bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Keratin 79 identifies a novel population of migratory epithelial cells that initiates hair canal morphogenesis and regeneration
Authors: Veniaminova Natalia A. , Vagnozzi Alicia N. , Kopinke Daniel , Do Thy Thy , Murtaugh L. Charles , Maillard Ivan , Dlugosz Andrzej A. , Reiter Jeremy F. , Wong Sunny Y.
Published: November 2013

The formation of epithelial tubes underlies the development of diverse organs. In the skin, hair follicles resemble tube-like structures with lumens that are generated through poorly understood cellular rearrangements. Here, we show that creation of the hair follicle lumen is mediated by early outward movement of keratinocytes from within the cores of developing hair buds. These migratory keratinocytes express keratin 79 (K79) and stream out of the hair germ and into the epidermis prior to lumen formation in the embryo. Remarkably, this process is recapitulated during hair regeneration in the adult mouse, when K79+ cells migrate out of the reactivated secondary hair germ prior to formation of a new hair canal. During homeostasis, K79+ cells line the hair follicle infundibulum, a domain we show to be multilayered, biochemically distinct and maintained by Lrig1+ stem cell-derived progeny. Upward movement of these cells sustains the infundibulum, while perturbation of this domain during acne progression is often accompanied by loss of K79. Our findings uncover previously unappreciated long-distance cell movements throughout the life cycle of the hair follicle, and suggest a novel mechanism by which the follicle generates its hollow core through outward cell migration.
zebraflash transgenic lines for in vivo bioluminescence imaging of stem cells and regeneration in adult zebrafish
Authors: Chen Chen-Hui , Durand Ellen , Wang Jinhu , Zon Leonard I. , Poss Kenneth D.
Published: November 2013

The zebrafish has become a standard model system for stem cell and tissue regeneration research, based on powerful genetics, high tissue regenerative capacity and low maintenance costs. Yet, these studies can be challenged by current limitations of tissue visualization techniques in adult animals. Here we describe new imaging methodology and present several ubiquitous and tissue-specific luciferase-based transgenic lines, which we have termed zebraflash, that facilitate the assessment of regeneration and engraftment in freely moving adult zebrafish. We show that luciferase-based live imaging reliably estimates muscle quantity in an internal organ, the heart, and can longitudinally follow cardiac regeneration in individual animals after major injury. Furthermore, luciferase-based detection enables visualization and quantification of engraftment in live recipients of transplanted hematopoietic stem cell progeny, with advantages in sensitivity and gross spatial resolution over fluorescence detection. Our findings present a versatile resource for monitoring and dissecting vertebrate stem cell and regeneration biology.
Context-dependent fluctuation of serotonin in the auditory midbrain: the influence of sex, reproductive state, and experience
Authors: Hanson Jessica L. , Hurley Laura M.
Published: November 2013

In the face of changing behavioral situations, plasticity of sensory systems can be a valuable mechanism to facilitate appropriate behavioral responses. In the auditory system, the neurotransmitter serotonin is an important messenger for context-dependent regulation because it is sensitive to both external events and internal state, and it modulates neural activity. In male mice, serotonin increases in the auditory midbrain region, the inferior colliculus (IC) in response to changes in behavioral context such as restriction stress and social contact. Female mice have not been measured in similar contexts, although the serotonergic system is sexually dimorphic in many ways. In the present study, we investigated the effects of sex, experience, and estrous state on fluctuation of serotonin in the IC across contexts, as well as potential relationships between behavior and serotonin. Contrary to our expectation, there were no sex differences in serotonergic increase in response to a restriction stimulus. Both sexes had larger increases in second exposures, suggesting experience plays a role in serotonergic release in the IC. In females, serotonin increased during both restriction and interactions with males; however, the increase was more rapid during restriction. There was no effect of female estrous phase on the serotonergic change for either context, but serotonin was related to behavioral activity in females interacting with males. These results show that changes in behavioral context induce increases in serotonin in the IC by a mechanism that appears to be uninfluenced by sex or estrous state, but may depend on experience and behavioral activity.
Phenotype manipulations confirm the role of pectoral muscles and haematocrit in avian maximal thermogenic capacity
Authors: Petit Magali , Vézina François
Published: November 2013

