bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retracted: Three BUB1 and BUBR1/MAD3‐related spindle assembly checkpoint proteins are required for accurate mitosis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Paganelli Laetitia , Caillaud Marie‐Cécile , Quentin Michaël , Damiani Isabelle , Govetto Benjamin , Lecomte Philippe , Karpov Pavel A. , Abad Pierre , Chabouté Marie‐Edith , Favery Bruno
Published: September 2014

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a refined surveillance mechanism which ensures that chromosomes undergoing mitosis do not segregate until they are properly attached to the spindle microtubules (MT). The SAC has been extensively studied in metazoans and yeast, but little is known about its role in plants.

We identified proteins interacting with a MT‐associated protein MAP65‐3, which plays a critical role in organising mitotic MT arrays, and carried out a functional analysis of previously and newly identified SAC components.

We show that Arabidopsis SAC proteins BUB3.1, MAD2, BUBR1/MAD3s and BRK1 interact with each other and with MAP65‐3. We found that two BUBR1/MAD3s interacted specifically at centromeres. When stably expressed in Arabidopsis, BRK1 localised to the kinetochores during all stages of the mitotic cell cycle. Early in mitosis, BUB3.1 and BUBR1/MAD3.1 localise to the mitotic spindle, where MAP65‐3 organises spindle MTs. A double‐knockout mad3.1 mad3.2 mutant presented spindle MT abnormalities, chromosome misalignments on the metaphase plate and the production of lagging chromosomes and micronuclei during mitosis.

We conclude that BRK1 and BUBR1/MAD3‐related proteins play a key role in ensuring faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis and that their interaction with MAP65‐3 may be important for the regulation of MT‐chromosome attachment.
The Clp protease system is required for copper ion‐dependent turnover of the PAA2/HMA8 copper transporter in chloroplasts
Authors: Tapken Wiebke , Kim Jitae , Nishimura Kenji , van Wijk Klaas J. , Pilon Marinus
Published: September 2014

The distribution of essential metal ions over subcellular compartments for use as cofactors requires control of membrane transporters. PAA2/HMA8 is a copper‐transporting P1B‐type ATPase in the thylakoid membrane, required for the maturation of plastocyanin. When copper is highly available to the plant this transporter is degraded, which implies the action of a protease.

In order to identify the proteolytic machinery responsible for PAA2/HMA8 turnover in Arabidopsis, mutant lines defective in five different chloroplast protease systems were analyzed.

Plants defective in the chloroplast caseinolytic protease (Clp) system were specifically impaired in PAA2/HMA8 protein turnover on media containing elevated copper concentrations. However, the abundance of a core Clp component was not directly affected by copper. Furthermore, the expression and activity of both cytosolic and chloroplast‐localized superoxide dismutases (SODs), which are known to be dependent on copper, were not altered in the clp mutants, indicating that the loss of PAA2/HMA8 turnover in these lines was not caused by a lack of stromal copper.

The results suggest that copper excess in the stroma triggers selection of the thylakoid‐localized PAA2 transporter for degradation by the Clp protease, but not several other chloroplast proteases, and support a novel role for this proteolytic system in cellular copper homeostasis.
Problem of time: facets and Machian strategy
Authors: Anderson Edward
Published: September 2014

The problem of time is that “time” in each of ordinary quantum theory and general relativity are mutually incompatible notions. This causes difficulties in trying to put these two theories together to form a theory of quantum gravity. The problem of time has eight facets in canonical approaches. I clarify that all but one of these facets already occur at the classical level, and reconceptualize and re‐name some of these facets as follows. The frozen formalism problem becomes temporal relationalism, the thin sandwich problem becomes configurational relationalism, via the notion of best matching. The problem of observables becomes the problem of beables, and the functional evolution problem becomes the constraint closure problem. I also outline how each of the global and multiple‐choice problems of time have their own plurality of facets. This article additionally contains a local resolution to the problem of time at the conceptual level and which is actually realizable for the relational triangle and minisuperspace models. This resolution is, moreover, Machian, and has three levels: classical, semiclassical, and a combined semiclassical–histories–timeless records scheme. I end by delineating the current frontiers of this program toward resolution of the problem of time in the cases of full general relativity and of slightly inhomogeneous cosmology.
Neurophysiology of the esophagus
Authors: Brock Christina , Brokjær Anne , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr , Farmer Adam D. , Frøkjær Jens Brøndum , Gregersen Hans , Lottrup Christian
Published: September 2014

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on the methods and characteristics of esophageal afferents in humans; the pitfalls in characterization of mechanosensitive afferents; the sensitization of esophageal afferents in human studies; the brain source modeling in the understanding of the esophagus–brain axis; the use of evoked brain potentials in the esophagus; and measuring descending inhibition in animal and human studies.
Upper esophageal and pharyngeal cancers
Authors: Bock Jonathan M. , Howell Amy B. , Johnston Nikki , Kresty Laura A. , Lew Daniel
Published: September 2014

