bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Embodied Learning Across the Life Span
Authors: Kontra Carly , Goldin‐Meadow Susan , Beilock Sian L.
Published: September 2012

Developmental psychologists have long recognized the extraordinary influence of action on learning (Held & Hein, 1963; Piaget, 1952). Action experiences begin to shape our perception of the world during infancy (e.g., as infants gain an understanding of others’ goal‐directed actions; Woodward, 2009) and these effects persist into adulthood (e.g., as adults learn about complex concepts in the physical sciences; Kontra, Lyons, Fischer, & Beilock, 2012). Theories of embodied cognition provide a structure within which we can investigate the mechanisms underlying action’s impact on thinking and reasoning. We argue that theories of embodiment can shed light on the role of action experience in early learning contexts, and further that these theories hold promise for using action to scaffold learning in more formal educational settings later in development.
Characterization of culturable bacterial endophytes of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and their capacity to influence plant growth
Authors: Xia Ye , Greissworth Eliana , Mucci Curtis , Williams Mark A. , De Bolt Seth
Published: September 2012

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial warm season grass that is native to the plains of North America and is widely grown as a forage, bioenergy or groundcover crop. Despite its importance, a bottleneck in switchgrass production is poor seedling vigor, which as a perennial crop represents an important time for management. Herein, data identify a suite of culturable bacterial microflora extracted from switchgrass, and show their capability to influence host plant growth and development. A total of 307 bacterial isolates were cultured and isolated from surface sterilized switchgrass biomass and sequence identified into 76 strains (subspecies classification), 36 species and 5 phyla. Approximately 58% of bacterial strains, when reintroduced into surface‐sterilized switchgrass seeds, were documented to increase lamina length (cm from base to tip after 60 days growth) relative to uninoculated controls. Ecologically, Phylum Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial classification and encompassed 75% of all isolates. Although the culturable bacterial community studies herein represent an unknown and assumedly minor proportion of the total microbiome, by focusing on culturable bacteria, we delineate functional feedback between the presence of isolated bacteria and switchgrass seedling growth.
Anterior mediastinal masses resection with cosmetic skin approach
Authors: Liu Baoxing , Qin Jianjun , Xu Jinliang , Zhang Ruixiang , Li Yin
Published: September 2012

Background

The objective of this study was to describe a cosmetic skin incision for resection of large anterior mediastinal masses, and to review our experience with this technique.

Methods

From 1999 to 2010, 55 patients with a diagnosis of large anterior mediastinal masses underwent “goblet”‐shaped skin incision with midline sternotomy. The complications, mortality, details of surgery, and duration of hospital stay were observed from review. Patients were monitored via follow‐up for a duration of one year after surgery.

Results

The mean hospital stay was nine days. Wound complications of infection were observed in one patient. There were no other complications, such as hematoma formation, necrosis of skin flap, split or infection of the sternum. No related mortality was recorded within the 30‐day postoperative period. All of the patients verbalized the benefits of this technique, particularly the possibility of wearing open‐collared clothing, as a result of the cosmetic chest wall and a camouflaging scar below the angle of Louis. At the follow‐up periods, 52 of the patients were found to be well. Three patients did not complete follow‐up at our facility.

Conclusion

Our primary experience with this procedure proved it was safe. The technique allows excellent access to the mediastinum and complete removal of large anterior mediastinal masses that are complicated with adjacent midline cardiovascular structures. This technique also provides a better cosmetic result than the standard vertical incision.
Leptospiral Uveitis – There Is More to It Than Meets the Eye!
Authors: Verma A. , Stevenson B.
Published: September 2012

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic species of genusLeptospira, is a highly prevalent zoonotic disease throughout many parts of the world, and an important emerging disease within the United States. Uveitis is a common complication of systemic infection in humans. A similar condition in horses is characterized by recurrent bouts of inflammation. In this article, we review advances in our understanding of leptospiral uveitis and its pathogenic mechanisms.
Epidemiological Survey of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Domestic Owned Cats from the Tropical Southeast of Mexico
Authors: Jiménez‐Coello M. , Acosta‐Viana K.Y. , Guzman‐Marin E. , Gomez‐Rios A. , Ortega‐Pacheco A.
Published: September 2012

American trypanosomiasis is an infectious disease of importance for public health and caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi mainly transmitted by triatomine bugs. The precise role of cats in the peridomestic transmission of T. cruzi and the mechanism by which cats become infected remain uncertain. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in domestic cats from an urban area of tropical Mexico by serological and molecular methods and evaluate associated risk factors. A total of 220 domestic cats from Merida Yucatan, Mexico, were studied. Animals older than 3 months were blood sampled. Serum and DNA were obtained. Specific T. cruzi IgG antibodies were detected using a commercial indirect ELISA with an anti‐cat antibody HRP labelled. Positive cases were confirmed by Western blot (WB). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also performed using the primers TC1 and TC2. From the 220 cats, 8.6% had antibodies against T. cruzi using ELISA test and later confirmed by WB. In 75 cats (34%), the sequence of ADNk of T. cruzi was amplified. The bad–regular body condition was the only risk factor associated with PCR positive to T.cruzi (P < 0.001). In Mexico, there are no previous epidemiological reports that demonstrate the importance of the cat as a reservoir of T. cruzi. Few individuals were identified with a serological response because they were probably at an early stage of infection or antibodies were not detected because they could be immunocompromised (FIV, FeLV or others). It is necessary to monitor PCR‐positive patients and conduct further studies for better understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Chagas disease in domestic cats.
Lessons from Emergence of A/Goose/Guangdong/1996‐Like H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses and Recent Influenza Surveillance Efforts in Southern China
Authors: Wan X.F.
Published: September 2012

