bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
van Dijk, Teun A.
Authors: Johnston Alexandra
Published: December 2012

Teun A. van Dijk (1943– ) is one of the leaders and shapers of the critical approach to discourse analysis, most commonly referred to as critical discourse analysis (CDA).
VanPatten, Bill
Authors: Barcroft Joe
Published: December 2012

Bill VanPatten's contributions have allowed the field of second language acquisition (SLA) to advance from very basic information‐processing models of SLA that lacked details about how learners process second language (L2) input toward finer‐grain models that account for why certain parts of input become intake during input processing.
Vocabulary Size in a Second Language
Authors: Nation Paul
Published: December 2012

Of all areas in applied linguistics research, measurement of vocabulary size has been the one most significantly affected by faulty methodology.
Webster and American Lexicography
Authors: Launspach Sonja
Published: December 2012

Noah Webster (October 16, 1758–May 28, 1843) was a patriot, a prolific writer, and an educational reformer.
Wittgenstein and Language Games in Qualitative Research
Authors: Shotter John
Published: December 2012

I am in conversation with a friend. She is trying to tell me something complicated, but she goes from one sentence to the next too quickly for me to “follow” her.
Word Associations
Authors: Fitzpatrick Tess
Published: December 2012

Probably the most pervasive metaphor used in relation to the mental lexicon is that of a network. The nodes of the network are seen as representing words, and the lines linking them are the connections between those words. Word association research is particularly consistent with this metaphor, and it is used in applied linguistics to investigate the nature of interlexical connections and the factors which might influence them.
Working Memory in Second Language Acquisition
Authors: Sagarra Nuria
Published: December 2012

Working memory (WM) is the temporary storage and processing of incoming information needed to execute complex cognitive actions (Baddeley, 2007), such as processing a foreign language (L2).
Writing and Language for Specific Purposes
Authors: Tardy Christine M.
Published: December 2012

While writing arguably occurs in most, if not all, language for specific purposes (LSP) settings, it is most prominent in business, academic, and professional domains, where it often is used to carry out tasks of relatively high importance.
Young, Richard
Authors: NGUYEN HANH THI
Published: December 2012

Richard Frederick Young was born in London on October 15 in 1948. After graduating from Oxford with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics, he taught at the University of Turin, then returned to England to earn a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Reading. He was with the British Council in Hong Kong as Materials and Methodology Officer before settling in the United States in 1983. Young earned his PhD in educational linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989, with a dissertation that was the first extension of quantitative variation theory to interlanguage. He then taught at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale until he joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison in 1993, where he is currently Professor in English Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. Young has also held visiting professorships at Pennsylvania State University, International Islamic University of Malaysia, and two universities in Germany.
Zarate, Geneviève
Authors: Gohard‐Radenkovic Aline
Published: December 2012

From the early 1980s, Geneviève Zarate has researched an area of study that had hitherto been unexplored, namely the teaching of foreign cultures in language tuition.
Conversation Analysis and Emergency Calls
Authors: Cromdal Jakob
Published: December 2012

Calls for emergency assistance are operated by a range of organizations across the world, including local police authorities, medical institutions, and dedicated dispatch centers.
Conversation Analysis and Interaction in Standardized Survey Interviews
Authors: Maynard Douglas W. , Schaeffer Nora Cate
Published: December 2012

Surveys use questions to collect measurements from a sample in order to estimate characteristics of a population. The “objective” data obtained by survey interviews are achieved in the interaction between respondents and interviewers who have been trained to behave in a standardized manner. Over the years, both critics and practitioners of standardized survey interviewing have considered how the fundamentally social nature of the interview affects the data produced there. Both groups consider the interaction between the interviewer and respondent when they evaluate the quality of survey data. Critics present examples of interactions that depart from ordinary conversation as evidence that the resulting data cannot be valid. Practitioners suggest that surveys are about measurement rather than meaning in a conventional sense and view such individual incidents as leading to measurement error that results from unusual circumstances or “bad” survey questions. They also consider that adherence to rules of standardization improves the overall quality of the data in the aggregate by increasing reliability. We consider these issues by reviewing the meaning of standardization, the role of tacit knowledge for conducting and participating in the interview, and recent conversation analytic (CA) studies of interaction during survey calls.
Conversation Analysis and Other‐Initiated Repair
Authors: Benjamin Trevor , Mazeland Harrie
Published: December 2012

This entry builds on the entry “Conversation Analysis and Repair Organization: Overview” by examining the organization of other‐initiated repair. Excerpts (1) and (2) illustrate the two varieties, or trajectories, of other‐initiated repair: those in which the repair proper is performed by the speaker of the troublesome talk (other‐initiatedself‐repair)and by its recipient (other‐initiatedother‐repair). Thetrouble‐source(TS), theinitiation(I), and therepair proper(R) are labeled in the transcripts:
Conversation Analysis and Emotion and Cognition in Interaction
Authors: Potter Jonathan
Published: December 2012