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on laryngopharyngeal reflux as a risk factor for laryngeal cancer; the role of pepsin in laryngopharyngeal neoplasia; natural fruit and vegetable compounds for the prevention and treatment of pharyngeal and esophageal cancers; and evaluation of cranberry constituents as inhibitors of esophageal adenocarcinoma utilizing in vitro assay and in vivo models.
Coping with esophageal cancer approaches worldwide
Authors: Cotton Richard G.H. , Langer Rupert , Leong Trevor , Martinek Jan , Sewram Vikash , Smithers Mark , Swanson Paul E. , Qiao You‐Lin , Udagawa Harushi , Ueno Masaki , Wang Meng , Wei Wen‐Qiang , White Russell E.
Published: September 2014

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on approaches to the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal cancer in Europe, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, and China; the molecular classification of esophageal cancers (including cancers at the gastroesophageal junction); the Japanese classification; the scope of the Human Variome Project; and the topographic–anatomic subclassification of adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction.
Infection and esophageal cancer
Authors: Al‐Haddad Sahar , El‐Zimaity Hala , Hafezi‐Bakhtiari Sara , Rajendra Shanmugarajah , Streutker Catherine J. , Vajpeyi Rajkumar , Wang Bin
Published: September 2014

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on infection and cancer, and includes commentaries on the influence of bacterial infections on mucin expression and cancer risk; the role of esophageal bacterial biota in the incidence of esophageal disease; the association between human papilloma virus (HPV) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; the role of HPV in esophageal adenocarcinoma; the role of Helicobacter pylori in cardiac carcinoma; and the role of Epstein–Barr virus infection in esophageal cancer.
Translational research on Barrett's esophagus
Authors: Baruah Anushka , Buttar Navtej , Chandra Raghav , Chen Xiaoxin , Clemons Nicholas J. , Compare Debora , El‐Rifai Wael , Gu Jian , Houchen Courtney W. , Koh Shze Yung , Li Wenbo , Nardone Gerardo , Phillips Wayne A. , Sharma Anamay , Singh Ishtpreet , Upton Melissa P. , Vega Kenneth J. , Wu Xifeng
Published: September 2014

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on translational research on Barrett's esophagus that address evidence for genetic instability in esophageal cancer; the role of microsatellite instability; the use of histologic and serum Doublecortin‐like kinase 1 expression for progression of Barrett's esophagus to adenocarcinoma; the oxidative stress in Barrett's tumorigenesis; the genomic alterations in esophageal cancer; in vivo modeling in Barrett's esophagus; epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma; and normal and disordered regeneration in Barrett's esophagus.
Reward processing in obesity, substance addiction and non‐substance addiction
Authors: García‐García I. , Horstmann A. , Jurado M. A. , Garolera M. , Chaudhry S. J. , Margulies D. S. , Villringer A. , Neumann J.
Published: September 2014

Similarities and differences between obesity and addiction are a prominent topic of ongoing research. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta‐analysis on 87 studies in order to map the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to reward in participants with obesity, substance addiction and non‐substance (or behavioural) addiction, and to identify commonalities and differences between them. Our study confirms the existence of alterations during reward processing in obesity, non‐substance addiction and substance addiction. Specifically, participants with obesity or with addictions differed from controls in several brain regions including prefrontal areas, subcortical structures and sensory areas. Additionally, participants with obesity and substance addictions exhibited similar blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependentfMRIhyperactivity in the amygdala and striatum when processing either general rewarding stimuli or the problematic stimuli (food and drug‐related stimuli, respectively). We propose that these similarities may be associated with an enhanced focus on reward – especially with regard to food or drug‐related stimuli – in obesity and substance addiction. Ultimately, this enhancement of reward processes may facilitate the presence of compulsive‐like behaviour in some individuals or under some specific circumstances. We hope that increasing knowledge about the neurobehavioural correlates of obesity and addictions will lead to practical strategies that target the high prevalence of these central public health challenges.
Effect of childhood obesity prevention programmes on blood lipids: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cai L. , Wu Y. , Cheskin L. J. , Wilson R. F. , Wang Y.
Published: September 2014

We aimed to assess the effects of childhood obesity prevention programmes on blood lipids in high‐income countries. We searched MEDLINE®, Embase, PsychInfo, CINAHL®, clinicaltrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library up to 22 April 2013 for relevant randomized controlled trials, quasi‐experimental studies and natural experiments published in English. Studies were included if they implemented diet and/or physical activity intervention(s) with ≥1 year follow‐up (or ≥6 months for school‐based intervention studies) in 2–18‐year‐olds, and were excluded if they targeted only overweight/obese children, or those with a pre‐existing medical condition. Seventeen studies were finally included. For total cholesterol, the pooled intervention effect was −0.97 mg dL−1 [95% confidence interval (CI): −3.26, 1.32; P = 0.408]; for low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), −6.06 mg dL−1 (95% CI: −11.09, −1.02; P = 0.018); for high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), 1.87 mg dL−1 (95% CI: 0.39, 3.34; P = 0.013); and for triglycerides, −1.95 mg dL−1 (95% CI: −4.94, 1.04; P = 0.202). Most interventions (70%) showed similar significant or no effects on adiposity‐ and lipids outcomes: 15% interventions improved both adiposity‐ and lipids outcomes; 55% had no significant effects on either. Childhood obesity prevention programmes had a significant desirable effect on LDL‐C and HDL‐C. Two‐thirds of interventions showed similar significant or no effects in adiposity‐ and lipids outcomes. Assessing lipids outcomes provide additional useful information on obesity prevention programme benefits.
Craniofacial cephalometric morphology in 8‐year‐old children with operated sagittal synostosis
Authors: Heliövaara A. , Vuola P. , Hukki J.
Published: September 2014

Structured Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate cephalometrically craniofacial morphology in children with operated sagittal synostosis and to compare the findings with age‐ and sex‐matched controls.

