bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Involvement of regional neutrophil apoptosis promotion by ribosomal protein S19 oligomers in resolution of experimental acute inflammation
Authors: Nishiura Hiroshi , Zhao Rui , Chen Jun , Taniguchi Keisuke , Yamamoto Tetsuro
Published: January 2014

Isolated peripheral neutrophils spontaneously underwent apoptosis in association with extra‐cellular liberation of the monocyte‐attracting ribosomal protein S19 (RP S19) oligomers. This apoptosis was prevented by the simultaneous presence of anti‐RP S19 antibodies or of a C5a receptor antagonist, but was promoted by supplementing extrinsic RP S19 oligomers. Transformed HL‐60 cells to over‐produce Gln137Asn‐mutant RP S19 were differentiated to neutrophil‐like cells. The neutrophil‐like cells gained resistance against the spontaneous apoptosis concomitant with the generation of non‐functional RP S19 oligomers. When the neutrophil‐like cells were intradermally transplanted into mice, the mutant RP S19‐producing neutrophils persisted for a long period of time, whereas wild‐type RP S19‐producing neutrophils underwent apoptosis and were promptly cleared by infiltrated macrophages. When an experimental pleurisy was introduced by injecting carrageenan into the pleural cavity of mice, the inflammation spread slightly to lung parenchyma. When antibodies neutralizing the RP S19 oligomers were simultaneously administrated with carrageenan, the neutrophil infiltration in the lung parenchymal lesion become more severe, occurring as alveolar septal destruction and hemorrhage concomitant with an augmented neutrophil number in the pleural exudate. These results indicate the importance of the RP S19 oligomers and the C5a receptor in neutrophil clearance and acute inflammation resolution.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 expression in cancer cells could have prognostic value for patients with non‐small cell lung cancer who are treated with neoadjuvant therapy: Identification of prognostic microenvironmental factors after chemoradiation
Authors: Zenke Yoshitaka , Ishii Genichiro , Ohe Yuichiro , Kaseda Kaoru , Yoshida Tatsuya , Matsumoto Shingo , Umemura Shigeki , Yoh Kiyotaka , Niho Seiji , Goto Koichi , Ohmatsu Hironobu , Kuwata Takeshi , Nagai Kanji , Ochiai Atsushi
Published: January 2014

Prognostic factors for patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have been treated with neoadjuvant therapy have not been fully assessed. The purpose of this study was to analyze prognostic biomarkers in NSCLC after treatment with neoadjuvant therapy, with special reference to the immunophenotypes of both the cancer cells and stromal cells. A total of 52 patients with NSCLC who were treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by complete resection were included. We examined the expressions of nine markers in the cancer cells and stromal cells. The 5‐year disease‐free survival rate of patients with high aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) expression levels in their cancer cells was significantly lower than those with a low ALDH1 level (47.3% vs. 21.5%, respectively; P = 0.023). The other molecules expressed in cancer cells did not exhibit any prognostic value. In NSCLC without neoadjuvant therapy (case control, n = 104), expression of ALDH1 in cancer cells was not correlated with prognosis (P = 0.507). A multivariate analysis identified ALDH1 expression in cancer cells as significantly independent prognostic factors for disease‐free survival (P = 0.045). The current study indicated that the immunophenotypes of ALDH1 in cancer cells could have prognostic value for patients with NSCLC who are treated with neoadjuvant therapy.
KRAS mutation positive mucinous adenocarcinoma originating in mature ovarian teratoma: Case report and review of literature
Authors: Hershkovitz Dov , Vlodavsky Euvgeni , Simon Einav , Ben‐Izhak Ofer
Published: January 2014

Mature ovarian teratomas rarely undergo transformation into malignancy. Carcinomas, mostly squamous cell carcinoma, are the most common malignancy arising in mature cystic teratoma. In the present report we describe a 13‐year‐old girl who developed a large mass in her ovary. Fine needle biopsy identified intestinal type mucinous adenocarcinoma, which was also identified in the full surgical specimen. Extensive sampling of the surgical specimen also identified areas of mature cystic teratoma. Interestingly, molecular analysis of DNA extracted from various components of the lesion identified KRAS mutation in the carcinoma, borderline mucinous tumor and benign intestinal‐type epithelium but not in the epidermal component of the teratoma. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of KRAS mutation in mucinous carcinoma originating in mature cystic teratoma. We discuss the importance of extensive tissue sampling to differentiate between carcinoma originating in teratoma and metastatic colorectal carcinoma to the ovary. Additionally, the identification of KRAS mutation in the morphologically benign intestinal‐type epithelium indicated that it is an early event in the carcinogenic sequence and that the molecular pathway of carcinogenesis in teratoma is similar to that in the carcinogenic process of somatic tissue.
Demographic and Socioeconomic Status, Child Support Grant, and Teenage Pregnancy among Blacks in South Africa
Authors: Udjo Eric O.
Published: January 2014