In small resident bird species living at northern latitudes, winter cold acclimatization is associated with an increase in pectoral muscle size and haematocrit level and this is thought to drive the seasonal increase in summit metabolic rate (Msum, a measure of maximal shivering thermogenic capacity). However, evidences suggesting that pectoral muscle size influences Msum are correlational and the link between haematrocrit level and Msum remains to be demonstrated. We experimentally tested the relationship between pectoral muscle size and Msum by manipulating muscle size using a feather clipping protocol in free-living wintering black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). This also allowed us to investigate the link between haematocrit and thermogenic capacity. After a first series of measures on all birds, we cut half of the flight feathers of experimental individuals (n = 14) and compared their fat and pectoral muscle scores, Msum and haematocrit level at recapture with their previous measures and with those of control birds (n = 17) that were captured and recaptured at comparable times. Results showed 1) that experimental birds developed larger pectoral muscles than control individuals and 2) that mass-independent Msum was up to 16% higher in birds expressing large pectoral muscles. Msum was also positively correlated with haematocrit, which was not affected by the experimental manipulation. These findings demonstrate that, for a given body mass, large pectoral muscles are associated with a higher Msum in black-capped chickadees and that oxygen carrying capacity likely supports thermogenesis in this species.
Blood constituents as phagostimulants for the bed bug,Cimex lectularius L
Authors: Romero Alvaro , Schal Coby
Published: November 2013

Many hematophagous arthropods are stimulated by blood constituents to initiate feeding. We used a membrane-based feeding system to identify chemicals that stimulate acceptance and engorgement responses in various life stages of bed bugs. Water was fortified with a variety of compounds (e.g. salts, amino acids, vitamins, nucleotides, cholesterol and fatty acids) in these bioassays. Adenosine triphosphate was the most effective phagostimulant in adults and nymphs, resulting in >70% of bed bugs fully engorging. Addition of NaCl to low ATP solutions that alone elicited <50% engorgement significantly enhanced feeding responses of bed bugs. A comparison of feeding responses with solutions of various adenine nucleotides showed that ATP was more stimulatory than ADP, which was more effective than AMP. Feeding assays with physiological levels of other blood constituents such as D-glucose, albumin, globulin, cholesterol and mixtures of vitamins and amino acids did not stimulate engorgement, suggesting that adenine nucleotides are the most important feeding stimulants in bed bugs. Identification of phagostimulants for bed bugs will contribute toward the development of artificial diets for rearing purposes as well as for the development of alternative methods to eliminate bed bug infestations.
Fabrication of Dense and Multilayered Films of a Nickel Bis(dithiolene) Nanosheet by Means of the Langmuir–Schäfer Method
Authors: Hoshiko Ken , Kambe Tetsuya , Sakamoto Ryota , Takada Kenji , Nishihara Hiroshi
Published: November 2013

A nickel bis(dithiolene) complex nanosheet fabricated from benzenehexathiol and nickel(II) acetate in a bottom-up fashion exhibits semiconductivity, thereby being potentially useful as an electronics material. In the present communication we perform stepwise layering of the nanosheet in high density, taking advantage of the Langmuir–Schäfer method.
Metatext as the basis for metacommunication
Authors: Федотова  , Fedotova Oksana
Published: November 2013

The article studies the functions of the metatext realized in the process of metacommunication. One of the main functions is to comment upon the communicative message, to explain it, to state and to evaluate; to confirm, to correct, to organize and to regulate the conceptual, formal and qualitative aspects of the message. The functions are realized in different types of discourse.
On the definition and typology of discourse: paremic discourse
Authors: Ветрюк
Published: November 2013

This article addresses the problem of definition and typology of discourse. The author gives a definition of paremic discourse and describes its types. The first type of the two includes proverbs as discourse structures of different grades of complexity which are samples for building new literary texts. The second type of paremic discourse has a prototypical dialogical structure. Here a proverb is a remark which is the instrument of speech tactics used for achieving a certain communicative strategy. The approach to discourse as a dialogical interaction Makes it possible to study proverbial texts in everyday dialogues.
Russian and Indonesian abridged name forms in the communicative and pragmatic aspects
Authors: Суси  , Susi Magdalena
Published: November 2013

The article analyzes usage of Russian and Indonesian hypocoristical (Batak and Minahasa) names. Russian hypocoristical names are formed with various suffixes. They have very rich meaning and nuances. While the Indonesian hypocoristical (Batak and Minahasa) names do not have those meaning and nuances. They are used only for convenience of pronunciations.
Regulatory potential of instructional communication
Authors: Комина  , Komina Natalya
Published: November 2013

Instructional activity is viewed as a part of more general regulatory activity and correlates with its operational units in the form of specific actions directed to the decision of tasks in the situation of instructional communication. Regulatory nature of instructional activity specifies the functional-semantic dominant of participants» speech actions on the level of “way of regulation”. Regulatory aspect of instructional activity defines the ritual character of macro- and micro- discourse structures, used by participants of instructional interaction.
Arctic Seas’ Ecological and Toxicological Monitoring
Authors: Кроленко  , Krolenko M. , Корсак  , Korsak M. , Мошаров  , Mosharov Sergey
Published: November 2013

