bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bird community response to mid‐rotation management in conservation reserve program pine plantations
Authors: Singleton Lindsey C. , Sladek Brandon G. , Burger L. Wes , Munn Ian A.
Published: November 2012

Open pine–grasslands are one of the most threatened ecological communities in the southeastern United States and provide essential habitat for many regionally declining bird species. While open pine–grassland forests have diminished, acreage of pine plantations has increased throughout the Southeast, in part because of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Bill conservation programs. To understand whether fire and herbicide treatments would be effective in creating pine–grassland structure in plantations suitable for a suite of declining early successional and pine–grassland adapted species, we evaluated combined effects of selective herbicide and prescribed fire on plant and bird communities in thinned, mid‐rotation pine stands established under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Mississippi, USA. Within each of the 12 replicate sites, we assigned 2 paired 8.1‐ha plots to either treatment (herbicide + prescribed fire) or control in a randomized complete block design. We applied treatments during autumn and winter of 2002–2003. During 2003–2006 breeding seasons, we characterized the bird community using repeated (4–6 repetitions/yr), standardized, 10‐minute point counts from which we estimated species richness, total relative abundance, total avian conservation value, and density of select species. Managed plots exhibited reduced hardwood midstory and a greater abundance of grasses and forbs in the ground layer. Although avian species richness and total relative abundance were similar in treatment and control stands, we observed a shift in the bird community from closed‐canopy forest species to early successional and pine–grassland adapted species, many of which are experiencing population declines. We recommend thinning, hardwood midstory control, and prescribed burning within CRP pine plantations to provide habitat for a suite of regionally declining bird species. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Wirtschaftsentwicklung in demographischen Schrumpfungsregionen – Unternehmerische Herausforderungen und Strategien am Beispiel von Oberfranken
Authors: Matuschewski Anke , Leick Birgit
Published: November 2012

Demographic change in terms of decreasing and ageing populations poses a new challenge to regional development and economic prospects in Europe. However, it has been noted that the intensity of demographic shrinking differs widely among the European regions, causing adaptive problems and challenges to varying degrees. Demographic change affects almost every area of economic activity. This article depicts and analyses the associated changes and challenges for regional development in shrinking areas at a micro level. It gives an overview of the extent and intensity of demographic shrinkage for regions as well as its effects on regional development and firms as economic agents in demographically shrinking regions. The overview is based on concepts and theories in economics and economic geography dealing with demographic and economic developments. The main part presents a case study that focuses on changing regional market conditions due to demographic change. Using Upper Franconia as a German case region, we analyse the pressure on local firms and their adaptive strategy-building on regional markets in an exploratory way.
Parental involvement and adolescents' career goal pursuit during the post‐school transition
Authors: Dietrich Julia , Salmela‐Aro Katariina
Published: November 2012

This study investigated adolescents' and parents' co‐regulation of career‐related goals during the post‐school transition. Finnish adolescents (N = 807, 49% female) were assessed twice in high school and once after graduation. It was examined how their career goal motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) and appraisals (goal attainability, effort, progress, and stress) interact with their perceptions of parents' career‐related involvement (support and lack of engagement) during the transition. Moreover, the role of perceived parental warmth for the co‐regulation of career‐related goals was assessed. The results showed that both perceived career‐specific parental involvement and warmth were associated, albeit weakly, with goal‐related stress three years later. This link was mediated by controlled career goal motivation.
Role of Sulf1A in Wnt1‐ and Wnt6‐induced growth regulation and myoblast hyper‐elongation
Authors: Hitchins L. , Fletcher F. , Allen S. , Dhoot G.K.
Published: November 2012

Sulf1A expression, which is a characteristic of embryonic muscle, is undetectable in mature muscle fibres and quiescent satellite cells, but is re‐activated in vivo upon injury and in vitro following activation of satellite cells. Sulf1A is known to enhance canonical Wnt signalling, and its association with Wnt1‐induced satellite cell proliferation in vitro in the present study further confirmed this. However, exogenous Wnt6 decreased satellite cell proliferation but promoted the adoption of a hyper‐elongated cell morphology in myoblasts on isolated single fibres in culture. Such Wnt6‐induced cellular hyper‐elongation and inhibition of proliferation was found to be dependent upon Sulf1A, as treatment with Sulf1A neutralising antibodies abolished both these effects. This indicates that Sulf1A can regulate Wnt6 signalling and cellular differentiation in skeletal muscle.
Meromorphic non-integrability of a steady Stokes flow inside a sphere
Authors: NISHIYAMA TAKAHIRO
Published: November 2012

