bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recasting Genesis in Bronze: Ghiberti's Visual Exegesis in The Gates of Paradise
Authors: LeMon Joel M.
Published: May 2012

The bronze doors of Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378–1455) on the east side of the Baptistery at Florence are composed of ten “Albertian Renaissance windows” that depict scenes from the Old Testament in stunning detail. From an art-historical perspective, these panels demonstrate a significant development in Renaissance art. Rather than depicting a single instant in a biblical narrative, Ghiberti's panels combine multiple scenes into one composite image that conveys critical elements of long and complex stories. In the first of these panels, Ghiberti illustrates God's creation of Adam and Eve, the act of disobedience at the tree, and the expulsion from the garden. Ghiberti's organization of these events, his rendering of the characters, and the various details he includes (and omits) provide a window into the mind of a sophisticated exegete. When modern biblical scholars peer through this window, we note that Eve emerges as the central figure, while Adam is a largely peripheral one. We also note how Ghiberti establishes the literary pericope for his visual exegesis in a way that generally accords with modern source-critical hypotheses about Genesis 1-3. Indeed, by illustrating certain elements of the creation story and excluding others, Ghiberti is practicing de facto source criticism. Furthermore, Ghiberti's portrayal of the various characters in the text presaged twentieth- and twenty-first-century feminist readings of Genesis 1-3, as well as modern literary-critical analysis and ethico-theological critiques.
Do cave salamanders occur randomly in cavities? An analysis with Hydromantes strinatii
Authors: Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Pennati Roberta , Manenti Raoul
Published: May 2012

Underground environments are increasingly recognised as important habitats for the distribution of certain amphibians. However, very few analyses tested whether amphibians occur randomly in underground environments, or they select cavities with specific environmental features. We assessed the distribution of the cave salamanderHydromantes(Speleomantes)strinatiiin an area of NW Italy during summer, and analysed relationships between salamander distribution and multiple cave features, considering parameters describing both the biotic and the abiotic environment. Using visual encounter surveys, species’ detection probability was high, indicating that this technique provides reliable information on distribution. Salamanders were associated to caves with cold and humid microclimate, presence of wet walls, and hosting large numbers ofMetaspiders. The association with less luminous caves was close to significance. Distribution data were not affected by spatial autocorrelation, suggesting that cave features are more important than the proximity to other occupied caves in determining the pattern of occupancy. Caves are heterogeneous environments: cave salamanders are strongly related to the features of underground environments. Food availability and abiotic features are major determinants of suitability for cave salamanders. Inter-correlation among biotic and abiotic cave features makes it complex identifying the role of factors determining species distribution, but quantitative analyses and PCA help to unravel the cave habitat requirements for amphibians.
Assessing patterns of nestedness and co-occurrence in coastal pond anuran assemblages
Authors: Moreira Leonardo Felipe Bairos , Maltchik Leonardo
Published: May 2012

Segregated species co-occurrence and nestedness are two ecological patterns used to measure assemblage structure. We investigated species co-occurrence and nestedness patterns in assemblages of tadpoles and adult anurans in 30 coastal ponds in southern Brazil. Ponds varied in hydroperiod and were classified as temporary or permanent. We explored whether co-occurrence or nestedness varied among ponds in each hydroperiod. Species co-occurrence patterns were analyzed using the C-score index and three null models. In order to quantify nestedness, we used the nestedness metric based on overlap and decreasing fill (NODF). We found seventeen anuran species; however, only 13 species were observed in breeding activity, and 11 species were observed as tadpoles. The co-occurrence and nestedness analyses showed that anuran assemblages exhibit non-random patterns that were generally contingent on the hydroperiod and pond area. Only species in non-breeding adult anurans assemblages showed significant segregation when randomizations were weighted by pond area and the pattern was similar among hydroperiods. Tadpole assemblages of permanent ponds showed an aggregated co-occurrence in weighted-fixed model. In temporary ponds, NODF showed that anuran assemblages were significantly nestedness in all three phases of life cycle. We obtained contrasting results depending on the hydroperiod. These results support the hypothesis that habitat nestedness, due to hydroperiod, might be an important factor structuring anuran assemblages along the different phases of their life cycle.
The Lockean ‘Enough-and-as-Good’ Proviso:  An Internal Critique
Authors: Varden Helga
Published: May 2012

A private property account is central to a liberal theory of justice. Much of the appeal of the Lockean theory stems from its account of the so-called ‘enough-and-as-good’ proviso, a principle which aims to specify each employable person’s fair share of the earth’s material resources. I argue that to date Lockeans have failed to show how the proviso can be applied without thereby undermining a guiding intuition in Lockean theory. This guiding intuition is that by interacting in accordance with the proviso persons interact as free and equal, or as reciprocally subject to the ‘laws of nature’ rather than as subject to one another’s arbitrary will. Because Locke’s own and contemporary Lockean conceptions of the proviso subject some persons to some other persons’ arbitrary will, the proviso so conceived cannot function as it should, namely as a principle that restricts interacting persons’ actions reciprocally and thereby enables Lockean freedom under law.
Doing Well in the Circumstances
Authors: Alexandrova Anna
Published: May 2012

