bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Leading Concerns of American Women with Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Calling Motherisk NVP Helpline
Authors: Madjunkova Svetlana , Maltepe Caroline , Koren Gideon
Published: April 2013

Background. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is the most common medical condition of pregnancy, affecting up to 85% of expecting mothers. In the USA, there is no FDA-approved medication for the treatment of NVP.Objective. To identify the primary concerns of American women leading them to contact the Motherisk NVP Helpline and to characterize the severity of their symptoms and therapy offered in order to develop improved and customized counseling for them.Methods. We reviewed the intake forms of the American women who called the NVP Helpline from 2008 to 2012. We extracted their state of residence, demographic data, severity of NVP symptoms, and other available clinical characteristics.Results. A total of 195 forms were reviewed. Of these, 86% called for information on management of NVP with/without questions about fetal drug safety, while 14% called solely about drug safety during pregnancy/breastfeeding. The majority of women were Caucasian, in their thirties, educated, employed, married and in their second pregnancy. Of them 95% were suffering from moderate-to-severe condition with 13% having hyperemesis gravidarum.Conclusion. American women need more information on the management of NVP and on a variety of its aspects in addition to the safety and effectiveness of antiemetic medications. Their leading concern was the use of doxylamine and vitamin B6 combination for NVP treatment followed by the use of ondansetron.
Juvenile Dermatomyositis in Pregnancy
Authors: Madu Anthony Emeka , Omih Edwin , Baguley Elaine , Lindow Stephen W.
Published: April 2013

Juvenile dermatomyositis has variable clinical presentations both in and outside of pregnancy. A literature review indicated that optimal maternal and fetal outcomes can be anticipated when the pregnancy is undertaken while the disease is in remission. Poorer outcomes are associated with flare-up of the disease in early pregnancy compared with exacerbation in the second or third trimester, when fetal prognosis is usually good. We present a case of JDM in pregnancy with disease exacerbation late in pregnancy and review of the relevant literature.
Rituximab Therapy for Severe Cutaneous Leukocytoclastic Angiitis Refractory to Corticosteroids, Cellcept and Cyclophosphamide
Authors: El-Reshaid Kamel , Madda John Patrick
Published: April 2013

We report our clinical experience with rituximab in the treatment of 2 patients with idiopathic cutaneous angiitis who relapsed after treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. A 39-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man presented with ulcerating maculopapular rash in both lower limbs which relapsed 6 months after treatment with a combination of high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. After treatment with 2 g of rituximab, the first patient has still been in clinical remission for 32 months while the second has finished 28 months. Interestingly, CD19 which had dropped to <0.1 one week following the start of retuximab had increased to >0.5% 8 months later in both patients. Despite that, our patients are still in clinical remission. No significant side effects were noted during infusions and up to the period of follow-up. In conclusion, rituximab is a useful and safe agent in the treatment of idiopathic cutaneous angiitis refractory to conventional therapy. Clinical remission persists years after improvement of B-cell suppression.
The Legal Assessment of the Illegal Fishing Activities of Chinese Fishing Vessels: A Focus on Detention of Foreign Vessels
Authors: Lee Seokwoo , Park Young Kil
Published: April 2013

Abstract

On April 20, decisions were issued in two cases concerning Chinese sailors engaged in illegal fishing activities. In one case, a Korean Coast Guard officer was stabbed to death in December 2011 in the process of detaining an illegal Chinese fishing vessel. The trial court, Incheon District Court – Criminal Division, handed down a 30 year prison term and fine of 20 million won to the captain of the Chinese vessel, Luwenyu no. 29, who was responsible for the stabbing. The other sailors and the captain of another Chinese vessel, Lihaoyu, were sentenced between 18 months to 5 years in prison for interfering with the detention.1 The other case occurred in November 2011 where, in the process of detaining a Chinese fishing vessel that had intruded upon Korean territorial waters northwest of Chujado of Jeju to engage in fishing activities, Chinese sailors wounded 5 Korean Coast Guard officers, inflicting upon them injuries that required 2 to 7 weeks of recuperation. The Jeju Regional Court, an appellate court, affirmed the decision of the trial court – which sentenced the Chinese captain to one year and the other two sailors to 14 months – and dismissed the appeals.2 The two cases show a strong determination on the part of the judiciary to deal with the systematic and violent resistance to the prevention of illegal fishing.

