bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unique Combination of 22q11 and 14qter Microdeletion Syndromes Detected Using Oligonucleotide Array-CGH
Authors: Zrnová E. , Vranová V. , Šoukalová J. , Slámová I. , Vilémová M. , Gaillyová R. , Kuglík P.
Published: January 2012

We report an infant with a unique combination of 22q11 deletion syndrome and 14q terminal deletion syndrome. The proband had clinical symptoms compatible with diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome: microcephaly, micrognathia, high-arched palate, hypertelorism, short palpebral fissures, square nasal root, prominent tubular nose, hypoplastic nasal alae, bulbous nasal tip, dysplastic low-set ears, short philtrum, and heart defect, but no cell-mediated immunodeficiency typical for the syndrome. G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses revealed a karyotype 45,XY,der(14)t(14;22)(q32.3;q11.2),-22.ish del(14)(q32.33)(D14S1420-),del(22)(q11.2q11.2)(N25-). Subsequent analyses disclosed a translocation between chromosomes 14 and 22 in the proband’s mother with a deleted 14q telomere. Using comparative genome hybridization on oligonucleotide-based microarray (array-CGH), the deletion at 22q11.21 in the size of ∼4.25 Mb was revealed in the proband as well as the deletion of the telomeric area at 14q32.33qter (∼3.24 Mb) in the proband and his mother. However, both the proband and his mother showed mild symptoms (microcephaly, thin lips, carp-shaped mouth) typical for patients with the described terminal 14q deletion syndrome.
Variation in Brain Regions Associated with Fear and Learning in Contrasting Climates
Authors: Roth, II Timothy C. , Gallagher Caitlin M. , LaDage Lara D. , Pravosudov Vladimir V.
Published: January 2012

In environments where resources are difficult to obtain and enhanced cognitive capabilities might be adaptive, brain structures associated with cognitive traits may also be enhanced. In our previous studies, we documented a clear and significant relationship among environmental conditions, memory and hippocampal structure using ten populations of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) over a large geographic range. In addition, focusing on just the two populations from the geographical extremes of our large-scale comparison, Alaska and Kansas, we found enhanced problem-solving capabilities and reduced neophobia in a captive-raised population of black-capped chickadees originating from the energetically demanding environment (Alaska) relative to conspecifics from the milder environment (Kansas). Here, we focused on three brain regions, the arcopallium (AP), the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala and the lateral striatum (LSt), that have been implicated to some extent in aspects of these behaviors in order to investigate whether potential differences in these brain areas may be associated with our previously detected differences in cognition. We compared the variation in neuron number and volumes of these regions between these populations, in both wild-caught birds and captive-raised individuals. Consistent with our behavioral observations, wild-caught birds from Kansas had a larger AP volume than their wild-caught conspecifics from Alaska, which possessed a higher density of neurons in the LSt. However, there were no other significant differences between populations in the wild-caught and captive-raised groups. Interestingly, individuals from the wild had larger LSt and AP volumes with more neurons than those raised in captivity. Overall, we provide some evidence that population-related differences in problem solving and neophobia may be associated with differences in volume and neuron numbers of our target brain regions. However, the relationship is not completely clear, and our study raises numerous questions about the relationship between the brain and behavior, especially in captive animals.
Lack of Any Cardiac Involvement in a Patient with Andersen-Tawil Syndrome Associated with the c.574A→G Mutation in KCNJ2
Authors: Modoni Anna , Bianchi Maria Laura Ester , Vitulano Nicola , Pagliarani Serena , Perna Francesco , Sanna Tommaso , Rizzo Valentina , Silvestri Gabriella
Published: January 2012

The Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is characterized by hypo-normokaliemic muscle periodic paralysis, dysmorphic features and ventricular arrhythmias. Most cases are caused by mutations in KCNJ2, encoding for the potassium inwardly rectifying channel, Kir2.1 (ATS1). Although KCNJ2 mutations show no obvious genotype-phenotype correlations and incomplete penetrance, signs of cardiac involvement are usually present in most ATS1 cases. In contrast, here we describe an Italian ATS1 patient, carrying a c.574A→G mutation in KCNJ2, who had both facial dysmorphisms and muscle periodic paralysis but who did not manifest any cardiac involvement, although the same mutation was originally described in a Japanese kindred, in which all affected individuals manifested a severe cardiac phenotype.
First Report of a Single Exon Deletion in TCOF1 Causing Treacher Collins Syndrome
Authors: Beygo J. , Buiting K. , Seland S. , Lüdecke H.-J. , Hehr U. , Lich C. , Prager B. , Lohmann D.R. , Wieczorek D.
Published: January 2012