In his very earliest published lecture Harvey Sacks (1992) gave an indication of how conversation analysts should treat cognition.
Gorter, Durk
Authors: Riemersma Alex M. J.
Published: December 2012

Durk Gorter (born 1952 in Friesland, the Netherlands) grew up bilingually in Frisian and Dutch from birth.
Vocabulary Loss in the First Language
Authors: Cherciov Mirela
Published: December 2012

Of all areas of linguistic knowledge which can be lost in language‐contact situations, vocabulary is the linguistic domain in which change can be seen first (Andersen, 1982).
Holliday, Adrian
Authors: Grimshaw Trevor
Published: December 2012

Best described as a sociologist of applied linguistics, Adrian Holliday (1950–) has made substantial contributions to our understanding of how international language education influences the (inter‐)cultural realities of individuals within diverse settings.
Technology and Language: Overview
Authors: COBB THOMAS
Published: December 2012

The technology and language section of the encyclopedia introduces the reader to a sample of the most interesting yet representative ways that information technology (IT) is being applied to language tasks, in more than 50 specific and well‐developed examples, largely but not exclusively in a language‐learning context.
Grammar: Overview
Authors: Aijmer Karin
Published: December 2012

In a section on applied linguistics and grammar it is appropriate to start by considering what we mean by grammar and how our conception of grammar has changed as a result of developments in linguistic theory.
Social, Dynamic, and Complexity Theory Approaches to Second Language Development: Overview
Authors: Ohta Amy Snyder
Published: December 2012

Social, dynamic, and complexity approaches to second language acquisition (SLA) take a process‐oriented view of language.
Light‐Metal Foams—History of Innovation and Technological Challenges
Authors: Banhart John
Published: December 2012

The history of metallic foams and the key innovations that have led to the variety of processing methods known today are reviewed. It is evident that the idea of foaming metals is very old and that most of the techniques used today have been proposed already in the 1950s. The most important milestones in the development of foaming technologies and the some of the attempts to commercialize metal foams are reviewed.
Silver as Antibacterial Agent: Ion, Nanoparticle, and Metal
Authors: Chernousova Svitlana , Epple Matthias
Published: December 2012

The antibacterial action of silver is utilized in numerous consumer products and medical devices. Metallic silver, silver salts, and also silver nanoparticles are used for this purpose. The state of research on the effect of silver on bacteria, cells, and higher organisms is summarized. It can be concluded that the therapeutic window for silver is narrower than often assumed. However, the risks for humans and the environment are probably limited.
Degradation behaviors of perfluorosulfonic acid polymer electrolyte membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells under varied acceleration conditions
Authors: Mu Shichun , Xu Cheng , Yuan Qing , Gao Ying , Xu Feng , Zhao Pei
Published: December 2012

The degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes (e.g., Nafion membranes) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells has caused wide widespread concern. However, their degradation behaviors, which lead to the damage of fuel cells, need to be investigated under alternative accelerating environments by the simulation of fuel‐cell operating conditions. Nafion membranes showed a homogeneous degradation behavior during hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) aging, whereas a nonhomogeneous (or crack‐type) degradation behavior occurs for Nafion membranes aged in an H2O2/Fe2+ system (Fenton's reagent), where plenty of the typical microcracks appeared. Interestingly, in the case of nonhomogeneous degradation, the membrane presented a lower fluoride emission rate than that with the homogeneous degradation; this indicates a possible selective attack model of free radicals to both CF2 and the defect end groups in PFSA membranes. In addition, the effects of the different degradation behaviors on the thermal stability and water uptake of membranes were examined by thermogravimetric analyses. H2 crossover and single‐fuel‐cell tests were carried out to evaluate the influence of the degradation behaviors on the fuel‐cell performance. These showed that the membrane with a nonhomogeneous degradation behavior had a higher hydrogen crossover and was more destructive than that with a homogeneous behavior. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Poly (D,L) lactic acid blending with vitamin E increases polymer hemocompatibility: An hydrophilic effect
Authors: Renò Filippo , Paul Geo , Rizzi Manuela , Gatti Giorgio , Marchese Leonardo
Published: December 2012

Biocompatible and resorbable polylactic acid (PLA) derived polymers are used for clinical applications. Antioxidant vitamin E (Vit.E) and vitamin E acetate (Vit.E Ac), a Vit.E commercial analog, were added to PLA during films preparation. Wettability, protein adsorption analysis, platelet adhesion and whole blood coagulation experiments highlighted that Vit.E incorporation improved PLA hemocompatibility. NMR analysis showed that Vit.E and Vit.E Ac blending differentially altered PLA polymer organization with Vit.E leading to the formation of microcavities, as observed by SEM analysis, while reducing surface hydrophobicity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Flexible ITO‐free polymer solar cells
Authors: Angmo Dechan , Krebs Frederik C.
Published: December 2012

