunasekaran ParamasamyCopyright © 2012 Sujatha Kabilan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbb/2012/343891/Delivering siRNA or shRNA into the developing embryos is still a main challenge to use of RNAi in mammalian systems. Here we analyze several factors influencing RNAi-mediated silencing of Sry gene, which is a tightly controlled spatiotemporal expressed gene and only shortly expressed in developing mouse embryo gonad. A Sry gene-specific shRNAs expression vector (pSilencer4.1/Sry565) was constructed. The shRNA constructs were mixed with polyethylenimines (PEIs) to form a complex and then injected into pregnant mice though tail vein. Our results showed that Sry gene was downregulated significantly in developing embryos. Further study revealed that knocking-down of Sry expression resulted in feminization of gonad development in mouse embryos and the expression level of Sox9 and Wt1 gene was also significantly changed by downregulation of Sry. The transfection efficiency is associated with the amount of plasmid DNA injection, injection time, injection speed, and volume. Our studies suggest that transplacental RNAi could be implemented by tail vein injection of plasmid vector into pregnant mice.Ning Wu, Ai-Bing Yu, Hua-Bin Zhu, and Xiu-Kun LinCopyright © 2012 Ning Wu et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/715024/Previous results demonstrated that 10 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) of Anmian acupoints in rats during the dark period enhances slow wave sleep (SWS), which involves the induction of cholinergic activity in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and subsequent activation of opioidergic neurons and μ-receptors. Studies have shown that different kinds of endogenous opiate peptides and receptors may mediate the consequences of EA with different frequencies. Herein, we further elucidated that high-frequency (100 Hz)-EA of Anmian enhanced SWS during the dark period but exhibited no direct effect on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. High-frequency EA-induced SWS enhancement was dose-dependently blocked by microinjection of naloxone or κ-receptor antagonist (nor-binaltorphimine) into the caudal NTS, but was affected neither by μ- (naloxonazine) nor δ-receptor antagonists (natatrindole), suggesting the role of NTS κ-receptors in the high-frequency EA-induced SWS enhancement. Current and previous results depict the opioid mechanisms of EA-induced sleep.Chiung-Hsiang Cheng, Pei-Lu Yi, Han-Han Chang, Yi-Fong Tsai, and Fang-Chia ChangCopyright © 2012 Chiung-Hsiang Cheng et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/vmi/2012/752083/Multipotency and self-renewal are considered as most important features of stem cells to persist throughout life in tissues. In this context, the role of HMGA proteins to influence proliferation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASCs) while maintaining their multipotent and self-renewal capacities has not yet been investigated. Therefore, extracellular HMGA1 and HMGA2 application alone (10–200 ng/mL) and in combination with each other (100, 200 ng/mL each) was investigated with regard to proliferative effects on canine ASCs (cASCs) after 48 hours of cultivation. Furthermore, mRNA expression of multipotency marker genes in unstimulated and HMGA2-stimulated cASCs (50, 100 ng/mL) was analyzed by RT-qPCR. HMGA1 significantly reduced cASCs proliferation in concentrations of 10–200 ng/mL culture medium. A combination of HMGA1 and HMGA2 protein (100 and 200 ng/mL each) caused the same effects, whereas no significant effect on cASCs proliferation was shown after HMGA2 protein application alone. RT-qPCR results showed that expression levels of marker genes including KLF4, SOX2, OCT4, HMGA2, and cMYC mRNAs were on the same level in both HMGA2-protein-stimulated and -unstimulated cASCs. Extracellular HMGA protein application might be valuable to control proliferation of cASCs in context with their employment in regenerative approaches without affecting their self-renewal and multipotency abilities.A. A. Ismail, S. Wagner, H. Murua Escobar, S. Willenbrock, K. A. Sterenczak, M. T. Samy, A. M. Abd El-Aal, I. Nolte, and P. WefstaedtCopyright © 2012 A. A. Ismail et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bca/2012/123953/Titanium and its alloys are currently the mainly used materials to manufacture orthopaedic implants due to their excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Although these materials are bioinert, the improvement of biological properties (e.g., bone implant contact) can be obtained by the application of a material that mimics the bone extracellular matrix. To this aim, this work describes a new method to produce nanostructured collagen-apatite composites on titanium alloy substrate, by combining electrospinning and biomimetic mineralization. The