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a rare craniofacial disorder characterized by facial anomalies and ear defects. TCS is caused by mutations in the TCOF1 gene and follows autosomal dominant inheritance. Recently, mutations in the POLR1D and POLR1C genes have also been identified to cause TCS. However, in a subset of patients no causative mutation could be found yet. Inter- and intrafamilial phenotypic variability is high as is the variety of mainly family-specific mutations identified throughout TCOF1. No obvious correlation between pheno- and genotype could be observed. The majority of described point mutations, small insertions and deletions comprising only a few nucleotides within TCOF1 lead to a premature termination codon. We investigated a cohort of 112 patients with a tentative clinical diagnosis of TCS by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to search for larger deletions not detectable with other methods used. All patients were selected after negative screening for mutations in TCOF1, POLR1D and POLR1C. In 1 patient with an unequivocal clinical diagnosis of TCS, we identified a 3.367 kb deletion. This deletion abolishes exon 3 and is the first described single exon deletion within TCOF1. On RNA level we observed loss of this exon which supposedly leads to haploinsufficiency of TREACLE, the nucleolar phosphoprotein encoded by TCOF1.
In situ Evaluation of the Erosive Potential of Orange Juice Modified by Food Additives
Authors: Scaramucci T. , Sobral M.A.P. , Eckert G.J. , Zero D.T. , Hara A.T.
Published: January 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluatethe erosive potential of orange juice modified with food-approved additives: 0.4 g/l of calcium (Ca) from calcium lactate pentahydrate, 0.2 g/l of linear sodium polyphosphate (LPP) or their combination (Ca+LPP) were added to a commercially available orange juice (negative control, C–). A commercially available calcium-modified orange juice (1.6 g/l of calcium) was the positive control (C+). These juices were tested using a short-term erosion in situmodel, consisting of a five-phase, single-blind crossover clinical trial involving 10 subjects. In each phase, subjects inserted custom-made palatal appliances containing 8 bovine enamel specimens in the mouth and performed erosive challenges for a total of 0 (control), 10, 20, and 30 min. Two specimens were randomly removed from the appliances after each challenge period. Enamel surface microhardness was measured before and after the clinical phase and the percentage of surface microhardness change (%SMC) was determined. Before the procedures, in each phase, the subjects performed a taste test, where the juice assigned to that phase was blindly compared to C–. Overall, C+ showed the lowest %SMC, being the least erosive solution (p < 0.05), followed by Ca+LPP and Ca, which did not differ from each other (p > 0.05). LPP and C– were the most erosive solutions (p < 0.05). Taste differences were higher for C+ (5/10 subjects) and Ca (4/10 subjects), but detectable in all groups, including C– (2/10 subjects). Calcium reduced the erosive potential of the orange juice, while no protection was observed for LPP.
Polymorphism of the TLR4 Gene Reduces the Risk of Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Agúndez José A. , García-Martín Elena , Devesa María J. , Carballo Miguel , Martínez Carmen , Lee-Brunner Anna , Fernández Cristina , Díaz-Rubio Manuel , Ladero José M.
Published: January 2012

Objective: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling participates in the innate immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. TLR4 gene polymorphisms may influence the risk of HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is a single-centre-based study designed to analyse the distribution of several TLR4 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms in healthy controls and in patients chronically infected with HCV, with and without HCC. Methods: We have determined three single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2149356, rs4986791 and rs5030719) at the TLR4 gene in 155 patients with HCV-related HCC, 153 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 390 healthy controls. All were white and most were Spaniards. Results:(1) rs5030719 was monomorphic and was not further analysed; (2) the rs2149356 T allele carrier state was significantly less frequent in patients with HCC than in healthy controls (OR 0.421, 95% CI 0.285–0.625) and in patients with chronic hepatitis C (OR 0.426, 95% CI 0.236–0.767); (3) the proportion of rs2149356 T allele carriers progressively diminished with increasing clinical stage of HCC; (4) no significant differences were observed for the rs4986791 T allele. Conclusion: The TLR4 rs2148356 T allele is associated with a reduced risk of HCC and could slow down its clinical progression in HCV-induced chronic liver disease.
Family History Record and Hereditary Cancer Risk Perception according to National Cancer Institute Criteria in a Spanish Medical Oncology Service: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Márquez-Rodas Iván , López-Trabada Daniel , Rupérez Blanco Ana Belén , Custodio Cabello Sara , Peligros Gómez María Isabel , Orera Clemente María , Calvo Felipe A. , Martín Miguel
Published: January 2012

