bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Almost sure global well posedness for the radial nonlinear Schrödinger equation on the unit ball I: The 2D case
Authors: Bourgain Jean , Bulut Aynur
Published: October 2013

Our first purpose is to extend the results from [14] on the radial defocusing NLS on the disc in

\mathbb{R}^{2}

to arbitrary smooth (defocusing) nonlinearities and show the existence of a well-defined flow on the support of the Gibbs measure (which is the natural extension of the classical flow for smooth data). We follow a similar approach as in [8] exploiting certain additional a priori space–time bounds that are provided by the invariance of the Gibbs measure.

Next, we consider the radial focusing equation with cubic nonlinearity (the mass-subcritical case was studied in [15]) where the Gibbs measure is subject to an

L^{2}

-norm restriction. A phase transition is established. For sufficiently small

L^{2}

-norm, the Gibbs measure is absolutely continuous with respect to the free measure, and moreover we have a well-defined dynamics. For sufficiently large

L^{2}

-norm cutoff, the Gibbs measure concentrates on delta functions centered at 0. This phenomenon is similar to the one observed in the work of Lebowitz, Rose, and Speer [13] on the torus.
Motion of a vortex filament with axial flow in the half space
Authors: Aiki Masashi , Iguchi Tatsuo
Published: October 2013

We consider a nonlinear third order dispersive equation which models the motion of a vortex filament immersed in an incompressible and inviscid fluid occupying the three dimensional half space. We prove the unique solvability of initial–boundary value problems as an attempt to analyze the motion of a tornado.

On considère une équation non linéaire dispersive de troisième ordre qui modélise le mouvement d'un filament tourbillonnaire immergé dans un fluide incompressible et non visqueux occupant le demi-espace en trois dimensions. Nous prouvons la solvabilité des problèmes aux limites comme une tentative pour analyser le mouvement d'une tornade.
COLD SHOCK DOMAIN PROTEIN 3 is involved in salt and drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kim Myung-Hee , Sato Shunya , Sasaki Kentaro , Saburi Wataru , Matsui Hirokazu , Imai Ryozo
Published: October 2013

Cold shock proteins (CSPs) of bacteria are produced in response to cold and function as RNA chaperones that are essential for cold adaptation. Arabidopsis thaliana COLD SHOCK DOMAIN PROTEIN 3 (AtCSP3) shares a domain with bacterial CSPs and is involved in acquisition of freezing tolerance. Our previous study revealed that many of the genes that are down regulated in an AtCSP3 knockout mutant (atcsp3–2) are functionally associated with responses to salt and drought as well as cold. Here, we examined the involvement of AtCSP3 in salt and drought stress tolerance. We found that AtCSP3 is induced during salt and drought stresses, and is regulated by ABA. A knockout mutant of AtCSP3 (atcsp3–2) showed lower survival rates after salt and drought stress treatments. Conversely, the AtCSP3‐overexpressing plants displayed higher survival rates after treatment with these stresses. Most of the genes that were down regulated in the atcsp3–2 mutant were found to be inducible upon salt and drought stresses, and upregulated in the AtCSP3‐overexpressors. Together, our data demonstrates that AtCSP3 is involved in the regulation of salt and drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.
Spontaneous regression of primary progressive Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a pediatric patient
Authors: Udupa Karthik , Philip Arun , Rajendranath Rejiv , Sagar Tenali , Majhi Urmila
Published: October 2013

Spontaneous regression of malignancies is a very rare phenomenon. Our research of existing literature yielded only 16 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma which regressed spontaneously. The outcome of primary progressive Hodgkin's lymphoma is poor even with salvage chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Here we present a case of primary progressive Hodgkin's lymphoma, which regressed spontaneously after failure of salvage chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of primary progressive Hodgkin's lymphoma undergoing spontaneous regression.
Effect of prenatal stress on density of NMDA receptors in rat brain
Authors: Tavassoli Elham , Saboory Ehsan , Teshfam Masood , Rasmi Yusef , Roshan‐Milani Shiva , Ilkhanizadeh Behrooz , Hesari Ali Kalantari
Published: October 2013

N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors are important excitatory receptors which contribute to many brain functions. Altered NMDA receptor levels cause maldevelopment of corticostriatal and corticolimbic pathways, which is a neurobiological predisposing factor for development of epilepsy, schizophrenia and other idiopathic psychotic disorders. It was hypothesized that prenatal stress could play a role in pathophysiology of these disorders by affecting expression of the receptors through releasing corticosterone. Sixty‐eight virgin female Wistar rats were selected and mated with male rats with the same genotype. Then, the pregnant rats were subjected to restraint or predator stress on 15th, 16th and 17th gestation days. Prenatal stress consisted of restraint or predator stresses of the dams under normal room conditions. After parturition, the pups were studied in terms of density of NMDA receptors in brain at different time points. Meanwhile, blood sample was obtained and corticosterone blood level (CBL) was measured. The pups were then compared with the pups born to unstressed dams. Stress induced significant rise in CBL and NMDA receptors in brain of the offspring. CBL was significantly higher among the stressed rats compared to the control ones; there was significant difference between the two stresses and between the two sexes. The male pups were affected more severely. Stressful events during gestation had important effects on NMDA receptors of the offspring. It can be concluded that stress‐induced elevation of NMDA receptors and corticosterone might mediate altered susceptibility to epilepsy and decrease ability of learning and memory and other stress‐induced neurologic disorders.
Implicit energy loss: Embodied dryness cues influence vitality and depletion
Authors: Shalev Idit
Published: October 2013