This paper is a legal analysis of the detention of foreign vessels engaging in illegal fishing. It first looks at the international and domestic regulations concerning illegal fishing, and then proceeds to discuss the issues of security and immediate release following arrest.
Eugenia alletiana (Myrtaceae), a new critically endangered species endemic to the island of Mauritius
Authors: BAIDER CLÁUDIA , FLORENS F. B. VINCENT
Published: April 2013

Eugenia alletiana, a new endemic species from Mauritius, is described and its ecology and conservation is discussed. The morphological diagnostic features for Eugenia alletiana are chartaceous, discoloured leaves, very thin terminal branchlets, flowers solitary or in fascicles of 2–3 flowers, totally fused hypanthium without apical pore or calyptra, that encloses the numerous stamens (> 500) and petals before anthesis; seed enclosed in a woody endocarp with a lamellated outer surface. The species should be considered as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the Red List Criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This assessment is based on the plant’s restricted distribution, very small population size, a habitat sustaining degradation by invasive alien plants and animals and predation of immature fruits and seeds by invasive alien monkeys and rats respectively leading to a weak regeneration.
Review of the genus Prosciara Frey (Diptera, Sciaridae) from China
Authors: SHI KAI , HUANG JUNHAO , KOMAROVA LYUDMILA , WU HONG
Published: April 2013

The genus Prosciara from China is reviewed and 36 species are recognized. Among them, 16 new species, P. oligotricha sp. nov., P. gyracantha sp. nov., P. hemicrypta sp. nov., P. angusta sp. nov., P. euryacantha sp. nov., P. ellipsoidea sp. nov., P. paucispina sp. nov., P. myriacantha sp. nov., P. columellata sp. nov., P. fossulata sp. nov., P. ternidigitata sp. nov., P. globoidea sp. nov., P. longispina sp. nov., P. extumida sp. nov., P. sinensis sp. nov. and P. tetracantha sp. nov. and 16 species, P. falcicula Vilkamaa & Hippa, P. latilingula Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. duplicidens Vilkamaa & Hippa, P. scopulifera Vilkamaa & Hippa, P. megachaeta Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. pentadactyla Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. pollex Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. crassidens Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. producta (Tuomikoski), P. exsecta Vilkamaa & Hippa, P. bisulcata Vilka-maa & Hippa, P. furcifera Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. latifurca Hippa & Vilkamaa, P. prolixa Vilkamaa & Hippa, P. triloba Hippa & Vilkamaa and P. decamera Hippa & Vilkamaa are reported for the first time from China. Manusciara Yang, Zhang & Yang, 1995 is recognized as a synonym of Prosciara, therefore, P. quadridigitata (Yang, Zhang & Yang, 1995) is a new combination. In addition, geographical distribution of 36 Chinese species are provided, as well as a key to all these Chinese species. This study raises the number of the species of Chinese Prosciara from three to 36.
Checklist, taxonomy and distribution of the Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) of the Americas
Authors: PADILLA-GIL DORA NANCY , MOREIRA FELIPE FERRAZ FIGUEIREDO
Published: April 2013

The genus Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865 is distributed worldwide, especially in the Tropics, and contains 184 species in the Americas, which are listed and included in complexes or grades, and in 18 species groups. Geographical distributions and altitudinal ranges are presented for each species. A new synonym is proposed, and some biogeographical aspects of the genus are analyzed, such as its distinct tropical distribution (97% of the known American species), and the narrow altitu-dinal ranges of the salina, tayloriella and cali groups. South America is determined to be the geographical area with the highest diversity of species (77% of the species richness of the Americas), and Brazil as the most biodiverse country.
Two new species of the genus Ficobracon van Achterberg and Weiblen (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from China, expanding its host range
Authors: WEI PAN , ACHTERBERG CEES VAN , FENG GUI , XIAO HUI , HUANG DA-WEI
Published: April 2013

Syconia of figs (Moraceae: Ficus spp.) harbour many wasp species, mostly belonging to several genera of chalcidoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). In contrast, only two genera of Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) with a few known species are found in syconia belonging to the subgenus Urostigma. The braconid fig wasps have an infrequent oc-currence with low population density and are rarely encountered. Two new species, Ficobracon rhiknosus sp. nov. from figs of the subgenus Urostigma, and F. codonatus sp. nov. from figs of the subgenus Sycidium are described. Our previous experiments firmly support the suggestion that the Ficobracon species are parasitoids of non-pollinating chalcidoid fig wasps in the syconia.
Rapid and complete decompression of chronic urinary retention: a safe and effective practice
Authors: Ahmed M , Abubakar A , Lawal At , Bello A , Maitama Hy , Mbibu Hn
Published: April 2013

We carried out a prospective study of consecutive patients who presented with chronic urinary retention over a period of 2 years in order to determine the safety and effectiveness of rapid and complete decompression of chronic urinary retention. A total of 22 patients met the inclusion criteria. Although slow decompression is thought to reduce complications, it harbours the disadvantages of impracticability, time and labour demands and an increased risk of infection. Post-obstructive diuresis, haematuria and hypotension are relatively frequent in rapid and complete decompression of chronic urinary retention. However, they are mild, transient and clinically insignificant. Rapid and complete decompression of the chronically obstructed urinary bladder not only saves time, it is safe and effective and should be adopted as the standard practice.
Peripheral gangrene in Plasmodium vivax malaria: a rare manifestation
Authors: Arora Neha , Gogna Arun , Kumar Dilip , Puri Karan
Published: April 2013