For the first time the results of large-scale ecological and toxicological researches related to phytoplankton communities’ stability (ecological and toxicological monitoring) executed in the same season (summer period of succession) in all seas of Russian Arctic and Subarctic region — Baltic, White, Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi and Bering Seas are presented. The experiments related to influence on primary production by copper’s (Cu) different concentrations were carried out in the conditions approached to natural ones during the voyages on Nikolay Kolomeytsev and Professor Shtokman research vessels. During 68 short-term toxicological onboard experiments the influence of some copper’s additives on the value of primary production of seas’ examined areas was studied.
Ensuring of Ecological and Biological Safety in Far East Russia’s Seas
Authors: Бочарников  , Bocharnikov V. , Блиновская  , Blinovskaya Yana
Published: November 2013

The Far East region is characterized by natural uniqueness. Due to the intensive exploitation of its natural resources there is a sharp question on the agenda related to ensuring the ecological and biological safety in Russia’s Far East seas, which are characterized by high biological efficiency, large fish supplies and high vulnerability to negative anthropogenous impact. The use of geoinformation systems and scientific databases for monitoring and situation control is considered. The review of existing domestic and foreign information resources which can be used for monitoring, ensuring ecological safety and adoption of administrative decisions in case of emergency ecological situations, when developing projects and strategies related to production evolution in the region is given.
Power Plants’ Coal Ash Treatment in Processes related to Bacterial Leaching of Rare Earth Metals
Authors: Петрова  , Petrova E. , Виноградов  , Vinogradov M. , Балина  , Balina A. , Таранов  , Taranov R. , Козодаев  , Kozodaev A. , Ксенофонтов  , Ksyenofontov Boris
Published: November 2013

The flotation process of power plants’ ash-slag materials treatment is considered in the article. The original method related to preparing of ash-slag waste before their further bioleaching processing is proposed. The positive results of rare earth metals extraction efficiency increase by bioleaching are obtained. The essence of proposed approach is as follows. Coal combustion’s ash-slag waste is mixed with water to obtain a fine suspension, in which the carbonaceous reagent is injected. Flotation treatment of ash suspension is carried out in mechanical flotation machine with flotation time equal to 15-18 min and air flow rate equal to about 0.7-0.8 m3/(m2·min). The chamber product as treated ash suspension is going to the separation in open hydrocyclone. In such a case the concentration product in the form of ash product is derived to special site, and hydrocyclone overflow is directed to the clearing in pressure flotation machine for extraction of metal ions from the liquid. A positive effect of rare earth metals’ extraction rising related in particular to scandium about 26.6-30.3%, yttrium — 28-34.7%, lanthanum — 50.5-21.5%, as well as precious metals such as gold — 18.7-21.6%, silver — 11.4-21.4% is obtained.
Research of Acoustic Characteristics related to Noise Release Mufflers of Motor Transport Internal-Combustion Engines
Authors: Бангоян  , Bangoyan E. , Тупов  , Tupov Vladimir
Published: November 2013

The main acoustic characteristic of noise muffler–"brought losses", which shows the decrease of noise created by its source, in particular by exhaust system of internal-combustion engine, in a control point as a result of muffler use is considered. The explanation of essence of this characteristic and its mathematical description are offered; the empirical dependences for calculation of sound radiation impedance by exhaust system end opening are given. The offered way of release noise source impedance definition seems to be more reliable in comparison with already known ones as it allows to consider oscillatory processes in the exhaust manifold of internal-combustion engine thanks to which the calculation accuracy of muffler’s brought losses in course of its development at motor transport engines design stage is increased. The analytical dependences for calculation of frequencies at which the extreme values of this characteristic are observed are also received.
Research of Asymptotic Properties related to Model of Hydrodynamic Stage of Classification Process Evolution in Cyclonic Type Devices
Authors: Крохина  , Krokhina A. , Львов  , Lvov V. , Павлихин  , Pavlikhin Gennadiy , Калугина  , Kalugina O.
Published: November 2013

The practical application features of probabilistic and statistical model related to hydrodynamic stage of classification process evolution in the cylinder-conic hydroclones with additional injector are considered in this paper. Expression for the distribution function of firm disperse phase particles in the qualifier is given over time of their stay in the device, as well as depending on its constructive and technical characteristics. The stationary solutions of Fokker-Plank-Kolmogorov kinetic equation have been got for considered process of classification within reasonable assumptions. At the description related to the change of characteristics of division of suspensions in qualifiers the application of three-parametrical curves family which parameters depend not only on hydrodynamic features of streams in the device, but also are defined by relative values of classification influence intensity and centrifugal forces in comparison with intensity of casual influences is offered.
About Risk of Freedom in Safety (What to modernize in Russia: interdictions of “safety” or permissions of “ freedom”?)
Authors: Пуликовский  , Pulikovskiy K. , Гражданкин  , Grazhdankin Aleksandr
Published: November 2013