Consumers have long recognized that thirst motivates beverage consumption, however little is known of the consequences of dryness‐related cues and experienced energy. Based on the embodied cognition view (Landau et al., 2010; Meier et al., 2012) and motivational perspective for energy (Clarkson, 2010; Inzlicht & Schmeichel, 2012), four studies examined the idea that activation of different levels of the dryness–thirst metaphor (e.g., semantic primes, visual images, or physical thirst) will influence perceived energy. In Study 1, participants primed with dryness‐related concepts reported greater physical thirst and tiredness and lower subjective vitality. In Study 2, participants who were physically thirsty were less persistent in investing effort in an unsolvable anagram task. In Study 3, images of arid land influenced time preference regarding when to begin preparation to make a monetary investment. Finally, in Studies 4a and 4b, exposure to the names of dryness‐related products influenced impressions of the vitality of a target person. Overall, the findings suggest that physical or conceptual dryness‐related cues influence perceived energy and may have consequences on consumer behavior.
What a feeling! Touching sexually laden stimuli makes women seek rewards
Authors: Festjens Anouk , Bruyneel Sabrina , Dewitte Siegfried
Published: October 2013

We argue that women's previously documented unresponsiveness to sexual primes when making economic decisions may be a consequence of the specific types of primes that have been used (i.e., visual primes). In three studies we show that presenting women with tactile sexual cues does influence their decisions about economic rewards. Similar to the effect found in men, the first study demonstrates that touching a pair of boxer shorts leads to a craving for monetary rewards in women. In the second study it is shown that touching a pair of boxers makes women less loss averse for both money and food. The third study explicitly focuses on the relative effectiveness of tactile versus visual sexual cues in altering women's economic decisions, and reveals that women's willingness‐to‐pay for economic rewards increases only when the sexual cue is tactile. We suggest that touching (vs. seeing) sexually laden stimuli prompts pre‐programmed consummatory Pavlovian responses that promote approaching economic rewards.
Glamorous politics or political glamour? Content analysis of political coverage in Russian glossy magazines
Authors: Levintova Ekaterina
Published: October 2013

This article analyzes political and social themes of Russia’s glossy magazines which represent the few remaining public spaces for surviving freedom of speech and expression in that post-communist country. As authoritarian nature of Russian political system deepens, the democratic openings often appear in unexpected places. Content analysis of two glamour monthlies, one (GQ-Russian Edition) intended for male audience, another (Cosmopolitan-Russia) – for female readership, shows consistently oppositional (anti-Putin) thrust of both publications, but also persistent political gender stereotypes. Analysis of these publications, intended for Russia’s nascent urban class – traditionally a social strata most associated with democratic impulses – provides an important explanation behind recent democratic protest activities in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Exertional Heat-Related Illnesses at the Grand Canyon National Park, 2004–2009
Authors: Noe CDR Rebecca S. , Choudhary Ekta , Cheng-Dobson LCDR Jennifer , Wolkin Amy F. , Newman CDR Sara B.
Published: October 2013

Background

The Grand Canyon National Park has approximately 4 million visitors between April and September each year. During this period, outdoor activity such as hiking is potentially hazardous owing to extreme heat, limited shade, and steep, long ascents. Given the high visitation and the public health interest in the effects of extreme heat, this study calculated morbidity rates and described heat-related illness (HRI) among visitors.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study from April 1 through September 30, during 2004–2009. From a review of Ranger Emergency Medical Services (EMS) incident report files, we extracted information on those that met the case definition of greater than 1 hour of outdoor heat exposure with an HRI assessment or diagnosis, HRI self-report, or signs or symptoms of HRI without another etiology noted. Visitor and temperature data were obtained from respective official sources.

Results

Grand Canyon EMS responded to 474 nonfatal and 6 fatal HRI cases, with the majority (84%) being US residents, 29% from Western states. Of the nonfatal cases, 51% were women, the median age was 43 years (range, 11–83 years), and 18% reported a cardiovascular condition. Clinical HRI assessments included dehydration (25%), heat exhaustion (23%), and suspected hyponatremia (19%). Almost all (90%) were hiking; 40% required helicopter evacuation. The highest HRI rates were seen in May.

Conclusions

HRI remains a public health concern at the Grand Canyon. High-risk evacuations and life-threatening conditions were found. Majority were hikers, middle-aged adults, and US residents. These findings support the park’s hiker HRI prevention efforts and use of park EMS data to measure HRI.
Management of Snakebite and Systemic Envenomation in Rural Ecuador Using the 20-minute Whole Blood Clotting Test
Authors: Gaus David P. , Herrera Diego F. , Troya Carlos J. , Guevara Alicia H.
Published: October 2013

Objectives

In low-income countries, snakebites are frequently managed in rural areas in health centers with severely constrained resources. Many healthcare providers in these settings have limited access to the numerous and relatively expensive laboratory studies used to diagnose envenomation. The relatively simple and inexpensive 20-minute whole blood clotting test (WBCT) has been recommended by several international organizations for the diagnosis of certain venomous snakebites. This study proposes to confirm the utility of the WBCT as the sole laboratory diagnostic tool to determine systemic envenomation in hematotoxic snakebite management in severely resource-constrained areas of the world.

