bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of protonated and alkali‐cationized Boc‐N‐protected hybrid peptides containing repeats of D‐Ala‐APyC and APyC‐D‐Ala: Formation of [bn–1 + OCH3 + Na]+ and [bn–1 + OH + Na]+ ions
Authors: Raju G. , Purna Chander C. , Srinivas Reddy K. , Srinivas R. , Sharma G. V. M.
Published: September 2012

RATIONALE

Differentiation and structural characterization of positional isomers of non‐natural amino acid hybrid peptides by using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MSn) is desirable because of their fundamental importance from the view point of peptide mass spectrometry and also of their increasing importance in the area of research towards biomedical and material applications; hence, the present study is undertaken.

METHODS

Electrospray ionization ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MSn) was used to characterize and differentiate three pairs of positional isomers of Boc‐N‐protected hybrid peptides containing repeats of D‐Ala‐APyC and APyC‐D‐Ala (D‐Ala = D‐alanine and APyC = trans‐3‐aminopyran‐2‐carboxylic acid).

RESULTS

ESI‐MSn spectra of protonated and alkali‐cationized positional isomeric peptides display characteristic fragmentation involving the peptide backbone, the Boc group, and the side chain. It is observed that abundant rearrangement ions [bn–1 + OCH3 + Na]+ or [bn–1 + OH + Na]+ are formed when D‐Ala is present at C‐terminus and the presence of APyC at the C‐terminus inhibits the formation of rearrangement ions. In addition, abundant bn–1+ ions are formed, presumably with stable oxazolone structures, when the C‐terminus of bn–1+ ions possessed D‐Ala.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that ESI tandem mass spectrometry is very useful for differentiating positional isomers of hybrid peptides containing D‐Ala and APyC amino acids. While the protonated peptides give rise to characteristic sequencing ions, the cationized peptides produce additional rearrangement ions ([bn–1 + OCH3 + Na]+ and [bn–1 + OH + Na]+) which helps distinguish between the presence of D‐Ala and APyC amino acids at the C‐terminus. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solid‐state bonding of silicone elastomer to glass by vacuum oxygen plasma, atmospheric plasma, and vacuum ultraviolet light treatment
Authors: Yamamoto Takatoki
Published: September 2012

We experimentally demonstrated that treating a silicone elastomer by a vacuum oxygen plasma, an atmospheric pressure plasma, and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation resulted in different surface modifications that gave different contact angles, contact angle aging, and bond strengths. The aim of this study was to assess whether high‐throughput surface modification techniques of atmospheric pressure plasma and VUV radiation have the potential to replace conventional oxygen plasma modification. Four silicone elastomers with different hardnesses were used as specimens. The surfaces of all four silicone elastomers were successfully modified from hydrophobic to hydrophilic and they were also bonded to glass surfaces by the three surface modification techniques, although considerable variations were observed in the surface hydrophobicity and the bonding properties. The results clearly reveal that atmospheric pressure plasma and VUV treatment have the potential to replace conventional oxygen plasma treatment. In particular, VUV irradiation produced the most hydrophilic surface that was preserved for a long time. Thus, VUV irradiation is the most promising technique for realizing high‐throughput surface modification and bonding of silicone elastomers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of removable statistical interaction for binary traits
Authors: Satagopan Jaya M. , Elston Robert C.
Published: September 2012

This paper is concerned with evaluating whether an interaction between two sets of risk factors for a binary trait is removable and, when it is removable, fitting a parsimonious additive model using a suitable link function to estimate the disease odds (on the natural logarithm scale). Statisticians define the term ‘interaction’ as a departure from additivity in a linear model on a specific scale on which the data are measured. Certain interactions may be eliminated via a transformation of the outcome such that the relationship between the risk factors and the outcome is additive on the transformed scale. Such interactions are known as removable interactions. We develop a novel test statistic for detecting the presence of a removable interaction in case–control studies. We consider the Guerrero and Johnson family of transformations and show that this family constitutes an appropriate link function for fitting an additive model when an interaction is removable. We use simulation studies to examine the type I error and power of the proposed test and to show that, when an interaction is removable, an additive model based on the Guerrero and Johnson link function leads to more precise estimates of the disease odds parameters and a better fit. We illustrate the proposed test and use of the transformation by using case–control data from three published studies. Finally, we indicate how one can check that, after transformation, no further interaction is significant. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of statistical significance and clinical relevance
Authors: Kieser Meinhard , Friede Tim , Gondan Matthias
Published: September 2012

