bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of tumor‐induced lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic vessel invasion of pancreatic carcinoma in the peripheral nerve plexus
Authors: Cheng Peng , Jin Gang , Hu Xiangui , Shi Min , Zhang Yijie , Liu Rui , Zhou Yingqi , Shao Chenghao , Zheng Jianming , Zhu Minghua
Published: June 2012

Cancer cells can metastasize throughout the body by various mechanisms, including the lymphatic system, resulting in tumor‐induced lymphangiogenesis that can profoundly affect patient survival. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of lymphangiogenesis in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer to the peripheral nerve plexus. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze specimens obtained from 70 ductal adenocarcinoma patients. The markers used included lymphangiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C, the lymphatic‐specific marker D2‐40, and cytokeratin 19, an independent prognostic factor for pancreatic tumors. The relationship between survival rate and invasion of both the lymphatic vessels and peripancreatic nerve plexus (PNP) was evaluated, with clearly elevated lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in tissues adjacent to the cancer tissues. In fact, LVD levels were higher in adjacent tissues than in localized cancer tissues, and lymphatic vessel invasion into tissues adjacent to the tumor was significantly correlated with both PNP invasion (P = 0.005) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.010). Correspondingly, LVD in tissues adjacent to the tumor was correlated with both invasion of lymphatic vessels surrounding the tumor (P = 0.024) and VEGF‐C expression (P = 0.031); in addition, VEGF‐C expression was correlated with invasion of lymphatic vessels around the tumor (P = 0.004). Survival rates were significantly lower in patients in whom there was peritumor lymphatic vessel invasion (P < 0.001), extrapancreatic nerve plexus invasion (P = 0.001), and/or lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). Based on these results, lymphatic invasion associated with adjacent tumor growth likely contributes to the development of metastatic tumors that invade the PNP.
Epigenetics and blood disorders
Authors: Scholz Bastian , Marschalek Rolf
Published: June 2012

The last three decades of cancer research were guided by the hypothesis that cancer cells evolve due to the accumulation of many genetic aberrations over time. While this is still true for most solid cancers, it might be different in haemato‐malignant diseases, which are mostly characterized by chromosomal translocations that exhibit only few additional mutations. Some of the resulting fusion gene products functionally interfer with epigenetic mechanisms. Recent findings of mutated IDH1, IDH2, DNMT3A or TET2 in myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukaemia patients underscore this notion, and point to the importance of epigenetic changes for developing tumour cells. This review aims (i) to give an overview about the different components of the epigenetic system, (ii) to describe the functions of different proteins or complexes that are involved in setting‐up the epigenetic layer, (iii) to highlight some recent findings, and (iv) to describe the failures and successes when using drugs that are targeting epigenetic components.
Diagnosing autistic spectrum disorder in the age of austerity
Authors: Karim K. , Cook L. , O'Reilly M.
Published: June 2012

Background

Diagnosing autistic spectrum disorder is a challenge, typically involving myriad professionals. In the current climate we explore how diagnosis is managed in the real world by professionals.

Methods

Using semi‐structured interviews we thematically analyse data from psychiatrists, paediatricians and educational psychologists.

Results

While there is some consistency across and within these groups there are also a number of variances, and several important issues are highlighted. These include the problem of time and resources, the issue of location for diagnosis, the value of diagnostic tools and schedules, the need for supporting information, the difficulty of multi‐agency working, the relevance of a physical examination and the eventual diagnostic label.

Conclusions

In the current economic climate and considering changes in guidelines there is a need to evaluate current service provision and enhance services. However, attention needs to be paid to the practical and realistic application of the suggested guidance.
Patterns of diversity and abundance of fleas and mites in the Neotropics: host‐related, parasite‐related and environment‐related factors
Authors: LINARDI P. M. , KRASNOV B. R.
Published: June 2012

The effects of host‐related, parasite‐related and environmental factors on the diversity and abundance of two ectoparasite taxa, fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and mites (Acari: Mesostigmata), parasitic on small mammals (rodents and marsupials), were studied in different localities across Brazil. A stronger effect of host‐related factors on flea than on mite assemblages, and a stronger effect of environmental factors on mite than on flea assemblages were predicted. In addition, the effects of parasite‐related factors on flea and mite diversity and abundance were predicted to manifest mainly at the scale of infracommunities, whereas the effects of host‐related and environmental factors were predicted to manifest mainly at the scale of component and compound communities. This study found that, in general, diversity and abundance of flea and mite assemblages at two lower hierarchical levels (infracommunities and component communities) were affected by host‐related, parasite‐related and environmental factors, and compound communities were affected mainly by host‐related and environmental factors. The effects of factors differed between fleas and mites: in fleas, community structure and abundance depended on host diversity to a greater extent than in mites. In addition, the effects of factors differed among parasite assemblages harboured by different host species.
Regulated expression of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase A reveals an influence on cell size and the secretion of virulence factors in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Choi Jaehyuk , Vogl A. Wayne , Kronstad James W.
Published: June 2012

Cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) regulates elaboration of the virulence factors melanin and polysaccharide capsule in Cryptococcus neoformans. A mutation in PKA1 encoding the catalytic subunit is known to reduce virulence in mice while a defect in PKR1 encoding the regulatory subunit enhances disease. Here, we constructed strains with galactose‐inducible and glucose‐repressible versions of PKA1 and PKR1 by inserting the GAL7 promoter upstream of the genes. As expected, no capsule was found in dextrose‐containing media for the PGAL7:PKA1 strain, whereas a large capsule was formed on cells grown in galactose. Along with capsule thickness, high PKA activity also influenced cell size, ploidy and vacuole enlargement, as observed in previous reports of giant/titan cell formation. We employed the regulated strains to test the hypothesis that PKA influences secretion and found that elevated PKA expression positively regulates extracellular protease activity and negatively regulates urease secretion. Furthermore, proper PKA regulation and activity were required for wild‐type levels of melanization and laccase activity, as well as correct localization of the enzyme. The latter phenotype is consistent with the discovery that PKA regulates the organization of intracellular membrane compartments. Overall, these results indicate that PKA influences secretion pathways directly related to virulence factor elaboration.
Activity of the tetrapyrrole regulator CrtJ is controlled by oxidation of a redox active cysteine located in the DNA binding domain
Authors: Cheng Zhuo , Wu Jiang , Setterdahl Aaron , Reddie Khalilah , Carroll Kate , Hammad Loubna A. , Karty Jonathan A. , Bauer Carl E.
Published: June 2012

CrtJ from Rhodobacter capsulatus is a regulator of genes involved in the biosynthesis of haem, bacteriochlorophyll, carotenoids as well as structural proteins of the light harvesting‐II complex. Fluorescence anisotropy‐based DNA‐binding analysis demonstrates that oxidized CrtJ exhibits ∼ 20‐fold increase in binding affinity over that of reduced CrtJ. Liquid chromatography electrospray tandem ionization mass spectrometric analysis using DAz‐2, a sulfenic acid (–SOH)‐specific probe, demonstrates that exposure of CrtJ to oxygen or to hydrogen peroxide leads to significant accumulation of a sulfenic acid derivative of Cys420 which is located in the helix–turn–helix (HTH) motif. In vivo labelling with 4‐(3‐azidopropyl)cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione (DAz‐2) shows that Cys420 also forms a sulfenic acid modification in vivo when cells are exposed to oxygen. Moreover, a Cys420 to Ala mutation leads to a ∼ 60‐fold reduction of DNA binding activity while a Cys to Ser substitution at position 420 that mimics a cysteine sulfenic acid results in a ∼ 4‐fold increase in DNA binding activity. These results provide the first example where sulfenic acid oxidation of a cysteine in a HTH‐motif leads to differential effects on gene expression.
Haemophore functions revisited
Authors: Wandersman Cécile , Delepelaire Philippe
Published: June 2012

Haem is the major iron source for bacteria that develop in higher organisms. In these hosts, bacteria have to cope with nutritional immunity imposed by the host, since haem and iron are tightly bound to carrier and storage proteins. Siderophores were the first recognized fighters in the battle for iron between bacteria and host. They are non‐proteinaceus organic molecules having an extremely high affinity for Fe3+ and able to extract it from host proteins. Haemophores, that display functional analogy with siderophores, were more recently discovered. They are a class of secreted proteins with a high affinity for haem; they are able to extract haem from host haemoproteins and deliver it to specific receptors that internalize haem. In the past few years, a wealth of data has accumulated on haem acquisition systems that are dependent on surface exposed/secreted bacterial proteins. They promote haem transfer from its initial source (in most cases, a eukaryotic haem binding protein) to the transporter that carries out the membrane crossing step. Here we review recent discoveries in this field, with particular emphasis on similar and dissimilar mechanisms in haemophores and siderophores, from the initial host source to the binding protein/receptor at the cell surface.
The ABC transporter MalFGK2 sequesters the MalT transcription factor at the membrane in the absence of cognate substrate
Authors: Richet Evelyne , Davidson Amy L. , Joly Nicolas
Published: June 2012

MalK, the cytoplasmic component of the maltose ABC transporter from Escherichia coli is known to control negatively the activity of MalT, the activator of the maltose regulon, through complex formation. Here we further investigate this regulatory process by monitoring MalT activity and performing fluorescence microscopy analyses under various conditions. We establish that, under physiological conditions, the molecular entity that interacts with MalT is not free MalK, but the maltose transporter, MalFGK2, which sequesters MalT to the membrane. Furthermore, we provide compelling evidence that the transporter's ability to bind MalT is not constitutive, but strongly diminished when MalFGK2 is engaged in sugar transport. Notably, the outward‐facing transporter, i.e. the catalytic intermediate, is ineffective in inhibiting MalT compared to the inward‐facing state, i.e. the resting form. Analyses of available genetic and structural data suggest how the interaction between one inactive MalT molecule and MalFGK2 would be sensitive to the transporter state, thereby allowing MalT release upon maltose entrance. A related mechanism may underpin signalling by other ABC transporters.
Traditional vs wireless intragastric pH monitoring: are the two techniques comparable?
Authors: Caparello C. , Bravi I. , Cantù P. , Grigolon A. , Tenca A. , Mauro A. , Penagini R.
Published: June 2012

Background  Few data are available comparing intragastric pH measured with the traditional catheter‐based and the more recent wireless system (Bravo), and also comparing intraesophageal and intragastric pH during reflux events. Aims of our study were to elucidate these points.