Methods

The authors reviewed all 110 cases of snakebite during a 6-year period in a small hospital in rural Ecuador using the WBCT.

Results

All cases presented within 24 hours of snakebite. Twenty cases revealed normal coagulation with no clinical evidence of systemic envenomation. Ninety cases had no evidence of clot formation (positive WBCT) at 20 minutes, suggesting systemic envenomation. Of these 90 cases, according to a classification scale, 54 were mild, 26 were moderate, and 10 were severe envenomations requiring transfer to tertiary care. All mild and moderate systemic envenomations were successfully treated at the rural hospital. All severe envenomations were treated initially with antivenom before transfer to tertiary care. One patient with severe envenomation died in tertiary care.

Conclusions

The WBCT was predictive of the presence or absence of systemic envenomation from snakebite in our region. The WBCT guided the successful management of mild and moderate systemic envenomation, and spared patients with no evidence of systemic envenomation from potential side effects of antivenom.
Rayleigh–Taylor instability in a finite cylinder: linear stability analysis and long-time fingering solutions
Authors: Sweeney H. , Kerswell R. R. , Mullin T.
Published: October 2013

We consider the Rayleigh–Taylor instability problem of two initially stationary immiscible viscous fluids positioned with the denser above the less dense in a finite circular cylinder, such that their starting fluid–fluid interface is the horizontal midplane of the cylinder. The ensuing linear instability problem has a five-dimensional parameter space – defined by the density ratio, the viscosity ratio, the cylinder aspect ratio, the surface tension between the fluids and the ratio of viscous to gravitational time scales – of which we explore only part, motivated by recent experiments where viscous fluids exchange in vertical tubes (Beckettet al.,J. Fluid Mech., 2011, vol. 682, pp. 652–670). We find that for these experiments, the instability is invariably ‘side-by-side’ (of azimuthal wavenumber 1 type) but we also uncover parameter regions where the preferred instability is axisymmetric. The fact that both ‘core-annular’ (axisymmetric) and ‘side-by-side’ (asymmetric) long-time flows are seen experimentally highlights the fact that the initial Rayleigh–Taylor instability of the interface does not determine the long-time flow configuration in these situations. Finally, long-time flow solutions are presented on the basis that they will be slowly varying fingering solutions.
Dynamics of thermal ignition of spray flames in mixing layers
Authors: Martínez-Ruiz D. , Urzay J. , Sánchez A. L. , Liñán A. , Williams F. A.
Published: October 2013

Conditions are identified under which analyses of laminar mixing layers can shed light on aspects of turbulent spray combustion. With this in mind, laminar spray-combustion models are formulated for both non-premixed and partially premixed systems. The laminar mixing layer separating a hot-air stream from a monodisperse spray carried by either an inert gas or air is investigated numerically and analytically in an effort to increase understanding of the ignition process leading to stabilization of high-speed spray combustion. The problem is formulated in an Eulerian framework, with the conservation equations written in the boundary-layer approximation and with a one-step Arrhenius model adopted for the chemistry description. The numerical integrations unveil two different types of ignition behaviour depending on the fuel availability in the reaction kernel, which in turn depends on the rates of droplet vaporization and fuel-vapour diffusion. When sufficient fuel is available near the hot boundary, as occurs when the thermochemical properties of heptane are employed for the fuel in the integrations, combustion is established through a precipitous temperature increase at a well-defined thermal-runaway location, a phenomenon that is amenable to a theoretical analysis based on activation-energy asymptotics, presented here, following earlier ideas developed in describing unsteady gaseous ignition in mixing layers. By way of contrast, when the amount of fuel vapour reaching the hot boundary is small, as is observed in the computations employing the thermochemical properties of methanol, the incipient chemical reaction gives rise to a slowly developing lean deflagration that consumes the available fuel as it propagates across the mixing layer towards the spray. The flame structure that develops downstream from the ignition point depends on the fuel considered and also on the spray carrier gas, with fuel sprays carried by air displaying either a lean deflagration bounding a region of distributed reaction or a distinct double-flame structure with a rich premixed flame on the spray side and a diffusion flame on the air side. Results are calculated for the distributions of mixture fraction and scalar dissipation rate across the mixing layer that reveal complexities that serve to identify differences between spray-flamelet and gaseous-flamelet problems.
One Year on: First-Year Primary Teachers’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Manage Misbehaviour and Their Confidence in the Strategies They Use
Authors: O'Neill Sue , Stephenson Jennifer
Published: October 2013