Judgments of well-being across different circumstances and spheres of life exhibit a staggering diversity. Depending on the situation, we use different standards of well-being and even treat it as being constituted by different things. This is true of scientific studies as well as of everyday life. How should we interpret this diversity? I consider three ways of doing so: first, denying the legitimacy of this diversity, second, treating well-being as semantically invariant but differentially realizable, and, third, adopting contextualist semantics for well-being expressions. I reject the first option on the grounds that it is unable to make sense of much of everyday and scientific linguistic practices, and also because it makes the category of well-being insignificant or even otiose for practical purposes. We should thus pick between the second and the third options. I argue that contextualism about well-being is more plausible and faces fewer objections than the differential realization view. I conclude with a discussion of other features of contextualism: it does not imply that well-being is relative to individual taste, it need not result in eliminativism about well-being, nor in scepticism about a general theory of well-being. It does not commit us to an “anything goes” approach, nor does it threaten anarchy and miscommunication.
Causal Legal Semantics: A Critical Assessment
Authors: Flanagan Brian
Published: May 2012

A provision’s legal meaning is thought by many to be a function of its literal meaning. To explain the appearance that lawyers are arguing over a provision’s legal meaning and not just over which outcome would be more prudent or morally preferable, some legal literalists claim that a provision’s literal meaning may be causally, rather than conventionally, determined. I argue, first, that the proposed explanation is inconsistent with common intuitions about legal meaning; second, that explaining legal disagreement as a function of the causally determined meanings of moral terms requires, but lacks, a causal semantics which is clearly consistent with the scope of moral disagreement. Finally, I suggest that an element of the theory of language invoked by ‘causal’ legal literalists might be better deployed as part of an intentionalist account of legal practice.
What Is Political Philosophy?
Authors: Larmore Charles
Published: May 2012

What is political philosophy’s relation to moral philosophy? Does it simply form part of moral philosophy, focusing on the proper application of certain moral truths to political reality? Or must it instead form a more autonomous discipline, drawing its bearings from the specifically political problem of determining the bounds of legitimate coercion? In this essay I work out an answer to these questions by examining both some of the classical views on the nature of political philosophy and, more particularly, some recently published writings by Bernard Williams and G.A. Cohen.
Reasons, Answers, and Goals
Authors: Turri John
Published: May 2012

I discuss two arguments against the view that reasons are propositions. I consider responses to each argument, including recent responses due to Mark Schroeder, and suggest further responses of my own. In each case, the discussion proceeds by comparing reasons to answers and goals.
Two Experiments on Using a Scintillometer to Infer the Surface Fluxes of Momentum and Sensible Heat
Authors: Andreas Edgar L
Published: May 2012

A traditional use of scintillometry is to infer path-averaged values of the turbulent surface fluxes of sensible heat Hs and momentum τ (, where ρ is air density and u* is the friction velocity). Many scintillometer setups, however, measure only the path-averaged refractive-index structure parameter ; the wind information necessary for inferring u* and Hs comes from point measurements or is absent. The Scintec AG SLS20 surface-layer scintillometer system, however, measures both and the inner scale of turbulence ℓ0, where ℓ0 is related to the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy ɛ. The SLS20 is thus presumed to provide path-averaged estimates of both u* and Hs. This paper describes comparisons between SLS20-derived estimates of u* and Hs and simultaneous eddy-covariance measurements of these quantities during two experiments: one, over Arctic sea ice; and a second, over a midlatitude land site during spring. For both experiments, the correlation between scintillometer and eddy-covariance fluxes is reasonable: correlation coefficients are typically above 0.7 for the better-quality data. For both experiments, though, the scintillometer usually underestimates u* and underestimates the magnitude of Hs when compared with the corresponding eddy-covariance values. The data also tend to be more scattered when < 10−14 m−2/3: the signal-to-noise ratio for scintillometer-derived fluxes decreases as decreases. An essential question that arises during these comparisons is what similarity functions to use for inferring fluxes from the scintillometer and ℓ0 measurements. The paper thus closes by evaluating whether any of four candidate sets of similarity functions is consistent with the scintillometer data.
Excitation of Rainfall over the Tropical Western Pacific
Authors: Li Yanping , Carbone R. E.
Published: May 2012

The authors have examined 4 years of satellite-derived SST and rainfall data in anticipation of a relationship between SST structure and the excitation of convective rainfall. The results exhibit a strong excitation signal consistent with the presence of mesoscale SST gradients in about 75% of approximately 10 000 rainfall onset events. Rainfall onset events occur at locations with enhanced horizontal convergence, as inferred by the Laplacian of SST on scales of order 100 km. The daily SST field exhibits multiscale patchiness, spanning a 2+°C range. The signal is disproportionately large at SSTs that are 0.25°C above the mean, near 29.5°C; disproportionately weak for SST ≤ 28.8°C; and proportionately neutral for SST ≥ 30.3°C. The calculations suggest that a characteristic strength of this lower-boundary forcing (~3 × 10−5 s−1) is approximately one order of magnitude stronger than the mean regional background forcing (~3 × 10−6 s−1). The periphery of warm oceanic patches exhibits both convergent and divergent Laplacian values of similar frequency and magnitude; however, rainfall onset favors the locally convergent locations by a 3:1 ratio.
Influence of El Niño on Midtropospheric CO2 from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Model
Authors: Jiang Xun , Wang Jingqian , Olsen Edward T. , Liang Maochang , Pagano Thomas S. , Chen Luke L. , Licata Stephen J. , Yung Yuk L.
Published: May 2012