Southern China is proposed as an influenza epicentre. At least two of the three pandemics in the last century, including 1957 and 1968 influenza pandemics, originated from this area. In 1996, A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5N1), the precursor of currently circulating highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) was identified in farmed geese in southern China. These H5N1 HPAIVs have been spread across Asia, Europe and Africa and poses a continuous threat to both animal and human health. However, how and where this H5N1 HPAIV emerged are not fully understood. In the past decade, many influenza surveillance efforts have been carried out in southern China, and our understanding of the genetic diversity of non‐human influenza A viruses in this area has been much better than ever. Here, the historical and first‐hand experimental data on A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996(H5N1)‐like HPAIVs are reviewed within the context of the findings from recent surveillance efforts on H5N1 HPAIVs and other non‐human influenza A viruses. Such a retrospective recapitulation suggests that long‐term and systematic surveillance programmes should continue to be implemented in southern China that the wet markets on the animal–human interface shall be the priority area and that the surveillance on the animal species bridging the interface between wildlife and domestic animal populations and the interface between the aquatics and territories shall be the strengthened.
Liraglutide administration in type 2 diabetic patients who either received no previous treatment or were treated with an oral hypoglycemic agent showed greater efficacy than that in patients switching from insulin
Authors: Nambu Takuo , Matsuda Yuki , Matsuo Koji , Kanai Yugo , Yonemitsu Shin , Muro Seiji , Oki Shogo
Published: September 2012

Aims/Introduction

Liraglutide, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist, is expected to provide a new treatment option for diabetes. However, the suitable timing of liraglutide administration in type 2 diabetic patients has not yet been clarified.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed type 2 diabetic patients (n = 155) who visited the Osaka Red Cross Hospital for glycemic control, with administration of liraglutide at a dose of 0.6 mg (average glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] level, 8.7 ± 0.1%). The effect of liraglutide based on the pretreatment status was compared. We also analyzed the background factors of both a successful and failed group of patients who switched to liraglutide from insulin.

Results

An improvement in blood glucose levels was confirmed in 122 of 155 patients. During the 4‐month observation period, the improvement in HbA1c levels was significantly greater in the group of drug‐naïve/previous oral hypoglycemic agent (9.1 ± 0.2 to 7.2 ± 0.2%) than that in the group switching from insulin (8.6 ± 0.2 to 7.8 ± 0.2%). In addition, C‐peptide immunoreactivity levels (fasting > 2.2 ng/mL; delta >1.6 ng/mL; urine > 70 μg/day), younger age and a smaller number of insulin units used per day were considered important when deciding on switching to liraglutide from insulin.

Conclusions

Liraglutide was more effective in patients who had not been treated previously or received oral hypoglycemic agents than in patients switching from insulin. With respect to switching to liraglutide from insulin, the most important factors to be considered were C‐peptide immunoreactivity levels, age, and the number of insulin units used per day.
Pneumocephalus in five horses
Authors: Dunkel B. , Corley K. T. T. , Johnson A. L. , Witte T. H. , Leitch M. , Marr C. M. , Weller R.
Published: September 2012

Pneumocephalus is occasionally encountered in horses but poorly described in the literature. The study aimed to describe historical, clinical and diagnostic imaging findings and outcome in horses to increase the awareness and recognition of the condition amongst equine practitioners, allowing appropriate management of these cases. Cases of pneumocephalus from 4 participating institutions were identified and case details extracted from the medical records. Five cases of pneumocephalus were identified. Head trauma with suspected or confirmed fractures of the sinuses was the underlying cause in 4 cases, while the remaining horse was thought to have developed pneumocephalus secondary to sinusitis or trauma. Diagnosis was established radiographically in 4 cases and by computed tomography in a fifth. Gas was noted between the cranial vault and the brain, in the lateral ventricles, in the brain parenchyma and within the cranial cervical canal. The gas accumulation resolved gradually in all horses and did not appear independently to result in neurological compromise. Long‐term outcome was available for 3 cases, 2 of which were ultimately subjected to euthanasia due to neurological deficits. Pneumocephalus is a possible consequence of head trauma or sinusitis in horses; although the finding is frequently incidental, it has the potential to develop into a life‐threatening complication. Imaging the complete skull and cranial cervical spine is important to allow identification and appropriate management of these cases. The use of computed tomography enables easier identification and localisation of the gas accumulation within the central nervous system.
Cognitive‐self consciousness and metacognitive beliefs: Stress sensitization in individuals at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis
Authors: Palmier‐Claus J. E. , Dunn G. , Taylor H. , Morrison A. P. , Lewis S. W.
Published: September 2012

Objective: Metacognitive beliefs (MCB) may guide information and attention processes, increasing affective and symptomatic reactions to stressful events. Cognitive self‐consciousness (CSC; i.e., a preoccupation with one's thoughts) may increase awareness of MCB, potentially triggering the onset of psychotic symptoms. This study tested the hypotheses that (1), MCB would moderate affective and symptomatic reactions to stress in individuals at ultra‐high risk (UHR) of developing psychosis, and (2), greater CSC would precede worsening in psychotic symptoms in individuals with strong MCB.