While the evidence is internationally inconclusive, social protection systems have been blamed for various perverse incentives or unintended consequences. This article explores one particular case in point. The South African Constitution and the Social Assistance Act of 2004 provide a child support grant (CSG) to low‐income single parents/caregivers. There is nevertheless concern regarding possible perverse incentives of the grant, sparking debate that it may encourage teenage pregnancy. Several studies have examined the validity of the claim, yet methodological weaknesses cast doubt on their conclusions. This article examines the probability of being pregnant with another child among black teenagers receiving the CSG in South Africa compared with black teenagers who are not recipients. Results indicate that black teenagers aged 15‐18 years receiving the grant have significantly lower odds of being pregnant with another child compared with their peers who do not receive the grant, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

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Polymorphisms in a disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 gene and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Rui , Li He , Zhao Haiming , Chen Wangyue , Cheng Deyun
Published: January 2014

A number of polymorphisms in a disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33) gene have been implicated in susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, results to date have been inconclusive. We conducted meta‐analyses to investigate the associations between multiple polymorphisms in ADAM33 gene and COPD susceptibility. PubMed, Embase and Chinese databases (Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for eligible case‐control studies. We extracted data and used meta‐analysis to calculate pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals to evaluate the strength of associations. Twelve studies containing six ADAM33 polymorphisms (F+1, S1, S2, T1, V4 and Q‐1) were identified, which involved 2630 cases and 4376 controls. ADAM33 S1 polymorphism showed stable and significant associations with COPD risks among the Chinese and smoking populations, and Q‐1 polymorphism showed stable and significant associations with COPD risks among the overall populations. In subgroup analyses, T1 and Q‐1 polymorphisms were significantly associated with COPD risks among the Chinese and smoking populations, and among the Chinese, Caucasians and smoking populations, respectively. However, none of the significant results was stable in sensitivity analyses. With respect to F+1, S2 or V4 polymorphism, there was no evidence of any significant association with COPD risks in either the overall or the subgroup analysis. The results of this meta‐analysis indicate that ADAM33 S1 polymorphism is a risk factor for COPD among the Chinese and smoking populations, and that Q‐1 polymorphism is a risk factor for COPD among the overall populations.
Shaping Earnings Insecurity: Labor Market Policy and Institutional Factors
Authors: Sologon Denisa Maria , O'Donoghue Cathal
Published: January 2014

We examine the relationship between earnings insecurity, labor market policies/institutions, product market regulation, and macroeconomic shocks acrossEurope in the 1990s by means of the non‐linear least squares method. Earnings insecurity is proxied by transitory variability in earnings, which captures transitory earnings shocks, and by earnings volatility, which captures both permanent and transitory earnings shocks. Our results suggest that corporative bargaining systems, generous unemployment benefits, and deregulated product markets reduce the impact of macroeconomic shocks on transitory variability in earnings and earnings volatility, while a stronger labor protection legislation reduces the impact of macroeconomic shocks on earnings volatility. Several institutional mixes have the potential to reduce transitory variability, for example coupling a high corporatism with a high unionization, coupling protection mechanisms with activation policies, incorporating a trade‐off between the generosity of unemployment benefits and the strictness of labor market regulation, and coupling product market deregulation with deregulated labor markets or with a high unionization. Two valuable lessons are that contextual interaction effects are important for understanding the influence of particular policies and institutions on earnings insecurity and that there is no one‐size‐fits all policy package for reducing the impact of the business cycle on transitory variability and volatility.
Prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury in Nonclinical Samples: Systematic Review, Meta‐Analysis and Meta‐Regression
Authors: Swannell Sarah V. , Martin Graham E. , Page Andrew , Hasking Penelope , St John Nathan J.
Published: January 2014

Published prevalence estimates of nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) among nonclinical samples are highly heterogeneous, raising concerns about their reliability and hindering attempts to explore the alleged increase in NSSI over time. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of methodological factors on heterogeneity in NSSI prevalence estimates, explore changes over time, and estimate overall international NSSI prevalence. Results showed that methodological factors contributed over half (51.6%) of the heterogeneity in prevalence estimates, and, after adjusting for these factors, NSSI prevalence did not increase over time. Overall, pooled NSSI prevalence was 17.2% among adolescents, 13.4% among young adults, and 5.5% among adults. Clearly, development of standardized methodology in NSSI research is crucial if accurate estimates are desired.
Damped Mechanical Oscillator: Experiment and Detailed Energy Analysis
Authors: Corridoni Tommaso , D'Anna Michele , Fuchs Hans
Published: January 2014