The authors investigate the influence of El Niño on midtropospheric CO2 from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and the Model for Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers, version 2 (MOZART-2). AIRS midtropospheric CO2 data are used to study the temporal and spatial variability of CO2 in response to El Niño. CO2 differences between the central and western Pacific Ocean correlate well with the Southern Oscillation index. To reveal the temporal and spatial variability of the El Niño signal in the AIRS midtropospheric CO2, a multiple regression method is applied to the CO2 data from September 2002 to February 2011. There is more (less) midtropospheric CO2 in the central Pacific and less (more) midtropospheric CO2 in the western Pacific during El Niño (La Niña) events. Similar results are seen in the MOZART-2 convolved midtropospheric CO2, although the El Niño signal in the MOZART-2 is weaker than that in the AIRS data.
The Effect of a Well-Resolved Stratosphere on Surface Climate: Differences between CMIP5 Simulations with High and Low Top Versions of the Met Office Climate Model
Authors: Hardiman S. C. , Butchart N. , Hinton T. J. , Osprey S. M. , Gray L. J.
Published: May 2012

The importance of using a general circulation model that includes a well-resolved stratosphere for climate simulations, and particularly the influence this has on surface climate, is investigated. High top model simulations are run with the Met Office Unified Model for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). These simulations are compared to equivalent simulations run using a low top model differing only in vertical extent and vertical resolution above 15 km. The period 1960–2002 is analyzed and compared to observations and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis dataset. Long-term climatology, variability, and trends in surface temperature and sea ice, along with the variability of the annular mode index, are found to be insensitive to the addition of a well-resolved stratosphere. The inclusion of a well-resolved stratosphere, however, does improve the impact of atmospheric teleconnections on surface climate, in particular the response to El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the quasi-biennial oscillation, and midwinter stratospheric sudden warmings (i.e., zonal mean wind reversals in the middle stratosphere). Thus, including a well-represented stratosphere could improve climate simulation on intraseasonal to interannual time scales.
Finescale Structure of the LaGrange, Wyoming, Tornado during VORTEX2: GBVTD and Photogrammetric Analyses
Authors: Wakimoto Roger M. , Stauffer Phillip , Lee Wen-Chau , Atkins Nolan T. , Wurman Joshua
Published: May 2012

A ground-based velocity track display (GBVTD) analysis of the LaGrange, Wyoming, tornado on 5 June 2009 during the Second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) is photogrammetrically combined with a series of pictures of the funnel cloud. This analysis reveals the relationship between the vertical velocity, radial and tangential velocities, perturbation pressure, vertical vorticity, and angular momentum with the visual features of the tornado. An intense axial downdraft was evident and was supported by a downward-directed perturbation pressure gradient. The radial inflow at low levels was weak and difficult to retrieve owing to a combination of centrifuging of hydrometeors/debris in the intense circulation and the inability of the radar beam to fully resolve the flow. The tornado was weakening during the analysis period, which was supported by angular momentum being advected out of the tornado.

The availability of a dual-Doppler wind synthesis for this tornadic event provided a unique opportunity to assess the assumptions in the GBVTD methodology. The analysis suggests that the simplified GBVTD equations that have been applied in past studies of tornadoes are not appropriate in the present case. The most accurate retrieval of the radial velocities requires that a higher-order term that is typically neglected be retained. A quantitative assessment of the impact of centrifuging of hydrometeors on the synthesized wind field was attempted. The results suggest that the radial and vertical velocity profile near and within the tornado core can be significantly altered for tornadoes (EF2) that are accompanied by a small radius of maximum wind and relatively weaker low-level inflow.
Validity of a Brief Interview for Assessing Reflective Function
Authors: Rutimann Daniel D. , Meehan Kevin B.
Published: May 2012

The Reflective Function Scale was developed by Fonagy and colleagues (1998) to empirically measure the capacity to mentalize thoughts, intentions, feelings, and beliefs about oneself and others. Reflective Function (RF) has been reliably measured by the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; Main and Goldwyn 1998), but its length (45–90 minutes) and the labor required to administer, transcribe, and code for RF may be prohibitive for many research studies. The present study measured the reliability and validity of the Brief Reflective Function Interview (BRFI; Rudden, Milrod, and Target 2005) by administering it to 27 undergraduate participants previously assessed using the AAI in another research study (Morrison 2010). The BRFI was coded reliably by two independent raters (ICC = .79) and yielded a highly significant positive correlation ( r = .71) between RF scores obtained by BRFI and by AAI. The average administration time of the BRFI ( M = 24.15 minutes) was significantly shorter than that of the AAI ( M = 44.65 minutes). These findings suggest that the BRFI may offer a reliable, valid, and streamlined alternative to the AAI as a measure for coding RF.
‘Our community is the worst’: The influence of cultural beliefs on stigma, relationships with family and help-seeking in three ethnic communities in London
Authors: Shefer Guy , Rose Diana , Nellums Laura , Thornicroft Graham , Henderson Claire , Evans-Lacko Sara
Published: May 2012

Background:

Existing knowledge about the cultural beliefs of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in the UK regarding stigma and mental illness is limited.