Method: Twenty‐seven individuals at UHR of developing psychosis completed a self‐report diary when prompted by an electronic wristwatch several times each day for 6 days (experience sampling).

Results: MCB moderated the association between affective, but not symptomatic, responses to social stress. CSC preceded the subsequent occurrence of hallucinations in individuals who reported strong beliefs about the need to control their thoughts.

Conclusions: The data suggest that MCB sensitize an individual to social stressors. CSC may represent times where an individual is aware that their thoughts are uncontrollable, and therefore contradicting their MCB, motivating them to make an external attribution. The findings have implications for improving the effectiveness of interventions for people experiencing hallucinations.

Practitioner Points

Cognitive self‐consciousness may precede the onset of hallucinations in individuals with a strong belief that they need to control their thoughts.

Metacognitive beliefs may increase emotional reactions to everyday irritations and hassles.

Limitations

Only 27 individuals were included in the final analysis.

Causality could not be established.
Availability and night‐time use of electronic entertainment and communication devices are associated with short sleep duration and obesity among Canadian children
Authors: Chahal H. , Fung C. , Kuhle S. , Veugelers P. J.
Published: September 2012

What is already known about this subject

Short sleep duration is a risk factor for obesity.

Television (TV) in the bedroom has been shown to be associated with excess body weight in children.

Children increasingly use other electronic entertainment and communication devices (EECDs) such as video games, computers, and smart phones.

What this study adds

Access to and night‐time use of EECDs are associated with shortened sleep duration, excess body weight, poorer diet quality, and lower physical activity levels.

Our findings reinforce existing recommendations pertaining to TV and Internet access by the American Academy of Pediatrics and suggest to have these expanded to restricted availability of video games and smart phones in children's bedrooms.

Background

While the prevalence of childhood obesity and access to and use of electronic entertainment and communication devices (EECDs) have increased in the past decades, no earlier study has examined their interrelationship.

Objective

To examine whether night‐time access to and use of EECDs are associated with sleep duration, body weights, diet quality, and physical activity of Canadian children.

Methods

A representative sample of 3398 grade 5 children in Alberta, Canada, was surveyed. The survey included questions on children's lifestyles and health behaviours, the Harvard Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency questionnaire, a validated questionnaire on physical activity, and measurements of heights and weights. Random effect models were used to assess the associations of night‐time access to and use of EECDs with sleep, diet quality, physical activity, and body weights.

Results

Sixty‐four percent of parents reported that their child had access to one or more EECDs in their bedroom. Access to and night‐time use of EECDs were associated with shortened sleep duration, excess body weight, poorer diet quality, and lower physical activity levels in a statistically significant manner.

Conclusions

Limiting the availability of EECDs in children's bedrooms and discouraging their night‐time use may be considered as a strategy to promote sleep and reduce childhood obesity.
Circulating branched‐chain amino acid concentrations are associated with obesity and future insulin resistance in children and adolescents
Authors: McCormack S. E. , Shaham O. , McCarthy M. A. , Deik A. A. , Wang T. J. , Gerszten R. E. , Clish C. B. , Mootha V. K. , Grinspoon S. K. , Fleischman A.
Published: September 2012

What is already known about this subject

Circulating concentrations of branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) can affect carbohydrate metabolism in skeletal muscle, and therefore may alter insulin sensitivity.

BCAAs are elevated in adults with diet‐induced obesity, and are associated with their future risk of type 2 diabetes even after accounting for baseline clinical risk factors.

What this study adds

Increased concentrations of BCAAs are already present in young obese children and their metabolomic profiles are consistent with increased BCAA catabolism.

Elevations in BCAAs in children are positively associated with insulin resistance measured 18 months later, independent of their initial body mass index.

Background

Branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations are elevated in response to overnutrition, and can affect both insulin sensitivity and secretion. Alterations in their metabolism may therefore play a role in the early pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in overweight children.

Objective

To determine whether paediatric obesity is associated with elevations in fasting circulating concentrations of BCAAs (isoleucine, leucine and valine), and whether these elevations predict future insulin resistance.

Methods

Sixty‐nine healthy subjects, ages 8–18 years, were enrolled as a cross‐sectional cohort. A subset of subjects who were pre‐ or early‐pubertal, ages 8–13 years, were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal cohort for 18 months (n = 17 with complete data).

Results

Elevations in the concentrations of BCAAs were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) Z‐score (Spearman's Rho 0.27, P = 0.03) in the cross‐sectional cohort. In the subset of subjects that followed longitudinally, baseline BCAA concentrations were positively associated with homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance measured 18 months later after controlling for baseline clinical factors including BMI Z‐score, sex and pubertal stage (P = 0.046).