characterization results showed that the obtained mineralized scaffolds have morphological, structural, and chemical compositional features similar to natural bone extracellular matrix. Finally, the topographic distribution of the chemical composition in the mineralized matrix evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared microspectroscopy demonstrated that the apatite nanocrystals cover the collagen fibers assembled by the electrospinning.Michele Iafisco, Ismaela Foltran, Simona Sabbatini, Giorgio Tosi, and Norberto RoveriCopyright © 2012 Michele Iafisco et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/btri/2012/258787/There is increasing interest in natural food colorants like carotenoids and anthocyanins with functional properties. Red sorghum bran is known as a rich source for anthocyanins. The anthocyanin contents extracted from red sorghum bran were evaluated by biochemical analysis. Among the three solvent system used, the acidified methanol extract showed a highest anthocyanin content (4.7 mg/g of sorghum bran) followed by methanol (1.95 mg/g) and acetone (1 mg/g). Similarly, the highest total flavonoids (143 mg/g) and total phenolic contents (0.93 mg/g) were obtained in acidified methanol extracts than methanol and acetone extracts. To study the health benefits of anthocyanin from red sorghum bran, the total antioxidant activity was evaluated by biochemical and molecular methods. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in acidified methanol extracts of anthocyanin in dose-dependent manner. The antioxidant activity of the red sorghum bran was directly related to the total anthocyanin found in red sorghum bran.P. Suganya Devi, M. Saravana Kumar, and S. Mohan DasCopyright © 2012 P. Suganya Devi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijo/2012/537949/The excitation wavelength of conventional Tb3+-activated phosphor is near 270 nm. This study describes novel green-emitting Tb3+-activated amorphous calcium silicate by ultraviolet excitation at 378 nm. The Tb3+-activated amorphous calcium silicate was prepared by heating a sample of Tb3+-activated calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) at 900°C for 30 minutes. The emission wavelength of the resulting phosphor was 544 nm. The optimum excitation wavelength within the range 300–400 nm was 378 nm. The Tb3+-activated amorphous calcium silicate emitted green by ultraviolet irradiation. The optimum initial Tb/Ca atomic ratio of this phosphor was about 0.5. A mechanism for the action of the phosphor is proposed, in which Tb3+ ions existing in the layer of the CSH lead to loss of water molecules and OH groups.Yoshiyuki Kojima, Masaaki Numazawa, Shinnosuke Kamei, and Nobuyuki NishimiyaCopyright © 2012 Yoshiyuki Kojima et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2012/124029/The integral of the standard normal distribution function is an integral without solution and represents the probability that an aleatory variable normally distributed has values between zero and x. The normal distribution integral is used in several areas of science. Thus, this work provides an approximate solution to the Gaussian distribution integral by using the homotopy perturbation method (HPM). After solving the Gaussian integral by HPM, the result served as base to solve other integrals like error function and the cumulative distribution function. The error function is compared against other reported approximations showing advantages like less relative error or less mathematical complexity. Besides, some integrals related to the normal (Gaussian) distribution integral were solved showing a relative error quite small. Also, the utility for the proposed approximations is verified applying them to a couple of heat flow examples. Last, a brief discussion is presented about the way an electronic circuit could be created to implement the approximate error function.Hector Vazquez-Leal, Roberto Castaneda-Sheissa, Uriel Filobello-Nino, Arturo Sarmiento-Reyes, and Jesus Sanchez OreaCopyright © 2012 Hector Vazquez-Leal et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnm/2012/519458/We report on an aqueous synthesis of cadmium telluride (CdTe) nanocrystals by using dithiol-functionalized ionic liquids (dTFILs). The dTFILs were designed to have dithiol and vinylimidazolium functional groups and used as a ligand molecule of CdTe quantum dot (QD) to utilize the bidendate chelate interaction afforded by the dithiol groups of dTFILs. The photoluminescence quantum yield of dTFIL-capped CdTe QDs reached up to ~40%, and their luminescent property was maintained for 8 weeks, suggesting an improved stability in water phase. This approach will provide a new synthetic route to the water soluble QDs.Suk Young Choi, Jong Pil Shim, Dong Sun Kim, TaeYoung Kim, and Kwang S. SuhCopyright © 2012 Suk Young Choi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpep/2012/287457/Leptin