Material:

Data were collected in 10 focus groups, five with service users and five with laypersons, from BME communities in London.

Discussion:

Thematic analysis identified that cultural beliefs regarding mental illness reflect four different voices present within the BME communities.

Conclusion:

The study revealed that cultural beliefs influencing both relationships with family and, consequently, help-seeking for individuals with mental illness must be considered in the development of anti-stigma interventions and when engaging communities around mental health.
Academic Underperformance of Indian Universities, Incompatible Academic Culture and the Societal Context1
Authors: Patel Pravin J.
Published: May 2012

Recent international rankings of world universities and institutions of higher learning reveal deplorable state of Indian universities. It is argued in this article that since effective functioning of a university is judged by the extent to which it has been successful in achieving its academic goals and in conforming to the accompanying value system and normative complex, underperformance of Indian academic institutions demonstrate insufficient cultivation of the culture supportive to academic excellence. Further, it is asserted that the overwhelming influence of social milieu on Indian academic institutions is not conducive to academic culture compatible to the quest for academic excellence in India, and that proactive role of the academic community can mitigate, to some extent, the impact of this milieu.
Irrigation Development: A Process of Land Degradation and Marginalisation of the Land Poor
Authors: Rizvi Firdaus Fatima
Published: May 2012

This article looks into the instances of growing waterlogging, which is a negative externality of the developmental process (canal irrigation) that has affected the marginalised sections to a greater extent, who mostly depend on land for livelihood and self-sustenance. Land-use pattern has undergone a tremendous transformation due to irrigation development in terms of increase in fallow and culturable waste lands. Fertility of the land has considerably been reduced: agricultural production has gone down, animals and trees have been diminished, livelihood and employment opportunities have declined, largely affecting the Other Backward Castes and Scheduled Castes living in its lower catchments that have sub-marginal landholdings and are historically marginalised, thus leading to higher incidence of migration among the local inhabitants of the basin.

The study recommends how integrated land and water development programmes at village level could improve land utilisation pattern. These changes would indirectly increase agricultural productivity, enhance livelihood of the farmers and the local communities by increasing employment and livelihood activities at village level. The employment scheme National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) would be of crucial importance in managing water resources and enhancing land development simultaneously.
Cognitive deficit in first-time coronary artery bypass graft patients: a randomized clinical trial of lidocaine versus procaine hydrochloride
Authors: Ghafari R , Baradari A Gholipour , Firouzian A , Nouraei M , Aarabi M , Zamani A , Zeydi A Emami
Published: May 2012

Introduction:

Cognitive dysfunction increasingly has been recognized as a complication after cardiac surgery. Different methods have been considered for the reduction of cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery. One of these methods is by using lidocaine during surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of adding lidocaine to the cardioplegia solution on cognitive impairment after coronary artery surgery.

Design and methods:

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial, 110 patients aged between 20-70 years, scheduled for elective CABG surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass, were recruited into the study. They were randomized into two groups who received either cardioplegia solution containing lidocaine 2 mg/kg or procaine hydrochloride 5 mg/kg. The neurocognitive test used in this study was the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Folstein test. The test was done on the day before and 10 days and 2 months after the operation.

Results:

In the procaine group, the total score after 10 days decreased significantly compared to the preoperative score (mean difference 0.68; 95% CI: 0.20 to 1.17, p=0.006). Comparison between mean differences after 10 and 60 days of operation between the lidocaine and procaine groups were statistically significant, p-value 0.017 and 0.013, respectively. There was no cognitive impairment in the lidocaine group, but, in the procaine group, four patients (7.7%) after 10 days and one patient (1.9%) after both 10 and 60 days had cognitive impairment, p=0.051.