In drug development, it is well accepted that a successful study will demonstrate not only a statistically significant result but also a clinically relevant effect size. Whereas standard hypothesis tests are used to demonstrate the former, it is less clear how the latter should be established. In the first part of this paper, we consider the responder analysis approach and study the performance of locally optimal rank tests when the outcome distribution is a mixture of responder and non‐responder distributions. We find that these tests are quite sensitive to their planning assumptions and have therefore not really any advantage over standard tests such as the t‐test and the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test, which perform overall well and can be recommended for applications. In the second part, we present a new approach to the assessment of clinical relevance based on the so‐called relative effect (or probabilistic index) and derive appropriate sample size formulae for the design of studies aiming at demonstrating both a statistically significant and clinically relevant effect. Referring to recent studies in multiple sclerosis, we discuss potential issues in the application of this approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Nanoparticles Affect Circulation, Biodistribution, Cellular Internalization, and Trafficking
Authors: Duan Xiaopin , Li Yaping
Published: September 2012

Nanoparticles have many potential applications in tumor therapy. Systemically administered nanoparticles should remain in circulation for a long time to increase their accumulation in targeted tissues before being cleared by the reticuloendothelial system, and be effectively internalized by the targeted cells, which can be influenced significantly by the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles, such as particle size, surface properties, and particle shape. This review highlights the impact of the main affects of physicochemical properties on nanoparticle transport behavior in blood, their uptake and clearance by macrophages and their consequent biodistribution, as well as their interaction with targeted cells.
Shrinkage and absolute penalty estimation in linear regression models
Authors: Ahmed S. Ejaz , Raheem S.M. Enayetur
Published: September 2012

In predicting a response variable using multiple linear regression model, several candidate models may be available which are subsets of the full model. Shrinkage estimators borrow information from the full model and provides a hybrid estimate of the regression parameters by shrinking the full model estimates toward the candidate submodel. The process introduces bias in the estimation but reduces the overall prediction error that offsets the bias. In this article, we give an overview of shrinkage estimators and their asymptotic properties. A real data example is given and a Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out to evaluate the performance of shrinkage estimators compared to the absolute penalty estimators such as least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), adaptive LASSO and smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) based on prediction errors criterion in a multiple linear regression setup.WIREs Comput Stat2012, 4:541–553. DOI: 10.1002/wics.1232

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Modeling Methods

Statistical Models > Linear Models
Candida famata (Candida flareri)
Authors: Dmytruk Kostyantyn V. , Sibirny Andriy A.
Published: September 2012

Candida famata (Candida flareri) belongs to the group of so‐called ‘flavinogenic yeasts’, capable of riboflavin oversynthesis under condition of iron starvation. Some strains of C. famata belong to the most flavinogenic organisms known and were used for industrial production of riboflavin for a long time in the USA. C. famata is characterized by high salt tolerance, growing at NaCl concentrations of up to 2.5  m. Development of basic tools for the metabolic engineering of C. famata, such as a transformation system, selective markers, insertional mutagenesis, a reporter system and others, are described. The developed tools were used for cloning and identification of structural and regulatory genes of riboflavin synthesis. The construction of improved yeast strains producing riboflavin, FMN and FAD, based on the industrial riboflavin‐producing strain dep8 and its non‐reverting analogue AF4, is also described. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of Laparoscopy in Penetrating Abdominal Trauma: A Systematic Review
Authors: O’Malley Eimer , Boyle Emily , O’Callaghan Adrian , Coffey J. Calvin , Walsh Stewart R.
Published: September 2012

Background

Debate remains regarding the optimum role of laparoscopy in the setting of trauma although it can offer advantages over traditional exploratory laparotomy. Laparoscopy can be a screening, diagnostic or therapeutic tool in trauma. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the role of laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal trauma

Methods

The PUBMED database was searched with the keywords “Laparoscopy AND Trauma”. Additional citation searching and searching of the grey literature was conducted. Relevant studies were chosen on the basis of the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality was assessed where appropriate using the Downs and Black checklist

Results

In total, 51 studies were included in the analysis of which only 13 were prospective. In most studies, laparoscopy was used as a screening, diagnostic or therapeutic tool. In total, 2569 patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) for penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT), 1129 (43.95 %) were positive for injury. 13.8 % of those with injury had a therapeutic laparoscopy. In total 33.8 % were converted to laparotomy, 16 % of which were non‐therapeutic and 11.5 % of them were negative. 1497 patients were spared a non‐therapeutic laparotomy. Overall, 72 patients suffered complications, there were 3 mortalities and 83 missed injuries. Sensitivity ranged from 66.7–100 %, specificity from 33.3–100 % and accuracy from 50–100 %. 23 of the 50 studies reported sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 100 %, including the four most recent studies. In general the quality of the reported studies was poor. When used for cohort studies, the mean Downs and Black checklist score was 13.25 out of a possible total of 28.