Introduction: Identification of patients at risk of hereditary cancer is an essential component of oncology practice, since it enables clinicians to offer early detection and prevention programs. However, the large number of hereditary syndromes makes it difficult to take them all into account in daily practice. Consequently, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has suggested a series of criteria to guide initial suspicion. Objective: It was the aim of this study to assess the perception of the risk of hereditary cancer according to the NCI criteria in our medical oncology service. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the recordings of the family history in new cancer patients seen in our medical oncology service from January to November 2009, only 1 year before the implementation of our multidisciplinary hereditary cancer program. Results: The family history was recorded in only 175/621 (28%) patients. A total of 119 (19%) patients met 1 or more NCI criteria (1 criterion, n = 91; 2 criteria, n = 23; 3 criteria, n = 4; and 4 criteria, n = 1), and only 14 (11.4%) patients were referred to genetic counseling. Conclusion: This study shows that few clinicians record the family history. The perception of the risk of hereditary cancer is low according to the NCI criteria in our medical oncology service. These findings can be explained by the lack of a multidisciplinary hereditary cancer program when the study was performed
Cerebrolysin in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke in Asia
Authors: Heiss Wolf-Dieter , Brainin Michael , Bornstein Natan M. , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Hong Zhen
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

Cerebrolysin showed neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties in various preclinical models of ischemia and small clinical trials. The aim of this large double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was to test its efficacy and safety in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Patients with acute ischemic hemispheric stroke were randomized within 12 hours of symptoms onset to active treatment (30 mL Cerebrolysin daily) or placebo (saline solution) given as intravenous infusion for 10 days in addition to aspirin (100 mg daily). The patients were followed up to 90 days. The primary end point was the result of a combined global directional test of modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Adverse events were documented to assess safety.

Results—

A total of 1070 patients were enrolled in this study. Five hundred twenty-nine patients were assigned to Cerebrolysin and 541 to placebo. The confirmatory end point showed no significant difference between the treatment groups. When stratified by severity however, a post hoc analysis of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale showed a trend in favor of Cerebrolysin in patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale >12 (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: OR, 1.27; CI lower bound, 0.97; modified Rankin Scale: OR, 1.27; CI lower bound, 0.90). In this subgroup, the cumulative mortality by 90 days was 20.2% in the placebo and 10.5% in the Cerebrolysin group (hazard ratio, 1.9661; CI lower bound, 1.0013).

Conclusions—

In this study, the confirmatory end point showed neutral results between the treatment groups. However, a favorable outcome trend was seen in the severely affected patients with ischemic stroke treated with Cerebrolysin. This observation should be confirmed by a further clinical trial.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00868283.
Validation of IIR/CALIPSO Level 1 Measurements by Comparison with Collocated Airborne Observations during CIRCLE-2 and Biscay ‘08 Campaigns
Authors: Sourdeval Odran , Brogniez Gérard , Pelon Jacques , C.-Labonnote Laurent , Dubuisson Philippe , Parol Frédéric , Josset Damien , Garnier Anne , Faivre Michaël , Minikin Andreas
Published: January 2012

In the frame of validation of the spatial observations from the radiometer IIR on board CALIPSO, the two airborne campaigns Cirrus Cloud Experiment (CIRCLE)-2 and Biscay ‘08 took place in 2007 and 2008 in the western part of France, over the Atlantic Ocean. During these experiments, remote sensing measurements were made over cirrus clouds, right under the track of Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) in space and time collocation. For this purpose, a Falcon-20 aircraft was equipped with the Lidar pour l’Etude des Interactions Aérosols Nuages Dynamique Rayonnement et du Cycle de l’Eau (LEANDRE)-New Generation (NG) and the thermal infrared radiometer Conveyable Low-Noise Infrared Radiometer for Measurements of Atmosphere and Ground Surface Targets (CLIMAT)-Airborne Version (AV), whose spectral characteristics are strongly similar to those of the infrared imaging radiometer (IIR). In situ measurements were also taken in cirrus clouds during CIRCLE-2. After comparisons, consistent agreements are found between brightness temperatures measured by CLIMAT-AV and IIR. However, deviations in the brightness temperature measurements are still observed, mainly in the 8.6-μm channels. Simulations using a radiative transfer code are performed along a perfectly clear-sky area to show that these dissimilarities are inherent in slight differences between the spectral channels of both radiometers, and in differences between their altitudes. Cloudy and imperfectly clear areas are found to be harder to interpret, but the measurements are still coherent by taking into account experimental uncertainties. In the end, IIR measurements can be validated unambiguously.
Assessing Moonlight Availability for Nighttime Environmental Applications by Low-Light Visible Polar-Orbiting Satellite Sensors
Authors: Miller Steven D. , Combs Cynthia L. , Kidder Stanley Q. , Lee Thomas F.
Published: January 2012