Conclusions:

Administration of lidocaine compared to that of procaine through the cardioplegia solution had a better effect on cognitive function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
A Latent Class Analysis of Maternal Responsiveness and Autonomy-Granting in Early Adolescence
Authors: Lanza H. Isabella , Huang David Y. C. , Murphy Debra A. , Hser Yih-Ing
Published: May 2012

The present study sought to extend empirical inquiry related to the role of parenting on adolescent sexual risk-taking by using latent class analysis (LCA) to identify patterns of adolescent-reported mother responsiveness and autonomy-granting in early adolescence and examine associations with sexual risk-taking in mid- and late-adolescence. Utilizing a sample of 12- to 14-year-old adolescents ( N = 4,743) from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97), results identified a four-class model of maternal responsiveness and autonomy-granting: low responsiveness/high autonomy-granting, moderate responsiveness/moderate autonomy-granting, high responsiveness/low autonomy-granting, high responsiveness/moderate autonomy-granting. Membership in the low responsiveness/high autonomy-granting class predicted greater sexual risk-taking in mid- and late-adolescence compared to all other classes, and membership in the high responsiveness/ moderate autonomy-granting class predicted lower sexual risk-taking. Gender and ethnic differences in responsiveness and autonomy-granting class membership were also found, potentially informing gender and ethnic disparities of adolescent sexual risk-taking.
Reality Bites
Authors: Lefkowitz Rafael Y. , Taylor Jamie , Balfe David
Published: May 2012

Rattlesnake venoms can cause a wide range of adverse human health effects. However, with the availability of modern antivenin, toxicity can generally be minimized and controlled. We present a rare case of rattlesnake envenomation resulting in severe systemic effects and syndrome relapse. Management considerations and patient course are described in the context of the current literature.
Synthesis and characterization of organo-soluble polyimides containing phthalazinone and bicarbazole moieties in the main chain
Authors: Wang Jianyan , Liu Cheng , Su Guixian , Jian Xigao
Published: May 2012

Organo-soluble aromatic polyimides with good comprehensive properties are favorable for insulating layer material applications in flexible copper-clad laminates. A novel aromatic diamine, bis( N-4-amine-phenyl)-3,3′-bicarbazole (BCZDA) was firstly successfully synthesized. The structure of BCZDA was definitely confirmed via Fourier transform infrared and 1H-NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Then a series of soluble polyimides were prepared from BCZDA and the diamine containing phthalazinone moiety as coreactant by one-pot solution copolycondensation with two kinds of anhydrides, 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and 2-bis[4-(3,4- dicarboxyphenoxy) phenyl] propane dianhydride in sulfolane. Experimental results indicated that all the copolyimides having the glass transition temperature in range of 295 to 304 °C exhibited good solubility in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), m-cresol, and N, N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc). Their onset temperatures at 5% weight loss were all higher than 505 °C in nitrogen. Their flexible films cast in NMP exhibited good adhesive property (2.32–3.42 N mm−1) to copper foil and had good mechanical properties with the tensile strength of 69.5–79.3 MPa, elongation to break of 16–23% , and tensile modulus of 1.2–1.5 GPa. The copolyimides possessed dielectric constants of 3.08–3.26 (100 kHz) and low water absorption in the range of 0.92–1.06%, indicating that these obtained copolyimides are good candidates for the fields of microelectronics.
Auditory-Filter Characteristics for Listeners With Real and Simulated Hearing Impairment
Authors: Desloge Joseph G. , Reed Charlotte M. , Braida Louis D. , Perez Zachary D. , Delhorne Lorraine A.
Published: May 2012

Functional simulation of sensorineural hearing impairment is an important research tool that can elucidate the nature of hearing impairments and suggest or eliminate compensatory signal-processing schemes. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the capability of an audibility-based functional simulation of hearing loss to reproduce the auditory-filter characteristics of listeners with sensorineural hearing loss. The hearing-loss simulation used either threshold-elevating noise alone or a combination of threshold-elevating noise and multiband expansion to reproduce the audibility-based characteristics of the loss (including detection thresholds, dynamic range, and loudness recruitment). The hearing losses of 10 listeners with bilateral, mild-to-severe hearing loss were simulated in 10 corresponding groups of 3 age-matched normal-hearing listeners. Frequency selectivity was measured using a notched-noise masking paradigm at five probe frequencies in the range of 250 to 4000 Hz with a fixed probe level of either 70 dB SPL or 8 dB SL (whichever was greater) and probe duration of 200 ms. The hearing-loss simulation reproduced the absolute thresholds of individual hearing-impaired listeners with an average root-mean-squared (RMS) difference of 2.2 dB and the notched-noise masked thresholds with an RMS difference of 5.6 dB. A rounded-exponential model of the notched-noise data was used to estimate equivalent rectangular bandwidths and slopes of the auditory filters. For some subjects and probe frequencies, the simulations were accurate in reproducing the auditory-filter characteristics of the hearing-impaired listeners. In other cases, however, the simulations underestimated the magnitude of the auditory bandwidths for the hearing-impaired listeners, which suggests the possibility of suprathreshold deficits.
Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder symptomatology and related behavioural characteristics in individuals with Down syndrome
Authors: Moss Jo , Richards Caroline , Nelson Lisa , Oliver Chris
Published: May 2012