The ratio problem related to permissions and interdictions in safety regulation of complex social and technical systems on the example of industrial safety ensuring of dangerous production objects is considered. The counterefficiency of imitating loan of post-modernist western approaches for technosphere safety related to the not western countries is shown. Why and what domestic norms and rules of industrial safety "lagged behind" and how to organize their reduction in compliance with Russian industry condition? Possible long-term results of technical regulation reform on replacement of traditional safety requirements with post-industrial "risk management" are discussed. Safety is always conservative, but it is not an occasion of its denial when planning the country’s safe post-industrial future. This understanding is gradually coming to the Russian society.
Do Bonuses Enhance Sales Productivity? A Dynamic Structural Analysis of Bonus-Based Compensation Plans
Authors: Chung Doug J. , Steenburgh Thomas , Sudhir K.
Published: November 2013

We estimate a dynamic structural model of sales force response to a bonus-based compensation plan. This paper provides substantive insight into how different elements of the compensation plan enhance productivity. We find evidence that (1) bonuses enhance productivity across all segments; (2) overachievement commissions help sustain the high productivity of the best performers, even after attaining quotas; and (3) quarterly bonuses help improve performance of the weak performers by serving as pacers to keep the sales force on track in achieving its annual sales quotas. The paper also introduces two main methodological innovations to the marketing literature: First, we implement empirically the method proposed by Arcidiacono and Miller [Arcidiacono P, Miller RA (2011) Conditional choice probability estimation of dynamic discrete choice models with unobserved heterogeneity. Econometrica 79(6):1823–1867] to accommodate unobserved latent-class heterogeneity using a computationally light two-step estimator. Second, we illustrate how discount factors can be estimated in a dynamic structural model using field data through a combination of (1) an exclusion restriction separating current and future payoff and (2) a finite-horizon model in which there is no forward-looking behavior in the last period.
Resource Flexibility and Capital Structure
Authors: Chod Jiri , Zhou Jianer
Published: November 2013

This paper examines how the optimal investment in the capacity of flexible and nonflexible resources is affected by financial leverage and, conversely, how a firm's resource flexibility affects its optimal capital structure. We consider a two-product firm that invests in the optimal capacity of product-flexible and product-dedicated resources in the presence of demand uncertainty. Before investing in capacity, the firm issues the optimal amount of debt, trading off the tax benefit and lower transaction cost of debt financing against the cost of financial distress and the agency cost associated with leverage. We show that in the presence of debt, resource flexibility has benefits in addition to reducing the mismatch between supply and demand. Namely, resource flexibility mitigates the shareholder–debtholder agency conflict as well as the risk of costly default. Most interestingly, we show that resource flexibility mitigates the underinvestment problem because it reduces the probability that a firm will go bankrupt with some of its capacity being fully utilized. When lenders anticipate that a firm will choose a relatively flexible capacity mix, they should provide more favorable credit terms, to which the firm should respond by issuing more debt. The main empirical predictions are that resource flexibility is negatively related to the cost of borrowing and positively related to debt.

This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
Models for Effective Deployment and Redistribution of Bicycles Within Public Bicycle-Sharing Systems
Authors: Shu Jia , Chou Mabel C. , Liu Qizhang , Teo Chung-Piaw , Wang I-Lin
Published: November 2013

We develop practical operations research models to support decision making in the design and management of public bicycle-sharing systems. We develop a network flow model with proportionality constraints to estimate the flow of bicycles within the network and the number of trips supported, given an initial allocation of bicycles at each station. We also examine the effectiveness of periodic redistribution of bicycles in the network to support greater flow, and the impact on the number of docks needed.

We conduct our numerical analysis using transit data from train operators in Singapore. Given that a substantial proportion of passengers in the train system commute a short distance—more than 16% of passengers alight within two stops from the origin—this forms a latent segment of demand for a bicycle-sharing program. We argue that for a bicycle-sharing system to be most effective for this customer segment, the system must deploy the right number of bicycles at the right places, because this affects the utilization rate of the bicycles and how bicycles circulate within the system. We also identify the appropriate operational environments in which periodic redistribution of bicycles will be most effective for improving system performance.
Cross-temporal explorations: Notes on fashion and nostalgia
Authors: Jenß Heike
Published: November 2013

The article explores intersections among nostalgia, the circulation of images and temporalities of fashion. It traces shifting meanings of nostalgia from its spatial connotation as a diagnosis for homesickness to its temporal connotation as longing for the past. While homesickness became counterproductive to ideals of modernity, consumer culture became a key site for the processing of spatio-temporal longings – potentially associated with the production of ‘false’ memories. This article highlights how nostalgia and memory are dynamically configured and intimately bound up with the development of sociotechnical practices, mediation and commodification. Uses and experiences of nostalgia range from the idealization of the past to its demystification. A perspective on the current enactment of nostalgia through vintage dress and photography points to its potencies in embodied practice as performative exploration of the experiential dynamics of temporality and being/becoming in time.
Age and fashion: A study of ambiguous status representation in granny chic
Authors: Mackinney-Valentin Maria
Published: November 2013