Setting and Sample Population

Forty‐two children (37 boys) with operated primary sagittal synostosis were compared retrospectively with age‐ and sex‐matched controls from lateral cephalograms taken at a mean age of 8.1 (range 7.0–8.9) years.

Material and Methods

The operations had been performed between the ages of 2 months and 6.3 years at three Finnish hospitals. The surgical methods included strip craniectomy, pi‐plasty and cranial vault expansion. A paired Student's t‐test and Pearson's correlation analysis were used in the statistical analyses.

Results

Children with operated sagittal synostosis had wide cranial base angles and their mandibles were retrognathic with labially inclined lower incisors relative to the controls. Age at craniosynostosis operation did not correlate with the cranial base angle.

Conclusion

This study suggests that children with operated sagittal synostosis have minor distinctive morphological features in the cranial base and mandible. Orthodontic evaluation of craniofacial growth is recommended.
Characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection identified on culture in a pediatric clinic
Authors: Katsushima Yuriko , Katsushima Fumio , Suzuki Yu , Seto Junji , Mizuta Katsumi , Nishimura Hidekazu , Matsuzaki Yoko
Published: September 2014

Background

The appropriate choice of antibiotics against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection has become difficult, as the prevalence of macrolide‐resistant M. pneumoniae has increased.

Methods

Throat swab specimens were collected from children with clinically suspected M. pneumoniae infection while visiting an outpatient clinic. Cultures for M. pneumoniae were done, and all isolates were sequenced for the presence of a mutation in 23S rRNA.

Results

Of the 80 specimens collected between February 2012 and March 2013, 27 (34%) were positive for M. pneumoniae on culture. Macrolide‐resistant mutation was detected in 24 isolates (89%): 23 isolates had an A2063G transition, and one had a C2617G mutation. Both the median age and the prevalence of pneumonia were significantly higher in M. pneumoniae‐positive than in M. pneumoniae‐negative children (median, 7 years vs 4 years; 88.9% vs 60.4%, respectively). The percentage of serum samples with particle agglutination titer ≥1:160 was 69.6% in M. pneumoniae‐positive cases and 17.6% in M. pneumoniae‐negative cases when the serum was collected ≥4 days after the onset of fever. Defervescence within 72 h after the initiation of macrolides never occurred in M. pneumoniae‐positive children and also did not occur in 54% of M. pneumoniae‐negative children. Switching to either minocycline or tosufloxacin resulted in fever resolution within 48 h in M. pneumoniae‐positive children.

Conclusions

The described clinical and laboratory characteristics of M. pneumoniae infection may be useful in guiding appropriate treatment in an outpatient clinic.
Histone deacetylation modification participates in the repression of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seed storage protein gene Ara h 2.02 during germination
Authors: Yang P. , Zhang F. , Luo X. , Zhou Y. , Xie J.
Published: September 2014

Genes encoding seed storage proteins (SSPs) are specifically and highly expressed during seed maturation. In Arabidopsis, chromatin‐based mechanisms involved in the repression of SSPs during germination have been proposed. However, epigenetic regulation involved in repressing SSPs in vegetative tissues of peanut is not well understood. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) is a chromatin‐remodelling factor that contributes to transcriptional repression in eukaryotes. To address whether histone deacetylation modification is involved in the repression of SSP genes during germination in peanut, we generated an Ara h 2.02pro: β‐glucuronidase (GUS) construct by fusing the 1972 bp Ara h 2.02 promoter of peanut (from −1972 to −1) to the GUS reporter gene and transformed it into wild‐type Arabidopsis plants and HDAC mutants. GUS staining revealed that the mutation in HISTONE DEACETYLASE19 (HDA19) resulted in the ectopic expression of peanut SSP gene Ara h 2.02 in seedlings. In addition, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed that the ectopic expression of Ara h 2.02 was accompanied by histone hyperacetylation during germination. These results suggest that histone deacetylation modification may play a vital role in repressing embryonic properties during the peanut vegetative growth.
Controlling Factors, Accumulation Model and Target Zone Prediction of the Coal‐bed Methane in the Huanghebei Coalfield, North China
Authors: Lv Dawei , Chen Jitao , Li Zengxue , Zheng Guiqiang , Song Cuiyu , Liu Haiyan , Meng Yanru , Wang Dongdong
Published: September 2014