Conclusions

Elevations in the concentrations of circulating BCAAs are significantly associated with obesity in children and adolescents, and may independently predict future insulin resistance.
The potential of embryo transfer in a German horse‐breeding programme
Authors: Sitzenstock F. , Rathke I. , Ytournel F. , Simianer H.
Published: September 2012

A reference horse‐breeding programme with 13 500 foals each year was modelled with ZPLAN+. This new software for the optimization of the structures in breeding programmes is based on ZPLAN. In two scenarios, the implementation of a rigorous selection of mares was implemented. In scenario I, the mare performance test was the point of selection, while in scenario II, further information on 20 competitions in two more years is available. These selected mares were used for embryo transfer (ET), partly in combination with multiple ovulation (MOET). The selection intensity and the number of foals out of (MO)ET were varied in both scenarios. It was expected that 250, 500 and 1000 mares are available for selecting 20, 50, 100 or 200 donor mares each year. The number of foals out of (MO)ET was varied between one and six foals per donor mare and year. Donor mares were used for ET for 4 years. It became clear that with high selection intensities of donor mares and high reproduction rates of them, the yearly genetic gain in a horse‐breeding programme could increase over a large range. In scenario II, the additional information on 20 competitions increased the accuracy of the selection index to 0.85. With 200 selected donor mares of 1000 available mares and six foals per year, the genetic gain could almost be doubled compared to the reference scenario. The implementation of ET and a related higher usage of few selected mares entails rising costs and a reduction in the genetic variance. In the most extreme MOET scenario, the effective population size was reduced by 19% relative to the reference scenario. Only if the increase in genetic gain can be converted into higher return for the breeders, the implementation of (MO)ET schemes is a realistic and sensible option for horse‐breeding programmes.
Missense polymorphisms in the MC1R gene of the dog, red fox, arctic fox and Chinese raccoon dog
Authors: Nowacka‐Woszuk J. , Salamon S. , Gorna A. , Switonski M.
Published: September 2012

Coat colour variation is determined by many genes, one of which is the melanocortin receptor type 1 (MC1R) gene. In this study, we examined the whole coding sequence of this gene in four species belonging to the Canidae family (dog, red fox, arctic fox and Chinese raccoon dog). Although the comparative analysis of the obtained nucleotide sequences revealed a high conservation, which varied between 97.9 and 99.1%, we altogether identified 22 SNPs (10 in dogs, six in farmed red foxes, two in wild red foxes, three in arctic foxes and one in Chinese raccoon dog). Among them, seven appeared to be novel: one silent in the dog, three missense and one silent in the red fox, one in the 3′‐flanking region in the arctic fox and one silent in the Chinese raccoon dog. In dogs and red foxes, the SNPs segregated as 10 and four haplotypes, respectively. Taking into consideration the published reports and results of this study, the highest number of missense polymorphisms was until now found in the dog (9) and red fox (7).
Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) in a neuronal cell line: modulation by cell differentiation and NRSF/rest activity
Authors: Gentile Maria Teresa , Nawa Yukino , Lunardi Gianluigi , Florio Tullio , Matsui Hiroaki , Colucci‐D'Amato Luca
Published: September 2012

Serotonin (5‐HT) is a neurotransmitter involved in many aspects of the neuronal function. The synthesis of 5‐HT is initiated by the hydroxylation of tryptophan, catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). Two isoforms of TPH (TPH1 and TPH2) have been identified, with TPH2 almost exclusively expressed in the brain. Following TPH2 discovery, it was reported that polymorphisms of both gene and non‐coding regions are associated with a spectrum of psychiatric disorders. Thus, insights into the mechanisms that specifically regulate TPH2 expression and its modulation by exogenous stimuli may represent a new therapeutic approach to modify serotonergic neurotransmission. To this aim, a CNS‐originated cell line expressing TPH2 endogenously represents a valid model system. In this study, we report that TPH2 transcript and protein are modulated by neuronal differentiation in the cell line A1 mes‐c‐myc (A1). Moreover, we show luciferase activity driven by the human TPH2 promoter region and demonstrate that upon mutation of the NRSF/REST responsive element, the promoter activity strongly increases with cell differentiation. Our data suggest that A1 cells could represent a model system, allowing an insight into the mechanisms of regulation of TPH2 and to identify novel therapeutic targets in the development of drugs for the management of psychiatric disorders.
Role of glycosphingolipids in the function of human serotonin1A receptors
Authors: Singh Pushpendra , Paila Yamuna Devi , Chattopadhyay Amitabha
Published: September 2012

