bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Sense of Control in the Second Half of Life: Results from a 5-Year Panel Study
Authors: Slagsvold Britt , Sørensen Annemette
Published: November 2013

Very few studies have used longitudinal data to examine whether age variations in the sense of control are due to ageing effects or cohort differences. With data from two waves of the Norwegian NorLAG study, with 2673 respondents aged 40 to 75 we ask: Does the sense of control decline over a 5-year period? Are there factors that accelerate the decline or slow it? We find that while cross-sectional comparisons indicate increases in sense of control up to age 75, longitudinal analysis show little to no change over 5 years. Only those 75 and older experienced a significant decline over the next 5 years. Physical health and agentive orientation at baseline can impede or accelerate decline in the sense of control. We also find that decline in sense of control starts 15 years later in this Norwegian sample than in similar studies in the United States, and discuss this finding in light of differences in welfare systems for elderly in the two countries.
Does Age Group Identification Differentially Influence Younger and Older Adults' Intergenerational Perceptions?
Authors: Cary Lindsey A. , Chasteen Alison L. , Cadieux Jonathan
Published: November 2013

People's knowledge that they will change age groups over time likely makes relations between age groups function differently from relations between racial or gender groups. We tested this possibility by examining whether people's identification with their current age group influenced their responses to threats to the status of their current age group. We found that age group identification was a good predictor of responses to status threat, particularly among young adults. Specifically, young adults who were strongly identified with their age group showed patterns of bias typically found in strongly identified members of other groups, whereas older adults did not. These results provide further evidence that age groups function differently from other group memberships and that models of intergroup conflict need to be tested in groups for whom memberships change over time.
Depression, Irritability, and Anxiety in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Authors: Ko Chih-Hung , Long Cheng-Yu , Chen Su-Yin Chen I-Ju , Huang Tzu-Hui , Yen Ju-Yu
Published: November 2013

Objective:

Depression, anxiety, and irritability are the three most studied symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This study aimed to assess the premenstrual exacerbation of these symptoms and their role in the diagnosis or functional impairment of PMDD.

Methods:

We recruited women with PMDD not undergoing any treatment and control subjects from the community. The diagnosis of PMDD was based on a positive score on the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool and confirmed by psychiatric interviews and questionnaire follow-up for three menstrual cycles. A total of 67 women with PMDD and 75 control subjects participated the survey and reach the final analysis. They complete the Center for Epidemiological Studies, the Chinese Version of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory-Short Form, and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire in both the premenstrual and follicular phases.

Results:

Women with PMDD, but no controls, demonstrate the premenstrual exacerbation of these three symptoms. Depression was the most prominent feature of the PMDD diagnosis while irritability was most frequently associated with functional impairment.

Conclusions:

Depression and irritability should be properly evaluated and treated among women with PMDD.
Suicide Risk in Dialysis: Review of Current Literature
Authors: Pompili Maurizio , Venturini Paola , Montebovi Franco , Forte Alberto , Palermo Mario , Lamis Dorian A. , Serafini Gianluca , Amore Mario , Girardi Paolo
Published: November 2013

Background:

Studies have shown that patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are at risk of experiencing suicidal ideation and suicide attempt.

Study Design:

The aim of the present review was to investigate whether there was a relationship between dialysis and suicide. A careful systematic review of the literature was conducted to determine the potential association between dialysis and suicide.

Selection Criteria for Studies:

Abstracts that did not explicitly mention suicide and dialysis were excluded. We identified as specific fields of interest in the analysis of dialysis or ESRD and suicidal behavior.

Results:

A total of 26 articles from peer-reviewed journals were considered and the most relevant articles ( N = 13) were selected for this review.

Outcomes:

It has been posited that suicidal ideation, occurring in dialysis, may arise from co-morbid depression and psychiatric symptoms are frequent in patients who underwent dialysis.

Limitations:

The present review should be considered in the light of some limitations. We did not carry out a meta-analysis because data from most of the studies did not permit it. Samples included different measurements and different outcomes, and they assessed patients at different time points.

Conclusions:

The available data suggest that the risk of self-harm may be higher than expected in dialysis patients especially in those who suffer by depression and anxiety. Moreover, although the majority of deaths among dialysis patients is preceded by withdrawal from treatment, suicide remains a separate phenomenon.
Hopelessness the “Active Ingredient”? Associations of Hopelessness and Depressive Symptoms with Interleukin-6
Authors: Mitchell Amanda M. , Pössel Patrick , Sjögren Elaine , Kristenson Margareta
Published: November 2013

Objective:

Previous research has revealed a relationship of depressive symptoms and hopelessness with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) which are associated with elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). The objective of this study was to explore whether depressive symptoms and hopelessness are independent predictors of IL-6 levels.