Methods  Eleven subjects with functional dyspepsia underwent placement of a Bravo capsule 9 cm below the squamo‐columnar junction (SCJ) and of a dual‐electrode catheter, so that the distal electrode was located 9 cm below and the proximal one 6 cm above the SCJ.

Key Results  The wireless system showed lower intragastric pH than the traditional catheter in the postprandial period (median 2.2 wireless vs 2.7 catheter, P < 0.05) but not in the whole 24 h. Moreover, during the 24 h, minimum intraesophageal pH during reflux events was lower than the simultaneous pH in the gastric body recorded using the catheter (2.2 vs 2.4, P < 0.01) and in the postprandial period lower than the one recorded using both techniques (2.3 vs 2.8 wireless and 3.2 catheter, P < 0.001).

Conclusions & Inferences  (i) after meals, in the 1st 2 h postprandial pH in the gastric body is significantly lower when measured with the wireless capsule than with the traditional catheter, presumably because of less buffering by food in proximity of the mucosa, (ii) during reflux events intraesophageal pH is lower than pH in the gastric body, in accordance with the notion of greater intragastric acidity in the subcardial region.
Confounding and effect modification in studies of diet and childhood asthma and allergies
Authors: Nurmatov U. , Nwaru B. I. , Devereux G. , Sheikh A.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To propose a comprehensive set of confounders and effect modifiers that should be considered in epidemiologic investigations.

Methods

Two reviewers independently critiqued studies included in a recent systematic review and extracted data on the confounders and effect modifiers that were considered and the approaches used to justify inclusion.

Results

Of the 62 studies reviewed, 20 were cohort, 16 case–control, 25 cross‐sectional studies, and one ecologic study. All cohort, cross‐sectional, and ecologic studies had some adjustment for confounding or consideration of effect modification, but this was only the case for 7/16 (44%) case–control studies. Of the 53 studies that considered confounding or effect modification, 39/53 (74%) gave no justification for the inclusion of the variables considered. Studies that justified the inclusion of the variables did so based on empirical evidence (n = 10), conceptual justification (n = 7), or a combination of the two (n = 3). Confounding was handled mainly by using regression modeling, but some case–control studies utilized matching and anova. Ten studies handled effect modification by stratification, eight tested for interaction, and five used both strategies.

Conclusions

We have found substantial shortcomings in the handling of confounding and effect modification in studies of diet and development of childhood asthma/allergies. Selection of variables should be based on conceptual considerations and empirical evidence. Using this approach, we have proposed a comprehensive set of confounders and effect modifiers that need to be considered in future studies.
Histochemical Analyses of Anti‐Microbial Substances in Canine Perianal Skin with Special Reference to Glandular Structures
Authors: Nara T. , Yasui T. , Fujimori O. , Meyer W. , Tsukise A.
Published: June 2012

Circumanal glands are prominent features of the canine perianal skin, which are often located near to the sebaceous glands and apocrine glands. As the functional relevance of circumanal glands is yet unknown, we studied the localisation of sialic acids and anti‐microbial substances (lysozyme, immunoglobulin A, lactoferrin, β‐defensin) in these glandular structures by lectin histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The glands exhibited a number of sialic acids that were linked to α2‐6Gal/GalNAc and α2‐3Galβ1‐4GlcNAc. Additionally, lysozyme, lactoferrin and β‐defensin could be demonstrated in the three types of skin glands, whereas IgA was only detectable in the apocrine glands. The results of the study suggest the specific significance of the circumanal glands. Independent of a certain endocrine role, their products may mainly function as protective agents to preserve the integrity of the anal region, considering that sialic acids and anti‐microbial substances are important in defence mechanisms.
Nest Attendance does not Predict Offspring Desertion by Eurasian Penduline Tit Parents
Authors: van Dijk René E. , Komdeur Jan , Székely Tamás
Published: June 2012

Parental care is costly, and in many organisms, the male or the female parent benefits from reducing its own care which may be compensated for by its mate. One of the parents may even face all costs of parental care if its mate deserts and leaves him/her to care for the offspring alone. Theoretical models have generated contrasting predictions as to how parents negotiate a resolution of this sexual conflict over care, although empirical tests are largely lacking. We investigated pre‐desertion behaviour (nest attendance) of a highly polygamous passerine, the Eurasian penduline tit (
Remiz pendulinus) that exhibits intense sexual conflict over care culminating in clutch desertion by the male, by the female or by both parents. We conjectured that nest attendance of parents should predict desertion, so that the lack of care provided by the deserting parent may be compensated for. By analysing over 200 000 video frames (2.50 ± 1.36 d per pair, 302 ± 170 min/d) of 20 pairs, we show that nest desertion is not a gradual process and cannot be predicted by nest attendance. These results are consistent with the argument that the predictable desertion may not be evolutionarily stable, and suggest that male and female penduline tits do not negotiate clutch desertion.
Calf foetal and early life nutrition on grazing conditions: metabolic and endocrine profiles and body composition during the growing phase
Authors: Gutiérrez V. , Espasandin A. C. , Astessiano A. L. , Casal A. , López‐Mazz C. , Carriquiry M.
Published: June 2012