The non-existence of a real meromorphic first integral for a spherically confined steady Stokes flow of Bajer and Moffatt is proved on the basis of Ziglin’s theory and the differential Galois theory. In the proof, the differential Galois group of a second-order Fuchsian-type differential equation associated with normal variations along a particular streamline is shown to be a special linear group according to Kovacic’s algorithm. A set of special values of a parameter contained in the Fuchsian-type equation is studied by using the theory of elliptic curves. For this set, a computer algebra system is used in part of Kovacic’s algorithm.
Prosecuting Presidents: The Politics within Ecuador's Corruption Cases
Authors: CONAGHAN CATHERINE M.
Published: November 2012

Across Latin America, many former presidents have faced criminal prosecutions on corruption charges, with widely varied outcomes. As with an impeachment, law and politics intersect in the prosecution of a president. In this essay, I examine this nexus by mapping the actions of agents who mobilise to influence how the justice system processes presidential prosecutions: first, accountability actors located in state-based institutions and civil society; second, partisan actors in the executive and legislative branches; and third, defendants, and their partisan and civil society supporters. This study argues that variations in the make-up, resources and alignment of these sets of actors fundamentally shape the trajectory of legal cases. Proceedings against three former presidents of Ecuador are analysed: Abdalá Bucaram, Jamil Mahuad and Gustavo Noboa.
Personalised nutrition: ready for practice?
Authors: de Roos Baukje
Published: November 2012

The efficacy by which dietary interventions influence risk markers of multi-factorial diseases is mainly determined by taking population-based approaches. However, there exists considerable inter-individual variation in response to dietary interventions, and some interventions may benefit certain individuals or population subgroups more than others. This review evaluates the application of nutrigenomic technologies to further the concept of personalised nutrition, as well as the process to take personalised nutrition to the marketplace. The modulation of an individual's response is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Many nutrigenetics studies have attempted to explain variability in responses based on a single or a few genotypes so that a genotype may be used to define personalised dietary advice. It has, however, proven very challenging to define an individual's responsiveness to complex diets based on common genetic variations. In addition, there is a limited understanding of what constitutes an optimal response because we lack key health biomarkers and signatures. In conclusion, advances in nutrigenomics will undoubtedly further the understanding of the complex interplay between genotype, phenotype and environment, which are required to enhance the development of personalised nutrition in the future. At the same time, however, issues relating to consumer acceptance, privacy protection as well as marketing and distribution of personalised products need to be addressed before personalised nutrition can become commercially viable.
What explains post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK service personnel: deployment or something else?
Authors: Jones M. , Sundin J. , Goodwin L. , Hull L. , Fear N. T. , Wessely S. , Rona R. J.
Published: November 2012

Background

In previous studies an association between deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and an overall increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in UK armed forces has not been found. The lack of a deployment effect might be explained by including, in the comparison group, personnel deployed on other operations or who have experienced traumatic stressors unrelated to deployment.

Methods

The sample comprised 8261 regular UK armed forces personnel who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or other operational areas or were not deployed. Participants completed the PTSD CheckList – Civilian Version (PCL-C) and provided information about deployment history, demographic and service factors, serious accidents and childhood experiences.

Results

Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan [odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6–2.2] or elsewhere (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6–2.0) was unrelated to PTSD although holding a combat role was associated with PTSD if deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9–3.9). Childhood adversity (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–5.0), having left service (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9–4.0) and serious accident (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.0) were associated with PTSD whereas higher rank was protective (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.12–0.76).

Conclusions

For the majority of UK armed forces personnel, deployment whether to Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere confers no greater risk for PTSD than service in the armed forcesper sebut holding a combat role in those deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan is associated with PTSD. Vulnerability factors such as lower rank, childhood adversity and leaving service, and having had a serious accident, may be at least as important as holding a combat role in predicting PTSD in UK armed forces personnel.
Children's perceptions of weight, obesity, nutrition, physical activity and related health and socio-behavioural factors
Authors: Economos Christina D , Bakun Peter J , Herzog Julia Bloom , Dolan Peter R , Lynskey Vanessa M , Markow Dana , Sharma Shanti , Nelson Miriam E
Published: November 2012

Objective

Approximately one-third of children in the USA are either overweight or obese. Understanding the perceptions of children is an important factor in reversing this trend.

Design

An online survey was conducted with children to capture their perceptions of weight, overweight, nutrition, physical activity and related socio-behavioural factors.

Setting

Within the USA.

Subjects

US children (n 1224) aged 8–18 years.

Results

Twenty-seven per cent of children reported being overweight; 47·1 % of children overestimated the rate of overweight/obesity among US children. A higher percentage of self-classified overweight children (81·9 %) worried about weight than did self-classified under/normal weight children (31·1 %). Most children (91·1 %) felt that it was important to not be overweight, for both health-related and social-related reasons. The majority of children believed that if someone their age is overweight they will likely be overweight in adulthood (93·1 %); get an illness such as diabetes or heart disease in adulthood (90·2 %); not be able to play sports well (84·5 %); and be teased or made fun of in school (87·8 %). Children focused more on food/drink than physical activity as reasons for overweight at their age. Self-classified overweight children were more likely to have spoken with someone about their weight over the last year than self-classified under/normal weight children.