We evaluated the proportion of individuals with Down syndrome (DS: N = 108) who met criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on the Social Communication Questionnaire and the severity of ASD-related symptomatology in this group. The proportions of individuals with DS meeting the cut-off for ASD and autism in this sample were 19% and 8%, respectively. We then evaluated the behavioural profile of individuals with DS who scored above cut-off for ASD (DS+ASD; N = 17) compared with those with DS-only (N = 17) and individuals with idiopathic ASD (N = 17), matched for adaptive behaviour skills and ASD symptom severity (ASD group only). Individuals in the DS+ASD and ASD-only groups showed more stereotyped behaviour, repetitive language, overactivity and self-injury than the DS-only group (p < .001). Individuals in the DS+ASD and DS-only groups appeared less withdrawn from their surroundings than those with ASD (p < .004). These findings indicate differences in the behavioural and cognitive profile of individuals with DS+ASD compared with those with DS-only, when controlling for adaptive behaviour skills. Individuals with DS+ASD show broad similarities with individuals with idiopathic ASD with regard to ASD and behavioural characteristics but may also show some areas of subtle difference from this group.
The effect of lycopene treatment on ACE activity in rats with experimental diabetes
Authors: Ozmutlu Serif , Dede Semiha , Ceylan Ebubekir
Published: May 2012

In this study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant known as lycopene was applied to rats with experimental diabetes with the aim of investigating the detection of diabetes-related complications, and to determine the possible role of lycopene in diabetes complications regarding the effects of ACE activity. In order to induce diabetes in rats in the diabetes (D) and diabetes+lycopene (DL) groups, rats were given 45 mg/kg single-dose streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally (i.p.); lycopene (10 mg/kg/day dissolved in sunflower oil) was administered to the rats in the lycopene-only (L) and DL groups. Blood glucose levels and HbA1c% in diabetes+lycopene group and diabetes group increased (p <0.05) compared to control and only lycopene treated group. The highest level of ACE activity was observed in the (D) group ( p < 0.05). Activity in the (L) group was also significantly greater than in the control group ( p < 0.05). The (DL) group had lower ( p < 0.05). ACE activity than the (D) group. Lycopene implementation was found to be effective in the inhibition of ACE activity, an important indicator of diabetes-related complications.
Efficacy of VBHOM to Predict Outcome Following Major Lower Limb Amputation
Authors: Patterson Andrew J. , Degnan Andrew J. , Walsh Stewart R. , Eltayeb Mohammed , Scout Earl F. , Clarke James M. F. , Wilson Yvonne G. , Tang Tjun Y.
Published: May 2012

Purpose: This study tests an existing Vascular Biochemistry and Haematology Outcome Model (VBHOM) on independent data and presents further refinements to the model. Methods: Data from 306 patients who underwent lower limb amputation over a 4-year period were collated. Urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, hemoglobin, white cell count, albumin, age, gender, mode-of-admission, and short-term mortality events were extracted from the database. This study tests an existing model and trains a new model for predicting mortality using forward stepwise logistic regression. Results: The existing model suggests a significant lack of fit (c-index = 0.665, P = .04). For the exception of gender and mode-of-admission, all predictor variables had significant univariate associations with short-term mortality ( P < .05). The refined model included age, sodium, potassium, creatinine, and albumin and had good discriminatory power (c-index = 0.8, no evidence of lack of fit, P = .616). Conclusions: Our simplified model had good predictive ability and suggests redundancy in input variables used by the existing models.
Technical Advances With Newer Aortic Endografts Provide Additional Support to Withhold the Early Endovascular Repair of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Until it is Really Needed.
Authors: Georgakarakos Efstratios , Georgiadis George S. , Nikolopoulos Evagelos , Trellopoulos George , Kapoulas Konstantinos , Lazarides Miltos
Published: May 2012

The idea of early endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) of “small” abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has gained attention over “watchful waiting,” mostly due to the concern for losing the anatomic suitability for endovascular repair over time. Generally, small AAAs have longer, smaller, less angulated necks, and less tortuous iliac arteries than larger ones. Though the borderline anatomic characteristics were assumed to be contraindications for older generation endografts, the modifications of modern devices seem promising to overcome those limitations, in order to treat the small AAAs when reaching the 5.5 cm threshold. Moreover, early endovascular intervention has been proven neither cost effective nor beneficial for the patients’ quality of life. This article evaluates the technical progress that could overcome the difficulties of those small AAAs that present technically demanding anatomies, thus advocating endovascular intervention when they reach the diameter threshold.
Client Satisfaction with HIV Counseling Services
Authors: Papanna Mohan K. , Kumar Pawan , Shetty Avinash , Kamath Asha , Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan , Saddichha Sahoo
Published: May 2012

Background:

Client satisfaction is a good predictor of performance of health programs. Hence, clients’ perception and satisfaction studies provide insight to improve the program.

Purpose:

To assess clients’ perception and satisfaction with Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) for HIV in an operational setting.

Methods:

A total of 191 client exit interviews from 12 ICTCs. The clients were stratified into general and antenatal clients. A systematic random sampling was done at high client load centers.

Results:

Cumulative client satisfaction was found to be 60% (±24%). Most of the clients (76%) agreed that counseling cleared doubts about HIV and found counseling beneficial (71%). Only 32% of the clients could recall issues discussed during the sessions. However, 92.5% were satisfied with ICTC facilities.