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is the material‐of‐choice for transparent conductors in any optoelectronic application. However, scarce resources of indium and high market demand of ITO have created large price fluctuations and future supply concerns. In polymer solar cells (PSCs), ITO is the single‐most cost driving factor due to expensive raw materials and processing. Given the limited lifetime and stability of PSCs as compared with other mature technologies such as silicon‐based solar cells, the technological future of PSCs beyond that of academic interests rests in reducing cost of production. In this regard, replacing ITO has the potential to dramatically reduce material and processing cost and the energy payback time of PSCs. Several alternatives to ITO are present but not all of them bring competitive advantage over ITO for application in PSCs. This review explores some potentially low‐cost alternatives to ITO suitable for use in PSCs. These alternatives belong to four material groups: polymers; metal and polymer composites; metal nanowires and ultra‐thin metal films; and carbon nanotubes and graphene. We further present the progress of employing these alternatives in PSCs and identify future challenges. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Phytosynthesis of intracellular and extracellular gold nanoparticles by living peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Authors: Raju Dugyala , Mehta Urmil J. , Ahmad Absar
Published: December 2012

Inorganic nanomaterials of different chemical compositions are conventionally synthesized under harsh environments such as extremes of temperature, pressure, and pH. Moreover, these methods are eco‐unfriendly and cumbersome, yield bigger particles, and agglomerate because of not being capped by capping agents. In contrast, biological synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials occurs under ambient conditions, namely room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and physiological pH. These methods are reliable, eco‐friendly, and cheap. In this paper, we report for the first time the extracellular and intracellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using living peanut seedlings. The formed GNPs were highly stable in solution and inside the plant tissue. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that extracellular GNPs distributions were in the form of monodispersed nanoparticles. The nanoparticles ranged from 4 to 6 nm in size. The intercellular nanoparticles were of oval shape and size ranged from 5 to 50 nm. Both extracellular and intracellular nanoparticles were further characterized by standard techniques. The formed GNPs inside the plant tissue were estimated by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. This opens up an exciting possibility of a plant‐based nanoparticle synthesis strategy, wherein the nanoparticles may be entrapped in the biomass in the form of a film or produced in the solution, both of which have interesting applications.
Fine‐Tuning the Reactivity and Stability by Systematic Ligand Variations in CpCoI Complexes as Catalysts for [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions
Authors: Thiel Indre , Jiao Haijun , Spannenberg Anke , Hapke Marko
Published: December 2012

CpCoI‐olefin‐phosphite and CpCoI‐bisphosphite complexes were systematically prepared and their reactivity in [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions compared with highly active [CpCo(H2CCHSiMe3)2] (1). Whereas 1 is an excellent precursor for the synthesis of [CpCo(olefin)(phosphite)] complexes (2 a–f), [CpCo(phosphite)2] complexes (3 a–e) were prepared photochemically from [CpCo(cod)]. The complexes were evaluated in the cyclotrimerization reaction of diynes with nitriles yielding pyridines. For [CpCo(olefin)(phosphite)], as well as some of the [CpCo(phosphite)2] complexes, reaction temperatures as low as 50 °C were sufficient to perform the cycloaddition reaction. A direct comparison showed that the order of reactivity for the complex ligands was olefin2>olefin/phosphite>phosphites2. The complexes with mixed ligands favorably combine reactivity and stability. Calculations on the ligand dissociation from [CpCo(olefin)(phosphite)] proved that the phosphite is dissociating before the olefin. [CpCo(H2CCHSiMe3){P(OPh)3}] (2 a) was investigated for the co‐cyclization of diynes and nitriles and found to be an efficient catalyst at rather mild temperatures.
Bioconjugatable Azo‐Based Dark‐Quencher Dyes: Synthesis and Application to Protease‐Activatable Far‐Red Fluorescent Probes
Authors: Chevalier Arnaud , Massif Cédrik , Renard Pierre‐Yves , Romieu Anthony
Published: December 2012

We describe the efficient synthesis and one‐step derivatization of novel, nonfluorescent azo dyes based on the Black Hole Quencher‐3 (BHQ‐3) scaffold. These dyes were equipped with various reactive and/or bioconjugatable groups (azido, α‐iodoacetyl, ketone, terminal alkyne, vicinal diol). The azido derivative was found to be highly reactive in the context of copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions and allowed easy synthetic access to the first water‐soluble (sulfonated derivative) and aldehyde‐modified BHQ‐3 dyes, the direct preparation of which failed by means of conventional azo‐coupling reactions. The aldehyde‐ and α‐iodoacetyl‐containing fluorescence quenchers were readily conjugated to aminooxy‐ and cysteine‐containing peptides by the formation of a stable oxime or thioether linkage, respectively. Further fluorescent labeling of the resultant peptide conjugates with red‐ or far‐red‐emitting rhodamine or cyanine dyes through sequential and/or one‐pot bioconjugations, led to novel Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) based probes suitable for the in vivo detection and imaging of urokinase plasminogen activator, a key protease in cancer invasion and metastasis.
Ethylenediamine: A Highly Effective Catalyst for One‐Pot Synthesis of Aryl Nitroalkenes via Henry Reaction and Dehydration
Authors: Yang Jianxin , Dong Jing , Lü Xia , Zhang Qiang , Ding Wei , Shi Xiaoxin
Published: December 2012