The damped oscillator is discussed in every high school textbook or introductory physics course, and a large number of papers are devoted to it in physics didactics journals. Papers typically focus on kinematic and dynamic aspects1–5 and less often on energy. Among the latter, some are devoted to the peculiar decreasing behavior of energy characterized by ripples,6,7 which can easily be demonstrated by using a dynamic modeling approach.8 In this note we consider an oscillator consisting of a cart running on a horizontal track, two springs, and a damping device created with magnets and a metal plate attached to the cart (Fig. 1). Using sensors and data-acquisition software,9 we measure kinematic quantities and three forces: those of the springs on the cart and, separately, the force between magnets and the plate. A detailed analysis of the energy exchanges between the cart and the interacting parts is obtained. In particular, we show that only the energy exchanges with the magnets are affected by dissipative processes while over a suitable time interval the net energy exchanged between cart and springs equals zero.
Kinesthetic Investigations in the Physics Classroom
Authors: Whitworth Brooke A. , Chiu Jennifer L. , Bell Randy L.
Published: January 2014

Creating investigations that allow students to see physics in their everyday world and to be kinesthetically active outside of the traditional physics classroom can be incredibly engaging and effective. The investigations we developed were inquiry investigations in which students engaged in concrete experiences before we discussed the abstract concepts and derived the mathematical relationships.1 In this article, we describe the approach to inquiry used and an explanation of kinesthetic investigations in general. We then provide a description of several of the investigations and some examples of how students responded to them.
Training Mode’s Influence on the Relationships between Training-Load Models During Basketball Conditioning
Authors: Scanlan Aaron T. , Wen Neal , Tucker Patrick S. , Borges Nattai R. , Dalbo Vincent J.
Published: January 2014

Purpose:

To compare perceptual and physiological training-load responses during various basketball training modes.

Methods:

Eight semiprofessional male basketball players (age 26.3 ± 6.7 y, height 188.1 ± 6.2 cm, body mass 92.0 ± 13.8 kg) were monitored across a 10-wk period in the preparatory phase of their training plan. Player session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) and heart-rate (HR) responses were gathered across base, specific, and tactical/game-play training modes. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationships between the sRPE model and 2 HR-based models: the training impulse (TRIMP) and summated HR zones (SHRZ). One-way ANOVAs were used to compare training loads between training modes for each model.

Results:

Stronger relationships between perceptual and physiological models were evident during base (sRPE-TRIMP r = .53, P < .05; sRPE-SHRZ r = .75, P < .05) and tactical/game-play conditioning (sRPE-TRIMP r = .60, P < .05; sRPE-SHRZ r = .63; P < .05) than during specific conditioning (sRPE-TRIMP r = .38, P < .05; sRPE-SHRZ r = .52; P < .05). Furthermore, the sRPE model detected greater increases (126–429 AU) in training load than the TRIMP (15–65 AU) and SHRZ models (27–170 AU) transitioning between training modes.

Conclusions:

While the training-load models were significantly correlated during each training mode, weaker relationships were observed during specific conditioning. Comparisons suggest that the HR-based models were less effective in detecting periodized increases in training load, particularly during court-based, intermittent, multidirectional drills. The practical benefits and sensitivity of the sRPE model support its use across different basketball training modes.
RIG
-ging Biomarkers for Therapeutic Response
Authors: Oliver Trudy G.
Published: January 2014

Hepatic RIG-I is a biomarker for survival and response to interferon-α treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Important Job for a Nervous Glucose Transporter
Authors: Tirosh Amir
Published: January 2014

Maintaining normal pancreatic β cell mass and function is regulated by the glucose transporter Glut2 in the nervous system.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-PI3K Signaling Controls Cofilin Activity To Facilitate Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Entry into Neuronal Cells
Authors: Zheng Kai , Xiang Yangfei , Wang Xiao , Wang Qiaoli , Zhong Meigong , Wang Shaoxiang , Wang Xiaoyan , Fan Jianglin , Kitazato Kaio , Wang Yifei
Published: January 2014

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) establishes latency in neurons and can cause severe disseminated infection with neurological impairment and high mortality. This neurodegeneration is thought to be tightly associated with virus-induced cytoskeleton disruption. Currently, the regulation pattern of the actin cytoskeleton and the involved molecular mechanisms during HSV-1 entry into neurons remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the entry of HSV-1 into neuronal cells induces biphasic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and an initial inactivation followed by the subsequent activation of cofilin, a member of the actin depolymerizing factor family that is critical for actin reorganization. The disruption of F-actin dynamics or the modulation of cofilin activity by mutation, knockdown, or overexpression affects HSV-1 entry efficacy and virus-mediated cell ruffle formation. Binding of the HSV-1 envelope initiates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway, which leads to virus-induced early cofilin phosphorylation and F-actin polymerization. Moreover, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase and Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK) are recruited as downstream mediators of the HSV-1-induced cofilin inactivation pathway. Inhibitors specific for those kinases significantly reduce the virus infectivity without affecting virus binding to the target cells. Additionally, lipid rafts are clustered to promote EGFR-associated signaling cascade transduction. We propose that HSV-1 hijacks cofilin to initiate infection. These results could promote a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HSV-1-induced neurological diseases.