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is an extremely rare complication of malaria that has been well described in multiple case reports of Plasmodium falciparum and mixed infection. We present a case of malaria with isolated Pl. vivax infection complicated by SPG. This index case is the first reported case of peripheral gangrene involving bilateral hands and feet in Pl. vivax infection in an adult.
Atypical manifestations of viral hepatitis A and E
Authors: Jain Jenisha , Jain Mayank
Published: April 2013

Acute viral hepatitis A and E (HAV/HEV) are usually self-limiting illnesses. However, they can have atypical presentations which lead to increased morbidity and mortality. We studied 81 patients from all age groups admitted with these infections at our centre over a 1 year period. Acute liver failure, prolonged cholestasis, ascites and haemolysis are common atypical manifestations of acute viral HAV and HEV. Relapsing hepatitis, ascites and double peak jaundice were seen more often in the paediatric age group.
What Happened When the Corporates Met the Artists of Rural West Bengal? A Critical Analysis into Art as Social Enterprise in India
Authors: Bradley Tamsin , Chakravarti Avijit , Rowan Jane
Published: April 2013

This article examines a significant shift that is taking place in the way social and economic development is funded and practised. The article acknowledges the emphasis within India on nurturing enterprise and entrepreneurship which marks a move away from the country as a recipient of direct foreign aid. The article seeks to consider what impact this shift from aid to enterprise may have for the lives of the rural poor. In order to do this it offers a case study of a social enterprise, which focuses on developing and marketing traditional art forms to generate sustainable livelihoods for poor communities in rural West Bengal. The article will explore the relationships between those involved in an art livelihood project, specifically between the business professionals determined to use their skills to generate sustainable incomes for the poor, the artists on whose talents the enterprise depends and the wider communities whose lives it is hoped will change as a result of the project’s success.
Nascent and mature uses of a semiotic system: the case of image–text relations
Authors: Martinec Radan
Published: April 2013

This article first develops the system of image–text relations introduced in Martinec and Salway’s (2005) article – ‘A system for image–text relations in new (and old) media’) – mainly by focusing on the motivated quality of the relationship between the system’s meanings and realizations. This motivatedness points to the system’s being mature rather than nascent. The article then focuses on nascent uses of the image–text relations system, i.e. uses that have not yet stabilized and that could benefit from a semiotician’s intervention. The nascent uses in question regard the amount of inferencing that is required to identify equal-status image–text relations. Inferencing of equal-status image–text relations is first analyzed in old media and the effort invested in it is found to be quite adequate, which suggests a mature use of the relations. Examples of equal-status image–text relations from new media are then analyzed and it is argued that at times they require too much and at other times too little inferencing.Their use has thus not achieved an optimal state and has not yet stabilized. It is demonstrated that a semiotician’s intervention can lead to a more optimal amount of inferencing and thus drive the use of equal-status image–text relations in new media in the direction of mature uses.
How I diagnose acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Huisman Menno V. , Klok Frederikus A.
Published: April 2013

The clinical diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequently considered in patients presenting to the emergency department or when hospitalized. Since symptoms are a-specific and the consequences of anticoagulant treatment are considerable, objective tests to either establish or refute the diagnosis have become a standard of care. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA), which has replaced pulmonary angiography as first-line imaging test, is associated with radiation exposure, several complications resulting from contrast dye administration, and over diagnosis. Importantly, CTPA can be avoided in 20% to 30% of patients who present with a first or recurrent episode of clinically suspected acute PE by using a standardized algorithm. This algorithm should always include a clinical decision rule to assess the likelihood that PE is present, followed by a D-dimer blood test and/or CTPA. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians this practical diagnostic management approach using evidence from the literature.
Meta-analysis of variables affecting mouse protection efficacy of whole organism Brucella vaccines and vaccine candidates
Authors: Todd Thomas E , Tibi Omar , Lin Yu , Sayers Samantha , Bronner Denise N , Xiang Zuoshuang , He Yongqun
Published: April 2013

Background

Vaccine protection investigation includes three processes: vaccination, pathogen challenge, and vaccine protection efficacy assessment. Many variables can affect the results of vaccine protection.Brucella, a genus of facultative intracellular bacteria, is the etiologic agent of brucellosis in humans and multiple animal species. Extensive research has been conducted in developing effective live attenuatedBrucellavaccines. We hypothesized that some variables play a more important role than others in determining vaccine protective efficacy. UsingBrucellavaccines and vaccine candidates as study models, this hypothesis was tested by meta-analysis ofBrucellavaccine studies reported in the literature.