The research objective with this article is to examine the role of age in granny chic. Granny chic is understood as a contemporary fashion phenomenon characterized as the celebration by younger consumers of elements that may generally be considered to belong to the realm of older women, such as grey hair, orthopaedic shoes, craft and old clothes. The article challenges the binary construction of ‘young’ versus ‘old’, which is based on a biogerontological model of aging as decline (Kriebernegg and Maierhofer 2013). It explores whether the rise of granny chic since the millennium suggests a move towards an ‘age-irrelevant society’ (Cole 1992: 241) with a rise in tolerance for age diversity. To that end, it draws on age and ageing theory to question whether the nature of age in ‘granny chic’ is less about chronological age and more about old age as a symbolic tool for negotiating social status among younger consumers. Examples are drawn from the fashion industry with special attention to fashion campaigns, fashion spreads in magazines and runway shows. In addition, examples of granny chic in food and leisure are referenced. This article is not about older women per se, but about the social paradox of celebrating the old, imperfect and out-dated in an age focused on newness and perfection. The study uses a narrative method for the study of ‘granny chic’ as a fashion phenomenon. It analyses the representation in images and texts in mainly American and British newspapers, magazines and blogs – from 2010 to 2012.
RESONANCES ON HEDGEHOG MANIFOLDS
Authors: Exner Pavel , Lipovský Jiří
Published: November 2013

We discuss resonances for a nonrelativistic and spinless quantum particle confined to a two- or three-dimensional Riemannian manifold to which a finite number of semiinfinite leads is attached. Resolvent and scattering resonances are shown to coincide in this situation. Next we consider the resonances together with embedded eigenvalues and ask about the high-energy asymptotics of such a family. For the case when all the halflines are attached at a single point we prove that all resonances are in the momentum plane confined to a strip parallel to the real axis, in contrast to the analogous asymptotics in some metric quantum graphs; we illustrate this on several simple examples. On the other hand, the resonance behaviour can be influenced by a magnetic field. We provide an example of such a ‘hedgehog’ manifold at which a suitable Aharonov-Bohm flux leads to absence of any true resonance, i.e. that corresponding to a pole outside the real axis.
COULOMB SCATTERING IN NON-COMMUTATIVE QUANTUM MECHANICS
Authors: Gáliková Veronika , Prešnajder Peter
Published: November 2013

Recently we formulated the Coulomb problem in a rotationally invariant NC configuration space specified by NC coordinates xi, i = 1, 2, 3, satisfying commutation relations [xi, xj ] = 2iλεijkxk (λ being our NC parameter). We found that the problem is exactly solvable: first we gave an exact simple formula for the energies of the negative bound states Eλn < 0 (n being the principal quantum number), and later we found the full solution of the NC Coulomb problem. In this paper we present an exact calculation of the NC Coulomb scattering matrix Sλj (E) in the j-th partial wave. As the calculations are exact, we can recognize remarkable non-perturbative aspects of the model: 1) energy cut-off — the scattering is restricted to the energy interval 0 < E < Ecrit = 2/λ2; 2) the presence of two sets of poles of the S-matrix in the complex energy plane — as expected, the poles at negative energy EIλn = Eλn for the Coulomb attractive potential, and the poles at ultra-high energies EIIλn = Ecrit − Eλn for the Coulomb repulsive potential. The poles at ultra-high energies disappear in the commutative limit λ→0.
THE NUMBER OF ORTHOGONAL CONJUGATIONS
Authors: Uhlmann Armin
Published: November 2013

After a short introduction to anti-linearity, bounds for the number of orthogonal (skew) conjugations are proved. They are saturated if the dimension of the Hilbert space is a power of two. For other dimensions this is an open problem.
Sulfonylureas and cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Nedosugova Lyudmila Viktorovna
Published: November 2013

This article addresses possible mechanisms for development of cardiovascular events (CVE) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients treated with sulfonylurea derivatives (SU). Several problems are highlighted in this review, including molecular aspects of pancreatic and extrapancreatic action of these drugs, their comparative potential to induce hypoglycemic events (as predictors of acute CVE) and impairment of ischemic preconditioning, as well as antiarrhythmic activity of certain SU agents. Finally, efficacy and cardiovascular safety of glimepiride in T2DM patients is substantiated based on a survey of current literature.
Heterogeneity in diabetic distal neuropathy and differential approach to its treatment
Authors: Khutornaya Oksana Evgen'evna , Bregovskiy Vadim Borisovich , Demina A G , Karpova I A
Published: November 2013

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), to evaluate the composition and efficacy of pharmacotherapy and to develop a differential algorithm for symptomatic treatment of PDN.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 4494 outpatient subjects participated in this study. Severity of pain syndrome was assessed with DN4 question- naire (supplemented with NTSS-9 scale) and visual analogue scale (VAS). After initial examination, a pharmacological evaluation of treatment was performed.