Conclusions

In summary, laparoscopy in PAT may have an important role in a selected subgroup of patients, with surgeon expertise also an important factor. Laparoscopy has screening, diagnostic and therapeutic roles, particularly where diaphragm injury is suspected. It is extremely sensitive in determining need for laparotomy but detects hollow visceral injuries less reliably. It has potential as a therapeutic tool in centres with appropriate expertise. The development of specific guidelines or protocols may increase the value of laparoscopy in trauma but this would require more evidence of a higher quality.
Robot‐assisted surgery: improved tool for major liver resections?
Authors: Abood Gerard J. , Tsung Allan
Published: September 2012

Minimally invasive liver surgery has recently undergone an explosion in reported worldwide experience. Given its comparable outcomes to its open counterpart, high‐volume centers are utilizing minimal access liver surgery more frequently under well‐defined criteria. The recent introduction of robot‐assisted surgery has further revolutionized the field of minimally invasive surgery and has expanded the reach of feasibility. Robot‐assisted surgery was developed to help overcome the disadvantages of conventional laparoscopic surgery. As a result, there has been an increase in the reporting of advanced robot‐assisted liver resections. A literature review was performed to identify the current manuscripts describing robot‐assisted liver surgery. Nine case series were identified, yielding 144 unique patient characteristics. Outcomes indicate that robot‐assisted liver resection is feasible and safe for both minor and major liver resections with regard to estimated blood loss, length of stay, and complications. Early data also suggest that robot‐assisted liver surgery is efficacious with regard to short‐term oncologic outcomes. Future studies will be needed to better evaluate advantages and disadvantages compared to laparoscopic liver resections.
Analysis of the saccharification capability of high-functional cellulase JN11 for various pretreated biomasses through a comparison with commercially available counterparts
Authors: Kawai Tetsushi , Nakazawa Hikaru , Ida Noriko , Okada Hirofumi , Tani Shuji , Sumitani Jun-ichi , Kawaguchi Takashi , Ogasawara Wataru , Morikawa Yasushi , Kobayashi Yoshinori
Published: September 2012

Although the capabilities of Trichoderma reesei cellulases have been greatly improved, these enzymes are still too costly for commercial use. The aim of this research was to assess the biomass saccharification capability of JN11, a recombinant cellulase, compared with that of the commercially available cellulases Accellerase 1500 and Cellic CTec. The activities of JN11, Accellerase 1500, and Cellic CTec were compared by using various types of cellulosic biomass, including rice straw, Erianthus, eucalyptus, and Japanese cedar. JN11 had higher saccharification capability for rice straw, Erianthus, eucalyptus, and Japanese cedar compared with the commercial cellulases. The JN11 saccharification of cellulosic biomasses, including hemicellulose (NaOH-pretreated biomasses), resulted in high glucose and xylose yields because of the high xylanase/xylosidase activity of JN11. Moreover, even JN11 saccharification of hemicellulose-free biomasses (sulfuric acid-, hydrothermally, and steam exploded-pretreated biomasses) resulted in high glucose yields. The cellulase activity of JN11, however, was comparable to that of its commercial counterparts. These findings indicate that the saccharification ability of cellulase is unrelated to its cellulase activity when measured against Avicel, CMC, pNP-lactoside, and other substrates. JN11 showed high activity for all types of pretreated cellulosic biomasses, indicating its usefulness for saccharification of various cellulosic biomasses.
Ethoxy Carboxylate Extended Surfactant: Surface Charge of Surfactant‐Modified Alumina, Adsolubilization and Solubilization of Phenylethanol and Styrene
Authors: Arpornpong Noulkamol , Lewlomphaisan Jirapat , Charoensaeng Ampira , Sabatini David A. , Khaodhiar Sutha
Published: September 2012

Adsolubilization of contaminants by surfactant‐modified material is an important phenomenon for surfactant‐based environmental technologies. Recently, extended surfactants have been shown to enhance the adsolubilization capacity of organic solutes. In this study, two extended surfactants (ethoxy propoxylated carboxylate extended surfactant—C16PO4EO5C and propoxylate extended sulfate surfactant—C16PO4S) were selected for modifying positively charged alumina surfaces with the aim of enhancing adsolubilization of organic solutes with varying degrees of polarity (phenanthrene, styrene, and phenylethanol). The nature of the charged surface as a function of extended surfactant adsorption was evaluated through the zeta potential measurements. The results showed that at maximum bilayer coverage, the zeta potential of the alumina surface remained constant and was oppositely charged (negative) to the unmodified alumina (positive). Zeta potential measurements showed that the adsorbed bilayer of carboxylate‐based extended surfactant produced more negatively charged surface. Surfactant desorption results showed that the surfactant‐modified surface retained their negatively charge, albeit reduced, indicating that partial desorption occurred but not to the point that the positively charged alumina surface was realized. The adsolubilization results suggest a benefit of the ethoxy groups in adsolubilizing the polar phenylethanol in the palisade layer.
Perception of biological motion as motion-from-form
Authors: Lappe M.
Published: September 2012