The Huanghebei Coalfield, one of the coal production bases in North China, was considered as a coalfield without coal‐bed methane (CBM) during past decades. In recent years, however, CBM has been discovered in coal‐bearing successions. In order to understand the CBM geological characteristics and accumulation process in this area, fifteen coal samples were collected and analyzed with respect to coal maceral and reflectance. The result shows that the gas distribution is uneven and the content varies in different areas even for the same coal bed. The storage of CBM is affected by geological factors such as burial depth, geological structures, and magmatic intrusion, among which the former two are more important in the formation of CBM. Deep burial of coal beds with the presence of cap‐rock mudstone can seal CBM. The CBM is also accumulated and preserved at the place where normal faults are distributed. Magmatic intrusion causes contact metamorphism and controls the CBM formation by heating the coal‐bearing successions. The obtained data indicate the geological conditions in northeastern Zhaoguan Mine are preferable for CBM formation and conservation; recent exploration estimates the CBM geological reserves up to 282.16 Mm3 and average of reserve abundance at 0.1662 × 108 m3 km−2. The Changqing Mine is a potential prospect in terms of CBM exploration since its geological conditions (structures and burial depth) are similar to the Zhaoguan Mine and its cap rock is even better.
Re–Os Age of Molybdenite from theDaheishanMo Deposit in the EasternCentralAsianOrogenicBelt,NE China
Authors: Han Chunming , Xiao Wenjiao , Windley Brian F. , Zhao Guochun , Su Bexun , Ao Songjian , Zhang Jien , Zhang Zhiyong , Wan Bo , Cui Bin , Qu Wenjun , Du Andao
Published: September 2014

TheDaheishanMo deposit is located in the eastern part of theCentralAsianOrogenicBelt,NE China. Rhenium and osmium isotopes of molybdenites from theDaheishan deposit were used to determine the age of mineralization. Rhenium concentrations in molybdenite samples are between 17 and 30μg g−1. Analysis of seven molybdenite samples yields an isochron age of 168.0 ± 4.4 Ma (2σ). Based on the geological history and spatial‐temporal distribution of the granitoids, it is proposed that theMo deposits in easternChina were related to the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific plate during Jurassic time.
Motivational cues predict the defensive system in team handball: A model based on regulatory focus theory
Authors: Debanne T. , Laffaye G.
Published: September 2014

This study was based on the naturalistic decision‐making paradigm and regulatory focus theory. Its aim was to model coaches' decision‐making processes for handball teams' defensive systems based on relevant cues of the reward structure, and to determine the weight of each of these cues. We collected raw data by video‐recording 41 games that were selected using a simple random method. We considered the defensive strategy (DEF: aligned or staged) to be the dependent variable, and the three independent variables were (a) numerical difference between the teams; (b) score difference between the teams; and (c) game periods. We used a logistic regression design (logit model) and a multivariate logistic model to explain the link between DEF and the three category independent variables. Each factor was weighted differently during the decision‐making process to select the defensive system, and combining these variables increased the impact on this process; for instance, a staged defense is 43 times more likely to be chosen during the final period in an unfavorable situation and in a man advantage. Finally, this shows that the coach's decision‐making process could be based on a simple match or could require a diagnosis of the situation based on the relevant cues.
Trends in arthroscopy‐documented cartilage injuries of the knee and repair procedures among 15–60‐year‐old patients
Authors: Mor A. , Grijota M. , Nørgaard M. , Munthe J. , Lind M. , Déruaz A. , Pedersen A. B.
Published: September 2014

We validated a registry‐based method of identifying patients with knee cartilage injury and estimated temporal changes in the incidence of arthroscopy‐documented cartilage injuries of the knee and the proportion leading to repair procedures in Denmark. After excluding patients with diagnosed osteoarthritis, we identified 21 392 patients aged 15–60 years with a first recorded procedure code indicating knee cartilage injury in the Danish National Registry of Patients (DNRP) from 1996 to 2011. Using the surgical descriptions of arthroscopy findings in medical records as gold standard, the positive and negative predictive value of procedure codes for knee cartilage injury was 88% and 99%, respectively. The arthroscopy‐documented overall incidence of cartilage injury of the knee was 40/100 000 person‐years (py) [95% confidence interval (CI): 39.5–40.6] during the period 1996–2011. The arthroscopy‐documented age‐standardized annual incidence of knee cartilage injury increased from 22 (95% CI: 20.5–23.7) in 1996 to 61 (95% CI: 58.7–64.0) in 2011, per 100 000 py. An increase occurred in all age groups and both sexes. Only 1/6 (17%) patients with knee cartilage injury had a repair procedure. The validity of procedure codes for knee cartilage injury in the DNRP is high. The arthroscopy‐documented incidence of knee cartilage injuries increased substantially during the 15‐year period.
Minor histocompatibility antigens: past, present, and future
Authors: Spierings Eric
Published: September 2014

Minor histocompatibility (H) antigens are key molecules driving allo‐immune responses in both graft‐versus‐host‐disease (GvHD) and in graft‐versus‐leukemia (GvL) reactivity in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched hematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation (HSCT). Dissection of the dual function of minor H antigens became evident through their different modes of tissue and cell expression, i.e. hematopoietic system‐restricted or broad. Broadly expressed minor H antigens can cause both GvHD and GvL effects, while hematopoietic system‐restricted minor H antigens are more prone to induce GvL responses. This phenomenon renders the latter group of minor H antigens as curative tools for HSCT‐based immunotherapy of hematological malignancies and disorders, in which minor H antigen‐specific responses are enhanced in order to eradicate the malignant cells. This article describes the immunogenetics of minor H antigens and methods that have been developed to identify them. Moreover, it summarizes the clinical relevance of minor H antigens in transplantation, with special regards to allogeneic HSCT and solid‐organ transplantation.
Improving the safety of blood transfusion by using a combination of two screening assays for hepatitis C virus
Authors: Zhang K. , Wang L. , Sun Y. , Zhang R. , Lin G. , Xie J. , Li J.
Published: September 2014

Background and Objectives

To illustrate that the combination of a single nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) with a single immunoassay for hepatitis C virus (HCV) detection, as proposed internationally, may lead to the omission of anti‐HCV reactive sera with non‐reactive NAT results.