This article reports the findings of a one-year follow-up study of Australian beginning primary teachers’ perceived preparedness to manage a variety of problematic student behaviours, and their confidence and use of behaviour management strategies based on their preservice coursework in classroom behaviour management. A total of 216 primary teachers in their first year of employment located across Australia responded to the online survey. Based on their coursework preparation in classroom behaviour management, the first-year teachers felt, at best, only somewhat prepared to manage disruption, noncompliance and disorganisation problems, and closer to not at all prepared to manage aggressive, antisocial, or destructive behaviours. Their perceptions of preparedness to manage all categories of problem behaviours had decreased significantly since course completion in the past year. First-year teachers were aware of a wide range of strategies for responding to problem behaviours, and felt somewhat confident in using most of the strategies. Their confidence in use had increased for most strategies, but only minimally, since completing their teacher education programs. Issues with current preservice coursework in classroom behaviour management in teacher education programs are discussed, and suggestions for addressing preparation and confidence issues are offered.
Integrating DNA barcodes and morphology for species delimitation in theCorynoneuragroup (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)
Authors: Silva F.L. , Wiedenbrug S.
Published: October 2013

In this study, we use DNA barcodes for species delimitation to solve taxonomic conflicts in 86 specimens of 14 species belonging to theCorynoneuragroup (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae), from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Molecular analysis of cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences supported 14 cohesive species groups, of which two similar groups were subsequently associated with morphological variation at the pupal stage. Eleven species previously described based on morphological criteria were linked to DNA markers. Furthermore, there is the possibility that there may be cryptic species within theCorynoneuragroup, since one group of species presented internal grouping, although no morphological divergence was observed. Our results support DNA-barcoding as an excellent tool for species delimitation in groups where taxonomy by means of morphology is difficult or even impossible.
The Complicity of Consumption: Hedonism and Politics in Thomas Pynchon'sAgainst the Dayand John Dos Passos'sUSA
Authors: HUTCHINSON COLIN
Published: October 2013

This article is a comparative study of two epic works that share a historical setting and a broad political outlook, but diverge significantly in at least one respect. Frequent and heavy alcohol consumption is a feature of both Thomas Pynchon'sAgainst the Dayand John Dos Passos'sUSAtrilogy, but the way in which these authors describe heavy drinking – and hedonistic behaviour in general – indicates fundamental differences between the modernism of Dos Passos and Pynchon's postmodernist strategies. The article contends that this aspect of Pynchon's novel represents a critique of attitudes within the twentieth-century American left towards sensuality, patriarchy and the failure of leftist aspiration within a contemporary context that invokes such subjects as the complicity of consumption, terrorism and the ethics of political assassination.
Shifting: Worker Culture and Life Reform in the Madzsar School
Authors: Miller Tyrus
Published: October 2013

This recent exhibition in Budapest assembles a fascinating documentation of the life and work of Dr. Alice Madzsar-Jászi (Photo 1), who, from her first opening of a dance school in 1912 to her untimely death in 1935, wove an intricate path through the cultural, political, and artistic avant-gardes of modern Hungary. At the turn of the century, just ten years before Madzsar launched her school, Isadora Duncan had made her solo debut in Budapest, where her improvisation to Strauss's “Blue Danube Waltz” had affected the Hungarian audience like “an electric shock” (Duncan 1927: 74). Madzsar was one of the key figures to channel that early modernist shock into the collective body electric in an increasingly diversified set of dance-related body practices, including free dance, movement culture for women's health, avant-garde theater, worker's sport, recitation choruses, and collective spectacles (Photo 2).
A survey of automatic Arabic diacritization techniques
Authors: AZMI AQIL M. , ALMAJED REHAM S.
Published: October 2013

In Modern Standard Arabic texts are typically written without diacritical markings. The diacritics are important to clarify the sense and meaning of words. Lack of these markings may lead to ambiguity even for the natives. Often the natives successfully disambiguate the meaning through the context; however, many Arabic applications, such as machine translation, text-to-speech, and information retrieval, are vulnerable due to lack of diacritics. The process of automatically restoring diacritical marks is called diacritization or diacritic restoration. In this paper we discuss the properties of the Arabic language and the issues that are related to the lack of the diacritical marking. It will be followed by a survey of the recent algorithms that were developed to solve the diacritization problem. We also look into the future trend for researchers working in this area.
A population-based dietary inflammatory index predicts levels of C-reactive protein in the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (SEASONS)
Authors: Shivappa Nitin , Steck Susan E , Hurley Thomas G , Hussey James R , Ma Yunsheng , Ockene Ira S , Tabung Fred , Hébert James R
Published: October 2013

Objective

To perform construct validation of the population-based Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) using dietary data from two different dietary assessments and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as the construct validator.

Design

Using data derived from (i) three 24 h dietary recalls (24HR) at baseline and at the end of each subsequent quarter (i.e. up to fifteen over a year) and (ii) a 7 d dietary recall (7DDR) measured at baseline and then quarterly, regression analyses were conducted to test the effect of the DII score on serum hs-CRP as dichotomous (≤3 mg/l, >3 mg/l), while controlling for important potential confounders.

Setting

Existing data from the Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Study (SEASONS), a longitudinal observational study of healthy participants recruited in Worcester, MA, USA and participants were followed for 1 year.