IMPORTANCE
The actin cytoskeleton is involved in many crucial cellular processes and acts as an obstacle to pathogen entry into host cells. Because HSV-1 establishes lifelong latency in neurons and because neuronal cytoskeletal disruption is thought to be the main cause of HSV-1-induced neurodegeneration, understanding the F-actin remodeling pattern by HSV-1 infection and the molecular interactions that facilitate HSV-1 entry into neurons is important. In this study, we showed that HSV-1 infection induces the rearrangement of the cytoskeleton as well as the initial inactivation and subsequent activation of cofilin. Then, we determined that activation of the EGFR-PI3K-Erk1/2 signaling pathway inactivates cofilin and promotes F-actin polymerization. We postulate that by regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics, cofilin biphasic activation could represent the specific cellular machinery usurped by pathogen infection, and these results will greatly contribute to the understanding of HSV-1-induced early and complex changes in host cells that are closely linked to HSV-1 pathogenesis.
Sequence Diversity in the
pe_pgrs
Genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Independent of Human T Cell Recognition
Authors: Copin Richard , Coscollá Mireia , Seiffert Salome N. , Bothamley Graham , Sutherland Jayne , Mbayo Georgetta , Gagneux Sebastien , Ernst Joel D.
Published: January 2014

The
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
genome includes the large family of
pe_pgrs
genes, whose functions are unknown. Because of precedents in other pathogens in which gene families showing high sequence variation are involved in antigenic variation, a similar role has been proposed for the
pe_pgrs
genes. However, the impact of immune selection on
pe_pgrs
genes has not been examined. Here, we sequenced 27
pe_pgrs
genes in 94 clinical strains from five phylogenetic lineages of the
M. tuberculosis
complex (MTBC). We found that
pe_pgrs
genes were overall more diverse than the remainder of the MTBC genome, but individual members of the family varied widely in their nucleotide diversity and insertion/deletion (indel) content: some were more, and others were much less, diverse than the genome average. Individual
pe_pgrs
genes also differed in the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous mutations, suggesting that different selection pressures act on individual
pe_pgrs
genes. Using bioinformatic methods, we tested whether sequence diversity in
pe_pgrs
genes might be selected by human T cell recognition, the major mechanism of adaptive immunity to MTBC. We found that the large majority of predicted human T cell epitopes were confined to the conserved PE domain and experimentally confirmed the antigenicity of this domain in tuberculosis patients. In contrast, despite being genetically diverse, the PGRS domains harbored few predicted T cell epitopes. These results indicate that human T cell recognition is not a significant force driving sequence diversity in
pe_pgrs
genes, which is consistent with the previously reported conservation of human T cell epitopes in the MTBC.

IMPORTANCE
Recognition of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
antigens by T lymphocytes is known to be important for immune protection against tuberculosis, but it is unclear whether human T cell recognition drives antigenic variation in
M. tuberculosis
. We previously discovered that the known human T cell epitopes in the
M. tuberculosis
complex are highly conserved, but we hypothesized that undiscovered epitopes with naturally occurring sequence variants might exist. To test this hypothesis, we examined the
pe_pgrs
genes, a large family of genes that has been proposed to function in immune evasion by
M. tuberculosis
. We found that the
pe_pgrs
genes exhibit considerable sequence variation, but the regions containing T cell epitopes and the regions of variation are distinct. These findings confirm that the majority of human T cell epitopes of
M. tuberculosis
are highly conserved and indicate that selection forces other than T cell recognition drive sequence variation in the
pe_pgrs
genes.
Epigenetic Repression of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection by the Nucleosome Remodeler CHD3
Authors: Arbuckle Jesse H. , Kristie Thomas M.
Published: January 2014

Upon infection, the genome of herpes simplex virus is rapidly incorporated into nucleosomes displaying histone modifications characteristic of heterochromatic structures. The initiation of infection requires complex viral-cellular interactions that ultimately circumvent this repression by utilizing host cell enzymes to remove repressive histone marks and install those that promote viral gene expression. The reversion of repression and activation of viral gene expression is mediated by the cellular coactivator HCF-1 in association with histone demethylases and methyltransferases. However, the mechanisms and the components that are involved in the initial repression remain unclear. In this study, the chromatin remodeler chromodomain helicase DNA binding (CHD3) protein is identified as an important component of the initial repression of the herpesvirus genome. CHD3 localizes to early viral foci and suppresses viral gene expression. Depletion of CHD3 results in enhanced viral immediate early gene expression and an increase in the number of transcriptionally active viral genomes in the cell. Importantly, CHD3 can recognize the repressive histone marks that have been detected in the chromatin associated with the viral genome and this remodeler is important for ultimately reducing the levels of accessible viral genomes. A model is presented in which CHD3 represses viral infection in opposition to the actions of the HCF-1 coactivator complex. This dynamic, at least in part, determines the initiation of viral infection.

