Springer Open - Latest Articles

Oryzias melastigma -- an effective substitute for exotic larvicidal fishes: enhancement of its reproductive potential by supplementary feeding

Abir Lal Dutta — 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

A preliminary study was conducted on the efficacy of Oryzias melastigma in consuming mosquito larva so as to control mosquito and mosquito borne diseases, and enhancing its reproductive success using supplementary feed. Oryzias melastigma is a larvivore fish and widely distributed in the shallow water, wetlands of Gangetic plains and peninsular India. These studies indicate that O. melastigma is a prolific breeder and gregarious feeder of mosquito larvae. Increased reproduction by providing different supplementary feed, of which Ulothrix acted remarkably, may aid in wide spread use of this fish as a biological control measure against mosquitoes. One adult fish of any sex can consume 87.1% first instars mosquito larvae/day. So, early stages of mosquito larvae are effectively controlled, as compared to other successive stages. Ulothrix has considerable effect on egg production, successful hatching and regaining reproductive maturity of female in surprisingly quicker interval.

Innate immune response after adenoviral gene delivery into skin is mediated by AIM2, NALP3, DAI and mda5

Matthias Schulte — 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

Methods for human skin gene therapy requires efficient and stable introduction of genes into skin cells. Transient cutaneous gene therapy is an attractive approach in the treatment of skin diseases. The 'Achilles heel' of adenoviral gene therapy is its immunogenicity and many aspects of adenovirus induced cutaneous immune reaction still remain unanswered, particularly the role of keratinocytes. Therefore, human keratinocytes were transfected with adenoviral DNA and cytokine expression was analyzed. Moreover, adenoviral transduction of full-skin was performed ex vivo and in vivo. We observed cytokine induction after cytoplasmatic internalization of adenoviral DNA into epidermal cells. Inhibition of AIM2, NALP3, DAI or mda5 downregulated the cytokine response. Transduction of immunocompetent mice led to a detectable transgene expression for 12 days. Re-application of the vector led to a decrease in intensity and duration of transgene expression limited to 4 days and an increased cytokine expression. In contrast, immunodeficient mice showed a reduced expression of cytokines after DNA internalization. AIM2, NALP3, DAI and mda5 are essential in the induction of an innate immune response towards adenoviral DNA. This immune reaction leads to a decrease in transduction efficiency of the vector after re-application and modulation of these receptor systems stabilizes transgene expression.

Discourse on African American/Black Identity: Engaging the expanded nigrescence theory with a diasporic consciousness

Patrick S De Walt — 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

This manuscript theoretically explores the application of a stretched expanded nigrescence theory (NT-E) by making notions of consciousness explicit, thereby building on the research involving first generation U.S.-born Africans (FGAs). In taking this approach, a theoretical framework of a diasporic consciousness emerged an alternative for exploring the identity development of Africana people. To facilitate this process, a shift from conceiving identity along the lines of race and ethnicity was begun towards a conception that is solely culturally based on eight identified factors.

Frictional resistance in monocrystalline ceramic brackets with conventional and nonconventional elastomeric ligatures

Mariana Bulhoes Galvão — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the frictional forces generated by three types of monocrystalline ceramic brackets coupled with conventional elastomeric ligatures (CEL) and nonconventional elastomeric ligatures (NCEL) during the alignment of apically displaced teeth at the maxillary arch. Methods: All tests (a total of 480 tests) were carried out in a dry state on a universal testing machine with a testing model consisting of three 0.022-in. monocrystalline ceramic preadjusted brackets (from the maxillary right second premolar through the right central incisor). The canine bracket was bonded to a sliding bar that allowed for different vertical positions. The frictional forces generated by a 0.012- and 0.014-in. superelastic nickel titanium wire (SENT) with conventional and nonconventional ligatures at various amounts of canine misalignment (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 mm) were recorded. Comparisons between the different types of bracket-wire-ligature systems were carried out by means of analysis of variance on ranks with Tukey's post hoc test (P < 0.05). Results: No significant differences were assessed among the three types of monocrystalline brackets with NCEL when coupled with 0.012-in. SENT. Radiance brackets with NCEL coupled with 0.014-in. SENT showed significantly greater frictional force than Inspire Ice brackets and Pure brackets with NCEL. A significantly greater amount of frictional force was generated with CEL when compared with NCEL for all the tested variables, with the exception of the Pure brackets with 0.012-in. SENT at 1.5 and 3.0 mm of canine misalignment where similar frictional forces were found. Conclusions: Nonconventional elastomeric ligatures are able to reduce friction in monocrystalline ceramic brackets.