Results

Nineteen variables related to vaccine-induced protection of mice against infection with virulent brucellae were selected based on modeling investigation of the vaccine protection processes. The variable "vaccine protection efficacy" was set as a dependent variable while the other eighteen were set as independent variables. Discrete or continuous values were collected from papers for each variable of each data set. In total, 401 experimental groups were manually annotated from 74 peer-reviewed publications containing mouse protection data for live attenuatedBrucellavaccines or vaccine candidates. Our ANOVA analysis indicated that nine variables contributed significantly (P-value < 0.05) toBrucellavaccine protection efficacy: vaccine strain, vaccination host (mouse) strain, vaccination dose, vaccination route, challenge pathogen strain, challenge route, challenge-killing interval, colony forming units (CFUs) in mouse spleen, and CFU reduction compared to control group. The other 10 variables (e.g., mouse age, vaccination-challenge interval, and challenge dose) were not found to be statistically significant (P-value > 0.05). The protection level of RB51 was sacrificed when the values of several variables (e.g., vaccination route, vaccine viability, and challenge pathogen strain) change. It is suggestive that it is difficult to protect against aerosol challenge. Somewhat counter-intuitively, our results indicate that intraperitoneal and subcutaneous vaccinations are much more effective to protect against aerosolBrucellachallenge than intranasal vaccination.

Conclusions

Literature meta-analysis identified variables that significantly contribute toBrucellavaccine protection efficacy. The results obtained provide critical information for rational vaccine study design. Literature meta-analysis is generic and can be applied to analyze variables critical for vaccine protection against other infectious diseases.
MicroRNA-495 inhibits proliferation of glioblastoma multiforme cells by downregulating cyclin-dependent kinase 6
Authors: Chen Shu-Mei , Chen Hua-Chien , Chen Shu-Jen , Huang Chiung-Yin , Chen Pin-Yuan , Wu Tai-Wei Erich , Feng Ly-Ying , Tsai Hong-Chieh , Lui Tai-Ngar , Hsueh Chuen , Wei Kuo-Chen
Published: April 2013

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of glioma and carries the poorest chances of survival. There is therefore an urgent need to understand the mechanisms of glioma tumorigenesis and develop or improve therapeutics. The aim of this study was to assess the possible prognostic value of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) and the effects of microRNA-495 (miR-495) manipulation on CDK6 expression and cell survival in glioma cells.

Methods

Analyses of clinical specimens from GBM patients were used. Expression of CDK6 was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Expression of CDK6 was also analyzed after over-expression of miR-495 in T98 cells; both cell proliferation and RB phosphorylation were examined. Cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and RB phosphorylation were also examined after knockdown of CDK6 in U87-MG and T98 cells.

Results

Analyses of clinical specimens from GBM patients identified that CDK6 is significantly expressed in gliomas. CDK6 antigen expression was higher in tumor cores and margins than in adjacent normal brain tissues, and higher levels of CDK6 expression in the tumor margin correlated with decreased survival. Over-expression of miR-495 in T98 cells downregulated the expression of CDK6 and inhibited retinoblastoma phosphorylation, and knockdown of CDK6 in U87-MG and T98 cells by siRNAs resulted in cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition and inhibition of cell proliferation.

Conclusions

This study revealed miR-495 is down-regulated in glioma tissues. Furthermore, miR-495 regulated CDK6 expression and involved in glioma cell growth inhibition, which indicated the possible role of miR-495 in tumor progression.
The human TREX-2 complex is stably associated with the nuclear pore basket
Authors: Umlauf David , Bonnet Jacques , Waharte François , Fournier Marjorie , Stierle Matthieu , Fischer Benoit , Brino Laurent , Devys Didier , Tora László
Published: April 2013

In eukaryotes mRNA export involves many evolutionarily conserved factors that carry the nascent transcript to the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The THO/TREX complex couples transcription to mRNA export and recruits the mRNA export receptor NXF1 for the transport of mRNP particles to the NPC. The transcription and export complex 2 (TREX-2) was suggested to interact with NXF1 and to shuttle between transcription sites and the NPC. Here, we characterize the dynamics of human TREX-2 and show that it stably associates with the NPC basket. Moreover, the association of TREX-2 with the NPC requires the basket nucleoporins NUP153 and TPR, but is independent of transcription. Differential profiles of mRNA nuclear accumulation reveal that TREX-2 functions similarly to basket nucleoporins, but differently from NXF1. Thus, our results show that TREX-2 is an NPC-associated complex in mammalian cells and suggest that it is involved in putative NPC basket-related functions.
Intertidal sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) alter body shape in response to wave action
Authors: Hayne Kurtis J. R. , Palmer A. Richard
Published: April 2013

Sea stars are some of the largest mobile animals able to live in the harsh flow environment of wave-exposed, rocky intertidal shores. In addition, some species, such as the northeastern Pacific Pisaster ochraceus, are ecologically significant predators in a broad range of environments, from sheltered lagoons to the most wave-exposed shorelines. How they function and survive under such an extreme range of wave exposures remains a puzzle. Here we examine the ability of P. ochraceus to alter body form in response to variation in flow conditions. We found that sea stars in wave-exposed sites had narrower arms and were lighter per unit arm length than those from sheltered sites. Body form was tightly correlated with maximum velocity of breaking waves across four sites and also varied over time. In addition, field transplant experiments showed that these differences in shape were due primarily to phenotypic plasticity. Sea stars transplanted from a sheltered site to a more wave-exposed site became lighter per unit arm length, and developed narrower arms, after 3 months. The tight correlation between water flow and morphology suggests that wave force must be a significant selective factor acting on body shape. On exposed shores, narrower arms probably reduce both lift and drag in breaking waves. On protected shores, fatter arms may provide more thermal inertia to resist overheating, or more body volume for gametes. Such plastic changes in body shape represent a unique method by which sea stars adapt to spatial, seasonal and possibly short-term variation in flow conditions.
Synonymy and rank in alliterative poetry
Authors: Roper Jonathan
Published: April 2013