IMPORTANCE
Chromatin modulation of herpesvirus infection is a dynamic process involving regulatory components that mediate suppression and those that promote viral gene expression and the progression of infection. The mechanisms by which the host cell employs the assembly and modulation of chromatin as an antiviral defense strategy against an invading herpesvirus remain unclear. This study defines a critical cellular component that mediates the initial repression of infecting HSV genomes and contributes to understanding the dynamics of this complex interplay between host cell and viral pathogen.
Hypertension in a teenager: a family affair
Authors: Dubb Sukhpreet Singh , Tafader Asiya , Meeran Karim , Fletcher Jeremy
Published: January 2014

We present a young, lean, female patient following surveillance by the general practitioner for abnormally high blood pressure readings. Her grandmother died at a young age because of hypertension which shows her family has significant history for hypertension. Her symptoms and signs included feeling hot and nauseous following exercise, sweating and palpitations. Her young age and significant family history immediately prioritises secondary causes including phaeochromocytoma and familial syndromes causing hypertension. Urinary results showed significantly elevated norepinephrine, MRI scanning revealed a mass not within but adjacent to the right adrenal gland while CT-based scanning showed no other ectopics. The patient subsequently underwent surgical intervention at Great Ormond Street Hosptial and following a difficult procedure, that initially started laparoscopically and was converted to open, the tumour was excised. Histopathology and genetic analysis ultimately revealed the patient to have suffered from a paraganglioma type 4 syndrome with a missense mutation of the SDHB gene.
Should Ramadan be prescribed after Christmas? Obesity in the healthcare profession and the health benefits of fasting
Authors: Hankir Ahmed , Hankir Mohammed , Zaman Rashid
Published: January 2014

Obesity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In the UK, one in four people are considered overweight or obese and that number is expected to rise to one in three by 2020. Employees of the National Health Service (NHS) are no exception with up to half of healthcare workers considered overweight or obese. Religious periods such as Christmas and Ramadan are associated with weight changes. Weight gain has been reported during the Christmas period albeit not as much as was traditionally believed according to the results of recent research. Conversely, weight loss has been reported in Muslims who fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan; however, this amount tends to be modest and weight gradually returns to pre-Ramadan status according to a meta-analysis of the literature. We report a case of an NHS healthcare worker – which is the first of its kind that illustrates the role that fasting and other factors have played a role in causing dramatic oscillations in his weight.
Hypothermia and the acute abdomen
Authors: Conaway Daniel
Published: January 2014

A 64-year old man presented to A&E with a 24 h history of persistent hypothermia and increasing confusion. His medical history included congestive heart failure, hypertension and intermittent claudication secondary to distal abdominal aortic occlusion. Examination revealed profound hypothermia—31°C, bilateral reduced power in the lower limbs and no palpable peripheral pulses. Initial blood tests revealed a metabolic acidosis with hyperlactactaemia, neutrophilia and deranged electrolytes. CT scan of the abdomen revealed extensive thromboemobolic disease of the abdominal arterial tree and diagnosed acute mesenteric ischaemia. The patient was taken to theatre where an emergency laparotomy demonstrated a perforated duodenum, which was subsequently patched, followed immediately by an axillofemoral bypass with subsequent femoral–femoral crossover. Sadly, the patient passed away shortly after completion of surgery.
Reliability and validity of a new French-language triage algorithm: the ELISA scale
Authors: Jobé Jerôme , Ghuysen Alexandre , Gérard Paul , Hartstein Gary , D'Orio Vincent
Published: January 2014

Objective

Overcrowding in emergency departments (ED) leads to reductions in quality of care. Consequently, several different triage tools have been developed to prioritise patient intake. Differences in emergency medical services in different countries have limited the generalisation of pre-existing triage systems; for this reason, specific algorithms corresponding to local characteristics are needed. Accordingly, we developed a specific French-language triage system named Echelle Liégeoise d'Index de Sévérité à l'Admission (ELISA). This study tested its validity and efficiency.

Methods

ELISA is a five-category nursing triage algorithm. Intrarater agreement was tested by comparing triage levels attributed to the same clinical scenarios at two different times. Interrater agreement was investigated by comparing triage categories attributed to clinical cases by different triage nurses. Finally, validity was estimated by studying the correlations between the triage ranking assigned by the nurse and actual resource consumption and patient outcome.

Results

The distribution of the difference between nurse classification at the two times was statistically unrelated to which nurse carried out the evaluation. Regarding interrater agreement, assigned classifications were compared to the reference assignment. Cohen's κ coefficient revealed an almost perfect agreement between classification by nurses and the reference. Finally, statistical analysis revealed a strong relation between ELISA and the overall need for supplementary clinical testing. Outcomes were also significantly correlated with ELISA.