The recognition of the movements and ac­tions of others is of great importance for social interaction. The visual motion pat­tern projected on the retina when watching somebody else act is called biological mo­tion. Because of the many degrees of free­dom of the body, biological motion is a rel­atively complicated motion pattern, much more variable, for example, than optic flow or object motion. The regularities of biolog­ical motion are contained in its relationship to the body, i.e. in the constraints imposed by the articulation of the limbs on the move­ment of the body parts. The neural mecha­nisms of biological motion perception, there­fore, take body form information into ac­count. I describe a model of biological mo­tion perception that starts from a representa­tion of body form and posture and retrieves biological motion as the transformation of the body posture over time. Essentially, this proposes a ventral pathway to motion per­ception that is distinct from the other motion pathways in the dorsal stream, and special­ized for body motion.
Fertility Transitions and Schooling: From Micro- to Macro-Level Associations
Authors: Eloundou-Enyegue Parfait M. , Giroux Sarah C.
Published: September 2012

Research on the schooling implications of fertility transitions often faces an aggregation problem: despite policy interest in macro-level outcomes, empirical studies usually focus on the micro-level effects of sibsize on schooling. This article proposes an aggregation framework for moving from micro- to macro-level associations between fertility and schooling. The proposed framework is an improvement over previous aggregation methods in that it considers concurrent changes in the effects of sibsize, socioeconomic context, and family structure. The framework is illustrated with data from six sub-Saharan countries. Possible extensions are discussed.
The perception and use of chaperones by Nigerian gynecologists
Authors: Nkwo Peter O. , Chigbu Chibuike O. , Ajah Leonard O. , Okoro Onyemaechi S.
Published: September 2012

Objective

To determine how Nigerian gynecologists perceive and use chaperones during intimate gynecologic examinations.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey of Nigerian gynecologists was conducted with the aid of self‐administered, semi‐structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

In all, 97.6% of respondents considered the use of a chaperone necessary during intimate gynecologic examinations and recommended that the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) should endorse the routine offer of chaperones for such examinations. However, just 35.9% of male physicians always or often used chaperones, while 76.9% of female physicians used chaperones only under special circumstances. No female physician always or often used a chaperone during pelvic examination. The main obstacles to the use of chaperones were scarcity of personnel to serve in this capacity (87.6%) and patients’ refusal to be examined in the presence of a third party (12.4%).

Conclusion

Most Nigerian gynecologists use chaperones at least some of the time and also support a policy of routinely offering chaperones during intimate gynecologic examination while respecting patients’ right to decline this offer. Scarcity of personnel to serve as chaperones is the greatest challenge to the implementation of this policy.
On the global nonlinear stability of a near-critical swirling flow in a long finite-length pipe and the path to vortex breakdown
Authors: Rusak Z. , Wang S. , Xu L. , Taylor S.
Published: September 2012

The dynamics of a perturbed incompressible, inviscid, axisymmetric, near-critical swirling flow in a long, finite-length, straight, circular pipe is studied through a weakly nonlinear analysis. The flow is subjected to non-periodic inlet and outlet conditions. The long-wave approach involves a rescaling of the axial distance and time. It results in a separation of the perturbation’s structure into a critical standing wave in the radial direction and an evolving wave in the axial direction, that is described by a nonlinear model problem. The approach is first validated by establishing the bifurcation of non-columnar states from the critical swirl and the linear stability modes of these states. Examples of the flow dynamics at various near-critical swirl levels in response to different initial perturbations demonstrate the important role of the nonlinear steepening terms in perturbation dynamics. The computed dynamics shows quantitative agreement with results from numerical simulations that are based on the axisymmetric Euler equations for various swirl levels and as long as perturbations are small, thereby verifying the accuracy of each computation and capturing the essence of flow dynamics. Results demonstrate the various stages of the flow dynamics, specifically during the transition to vortex breakdown states. They reveal the evolution of faster-than-exponential and shape-changing modes as perturbations grow into the vortex breakdown process. These explosive modes provide the sudden and abrupt nature of the vortex breakdown phenomenon. Further analysis of the model problem shows the important role of the nonlinear evolution of perturbations and its relevance to the transfer of the perturbation’s kinetic energy between the boundaries and flow bulk, the evolution of perturbations in practical concentrated vortex flows, and the design of control methods of vortex flows. A robust feedback control method to stabilize a solid-body rotation flow in a pipe at a wide range of swirl levels above critical is developed. The applicability of this method to stabilizing medium and small core-size vortices is also discussed.
Exact Floquet theory for waves over arbitrary periodic topographies
Authors: Yu Jie , Howard Louis N.
Published: September 2012

We consider linear waves propagating over periodic topographies of arbitrary amplitude and wave form, generalizing the method in Howard & Yu (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 593, 2007, pp. 209–234). By a judicious construction of a conformal map from the flow domain to a uniform strip, exact solutions of Floquet type can be developed in the mapped plane. These Floquet solutions, in an essentially analytical form, are analogous to the complete set of flat-bottom propagating and evanescent waves. Therefore they can be used as a basis for the solutions of boundary value problems involving a wavy topography with a constant mean water depth. Various concrete examples are given and quantitative results are discussed. Comparisons with experimental data are made, and qualitative agreement is achieved.
Effects of acute consumption of a fruit and vegetable purée-based drink on vasodilation and oxidative status
Authors: George Trevor W. , Waroonphan Saran , Niwat Chutamat , Gordon Michael H. , Lovegrove Julie A.
Published: September 2012