Conclusions

Children demonstrated good understanding of issues regarding weight, overweight, nutrition, physical activity and related socio-behavioural factors. Their perceptions are important and can be helpful in crafting solutions that will resonate with children.
A global view of stratospheric gravity wave hotspots located with Atmospheric Infrared Sounder observations
Authors: Hoffmann L. , Xue X. , Alexander M. J.
Published: November 2012

The main aim of this study is to find and classify hotspots of stratospheric gravity waves on a global scale. The analysis is based on a 9 year record (2003 to 2011) of radiance measurements by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite. We detect gravity waves based on 4.3 µm brightness temperature variances. Our method focuses on peak events, i.e., strong gravity wave events for which the local variance considerably exceeds background levels. We estimate the occurrence frequencies of these peak events for different seasons and time of day and use the results to find local maxima or “hotspots.” In addition, we use AIRS radiances at 8.1 µm to simultaneously detect convective events, including deep convection in the tropics and mesoscale convective systems at middle latitudes. We classify the gravity wave sources based on seasonal occurrence frequencies for convection, but also by means of time series analyses and topographic data. Our study reproduces well‐known hotspots of gravity waves, e.g., the Andes and the Antarctic Peninsula. However, the high horizontal resolution of the AIRS observations also allows us to locate numerous mesoscale hotspots, which are partly unknown or poorly studied so far. Most of these mesoscale hotspots are found near orographic features like mountain ranges, coasts, lakes, deserts, or isolated islands. This study will help to select promising regions and seasons for future case studies of gravity waves.
Glucose metabolism of the inner retina in pigs in darkness and light
Authors: WANG L. , TÖRNQUIST P. , BILL A.
Published: November 2012

In the pig eye. oxygen and glucose consumption in the outer retina are reduced in light compared to the consumption in the dark and most of the glucose consumed is metabolized to lactate both in light and in the dark. In the present study. in order to characterize the metabolism of glucose in the inner retina. blood was collected from an artery and from a plexus on the optic nerve draining blood from the retina. Arteriovenous concentration differences for glucose. lactate and oxygen were determined. Observations were made in dark‐adapted eyes and then after light adaptation. The consumption of oxygen and glucose and the lactate formation in the inner retina were calculated on the basis of these observations and recent data for retinal blood flow. In dark‐adapted eyes. approx. 69% of the glucose was oxidized and approx. 20% was used in lactate formation. After 5‐10 min of exposure to constant light. the levels of oxygen consumption and lactate formation were no different from those in darkness. The results indicate that lactate formation is a normal property of the pig inner retina. but that it is much less pronounced than in the outer part. The metabolism of the inner retina in constant light is similar to that in darkness. A comparison with data for the outer retina indicates that oxygen consumption in the inner retina in constant light is approx. 47% of that in the whole retina. while for glucose consumption and lactate production. the corresponding figures are approx. 12 and 8%. respectively.
Ecological genetics of the wind-pollinated, tetraploid, Allocasuarina emuina L. Johnson (Casuarinaceae) from southeast Queensland reveals montane refugia for coastal heath during the last interglacial
Authors: Lamont R. W. , Stokoe R. L. , Shapcott A.
Published: November 2012

The subtropical coastal heathlands of southeast Queensland contain many rare and threatened species and have undergone considerable habitat loss in recent years due to high levels of urbanisation. We used morphological and microsatellite markers to investigate the reproductive ecology, in relation to fire, and population genetic structure of the endangered shrub Allocasuarina emuina. Highly significant differences (P < 0.001) were detected among populations for all cone- and seed-related morphological traits, which revealed distinct northern and southern groups of populations, a pattern repeated in the genetic component of the study. Results also indicated that the reproductive viability of A. emuina is more related to fire interval than population size and confirmed that seed viability declines with time since fire. The highest level of genetic diversity for the species was observed in the population on Mt Emu (AE4A; HE = 0.688). Contrary to the expectations of population genetic theory, no relationship was found between the level of genetic variation and population size, density or degree of isolation, hinting that genetic diversity is being conserved as a result of polyploidy and apomixis. However, genetic signatures in the northern populations indicated that unidirectional dispersal of genetic material from the putatively refugial population on Mt Emu to the surrounding coastal plain has been occurring with recession of sea levels following the last interglacial. The findings of the study will aid in both the conservation of natural populations and translocations of A. emuina and have significant implications relating to the biogeographical history of a considerable number of co-occurring heathland taxa.
Structural and In Vitro Biological Studies of Organotin(IV) Precursors; Selective Inhibitory Activity Against Human Breast Cancer Cells, Positive to Estrogen Receptors
Authors: Balas Vasilis I. , Banti Christina N. , Kourkoumelis Nikolaos , Hadjikakou Sotiris K. , Geromichalos George D. , Sahpazidou Despina , Male Louise , Hursthouse Mike B. , Bednarz Barbara , Kubicki Maciej , Charalabopoulos Konstantinos , Hadjiliadis Nick
Published: November 2012