Conclusions

The need for a specific, French-language triage tool in our ED led us to develop a new triage scale. This study demonstrates that the scale is a valid triage tool with high interrater and intrarater agreement and considerable efficiency.
Multibeam sonar (DIDSON) assessment of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) approaching a hydroelectric dam
Authors: Grote Ann B. , Bailey Michael M. , Zydlewski Joseph D. , Hightower Joseph E.
Published: January 2014

We investigated the fish community approaching the Veazie Dam on the Penobscot River, Maine, prior to implementation of a major dam removal and river restoration project. Multibeam sonar (dual-frequency identification sonar, DIDSON) surveys were conducted continuously at the fishway entrance from May to July in 2011. A 5% subsample of DIDSON data contained 43 793 fish targets, the majority of which were of Excellent (15.7%) or Good (73.01%) observation quality. Excellent quality DIDSON targets (n = 6876) were apportioned by species using a Bayesian mixture model based on four known fork length distributions (river herring (alewife, Alosa psuedoharengus, and blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis), American shad, Alosa sapidissima) and two size classes (one sea-winter and multi-sea-winter) of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). 76.2% of targets were assigned to the American shad distribution; Atlantic salmon accounted for 15.64%, and river herring 8.16% of observed targets. Shad-sized (99.0%) and salmon-sized (99.3%) targets approached the fishway almost exclusively during the day, whereas river herring-sized targets were observed both during the day (51.1%) and at night (48.9%). This approach demonstrates how multibeam sonar imaging can be used to evaluate community composition and species-specific movement patterns in systems where there is little overlap in the length distributions of target species.
Recovery of novel alkaline phosphatase-encoding genes (phoX) from eutrophic Lake Taihu
Authors: Dai Jiangyu , Chen Dan , Gao Guang , Tang Xiangming , Wu Shiqiang , Wu Xiufeng , Zhou Jie
Published: January 2014

To expand current knowledge on the molecular aspects of alkaline phosphatase PhoX in shallow eutrophic freshwaters, we investigated the genetic diversity and abundance of the PhoX-encoding gene (phoX) in 4 ecological regions in Lake Taihu, China, following a gradient in total phosphorus concentrations ranging from hypereutrophic to mesotrophic. Bacterial phoX was heterogeneously distributed with the highest diversity in the eutrophic regions and the highest abundance in the mesotrophic Xukou Bay. The concentrations of total phosphorus and enzymatically hydrolyzable phosphorus determined the distribution of bacterial phoX in Lake Taihu. Most (70.8%) of the phoX-translated proteins had <90% similarity to the PhoX proteins in the GenBank database, suggesting the presence of novel phoX genotypes in Lake Taihu. The low overlap in phoX genotypes (15.8%) between Lake Taihu and some marine ecosystems, and the dominance of the translated proteins most similar to the Alphaproteobacteria-affiliated PhoX, demonstrate the uniqueness of PhoX in eutrophic freshwaters.
Resource selection in a high-altitude rangeland equid, the kiang (Equus kiang): influence of forage abundance and quality at multiple spatial scales
Authors: St-Louis Antoine , Côté Steeve D.
Published: January 2014

Herbivores foraging in arid and seasonal environments often face choices between plant patches varying in abundance and nutritional quality at several spatial and temporal scales. Because of their noncompartmented digestive system, equids typically rely on abundant forage to meet their nutrient requirements. In forage-limited environments, therefore, scarcity of food resources represents a challenge for wild equids. We investigated hierarchical resource-selection patterns of kiangs (Equus kiang Moorcroft, 1841), a wild equid inhabiting the high-altitude steppes of the Tibetan Plateau, hypothesizing that vegetation abundance would be the main factor driving resource selection at a large scale and that plant quality would influence resource selection at finer scales. We investigated resource-selection patterns at three spatial levels (habitat, feeding site, and plant (vegetation groups, i.e., grasses, sedges, forbs, and shrubs)) during summer and fall. At the habitat level, kiangs selected both mesic and xeric habitats in summer and only xeric habitats (plains) during fall. At the feeding-site level, feeding sites had higher plant biomass and percentage of green foliage than random sites in the same habitats. At the plant level, grasses were selected over forbs and shrubs, and sedges were used in proportion to their availability during all seasons. Our results indicate that resource-selection patterns in kiangs vary across scales and that both forage abundance and quality play a role in resource selection. Plant quality appeared more important than hypothesized, possibly to increase daily nutrient intake in forage-limited and highly seasonal high-altitude rangelands.
Morphological and genetic analyses identify a new record of a glacial relict: pygmy whitefish (Prosopiumcoulterii) from northwestern Ontario
Authors: Blanchfield P.J. , Taylor E.B. , Watkinson D.A.
Published: January 2014

The pygmy whitefish (Prosopium coulterii (Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1892)) is a glacial relict species with a disjunct North American distribution that, apart from its most easterly known location in Lake Superior, is predominantly found in northern and western regions of Canada. Here we report on a new finding of pygmy whitefish from Winnange Lake in northwestern Ontario that extends the range of this species ∼320 km from its most easterly distribution in Lake Superior and almost 1500 km east of the closest previously known western localities. Genetic analyses confirmed that the fish from Winnange Lake were most closely related to the lineage that includes fish from Lake Superior and likely also originated via postglacial dispersal from a refugium in the upper Mississippi – Missouri river system.
Third-order leader-following consensus with circumstance noise under impulsive and switching control
Authors: Sun Mei , Han Dun , Li Dandan , Jia Qiang , Wang Yaqi
Published: January 2014