Conclusions:

Poor perception and low satisfaction with ICTCs needs to be addressed as this could have a direct bearing on the program.
Customer Preferences for Online, Social Media, and Mobile Innovations in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Verma Rohit , Stock Debra , McCarthy Laura
Published: May 2012

The study discussed here summarizes the internet search preferences and mobile device use of 2,830 recent travelers. With regard to gathering information for a hotel stay, business travelers most often follow their company’s recommendation for a hotel, although many of them use search engines or online travel agents to learn more about available hotels. In contrast, recommendations of friends and colleagues are most important to leisure travelers, followed by travel-related websites, search engines, and OTAs. Once the information is gathered, however, travelers of all kinds turn more to such sources as the brand website, OTAs, and TripAdvisor. Late in the decision process, the respondents tended to land on the brand websites or go to an OTA, where they can book their room.
Molecular evolution of pentatricopeptide repeat genes reveals truncation in species lacking an editing target and structural domains under distinct selective pressures
Authors: Hayes Michael L , Giang Karolyn , Mulligan R Michael
Published: May 2012

Background

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are required for numerous RNA processing events in plant organelles including C-to-U editing, splicing, stabilization, and cleavage. Fifteen PPR proteins are known to be required for RNA editing at 21 sites in Arabidopsis chloroplasts, and belong to the PLS class of PPR proteins. In this study, we investigate the co-evolution of four PPR genes (CRR4, CRR21, CLB19, and OTP82) and their six editing targets in Brassicaceae species. PPR genes are composed of approximately 10 to 20 tandem repeats and each repeat has two α-helical regions, helix A and helix B, that are separated by short coil regions. Each repeat and structural feature was examined to determine the selective pressures on these regions.

Results

All of the PPR genes examined are under strong negative selection. Multiple independent losses of editing site targets are observed for both CRR21 and OTP82. In several species lacking the known editing target for CRR21, PPR genes are truncated near the 17th PPR repeat. The coding sequences of the truncated CRR21 genes are maintained under strong negative selection; however, the 3’ UTR sequences beyond the truncation site have substantially diverged. Phylogenetic analyses of four PPR genes show that sequences corresponding to helix A are high compared to helix B sequences. Differential evolutionary selection of helix A versus helix B is observed in both plant and mammalian PPR genes.

Conclusion

PPR genes and their cognate editing sites are mutually constrained in evolution. Editing sites are frequently lost by replacement of an edited C with a genomic T. After the loss of an editing site, the PPR genes are observed with three outcomes: first, few changes are detected in some cases; second, the PPR gene is present as a pseudogene; and third, the PPR gene is present but truncated in the C-terminal region. The retention of truncated forms of CRR21 that are maintained under strong negative selection even in the absence of an editing site target suggests that unrecognized function(s) might exist for this PPR protein. PPR gene sequences that encode helix A are under strong selection, and could be involved in RNA substrate recognition.
Development and application of a 6.5 million feature Affymetrix Genechip® for massively parallel discovery of single position polymorphisms in lettuce (Lactuca spp.)
Authors: Stoffel Kevin , van Leeuwen Hans , Kozik Alexander , Caldwell David , Ashrafi Hamid , Cui Xinping , Tan Xiaoping , Hill Theresa , Reyes-Chin-Wo Sebastian , Truco Maria-Jose , Michelmore Richard W , Van Deynze Allen
Published: May 2012

Background

High-resolution genetic maps are needed in many crops to help characterize the genetic diversity that determines agriculturally important traits. Hybridization to microarrays to detect single feature polymorphisms is a powerful technique for marker discovery and genotyping because of its highly parallel nature. However, microarrays designed for gene expression analysis rarely provide sufficient gene coverage for optimal detection of nucleotide polymorphisms, which limits utility in species with low rates of polymorphism such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

Results

We developed a 6.5 million feature Affymetrix GeneChip® for efficient polymorphism discovery and genotyping, as well as for analysis of gene expression in lettuce. Probes on the microarray were designed from 26,809 unigenes from cultivated lettuce and an additional 8,819 unigenes from four related species (L. serriola,L. saligna,L. virosaandL. perennis). Where possible, probes were tiled with a 2 bp stagger, alternating on each DNA strand; providing an average of 187 probes covering approximately 600 bp for each of over 35,000 unigenes; resulting in up to 13 fold redundancy in coverage per nucleotide. We developed protocols for hybridization of genomic DNA to the GeneChip® and refined custom algorithms that utilized coverage from multiple, high quality probes to detect single position polymorphisms in 2 bp sliding windows across each unigene. This allowed us to detect greater than 18,000 polymorphisms between the parental lines of our core mapping population, as well as numerous polymorphisms between cultivated lettuce and wild species in the lettuce genepool. Using marker data from our diversity panel comprised of 52 accessions from the five species listed above, we were able to separate accessions by species using both phylogenetic and principal component analyses. Additionally, we estimated the diversity between different types of cultivated lettuce and distinguished morphological types.