Method:

Hopelessness, depressive symptoms, and IL-6 were measured in 45 Swedish adults (26 women and 19 men; age range: 31–65 years). Two separated linear regressions were conducted with hopelessness and depressive symptoms serving as individual predictors of IL-6. Another regression analysis examined whether the two predictors predict IL-6 when controlling for each other. The regression coefficients of the models with one predictor and with both predictors were compared.

Results:

As predicted, after adjusting for age, BMI, illness, smoking, and gender, more depressive symptoms and more hopelessness predicted higher IL-6 levels in independent regressions. When controlling for each other, hopelessness, but not depressive symptoms, predicted IL-6 levels. Finally, when controlling for hopelessness, the regression between depressive symptoms and IL-6 level was significantly reduced; however, there was no significant change in the regression between hopelessness and IL-6 level when controlling for depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

Thus, these results suggest that depressive symptoms and hopelessness are not independent predictors of IL-6 levels. Future research should explore the interplay of hopelessness and depressive symptoms on other risk factors of CVDs.
Minkowski plane, confocal conics, and billiards
Authors: Dragovic Vladimir , Radnovic Milena
Published: November 2013

Geometry of confocal conics in the Minkowski plane and related billiard
dynamics are studied in details. Periodic trajectories are described and
several new examples are presented. Topological properties of the elliptical
billiards are analyzed and the results are formulated in the terms of the
Fomenko graphs.
Group classification of variable coefficient quasilinear reaction-diffusion equations
Authors: Vaneeva Olena , Zhalij Alexander
Published: November 2013

The group classification of variable coefficient quasilinear
reaction diffusion equations ut = uxx + h(x)B(u) is carried out exhaustively.
This became possible due to usage of a conditional equivalence group found
in the course of the study of admissible point transformations within the
class.
On Riemann and Weyl compatible tensors
Authors: Deszcz Ryszard , Głogowska Małgorzata , Jełowicki Jan , Petrovic-Torgasev Miroslava , Zafindratafa Georges
Published: November 2013

We investigate semi-Riemannian manifolds satisfying some curvature
conditions. Those conditions are strongly related to pseudosymmetry.
Generalized S-space-forms
Authors: Prieto-Martín Alicia , Fernández Luis , Fuentes Ana
Published: November 2013

We introduce and study generalized S-space-forms. Moreover, we investigate
generalized S-space-forms endowed with an additional structure and we obtain
some obstructions for them to be S-manifolds.
On the classification of Lorentzian Sasaki space forms
Authors: Brunetti Letizia , Pastore Maria
Published: November 2013

Sasaki manifolds admit a nowhere vanishing vector field and it is always
possible to consider a Lorentz metric on them. Then we are able to obtain a
classification result for compact Lorentz-Sasaki space forms.
Fixed points and D-branes
Authors: Beltaos Elaine
Published: November 2013

The affine Kac-Moody algebras give rise to rational conformal field theories
(RCFTs) called the Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) models. An important component
of an RCFT is its fusion ring, whose structure constants are given by the
associated S-matrix. We apply a fixed point property possessed by the WZW
models ("fixed point factorization") to calculate nonnegative integer matrix
representations of the fusion ring, allowing for the calculation of D-brane
charges in string theory.
Mirror-curve codes for knots and links
Authors: Radovic Ljiljana , Jablan Slavik
Published: November 2013

Inspired by Lomonaco-Kauffman paper on quantum knots and knot mosaics we
construct the more concise representation of knot mosaics and grid diagrams
via mirror-curves. We introduce codes for mirror-curves treated as knot or
link diagrams placed in rectangular square grid, suitable for software
implementations and discuss possible applications of mirror-curves.
Media Reflexion of Contemporary Polish History in Czech History Textbooks
Authors: Štěpánek Kamil
Published: November 2013

The present text deals with content analysis of Czech teaching texts with regard to presence of iconic text. The subject of the analysis is the image of Poland after World War II in Czech textbooks of history for the second stage of elementary education in the latter half of the past and the beginning of this century. Following summarisation, analysis and interpretation of the found visual material the author of this contribution concludes that the textbook authors still apply the stereotype of selective choice scheme and little activating teaching potential of the selected images.
Coaching as a Reflection of Changes in the Adult Education
Authors: Podgórny Marek
Published: November 2013

The evolution of both theory and practice of andragogy should be understood as, generally direct result of adaptation tendencies towards the cultural changes. On the other hand, it should be remembered that constant efforts for the sake of activities enabling such adaption changes to exist, belong to andragogues’ duties, bearing in mind that the pace and intensity shall be of level eliminating the possibility to deepen the gap between the cultural and educational reality. The paradigmatic change, evoked by new issues within the andragogical reflections, reflects the change taking place both in andragogical theory and practice. It seems that coaching is one of these ideas that significantly reflect the direction of ongoing changes in adult education.
The Family as an Agent in Children’s Upbringing and Changes to the Conditions under which it Operates
Authors: Střelec Stanislav
Published: November 2013