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nutrition during foetal and lactation periods on calf growth and body composition, and their association with changes in metabolic and endocrine profiles during the calf first year of life on purebred (Hereford and Angus) and cross‐bred (F1) dam offspring. Forty cross‐bred calves and their dams (purebred – PU: Hereford and Angus, and cross‐bred – CR: F1) were used in a randomized block design with a factorial arrangement of herbage allowance of native pastures (high: Hi‐HA and low: Lo‐HA), 4 vs. 2.5 kg dry matter/kg body weight (BW) and dam genotype (PU vs. CR). Calf BW and blood samples were collected monthly from birth to 380 ± 15 days of age, and body composition was estimated by the urea dilution technique at weaning (142 ± 15 days) and 380 days. Calf birthweight did not differ among groups but from birth to 380 days, and BW was reduced (p = 0.046) in Lo‐PU offspring. Although Lo‐CR calves achieved similar BW than Hi‐PU and Hi‐CR offspring, they showed an increased fat in detriment of lean tissue deposition. At birth, plasma total protein was less (p = 0.04), while plasma glucose, insulin or IGF‐I tended or were greater (p < 0.072) in Hi‐HA than Lo‐HA calves. Greater (p < 0.03) plasma total protein and/or glucose concentrations during the first months of lactation were observed in CR offspring associated with the greater dam milk production. Although glucose concentrations did not differ among calf groups after weaning, plasma insulin was greater (p = 0.004) in Hi‐PU than other groups at 380 days. Consistent with the reduced BW, Lo‐PU offspring presented the lowest (p = 0.026) plasma IGF‐I from birth to 380 days. Herbage allowance of native grasslands during calf foetal and lactation periods interacted with maternal heterosis to affect, in the short and/or long term, calf BW or body composition, and metabolic and endocrine profiles.
Effect of Acute Bull Exposure Around the Time of Artificial Insemination on Serum Oxytocin and Progesterone Concentrations and Pregnancy Rates in Dairy Cows
Authors: Ababneh MM , Obeidat IN , Husein MQ , Talafha AQ
Published: June 2012

Contents

This study examined the effect of acute bull exposure around the time of artificial insemination (AI) on oxytocin and progesterone concentrations, and pregnancy rates in dairy cows. Ninety six dairy cows, stratified according to parity into primiparous and pluriparous, were divided into three groups; short bull exposure (SBE; 10 min, n = 32), long bull exposure (LBE; 4 h, n = 32) or no bull exposure (NBE; n = 32). On day 45 post‐partum, all cows were treated with PGF2α on three occasions 11–14 days apart to synchronize oestrus. They were submitted to fixed time AI 80 h after the third PGF2α injection. Cows in the SBE and LBE groups were artificially inseminated 5 min after the introduction of the bull. From a subset of cows (n = 6 per group; three primiparous and three pluriparous), blood samples were collected once every 5 min starting 15 min before AI until 15 min after AI and analysed for oxytocin concentrations. Additional blood samples were collected for measurements of progesterone (P4) concentrations once daily for 4 days starting on the day of AI and once every 3 days thereafter until day 22. The effects of bull exposure, time, parity, difficulty of AI, and pregnancy on oxytocin and P4 concentrations were analysed using the mixed linear model procedure. Mean oxytocin concentrations or change in oxytocin concentrations after bull exposure or AI were not different among groups. Pregnancy rates for the NBE, SBE and LBE groups were 55.5%, 33.3% and 44.4%, respectively, and were not different among groups. In conclusion, acute bull exposure around the time of AI did not affect oxytocin and progesterone concentrations and did not improve pregnancy rates in dairy cattle under these farms conditions.
Malignant small bowel obstruction: The last frontier for gastrointestinal stenting
Authors: Park Jae Jun , Cheon Jae Hee
Published: June 2012

See article in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2012; 27: 1181–1186.
Microbiota and management of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Lawrance Ian C
Published: June 2012

See article in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2012; 27: 1205–1212.
When has the horse bolted?
Authors: Shackel Nicholas A
Published: June 2012

See article in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2012; 27: 1227–1232.
Transient elastography in real practice: A time for action?
Authors: Chon Young Eun , Kim Seung Up , Ahn Sang Hoon
Published: June 2012

See articles in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2012; 27: 1213–1218 and 1219–1226.
Towards a more liveable life for close relatives of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder
Authors: Rusner Marie , Carlsson Gunilla , Brunt David , Nyström Maria
Published: June 2012

The life of close relatives of persons with bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with emotional distress, depression, and a high level of use of mental health care. Illness‐related changes of their life situation endanger relationships, social life, finances, and occupational functioning. Understanding of facilitating conditions for close relatives is still a neglected research area. The aim of the present study thus was to explore what makes the life of close relatives of persons with BD more liveable. A lifeworld phenomenological approach was used. The findings reveal that keeping distance, having stability in everyday life, and strengthening equality through transparent communication are conditions that enable close relatives to influence the unpredictable and its consequences and thus make life more liveable. This implies contributions from close relatives, the person with BD, and the caring services. We propose that health‐care support should not be divided in support for the patient and/or the close relatives but instead be designed as support for the ‘patient and close relatives’ as a unit. Professional caregivers need to take responsibility for creating intersubjective settings for the person with BD and their close relatives to share their needs and make joint plans for how to influence the illness‐related life issues.
Work‐related behaviour and experience patterns of nurses in different professional stages and settings compared to physicians in Germany
Authors: Voltmer Edgar , Wingenfeld Katja , Spahn Claudia , Driessen Martin , Schulz Michael
Published: June 2012