Glycosphingolipids are essential components of eukaryotic cell membranes and are involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and neoplastic transformation. In this work, we have modulated glycosphingolipid levels in CHO cells stably expressing the human serotonin1A receptor by inhibiting the activity of glucosylceramide synthase using (±)‐threo‐1‐phenyl‐2‐decanoylamino‐3‐morpholino‐1‐propanol (PDMP), a commonly used inhibitor of the enzyme. Serotonin1A receptors belong to the family of G‐protein‐coupled receptors and are implicated in the generation and modulation of various cognitive, behavioral, and developmental functions. We explored the function of the serotonin1A receptor under glycosphingolipid‐depleted condition by monitoring ligand‐binding activity and G‐protein coupling of the receptor. Our results show that ligand binding of the receptor is impaired under these conditions although the efficiency of G‐protein coupling remains unaltered. The expression of the receptor at the cell membrane appears to be reduced. Interestingly, our results show that the effect of glycosphingolipids on ligand binding caused by metabolic depletion of these lipids is reversible. These novel results demonstrate that glycosphingolipids are necessary for the function of the serotonin1A receptor. We discuss possible mechanisms of specific interaction of glycosphingolipids with the serotonin1A receptor that could involve the proposed ‘sphingolipid‐binding domain’.
Analysis of the temporal change in biophysical parameters after fractional laser treatments using reflectance confocal microscopy
Authors: Shin Min‐Kyung , Kim Min‐Joong , Baek Ji‐Hwoon , Yoo Mi‐Ae , Koh Jae‐Sook , Lee Sang‐Jun , Lee Mu‐Hyoung
Published: September 2012

Background

Fractional photothermolysis is a popular treatment option for photorejuvenation. Previous literature studies have demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of fractional photothermolysis on cutaneous photoaging; however, the associated changes in biophysical properties of the skin following fractional photothermolysis have not been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to investigate the temporal changes in biophysical parameters after fractional laser treatment on Asian skin.

Materials and Methods

Eleven female subjects underwent a single treatment with an erbium glass fractional laser. Skin roughness, elasticity, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dermal thickness were evaluated before and immediately after treatment and 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment. The changes in the dermal papilla were analyzed using a reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM).

Results

Skin roughness showed the greatest improvement at the first week and net elasticity was most improved at the second week. TEWL and the percentage of melanized and active dermal papillae (DP) were mostly increased for 3 days. At 4 weeks after treatment, the number of total dermal papillae showed a significant increase compared with pretreatment.

Conclusion

This is the first study of the characterization and quantification of dermal papilla reflecting the dermal repair process after fractional photothermolysis through an RCM.
Ecology of Zoonotic Infectious Diseases in Bats: Current Knowledge and Future Directions
Authors: Hayman D. T. S. , Bowen R. A. , Cryan P. M. , McCracken G. F. , O’Shea T. J. , Peel A. J. , Gilbert A. , Webb C. T. , Wood J. L. N.
Published: September 2012

Bats are hosts to a range of zoonotic and potentially zoonotic pathogens. Human activities that increase exposure to bats will likely increase the opportunity for infections to spill over in the future. Ecological drivers of pathogen spillover and emergence in novel hosts, including humans, involve a complex mixture of processes, and understanding these complexities may aid in predicting spillover. In particular, only once the pathogen and host ecologies are known can the impacts of anthropogenic changes be fully appreciated. Cross‐disciplinary approaches are required to understand how host and pathogen ecology interact. Bats differ from other sylvatic disease reservoirs because of their unique and diverse lifestyles, including their ability to fly, often highly gregarious social structures, long lifespans and low fecundity rates. We highlight how these traits may affect infection dynamics and how both host and pathogen traits may interact to affect infection dynamics. We identify key questions relating to the ecology of infectious diseases in bats and propose that a combination of field and laboratory studies are needed to create data‐driven mechanistic models to elucidate those aspects of bat ecology that are most critical to the dynamics of emerging bat viruses. If commonalities can be found, then predicting the dynamics of newly emerging diseases may be possible. This modelling approach will be particularly important in scenarios when population surveillance data are unavailable and when it is unclear which aspects of host ecology are driving infection dynamics.
Spatio‐Temporal Scan Statistics for the Detection of Outbreaks Involving Common Molecular Subtypes: Using Human Cases of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Provincial PFGE Pattern 8 (National Designation ECXAI.0001) in Alberta as an Example
Authors: So H. C. , Pearl D. L. , von Königslöw T. , Louie M. , Chui L. , Svenson L. W.
Published: September 2012

Molecular typing methods have become a common part of the surveillance of foodborne pathogens. In particular, pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used successfully to identify outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in humans from a variety of food and environmental sources. However, some PFGE patterns appear commonly in surveillance systems, making it more difficult to distinguish between outbreak and sporadic cases based on molecular data alone. In addition, it is unknown whether these common patterns might have unique epidemiological characteristics reflected in their spatial and temporal distributions. Using E. coli O157:H7 surveillance data from Alberta, collected from 2000 to 2002, we investigated whether E. coli O157:H7 with provincial PFGE pattern 8 (national designation ECXAI.0001) clustered in space, time and space–time relative to other PFGE patterns using the spatial scan statistic. Based on our purely spatial and temporal scans using a Bernoulli model, there did not appear to be strong evidence that isolates of E. coli O157:H7 with provincial PFGE pattern 8 are distributed differently from other PFGE patterns. However, we did identify space–time clusters of isolates with PFGE pattern 8, using a Bernoulli model and a space–time permutation model, which included known outbreaks and potentially unrecognized outbreaks or additional outbreak cases. There were differences between the two models in the space–time clusters identified, which suggests that the use of both models could increase the sensitivity of a quantitative surveillance system for identifying outbreaks involving isolates sharing a common PFGE pattern.
Monitoring of West Nile Virus Infections in Germany
Authors: Ziegler U. , Seidowski D. , Angenvoort J. , Eiden M. , Müller K. , Nowotny N. , Groschup M. H.
Published: September 2012