Crystals of Ph3SnCl (1) were grown from a methanol/acetonitrile solution. Compounds [Ph3SnOH]n (2) and [(Ph2Sn)4Cl2O2(OH)2] (3) were crystallized from diethyl ether/methanol/acetonitrile and hot acetone/water solutions respectively, of the white precipitation, formed by adding KOH to solutions of 1 and [Ph2SnCl2] in 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 molar ratios respectively. Complex 1 was characterized by X-ray crystallography. X-ray structure determination of compounds 2 and 3 confirmed the previously reported identities. The molecular structure of 1, reported here, is a new polymorphic form of the known one for Ph3SnCl. Four independent [Ph3SnCl] molecules constitute the crystal structure of 1. The moieties are packed in two pairs in a tail-to-tail arrangement.
Complexes 1–3 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity (cell viability) against human cancer cell lines: HeLa (human cervical), MCF-7 (breast, estrogen receptor (ER) positive), MDA-MB-231 (breast, ER negative), A549 (lung), Caki-1 (kidney carcinoma), 786-O (renal adenocarcinoma), K1 (thyroid carcinoma), and the normal human lung cell line MRC-5 (normal human fetal lung fibroblast cells) versus, the normal immortalized human mammary gland epithelial cell line MTSV17 with a sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The results show potent cytotoxic activity of the complexes against all cell lines used, which was superior to that of cisplatin (CDDP). Compounds 1–3 showed higher activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7 (ER positive) than against of MDA-MB-231 (ER negative). These findings prompted us to search for possible interaction of these complexes with other cellular elements of fundamental importance in cell proliferation. The influence of these complexes 1–3 upon the catalytic peroxidation of linoleic acid to hydroperoxylinoleic acid by the enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX), as well as their binding affinity towards calf thymus-DNA, were kinetically and theoretically studied.
Nutrient status of seagrasses cannot be inferred from system-scale distribution of phosphorus in Shark Bay, Western Australia
Authors: Fraser Matthew W. , Kendrick Gary A. , Grierson Pauline F. , Fourqurean James W. , Vanderklift Mathew A. , Walker Diana I.
Published: November 2012

Differences in phosphorus (P) availability can influence the ecology and physiology of seagrass communities; and are usually inferred from changes in the relative P content in seagrass leaves. Shark Bay is a subtropical marine embayment, with decreasing P concentrations in the water column and sediments from north to south across the entire embayment. We examined the P and nitrogen (N) content of seagrass leaves and P content of sediments across the Faure Sill and Wooramel delta region of Shark Bay, to determine whether the leaf content of seagrasses in Shark Bay also decreased from north to south over smaller spatial scales. Nutrient content of Amphibolis antarctica and Halodule uninervis were highly variable and were not strongly correlated with sediment P concentrations. Mean N : P ratios of seagrasses (<33.5) were not indicative of P limitation, as has been previously assumed for Shark Bay. We conclude that availability of P for uptake by seagrasses across Shark Bay may be highly localised and cannot be predicted from system-scale gradients (>100 km) of sedimentary P distributions. We suggest that P availability to seagrasses is more likely a complex function of differing nutrient inputs, rates of delivery to the plants and cycling rates.
Behavioural transition probabilities in dugongs change with habitat and predator presence: implications for sirenian conservation
Authors: Wirsing Aaron J. , Heithaus Michael R.
Published: November 2012

Although not widely appreciated, prey can manage predation risk by modifying the sequence of their behavioural states. We explored this phenomenon in dugongs (Dugong dugon) subject to spatially and temporally variable risk of tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) predation in Shark Bay, Australia. Dugong behaviour was assayed using focal follows and organised into sequences of foraging, resting, and travelling bouts. We used log-linear analysis to test for sequence differences in relation to habitat (deep, shallow) and predation danger (sharks present, largely absent). Dugongs modified their behavioural sequences between periods of high and low shark abundance: those at risk alternated more frequently between foraging, which constrains anti-predator vigilance, and travelling, which facilitates predator detection. Dugongs also avoided continuous series of resting bouts, during which awareness is reduced, when sharks were present. These changes were only observed in relatively dangerous shallow habitat, which is hunted disproportionately by tiger sharks; behavioural responses to sharks in deep habitat were modest. We conclude that dugongs in risky habitat resort to safer behavioural sequences in response to sharks. Given that human disturbance and predators are perceived similarly by many species, some forms of vessel interaction could compromise the fitness of sirenians by eliciting similar behavioural adjustment.
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus storage in subtropical seagrass meadows: examples from Florida Bay and Shark Bay
Authors: Fourqurean James W. , Kendrick Gary A. , Collins Laurel S. , Chambers Randolph M. , Vanderklift Mathew A.
Published: November 2012