Epidemiological studies indicate that diets rich in fruits and vegetables (F&V) are protective against CVD. Puréed F&V products retain many beneficial components, including flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin C and dietary fibres. The present study aimed to establish the physiological effects of acute ingestion of a F&V purée-based drink (FVPD) on vasodilation, antioxidant status, phytochemical bioavailability and other CVD risk factors. A total of twenty-four subjects, aged 30–70 years, completed the randomised, single-blind, controlled, crossover test meal study. Subjects consumed 400 ml of the FVPD, or a fruit-flavoured sugar-matched control, after following a low-flavonoid diet for 5 d. Blood and urine samples were collected throughout the study day, and vascular reactivity was assessed at 90 min intervals using laser Doppler iontophoresis. The FVPD significantly increased plasma vitamin C (P= 0·002) and total nitrate/nitrite (P= 0·001) concentrations. There was a near significant time by treatment effect onex vivoLDL oxidation (P= 0·068), with a longer lag phase after consuming the FVPD. During the 6 h after juice consumption, the antioxidant capacity of plasma increased significantly (P= 0·003) and there was a simultaneous increase in plasma and urinary phenolic metabolites (P< 0·05). There were significantly lower glucose and insulin peaks after ingestion of the FVPD compared with control (P= 0·019 and 0·003) and a trend towards increased endothelium-dependent vasodilation following FVPD consumption (P= 0·061). Overall, FVPD consumption significantly increased plasma vitamin C and total nitrate/nitrite concentrations, with a trend towards increased endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Puréed F&V products are useful vehicles for increasing micronutrient status, plasma antioxidant capacity andin vivoNO generation, which may contribute to CVD risk reduction.
From Justified Emotions to Justified Evaluative Judgements
Authors: DEONNA JULIEN A. , TERONI FABRICE
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT: Are there justified emotions? Can they justify evaluative judgements? We first explain the need for an account of justified emotions by emphasizing that emotions are states for which we have or lack reasons. We then observe that emotions are explained by their cognitive and motivational bases. Considering cognitive bases first, we argue that an emotion is justified if and only if the properties the subject is aware of constitute an instance of the relevant evaluative property. We then investigate the roles of motivational bases. Finally, we argue that justified emotions are sufficient for justified evaluative judgements.
Percevoir l’expression émotionnelle dans les objets inanimés : l’exemple du vin
Authors: Todd Cain
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT: Amongst inanimate objects, it is generally accepted that at least some art forms, such as music and painting, are capable of being genuinely expressive of emotion, even though it is difficult to understand exactly how. In contrast, although expressive properties can be attributed to non-artworks, such as natural objects or wine, it has often been claimed that such objects cannot be genuinely expressive. Focussing on wine, I argue that once we understand properly the nature of expressiveness, if we allow that music can be expressive there is no good reason to withold the ability to be genuinely expressive from wine.
What Darwin did not see: Pleistocene fossil assemblages on a high-energy coast at Ponta das Bicudas, Santiago, Cape Verde Islands
Authors: BAARLI B. GUDVEIG , SANTOS ANA G. , MAYORAL EDUARDO J. , LEDESMA-VÁZQUEZ JORGE , JOHNSON MARKES E. , DA SILVA CARLOS M. , CACHÃO MÁRIO
Published: September 2012

Two distinct Pleistocene assemblages from SE Santiago Island are comparable to modern analogues elsewhere in the Cape Verde Islands. A low-diversity Siderastrea radians assemblage lived atop basalt knobs surrounded by sand on a slope below a cliff. A Millepora alcicornis–Megabalanus azoricus assemblage occupied the cliff. The latter was a typical rocky-shore assemblage from a high-energy setting below the tidal zone. Bioerosion structures in basalt produced by Circolites kotoncensis and Gastrochaenolites isp. also occur there. Despite extensive studies on local limestone deposits in 1832 and 1836, lack of exposure prevented Darwin from seeing these fossils.
ADHERENCE IN PREGNANCY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Authors: OLADEJO MARY , BEWLEY SUSAN
Published: September 2012

“Clinical decisions and research programs ultimately depend on the reliable and valid measurement of adherence. Yet, 50 years of research in this field have not provided the data necessary to answer critical measurement questions.”.
Cognitive Mediation of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Outcomes for Anxiety-Based School Refusal
Authors: Maric Marija , Heyne David A. , MacKinnon David P. , van Widenfelt Brigit M. , Westenberg P. Michiel
Published: September 2012