Working in a health‐care profession is correlated with high levels of stress and potential burnout that are likely to increase over time. Few studies differentiate psychosocial stress between nurses in different clinical settings or professional stages. In this cross‐sectional study, we compared the work‐related behaviour and experience of nurses (n = 389) and physicians (n = 344) and of nurses across different career stages and clinical settings in Germany. Nurses had the lowest proportion of a healthy behaviour and experience pattern (11.6%) compared with student nurses (32.6%), senior nurses (25%), and physicians (16.7%). They also had the highest proportion of a burnout‐related behaviour and experience pattern (32.8% vs 26.1% of student nurses, 18.3% of senior nurses, and 27.3% of physicians). In comparison with medical nurses, psychiatric nurses presented a significantly (P < 0.01) lower proportion with a healthy (10.6% vs 21.8%) and burnout‐related behaviour pattern (23.5% vs 29.6%), and a higher proportion showing a low commitment to work (61.4% vs 34.4%). Differences in health‐related dimensions were primarily observed in the domains of professional commitment and stress resistance. The observed differences in behaviour and experience patterns as a function of health‐care settings and career stages emphasize the need for specific interventions.
Asleep–awake–asleep technique in children during strabismus surgery under sufentanil balanced anesthesia
Authors: Lili Xu , Zhiyong Hu , Jianjun Shen
Published: June 2012

Background:  Both over‐ and undercorrection can occur in up to 10–15% of strabismus surgeries. Use of adjustable suture technique and an intraoperative awake test may decrease the incidence of over‐ or undercorrection. In this study, we investigated the ability to provide optimal conditions for intraoperative awake strabismus suture adjustment in children by means of target‐controlled infusions (TCI) of propofol and remifentanil propofol compared with propofol and sufentanil.

Methods:  Forty‐six ASA I–II patients undergoing strabismus surgery with intraoperative awakening were randomly assigned to anesthesia by TCI of propofol + sufentanil group (group SF) or propofol + remifentanil spontaneous breathing. Propofol was discontinued, and concentrations of the opioid TCIs were reduced to enable awake assessment of the mobility and position of the eye. Changes in intraocular pressure, respiratory function, hemodynamics, awakening time, and awaking quality were compared between the two groups. The degrees of sedation and analgesia were evaluated through the assessment of alertness and sedation scores (OAA/S) and visual analog scale scores (VAS).

Results:  There was no significant difference in intraocular pressure at three sampling points between two groups (P > 0.05). The heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in group SF were significantly lower than group RF during laryngeal mask insertion (P < 0.05) as well as during the wake‐up test (P < 0.05). Spontaneous breathing was maintained in all patients, and there was no significant difference in RR and Sp02 at T1–T11 between the groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the target effect‐site concentration of propofol at T1–T10 between the groups (P > 0.05). The wake‐up times in group SF were significantly longer than in group RF (P < 0.05). In contrast, the quality of wake‐up test and the degree of consciousness after the patients were awakened were significantly better (19 good and 4 satisfactory vs 15 good, 2 satisfactory, and 6 poor) in SF group than RF group. The VAS was significantly lower at T6–T9 in SF group than in RF group (P < 0.05). The incidence of untoward events during and after surgery, such as respiratory depression and apnea, oculocardiac reflex, coughing, groan and nausea, and vomiting was not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:  Propofol combined with sufentanil or remifentanil can be suitable for planned intraoperative awakening for an adjustable suture technique in pediatric patients during strabismus surgery. Remifentanil has quicker wake‐up time; however, sufentanil demonstrated an advantage in terms of better analgesia, more stable hemodynamics, and improved qualify of awakening.
Spatiotemporal distribution of the hemlock woolly adelgid predator Laricobius nigrinus after release in eastern hemlock forests
Authors: Davis Gina A. , Salom Scott M. , Brewster Carlyle C. , Onken Bradley P. , Kok Loke T.
Published: June 2012

Post‐release distributions of Laricobius nigrinus, a biological control predator of hemlock woolly adelgid Adelges tsugae Annand, were evaluated at eight hemlock forests in the eastern U.S.A.

Vertical dispersal of F1 and F2L. nigrinus were assessed from within three crown strata (<7, 7–15 and >15 m) at four release sites.

Horizontal distributions of L. nigrinus within the forest surrounding central release areas were observed in two separate studies, which included (i) release and monitor to capture parent and F1 movement by sampling the immature life stages of the offspring, and (ii) assessment of F3 to F6 generations where beetles were previously determined to be established.

Laricobius nigrinus, released on lower crown branches, oviposited within the upper crown stratum and were slow to disperse from release trees. Monitoring L. nigrinus only from the lower crown would likely underestimate its presence because 86% of the F2 generation were detected above 15 m.

By the fifth generation, the frequency distributions of larvae increased at increasing distance from release areas; larvae were recovered at a maximum distance of approximately 400 m and the spread rate was approximately 39 m/year.