West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus that is maintained in an enzootic cycle between ornithophilic mosquitoes, mainly of the Culex genus, and certain wild bird species. Other bird species like ravens, jays and raptors are highly susceptible to the infection and may develop deadly encephalitis, while further species of birds are only going through subclinical infection. The objective of this study was to continue in years 2009–2011 the serological and molecular surveillance in wild birds in Germany (see Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 10, 639) and to expand these investigations for the first time also to sera from domestic poultry and horses collected between 2005 and 2009. All three cohorts function as indicators for the endemic circulation of WNV. The presence of WNV‐specific antibodies was detected in all samples by virus neutralization test (VNT), indirect immunofluorescence test (IFT) and/or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The presence of WNV genomes was monitored in relevant sera using two qRT‐PCRs that amplify lineage 1 and 2 strains. A total of 364 migratory and resident wild bird serum samples (with emphasis on Passeriformes and Falconiformes) as well as 1119 serum samples from domestic poultry and 1282 sera from horses were analysed. With the exception of one hooded crow, antibody carriers were exclusively found in migratory birds, but not in resident birds/domestic poultry or in local horses. Crows are facultative, short‐distance winter migrants in Germany. WNV‐specific nucleic acids could not be demonstrated in any of the samples. According to these data, there is no convincing evidence for indigenous WNV infections in equines and in wild/domestic birds in Germany. However, since a few years, WNV infections are endemic in other European countries such as Austria, Hungary, Greece and Italy, a state‐of‐the‐art surveillance system for the detection of incursions of WNV into Germany deems mandatory.
Propagation of Spacecraft Free-Interface Substructure Uncertainty Into System Test-Analysis Correlation
Authors: Kammer Daniel C. , Krattiger Dimitri
Published: September 2012

As space structures become larger and more complex, ground based vibration tests of the entire spacecraft become either problematic or impossible. Instead, the spacecraft is tested and validated only at the substructure level. The substructure tests are usually performed in a simulated free-free configuration for simplicity and accuracy. A methodology is presented for studying the effects of uncertainty on metrics used for test-analysis correlation of complex spacecraft that are validated on a substructure-by-substructure basis. The objective is to quantify the level of accuracy required at the substructure level to produce acceptable accuracy at the system level. This is done by propagating uncertainty in test-analysis correlation metrics from free-free substructure vibration tests into uncertainty in synthesized system correlation metrics. The correlation uncertainty in each substructure can either be prescribed, for the purpose of numerical experimentation, or it may be available from existing substructure test data. Linear covariance propagation is used to propagate the substructure modal matrix uncertainty into the uncertainty in the corresponding Craig-Bampton substructure representations. Linear covariance propagation is then used again to propagate the substructure uncertainties into the full system modal matrices. The uncertainties in the system correlation metrics are then extracted from the modal matrix uncertainties to determine the impact of uncertainty at the substructure level. Organizations, such as NASA and the Air Force, make critical decisions on spacecraft performance and survivability based on the results of test-analysis correlation metrics. In order to ensure the success of finite element model validation where there is no system level test, uncertainty in the substructures must be propagated into the system level correlation metrics. It is believed that the method presented in this paper offers a unique and efficient approach for the required uncertainty propagation.
Friction and counterface wear influenced by surface profiles of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on an aluminum A356 alloy
Authors: Feng Su Jun , Nie Xueyuan , Hu Henry , Tjong Jimi
Published: September 2012

To reduce the fuel consumption and emission of passenger vehicles, aluminum engines have been increasingly used throughout the last 30 years. Since most conventional aluminum alloys have poor wear resistance, various technical solutions have been developed to generate a wear-resistant cylinder bore surface against the sliding piston ring. In this work, the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process was employed to produce oxide coatings on an Al alloy A356 for Al engine blocks, to protect against the wear attack. The surface morphology and coating thicknesses were tailored by polishing two PEO coatings. A reciprocating sliding tribometer was used to investigate the tribological and wear behavior of the PEO coatings, counterface materials, and that of a state-of-the-art plasma transferred wire arc coating (as a benchmark) under two lubricated conditions. The results show that the PEO coatings have a low coefficient of friction and minimal wear. The variation in tribological behavior and counterface wear among the tested materials was likely due to different topographic features such as skewness and kurtosis caused by microbump distribution, porosity, and valleys on as-prepared, sanded, and polished coating surfaces.
Relaxation and Prethermalization in an Isolated Quantum System
Authors: Gring M. , Kuhnert M. , Langen T. , Kitagawa T. , Rauer B. , Schreitl M. , Mazets I. , Smith D. Adu , Demler E. , Schmiedmayer J.
Published: September 2012

Prethermalization

When a physical system is subjected to a rapid change of conditions (for example, a gas of atoms is allowed to occupy a volume twice the size of the original container), it quickly achieves a new temperature (thermalizes) through collisions. However, in some quantum systems many conserved variables inhibit thermalization; understanding the phases the systems go through in the slowing process is of great interest to cosmologists and physicists.