Ethylenediamine (H2NCH2CH2NH2) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the condensation of aryl aldehydes with nitromethane (or nitroethane). When 1%–2% (mol%) of ethylenediamine was used as the catalyst, the one‐pot reaction of aryl aldehydes with nitromethane (or nitroethane) by refluxing for 3–10 h efficiently afforded various arylnitroalkenes1a–1yin 85%–97% yields.
The Discovery of Phenylbenzamide Derivatives as Grb7‐Based Antitumor Agents
Authors: Ambaye Nigus D. , Gunzburg Menachem J. , Lim Reece C. C. , Price John T. , Wilce Matthew C. J. , Wilce Jacqueline A.
Published: December 2012

Grb7 is a non‐catalytic protein, the overexpression of which has been associated with the proliferative and migratory potentials of cancer cells. Virtual screening strategies involving a shape‐based similarity search, molecular docking, and 2D‐similarity searches complemented by experimental binding studies (Thermofluor and isothermal titration calorimetry) resulted in the identification of nine novel phenylbenzamide‐based antagonists of the Grb7 SH2 domain. Moderate binding affinities were observed, ranging from Kd=32.3 μM for lead phenylbenzamide NSC 104999 (1) to Kd=1.1 μM for a structurally related compound, NSC 57148 (2). Deconvolution of the affinity data into its components revealed differences in lead binding, from being entropy based (lead 1) to enthalpically driven (NSC 100874 (3), NSC 55158 (4), and compound 2). Finally, the lead compound 1 was found to decrease the growth of MDA‐MB‐468 breast cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 39.9 μM. It is expected that these structures will serve as novel leads in the development of Grb7‐based anticancer therapeutics.
Dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas in Lynch syndrome
Authors: Botma Akke , Vasen Hans F. A. , van Duijnhoven Fränzel J. B. , Kleibeuker Jan H. , Nagengast Fokko M. , Kampman Ellen
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND:

Patients with Lynch syndrome (LS) have a high risk of developing colorectal cancer due to mutations in mismatch repair genes. Because dietary factors, alone and in combination, influence sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis, the association of dietary patterns with colorectal adenomas in LS patients was assessed.

METHODS:

In the GEOLynch cohort of 486 persons with LS, dietary information was collected, using a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary pattern scores were obtained by principal components analysis. Hazard ratios (HR) between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas were calculated using Cox regression models. Robust sandwich variance estimates were used to control for dependency within families. Final models were adjusted for age, sex, smoking habits, colorectal adenoma history, and extent of colon resection.

RESULTS:

During a median follow‐up of 20 months, colorectal adenomas were detected in 58 persons. Four dietary patterns were identified: a “Prudent,” “Meat,” “Snack,” and “Cosmopolitan” pattern. Individuals within the highest tertile of the “Prudent” pattern had a HR of 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32‐1.66) for colorectal adenomas, compared with the lowest tertile. Those with high “Meat” pattern scores had a HR of 1.70 (95% CI, 0.83‐3.52). A high “Snack” pattern was associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomas (HR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.03‐4.49). A HR of 1.25 (95% CI, 0.61‐2.55) was observed for persons in the highest tertile of the “Cosmopolitan” pattern.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that dietary patterns may be associated with development of colorectal adenoma in patients with Lynch syndrome. The directions of these findings are corroborative with those observed in studies investigating sporadic colorectal cancer. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Design of a high‐speed‐sampling stochastic flash analog‐to‐digital converter using device mismatch
Authors: Ham Hyunju , Matsuoka Toshimasa , Wang Jun , Taniguchi Kenji
Published: December 2012

A stochastic flash analog‐to‐digital converter (SF‐ADC) utilizing device mismatch is designed using a 65‐nm CMOS process. Since the proposed SF‐ADC uses thresholds determined by the input‐referred comparator offsets, large input‐referred offsets are allowed. The quantization error and nonlinearity of SF‐ADC are demonstrated, and the input range is enlarged by using nonlinearity reduction technique. At 1.6 GS/s sampling, the designed ADC achieves 34.7‐dB SFDR and 29.0‐dB SNDR without any calibration circuits despite the large input‐referred offset of 102 mV. At this conversion speed, it consumes 134 mW with a 1.2‐V power supply. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(1): 51–62, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11411
Gradient‐based edge preserving interpolation and its application to super‐resolution
Authors: Iwamoto Yutaro , Han Xian‐Hua , Tateyama Tomoko , Ohashi Motonori , Sasatani So , Chen Yen‐Wei
Published: December 2012