Slow dispersal of L. nigrinus and uninterrupted recovery of six generations in the presence of fluctuating prey density support its continued release as part of the A. tsugae biological control programme. These data contribute toward improved release strategies and monitoring for this biological control agent.
Towards quantitative metagenomics of wild viruses and other ultra‐low concentration DNA samples: a rigorous assessment and optimization of the linker amplification method
Authors: Duhaime Melissa B. , Deng Li , Poulos Bonnie T. , Sullivan Matthew B.
Published: June 2012

Metagenomics generates and tests hypotheses about dynamics and mechanistic drivers in wild populations, yet commonly suffers from insufficient (< 1 ng) starting genomic material for sequencing. Current solutions for amplifying sufficient DNA for metagenomics analyses include linear amplification for deep sequencing (LADS), which requires more DNA than is normally available, linker‐amplified shotgun libraries (LASLs), which is prohibitively low throughput, and whole‐genome amplification, which is significantly biased and thus non‐quantitative. Here, we adapt the LASL approach to next generation sequencing by offering an alternate polymerase for challenging samples, developing a more efficient sizing step, integrating a ‘reconditioning PCR’ step to increase yield and minimize late‐cycle PCR artefacts, and empirically documenting the quantitative capability of the optimized method with both laboratory isolate and wild community viral DNA. Our optimized linker amplification method requires as little as 1 pg of DNA and is the most precise and accurate available, with G + C content amplification biases less than 1.5‐fold, even for complex samples as diverse as a wild virus community. While optimized here for 454 sequencing, this linker amplification method can be used to prepare metagenomics libraries for sequencing with next‐generation platforms, including Illumina and Ion Torrent, the first of which we tested and present data for here.
Possible roles of reactive chlorine II: assessing biotic chlorination as a way for organisms to handle oxygen stress
Authors: Bengtson Per , Bastviken David , Öberg Gunilla
Published: June 2012

Natural formation of organically bound chlorine is extensive in many environments. The enzymes associated with the formation of chlorinated organic matter are produced by a large variety of organisms. Little is known about the ecological role of the process, the key question being: why do microorganisms promote chlorination of organic matter? In a recent paper we discuss whether organic matter chlorination may be a result of antagonistic interactions among microorganisms. In the present paper we evaluate whether extracellular microbial formation of reactive chlorine may be used as a defence against oxygen stress, and we discuss whether this process is likely to contribute to the formation of chlorinated organic matter. Our analysis suggests that periodic exposure to elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species is a common denominator among the multitude of organisms that are able to enzymatically catalyse formation of reactive chlorine. There is also some evidence suggesting that the production of such enzymes in algae and bacteria is induced by oxygen stress. The relative contribution from this process to the extensive formation of chlorinated organic matter in natural environments remains to be empirically assessed.
Molecular phylogeny of the Athetini–Lomechusini–Ecitocharini clade of aleocharine rove beetles (Insecta)
Authors: Elven Hallvard , Bachmann Lutz , Gusarov Vladimir I.
Published: June 2012

Elven, E., Bachmann, L. & Gusarov V. I. (2012) Molecular phylogeny of the Athetini–Lomechusini–Ecitocharini clade of aleocharine rove beetles (Insecta). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 617–636.

It has previously been shown that the Aleocharinae tribes Athetini and Lomechusini form a well‐supported clade, which also includes the small Neotropical tribe Ecitocharini. However, neither Athetini nor Lomechusini were recovered as monophyletic. In this study, we addressed the basal phylogenetic relationships among the three tribes using sequence data from (i) a mitochondrial fragment covering the COI, Leu2 and COII genes; (ii) a mitochondrial fragment covering part of the 16S gene, the Leu1 gene and part of the NADH 1 gene; and (iii) a part of the nuclear 18S gene, for 68 Athetini, 33 Lomechusini and 2 Ecitocharini species, plus representatives from 10 other tribes. The athetine subtribe Geostibina was recovered as sister group to the ‘true Lomechusini’, which included the type genus Lomechusa. The two clades formed a sister group to the main Athetini clade, which also included Ecitocharini and the ‘false Lomechusini’, a group of New World genera normally placed in Lomechusini. The following changes in classification are proposed: (i) Geostibina Seevers, 1978 is raised to tribal rank, and 13 Athetini genera are placed in Geostibini; (ii) Ecitodonia Seevers, 1965; Ecitopora Wasmann, 1887, and Tetradonia Wasmann, 1894 are moved from Lomechusini to Athetini; (iii) Ecitocharini Seevers, 1965 is placed in synonymy with Athetini; (iv) Discerota Mulsant & Rey, 1874 is tentatively included in Oxypodini; (v) Actocharina Bernhauer, 1907 is placed in synonymy with Hydrosmecta Thomson, 1858.
Assessing Emotional Self‐Efficacy: Evaluating Validity and Dimensionality with Cross‐Cultural Samples
Authors: Choi Sungwon , Kluemper Donald H. , Sauley Kerry S.
Published: June 2012

The concept of emotional intelligence (EI) has frequently been conceptualised as a stable construct (i.e. an intelligence or disposition). As a theoretically distinct form of EI, we advance a measure of emotional self‐efficacy (ESE), which is more dynamic and malleable than traditional EI measures. Two studies across two cultures yield a six‐dimensional model of ESE. These six dimensions are shown to differ in their relationships with various outcomes. ESE is shown to predict low levels of stress and high levels of life satisfaction and coping beyond self‐efficacy.
Big Five Traits and Intrinsic Success in the New Career Era: A 15‐Year Longitudinal Study on Employability and Work–Family Conflict
Authors: Wille Bart , De Fruyt Filip , Feys Marjolein
Published: June 2012