This paper addresses the high sonic demands of alliterative metres, and the consequences of these demands for sense: the semantic stretching of common words and the deployment of uncommon (archaic, 'poetic') words. The notion of alliterative rank is discussed as an indicator of such consequences (examples are given from English and Estonian verse) and the range of onsets found for synonyms of key notions in verse traditions is remarked upon.
The cultural mediational dynamics of literary intertexts: An approach to the problem of generative and transformational dynamics
Authors: Kroó Katalin
Published: April 2013

The paper raises the theoretical question of the cultural mediational nature of literary intertexts from the point of view of generic and transformational dynamics. The intertextual complex as mediational operator is examined at two levels – (1) in the context of cultural diachrony by observing how the literary work establishes its place in the history of literature closely connected to the metapoiesis of the text; (2) at various kinds of intratextual interlevel movements regulating the evolution of a whole intertextual system within the work. Differentiating the ontological, generative and transformational conceptualization of intertextual poetics, an attempt is made to define the basic textual modes of the pretext, the intext and the intertext by describing their functionality in the building of an intersemiotic literary system. The relevant functions are grasped by shedding light upon the types of the sign of which the given signifying structures consist (here a terminological clarification and re-evaluation are added) and their textual semantics in terms of referential and relational quality (cf. the different versions of referential and relational semantics). In the first place, however, the paper aims at outlining the structure and content of the generic-transformational semiotic processes in which the dynamic aspects of intertextual semiosis are revealed. Within this framework, the processuality of the development of the intertextual signifying structure is elucidated, shown as a chain of reciprocal sign activities resulting in constantly evolving semantic shifts within the intra- and intertextual semiosis processes, all relying on mediational operations. Text examples are taken from and references made to works by A. S. Pushkin, I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky and J. M. Coetzee.
Bibliotheksgesetzgebung in der Schweiz
Authors: Rühle Christopher
Published: April 2013

Im Januar 2012 wurde im Schweizer Kanton St. Gallen mit einer Rekordzahl von über 10 000 Unterschriften das Volksbegehren „für zeitgemäße
Bibliotheken im Kanton St. Gallen (Bibliotheksinitiative)“ eingereicht. Die St. Galler Bibliotheksinitiative will eine zeitgemäße, qualitativ gute bibliothekarische Versorgung der Bevölkerung im ganzen Kanton erreichen. Im Juli 2012 hat die Kantonsregierung einen Gegenvorschlag zur Bibliotheksinitiative in Form eines Bibliotheksgesetzes vorgelegt – das erste dieser Art in der Schweiz. Nachfolgend sollen die Entwicklung und die Erfahrungen im Kanton St. Gallen und der Entwurf für ein St. Galler Bibliotheksgesetz vor dem Hintergrund bestehender kantonaler Gesetzesgrundlagen mit Bibliotheksbezug vorgestellt werden.
Origin and diversity of the words denoting some traditional Eurasian pulse crops in Mongolic and Tungusic
Authors: Mikić Aleksandar , Perić Vesna
Published: April 2013

Supporters of the existence of the Altaic language family consider it to include Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic, Korean and Japonic branches, and believe that all of these originated from the Proto-Altaic. On the basis of archaeological findings, one may expect that traditional Eurasian pulse crops, such as peas (Pisum sativum), lentils (Lens culinaris), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), faba beans (Vicia
faba), vetchlings (Lathyrus spp.) and vetches (Vicia spp.), were known to the ancestors of the modern Altaic nations. This assumption is confirmed by two Proto- Altaic roots. The first root is *bŭkrV, denoting pea. Its three main direct derivatives preserved the original meaning and transferred it to their modern descendants, namely the Proto-Turkic *burčak to the majority of modern Turkic languages, such as Kazakh with burşaq; the Proto-Mongolic *buγurčag, giving the modern Mongolian būrcag; and the Proto-Tungusic *boKa-ri, giving the Manchu boxori. Another root is *zịăbsa, denoting lentil. It gave the Proto-Turkic *jasimuk, the Proto-Mongolic *sisi and the Proto-Tungusic *sibsV. In Turkic and Tungusic, its original meaning was preserved, such as in the Turkmen jasmiq or the Nanai siusi, while in Mongolic it shifted to Sorghum spp., such as in Kalmyk, with šiš.
Targeting caspases in cancer therapeutics
Authors: Hensley Patrick , Mishra Murli , Kyprianou Natasha
Published: April 2013