Super‐resolution is a process for obtaining high‐quality, high‐resolution images from one or a set of low‐resolution images. The most practical methods for image super‐resolution are reconstruction‐based methods, which minimize the difference between observed low‐resolution images and the estimate for high‐resolution images. Therein, the interpolation step plays a key role in the estimated high‐resolution image quality. Usually, the conventional bilinear or bicubic methods are used in reconstruction‐based super‐resolution. However, these conventional interpolations generally lead to blurring in edge regions and need more time for convergence in the reconstruction‐based super‐resolution method. Therefore, this paper proposes a gradient‐based edge‐preserving interpolation method, which can reduce not only artifact noise but also blurring near the edge regions in the estimated high‐resolution image. Furthermore, our proposed interpolation method can also solve high‐complexity, time‐consuming problems in the recently developed new edge‐directed interpolation, which usually can achieve sharp edges in the high‐resolution reconstructed image. Experiments confirm that our proposed interpolation method for image super‐resolution is more effective than the conventional interpolation methods. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(1): 43–50, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11413
A study of peripheral visual field characteristics at intersections with unobstructed visibility
Authors: Toyoda Keiji , Iwai Naoki , Oyama Shouta
Published: December 2012

This paper describes a basic experiment and simulation of two peripheral visual field characteristics that are related to major factors in rural district accidents, namely, collision course relationships, and presence of objects in the peripheral visual field. The quantitative recognition threshold for shape changes (stimulus) in the peripheral visual field is studied. It is found that such critical dimensions as the diameter of a circle, the side length of a square or triangle, and the axis length of an oval are important in recognizing vehicles moving on a perpendicular course. It is shown that a similar principle applies to aircraft moving in three‐dimensional space, not just to vehicles moving on a two‐dimensional plane. This paper identifies the limit of the peripheral visual field characteristic, one of the human visual characteristics, and also shows that there is no dependence on figure shape for other figures whose maximum side size is the same as the diameter of the circle. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(1): 25–32, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11428
Intelligent control for a distributed flexible network photovoltaic system using autonomous control and agent
Authors: Park Sangsoo , Miura Yushi , Ise Toshifumi
Published: December 2012

This paper proposes intelligent control for a distributed flexible network photovoltaic system using autonomous control and agents. The distributed flexible network photovoltaic system is composed of a secondary battery bank and a number of subsystems which have a solar array, a DC/DC converter, and a load. The control mode of the DC/DC converter can be selected based on local information by autonomous control. However, if only autonomous control using local information is applied, there are some problems associated with several cases, such as voltage drops on long power lines. To overcome these problems, the authors propose introducing agents to improve the control characteristics. The autonomous control with agents is called intelligent control in this paper. The intelligent control scheme that employs communication between agents is applied to the model system and validated by simulation using PSCAD/EMTDC. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(1): 14–24, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11432
A Database of Topological Representations of Polynuclear Nickel Compounds
Authors: Wix Paul , Kostakis George E. , Blatov Vladislav A. , Proserpio Davide M. , Perlepes Spyros P. , Powell Annie K.
Published: December 2012

All coordination clusters containing five or more Ni centers (CCDC v. 5.33, Nov. 2011) were analyzed by a recently developed automatic method that identified 318 compounds adopting 126 topologically different motifs. A database was created in which all of the Ni compounds are collected and illustrated in such a way that it can be searched by cluster topological symbol and nuclearity, compound name, year, and Refcode, as well as by their representation in the Protein Data Bank. Structural comparisons and applications to show the advantages of this method are also presented.
Knowledge matters: Anchoring effects are moderated by knowledge level
Authors: Smith Andrew R. , Windschitl Paul D. , Bruchmann Kathryn
Published: December 2012

Previous research into the relationship between knowledge level and anchoring effects has led to mixed conclusions. This paper presents four studies that used a diverse set of stimuli and paradigms to further investigate this relationship. In Study 1, greater knowledge was associated with smaller anchoring effects—both when knowledge was measured using subjective self‐assessments and when using an objective knowledge measure. In Study 2, participants from the USA and India tended to exhibit smaller anchoring effects when answering questions about their own country as compared with questions about the other country. In Study 3, higher knowledge was associated with smaller anchoring effects when examined at an idiographic level. Finally, in Study 4, providing participants with information designed to increase their knowledge led to a decrease in anchoring effects. The consistency of the results across our four studies provides evidence that anchoring effects are moderated by knowledge level in many situations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Belief in conspiracy theories: The influence of uncertainty and perceived morality
Authors: van Prooijen Jan‐Willem , Jostmann Nils B.
Published: December 2012

In the present research, we examined people's tendency to endorse or question belief in conspiracy theories. In two studies, we tested the hypothesis that the perceived morality of authorities influences conspiracy beliefs, particularly when people experience uncertainty. Study 1 revealed that information about the morality of oil companies influenced beliefs that these companies were involved in planning the war in Iraq, but only when uncertainty was made salient. Similar findings were obtained in Study 2, which focused on a bogus newspaper article about a fatal car accident of a political leader in an African country. It is concluded that uncertainty leads people to make inferences about the plausibility or implausibility of conspiracy theories by attending to morality information. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural gas & electricity pricing: Natural gas challenge to King Coal: Check or checkmate?
Authors: Bodell Tanya
Published: December 2012