RESULTS: Based on our data, prevalence of diabetic neuropathy was estimated at 54%, with painful form reaching 6.4%. Median age was 57.2-12.1, duration of diabetes mellitus - 16.5-10.6 years. Type 1 / type 2 ratio equaled 32.4% : 67.6%, male/female - 29.7%: 70.3%. Median HbA1c level was 8.4?1.6%. Ratio of chronic/acute forms of neuropathy was 267 : 20. Pain severity (as measured by VAS) distribution was as following: 15.6% ? severe, 40.6% ? moderate, 12.3% - mild, and 31.3% ? no pain symptoms. We did not find PDN to be associated with any parameters but sensory deficit (NTSS-9 and NDS: r=0.4; p 0.001). 21% of patients with chronic painful neuropathy (CPN) demonstrated allodynia and hyperalgesia besides typical symptoms. 97.9% of patients were previously treated with "pathogenetic" agents, 2.1% received anticonvulsants; overall efficiency was estimated at 22%. Patients with CPN and allodynia did not respond to treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), but pregabalin was efficient. After the examination treatment composition was adjusted as follows: treatment was ceased in 23% of patients, 11.9% received ALA, 53.6% - anticonvulsants, and 11.5% - antidepressants; overall efficiency was estimated at 75%.

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of PDN is relatively low. 15.6% of patients suffer from severe pain. Neuropathic pain intensity correlates only with sensory deficit and is not dependent on any other parameters. CPN consists of two forms with higher and lower intensity of pain symptoms. Symptomatic therapy is indicated in acute variant of PDN, but also in chronic cases accompanied with allodynia and hyperalgesia. ALA appears to be effective as an initial stage of management of moderate or mild CPN.
MODY3 in the child with type 2 diabetes mellitus phenotype: case report
Authors: Kuraeva Tamara Leonidovna , Sechko Elena Alexandrovich , Eremina Irina Alexandrovna , Ivanova O N , Prokof’ev Sergey Alexandrovich
Published: November 2013

MODY is a heterogeneous group of diseases that stem from certain genetic mutations and are characterized by beta-cell dysfunction, early clinical onset (before the age of 25) and autosomal dominant inheritance. Nowadays many studies address atypical variants of diabetes mellitus (DM) and consequential problems in differential diagnosis. Though generally patients with MODY have normal body weight, the ongoing spread of obesity will probably produce comorbid forms and thus alter clinical picture. We present a case of DM in a 13-year-old patient that characterizes development of MODY3 in type 2 DM-like phenotype.
BKT IX 10 = P.Berol. 21110r: Dorische Lyrik oder Tragödie?
Authors: Benelli Luca
Published: November 2013

BKT IX 10 = P.Berol. 21110r [MP3 1910.01; LDAB 4566] was published by Grace Ioannidou in 1996 and was attributed to Doric lyric. The form στεναξε[ (l. 11), however, is unusual for an Archaic lyric text, but not for tragic texts. It could therefore be a tragic text.
Nutzer erforschen Nutzer
Authors: Siems Renke
Published: November 2013

Die Entwicklung zum Lernort verlief an der Universitätsbibliothek Tübingen sehr dynamisch, aber in der Vergangenheit nicht von einer konzisen Strategie geleitet. Um die künftige Gestaltung auf Basis eines reflektierten Konzepts vorantreiben zu können, entschloss sich die Universitätsbibliothek, das Instrument des Service Learnings auszuprobieren und als Form eines Participatory Designs zu verwenden. In einem zweisemestrigen Projekt entwickelten Studierende Aspekte eines künftigen Benutzungskonzepts, das in künftige Maßnahmen Eingang finden wird.
Bibliotheken in Irland 2013
Authors: Waidmann Simone
Published: November 2013

Dieser Bericht ist das Ergebnis eines Fachaufenthalts an der Dublin Central Public Library und an der Boole Bibliothek des University College Cork. Er beschreibt die dortigen Angebote und Arbeitsweisen mit einem Fokus auf Angeboten zum Selbststudium, insbesondere zum Fremdsprachenerwerb, und auf Fachreferatsarbeit in den Geisteswissenschaften und im Bereich historischer Bestände.
Evaluation of Thin-Layer Drying Models and Artificial Neural Networks for Describing Drying Kinetics of Canola Seed in a Heat Pump Assisted Fluidized Bed Dryer
Authors: Malekjani Narjes , Jafari Seid Mahdi , Rahmati Mohammad Hashem , Zadeh Ebrahim Esmaeel , Mirzaee Hbibollah
Published: November 2013