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(p.
1318
, published online 31 August) separate an ultracold one-dimensional gas of bosonic atoms into two nearly identical halves, and follow how local differences in phase between the halves evolve in time by examining their interference. Initially, the local phases are almost identical, but a rapid decoherence ensues, followed by a very slow further decay. The authors analyze the relative state reached after the initial fast decay and find that it can be described by an equilibrium function with an effective temperature several times less than the initial temperature. Because this cannot be the final state of the system, the authors term the initial process prethermalization.
Evidence of Abundant Purifying Selection in Humans for Recently Acquired Regulatory Functions
Authors: Ward Lucas D. , Kellis Manolis
Published: September 2012

No More Junk DNA

The majority of the human genome is transcribed at some level, but the function and evolutionary constraint among regions that do not regulate gene expression or code for genes are generally unknown. Examining data from the 1000 Genomes Project and ENCODE,
Ward and Kellis
(p.
1675
, published online 5 September) examined regions of the human genome that did not show conservation among mammals and found evidence for a human lineage-specific constraint spanning approximately 4% of the genome that is biochemically active but not directly associated with genes. Interestingly, these regions showed lower numbers of single-nucleotide polymorphisms, heterozygosity, and derived allele frequencies, suggesting that they are under constraint and may be functional.
Sensory trick with metoclopramide-associated tardive tremor
Authors: Shprecher David
Published: September 2012

Tardive tremor is a 3–5 Hz bilateral resting and action tremor, associated with the use of dopamine receptor blocking drugs, accompanied by other tardive movement disorders and responsive to tetrabenazine or clozapine. We describe a case of a sensory trick associated with tardive tremor which raises important points about semiology and management. First, the presence of a sensory trick with tardive limb tremor suggests that the disorder may be a form of dystonia. Second, further study of osteopathic manipulative therapy for treatment of dystonia or tardive tremor is supported by a symptomatic response observed in our case.
A RIGOROUS APPROACH TO THE MAGNETIC RESPONSE IN DISORDERED SYSTEMS
Authors: BRIET PHILIPPE , SAVOIE BAPTISTE
Published: September 2012

This paper is a part of an ongoing study on the diamagnetic behavior of a 3-dimensional quantum gas of non-interacting charged particles subjected to an external uniform magnetic field together with a random electric potential. We prove the existence of an almost-sure non-random thermodynamic limit for the grand-canonical pressure, magnetization and zero-field orbital magnetic susceptibility. We also give an explicit formulation of these thermodynamic limits. Our results cover a wide class of physically relevant random potentials which model not only crystalline disordered solids, but also amorphous solids.
EFFECT OF GATE ELECTRODES ON STRUCTURE AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SPUTTERED HfO2 THIN FILMS
Authors: DONG MING , WANG HAO , SHEN LIANGPING , YE CONG , WEI QINXIANG
Published: September 2012

High dielectric hafnium oxide films were grown by magnetron sputtering and post heat treatment in nitrogen atmosphere at 500°C for 30 min using vacuum annealing furnace. The film keeps amorphous at 500°C and has better interface quality as revealed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of TiN and Pt electrodes on the electrical property of the film was compared. For the annealed films, TiN electrode was presented as the optimal one. For the conduction mechanism of Pt / HfO 2/p- Si MOS capacitors under gate electron injection, the dominant conduction mechanism at low electric field is Schottky emission. At high electric field, the conversion of current transport mechanism from Schottky emission to trap-assisted tunneling for the annealed HfO 2 film occurs at 0.64 MV/cm.
SUBSTRATE MODULATED GRAPHENE QUANTUM DOTS
Authors: MA QIONG , TU TAO , WANG LI , LI HAI-OU , LIN ZHI-RONG , XIAO MING , GUO GUO-PING
Published: September 2012

We propose a method to use gapped graphene as barriers to confine electrons in gapless graphene and form a good quantum dot, which can be realized on an oxygen-terminated SiO 2 substrate partly hydrogen-passivated. In particular, we use deposited ferromagnetic insulators as contacts which give rise to spin-dependent energy spectrum and transport properties. Furthermore, we upgrade this method to form two-dimensional quantum dot arrays, whose coupling strength between neighboring dots can be uniquely anisotropic. Compared to complexity of other approaches to form quantum dot in graphene, the setup suggested here is a promising candidate for practical applications.
MAGNETOCALORIC EFFECT IN THE INTERMETALLIC COMPOUND Gd3Ni8Al
Authors: WANG M. X. , FU H. , ZHENG Q. , TANG J.
Published: September 2012