A long‐standing mainstay of the US power sector, coal fuels 45 percent of domestic power production.1 Termed the “Saudi Arabia” of coal since the 1970s, the United States boasts more than one‐quarter of the world's coal reserves, ranked number one in the world and well ahead of Russia and China.2 Yet at the beginning of 2012, President Obama anointed the United States as the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas.”3 The president's new title must reflect the speed of the nation's apparent transition toward natural gas rather than the relative level of reserves, for the United States is ranked fifth among all countries with only 3 percent of the world's total natural gas reserves.4
Increased astrocytic ATP release results in enhanced excitability of the hippocampus
Authors: Lee Hae Ung , Yamazaki Yoshihiko , Tanaka Kenji F. , Furuya Kishio , Sokabe Masahiro , Hida Hideki , Takao Keizo , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi , Fujii Satoshi , Ikenaka Kazuhiro
Published: December 2012

Astrocytes, a major subtype of glia, interact with neurons as a supportive partner supplying energy sources and growth factors. Astrocytes regulate the activity of neighboring neurons by releasing chemical transmitters (gliotransmitters). However, the precise role of gilotransmitters in regulating neuronal activity is still under debate. Here, we report that a subtle enhancement in the release of one gliotransmitter, ATP, affects synaptic potentiation from an analysis of mice containing an astrocyte‐selective (GFAP) mutation. We found that, relative to normal mice, weaker stimulation induced long‐term potentiation (LTP) in mutant mice, indicating that the threshold to induce LTP was lowered in the mutant. While excitatory transmission was normal in the mutant, inhibitory GABAergic transmission was suppressed. We found that a low concentration of adenosine selectively attenuated inhibitory neuronal activity and lowered the threshold to induce LTP in wild type mice. In comparison, adenosine A1 receptor antagonism reversed the lowered LTP threshold back to normal in the mutant mouse. We verified that adenosine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of mutant mice were slightly elevated compared to wild type mice. This was apparently caused by an increase in ATP release from mutant astrocytes that could provide a source of augmented adenosine levels in the mutant. ATP is thought to suppress the excitability of neuronal circuits; however, a small increase in ATP release can result in a suppressed inhibitory tone and enhanced excitability of neuronal circuitry. These findings demonstrate that ATP released from astrocytes acts in a bidirectional fashion to regulate neuronal excitability depending on concentration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dynamics of exosome internalization and trafficking
Authors: Tian Tian , Zhu Yan‐Liang , Hu Fei‐Hu , Wang Yuan‐Yuan , Huang Ning‐Ping , Xiao Zhong‐Dang
Published: December 2012

Cells release exosomes into extracellular medium. Although the important roles of exosomes in many physiological and pathological processes are being revealed, the mechanism of exosome–cell interaction remains unclear. In this article, employing real‐time fluorescence microscopy, the motion of exosomes on the plasma membrane or in the cytoplasm of recipient PC12 cells was observed directly. In addition, several motion modes of exosomes were revealed by single particle tracking (SPT). The changes between motion modes were also detected, presenting the dynamic courses of exosome attachment onto plasma membrane and exosome uptake. Octadecyl rhodamine B chloride (R18) was found to be useful to distinguish endocytosis from fusion during exosome uptake. Colocalization with organelle markers showed exosomes were sorted to acidic vesicles after internalization. The results provide new sight into the exosome–cell interaction mode and the intercellular trafficking of exosomes. This study will help to understand the roles of exosomes at cell level. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1487–1495, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Decreased expression of autophagic beclin 1 protein in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis fibroblasts
Authors: Ricci Alberto , Cherubini Emanuela , Scozzi Davide , Pietrangeli Vittorio , Tabbì Luca , Raffa Salvatore , Leone Laura , Visco Vincenzo , Torrisi Maria Rosaria , Bruno Pierdonato , Mancini Rita , Ciliberto Gennaro , Terzano Claudio , Mariotta Salvatore
Published: December 2012

Autophagy is the main cellular pathway for degradation of long‐lived proteins and organelles and regulates cell fate in response to stress. Beclin 1 is a key regulator of this process. In some settings autophagy and apoptosis seem to be interconnected. Recent reports indicate that fibroblasts in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) acquire resistance to apoptosis. Here, we examined the expression of beclin 1, and of the anti apoptotic protein Bcl‐2 in human IPF fibroblasts using immunohistochemistry and molecular biology in bioptic sections, in primary cultures of fibroblasts taken from patients with IPF and in fibroblast cell lines. Expression of beclin 1 in fibroblasts from IPF was down‐regulated in comparison with fibroblasts from normal lungs while the anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐2 expression was over‐expressed. Treatment of fibroblast cell cultures with cisplatin induced a significant increase in beclin 1 and caspase 3 protein levels but a reduction in Bcl‐2 expression. These observations were confirmed by the analysis of acid compartments and transmission electron microscopy. Our results demonstrate a modified expression of the apoptotic beclin 1 Bcl‐2 proteins in human IPF fibroblasts suggesting the existence of an autophagy/apoptosis system dysfunction. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1516–1524, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Erosion Potential under Miconia calvescens Stands on the Island of Hawai‘i
Authors: Nanko K. , Giambelluca T. W. , Sutherland R. A. , Mudd R. G. , Nullet M. A. , Ziegler A. D.
Published: December 2012