Materials and Methods

In total, 822 of 519, 299 serum samples from 11 blood centres in China were retested for anti‐HCV by using 10 screening assays to detect HCV antibodies. A recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA HCV 3·0; Ortho‐Clinical Diagnostics) was performed to define confirmed HCV infection status. Samples with positive or indeterminate RIBA‐HCV results were tested by quantitative tests for HCV RNA (Roche Diagnostics).

Results

We found that 47 of the 822 (5·72%) serum samples were RIBA‐positive without detectable HCV RNA. For these samples, the 10 anti‐HCV immunoassays gave discordant and unsatisfactory results (detection rate ranging from 10·64 to 34·04%; ratio per 100 000 donations ranging from 5·97 to 8·09). Compared with a single anti‐HCV screening assay, the two‐assay combination increased the detection of these samples. The five best combinations [Sorin and Lizhu enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), Ortho and Lizhu EIAs, Sorin and Wantai EIAs, Sorin EIA and Roche CIA and Ortho and Wantai EIAs] increased the detection rate from 46·81 to 55·57%, thus reducing the ratio per 100 000 donations of HCV‐seropositive samples.

Conclusion

The combination of two anti‐HCV screening immunoassays in parallel with an HCV NAT is a better strategy for HCV detection in blood centres to improve the safety of blood transfusion.
The acceptability of volunteer, repeat blood donations in a hospital setting in the Adamaoua region of Cameroon
Authors: Rolseth S. , Stange P. , Adamou D. , Roald B. , Danki‐Sillong F. , Jourdan P.
Published: September 2014

Background and Objectives

The knowledge of factors that may influence blood donation in Cameroon is limited. The objectives of this study are to assess the characteristics of previous and potential blood donors by exploring the religious beliefs, and knowledge and understanding of blood donations among individuals present at a district hospital.

Materials and Methods

Forty‐nine in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted among consenting, randomly selected 18 years or older community members present at a district hospital in the Adamaoua region during October and November 2011.

Results

Ninety‐eight per cent (48/49) of the individuals present at this district hospital had heard of blood transfusions. Forty‐seven per cent (23/49) had not previously been asked to donate blood; however, 94% (44/47) said that they would donate if given the opportunity. Thirty‐three per cent (16/49) had previously donated blood to family members or for replacement, and 81% of these said they would repeat donations. The majority of both donors and non‐donors were motivated to donate blood for altruistic reasons.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that community members present at this district hospital in Cameroon may be recruited for repeat blood donations. Although the altruistic motivation to donate blood suggests that donors could be recruited from a district hospital population, targeted information about blood donations and accessible blood transfusion services need to be put in place. The study may add to the understanding of the preconditions for blood donations and the possibility to establish sustainable blood transfusion services in the Adamaoua region in Cameroon.
Receptor kinase‐mediated control of primary active proton pumping at the plasma membrane
Authors: Fuglsang Anja T. , Kristensen Astrid , Cuin Tracey A. , Schulze Waltraud X. , Persson Jörgen , Thuesen Kristina H. , Ytting Cecilie K. , Oehlenschlæger Christian B. , Mahmood Khalid , Sondergaard Teis E. , Shabala Sergey , Palmgren Michael G.
Published: September 2014

Acidification of the cell wall space outside the plasma membrane is required for plant growth and is the result of proton extrusion by the plasma membrane‐localized H+‐ATPases. Here we show that the major plasma membrane proton pumps in Arabidopsis, AHA1 and AHA2, interact directly in vitro and in planta with PSY1R, a receptor kinase of the plasma membrane that serves as a receptor for the peptide growth hormone PSY1. The intracellular protein kinase domain of PSY1R phosphorylates AHA2/AHA1 at Thr‐881, situated in the autoinhibitory region I of the C‐terminal domain. When expressed in a yeast heterologous expression system, the introduction of a negative charge at this position caused pump activation. Application of PSY1 to plant seedlings induced rapid in planta phosphorylation at Thr‐881, concomitant with an instantaneous increase in proton efflux from roots. The direct interaction between AHA2 and PSY1R observed might provide a general paradigm for regulation of plasma membrane proton transport by receptor kinases.
Comparison of the platelet‐rich plasma and buffy coat protocols for preparation of canine platelet concentrates
Authors: Hoareau Guillaume L. , Jandrey Karl E. , Burges Julie , Bremer Daphne , Tablin Fern
Published: September 2014

Background

Platelet (PLT) concentrates (PC) can be produced via the buffy coat (BC) or platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) protocols. The 2 methods have not been compared with canine blood.