This research is aimed at investigating the leader–follower problem of third-order multi-agent with noise perturbation over fixed network under impulsive and switching control. Based on stochastic differential equation theory and hybrid control theory, effective impulsive and switching controllers are proposed, and the sufficient conditions for reaching multi-agent leader-following consensus are acquired. Numerical simulations verify the validity of the theoretical research results.
COMPLEX SCALAR FIELD DARK MATTER ON GALACTIC SCALES
Authors: RINDLER-DALLER TANJA , SHAPIRO PAUL R.
Published: January 2014

The nature of the cosmological dark matter (DM) remains elusive. Recent studies have advocated the possibility that DM could be composed of ultra-light, self-interacting bosons, forming a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) in the very early Universe. We consider models which are charged under a global U(1)-symmetry such that the DM number is conserved. It can then be described as a classical complex scalar field which evolves in an expanding Universe. We present a brief review on the bounds on the model parameters from cosmological and galactic observations, along with the properties of galactic halos which result from such a DM candidate.
A GAUSSIAN MONOCYCLE PULSE GENERATOR/MODULATOR FOR UWB RADIOS APPLICATIONS
Authors: PANTOLI LEONARDO , STORNELLI VINCENZO
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we present, at transistor level, a very low complexity Gaussian monocycle pulse generator/modulator for DPSK low voltage and low power tunable ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. The pulse generator, simulated in a SMIC 0.13 μm CMOS technology, provides a tunable, both in pulse width duration and repetition time, Gaussian monocycle compliant with the sub-GHz ETSI band and suitable to be used in UWB radio applications. The preliminary IC simulation results show a pulse duration from 1 ns up to 20 ns with good pulse symmetry and with the DPSK modulation capability. The circuit power consumption is about 1 mW from a 1.8 V power supply.
Analysis of wavelet basis selection in optimal trajectory space finding for 3D non-rigid structure from motion
Authors: Wang Yaming , Cheng Jianmin , Zheng Junbao , Xiong Yingli , Zhang Huaxiong
Published: January 2014

Trajectory representation model has been proposed to describe non-rigid deformation. An optimal trajectory space finding algorithm for 3D non-rigid structure from motion (OTSF-NRSFM) based on this model also has been proposed. However, the influence of the wavelet basis selection on the OTSF-NRSFM algorithm has still not been studied. To help OTSF-NRSFM researchers select wavelet basis properly, we investigated the influences of wavelet basis selection. Two typical wavelet bases, DCT basis and WHT basis, are discussed in this paper. The spectrum properties of wavelet basis and feature point trajectory, trajectory representation results on synthetic shark data, OTSF-NRSFM reconstruction results on synthetic data and real data are analyzed. The results show that the wavelet selection has much influence on OTSF-NRSFM reconstruction results of some non-rigid feature points, which have complicated trajectory. This paper gives researchers some inspiration about wavelet basis selection in OTSF-NRSFM algorithm.
Linearized Riesz transform and quasi-monogenic shearlets
Authors: Häuser S. , Heise B. , Steidl G.
Published: January 2014

The only quadrature operator of order two on L2(ℝ2) which covaries with orthogonal transforms, in particular rotations is (up to the sign) the Riesz transform. This property was used for the construction of monogenic wavelets and curvelets. Recently, shearlets were applied for various signal processing tasks. Unfortunately, the Riesz transform does not correspond with the shear operation. In this paper, we propose a novel quadrature operator called linearized Riesz transform which is related to the shear operator. We prove properties of this transform and analyze its performance vs. the usual Riesz transform numerically. Furthermore, we demonstrate the relation between the corresponding optical filters. Based on the linearized Riesz transform we introduce finite discrete quasi-monogenic shearlets and prove that they form a tight frame. Numerical experiments show the good fit of the directional information given by the shearlets and the orientation obtained from the quasi-monogenic shearlet coefficients. Finally, we provide experiments on the directional analysis of textures using our quasi-monogenic shearlets.
Network traffic forecasting combination model based on wavelet transform and chaos algorithm
Authors: Dang Xiao Chao , Hao Zhan Jun , Li Yan , Lu Zhen Yu , Gao Qi
Published: January 2014

Based on wavelet transform and chaos algorithm, this paper presents a Network Traffic Forecasting Combination Model. The model introduces chaos algorithm for training the BP network and optimizing weights so as to avoid gradient descent algorithm that slowly converges and likely obtains local optimum results. Before forecasting, we first perform wavelet decomposition on the pretreated flow. Then, we utilize the FARIMA model and the improved Elman neural network model to forecast according to approximate components and detailed components, respectively. At last, we use the combination model for the network traffic forecasting. Simulation results confirmed the improved accuracy of the model, and comparing to traditional FARIMA model and wavelet neural network (WNN) model, the model can reduce the deviation.
On cubic equations over p-adic fields
Authors: Mukhamedov Farrukh , Omirov Bakhrom , Saburov Mansoor
Published: January 2014