Background: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has proven to be effective for anxiety-based school refusal, but it is still unknown how CBT for school refusal works, or through which mechanisms. Aims: Innovative statistical approaches for analyzing small uncontrolled samples were used to investigate the role of self-efficacy in mediating CBT outcomes for anxiety-based school refusal. Method: Participants were 19 adolescents (12 to 17 years) who completed a manual-based cognitive-behavioural treatment. Primary outcomes (school attendance; school-related fear; anxiety) and secondary outcomes (depression; internalizing problems) were assessed at post-treatment and 2-month follow-up. Results: Post-treatment increases in school attendance and decreases in fear about attending school the next day were found to be mediated by self-efficacy. Mediating effects were not observed at 2-month follow-up. Conclusions: These findings provide partial support for the role of self-efficacy in mediating the outcome of CBT for school refusal. They contribute to a small body of literature suggesting that cognitive change enhances CBT outcomes for young people with internalizing problems. Regarding methodology, the product of coefficient test appears to be a valuable way to study mediation in outcome studies involving small samples.
Pilot Study of an Investigation of Psychological Factors Associated with First Appointment Nonattendance in a Low-Intensity Service
Authors: Murphy Elizabeth , Mansell Warren , Craven Sally , Menary Joanne , McEvoy Phil
Published: September 2012

Background: Nonattendance rates remain high for first therapy appointments, despite initiatives to increase access to psychological therapy. The reasons for nonattendance are poorly understood and studies of demographic and clinical predictors have produced conflicting findings. Aims: We aimed to pilot a method for investigating psychological factors associated with first appointment attendance in a primary care mental health service. Method: Questionnaires were completed by individuals at the point of referral to CBT with a low-intensity service in one general practice (n = 67), including a measure of beliefs, goals and attitudes towards therapy, as well as anxiety and depression scales. Subsequent attendance at the first appointment was used as an outcome. Results: Preliminary results showed that attendance was not associated with age or gender, severity of distress, or overall ratings for positive or negative attitudes towards therapy; although distress itself was associated with increased endorsement of negative attitudes. However, one specific psychological item, “Talking to a therapist will help me understand better how my mind works” had a significant association with subsequent attendance. Conclusions: The psychological factor that was associated with increased attendance may reflect the concept of psychological mindedness; however, this requires replication in a larger study. A full-scale study was deemed to be warranted based on this prospective design.
SUNSPOTS AND CREDIT FRICTIONS
Authors: Harrison Sharon G. , Weder Mark
Published: September 2012

We examine a general equilibrium model with collateral constraints and increasing returns to scale in production. The utility function is nonseparable, with no income effect on the consumer's choice of leisure. Unlike this model without a collateral constraint, we find that indeterminacy of equilibria is possible. Hence, business cycles can be driven by self-fulfilling expectations. This is the case for more realistic parameterizations than in previous, similar models without these features.
Examining English–German translation ambiguity using primed translation recognition
Authors: EDDINGTON CHELSEA M. , TOKOWICZ NATASHA
Published: September 2012

Many words have more than one translation across languages. Such translation-ambiguous words are translated more slowly and less accurately than their unambiguous counterparts. We examine the extent to which word context and translation dominance influence the processing of translation-ambiguous words. We further examine how these factors influence translation ambiguity stemming from two sources, specifically translation ambiguity derived from semantic ambiguity and from near-synonymy. Bilingual participants were presented with English–German word pairs that were preceded by a related or unrelated prime and were asked to decide if the word pairs were translations. Translation-unambiguous pairs were recognized more quickly and accurately than translation-ambiguous pairs. Related pairs and dominant translations were responded to more quickly than unrelated pairs and subordinate translations, respectively. We discuss the results in relation to models of bilingual memory and propose a new model that makes specific predictions about translation ambiguity, the Revised Hierarchical Model of Translation Ambiguity.
Chronic Ingestion of High-Fat Diet and Energy Restriction Modulates Expression of VEGF and VEGFR2 in Aged Rat Myocardium
Authors: Fernandes D. , Tomada I. , Almeida H. , Neves D.
Published: September 2012

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) constitute a leading cause of death in the aged population. Regular intake of hyperlipidic diet and obesity can induce endothelial dysfunction that precedes the onset of atherosclerosis and CVD. High-fat diet regular consumption leads to structural modifications in heart tissue, and changes in the expression of angiogenic factors and their specific receptors. Hence, we aimed to characterize the expression pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its membrane receptor VEGFR 2 in young and aged rat hearts under high-fat diet and energy restriction.
Applying Electron Microscopy to Characterize the Human Epididymis Collected in vivo
Authors: Silva J. V. , Luers G. , Patrício A. , Maia N. , Silva O. A. B. da Cruz e , Fardilha M.
Published: September 2012

The epididymis is a long convoluted tubule that serves as a conduit for the transport of spermatozoa from the testis to the vas deferens and is the site where spermatozoa mature and acquire their functions of progressive motility and fertility. Unfortunately, very little is known about the human epididymis and its role in sperm maturation owing to the lack of studies conducted on normal human tissue. The role of epididymal luminal microenvironment and the mechanisms that epididymis uses to carry out its functions remain unsolved.
Effects of a Hypersaline Sodium-rich Carbonated Natural Mineral Water on Structure and Expression of VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, Ang1, Ang2 and Tie2 of Fructose-treated Rat Corpus Cavernosum
Authors: Neves D. , Tomada I. , Pereira C. , Monteiro R. , Martins M. J.
Published: September 2012