Objectives

The aims of the study were to compare the PLT, WBC, and RBC concentrations, in vitro PLT function, and markers of platelet storage lesion (PSL) in canine PC generated by 2 different protocols, and determine microbial growth throughout storage.

Methods

PC from 8 healthy donor dogs were produced using 2 standard protocols, PRP and BC. PLT, WBC, and RBC counts, optical aggregometry assays, and PSL markers (pH, pCO2, HCO3, lactate and glucose concentrations, and LDH activity) were determined on storage days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures were also performed.

Results

Mean PLT counts were comparable between protocols and remained stable throughout storage up to day 7, while median WBC and RBC counts on day 0 were significantly higher in the BC‐PC group (17,800 WBCs/μL; 195,000 RBCs/μL) than in the PRP‐PC group (200 WBCs/μL; 10,000 RBCs/μL) (P = .012). In PRP‐PC aggregometry, the median slope and amplitude in response to γ‐thrombin and convulxin (+ ADP) were significantly decreased, and virtually absent in BC‐PC during storage. PSL markers (lactate, LDH activity) were higher in BC‐PC. Aerobic bacterial growth was observed in 2 PRP‐PC and 1 BC‐PC.

Conclusions

This in vitro study suggests that PRP‐PC had lesser WBC and RBC contamination and superior PLT function compared with BC‐PC. In vivo studies are required to address safety and efficacy of PRP‐PC.
Measurement and Analysis of Plasma Arc Components
Authors: Chen S. J. , Jiang F. , Zhang J. L. , Zhang Y. M. , Shun P. J.
Published: September 2014

To better understand keyhole plasma arc (PA) and help improve the process, the authors recently observed that the electron flow may deviate from its ionized arc plasma which is electrically neutral. This phenomenon has been referred to as the arc separability which provides a better way to understand the arc fundamentally. Hence, in this study the authors designed an innovative experimental system to measure/record the heat and pressure from the separated arc components—arc plasma and electron flow. An algorithm was proposed to calculate/derive the distribution of the pressure from its bulk measurements that are easy to obtain accurately. Experiments were conducted to study the effects of welding parameters on the heat and pressure in the arc components. It is found that for the constrained PA, the heat applied into the work-piece through the arc plasma exceeds that from the electron flow and this dominance increases as the current increases. However, for the heat from the electron flow, the constraint on the arc does not change it significantly as can be seen from the comparison with that in free gas tungsten arc (GTA). For the pressure in PA, the arc plasma plays the dominant role in determining its amplitude, while the electron flow only primarily contributes to the distribution.
Modeling Pore Continuity and Durability of Cementitious Sealing Material
Authors: Koenders E. A. B. , Hansen W. , Ukrainczyk N. , Toledo Filho R. D.
Published: September 2014

In this paper, results of a numerical study on pore continuity, permeability and durability of cementitious slurries for carbon sequestration projects are presented. The hydration model Hymostruc is used to simulate and visualize 3D virtual microstructures which are used to demonstrate the contribution of capillary pores to the continuity of the capillary pore system embedded in an evolving cementitious microstructure. Once capillary pores are blocked due to ongoing hydration, transport of CO2 species through the microstructure is avoided which may protect the slurry from leakage. Evaluating the pore continuity of the capillary pore system during hydration of the microstructure is therefore indispensable for a robust cementitious sealing material and is the main objective for slurry design. Simulations are conducted on slurries exposed to ambient temperatures of 20 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C, and a durability outlook regarding the CO2 ingress is given as well. Aggregates and associated interfacial transition zones (ITZs) are introduced in the slurry system that may cause alternative porous path ways through the system. Pore continuity analysis shows the relevance of numerical simulations for assessing the capillary pore structure inside an evolving microstructure in relation to its sealing and durability performance.
Support Vector Regression and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids in Annulus With Pipe Rotation
Authors: Sorgun Mehmet , Murat Ozbayoglu A. , Evren Ozbayoglu M.
Published: September 2014

The estimation of the pressure losses inside annulus during pipe rotation is one of the main concerns in various engineering professions. Pipe rotation is a considerable parameter affecting pressure losses in annulus during drilling. In this study, pressure losses of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids flowing through concentric horizontal annulus are predicted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and support vector regression (SVR). SVR and CFD results are compared with experimental data obtained from literature. The comparisons show that CFD model could predict frictional pressure gradient with an average absolute percent error less than 3.48% for Newtonian fluids and 19.5% for non-Newtonian fluids. SVR could predict frictional pressure gradient with an average absolute percent error less than 5.09% for Newtonian fluids and 5.98% for non-Newtonian fluids.
Efficiency Enhancement of GaAs Solar Cell Using Luminescent Down-Shifting Layer Consisting of (CdSe)ZnS Quantum Dots With Calculation and Experiment
Authors: Ahn Youngkun , Kim Jungyoon , Shin Seongbum , Ganorkar Shraddha , Kim Young-Hwan , Kim Yong-Tae , Kim Seong-Il
Published: September 2014