The next-generation U.S. polar-orbiting environmental satellite program, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), promises unprecedented capabilities for nighttime remote sensing by way of the day/night band (DNB) low-light visible sensor. The DNB will use moonlight illumination to characterize properties of the atmosphere and surface that conventionally have been limited to daytime observations. Since the moon is a highly variable source of visible light, an important question is where and when various levels of lunar illumination will be available. Here, nighttime moonlight availability was examined based on simulations done in the context of Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)/DNB coverage and sensitivity. Results indicate that roughly 45% of all JPSS-orbit [sun-synchronous, 1330 local equatorial crossing time on the ascending node (LTAN)] nighttime observations in the tropics and midlatitudes would provide levels of moonlight at crescent moon or greater. Two other orbits, 1730 and 2130 LTAN, were also considered. The inclusion of a 2130 LTAN satellite would provide similar availability to 1330 LTAN in terms of total moonlit nights, but with approximately a third of those nights being additional because of this orbit’s capture of a different portion of the lunar cycle. Nighttime availability is highly variable for near-terminator orbits. A 1-h shift from the 1730 LTAN near-terminator orbit to 1630 LTAN would nearly double the nighttime availability globally from this orbit, including expanded availability at midlatitudes. In contrast, a later shift to 1830 LTAN has a negligible effect. The results are intended to provide high-level guidance for mission planners, algorithm developers, and various users of low-light applications from these future satellite programs.
Assimilating AIRS Temperature and Mixing Ratio Profiles Using an Ensemble Kalman Filter Approach for Convective-Scale Forecasts
Authors: Jones Thomas A. , Stensrud David J.
Published: January 2012

One satellite data product that has received great interest in the numerical weather prediction community is the temperature and mixing ratio profiles derived from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on board the Aqua satellite. This research assesses the impact of assimilating AIRS profiles on high-resolution ensemble forecasts of southern plains severe weather events occurring on 26 May 2009 and 10 May 2010 by comparing two ensemble forecasts. In one ensemble, the 1830 and 2000 UTC level 2 AIRS temperature and dewpoint profiles are assimilated with all other routine observations into a 36-member, 15-km Weather and Research Forecast Model (WRF) ensemble using a Kalman filter approach. The other ensemble is identical, except that only routine observations are assimilated. In addition, 3-km one-way nested-grid ensemble forecasts are produced during the periods of convection. Results indicate that over the contiguous United States, the AIRS profiles do not measurably improve the ensemble mean forecasts of midtropospheric temperature and dewpoint. However, the ensemble mean dewpoint profiles in the region of severe convective development are improved by the AIRS assimilation. Comparisons of the forecast ensemble radar reflectivity probabilities between the 1- and 4-h forecast times with nearby Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) observations show that AIRS-enhanced ensembles consistently generate more skillful forecasts of the convective features at these times.
A Theory of the Self for the Sociology of Morality
Authors: Stets Jan E. , Carter Michael J.
Published: January 2012

Sociology has seen a renewed interest in the study of morality. However, a theory of the self that explains individual variation in moral behavior and emotions is noticeably absent. In this study, we use identity theory to explain this variability. According to identity theory, actors are self-regulating entities whose goal is to verify their identities. An individual’s moral identity—wherever it falls on the moral–immoral continuum—guides behavior, and people experience negative emotions when identity verification does not ensue. Furthermore, the identity verification process occurs within situations that have cultural expectations—that is, framing rules and feeling rules—regarding how individuals should act and feel. These cultural expectations also influence the degree to which people behave morally. We test these assumptions on a sample of more than 350 university students. We investigate whether the moral identity and framing situations in moral terms influences behavior and feelings. Findings reveal that the identity process and framing of situations as moral are significantly associated with moral action and moral emotions of guilt and shame.
Electoral Majorities, Political Parties, and Collective Representation
Authors: McDonald Michael D. , Budge Ian , Best Robin E.
Published: January 2012

In practice, democracies privilege plurality parties. Theories of the democratic process challenge the democratic credentials of this practice. Abstract social choice theory wonders whether an electoral majority even exists. A more optimistic line of argument, prominent in research on collective representation, assumes that the policy position of the median voter embodies the majority electoral preference. The conflict between what democracies actually do and what two leading theories of the democratic process say calls for a comparative inquiry into electoral majoritarianism. For each of a dozen countries, the authors ask whether any political party commands a predominant majoritarian position among voters—that is, is a Condorcet winner—and, if so, which party it is. They find that a Condorcet winning party exists in all 12 countries and that the plurality party can lay more claim to representing the popular majority than the left—right median party. These findings have important implications for the study of democratic representation, which the authors consider in their conclusions.
Earthquakes on the Mind
Authors: Helton William S. , Head James
Published: January 2012

Objective: The present study explored the impact a natural disaster has on human performance.

Background: Previous research indicates that traffic accidents increase after disasters. A plausible explanation for this finding is that disasters induce cognitive disruption and this disruption negatively affects performance (e.g., driving quality).

Method: A total of 16 participants (7 men and 9 women) performed a sustained-attention-to-response task before and after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake. Performance (errors of omission, errors of commission, and reaction time) was compared before and after the earthquake.

Results: Errors of omission increased after the earthquake. Changes in errors of commission and reaction times were, however, dependent on individual differences in stress response to the earthquake.

Conclusion: The results indicate that natural disasters may have a negative impact on performance.