Metabolic Syndrome (MS) definition is based on a cluster of metabolic risk factors that identifies subjects at high risk for forthcoming type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although the exact aetiology of the MS still remains unclear, it is known to involve complex interactions between genetic, metabolic and environmental factors, with diet and oxidative stress playing important roles. Regular increased fructose consumption has been associated to some metabolic adverse changes observed in the MS and, thus, fructose-fed is considered a suitable animal model of diet-induced MS. On the other hand, calcium, magnesium and potassium, generally deficient in MS-inducing diets, and abundant in natural mineral-rich waters, have been proposed protective against the MS. Although their exact effects are not yet fully clarified, natural mineral-rich waters present some antioxidant properties that exert protection against reactive oxygen species that are chief contributors to the increase of CVD risk, considering their reactivity to nitric oxide (NO). Such waters also improve some MS metabolic risk factors. Degradation of NO seriously compromises the vasodilatation mechanism leading to endothelial dysfunction, which always precedes atherosclerosis — the main contributor to CVD and erectile dysfunction. Penis erection is a vascular process that strongly depends on NO-induced smooth muscle relaxation. Moreover, NO mediates indirectly the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis, which is fundamental to maintain endothelium integrity in the cavernous tissue. VEGF binds specifically to VEGF tyrosine kinase membrane receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2), and crosstalk in vivo with other angiogenic factors such as angiopoietins that compete for binding to the endothelial-specific Tie2 receptor. Previous work from our group demonstrated that long-term consumption of antioxidant-rich beverages modifies the expression of VEGF, Ang1, Ang2 and their receptors VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and Tie2 in the cavernous tissue of the rat, preventing atherosclerosis progression.
Immunolocalization of PPP1C Isoforms in SH-SY5Y Cells During the Cell Cycle
Authors: Santos M. , Rebelo S. , Silva O. A. B. da Cruz e , Silva E. F. da Cruz e
Published: September 2012

Phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PPP1) is the most widely expressed and abundant serine/threonine protein phosphatase. PPP1 regulates a variety of cellular functions such as glycogen metabolism, mitosis and meiosis, cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, dynamics of actin cytoskeleton, protein synthesis among others. The versatility of the PPP1 catalytic subunit (PPP1C) is achieved by associating with different regulatory subunits that target PPP1C to a particular subcellular compartment determining its substrate specificity and activity. PPP1C is expressed in mammals in three isoforms: PPP1CA, PPP1CB and PPP1CC, each encoded by distinct genes. The PPP1C gene undergoes alternative splicing to originate PPP1CC1 and PPP1CC2 variants. PPP1A and PPP1C1 are expressed virtually in all tissues but are particularly enriched in the brain. The subcellular localization of the endogenous PPP1C isoforms is not fully elucidated, but all isoforms are found in the nucleus and cytoplasm, despite some isoform-specific differences in intranuclear distribution. Furthermore, it is known that PPP1 plays a key role in mitosis where PPP1C isoforms are differentially targeted to specific subcellular structures. However, in previous studies, non-neuronal cells were used as a model system to study PPP1 distribution during the cell cycle. In the studies here described, we used the neuronal-like cell line SH-SY5Y since PPP1 is a crucial protein in several neuronal functions.
Histochemical Evaluation of Sexual maturation Phases in Solea solea Wild Marine Populations
Authors: Werneck P. R. , Lopes N. M. M. , De Moraes K. R. , Faustino F. , Morgado F.
Published: September 2012

The histological analyzes performed in gonad cells to verify the occurrence of changes in their anatomy is of crucial importance in order to characterize the dynamics of the gonads during the sexual maturation phase of its cells in specimens of wild marine populations. These histological data, together with other reproductive data, can be used in the monitoring of marine environments in which the Solea solea (Ishiba et al., 2008) lives, namely, the coastal waters of the Iberian Peninsula, Africa and Mediterranean sea (Ishiba et al., 2008). Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the several cellular types and its quantities and anatomies (Ishiba et al., 2008). The study was performed using a total of 19 specimens of the species Solea solea, collected between the months of January and March of 2011 in two different locations of the Portuguese coast (Aveiro and Leixões, Portugal). The gonad samples were fixated in Formalin-acetic acid-alcohol (FAA) and processed in accordance to the standard histology protocol (Culling et al., 1985). The slices of the gonads were colored with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) (used in the study of the general structure of the gonads, as well as in the identification and localization of the different cellular types of the gonad epithelium). As a result of the study, we found 7 different types of gonad cells: I oogonia (It is not photographed ); II a Chromatin nucleolus oocytes (Fig.1. A); II b perinucleolar oocytes (Fig.1. B); III cortical alveoli oocytes (Fig.1. C); IV vitellogenic oocytes (Fig.1. D); V maturing oocyte (Fig.1. E); VI ovulated oocyte (Fig.1. F), (Hibiya, et al., 1995). The different cellular phases were found in all the gonad samples analyzed in this study and the results corresponded to those expected: a decrease in the size in the cells of the first cellular type, the oogonia and an increase in the size in the cells of all other cellular types found in the study. Histological and histochemical analyses of the Solea solea can be used in anatomic and pathological evaluations of the physiological condition of the animals, as stated previously for the muscles, where histological changes could be observed (such as: degeneration and atrophy of the muscle bundles). In the future, the analytical determination of histological and histochemical changes in the gonads of Solea solea, in conjunction with other analytical processes, such as in situ analyzes, can potentially be used to determine and accurately characterize the physiological condition of animals sampled in any natural environment.
Suitability of PLLA as Piezoelectric Substrates for Tissue Engineering Evidenced by Microscopy Techniques
Authors: Barroca N. B. , Daniel-da-Silva A. L. , Gomes P. S. , Fernandes M. H. R. , Lanceros-Méndez S. , Sharma P. , Gruverman A. , Fernandes M. H. V. , M.Vilarinho P.
Published: September 2012