In this work, we report the efficiency enhancement of a GaAs solar cell by using a luminescent down-shifting (LDS) layer consisting of (CdSe)ZnS quantum dots (QDs). The calculated conversion efficiency shows strong dependence on the luminescence quantum efficiency (LQE) and concentration of QDs in the LDS layer as well as the difference in external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the solar cell in the absorption and emission regions of the QD. Although the irradiance of the modified spectrum by the LDS layer was reduced with increases in QD concentration, the emission range of QDs in the spectrum was intensified. So the optimum parameters need to be calculated carefully. When we measured the GaAs solar cell with the LDS layer, it showed increased current density and consequently improved efficiency. The highest performance difference between the GaAs solar cell efficiencies with and without the LDS layer was over 2.8%, although a crystalline silicon solar cell below the LDS layer showed negative change in efficiency owing to its small EQE difference.
Coaching and Coach Education in Brazil
Authors: Milistetd Michel , Trudel Pierre , Mesquita Isabel , do Nascimento Juarez Vieira
Published: September 2014

In Brazil, contrary to the situation in many countries, sport coaching at all levels is considered a profession. Following a law passed by the government, those who want to coach are required to earn a university diploma called a ‘Bachelor in Physical Education’. This bachelor’s degree prepares future professionals to work in any of the following areas: health, leisure, and sport performance. Because universities have some fexibility regarding the courses that they offer and can also focus on one or any combination of the three aforementioned areas, we cannot assume that graduate students have acquired the same knowledge and developed the same competencies. Therefore, a broad inquiry of what is provided by different universities was needed to create a picture of the curriculum that future sport coaches will experience. In an effort to situate the Brazilian coaching and coach education system within a worldwide perspective, the data collected are interpreted using the International Sport Coaching Framework (ISCF).
Late-onset methotrexate-induced pneumonitis with neutrophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Authors: Yamakawa Hideaki , Yoshida Masahiro , Takagi Masamichi , Kuwano Kazuyoshi
Published: September 2014

A 61-year-old woman being treated with methotrexate (MTX) 8–10 mg/week and prednisolone 2.5 mg/day for rheumatoid arthritis presented with a 1-week history of increasing fever and dry cough. The patient deteriorated with administration of antibiotics. Chest CT scan showed bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) revealed marked neutrophilia (65.2% of total cells). The specimen from transbronchial lung biopsy showed a non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern. Following withdrawal of the MTX, her pulmonary infiltration, clinical symptoms and laboratory findings gradually improved. Therefore, she was diagnosed as having MTX-induced pneumonitis. Lymphocytosis in BALF has been identified as a characteristic of MTX-induced pneumonitis, particularly in late onset of this disease. However, the BALF in our patient was neutrophilic. Although neutrophilia in BALF of patients with drug-induced pneumonitis is usually associated with poor outcome, rare cases of good outcome do exist.
The 30-year wait for treatment of an acutely painful knee
Authors: Davenport Dominic , Colaco Henry B , Edwards Max R
Published: September 2014

A 63-year-old retired man presented to our clinic reporting a severely painful, localised knee pain present for around 30 years and associated with a spontaneous palpable lump. He was prompted to seek medical advice at this point because his symptoms were exacerbated when his young grandchildren bumped into the knee. While radiographs were unhelpful, ultrasonography revealed a well-defined, subcutaneous soft tissue mass at the anterior aspect of the knee. Surgical excision was performed as a day case. Histological examination of the mass showed a glomus tumour. This patient had suffered for many years as a result of this painful mass but full resolution of his pain occurred immediately after excision.
Block Fusion on Dynamically Adaptive Spacetree Grids for Shallow Water Waves
Authors: Weinzierl Tobias , Bader Michael , Unterweger Kristof , Wittmann Roland
Published: September 2014

Spacetrees are a popular formalism to describe dynamically adaptive Cartesian grids. Even though they directly yield a mesh, it is often computationally reasonable to embed regular Cartesian blocks into their leaves. This promotes stencils working on homogeneous data chunks. The choice of a proper block size is sensitive. While large block sizes foster loop parallelism and vectorisation, they restrict the adaptivity's granularity and hence increase the memory footprint and lower the numerical accuracy per byte. In the present paper, we therefore use a multiscale spacetree-block coupling admitting blocks on all spacetree nodes. We propose to find sets of blocks on the finest scale throughout the simulation and to replace them by fused big blocks. Such a replacement strategy can pick up hardware characteristics, i.e. which block size yields the highest throughput, while the dynamic adaptivity of the fine grid mesh is not constrained—applications can work with fine granular blocks. We study the fusion with a state-of-the-art shallow water solver at hands of an Intel Sandy Bridge and a Xeon Phi processor where we anticipate their reaction to selected block optimisation and vectorisation.
Dynamics and stability of charged spherical star with tilted and non-tilted congruences
Authors: Sharif M. , Ul Haq Bhatti M. Zaeem
Published: September 2014