We provide a solvability criterion for a cubic equation in domains [Formula: see text]. We show that, in principal, the Cardano method is not always applicable for such equations. Moreover, the numbers of solutions of the cubic equation in domains [Formula: see text] are provided. Since 𝔽p is a subgroup of ℚp, we generalize Serre's and Sun's results concerning with cubic equations over the finite field 𝔽p. Finally, all cubic equations, for which the Cardano method could be applied, are described and the p-adic Cardano formula is provided for those cubic equations.
Legendre Drinfeld modules and universal supersingular polynomials
Authors: El-Guindy Ahmad
Published: January 2014

We introduce a certain family of Drinfeld modules that we propose as analogues of the Legendre normal form elliptic curves. We exhibit explicit formulas for a certain period of such Drinfeld modules as well as formulas for the supersingular locus in that family, establishing a connection between these two kinds of formulas. Lastly, we also provide a closed formula for the supersingular polynomial in the j-invariant for generic Drinfeld modules.
Coarse amenability versus paracompactness
Authors: Cencelj M. , Dydak J. , Vavpetič A.
Published: January 2014

Recent research in coarse geometry revealed similarities between certain concepts of analysis, large scale geometry, and topology. Property A of Yu is the coarse analog of amenability for groups and its generalization (exact spaces) was later strengthened to be the large scale analog of paracompact spaces using partitions of unity. In this paper we go deeper into divulging analogies between coarse amenability and paracompactness. In particular, we define a new coarse analog of paracompactness modeled on the defining characteristics of expanders. That analog gives an easy proof of three categories of spaces being coarsely non-amenable: expander sequences, graph spaces with girth approaching infinity, and unions of powers of a finite nontrivial group.
Sedimentological thickness variations within Silurian mudstone-dominated turbidite deposits and the effects on cleavage fanning (Anglo-Brabant Deformation Belt, Belgium)
Authors: Debacker Timothy N. , Verniers Jacques , Strachan Lorna J. , Dumon Mathijs , Belmans Marcel
Published: January 2014

The effect of vertical changes in lithology on cleavage refraction and cleavage fanning is relatively well understood. In contrast, the control that lateral changes in bed thickness and related multilayer characteristics have on cleavage fanning has not been widely documented. Mudstone-dominated Wenlock-age turbidites of the Anglo-Brabant Deformation Belt, Belgium, exhibit pronounced lateral thickness changes, which we attribute to intraslope flow ponding during foreland basin development. The mudstone-dominated nature of the turbidites is considered to reflect a particularly fine-grained source area, rather than a distal origin. Formation boundaries and lateral changes in lithofacies unit thickness are reflected in the amount of cleavage fanning. The degree of convergent cleavage fanning increases with an increase in thickness of the less competent units and with a decrease in thickness and number of the more competent units. As such, a detailed analysis of changes in cleavage–bedding angle aids in the distinction of different lithostratigraphic units of similar appearance, the location of their boundaries and identification of subtle lateral sedimentological changes. The utilization of cleavage and bedding data to recognize and describe vertical and lateral changes in a semi-quantitative way allows the linkage of subtle changes in multilayer rheology to finite strain trajectories.

Supplementary materials:

Details of position of lithological profiles are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18708
.
Palaeozoic metamorphism of the Neoproterozoic basement in NE Cathaysia: zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotope and whole-rock geochemistry from the Chencai Group
Authors: Yao Jinlong , Shu Liangshu , Santosh M. , Xu Zhiqin
Published: January 2014

The protoliths of the metamorphic suite of the Chencai Group in the northeastern margin of the Cathaysia Block in South China are composed of Neoproterozoic argillaceous–arenaceous rocks of turbidite facies, marine carbonates, gabbro and basalt. Here, we present zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopes, and whole-rock geochemical data on migmatites and metagabbros from the Chencai Group and the surrounding hornblende gneisses. The gabbroic enclaves in the migmatites and hornblende gneiss are characterized by subduction-related geochemical characteristics, which differentiate them from the migmatites. Zircons from the hornblende gneiss, migmatite and gabbro yielded weighted mean
206
Pb/
238
U ages of 879 ± 10 Ma, 438 ± 3 Ma and 453.2 ± 3.5 Ma, respectively. Hf isotopic analysis reveals ϵHf(t) values of +0.02 to −2.55 for zircons from the migmatite, whereas those from the hornblende gneisses and gabbros show positive ϵHf(t) values (+3.41 to +13.36 and +1.80 to +5.25, respectively). Our data correlate the protoliths of the hornblende gneiss and metagabbros to subduction-related magmatism prior to the assembly of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. The migmatite and gabbro record a Palaeozoic tectonothermal event that led to migmatization and resetting of Neoproterozoic ages. Our results suggest that the Palaeozoic event was initiated before
c
. 453 Ma with metamorphism at
c
. 438 Ma.