In this study, drying characteristics of canola seeds were determined using heated ambient air at 40, 50 and 60°C, relative humidity of 20, 40 and 60% and constant velocity of 3 m/s. To select a suitable drying curve, six thin-layer drying models were fitted to experimental data. The models were compared according to three statistical parameters: R
2, reduced chi-square (χ
2) and root mean square error. Using some experimental data, an Artificial neural network model, trained by Feed Forward Back-Propagation algorithm, was developed to predict moisture ratio values based on the three input variables. Different activation functions and several rules were used to assess percentage error between the desired and predicted values. According to the results, the approximation of diffusion drying model had better agreement with the drying data. The artificial neural network model was able to predict the moisture ratio quite well with R
2 of 0.9994. The predicted mean square error was obtained as 0.00012575.
Disease Identification and Grading of Pomegranate Leaves Using Image Processing and Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Sannakki Sanjeev S. , Rajpurohit Vijay S. , Nargund V. B. , Arunkumar R.
Published: November 2013

Plant diseases cause major losses to several agricultural and horticultural crops around the World. Therefore, methods for proper diagnosis of diseases found in any parts of the plant body play a crucial role in disease management. In the past few decades, many methods and techniques of image processing and soft computing are applied on a number of plants to diagnose and treat variety of plant diseases. Hence, the present work is aimed to develop an automated system that results in three major outcomes for a leaf image. They are disease identification, disease grading and treatment advisory. The methodology begins with capturing of samples of healthy and diseased leaf images of Pomegranate plant. All the images are made to undergo pre-processing steps and different features are extracted and stored in the database. Analysis is done on the extracted features to determine those features that constitute a disease in the leaf. Later, a query image is taken and is tested to determine whether that image is healthy or diseased one. If the query image is found to be diseased, then the grade of the disease is determined. Finally, a treatment advisory module is built which ultimately helps agriculturists/farmers.
Stress, Depression, and Anxiety among Undergraduate Nursing Students
Authors: Chernomas Wanda M. , Shapiro Carla
Published: November 2013

Admission to a professional program marks the beginning of fulfilling a career goal. However, the rigors of professional education can be demanding. Stress, depression, and anxiety (SDA) can interfere with learning, affect academic performance, and impair clinical practice performance. Studies report a general increase in the severity of and extent of mental health problems among college/university students. The literature regarding nursing students’ mental health distress identifies academic and personal sources of stress and coping efforts, with emphasis on the stress and anxiety associated with clinical practice. This cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study investigated levels of SDA among nursing students in 3 years of a university-based program. The association between quality of life indicators including known stressors, such as financial concerns and balance between school and personal life, and SDA was also investigated. Through an online survey, 437 participants from one mid-western Canadian undergraduate nursing program completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and provided data on quality of life indicators and demographic information. Participants also were invited to provide narrative data about their experiences with SDA. This article will present significant findings including: levels of SDA; comparisons between our sample and a normative sample on the dimensions of SDA; and the results of multiple regression analysis identifying significant predictors of each dimension. Themes from the qualitative comments from 251 of the participants were identified and added depth and clarity to the quantitative findings. The predominant themes represented were: perceptions of clinical practice, coping, personal issues, and balancing school, work, and personal life. Implications and recommendations for curriculum design, ensuring students understand program expectations prior to admission, and enhancing accessibility to mental health/support services need to be considered.
Jordan nilpotency in group rings
Authors: Goodaire Edgar G. , Polcino Milies César
Published: November 2013

We investigate the Jordan nilpotency of a group ring RG and, when
RG has an involution that is the linear extension
of an involution on G, also the Jordan nilpotency of
the symmetric elements in RG.
Covariation between behaviour and physiology indicators of coping style in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Tudorache Christian , Schaaf Marcel J M , Slabbekoorn Hans
Published: November 2013

All vertebrates exhibit physiological responses to a wide variety of stressors. The amplitude and profile of the response depend on the intensity, duration, controllability and predictability of the stressor, but there is also individual variation in the response, termed coping style. A better understanding of the expression of coping styles is of great value for medical applications, animal welfare issues and conservation. Here, we investigated the effect of repeated netting stress on proactive and reactive zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an upcoming model system for stress research. Fish were separated by coping styles according to the order of entering a novel environment. Subsequently, repeated netting stress was applied as stressor, over a period of 21 days. Full-body cortisol levels were determined at 0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after the last repeated stress event. Our results show that reactive fish display i) increased basal cortisol concentrations after being repeatedly stressed, ii) higher cortisol secretion over time and iii) slow recovery of cortisol concentration towards basal levels after the last repeated stress event. This study shows for the first time in zebrafish that different coping styles are associated with different cortisol responses during the recovery from stress over time and that coping styles can explain otherwise unaccounted variation in physiological stress responses.
Ultra Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Ferrogels Prepared Using Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Suthar Kamlesh J. , Ghantasala Muralidhar K. , Mancini Derrick C. , Ilavsky Jan
Published: November 2013