The present investigation contributes to research on the dispositional source of intrinsic (subjective) career success in three general ways. First, two indicators of career success were considered, i.e. perceived employability and work–family conflict, which closely align with the characteristics of contemporary boundaryless careers. Second, facet‐level associations were examined, providing a more fine‐grained description of personality–success relations. Third, besides concurrent associations, we also examined the prospective effects of traits on career success assessed 15 years later. Overall, our results further substantiated an individual difference perspective on career success, with both outcomes being significantly and substantially predicted by Big Five traits, even when controlling for a number of demographic and career‐related characteristics. Further, results indicated that facet‐level analyses can contribute significantly to our theoretical understanding of trait–success associations. Finally, a comparison of concurrent and longitudinal analyses indicated temporal stability of personality–success relations, although the predictive validity of separate traits was also found to vary across time.
The effect of cultural and school factors on the implementation of CSCL
Authors: Zhu Chang
Published: June 2012

The implementation process of educational technology and computer‐supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is complex as it is influenced by context variables. This research aims to examine in a comprehensive way the effect of the cultural environment and school organizational culture features on the implementation of CSCL. A total of 832 students and teachers from five secondary schools in Mainland China, Hong Kong China and Flanders, Belgium participated in this study. The results show that cultural dimensions (openness and collaboration) and school organisational culture features (innovation orientation and structured leadership) were significant factors relating to the implementation of CSCL.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Cultural factors and learners' individual characteristics should be considered when implementing computer‐supported collaborative learning (CSCL).

Applying CSCL can facilitate students' knowledge construction.

The participation, communication, interaction and satisfaction of students in CSCL environment can be influenced by students' cultural background.

What this paper adds

Both cultural environment and school culture features are related to the implementation of CSCL in schools.

Leadership and innovation orientation of schools are key factors influencing the implementation of CSCL.

Openness and collaborative culture are critical for adopting innovative teaching and learning.

Students and teachers may perceive the cultural and school environment in a different way.

Implications for practice and/or policy

An open and collaborative culture should be nurtured.

School leaders need to set up clear goals and regulations with regard to adoption and implementation of online technologies and collaborative learning.

Innovation attempts or try‐outs should be encouraged in schools.
Peer Victimization, Poor Academic Achievement, and the Link Between Childhood Externalizing and Internalizing Problems
Authors: van Lier Pol A. C. , Vitaro Frank , Barker Edward D. , Brendgen Mara , Tremblay Richard E. , Boivin Michel
Published: June 2012

This study explored whether early elementary school aged children’s externalizing problems impede academic functioning and foster negative social experiences such as peer victimization, thereby making these children vulnerable for developing internalizing problems and possibly increasing their externalizing problems. It also explored whether early internalizing problems contributed to an increase in externalizing problems. The study examined 1,558 Canadian children from ages 6 to 8 years. Externalizing and internalizing problems, peer victimization, and school achievement were assessed annually. Externalizing problems lead to academic underachievement and experiences of peer victimization. Academic underachievement and peer victimization, in turn, predicted increases in internalizing problems and in externalizing problems. These pathways applied equally to boys and girls. No links from internalizing to externalizing problems were found.
A Longitudinal Investigation of the Role of Quantity and Quality of Child‐Directed Speech in Vocabulary Development
Authors: Rowe Meredith L.
Published: June 2012

Quantity and quality of caregiver input was examined longitudinally in a sample of 50 parent–child dyads to determine which aspects of input contribute most to children’s vocabulary skill across early development. Measures of input gleaned from parent–child interactions at child ages 18, 30, and 42 months were examined in relation to children’s vocabulary skill on a standardized measure 1 year later (e.g., 30, 42, and 54 months). Results show that controlling for socioeconomic status, input quantity, and children’s previous vocabulary skill; using a diverse and sophisticated vocabulary with toddlers; and using decontextualized language (e.g., narrative) with preschoolers explains additional variation in later vocabulary ability. The differential effects of various aspects of the communicative environment at several points in early vocabulary development are discussed.
EXPLOITING SUBTREES IN AUTO‐PARSED DATA TO IMPROVE DEPENDENCY PARSING
Authors: Chen Wenliang , Kazama Jun’ichi , Uchimoto Kiyotaka , Torisawa Kentaro
Published: June 2012

Dependency parsing has attracted considerable interest from researchers and developers in natural language processing. However, to obtain a high‐accuracy dependency parser, supervised techniques require a large volume of hand‐annotated data, which are extremely expensive. This paper presents a simple and effective approach for improving dependency parsing with subtrees derived from unannotated data, which are easy to obtain. First, we use a baseline parser to parse large‐scale unannotated data. Then, we extract subtrees from dependency parse trees in the auto‐parsed data. Next, the extracted subtrees are classified into several sets according to their frequency. Finally, we design new features based on the subtree sets for parsing algorithms. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach, we conduct experiments on the English Penn Treebank and Chinese Penn Treebank. The results show that our approach significantly outperforms baseline systems. It also achieves the best accuracy for the Chinese data and an accuracy competitive with the best known systems for the English data.
Type I error and test power of different tests for testing interaction effects in factorial experiments
Authors: Mendeş Mehmet , Yiğit Soner
Published: June 2012