Seagrass meadows in Florida Bay and Shark Bay contain substantial stores of both organic carbon and nutrients. Soils from both systems are predominantly calcium carbonate, with an average of 82.1% CaCO3 in Florida Bay compared with 71.3% in Shark Bay. Soils from Shark Bay had, on average, 21% higher organic carbon content and 35% higher phosphorus content than Florida Bay. Further, soils from Shark Bay had lower mean dry bulk density (0.78 ± 0.01 g mL–1) than those from Florida Bay (0.84 ± 0.02 mg mL–1). The most hypersaline regions of both bays had higher organic carbon content in surficial soils. Profiles of organic carbon and phosphorus from Florida Bay indicate that this system has experienced an increase in P delivery and primary productivity over the last century; in contrast, decreasing organic carbon and phosphorus with depth in the soil profiles in Shark Bay point to a decrease in phosphorus delivery and primary productivity over the last 1000 y. The total ecosystem stocks of stored organic C in Florida Bay averages 163.5 MgCorg ha–1, lower than the average of 243.0 MgCorg ha–1 for Shark Bay; but these values place Shark and Florida Bays among the global hotspots for organic C storage in coastal ecosystems.
Efficient statistical significance approximation for local similarity analysis of high-throughput time series data
Authors: Xia Li C. , Ai Dongmei , Cram Jacob , Fuhrman Jed A. , Sun Fengzhu
Published: November 2012

Motivation: Local similarity analysis of biological time series data helps elucidate the varying dynamics of biological systems. However, its applications to large scale high-throughput data are limited by slow permutation procedures for statistical significance evaluation.

Results: We developed a theoretical approach to approximate the statistical significance of local similarity analysis based on the approximate tail distribution of the maximum partial sum of independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) random variables. Simulations show that the derived formula approximates the tail distribution reasonably well (starting at time points with no delay and with delay) and provides P-values comparable with those from permutations. The new approach enables efficient calculation of statistical significance for pairwise local similarity analysis, making possible all-to-all local association studies otherwise prohibitive. As a demonstration, local similarity analysis of human microbiome time series shows that core operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are highly synergetic and some of the associations are body-site specific across samples.

Availability: The new approach is implemented in our eLSA package, which now provides pipelines for faster local similarity analysis of time series data. The tool is freely available from eLSA’s website: http://meta.usc.edu/softs/lsa.

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Contact:  fsun@usc.edu
Bioclipse-R: integrating management and visualization of life science data with statistical analysis
Authors: Spjuth Ola , Georgiev Valentin , Carlsson Lars , Alvarsson Jonathan , Berg Arvid , Willighagen Egon , Wikberg Jarl E.S. , Eklund Martin
Published: November 2012

Summary: Bioclipse, a graphical workbench for the life sciences, provides functionality for managing and visualizing life science data. We introduce Bioclipse-R, which integrates Bioclipse and the statistical programming language R. The synergy between Bioclipse and R is demonstrated by the construction of a decision support system for anticancer drug screening and mutagenicity prediction, which shows how Bioclipse-R can be used to perform complex tasks from within a single software system.

Availability and implementation: Bioclipse-R is implemented as a set of Java plug-ins for Bioclipse based on the R-package rj. Source code and binary packages are available from https://github.com/bioclipse and http://www.bioclipse.net/bioclipse-r, respectively.

Contact:  martin.eklund@farmbio.uu.se

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Weighted log-rank statistic to compare shared-path adaptive treatment strategies
Authors: Kidwell Kelley M. , Wahed Abdus S.
Published: November 2012

Adaptive treatment strategies (ATSs) more closely mimic the reality of a physician’s prescription process where the physician prescribes a medication to his/her patient, and based on that patient’s response to the medication, modifies the treatment. Two-stage randomization designs, more generally, sequential multiple assignment randomization trial designs, are useful to assess ATSs where the interest is in comparing the entire sequence of treatments, including the patient’s intermediate response. In this paper, we introduce the notion of shared-path and separate-path ATSs and propose a weighted log-rank statistic to compare overall survival distributions of multiple two-stage ATSs, some of which may be shared-path. Large sample properties of the statistic are derived and the type I error rate and power of the test are compared with the standard log-rank test through simulation.
Hypoxia-mediated regulation of macrophage functions in pathophysiology
Authors: Riboldi Elena , Porta Chiara , Morlacchi Sara , Viola Antonella , Mantovani Alberto , Sica Antonio
Published: November 2012