Temperature-sensitive ferrogel prepared using Fe3O4 nanoparticles are characterized under varying temperature conditions. The nanoparticles were distributed in Nisopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) during their polymerization to form hydrogel. Particle distribution and agglomeration characteristics of the prepared ferrogels were investigated using ultra small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) at various temperatures through the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to estimate the particle size distribution. The magnetic property was investigated using direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC-SQUID) under hydrated conditions. The USAXS analysis showed an increase in the volume of particles without changing the agglomeration characteristics as the temperature is increased during the measurements. The ferrogel did not show any sedimentation or particle detachment from the gel under thermal cycling. Details of our results and analysis are presented.
Photodegradation of Polypropylene/ZnO Nanocomposites Films Prepared by Cryomilling under Xenon-arc Radiation
Authors: Bustos-Torres Karen A. , Vázquez-Rodríguez Sofia , Sepulveda-Guzman Selene , Guzmán-Soto Alejandra , Martínez-de la Cruz Azael , Torres-Martínez Leticia M.
Published: November 2013

The photodegradation of polypropylene (PP)/ZnO composites at different concentrations was evaluated under solar simulated exposure of respective nanocomposite films. Nanocomposites were prepared by solid mixing using a cryogenic mill, and then films were prepared by compression molding. All films showed a good dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles without affect considerably the optical properties of the films. The films were exposed in a solar simulation chamber under three xenon arc lamps with a 340nm filter. Degradation of PP/ZnO nanocomposite films was monitored by formation of oxidative groups and changes on surface microstructure. FTIR results showed that oxidation groups in nanocomposites films increased by using cuasi-spherical ZnO nanoparticles.
Comparison of the Electrical Properties of PS-PMMA-MWNT Composites Made by Three Different Fabrication Methods
Authors: Wilson Samual J. , Gerhardt Rosario A.
Published: November 2013

Polystyrene (PS), polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were used to fabricate conductive nanocomposites using various mixing methods, followed by compression molding to analyze their electrical properties. The main objective of this research project was to evaluate how using different mixing techniques alter the composite microstructure and hence the properties of the resultant composite material. Three fabrication techniques were selected to be investigated: mechanical mixing, melt-mixing, and solution mixing. The concentration of the fillers was kept constant at 2 wt% MWNT to simplify comparisons. After mixing, the composite mixtures were compression molded at the same temperature of 180°C. It was found that each mixing method yielded uniquely different AC conductivity profiles which can be attributed to how the fabrication method used affected the arrangement of the CNTs in the composite structure. This newfound control of the electrical properties of the composite materials could definitely be useful to researchers because one can choose the proper fabrication technique based on what properties are desired.
Polysaccharide Nanocomposites Reinforced with Graphene Oxide and Keratin-grafted Graphene Oxide
Authors: González Claramaría , Hernández Ana , Castaño Víctor , Kharissova Oxana , Ruoff Rodney , Velasco-Santos Carlos
Published: November 2013

Nanocomposites of polysaccharide matrices, chitosan-starch and carboxymethyl cellulose-starch reinforced with graphene oxide and graphene grafted with keratin were developed. Composites films had been prepared for the casting/solvent evaporation method. The nanocomposites of chitosan/starch matrix improved substantially their mechanical properties with respect to the film without reinforcing, obtaining an increase of 929 % in the storage modulus (E’ 35°C) with only 0.5 wt% of graphene oxide and outstanding increments in E’ at 150°C and 200°C when keratin grafted graphene oxide is incorporated (0.1 wt%). In contrast, the graphene oxide incorporated into the carboxymethyl cellulose-starch matrix tends to decrease the stiffness of the film behaving in opposite way to nanocomposite of chitosan/starch matrix.
Combined Excitation Emission Spectroscopy of Europium ions in GaN and AlGaN Films
Authors: Dierolf V. , Fleischman Z. , Sandmann C. , Wakahara A. , Fujiwara T. , Munasinghe C. , Steckl A.
Published: November 2013

Site-selective combined excitation emission spectroscopy studies have been performed on Eu-doped GaN and numerous sites have been identified. Relative numbers and broadening of these peaks has been investigated for different growth conditions and for increasing AL content of the AlxGa1-xN alloy.
Landscape assessment of engineered and man-made slopes
Authors: Pozo-Antonio J. Santiago , Alejano Leandro R. , Veiga María , Alberruche Esther
Published: November 2013

There is a broad consensus in society that landscape is an important asset that needs to be protected. In recent decades, although substantial efforts have been invested in better understanding and describing landscape, the inclusion of landscape values in daily decision making in the mining and civil engineering fields is a relatively new notion. In this paper, broadening of the scope of traditional slope design is proposed (i.e. to create stable and economic slopes or retaining walls) to take account of environmental and aesthetic values. For this purpose an indirect landscape assessment method is developed, based on quantitatively rating aspects such as morphology, colour distribution and vegetation, so as to produce a score for landscape quality. The results are compared with those resulting from an online survey based on direct assessment of 30 photographed landscapes, resulting in a reasonably good correlation. This indirect assessment method is also applied to a practical case study of drystone as opposed to concrete retaining walls. Use of this method is recommended as an approach to including environmental and aesthetic values in practices like mining and civil engineering that have traditionally altered landscapes.