A simulation study was conducted to investigate the effect of non normality and unequal variances on Type I error rates and test power of the classical factorial anova F‐test and different alternatives, namely rank transformation procedure (FR), winsorized mean (FW), modified mean (FM) and permutation test (FP) for testing interaction effects. Simulation results showed that as long as no significant deviation from normality and homogeneity of the variances exists, generally all of the tests displayed similar results. However, if there is significant deviation from the assumptions, the other tests are observed to be affected at considerably high levels except FR and FP tests. As a result, when the assumptions of factorial anova F‐test are not met or, in the case those assumptions are not tested whether met, it can be concluded that using FR and FP tests is more suitable than the classical factorial anova F‐test.
Variation, contact and social indexicality in the acquisition of (ing) by teenage migrants1
Authors: Meyerhoff Miriam , Schleef Erik
Published: June 2012

We discuss some apparent limits on the acquisition of variation suggested by our recent work exploring how teenage migrants to the U.K. acquire local norms of variation. We focus on the constraints on the (ing) variable that emerged from a multivariate analysis. We find evidence for a systematisation of the variable among immigrants, involving  some linguistically and cognitively predictable constraints, but also the emergence of social constraints not found in the teenage native speakers. We argue that transformation of variable constraints is a necessary artefact of the inherent complexity of sociolinguistic variables, particularly those with social indexicality. This research note: (1) delineates some theoretical and practical questions involved in incorporating social indexing in variationist studies, especially of non‐native speakers; and (2) further explores reallocation (transformation) in the study of language contact.

Wir behandeln mögliche Grenzen des Erwerbs soziolinguistischer Variation, die unsere jüngste Studie zum Erwerb lokaler Variationsnormen jugendlicher Immigranten in Großbritannien zu zeigen scheint. In unserer Ergebnisdarstellung konzentrieren wir uns auf die Faktoren, die die Verwendung der (ing) Variable beschränken. Die Ergebnisse gingen aus einer multivariaten Datenanalyse hervor. Wir zeigen, dass die Variable unter Immigranten systematisiert wird, was das Erscheinen einiger linguistischer und kognitiv voraussagbarer Faktoren aber auch einiger interessanter sozialer Faktoren einschließt, die nicht unter den jugendlichen Muttersprachlern gefunden werden konnten. Wir zeigen weiterhin, dass die Umwandlung variabler Faktoren ein notwendiges Artefakt der inhärenten Komplexität soziolinguistischer Variablen ist, insbesondere von Variablen mit sozialer Indexikalität. Diese Notiz umreißt einige praktische Fragen in Bezug auf (1) die Einfügung sozialer Indizes in variationslinguistische Studien, insbesondere solcher, die Nicht‐Muttersprachler betreffen, und (2) die weitere Erforschung des Prozesses der Umverteilung in der Untersuchung von Sprachkontaktphänomenen. [German]
Vowel harmony redux: Correct sounds, English loan words, and the sociocultural life of a phonological structure in Korean1
Authors: Harkness Nicholas
Published: June 2012

This paper examines an ideology of standard pronunciation and spelling of English loan words in South Korea through the lens of Korean vowel harmony. I focus specifically on the alternation between an older Japanese‐style ‘a’[a] and a newer Korean‐style ‘ŏ’[ɔ] for the mapping of mid‐vowels from English to Korean. The opposition between ‘a’ and ‘ŏ’ also figures into the dichotomy of vowel classes between ‘yang’ or ‘light’ vowels and ‘yin’ or ‘dark’ vowels in Korean vowel harmony. This opposition is pervasive in Korean's rich stock of denotationally iconic words (e.g. onomatopoeia), where ablaut between vowel classes produces semantic and pragmatic contrasts. I suggest that this latter structure of phonological opposition has an influence on speakers’ perceptions of vowel difference and associated values in English loan words, despite an overarching ideology of standard pronunciation that is based on assumptions about phonetic fidelity.

이 논문은 영어 차용어의 표준 발음 및 철자법 속 이데올로기를 모음조화를 통해 재조명 하는것이 목적이다. 특히, 영어 중모음이 ‘ㅏ’[a]나 ‘ㅓ’[ɔ]로 전사(mapping)되는 점에 초점을 둔다. 그러나 최근 한국에서는 ‘ㅓ’가 원어 영어 발음과 더 음성학적으로 가깝다고 여겨지며 정음(正音)으로 인식되어지고 있다. 이제 ‘ㅏ’는 구식말투나 사투리, 아니면 교양없는 언행을 연상시키는 음(音)으로 여겨지고 있다. 그러나, ‘ㅏ’/‘ㅓ’의 대립은 한국어 모음조화 속의 양성모음과 음성모음의 구분; 즉, 일종의 모음종류의 이분법으로 보아야 한다. 또한, 모음조화는 의성어와 의태어에서 중요한 역할을 한다고 할 수 있다. 그러므로, 모음조화가 표준발음의 이데올로기 속에서 영어 차용어의 모음구분에 영향을 미치는 것이다. [Korean]