Subjects

Participants who had at least one hs-CRP measurement over her/his 1-year participation (n495 for 24HR,n559 for 7DDR).

Results

Higher DII scores were associated with values of hs-CRP >3 mg/l (OR = 1·08; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·16,P= 0·035 for the 24HR; and OR = 1·10; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·19,P= 0·015 for the 7DDR).

Conclusions

The population-based DII was associated with interval changes in hs-CRP using both the 24HR and 7DDR. The success of this first-of-a-kind attempt at relating individuals’ intakes of inflammation-modulating foods using this refined DII, and the finding that there is virtually no drop-off in predictive capability using a structured questionnaire in comparison to the 24HR standard, sets the stage for use of the DII in a wide variety of other epidemiological and clinical studies.
Prevalence and patterns of cooking dinner at home in the USA: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2008
Authors: Virudachalam Senbagam , Long Judith A , Harhay Michael O , Polsky Daniel E , Feudtner Chris
Published: October 2013

Objective

To measure the prevalence of cooking dinner at home in the USA and test whether home dinner preparation habits are associated with socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, country of birth and family structure.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis. The primary outcome, self-reported frequency of cooking dinner at home, was divided into three categories: 0–1 dinners cooked per week (‘never’), 2–5 (‘sometimes’) and 6–7 (‘always’). We used bivariable and multivariable regression analyses to test for associations between frequency of cooking dinner at home and factors of interest.

Setting

The 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Subjects

The sample consisted of 10 149 participants.

Results

Americans reported cooking an average of five dinners per week; 8 % never, 43 % sometimes and 49 % always cooked dinner at home. Lower household wealth and educational attainment were associated with a higher likelihood of either always or never cooking dinner at home, whereas wealthier, more educated households were more likely to sometimes cook dinner at home (P < 0·05). Black households cooked the fewest dinners at home (mean = 4·4, 95 % CI 4·2, 4·6). Households with foreign-born reference persons cooked more dinners at home (mean = 5·8, 95 % CI 5·7, 6·0) than households with US-born reference persons (mean = 4·9, 95 % CI 4·7, 5·1). Households with dependants cooked more dinners at home (mean = 5·2, 95 % CI 5·1, 5·4) than households without dependants (mean = 4·6, 95 % CI 4·3, 5·0).

Conclusions

Home dinner preparation habits varied substantially with socio-economic status and race/ethnicity, associations that likely will have implications for designing and appropriately tailoring interventions to improve home food preparation practices and promote healthy eating.
Eating patterns and mental health problems in early adolescence – a cross-sectional study of 12–13-year-old Norwegian schoolchildren
Authors: Oellingrath Inger M , Svendsen Martin V , Hestetun Ingebjørg
Published: October 2013

Objective

To investigate the association between eating patterns and mental health problems in young Norwegian adolescents (12–13 years of age).

Design

Cross-sectional study. Dietary information was reported by parents using a retrospective FFQ. Eating patterns were identified using principal component analysis. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to measure mental health problems. The association between eating patterns and mental health problems was examined using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Setting

Primary schools, Telemark County, Norway.

Subjects

Children (n 1095) aged 12–13 years and their parents.

Results

Children with high scores on a ‘varied Norwegian’ eating pattern were less likely to have indications of any psychiatric disorders (adjusted OR = 0·5; 95 % CI 0·3, 1·0) and hyperactivity-inattention disorders (adjusted OR = 0·4; 95 % CI 0·2, 0·8) than children with low scores on this pattern. Children with high scores on a ‘junk/convenient’ eating pattern were more likely to have indications of hyperactivity-inattention disorders (adjusted OR = 3·4; 95 % CI 1·3, 8·6) than children with low scores on this pattern. Children with high scores on a ‘snacking’ eating pattern were more likely to have indications of conduct/oppositional disorders (adjusted OR = 3·8; 95 % CI 1·2, 11·5) than those with low scores on this eating pattern.

Conclusions

We identified a significant association between eating patterns and mental health problems in young adolescents, independently of physical activity, sedentary activity and background variables. A diverse diet rich in unrefined plant foods, fish and regular meals was associated with better mental health, while energy-dense, nutrient-poor diets and irregular meals were associated with poorer mental health.
Optimal consumption and portfolio choice of retirees with longevity risk
Authors: KREMER ALEXANDER , LIESE FRIEDRICH , HOMÖLLE SUSANNE , CLAUSEN JOHANN
Published: October 2013

The question how to optimize consumption and portfolio choice over the life cycle has been widely discussed in the literature so far. In this paper we concentrate on a retiree's optimal consumption and portfolio selection over his remaining years of life. We apply the logistic model of mortality thus modeling the empirically observed increase of mortality during the retirement period. The optimal consumption strategy and portfolio choice are established by reducing the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellmann equation to the explicit solution of an ordinary differential function (ODF) that includes the mortality rate. A general finding is that the Merton-Samuelson result of constant portfolio choice for a constant mortality is confirmed for arbitrary mortality. The portfolio choice is only influenced by risk and return of assets and the retirees’ risk aversion. To get the specific optimal consumption strategy in a realistic situation the logistic model of mortality has been fitted to the data of the Statistical Yearbook for the Federal Republic of Germany 2006/2008. The optimal initial value for the ODF is obtained by numerical methods. The solution provides a large increase in the ratio of optimal consumption to wealth up to about 92 years followed by a sharp decrease. A bequest motive dampens the magnitudes of the ups and downs of the consumption ratio but does not change the basic shape.
Death receptor 6 (DR6) antagonist antibody is neuroprotective in the mouse SOD1G93A model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Huang G , Lee X , Bian Y , Shao Z , Sheng G , Pepinsky R B , Mi S
Published: October 2013