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of the polycrystalline Gd 3 Ni 8 Al intermetallic compound are studied in this paper. Powder X-ray diffraction shows that the alloy is CeNi 3-type single-phase structure. The magnetic measurements indicate that the compound is ferromagnetic and undergoes a second-order phase transition at 62 K. The maximum of magnetic entropy change reaches 11 J/kg K for the field change from 0 to 50 kOe and the refrigerant capacity of the titled compound is found to be 4.8×102 J/kg.
RESOURCE CRITICALITY ASSESSMENT IN FUTURE ICT SCENARIOS
Authors: PYNNÖNEN MIKKO , HALLIKAS JUKKA
Published: September 2012

A changing industry structure in the media and ICT industries requires not only new collaborative organizational forms but also new resources and capabilities to manage the new business. The objective of this paper is to create and test a framework for assessing the robustness of the firm's business model enabled by its resources in future scenarios. We have used a media delivery service as a case service platform. The framework includes building industry scenarios, defining the market environments in the different scenarios, business concept and resource mapping and connecting the business concepts and resources to the scenarios.
ON CHERN–SIMONS QUIVERS AND TORIC GEOMETRY
Authors: BELHAJ ADIL , DIAZ PABLO , GARCIA DEL MORAL MARIA PILAR , SEGUI ANTONIO
Published: September 2012

We discuss a class of three-dimensional [Formula: see text] Chern–Simons (CS) quiver gauge models obtained from M-theory compactifications on singular complex four-dimensional hyper-Kähler (HK) manifolds, which are realized explicitly as a cotangent bundle over two-Fano toric varieties V2. The corresponding CS gauge models are encoded in quivers similar to toric diagrams of V2. Using toric geometry, it is shown that the constraints on CS levels can be related to toric equations determining V2.
A PURE DIRAC'S CANONICAL ANALYSIS FOR FOUR-DIMENSIONAL BF THEORIES
Authors: ESCALANTE ALBERTO , RUBALCAVA-GARCÍA I.
Published: September 2012

We perform Dirac's canonical analysis for a four-dimensional BF and for a generalized four-dimensional BF theory depending on a connection valued in the Lie algebra of SO(3, 1). This analysis is developed by considering the corresponding complete set of variables that define these theories as dynamical, and we find out the relevant symmetries, the constraints, the extended Hamiltonian, the extended action, gauge transformations and the counting of physical degrees of freedom. The results obtained are compared with other approaches found in the literature.
Low Friction Property of Diamond-Like Carbon Coating Films and Oxygen Transmission Ratio of Amorphous Carbon Films Deposited by Advanced Coating Processes
Authors: Watanabe Toshiyuki , Kano Makoto , Yoshida Kentaro , Suzuki Tetsuya
Published: September 2012

The topics of the applied technology of amorphous carbon film to reduce friction using diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated by the vacuum arc ion plating process and to improve the gas barrier property using the amorphous carbon film by the atmospheric pressure plasma process are introduced with the basic experimental results. For reducing friction, the super low friction coefficient below 0.01 has been found when the tetrahedral amorphous carbon coating deposited by T-shape filtered arc deposition method [ta-C(T)] was evaluated the friction property under oleic acid lubrication at pure sliding condition. It was thought that the low share strength tribofilm composed of water and oleic acid mono-layer seemed to be formed on the sliding interface. For gas barrier performance, the amorphous carbon film deposited by the atmospheric pressure plasma chemical vapour deposition (CVD) technique on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate was improved the oxygen transmission ratio (OTR) around 30% compared with that of uncoated PET substrate. These advanced performance obtained by the optimum material combination of DLC with lubricant and the original atmospheric pressure plasma CVD technique are expected to be applied on the actual application for the different types of the industrial fields in near future.
Density Profile of Thermal Oxide Thin Films on Si(100)
Authors: Odaka Kenji , Kurokawa Akira , Azuma Yasushi , Zhang Lulu , Fujimoto Toshiyuki
Published: September 2012

We investigated the density profile of thermally grown SiO2 thin films on a Si(100) using X-ray reflectivity. Samples were grown at 750 and 1000 °C with a slow ramp process and at 1000 and 1100 °C with a rapid thermal process. A SiO2 thin film was reconfirmed to have a two-layer structure: a dense transition layer of about 1 nm and an overlayer. The density profile was affected by the ramp rate and the growth temperature. The SR samples had some complicated features in the overlayer such as an inversion accompanying a density jump at 750 °C or a dense part near the transition layer at 1000 °C. The transition layer maintained a constant density from 750 to 1000 °C. The RTP samples showed a simple two-layer structure with a smaller density than the SR ones. The density was classified into four discrete groups according to its value.
Simple Method of Confirming Wet Environment for Soft X-ray Microscopy to Observe Hydrated Biological Specimens
Authors: Takaba Kenichiro , Hoshino Masato , Aoki Sadao
Published: September 2012

Observations of hydrated specimens were carried out by soft X-ray microscopy using a newly developed wet-environment sample holder. The sample holder consisted of two silicon nitride membranes, one of which was printed with a carbon-based spacer. A reverse-contrast image of the spacer was obtained at two different wavelengths on opposite sides of the carbon K absorption edge. By obtaining a reverse-contrast image of the spacer used in the sample holder, one can confirm the wet environment of the specimen. The general principles and efficiency of this novel method are discussed.