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliances

Andressa Otranto Teixeira — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) compared with the results obtained with a placebo device in accordance with the following indicators: apnea hypopnea index (AHI) per hour of sleep, apnea index (AI) per hour of sleep, mean oxyhemoglobin saturation, sleep efficiency, and percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Methods: This is a controlled, prospective longitudinal study with a follow-up time of 10.5 months. Nineteen patients (8 females and 11 males) with mean age 48.6 years (SD 9.6) were selected for the study. The sample was randomized in terms of device use, and the evaluation design was double blind. A total of 57 polysomnography tests were studied (at baseline, after the use of a MAD, and after the use of placebo). The following variables were assessed: AHI, AI, mean oxyhemoglobin saturation, percentage of REM sleep, and sleep efficiency. Wilcoxon and Mann--Whitney tests were used for evaluating data (p < 0.05). Results: Reductions from 16.3 to 11.7 in AHI and from 5.7 to 3.8 in AI were observed after MAD use. During the use of placebo, AHI increased from 16.3 to 19.6, and AI from 5.7 to 7.5. The other indexes showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Treatment with oral appliances, i.e., MADs, can be an effective alternative for mild and medium-to-moderate OSAS, but requires strict monitoring due to differences in individual response to this therapy.

Exponential stability of mild solutions to impulsive stochastic neutral partial differential equations with memory

hua yang — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

In this paper, we study the exponential stability in $p$th moment ofmild solutions to impulsive stochastic neutral partialdifferential equations with memory. Sufficient conditions ensuringthe stability of the impulsive stochastic system are obtained byestablishing a new integral inequality. The results obtained heregeneralize and improve some well-known results.

Modify fractional Cauchy problem in a complex domain

Rabha W Ibrahim — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

In this note, we shall make an extension to the Srivastava-Owa fractional operators in the spaceL2(U;H); where U is the open unit disk and H is a complex Hilbert space. Some recurrent relations are imposedfor these extended operators. Moreover, by employing the theory of sums of accretive operators, the existenceand uniqueness of the solution of the fractional Cauchy problem (in sense of the extended Srivastava-Owafractional operators) is studied in complex Hilbert space. Applications are illustrated.

Stability analysis and observer design for a class of nonlinear systems with multiple time-delays

Yali Dong — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

In this paper, we propose a simple and useful approach to design observer for multiple time-delays nonlinear systems in triangular form. By constructing a new Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and using the Differential Mean-Value Theorem, the sufficient conditions for the existence of such observer are derived, which guarantee the estimation error converge asymptotically towards zero. The observer gain is independent the time-delay. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the result.

Asymptotic properties of wavelet-based estimator in nonparametric regression model with weakly dependent processes

Xing-cai Zhou — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

In this paper, we consider a nonparametric regression model with replicated observations based on the varphi-mixing and the rho-mixing error's structures respectively, for exhibiting dependence among the units. The wavelet procedures are developed to estimate the regression function. Under suitable conditions, we obtain expansions for the bias and the variance of wavelet estimator, prove the moment consistency, the strong consistency, the strong convergence rate of its, and establish the asymptotic normality of wavelet estimator.

Oscillation criteria for \emph{p}-Laplacian delay dynamic equations with damping on time scales

Zhenlai Han — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

In this paper, we establish some newoscillation criteria for \emph{p}-Laplacian delay dynamicequations with damping$$\left(a(t)\Phi(x^\Delta(t))\right)^\Delta+p(t)\Phi(x^\Delta(t))+q(t)f(\Phi(x(\tau(t))))=0$$on a time scale $\mathbb{T}$, here $\Phi(s)=|s|^{\gamma-2}s,\\gamma>1$ with $a,\ p$ and $q$ are positive real-valuedrd-continuous functions defined on $\mathbb{T}.$ By using theRiccati transformation technique and integral averaging technique,some new sufficient conditions which insure that every solutionoscillates are established. Our results in this paper not onlyextend and improve the known results, but also unify the resultsabout oscillation criteria for \emph{p}-Laplacian delay differentialequations with damping and \emph{p}-Laplacian delay differenceequations with damping.