Conclusion

By hybridizing genomic DNA to a custom oligonucleotide array designed for maximum gene coverage, we were able to identify polymorphisms using two approaches for pair-wise comparisons, as well as a highly parallel method that compared all 52 genotypes simultaneously.
miRFANs: an integrated database for Arabidopsis thalianamicroRNA function annotations
Authors: Liu Hui , Jin Ting , Liao Ruiqi , Wan Linxia , Xu Bin , Zhou Shuigeng , Guan Jihong
Published: May 2012

Background

Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have been revealed to play important roles in developmental control, hormone secretion, cell differentiation and proliferation, and response to environmental stresses. However, our knowledge about the regulatory mechanisms and functions of miRNAs remains very limited. The main difficulties lie in two aspects. On one hand, the number of experimentally validated miRNA targets is very limited and the predicted targets often include many false positives, which constrains us to reveal the functions of miRNAs. On the other hand, the regulation of miRNAs is known to be spatio-temporally specific, which increases the difficulty for us to understand the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs.

Description

In this paper we present miRFANs, an online database for Arabidopsis thaliana
miRNA function annotations. We integrated various type of datasets, including miRNA-target interactions, transcription factor (TF) and their targets, expression profiles, genomic annotations and pathways, into a comprehensive database, and developed various statistical and mining tools, together with a user-friendly web interface. For each miRNA target predicted by psRNATarget, TargetAlign and UEA target-finder, or recorded in TarBase and miRTarBase, the effect of its up-regulated or down-regulated miRNA on the expression level of the target gene is evaluated by carrying out differential expression analysis of both miRNA and targets expression profiles acquired under the same (or similar) experimental condition and in the same tissue. Moreover, each miRNA target is associated with gene ontology and pathway terms, together with the target site information and regulating miRNAs predicted by different computational methods. These associated terms may provide valuable insight for the functions of each miRNA.

Conclusion

First, a comprehensive collection of miRNA targets for Arabidopsis thaliana provides valuable information about the functions of plant miRNAs. Second, a highly informative miRNA-mediated genetic regulatory network is extracted from our integrative database. Third, a set of statistical and mining tools is equipped for analyzing and mining the database. And fourth, a user-friendly web interface is developed to facilitate the browsing and analysis of the collected data.
Current practices of partner notification among MSM with HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis in the Netherlands: an urgent need for improvement
Authors: van Aar Fleur , Schreuder Imke , van Weert Yolanda , Spijker Ralph , Götz Hannelore , Op de Coul Eline ,   the Partner Notification Group
Published: May 2012

Background

Partner notification (PN) among individuals newly diagnosed with HIV/STI is seen as a vital tool to identify others at risk of infection. However, hardly any data are available on the effectiveness of PN on HIV/STI transmission in the Netherlands. This study aims to fill this gap by assessing current PN practices, case-finding effectiveness, and determinants of being notified among men having sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands.

Methods

Nurses from five STI centers participated in a prospective pilot study on PN outcomes (partners being: at risk, notifiable, notified, and tested) for HIV/STI, by completing a newly developed PN registration form (PN database). PN outcomes including case-finding effectiveness (number of newly diagnosed cases in partners/number of partners being tested) for HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhoea were studied among MSM. Furthermore, the national STI database was analyzed to identify determinants of being notified. The number of infections that remained undetected was estimated based on these two databases.

Results

In total 105 MSM, newly diagnosed with HIV/STI, reported 612 sexual partners at risk of whom 41% were notifiable and 31% were notified. Patient referral was the predominant PN method (90%). The overall case-finding percentage was 36% (HIV: 15-33%, gonorrhoea: 17-50% and syphilis: 4-11%). Case-finding percentages were lower in the national STI database: 21% (5%, 28%, 12%). Persons with one or more sexual partners, known HIV positives, and IDU were more likely to be notified to the STI clinic. Notified clients were more likely to have HIV/STI than unnotified clients (OR 1.7-2.5). Based on these two databases, an estimated 75 to 133 infections remained undetected (HIV: 12–90; gonorrhoea: 28–97; syphilis: 5–12 infections).

Conclusions

Partner notification among MSM in the Netherlands is suboptimal; an extensive number of STI/HIV infections remained undetected mainly due to unnotifiable partners. To enhance PN practices, combined and innovative PN interventions such as Internet-based PN will be implemented for hard-to-reach MSM and other risk groups.
“Blind periods” in screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy in Austria – a debate
Authors: Sagel Ulrich , Krämer Alexander , Mikolajczyk Rafael T
Published: May 2012

Recent studies from Austria, France and Italy have shown that there is a poor adherence to the screening scheme for maternal Toxoplasma infections in pregnancy demonstrated by the fact that many recommended examinations are missed. This leads to undetected infections and limits our knowledge of incidence of the disease. We discuss the negative consequences of this situation on research on treatment effectiveness and the outcomes of congenital toxoplasmosis. The responsible public health institutions should assume responsibility for appropriate surveillance of the screening programme and take measures to improve screening adherence during pregnancy. Screening should start as early as possible in pregnancy and the latest test should be done at delivery. Screening schedule should allow distinguishing infections from the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, as the risk of materno-foetal transmission and outcomes in case of foetal infections varies by time.