Application: Communities need to be aware of the increased risk of accidents following disasters and develop countermeasures, including individualized assessment tools.
Effect of accelerated environmental aging on mechanical behavior of curaua/glass hybrid composite
Authors: Rodrigues LPS , Silva RV , Aquino EMF
Published: January 2012

This study investigates the combined effects of humidity and ultraviolet radiation on the mechanical properties of hybrid composite comprising glass-E and curaua fibers reinforcing terephthalic polyester resin. For this purpose, construction of an accelerated environmental aging chamber was carried out. Mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile and three-point bending tests, along with analysis of fracture characteristics. Mass loss analysis of the specimens was also conducted during exposure in the chamber. A composite with only glass-E fiber was also tested and used as a basis for comparison. In the original condition the hybrid composite exhibited mechanical properties similar to those of the composite containing only glass-E fiber. After aging, there was a decrease in mechanical properties. Aging was more harmful to the hybrid composite than to the glass-E fiber composite. The new hybrid composite developed is intended for engineering applications as an alternative material to glass fiber composites.
The numerical modeling of abrasion resistance in casting aluminum–silicon alloy matrix composites
Authors: Mazahery Ali , Shabani Mohsen Ostad , Rahimipour Mohammad Reza , Razavi Mansour
Published: January 2012

The wear properties of particulate-reinforced metal matrix has been generally found to be a function of the applied load as well as the reinforcement volume fraction, particle size, and the shape and nature of the reinforcing phase. In the present study, aluminum matrix composites reinforced with boron carbide particles have been fabricated and then abrasive wear rate of unreinforced alloy and composites are studied using pin-on-disc machine. Based on experimental results, composites exhibit better wear resistance compared to unreinforced alloy. The abrasion resistance of the composites increased with increasing the volume fraction. At a constant volume fraction of B4C reinforcement, the abrasion resistance increased with an increase in the reinforcement size within the range studied. Artificial neural network (ANN) models with various training algorithms were performed in order to find the error by comparing the output value of the network with the target value and then minimizing the difference (error) by modifying the weights. The results of algorithm analyses revealed that the best performance was given by Levenberg–Marquardt learning.
A micromechanics-based mesomodel for unidirectional laminates in compression up to failure
Authors: Feld Nicolas , Allix Olivier , Baranger Emmanuel , Guimard Jean-Mathieu
Published: January 2012

This study introduces an enriched description of a mesomodel for laminates in compression. The improvements are based on previous micromechanical studies regarding failure by kinking under combined compression and shear. The homogenization of the micromechanical response is based on an equivalence in recoverable, stored, and dissipated energy. This leads to a modified constitutive relation at the mesoscale which is probabilistic, i.e., parametrized by a measure of the statistical fiber misalignment, and features a nonlinear elastic potential in compression. The identification procedure is precisely detailed and applied on a T300/BSL-914C UD ply. It is shown that, thanks to simple deterministic relations, the mesoscale constitutive behavior is able to closely represent the homogenized ply's response of the underlying microstructure.
Using Agrawal integral equation to study the glass transition and cold crystallization kinetics of exfoliated nano-composites synthesized by vinyl acetate and organic montmorillonite
Authors: Cui Hui-wang , Du Guan-ben
Published: January 2012

To study the glass transition and cold crystallization kinetics, the exfoliated nano-composites synthesized by vinyl acetate (VAc) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT) through different processes were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis. Different synthesis processes and OMMT had significant effect on their dynamic mechanical properties. They brought combined effect on the modulus, loss tangent, and glass transition temperature ( Tg). OMMT could lower PVAc’s Tg, so improved PVAc’s low temperature resistance. PVAc–OMMT was a homogeneous amorphous linear polymer and it appeared the cold crystallization phenomenon. The glass transition and cold crystallization kinetics were first analyzed using the Agrawal integral equation. The kinetic parameters, including the kinetics mechanism function, the linear fit equation, the linearly dependent coefficient, the activation energy, the frequency factor, the mechanism, the reaction order, and the kinetic compensation effect equation, were obtained.
Capitalization without Proletarianization in China's Agricultural Development
Authors: Huang Philip C. C. , Yuan Gao , Peng Yusheng
Published: January 2012

Marxist as well as classical and neo-liberal theories expect that the development of capitalist agriculture will be accompanied by the spread of an agricultural proletariat. That was what happened in eighteenth-century England; it is also what is happening in contemporary India. This article asks, first of all: just what is the size of China’s present agricultural proletariat? And how do we understand and explain those dimensions? Our finding is that, contrary to our own initial expectations, hired agricultural year-workers in China today total only 3 percent of all labor input in agriculture (and short-term workers another 0.4 percent), in sharp contrast to India’s 45 percent, this even while the past two decades have seen very substantial “capitalization” (i.e., increased capital input per unit of land) in agriculture. We term the phenomenon “capitalization without proletarianization,” perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of recent Chinese agricultural development.
What's Next? Nutrition Care and Science in the 21st Century
Authors: Van Way Charles W.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this review is 2‐fold. First, it speculates on future scientific work that will have the greatest effect on clinical practice of nutrition care. Second, it discusses the current and future state of the healthcare system, paying special attention to demographic trends and the future of healthcare reform as it will affect nutrition practice.
Parenteral Nutrition Ordering Processes
Authors: Mirtallo Jay M.
Published: January 2012