This study provides evidence that Miconia calvescens has the potential to accelerate surface erosion in stands where it invades by (i) reducing under‐canopy light levels, thereby reducing the establishment of ground cover vegetation, and (ii) producing highly erosive throughfall drops on large leaves in a single‐layer canopy. The throughfall energy in a stand of invasive miconia on the Island of Hawai‘i (USA), assessed by measuring the drop size and drop velocity distributions with a laser disdrometer, was significantly higher than that in a stand of native ‘ōhi‘a (Metrosideros polymorpha) and ambient rainfall. Median throughfall drop size for miconia (3·83 mm) was twice that of ambient rainfall (1·62 mm). Highly erosive throughfall resulted from large drops forming on large miconia leaves and relatively high fall velocities associated with the single‐story miconia canopy. In contrast, multi‐storied natural ‘ōhi‘a had a larger median drop size; however, a lower fall height reduced throughfall effective kinetic energy. Furthermore, the effective kinetic energy for miconia was high because large drops (> 3·8 mm) with high kinetic energy accounted for 60 per cent of the total energy (versus 30–40 per cent for other vegetation types). Consequently, unit kinetic energy of throughfall was 28 J m−2 mm−1 under miconia, compared with <24 J m−2 mm−1 for rainfall and <20 J m−2 mm−1 under ‘ōhi‘a. These data, combined with the observation of limited protective ground cover under miconia, show the potential for accelerated erosion occurring on forest floors in stands of invasive miconia. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization Multiscale of Poly(propylene) Nanocomposites Made up with Modified Nanoclay
Authors: Acebes M. , Domínguez C. , Corrales A.
Published: December 2012

Summary: This paper shows the characterization carried out in polypropylene nanocomposites made up with different proportions of modified nanoclays (1% 2.5% and 5%). Modified nanoclay (montmorillonite) has been added to improve the mechanical properties of the original matrix and increase its heat resistance. The objective of this work is to characterize multiscale nanocomposites, from nano‐scale to macroestrucutural scale using thermography, nanoindentaton and mechanical testing.
Rheological Behavior of Thermoplastic Vulcanizates
Authors: Prut E. , Medintseva T. , Solomatin D. , Kuznetsova O.
Published: December 2012

Summary: Dynamic and steady shear rheological properties of dynamically vulcanized iPP/EPDM blends were investigated. Two different curing systems based on sulfur or phenolic resin were applied on iPP/EPDM blends. The use of phenolic resin system allows producing materials with lower viscosity at higher rubber content in comparison with sulfur‐cured compositions. Melt rheological properties of iPP/EPDM blends with different loading levels of paraffinic oil were studied. Significant improvement in the flowability is observed for TPVs extended with 50 wt% oil. A partial replacement of EPDM on rubber powder decreases the viscosity of materials.
Multifunctional Nanostructured Composites Based on TiO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Gutierrez J. , Mondragon I. , Tercjak A.
Published: December 2012

Summary: Inorganic‐organic nanostructured thermosetting composites based on poly(styrene‐block‐ethylene oxide) (SEO) block copolymer used as templating agent and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles synthesized via sol‐gel were prepared. The morphologies generated in the binary and ternary epoxy‐based systems were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Ternary systems showed good dispersion of synthesized nanoparticles and simultaneously maintained nanostructure order of the cured block copolymer/epoxy‐based system due to self‐assembly of SEO block copolymer. Transparent multifunctional advanced thermosetting materials with tuneable properties controlled varying the ratio between inorganic and organic components was successfully designed.
In Situ Synthetized Silver/Epoxy Nanocomposites: Electrical Characterization in Terms of Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy
Authors: Kortaberria G. , Sangermano M. , Mondragon I.
Published: December 2012

Summary: In situ synthesis of silver/epoxy nanocomposites was achieved by UV‐induced polymerization through a simultaneous photoinduced electron transfer and cationic polymerization processes. The evolution of dielectric properties with frequency and NP content seem to indicate that the nanocomposites of this study remain below the percolation threshold.
Tailored Morphologies of Poly(styrene‐block‐butadiene‐block‐methyl methacrylate) Triblock Copolymers and Their Blends with Polystyrene Homopolymers
Authors: Martin L. , Irusta L. , González A. , Kortaberria G. , Tercjak A.
Published: December 2012

Summary: Self‐assembly is an interesting strategy for the creation of periodic structures at the nanoscale. The microphase separation in a linear ternary block copolymer consisting on three immiscible components (ABC), give rise to the formation of different final morphologies that can be controlled by various parameters. In this work, the morphologies of three poly(styrene‐b‐butadien‐b‐methyl methacrylate) triblock copolymers with similar molecular weight and their blends with PS homopolymers were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Redistribution of the homopolymer in blends generates new structures could be tailored according to the desired applications.
Effect of Amount of Carbon Nanotubes in Polyurethane Dispersions
Authors: Orgilés‐Calpena E. , Arán‐Aís F. , Torró‐Palau A. M. , Orgilés‐Barceló C.
Published: December 2012