Oxygen availability affects cell differentiation, survival and function, with profound consequences on tissue homeostasis, inflammation and immunity. A gradient of oxygen levels is present in most organs of the body as well as in virtually every site of inflammation, damaged or pathological tissue. As a consequence, infiltrating leukocytes, macrophages in particular, are equipped with the capacity to shift their metabolism to anaerobic glycolysis, to generate ATP and induce the expression of factors that increase the supply of oxygen and nutrients. Strikingly, low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) and inflammatory signals share selected transcriptional events, including the activation of members of both the hypoxia-inducible factor and nuclear factor κB families, which may converge to activate specific cell programs. In the pathological response to hypoxia, cancer in particular, macrophages act as orchestrators of disease evolution and their number can be used as a prognostic marker. Here we review mechanisms of macrophage adaptation to hypoxia, their role in disease as well as new perspectives for their therapeutic targeting.
The Spinal Curvature of Three Different Sitting Positions Analysed in an Open MRI Scanner
Authors: Baumgartner Daniel , Zemp Roland , List Renate , Stoop Mirjam , Naxera Jaroslav , Elsig Jean Pierre , Lorenzetti Silvio
Published: November 2012

Sitting is the most frequently performed posture of everyday life. Biomechanical interactions with office chairs have therefore a long-term effect on our musculoskeletal system and ultimately on our health and wellbeing. This paper highlights the kinematic effect of office chairs on the spinal column and its single segments. Novel chair concepts with multiple degrees of freedom provide enhanced spinal mobility. The angular changes of the spinal column in the sagittal plane in three different sitting positions (forward inclined, reclined, and upright) for six healthy subjects (aged 23 to 45 years) were determined using an open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. An MRI-compatible and commercially available office chair was adapted for use in the scanner. The midpoint coordinates of the vertebral bodies, the wedge angles of the intervertebral discs, and the lumbar lordotic angle were analysed. The mean lordotic angles were16.0±8.5∘(mean ± standard deviation) in a forward inclined position,24.7±8.3∘in an upright position, and28.7±8.1∘in a reclined position. All segments from T10-T11 to L5-S1 were involved in movement during positional changes, whereas the range of motion in the lower lumbar segments was increased in comparison to the upper segments.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Based Research on Human White Matter Anatomy
Authors: Qiu Ming-guo , Zhang Jing-na , Zhang Ye , Li Qi-yu , Xie Bing , Wang Jian
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study is to investigate the white matter by the diffusion tensor imaging and the Chinese visible human dataset and to provide the 3D anatomical data of the corticospinal tract for the neurosurgical planning by studying the probabilistic maps and the reproducibility of the corticospinal tract. Diffusion tensor images and high-resolution T1-weighted images of 15 healthy volunteers were acquired; the DTI data were processed using DtiStudio and FSL software. The FA and color FA maps were compared with the sectional images of the Chinese visible human dataset. The probability maps of the corticospinal tract were generated as a quantitative measure of reproducibility for each voxel of the stereotaxic space. The fibers displayed by the diffusion tensor imaging were well consistent with the sectional images of the Chinese visible human dataset and the existing anatomical knowledge. The three-dimensional architecture of the white matter fibers could be clearly visualized on the diffusion tensor tractography. The diffusion tensor tractography can establish the 3D probability maps of the corticospinal tract, in which the degree of intersubject reproducibility of the corticospinal tract is consistent with the previous architectonic report. DTI is a reliable method of studying the fiber connectivity in human brain, but it is difficult to identify the tiny fibers. The probability maps are useful for evaluating and identifying the corticospinal tract in the DTI, providing anatomical information for the preoperative planning and improving the accuracy of surgical risk assessments preoperatively.
Evaluation of Land Use Regression Models for Nitrogen Dioxide and Benzene in Four US Cities
Authors: Mukerjee Shaibal , Smith Luther , Neas Lucas , Norris Gary
Published: November 2012

Spatial analysis studies have included the application of land use regression models (LURs) for health and air quality assessments. Recent LUR studies have collected nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using passive samplers at urban air monitoring networks in El Paso and Dallas, TX, Detroit, MI, and Cleveland, OH to assess spatial variability and source influences. LURs were successfully developed to estimate pollutant concentrations throughout the study areas. Comparisons of development and predictive capabilities of LURs from these four cities are presented to address this issue of uniform application of LURs across study areas. Traffic and other urban variables were important predictors in the LURs although city-specific influences (such as border crossings) were also important. In addition, transferability of variables or LURs from one city to another may be problematic due to intercity differences and data availability or comparability. Thus, developing common predictors in future LURs may be difficult.
Maxwellian Eye Fixation during Natural Scene Perception
Authors: Duchesne Jean , Bouvier Vincent , Guillemé Julien , Coubard Olivier A.
Published: November 2012