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex prescription consisting of many components such as dextrose, amino acids, electrolytes, vitamins, trace elements, and/or intravenous fat emulsions. The ordering process is inconsistent and has led to PN errors. PN prescriptions require knowledge, education for prescribers, and standardized processes.
Parenteral Nutrition Product Shortages
Authors: Holcombe Beverly
Published: January 2012

The drug shortage crisis continues in the United States and threatens the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain and compromises patient care, especially patients requiring parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy. The number of new drug shortages has increased rapidly over the past 5 years, with the most significant increase in sterile injectable products. The most common reason for a shortage of a sterile injectable medication is a product quality issue. Two surveys of healthcare professionals have assessed the impact of drug shortages on patient safety. Participants in one survey reported over 1000 medication errors or patient adverse events as the result of shortages. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition also conducted a survey of healthcare professionals regarding PN product shortages and the associated patient care implications. Safety risks were reported throughout the entire PN process, from procurement of PN products to patient outcomes. Providing PN therapy during product shortages requires vigilance and continuous assessment of the entire PN process to optimize patient care quality and avoid patient harm.
Gender Equality and Outsourcing of Domestic Work, Childbearing, and Relationship Stability Among British Couples
Authors: Schober Pia S.
Published: January 2012

This study investigates whether gender inequality in the division of housework and child care may be an obstacle to childbearing and relationship stability among different groups of British couples. Furthermore, it explores whether outsourcing of domestic labor ameliorates any negative effects of domestic work inequality. The empirical investigation uses event-history analysis based on 14 waves (1992-2005) of the British Household Panel Study. The author finds that the association between domestic work arrangements and family outcomes vary by the presence of children, women’s employment, and gender role attitudes. Gender inequality in domestic work reduces relationship stability among egalitarian childless women and among all mothers. For first and second births as outcomes, the association is weaker and depends on the level of inequality and women’s employment status, respectively. Domestic outsourcing is not significant for these family outcomes with the exception of formal child care, which is positively associated with the risk of a second birth.
Gifted mothers as social capital
Authors: Maitra Krishna
Published: January 2012

This article explores an unexamined area in the realm of gifted adults coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. The focus of this paper documents how a mother, in spite of all sorts of hardships, never deviates from her conviction about the education of her children. The author examines the concept of social capital in a symbiotic relationship with gifted motherhood.
Common genetic variation in the indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase genes and antidepressant treatment outcome in major depressive disorder
Authors: Cutler Jessica A , Rush A John , McMahon Francis J , Laje Gonzalo
Published: January 2012

The essential amino acid tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin, but it can also be metabolized into kynurenine through indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Increased immune activation has long been associated with symptoms of depression and has been shown to upregulate the expression of IDO. The presence of additional IDO directs more tryptophan down the kynurenine pathway, leaving less available for synthesis of serotonin and its metabolites. Kynurenine can be metabolized through a series of enzymes to quinolinic acid, a potent N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist with demonstrated neurotoxic effects. We tested the hypothesis that IDO plays a role in outcome of treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, citalopram. Patients consisted of 1953 participants enrolled in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study (STAR*D). Genotypes corresponding to 94 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes IDO1 and IDO2, which encode IDO and IDO2, were extracted from a larger genome-wide set and analyzed using single marker tests to look for association with previously defined response, remission and QIDS-C score change phenotypes, with adequate correction for racial stratification and multiple testing. One SNP, rs2929115, showed evidence of association with citalopram response (OR = 0.64, p = 0.0005) after experiment-wide correction for multiple testing. Another closely associated marker, rs2929116 (OR = 0.64, p = 0.0006) had an experiment-wide significant result. Both implicated SNPs are located between 26 kb and 28 kb downstream of IDO2. We conclude that common genetic variation in IDO1 and IDO2 may play a role in antidepressant treatment outcome. These results are modest in a genome-wide context and need to be replicated in an independent sample.
Histogram of Oriented Uniform Patterns for robust place recognition and categorization
Authors: Fazl-Ersi Ehsan , Tsotsos John K
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a novel context-based scene recognition method that enables mobile robots to recognize previously observed topological places in known environments or categorize previously unseen places in new environments. We achieve this by introducing the Histogram of Oriented Uniform Patterns (HOUP), which provides strong discriminative power for place recognition, while offering a significant level of generalization for place categorization. HOUP descriptors are used for image representation within a subdivision framework, where the size and location of sub-regions are determined using an informative feature selection method based on kernel alignment. Further improvement is achieved by developing a similarity measure that accounts for perceptual aliasing to eliminate the effect of indistinctive but visually similar regions that are frequently present in outdoor and indoor scenes. An extensive set of experiments reveals the excellent performance of our method on challenging categorization and recognition tasks. Specifically, our proposed method outperforms the current state of the art on two place categorization datasets with 15 and 5 place categories, and two topological place recognition datasets, with 5 and 27 places.
The Power of a Poet
Authors: Singh Upinder
Published: January 2012