is a product of the obese (OB) gene secreted by adipocytes in proportion to fat mass. It decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure by affecting the balance between orexigenic and anorexigenic hypothalamic pathways. Low leptin levels are responsible for the compensatory increase in appetite and body weight and decreased energy expenditure (EE) following caloric deprivation. The anorexia-cachexia syndrome is a complication of many chronic conditions including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and aging, where the decrease in body weight and food intake is not followed by a compensatory increase in appetite or decreased EE. Crosstalk between leptin and inflammatory signaling known to be activated in these conditions may be responsible for this paradox. This manuscript will review the evidence and potential mechanisms mediating changes in the leptin pathway in the setting of anorexia and cachexia associated with chronic diseases.Diana R. Engineer and Jose M. GarciaCopyright © 2012 Diana R. Engineer and Jose M. Garcia. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijelc/2012/410846/Novel bimetallic nanoparticles have been synthesized via rapid microwave irradiation, leading to an improved sensitivity and a highly anti-interference property for amperometric biosensor in H2O2 detection. The material characterizations were performed by TEM, XRD, and EDX, which show the bimetallic formation of Pt-based catalysts and well-dispersed nanoparticles of 2–5 nm. The sensitivities for the detection of H2O2 of PtRu, PtAu, and PtIr as the biosensor working electrode catalysts are 539.01 (R2=0.99), 415.46 (R2=0.99), and 404.52 (R2=0.97) μA⋅mM−1⋅cm-2, respectively, nearly twice higher than the pure Pt catalyst (221.77 μA⋅mM−1⋅cm−2, R2=0.98), at a low applied potential of +0.25 V versus Ag/AgCl. Furthermore, Pt-Ru and Pt-Ir show a highly sensitive response and a promising anti-interference capability to ascorbic acid, a major interferent, by reducing the interferent current as low as 7-8% significantly lower than that of Pt (30% change). The enhancement of both sensitivity and selectivity in the bimetallic catalysts can be found practical applications in biosensing.Yuan Zhang, Metini Janyasupab, Chen-Wei Liu, Po-Yuan Lin, Kuan-Wen Wang, Jiaqiang Xu, and Chung-Chiun LiuCopyright © 2012 Yuan Zhang et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pm/2012/746358/Background. Recurrent bacterial infections play a key role in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis, but conventional microbiologic methods may fail to identify pathogens in many cases. We characterized and compared the pulmonary bacterial communities of cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis patients using a culture-independent molecular approach. Methods. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene libraries were constructed from lung tissue of 10 non-CF bronchiectasis and 21 CF patients, followed by DNA sequencing of isolates from each library. Community characteristics were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results. A wide range of bacterial diversity was detected in both groups, with between 1 and 21 bacterial taxa found in each patient. Pseudomonas was the most common genus in both groups, comprising 49% of sequences detected and dominating numerically in 13 patients. Although Pseudomonas appeared to be dominant more often in CF patients than in non-CF patients, analysis of entire bacterial communities did not identify significant differences between these two groups. Conclusions. Our data indicate significant diversity in the pulmonary bacterial community of both CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients and suggest that this community is similar in surgically resected lungs of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients.Heather Maughan, Kristopher S. Cunningham, Pauline W. Wang, Yu Zhang, Marcelo Cypel, Cecilia Chaparro, D. Elizabeth Tullis, Thomas K. Waddell, Shaf Keshavjee, Mingyao Liu, David S. Guttman, and David M. HwangCopyright © 2012 Heather Maughan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijae/2012/597930/Numerical rebuilding of two trajectory points (t=1634 s and t=1643 s) of the Fire II mission has been carried out to predict the radiative heat flux for nonequilibrium and close-to-equilibrium conditions. The simulations have been performed with eilmer3 in an uncoupled way and using a tangent slab method for the radiation transport. Different population models (QSS and Boltzmann) have been compared, and the influence of catalytic wall condition was taken into account. An analysis on the spectral range and on the spectral resolution has also been carried out.Romain Savajano, Daniel F. Potter, Ojas Joshi, and Pénélope LeylandCopyright © 2012 Romain Savajano et al. All rights reserved.