When we explore a visual scene, our eyes make saccades to jump rapidly from one area to another and fixate regions of interest to extract useful information. While the role of fixation eye movements in vision has been widely studied, their random nature has been a hitherto neglected issue. Here we conducted two experiments to examine the Maxwellian nature of eye movements during fixation. In Experiment 1, eight participants were asked to perform free viewing of natural scenes displayed on a computer screen while their eye movements were recorded. For each participant, the probability density function (PDF) of eye movement amplitude during fixation obeyed the law established by Maxwell for describing molecule velocity in gas. Only the mean amplitude of eye movements varied with expertise, which was lower in experts than novice participants. In Experiment 2, two participants underwent fixed time, free viewing of natural scenes and of their scrambled version while their eye movements were recorded. Again, the PDF of eye movement amplitude during fixation obeyed Maxwell’s law for each participant and for each scene condition (normal or scrambled). The results suggest that eye fixation during natural scene perception describes a random motion regardless of top-down or of bottom-up processes.
Unifying sources and sinks in ecology and Earth sciences
Authors: Loreau Michel , Daufresne Tanguy , Gonzalez Andrew , Gravel Dominique , Guichard Frédéric , Leroux Shawn J. , Loeuille Nicolas , Massol François , Mouquet Nicolas
Published: November 2012

The paired source and sink concepts are used increasingly in ecology and Earth sciences, but they have evolved in divergent directions, hampering communication across disciplines. We propose a conceptual framework that unifies existing definitions, and review their most significant consequences for the various disciplines. A general definition of the source and sink concepts that transcends disciplines is based on net flows between the components of a system: a source is a subsystem that is a net exporter of some living or non‐living entities of interest, and a sink is a net importer of these entities. Sources and sinks can further be classified as conditional and unconditional, depending on the intrinsic propensity of subsystems to either produce (source) or absorb (sink) a surplus of these entities under some (conditional) or all (unconditional) conditions. The distinction between conditional and unconditional sources and sinks, however, is strongly context dependent. Sources can turn into sinks, and vice versa, when the context is changed, when systems are subject to temporal fluctuations or evolution, or when they are considered at different spatial and temporal scales. The conservation of ecosystem services requires careful consideration of the source−sink dynamics of multiple ecosystem components. Our synthesis shows that source−sink dynamics has profound consequences for our ability to understand, predict, and manage species and ecosystems in heterogeneous landscapes.
Neighborhoods, Social Support, and African American Adolescents' Mental Health Outcomes: A Multilevel Path Analysis
Authors: Hurd Noelle M. , Stoddard Sarah A. , Zimmerman Marc A.
Published: November 2012

This study explored how neighborhood characteristics may relate toAfricanAmerican adolescents' internalizing symptoms via adolescents' social support and perceptions of neighborhood cohesion. Participants included 571 urban,AfricanAmerican adolescents (52% female;Mage = 17.8). A multilevel path analysis testing both direct and indirect effects of neighborhood characteristics on adolescents' mental health outcomes was conducted. Higher neighborhood poverty and unemployment rates predicted greater internalizing symptoms via lower cumulative social support and perceptions of neighborhood cohesion. In contrast, higher concentrations ofAfricanAmerican and residentially stable residents in one's neighborhood related to fewer internalizing symptoms among adolescent residents via greater cumulative social support and perceptions of neighborhood cohesion. Implications of these findings are discussed.
THINK AGAIN: FINE‐TUNING YOUR STRATEGIC THINKING
Authors: Markides Costas
Published: November 2012

Strategy is part of the core curriculum of any business school. It is also part of the core logic that drives successful businesses. Yet, despite its fundamental importance, strategy remains a controversial field of both study and practice. Cutting through the clutter, this article was originally published in 2001, but the thinking of Costas Markides is as timely as ever. “Strategic innovation has the potential to take third‐rate companies and elevate them to industry leadership status,” says Markides, “and it can take established industry leaders and destroy them in a short period of time.” All the more reason why you should be sure your strategic thinking is not only focused, but balanced. Here's how to fine‐tune how you create and review your strategy.
Rat models of post‐irradiation recovery of spermatogenesis: interstrain differences
Authors: Abuelhija M. , Weng C. C. , Shetty G. , Meistrich M. L.
Published: November 2012