This article emphasises that ideas related to political power in ancient India need to be analysed through a close and nuanced reading of texts in their entirety, in a manner that is sensitive to their genre as well as to the demands of historical inquiry. The specific focus is on Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṁśa, a brilliant and highly influential poetic narrative of the legendary kings of the Ikṣvāku lineage. Apart from its fine literary qualities, the mahākāvya is political poetry of the highest order, and this article discusses its holistic, authoritative and aesthetically refined vision of ideal kingship and sovereignty, also examining how Kālidāsa addressed key issues and problems associated with kingship, empire and war. A comparison with the perspectives of political treatises, epic and praśasti reveals elements of congruence as well as divergence. For instance, the poetic transformation of political discourse was marked by a distinctively rich emotional landscape. Although the Raghuvaṁśa valorises Kṣatriya martial ideals, it emphasises victory, not conquest; further, renunciation is central to its model of kingship. The ideas reflected in texts such as this formed an important part of the processes of the emergence and consolidation of mature monarchical states and empires in the Indian subcontinent in the mid-first millennium.
Maṭhas and Medieval Religious Movements in Tamil Nadu
Authors: Karashima N. , Subbarayalu Y. , Shanmugam P.
Published: January 2012

This is a continuation and the concluding part of our epigraphical study on maṭhas and medieval religious movements in Tamil Nadu published in Indian Historical Review’s 2010 issue, in which we examined the inscriptions referring to maṭhas in order to learn about their activities during the four hundred years up to 1300 CE, covering the Chola period. In this study, we have examined the inscriptions for the next four centuries covering the Pandyan and Vijayanagar periods.

Our purpose was to clarify the medieval religious movements that might have occurred, but about which nothing is known from religious texts of the period. The inscriptions, however, reveal many facts: an influx of North Indian Brāhmaṇa ascetics into the Chola country in the eleventh century; participation by various people, including low-ranked jātis, in maṭha activities from the twelfth century; the recitation of Dēvāram hymns and Tirumuṟai in maṭhas, including Gōḷaki ones, in the thirteenth century; and references to the Meykaṇḍār lineage from the fifteenth century.

The chronological distribution of the inscriptions clearly shows that some religious movements did occur through the maṭhas during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They all show that the religious movement was closely related to contemporary social change, through which various non-Brāhmaṇa communities increased their power greatly. This brought about the establishment of Tamil Saivasiddhantism in Tamil Nadu in the thirteenth century.
Maharaja Krishnachandra
Authors: Dasgupta Ratan
Published: January 2012

Maharaja Krishnachandra, the intermediary zamindar in eighteenth century Nadia, was famous for his liberal patronage to the Brahmins. He was a strict enforcer of caste codes in his domain. He built temples and organised many costly religious rites. However, such show off of liberality and lavish expenses for the religious rites coincided with a financial crisis of the zamindari. This article tries to show that the efforts of Krishnachandra, though appearing irrational or even suicidal from the economic viewpoint, were necessary for the maintenance of social control. It also helped him to retain his position of power among the rival big Hindu zamindars. This article tries to show that politics, not economic considerations, was the driving force in a political economy of crisis. The process engulfed the big zamindars in pre-colonial Bengal.
Evaluation of three flame retardant (FR) grey cotton blend nonwoven fabrics using micro-scale combustion calorimeter
Authors: Parikh Dharnidhar V. , Nam Sunghyun , He Qingliang
Published: January 2012

Unbleached (grey or greige) cotton nonwoven fabrics (with 12.5% polypropylene scrim) were treated with three phosphate–nitrogen–based flame retardant formulations and evaluated with micro-scale combustion calorimeter. Heat release rate, peak heat release rate, temperature at peak heat release rate, heat release capacity, total heat release and char yield were determined. The peak heat release rate and total heat release results demonstrated that nonwoven fabrics treated with a formulation having higher diammonium phosphate and no dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea were superior to those treated with a formulation containing dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea. Nonwoven fabrics treated with these formulations were both superior to the nonwoven fabrics treated with a commercially available flame retardant formulation. These results were supported by the percentages of phosphorus and nitrogen on these fabrics, confirming that P–N synergism imparts high flame retardancy to the nonwoven fabrics. Grey cotton (untreated) consistently showed better flame resistance than (untreated) bleached cotton. As a result, its flame retardant products had lower heat release rate/peak heat release rate and other flammability characteristics than those of the bleached cotton. Additionally, grey cotton is softer than bleached cotton and saves the cost of bleaching and waste disposal. These three flame retardant formulations were used primarily to treat the cotton component of the nonwoven blend to make it flame retardant without flame retardant improvement for the polymer component.
Polyamidoamine dendron-bearing lipid assemblies: Their morphologies and gene transfection ability
Authors: Iwashita Shinki , Hiramatsu Yoshie , Otani Takayuki , Amano Chie , Hirai Masahiko , Oie Kazunori , Yuba Eiji , Kono Kenji , Miyamoto Masaaki , Igarashi Koichi
Published: January 2012