Since the discovery of the piezoelectric character of bone, the suitability of some piezoelectric materials have been studied for bone repair; they are thought to act like transducers converting the mechanical energy of skeletal deformation in electrical stimuli capable of controlling osteogenic growth. The mechanisms underlying this process are far from being understood and systematic studies at a local scale are required. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a unique way to observe phenomena at the nanoscale and liquid imaging provides a unique tool to assess biological phenomena at the nanoscale. So in this study, aiming at a better understanding of the role of piezoelectricity in the osteogenic growth, the interaction between a poled piezoelectric material, in this case poly (L-lactic) acid and an adhesion promoting protein, the fibronectin, and bone-like cells is evaluated by scanning probe microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).
An SEM Investigation of the Pozzolanic Activity of a Waste Catalyst from Oil Refinery
Authors: Costa C. , Marques P. , Carvalho P. A.
Published: September 2012

The most active phase of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst, used in oil refinery, is zeolite-Y which is an aluminosilicate with a high internal and external surface area responsible for its high reactivity. Waste FCC catalyst is potentially able to be reused in cement-based materials - as an additive - undergoing a pozzolanic reaction with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) formed during cement hydration. This reaction produces additional strength-providing reaction products i.e., calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and hydrous calcium aluminates (C-A-H) which exact chemical formula and structure are still unknown. Partial replacement of cement by waste FCC catalyst has two key advantages: (1) lowering of cement production with the associated pollution reduction as this industry represents one of the largest sources of man-made CO2 emissions, and (2) improving the mechanical properties and durability of cement-based materials. Despite these advantages, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge on pozzolanic reaction mechanisms as well as spatial distribution of porosity and solid phases interactions at the microstructural level and consequently their relationship with macroscopical engineering properties of catalyst/cement blends.
Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation and Heating on the Structural Stability of Sulphide-Filled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Costa P. M. F. J. , Gautam U.K. , Bando Y. , Golberg D.
Published: September 2012

In recent years there has been an increased interest in characterisation methods capable of evaluating the response of nanostructured materials such as quantum dots and nanotubes to externally applied stimuli. However, due to issues concerning sample homogeneity and non-uniform orientation, the study of collective responses can lead to ambiguous results. Therefore, it is crucial to perform a complementary evaluation at the single nanostructure level which requires the use of sophisticated analytical instrumentation. In addition to high spatial resolution, the equipment employed must permit sample manipulation and real-time imaging of the in situ stimulus response. Transmission electron microscopes (TEM) observe all these requirements. Furthermore, novel developments in sample holder design and manufacturing have opened a window to an unprecedented range of new in situ experiments. As a result, varied reports are increasingly populating the in situ TEM literature examining such different matters as temperature-related structural phase changes of nanoparticles or dopant diffusion in nanoscaled batteries.
Applications of Nuclear Techniques, Computer Simulation and Microscopy to Depth Profiling of Light Nuclei
Authors: de Carvalho J. Pacheco , Pacheco C. F. R. , Reis A. D.
Published: September 2012

There is a wide range of surface analysis techniques which are, generally, complementary and provide target information for depths near the surface. Nuclear techniques, which are non-destructive, provide for analysis over a few microns close to the surface giving absolute values of concentrations of isotopes and elements. They have been applied in areas such as scientific, technologic, industry, arts and medicine, using MeV ion beams. Nuclear reactions permit tracing of isotopes with high sensitivities. We use ion-ion reactions and the energy analysis method. At a suitable energy of the incident ion beam, an energy spectrum is recorded of ions from the reaction, coming from several depths in the target. Such spectra are computationally predicted, giving target composition and concentration profile information. Elastic scattering is a particular and important case. A computer program has been developed in this context, mainly for flat targets. The non-flat target situation arises as an extension.