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of motor neurons, axon degeneration, and denervation of neuromuscular junctions (NMJ). Here we show that death receptor 6 (DR6) levels are elevated in spinal cords from post-mortem samples of human ALS and from SOD1G93A transgenic mice, and DR6 promotes motor neuron death through activation of the caspase 3 signaling pathway. Blocking DR6 with antagonist antibody 5D10 promotes motor neuron survival in vitro via activation of Akt phosphorylation and inhibition of the caspase 3 signaling pathway, after growth factor withdrawal, sodium arsenite treatment or co-culture with SOD1G93A astrocytes. Treatment of SOD1G93A mice at an asymptomatic stage starting on the age of 42 days with 5D10 protects NMJ from denervation, decreases gliosis, increases survival of motor neurons and CC1+ oligodendrocytes in spinal cord, decreases phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH) levels in serum, and promotes motor functional improvement assessed by increased grip strength. The combined data provide clear evidence for neuroprotective effects of 5D10. Blocking DR6 function represents a new approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders involving motor neuron death and axon degeneration, such as ALS.
Gene-targeted metagenomic analysis of glucan-branching enzyme gene profiles among human and animal fecal microbiota
Authors: Lee Sunghee , Cantarel Brandi , Henrissat Bernard , Gevers Dirk , Birren Bruce W , Huttenhower Curtis , Ko GwangPyo
Published: October 2013

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs), the enzymes that breakdown complex carbohydrates, are a highly diversified class of key enzymes associated with the gut microbiota and its metabolic functions. To learn more about the diversity of GHs and their potential role in a variety of gut microbiomes, we used a combination of 16S, metagenomic and targeted amplicon sequencing data to study one of these enzyme families in detail. Specifically, we employed a functional gene-targeted metagenomic approach to the 1-4-α-glucan-branching enzyme (gBE) gene in the gut microbiomes of four host species (human, chicken, cow and pig). The characteristics of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and operational glucan-branching units (OGBUs) were distinctive in each of hosts. Human and pig were most similar in OTUs profiles while maintaining distinct OGBU profiles. Interestingly, the phylogenetic profiles identified from 16S and gBE gene sequences differed, suggesting the presence of different gBE genes in the same OTU across different vertebrate hosts. Our data suggest that gene-targeted metagenomic analysis is useful for an in-depth understanding of the diversity of a particular gene of interest. Specific carbohydrate metabolic genes appear to be carried by distinct OTUs in different individual hosts and among different vertebrate species’ microbiomes, the characteristics of which differ according to host genetic background and/or diet.
Loline alkaloid production by fungal endophytes of Fescue species select for particular epiphytic bacterial microflora
Authors: Roberts Elizabeth , Lindow Steven
Published: October 2013

The leaves of fescue grasses are protected from herbivores by the production of loline alkaloids by the mutualist fungal endophytes Neotyphodium sp. or Epichloë sp. Most bacteria that reside on the leaf surface of such grasses can consume these defensive chemicals. Loline-consuming bacteria are rare on the leaves of other plant species. Several bacterial species including Burkholderia ambifaria recovered from tall fescue could use N-formyl loline as a sole carbon and nitrogen source in culture and achieved population sizes that were about eightfold higher when inoculated onto plants harboring loline-producing fungal endophytes than on plants lacking such endophytes or which were colonized by fungal variants incapable of loline production. In contrast, mutants of B. ambifaria and other bacterial species incapable of loline catabolism achieved similarly low population sizes on tall fescue colonized by loline-producing Neotyphodium sp. and on plants lacking this endophytic fungus. Lolines that are released onto the surface of plants benefiting from a fungal mutualism thus appear to be a major resource that can be exploited by epiphytic bacteria, thereby driving the establishment of a characteristic bacterial community on such plants.
Genetic and functional properties of uncultivated MCG archaea assessed by metagenome and gene expression analyses
Authors: Meng Jun , Xu Jun , Qin Dan , He Ying , Xiao Xiang , Wang Fengping
Published: October 2013