Assembly morphology made from lipids is controlled by the balance between the polar headgroup and the hydrophobic tails. In this study, we showed the various generations of polyamidoamine dendron-bearing lipids could form various assembly morphologies. Furthermore, the effect of the assembly morphologies made from dendron-bearing lipids for transfection abilities were examined. We synthesized three novel dendron-bearing lipids, DL-U2-G1 (G1), DL-U2-G2 (G2), and DL-U2-G3 (G3), which included first, second, and third generation polyamidoamine dendrons, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy showed that lipoplexes (complexes with cationic lipids and plasmid DNA) comprising G1 had multilamellar structures. G2 presented as aggregates of cubic particles and G3 exhibited clusters of spherical micelles. The ability to form complexes with plasmid DNA was in the decreasing order G3 > G2 > G1; calcein release from endosomes was in the order G3 > G2, G1; and transfection activity followed the order G1 > G2, G3. Interaction of the lipoplexes with heparin suggests that G3 had a lower level of plasmid DNA dissociation from lipoplexes than G1 in vitro. These results suggest that the size of the DL-U2 headgroup determines assembly morphology and that the structure markedly affects transfection activity.
From Child Maltreatment to Violent Offending
Authors: Topitzes James , Mersky Joshua P. , Reynolds Arthur J.
Published: January 2012

Research suggests that child maltreatment predicts juvenile violence, but it is uncertain whether the effects of victimization persist into adulthood or differ across gender. Furthermore, we know little about the mechanisms underlying the victim–perpetrator cycle for males and females. Consequently, this study analyzed associations between child maltreatment and a number of adult measures of violent offending within mixed-gender and gender-specific models. Along with main effects, the study directly tested the moderating effects of gender on the maltreatment–violence link and analyzed theory-informed gender-specific mediators. Data were derived from the Chicago Longitudinal Study, a panel investigation of 1,539 low-income minority participants born in 1979 or 1980. Child welfare, juvenile court, and criminal court records informed the study’s explanatory and outcome measures. Prospectively collected covariate and mediator measures originated with parent, teacher, and self-reports along with several administrative sources. Results indicated that child maltreatment, ages 0 to 11, significantly predicted all study indicators of violence in the full sample and most study outcomes in the male and female subsamples. In no instance did gender moderate the maltreatment–violence association. Late childhood/early adolescence environmental instability, childhood externalizing behaviors, and adolescent peer social skills fully mediated the maltreatment–violence nexus among males. Adolescent externalizing behavior partially mediated the relationship of interest among females. Evidence also indicated that internalizing processes protected females who had been maltreated in childhood against perpetrating violence later in life. Implications of results are discussed.
Nurse Home Visitors’ Perceptions of Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence to Law Enforcement Agencies
Authors: Davidov Danielle M. , Nadorff Michael R. , Jack Susan M. , Coben Jeffrey H. ,   for the NFP IPV Research Team
Published: January 2012

In the United States, there is an ongoing debate about requiring health care professionals to report intimate partner violence (IPV) to law enforcement agencies. A comprehensive examination of the perspectives of those required to report abuse is critical, as their roles as mandated reporters often pose legal, practical, moral, and ethical questions. Even so, the perspective of health care professionals who are required to report is often overlooked and research is scarce on mandated reporters who work outside of clinical settings, such as nurses who engage in home visitation with clients. The purpose of this study was to examine nurse home visitors’ perspectives regarding the mandatory reporting of IPV, specifically focusing on their attitudes toward reporting, perceived awareness of reporting requirements, and intended reporting behaviors. A web-based survey was administered to nurses in the Nurse-Family Partnership home visitation program across the United States. A total of 532 completed surveys were returned (response rate = 49%). In terms of support for reporting IPV, 40% of nurses indicated that they should “always” be required to report. Almost half of the sample indicated that they would report a case of IPV, yet less than one-third of participants were aware of a legal mandate. Attitudes and support toward reporting as well as the perception of a reporting requirement significantly predicted intention to report. Furthermore, 29% of participants did not know if they were required to report IPV perpetrated against their clients. Comprehensive information about mandatory reporting duties is needed for health care professionals in home visitation settings. The findings of the current study highlight the need to reduce variation among practitioners and establish consistent program practices that are grounded in the program’s principals, supported by existing research, and compliant with existing state policies.