This paper investigates the dynamics of anisotropic viscous spherical star under the effects of electromagnetic field for a radially moving observer relative to the matter distribution, i.e. a tilted observer. We formulate relationship between tilted and non-tilted quantities using the Einstein–Maxwell field equations. The dynamical equations and equations for the Weyl tensor are constructed to examine the inhomogeneities in the fluid configuration. It is found that different factors like heat radiation, shear viscosity, electric charge and in particular congruence of the tilted observer, affect the energy density inhomogeneity of the spherical star. Finally, we study stability of the system with non-tilted frame in the presence of charge.
Predictive Modeling of Innovation Capability in a Regional Context
Authors: Sarkkinen Minna , Kässi Tuomo
Published: September 2014

Development of the innovation capability represents activities that enable transformation of firms and the regional entity toward improved competitiveness. The main goal of the paper is to model situation with regard to innovation capability in a regional context. The research confirms positive relations between networking, marketing, and knowledge absorption capability, between knowledge absorption, development, and business renewal capability, and between marketing and development capability. Instead, relations between networking and development capability, and between marketing and knowledge absorption capability are not confirmed. Furthermore, the study supports usefulness of partial least squares structural equation modeling as a decision-making supporting tool.
IMPLEMENTATION OF OPEN INNOVATION STRATEGIES: A BUYER–SUPPLIER PERSPECTIVE
Authors: ROSELL DAVID T.
Published: September 2014

The open innovation concept has been discussed for more than a decade. However, there are relatively few studies related to implementation of open innovation. Barriers of implementation have been identified, but they are not related to the external knowledge searched for. This multiple-case study adds to current understanding of implementing open innovation strategies by focusing on the cooperation and coordination challenges when opening up for different types of supplier knowledge. Possible solutions and trade-offs between short-term benefits and long-term goals are presented that take into consideration the character of knowledge and human behavior. By applying theories such as knowledge-based view and transaction cost theories on empirical findings, different explanations are sought that bring new insights into managing open innovation.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT EFFORT ESTIMATION USING CLASSICAL AND FUZZY ANALOGY: A CROSS-VALIDATION COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: AMAZAL FATIMA AZZAHRA , IDRI ALI , ABRAN ALAIN
Published: September 2014

Software effort estimation is one of the most important tasks in software project management. Of several techniques suggested for estimating software development effort, the analogy-based reasoning, or Case-Based Reasoning (CBR), approaches stand out as promising techniques. In this paper, the benefits of using linguistic rather than numerical values in the analogy process for software effort estimation are investigated. The performance, in terms of accuracy and tolerance of imprecision, of two analogy-based software effort estimation models (Classical Analogy and Fuzzy Analogy, which use numerical and linguistic values respectively to describe software projects) is compared. Three research questions related to the performance of these two models are discussed and answered. This study uses the International Software Benchmarking Standards Group (ISBSG) dataset and confirms the usefulness of using linguistic instead of numerical values in analogy-based software effort estimation models.
MODELING OF INPUT-OUTPUT RELATIONSHIPS FOR ELECTRON BEAM BUTT WELDING OF DISSIMILAR MATERIALS USING NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: JHA M. N. , PRATIHAR D. K. , BAPAT A. V. , DEY V. , ALI MAAJID , BAGCHI A. C.
Published: September 2014

Electron beam butt welding of stainless steel (SS 304) and electrolytically tough pitched (ETP) copper plates was carried out according to central composite design of experiments. Three input parameters, namely accelerating voltage, beam current and weld speed were considered in the butt welding experiments of dissimilar metals. The weld-bead parameters, such as bead width and depth of penetration, and weld strength in terms of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were measured as the responses of the process. Input-output relationships were established in the forward direction using regression analysis, back-propagation neural network (BPNN), genetic algorithm-tuned neural network (GANN) and particle swarm optimization algorithm-tuned neural network (PSONN). Reverse mapping of this process was also conducted using the BPNN, GANN and PSONN approaches, although the same could not be done from the obtained regression equations. Neural networks were found to tackle the problems of both forward and reverse mappings efficiently. However, neural networks tuned by the genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm were seen to perform better than the BPNN in most of the cases but not all.
XXII. Goldmining in the Sierra Nevada, California
Authors: Dron R. W.
Published: September 2014

I
n
the course of his remarks the author stated that the first discovery of gold in California was in 1848, when a workman picked up several large nuggets out of a mill-race which he was digging. In 1850 the first quartz vein was found by some miners who were digging a hole for their cabin chimney, and was so rich that some of the pieces of ore taken from it were sold for £100 each. This state has long maintained her position as the greatest gold-producing state in the North American Union. The production just now is valued at £3,000,000 per annum, and the total value of the metal recovered since 1848, at £260,000,000.

The rocks of California are divided into two series, the bed-rock, and the superjacent rock. The bed-rock series consists of highly altered sedimentary strata, crystalline schists, and slates, with intrusive igneous rocks, mostly belonging to the Carboniferous, the Jurassic, and the Triassic formations, and resembling the metamorphic Jura-Trias rocks of the Alps. From an economic point of view the most important feature of the bed-rock series is the occurrence of veins and lodes containing gold, silver, &c., and perhaps the most interesting of these is the formation known as the “mother lode.”

This “mother lode” is contained in a series of black schists and slates, with a dip to the E. of 20 deg. to 40 deg. from the vertical. The veins are found in a fissured area a mile or two wide, which stretches throughout