Summary: The possibility of incorporating nanotubes to adhesives opens a new range of innovative solutions, due to their unique structure and properties. In this sense, the objective of this work is the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to waterborne polyurethane adhesives (WBPU) to improve their rheological, viscoelastic, thermal and mechanical properties and even impart some electrical conductive character to adhesives. Specifically, the stability of the dispersion and the influence of the amount of nanotubes on the properties of the adhesive have been studied.
Effect of Processing Method on Mechanical Properties of PC/ABS‐MWCNT Nanocomposites
Authors: Wegrzyn M. , Galindo B. , Benedito A. , Giménez E.
Published: December 2012

Summary: Nanocomposites of commercial PC/ABS matrix filled with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) suspended in ethyl alcohol were compounded on twin‐screw co‐rotating extruder and subsequently injection molded varying injection speed and temperature. Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the morphology of nanocomposites. A presence of fine agglomerates of carbon nanotubes was observed. The elastic modulus and stress at yield point increased with MWCNT content for all nanocomposites. However, higher values of yield stress were obtained for lower injection velocities, due to more homogeneous dispersion at mild injection molding conditions.
Sa‐Lrp from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is a versatile, glutamine‐responsive, and architectural transcriptional regulator
Authors: Vassart Amelia , Van Wolferen Marleen , Orell Alvaro , Hong Ye , Peeters Eveline , Albers Sonja‐Verena , Charlier Daniel
Published: December 2012

Sa‐Lrp is a member of the leucine‐responsive regulatory protein (Lrp)‐like family of transcriptional regulators in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Previously, we demonstrated the binding of Sa‐Lrp to the control region of its own gene in vitro. However, the function and cofactor of Sa‐Lrp remained an enigma. In this work, we demonstrate that glutamine is the cofactor of Sa‐Lrp by inducing the formation of octamers and increasing the DNA‐binding affinity and sequence specificity. In vitro protein‐DNA interaction assays indicate that Sa‐Lrp binds to promoter regions of genes with a variety of functions including ammonia assimilation, transcriptional control, and UV‐induced pili synthesis. DNA binding occurs with a specific affinity for AT‐rich binding sites, and the protein induces DNA bending and wrapping upon binding, indicating an architectural role of the regulator. Furthermore, by analyzing an Sa‐lrp deletion mutant, we demonstrate that the protein affects transcription of some of the genes of which the promoter region is targeted and that it is an important determinant of the cellular aggregation phenotype. Taking all these results into account, we conclude that Sa‐Lrp is a glutamine‐responsive global transcriptional regulator with an additional architectural role.
Personas in action: linking event participation motivation to charitable giving and sports
Authors: Hendriks Marieke , Peelen Ed
Published: December 2012

Charitable organizations continue to use sport events to raise money for the cause and provide meaningful experiences for participants. This study analyzes the motivation for participating in a charity sport event. Four segments of participants have been distinguished based upon a cluster analysis; for each of them, personas have been constructed on the basis of qualitative research. How to approach these personas with different propositions has been formulated on the basis of their motivation regarding the cause and/or the actual sport activities. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a common understanding and method of creation of personas, a new and largely untested tool. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the value of detecting the most valuable participant segments in order to influence and leverage future and repeat participation as a basis for success of a fundraising event for a charity's cause.

Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization of a quantitative signal detection algorithm for spontaneous reports of adverse events post immunization
Authors: Van Holle Lionel , Bauchau Vincent
Published: December 2012

Purpose

To optimize the efficiency of signal detection by maximizing the proportion of true positive (TP) signals among signals detected by a disproportionality algorithm.

Methods

We compared 176 different combinations of stratification factors, sex (S), age (A), region (R) and year of report (Y), and cut‐off values of a Multi‐Item Gamma Poisson Schrinker (MGPS) algorithm. Spontaneous adverse event reports of eight vaccines from the GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals safety database were used. Defining events listed in the Product Information as proxy of true safety signals, we compared each algorithm performance in terms of positive predictive value (PPV). For each vaccine, each algorithm was ranked according to PPV. Median rank and overall PPV were computed across vaccines.

Results

For a standard cut‐off of 2, the optimal stratification factors differed by vaccine and led to a set of algorithms with a median rank of 34.5 (PPV = 0.22; 34 TP). Keeping the original SARY stratification led to optimal cut‐offs that differed by vaccine and a set of algorithms with a median rank of 1.75 (PPV = 0.20; 142 TP). The optimal combination of cut‐off and stratification led to different algorithms by vaccine with a median rank of 1 (PPV = 0.19; 139 TP). The best unique algorithm parameterization across vaccines was 0.8‐SARY (cut‐off‐stratification), with a median rank of 3 (PPV = 0.20; 195 TP). The original 2‐SARY was one of the worst algorithms, with a median rank of 150.75 (PPV = 0.13; 8 TP).

Conclusion

Within the scope of this study, a unique MGPS algorithm across vaccines with the original full stratification but a lowered cut‐off provided major performance improvement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.