The Miscellaneous Crenarchaeota group (MCG) Archaea is one of the predominant archaeal groups in anoxic environments and may have significant roles in the global biogeochemical cycles. However, no isolate of MCG has been cultivated or characterized to date. In this study, we investigated the genetic organization, ecophysiological properties and evolutionary relationships of MCG archaea with other archaeal members using metagenome information and the result of gene expression experiments. A comparison of the gene organizations and similarities around the 16S rRNA genes from all available MCG fosmid and cosmid clones revealed no significant synteny among genomic fragments, demonstrating that there are large genetic variations within members of the MCG. Phylogenetic analyses of large-subunit+small-subunit rRNA, concatenated ribosomal protein genes and topoisomerases IB gene (TopoIB) all demonstrate that MCG constituted a sister lineage to the newly proposed archaeal phylum Aigarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota. Genes involved in protocatechuate degradation and chemotaxis were found in a MCG fosmid 75G8 genome fragment, suggesting that this MCG member may have a role in the degradation of aromatic compounds. Moreover, the expression of a putative 4-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase was observed when the sediment was supplemented with protocatechuate, further supporting the hypothesis that this MCG member degrades aromatic compounds.
Uncovering the role of elementary processes in network evolution
Authors: Ghoshal Gourab , Chi Liping , Barabási Albert-László
Published: October 2013

The growth and evolution of networks has elicited considerable interest from the scientific community and a number of mechanistic models have been proposed to explain their observed degree distributions. Various microscopic processes have been incorporated in these models, among them, node and edge addition, vertex fitness and the deletion of nodes and edges. The existing models, however, focus on specific combinations of these processes and parameterize them in a way that makes it difficult to elucidate the role of the individual elementary mechanisms. We therefore formulated and solved a model that incorporates the minimal processes governing network evolution. Some contribute to growth such as the formation of connections between existing pair of vertices, while others capture deletion; the removal of a node with its corresponding edges, or the removal of an edge between a pair of vertices. We distinguish between these elementary mechanisms, identifying their specific role on network evolution.
Food Wastes Conversion to Products for Use in Chemical and Environmental Technology, Material Science and Agriculture
Authors: Montoneri Enzo , Bianco Prevot Alessandra , Avetta Paola , Arques Antonio , Carlos Luciano , Magnacca Giuliana , Laurenti Enzo , Tabasso Silvia
Published: October 2013

Food wastes are shown as a cost-effective source of added-value products for a wide number of uses. For soluble substances isolated from municipal biowastes, the present chapter reviews work performed in the last 7 years investigating the chemical nature, the physical-chemical properties, and the performance in chemical and environmental technologies, in material chemistry and in agriculture. Very recent unpublished data are also reported to show that ongoing research is a worthwhile effort to realise the full potential of the above refuse-derived biobased products. The available data allow a viable situation to be envisioned where urban waste-treatment plant are turned into biorefinery for the production of energy, chemicals and consumer products with friendly environmental impact. The perspectives for this scenario to become real are discussed.
RipD (Rv1566c) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: adaptation of an NlpC/p60 domain to a non-catalytic peptidoglycan-binding function
Authors: Böth Dominic , Steiner Eva Maria , Izumi Atsushi , Schneider Gunter , Schnell Robert
Published: October 2013

Enzymes carrying NlpC/p60 domains, for instance RipA and RipB from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are bacterial peptidoglycan hydrolases that cleave the peptide stems and contribute to cell wall remodelling during cell division. A member of this protein family, RipD (Rv1566c) from M. tuberculosis described in the present study, displays sequence alterations in the NlpC/p60 catalytic triad and carries a pentapeptide repeat at its C-terminus. Bioinformatics analysis revealed RipD-like proteins in eleven mycobacterial genomes, whereas similar pentapeptide repeats occur in cell-wall-localized bacterial proteins and in a mycobacteriophage. In contrast with previously known members of the NlpC/p60 family, RipD does not show peptidoglycan hydrolase activity, which is consistent with the sequence alterations at the catalytic site. A strong interaction of the catalytically inactive core domain with peptidoglycan is however retained, presenting the first example of the NlpC/p60 domains that evolved to a non-catalytic peptidoglycan-binding function. Full-length RipD carrying the C-terminal repeat shows, however, a decrease in binding affinity to peptidoglycan, suggesting that the C-terminal tail modulates the interaction with bacterial cell wall components. The pentapeptide repeat at the C-terminus does not adopt a defined secondary structure in solution which is in accordance with results from the 1.17 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm) crystal structure of the protein carrying two repeat units.
SUMOylation regulates the SNF1 protein kinase
Authors: Simpson-Lavy Kobi J. , Johnston Mark
Published: October 2013

Significance

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) of eukaryotes has been called “the cellular fuel gauge” because it is a central regulator of carbon metabolism that senses cellular energy charge. We show that Snf1, the catalytic subunit of AMPK of the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, is modified by attachment of the small ubiquitin-like modifier SUMO, which inhibits Snf1 function. This process provides yet another way cells regulate function of this highly conserved protein kinase.
Correction of mutations within the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator by site-directed RNA editing
Authors: Montiel-Gonzalez Maria Fernanda , Vallecillo-Viejo Isabel , Yudowski Guillermo A. , Rosenthal Joshua J. C.
Published: October 2013

Significance

RNA editing by adenosine deamination is a natural process of site-directed mutagenesis used by organisms to modify genetic information as it passes through RNA. In this paper we present an engineered RNA editing enzyme that can be induced to edit any adenosine that is chosen. We show that our system can efficiently correct a premature stop codon in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in frog oocytes. Furthermore, a fully genetically encoded version of the system functions in human cells. As a general method, site-directed RNA editing could be a useful technique for correcting genetic mutations and modifying protein function.
Insect nicotinic receptor interactions in vivo with neonicotinoid, organophosphorus, and methylcarbamate insecticides and a synergist
Authors: Shao Xusheng , Xia Shanshan , Durkin Kathleen A. , Casida John E.
Published: October 2013