The identification of the fundamental role of apoptosis in the growth balance and normal homeostasis against cell proliferation led to the recognition of its loss contributing to tumorigenesis. The mechanistic significance of reinstating apoptosis signaling towards selective targeting of malignant cells heavily exploits the caspase family of death-inducing molecules as a powerful therapeutic platform for the development of potent anticancer strategies. Some apoptosis inhibitors induce caspase expression and activity in preclinical models and clinical trials by targeting both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways and restoring the apoptotic capacity in human tumors. Furthermore, up-regulation of caspases emerges as a sensitizing mechanism for tumors exhibiting therapeutic resistance to radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of the functional involvement of caspases in apoptosis control and the current understanding of reactivating caspase-mediated apoptosis signaling towards effective therapeutic modalities in cancer treatment.
Parental beliefs and family functioning in Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong
Authors: Leung Janet T.Y. , Shek Daniel T.L.
Published: April 2013

The relationships between parental beliefs (i.e., Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity, attribution of children’s success and failure to effort, and expectations of children’s future) and family functioning were examined in 550 Chinese parents experiencing economic disadvantage. Results showed that perceived Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity and parental expectations on children’s future were positively related to family functioning in both fathers’ and mothers’ samples. In addition, paternal expectations of children’s future emerged as the most important predictor of perceived family functioning. The findings underscored the important role of the fathers in Chinese families experiencing economic disadvantage. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning and developmental outcomes in Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage
Authors: Leung Janet T.Y. , Shek Daniel T.L.
Published: April 2013

The relationships between parent-adolescent discrepancies in perceptions of family functioning and adolescents’ achievement motivation and psychological competence were examined. The respondents included 275 Chinese intact families experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong. Results indicated that parents and adolescents had different perceptions of family functioning. Father-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning were negatively related to adolescent achievement motivation; both father-adolescent and mother-adolescent discrepancies in perceived family functioning were also negatively associated with the psychological competence in poor adolescents. The present findings provided support for the thesis that family functioning plays an important role in shaping the developmental outcomes of adolescent experiencing economic disadvantage.
Post-lecture evaluation of a university course on leadership and intrapersonal development
Authors: Shek Daniel T.L. , Sun Rachel C.F.
Published: April 2013

Post-lecture evaluation findings of a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development, which was designed to promote holistic development of university students at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, were reported. In the first 13 lectures, students were invited to respond to a 12-item post-lecture questionnaire after each lecture. Normative findings showed that students generally had positive perceptions of the subject, class and lecturer attributes, indicating an overall positive evaluation. Through factor analyses, three factors were abstracted from the scale, including Subject Attributes, Class Attributes, and Lecturer Attributes. The total scale and subscales were internally consistent. Regarding predictors of the global evaluation of the subject and the teacher, multiple regression analyses showed that subject, class, and lecturer attributes were significant predictors.
Regulatory policy: what role for retrospective analysis and review?
Authors: Lutter Randall
Published: April 2013

Given that President Obama’s Executive Orders on regulation have emphasized the importance of retrospective analysis and review of existing federal rules, I survey the state of retrospective analysis and review of federal regulations. I first ask how much is known about the economic merit of past federal regulatory decisions, based on retrospective economic analyses of their effects. I review reports of the Office of Management and Budget and related literature, but unlike those reports I find only five rules, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for which retrospective analyses provide estimates of both costs and reasonably good proxies for benefits (e.g., adverse health effects avoided). Other retrospective studies of federal rules estimate are incomplete, estimating only the compliance costs, or only the benefits, or only costs and measures of effectiveness, like emissions reductions, which do not closely relate to people’s welfare.

I also seek to explain differences in the practice of retrospective analysis and review between NHTSA, which appears to have the best record of retrospective analyses among federal agencies, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an important regulatory agency. I find that NHTSA regularly conducts such analyses and reviews, while EPA rarely does retrospective analysis and presents rulemakings that look like business as usual as being the result of a retrospective review. I analyze the role of data limitations, statutory authority, and institutional incentives in influencing the different behaviors of these two agencies. I conclude that differences in data availability and in particular the lack of relevant control groups, are an important barrier to retrospective analysis at EPA. This data deficiency, combined with important restrictions on EPA’s ability to consider information on net benefits or cost-effectiveness in its rule-making, are together the biggest hindrance to generating better information about the effects of its rules. I conclude with recommendations intended to generate more measurement of the actual effects of regulations.
Toxicity of Chevron Escravos crude oil and chemical dispersant on guinea pig testicular function
Authors: Afonne Onyenmechi Johnson , Onyiaorah Igwebuike Victor , Orisakwe Orish Ebere
Published: April 2013

Background: Chemical contaminants have been found to affect reproductive functions in mammals. This study investigated the effect of Chevron Escravos crude oil and Emulsol L.W. dispersant on the testicular functions of guinea pig.

Methods: Eight groups of seven sexually mature male guinea pigs each were given 1250, 2500, or 5000 mg/kg of crude oil and dispersant for 7 days. The fluid and food intake and body weight of the animals were measured daily throughout the study. After the exposure period, sperm quality analysis was carried out, and fructose and lactate dehydrogenase were analyzed in tissue homogenate, while testosterone and estradiol were assayed in blood. The right testis was also processed for histological analysis.