Recently, we reported large differences between rat strains in spermatogenesis recovery at 10 weeks after 5‐Gy irradiation suggesting that there are interstrain as well as interspecies differences in testicular radiation response. To determine whether these interstrain differences in sensitivity might be a result of the particular dose and time‐point chosen, we performed dose–response and time–course studies on sensitive Brown‐Norway (BN) and more resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Type A spermatogonia were observed in atrophic tubules at 10 weeks after irradiation in all strains indicating that tubular atrophy was caused by a block in their differentiation, but the doses to produce the block ranged from 4.0 Gy in BN to 10 Gy in SD rats. Although the numbers of type A spermatogonial were unaffected at doses below 6 Gy, higher doses reduced their number, indicating that stem cell killing also contributed to the failure of recovery. After 10 weeks, there was no further recovery and even a decline in spermatogonial differentiation in BN rats, but in SHR rats, sperm production returned to control levels by 20 weeks after 5.0 Gy and, after 7.5 Gy, differentiation resumed in 60% of tubules by 30 weeks. Suppression of testosterone and gonadotropins after irradiation restored production of differentiated cells in nearly all tubules in BN rats and in all tubules in SHR rats. Thus, the differences in recovery of spermatogenesis between strains were a result of both quantitative differences in their sensitivities to a radiation‐induced, hormone‐dependent block of spermatogonial differentiation and qualitative interstrain differences in the progression of post‐irradiation recovery. The progression of recovery in SHR rats was similar to the prolonged delays in recovery of human spermatogenesis after cytotoxic agent exposure and thus may be a system for investigating a phenomenon also observed in men.
Report of the Committee of the Japan Diabetes Society on the Research of Fulminant and Acute‐onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: New diagnostic criteria of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (2012)
Authors: Imagawa Akihisa , Hanafusa Toshiaki , Awata Takuya , Ikegami Hiroshi , Uchigata Yasuko , Osawa Haruhiko , Kawasaki Eiji , Kawabata Yumiko , Kobayashi Tetsuro , Shimada Akira , Shimizu Ikki , Takahashi Kazuma , Nagata Masao , Makino Hideichi , Maruyama Taro
Published: November 2012

We have revised a part of the diagnostic criteria for fulminant type 1 diabetes. The new criteria were set both to express the essence of this disease of rapid increase of patients' blood glucose and to be highly sensitive to reduce the misdiagnosis. After analyzing the data of 382 patients with newly‐diagnosed fulminant type 1 diabetes, we adopted the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 8.7% (National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program [NGSP] value). The new criterion indicates 100% of sensitivity and the best value by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In addition, we added a comment that ‘This value (HbA1c <8.7% in NGSP) is not applicable for patients with previously diagnosed glucose intolerance’ in the new criteria and also a comment that ‘Association with human leukocyte antigen DRB1*04:05‐DQB1*04:01 is reported’ as a related finding. We did not revise the screening criteria and the other part of the diagnostic criteria, because they are still reliable.
Classification of Japanese Texture Terms
Authors: Hayakawa Fumiyo , Kazami Yukari , Nishinari Katsuyoshi , Ioku Kana , Akuzawa Sayuri , Yamano Yoshimasa , Baba Yasumasa , Kohyama Kaoru
Published: November 2012

A total of 445 Japanese texture terms were classified. First, terms with almost the same meaning represented by different Chinese characters, and onomatopoeic words derived from the same sound were classified into same‐term groups for a total of 271 term groups. Next, eight experts in texture studies categorized the 271 term groups into the three texture attributes proposed by the International Standard Organization (ISO 11036): mechanical attributes, geometrical attributes and other attributes. Term groups were compared within each of the three attributes, and their similarities were assessed by 96 texture scientists/technologists. The data were analyzed by multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. The classification in this study showed some similarities with the classification of texture terms in other languages. However, the results also revealed some characteristics that were unique to Japanese texture vocabulary, such as a wide variety of terms concerned with stickiness and elasticity.

Practical Applications

Developing a comprehensive list of texture terms in every language is necessary for comparing terms between languages, as well as for sensory evaluation within each language. The data obtained in this study can be applied to preliminary lexicons of descriptive sensory evaluation of texture. Classification of texture terms helps sensory evaluation researchers to define descriptors and to train panelists. The data also provide useful clues for worldwide understanding of Japanese texture terms.
Evidence for Water Ice Near Mercury’s North Pole from MESSENGER Neutron Spectrometer Measurements
Authors: Lawrence David J. , Feldman William C. , Goldsten John O. , Maurice Sylvestre , Peplowski Patrick N. , Anderson Brian J. , Bazell David , McNutt Ralph L. , Nittler Larry R. , Prettyman Thomas H. , Rodgers Douglas J. , Solomon Sean C. , Weider Shoshana Z.
Published: November 2012

Wet Mercury

Radar observations of Mercury's poles in the 1990s revealed regions of high backscatter that were interpreted as indicative of thick deposits of water ice; however, other explanations have also been proposed (see the Perspective by

Lucey

). MESSENGER neutron data reported by

Lawrence
et al.

(p.
292
, published online 29 November) in conjunction with thermal modeling by

Paige
et al.

(p.
300
, published online 29 November) now confirm that the primary component of radar-reflective material at Mercury's north pole is water ice.

Neumann
et al.

(p.
296
, published online 29 November) analyzed surface reflectance measurements from the Mercury Laser Altimeter onboard MESSENGER and found that while some areas of high radar backscatter coincide with optically bright regions, consistent with water ice exposed at the surface, some radar-reflective areas correlate with optically dark regions, indicative of organic sublimation lag deposits overlying the ice. Dark areas that fall outside regions of high radio backscatter suggest that water ice was once more widespread.