Significance

The insect nicotinic receptor is the direct or indirect target for neonicotinoids, organophosphorus compounds, and methylcarbamates, which make up about 45% of the insecticides by number and world market value. In this study, the house fly brain nicotinic receptor in vivo interactions with neurotoxicants are revealed by a unique radioligand reporter assay, providing direct in vivo proof of events at the receptor level leading to poisoning by these three major insecticide chemotypes.
“In My Own Hand”: Costanza Colonna and the Art of the Letter in Sixteenth-Century Italy*
Authors: Baernstein P. Renée
Published: October 2013

Scholarship on Italian women’s secular writing of the sixteenth century has illuminated the remarkable success female authors enjoyed in print, as well as the complex and ambivalent responses they evoked as a group. This article argues that the more shadowy praxis of ordinary female letter-writing, an obligation for most elite wives and widows, required a baseline level of literacy that enabled more eminent literary women to flourish in print. The essay studies the unpublished letters of the Roman noblewoman Costanza Colonna, the Marchesa of Caravaggio (ca. 1556–1626), to demonstrate her development as a self-taught, competent writer, familiar with the terms of Renaissance debates on the epistolary genre. Colonna exemplifies the hidden world of female literacy that helps explain both the extraordinary flourishing of women’s publishing in sixteenth-century Italy, and the hostility it encountered from some elements of society.
Moishezon twistor spaces on 4ℂℙ²
Authors: Honda Nobuhiro
Published: October 2013

In this paper we classify all Moishezon twistor spaces on

4

C
P

2

4\mathbb {CP}^2

. The classification is given in terms of the structure of the anticanonical system of the twistor spaces. We show that the anticanonical map satisfies one of the following three properties: (a) birational over the image, (b) two-to-one over the image, or (c) the image is

2
2

-dimensional. We determine structure of the images for each case in explicit forms. Then we intensively investigate structure of the twistor spaces in the case (b) and determine the defining equation of the branch divisor of the anticanonical map.
Repressed synthesis of ribosomal proteins generates protein-specific cell cycle and morphological phenotypes
Authors: Thapa Mamata , Bommakanti Ananth , Shamsuzzaman Md. , Gregory Brian , Samsel Leigh , Zengel Janice M. , Lindahl Lasse
Published: October 2013

The biogenesis of ribosomes is coordinated with cell growth and proliferation. Distortion of the coordinated synthesis of ribosomal components affects not only ribosome formation, but also cell fate. However, the connection between ribosome biogenesis and cell fate is not well understood. To establish a model system for inquiries into these processes, we systematically analyzed cell cycle progression, cell morphology, and bud site selection after repression of 54 individual ribosomal protein (r-protein) genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that repression of nine 60S r-protein genes results in arrest in the G2/M phase, whereas repression of nine other 60S and 22 40S r-protein genes causes arrest in the G1 phase. Furthermore, bud morphology changes after repression of some r-protein genes. For example, very elongated buds form after repression of seven 60S r-protein genes. These genes overlap with, but are not identical to, those causing the G2/M cell cycle phenotype. Finally, repression of most r-protein genes results in changed sites of bud formation. Strikingly, the r-proteins whose repression generates similar effects on cell cycle progression cluster in the ribosome physical structure, suggesting that different topological areas of the precursor and/or mature ribosome are mechanistically connected to separate aspects of the cell cycle.
Identification of cell cycle–regulated genes periodically expressed in U2OS cells and their regulation by FOXM1 and E2F transcription factors
Authors: Grant Gavin D. , Brooks Lionel , Zhang Xiaoyang , Mahoney J. Matthew , Martyanov Viktor , Wood Tammara A. , Sherlock Gavin , Cheng Chao , Whitfield Michael L.
Published: October 2013

We identify the cell cycle–regulated mRNA transcripts genome-wide in the osteosarcoma-derived U2OS cell line. This results in 2140 transcripts mapping to 1871 unique cell cycle–regulated genes that show periodic oscillations across multiple synchronous cell cycles. We identify genomic loci bound by the G2/M transcription factor FOXM1 by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) and associate these with cell cycle–regulated genes. FOXM1 is bound to cell cycle–regulated genes with peak expression in both S phase and G2/M phases. We show that ChIP-seq genomic loci are responsive to FOXM1 using a real-time luciferase assay in live cells, showing that FOXM1 strongly activates promoters of G2/M phase genes and weakly activates those induced in S phase. Analysis of ChIP-seq data from a panel of cell cycle transcription factors (E2F1, E2F4, E2F6, and GABPA) from the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements and ChIP-seq data for the DREAM complex finds that a set of core cell cycle genes regulated in both U2OS and HeLa cells are bound by multiple cell cycle transcription factors. These data identify the cell cycle–regulated genes in a second cancer-derived cell line and provide a comprehensive picture of the transcriptional regulatory systems controlling periodic gene expression in the human cell division cycle.