Results: The epididymal sperm number and fructose level of treated animals showed a significant dose-dependent decrease (p<0.05) compared with controls. Also, sperm motility and morphology were altered in the treated groups, while testosterone and estradiol levels were increased significantly (p<0.05) in the treated groups. Histological examination showed signs of toxicity in the treated animals.

Conclusions: From the findings, it was evident that Chevron Escravos crude oil and Emulsol L.W. oil dispersant are able to cause acute testicular toxicity in guinea pigs. The possible mechanism of toxicity is suggested to be by stimulation of hormone production from the adrenal cortex, causing a negative feedback on gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the pituitary gland to suppress spermatogenesis.
A numerical study of solidification and viscous dissipation effects on polymer melt flow in plane channels
Authors: Tutar Mustafa , Karakus Ali
Published: April 2013

The combined effects of solidification and viscous dissipation on the hydrodynamic and thermal behavior of polymer melt flow during the injection process in a straight plane channel of constant cross section are numerically studied by considering the shear-rate and temperature-dependent viscosity and transient-phase change behavior. A numerical finite volume method, in conjunction with a modified form of the Cross constitutive equation to account for shear rate, temperature-dependent viscosity changes and a slightly modified form of the method proposed by Voller and Prakash to account for solidification of the liquid phase, is used and a validation with an analytical solution is presented for viscous heating effects. The hydrodynamic and solidified layers growth under the influence of a transient phase-change process and viscous dissipation, are analyzed for a commercial polymer melt flow, polypropylene (PP) for different parametric conditions namely, inflow velocity, polymer injection (inflow) temperature, the channel wall temperature, and the channel height. The results demonstrate that the proposed numerical formulations, including conjugate effects of viscous heating and transient-solidification on the present thermal transport process, can provide an accurate and realistic representation of polymer melt flow behavior during the injection molding process in plane channels with less simplifying assumptions.
Restoration of Retinal Structure and Function after Selective Photocoagulation
Authors: Sher Alexander , Jones Bryan W. , Huie Philip , Paulus Yannis M. , Lavinsky Daniel , Leung Loh-Shan S. , Nomoto Hiroyuki , Beier Corinne , Marc Robert E. , Palanker Daniel
Published: April 2013

CNS neurons change their connectivity to accommodate a changing environment, form memories, or respond to injury. Plasticity in the adult mammalian retina after injury or disease was thought to be limited to restructuring resulting in abnormal retinal anatomy and function. Here we report that neurons in the mammalian retina change their connectivity and restore normal retinal anatomy and function after injury. Patches of photoreceptors in the rabbit retina were destroyed by selective laser photocoagulation, leaving retinal inner neurons (bipolar, amacrine, horizontal, ganglion cells) intact. Photoreceptors located outside of the damaged zone migrated to make new functional connections with deafferented bipolar cells located inside the lesion. The new connections restored ON and OFF responses in deafferented ganglion cells. This finding extends the previously perceived limits of restorative plasticity in the adult retina and allows for new approaches to retinal laser therapy free of current detrimental side effects such as scotomata and scarring.
Rapid Brain Responses Independently Predict Gain Maximization and Loss Minimization during Economic Decision Making
Authors: San Martín René , Appelbaum Lawrence G. , Pearson John M. , Huettel Scott A. , Woldorff Marty G.
Published: April 2013

Success in many decision-making scenarios depends on the ability to maximize gains and minimize losses. Even if an agent knows which cues lead to gains and which lead to losses, that agent could still make choices yielding suboptimal rewards. Here, by analyzing event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded in humans during a probabilistic gambling task, we show that individuals' behavioral tendencies to maximize gains and to minimize losses are associated with their ERP responses to the receipt of those gains and losses, respectively. We focused our analyses on ERP signals that predict behavioral adjustment: the frontocentral feedback-related negativity (FRN) and two P300 (P3) subcomponents, the frontocentral P3a and the parietal P3b. We found that, across participants, gain maximization was predicted by differences in amplitude of the P3b for suboptimal versus optimal gains (i.e., P3b amplitude difference between the least good and the best gains). Conversely, loss minimization was predicted by differences in the P3b amplitude to suboptimal versus optimal losses (i.e., difference between the worst and the least bad losses). Finally, we observed that the P3a and P3b, but not the FRN, predicted behavioral adjustment on subsequent trials, suggesting a specific adaptive mechanism by which prior experience may alter ensuing behavior. These findings indicate that individual differences in gain maximization and loss minimization are linked to individual differences in rapid neural responses to monetary outcomes.
Exposure to Cocaine Regulates Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission in the Nucleus Accumbens
Authors: Otaka Mami , Ishikawa Masago , Lee Brian R. , Liu Lei , Neumann Peter A. , Cui Ranji , Huang Yanhua H. , Schlüter Oliver M. , Dong Yan
Published: April 2013

Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) within the nucleus accumbens shell (NAc) function to gate and prioritize emotional/motivational arousals for behavioral output. The neuronal output of NAc MSNs is mainly determined by the integration of membrane excitability and excitatory/inhibitory synaptic inputs. Whereas cocaine-induced alterations at excitatory synapses and membrane excitability have been extensively examined, the overall functional output of NAc MSNs following cocaine exposure is still poorly defined because little is known about whether inhibitory synaptic input to these neurons is affected by cocaine. Here, our results demonstrate multidimensional alterations at inhibitory synapses in NAc neurons following cocaine self-administration in rats. Specifically, the amplitude of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) was decreased after 21 d withdrawal from 5 d cocaine self-administration. Upon re-exposure to cocaine after 21 d withdrawal, whereas the amplitude of mIPSCs remained downregulated, the frequency became significantly higher. Furthermore, the reversal potential of IPSCs, which was not significantly altered during withdrawal, became more hyperpolarized upon cocaine re-exposure. Moreover, the relative weight of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to NAc MSNs was significantly decreased after 1 d cocaine withdrawal, increased after 21 d withdrawal, and returned to the basal level upon cocaine re-exposure after 21 d withdrawal. These results, together with previous results showing cocaine-induced adaptations at excitatory synapses and intrinsic membrane excitability of NAc MSNs, may provide a relatively thorough picture of the functional state of NAc MSNs following cocaine exposure.
Proactive Tools to Enhance Drilling Safety Performance
Authors: Boucif Mustapha Nasr-Eddine , Al Mutawa Ahmed , Al-Hosani Mohamed
Published: April 2013

This article will show how Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) Drilling Division and its contractors obtained employee commitment resulting in world class performance in HSE for the past five years and recorded the lowest Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR), in ADCO's Drilling Division history and the longest time without LTI (Eighteen months without LTI) in 2011. In addition we have recorded zero car related injuries for the past five years and zero spills in 2011 and 2012.

DOIRC (Drilling Operations Incident Review Committee), a monthly meeting with all our contractors was a key factor in improving the safety performance of the drilling community by developing 360° communication between ADCO main office, ADCO field, Contractor's management office and their teams in the field. The forum also have shifted from a reactive committee where only incidents are discussed to a proactive forum where best practices are shared and a communication network was established to inform the fields on regular basis.

In addition to that, DOIRC High Profile Tours (rig visits by ADCO and contractors Top Management), onsite workshops and regularly launching campaigns with our drilling contractor National Drilling Company (NDC) were the additional tools used to raise Drilling Division performance to a world class performance.

ADCO Drilling Division has clearly established a successful formula for its safety performance to reach and maintain a world class performance for the past five years, reaching 0.52 TRIR in 2011 and 0.60 in 2012 and 0.09 LTIF in 2008 and 2010; the lowest in ADCO Drilling history through effective communication culture.

In 2012 the Vehicle Accident Frequency went down to 0.1 with the implementation of the ADCO 9 Life Protection Rules with particular focus on the first LPR rule (follow the Road Safety Rules) using the proactive tools above even though we had increased the numbers of rigs and drilled more wells in remote areas (more driving exposure), again an indication that the communication network and the tools we are using did enhance the safety culture of the drilling division
Zonal Isolation Evaluation of Multiple Depleted Gas Bearing Sands Under Challenging Offshore Mediterranean Environment: An expansion of the Capabilities and Applications of Ultrasonic Tools in Egypt
Authors: Shamma H. L. , Nelson R.. , Vazquez M. L. , Shah Shabbir H. , Metwally O.. , Beach J..
Published: April 2013

Well A, encountered multiple depleted reservoir layers (initial reservoir pressure >10840 psi) with up to 5,000 psi differential pressure across layers due to irregular depletion in thin bedded shale and sand layers. Well was drilled with over 16 ppg mud to limit under balance in any higher pressure layer and overbalance in depleted layers. After drilling 4 lopes of sand body and during the start of drilling the last sand lope, complete loss of circulation was encountered, followed by kick and differential sticking. The original well integrity assurance plan considered the deployment of borehole compensated sonic tool in order to acquire a discriminated cement bond log based on attenuation measurement. Also in the plan, a Cased Hole Dynamic Tester tool was to be run and the selection of pressure points to be based on the results of the cbl-vdl. So to assure the full integrity of the cement and be able to conduct the Cased Hole Dynamic Tester as required and proper decision to be evaluated regarding the Type of GP job, the use of the Ultrasonic Imaging Tool was evaluated to be run under tough and challenging conditions (high mud weight and thick wall thickness).

The Ultrasonic tool for cement to casing bond evaluation is typically limited by the attenuation of the ultrasonic echo caused by the wellbore mud weight and composition. With the cooperation between BP PhPc and Schlumberger, and making use of worldwide expertise, the decision was taken to include the Ultrasonic Tool in the cement evaluation suite despite the well conditions.

The analysis of the log managed to prove the zonal isolation requirements and be a source of development of best practices that can improve cement evaluation even with the presence of heavy SOBM.