In developed societies, parents have the primary responsibility for their children’s upbringing. This responsibility is the result of the historical and socio-cultural development of the family and society, and is embodied in legal and moral standards, traditions and other factors that go towards shaping conditions for the life of Man. This study is concerned with a number of changes that have accompanied family life in Czech society from the second half of the twentieth century onwards and that are becoming significant factors influencing trends in upbringing in the family environment.
Generalized matrix functions and determinants
Authors: Jafari Mohammad , Madadi Ali
Published: November 2013

In this paper we prove that, up to a scalar multiple, the determinant is the unique generalized matrix function that preserves the product or remains invariant under similarity. Also, we present a new proof for the known result that, up to a scalar multiple, the ordinary characteristic polynomial is the unique generalized characteristic polynomial for which the Cayley-Hamilton theorem remains true.
Filling in missing sea-surface temperature satellite data over the Eastern Mediterranean Sea using the DINEOF algorithm
Authors: Nikolaidis Andreas , Georgiou Georgios , Hadjimitsis Diofantos , Akylas Evangelos
Published: November 2013

The Data Interpolating Empirical Orthogonal Functions method is a special technique based on Empirical Orthogonal Functions and developed to reconstruct missing data from satellite images, which is especially useful for filling in missing data from geophysical fields. Successful experiments in the Western Mediterranean encouraged extension of the application eastwards using a similar experimental implementation. The present study summarizes the experimental work done, the implementation of the method and its ability to reconstruct the sea-surface temperature fields over the Eastern Mediterranean basin, and specifically in the Levantine Sea. L3 type Satellite Sea-surface Temperature data has been used and reprocessed in order to recover missing information from cloudy images. Data reconstruction with this method proved to be extremely effective, even when using a relatively small number of time steps, and markedly accelerated the procedure. A detailed comparison with the two oceanographic models proves the accuracy of the method and the validity of the reconstructed fields.
The men who knew too much
Authors: Ben-Yehoyada Naor
Published: November 2013

This historical anthropology of the rise and fall of Israel's post-1948 sardine purse-seining development project shows what happens when marginalized groups, who are initially excluded as “backward” or “primitive”, enter modernization projects that are based on politics of skillfulness and experts' control over the labor process. By focusing on the role that skills play in the struggle between experts and artisans over the labor process, I show how the dynamics within state-run production apparatuses can make workers and experts face dilemmas about productivity, profit, and effectiveness, leading to such projects' implosion. This mode of analysis exposes the contradictions within projects of governance as well as in their relational intersection with the people they subjugate and exclude.
Manufacturing loss
Authors: Phillimore Peter , Bell Patricia
Published: November 2013

This article takes cultural understandings of industrial risk in a center of the global chemical industry as an opening that, perhaps unexpectedly, highlights nostalgia for a particular period in (West) Germany's postwar history. Based on fieldwork in Ludwigshafen, we reflect on memories among an older generation of residents that evoke the severity of industrial pollution from the city's vast chemical industry during the 1950s and 1960s. Although the pollution of that era is hardly mourned, it was portrayed as emblematic of a culturally defining era, an era valorized as one of enormous achievement in a more straightforward time. We draw on Tim Ingold's concept of “taskscapes” and his emphasis on skill and Tim Edensor's discussion of “excessive spaces” and “multiple absences” to explore the selectivity of the nostalgia of Ludwigshafen's older residents, in which the celebration of the rebuilding of the postwar chemical industry, and its dominant company BASF, simultaneously obscured problematic memories associated with the city's chemical industry in wartime.
‘A woman should learn in quietness and full submission’ (1 Timothy 2: 11): Empowering Women in the Fight against Masculine Readings of Biblical Texts and a Chauvinistic African Culture in the Face of HIV and AIDS
Authors: Machingura Francis
Published: November 2013

The status of women has generally become a human rights issue the world over, and Zimbabwe has not been left behind in that debate. Unfortunately, some men and women still believe that for women to occupy influential positions in society is testimony to the coming of the end of the world. As a way of buttressing men's patriarchal or chauvinistic views, the bible is invoked to remind women about their place and role in society. Using a random sampling method, interviews were conducted with twenty-five men and twenty-five women in Harare, Zimbabwe, on their perspective on 1 Timothy 2: 11 in the light of the empowerment of women in Zimbabwean society. This paper seeks to prove that negative perceptions against women are unhelpful and retrogressive and go against millennium development goals, particularly when biblical texts like 1 Timothy 2: 11–12, Ephesians 5: 25, 1 Peter 3: 1–2, 1 Corinthians 7: 4–5 and 1 Corinthians 14: 33b–35 are invoked to fight against the empowerment of women in the face of HIV and AIDS. Biblical texts like 1 Timothy 2: 11–12 can be applied out of context and erroneously used to serve or support patriarchal agendas – a position that this paper dismisses as morally untenable and disadvantageous to the rights of contemporary women. Yet the majority of women, as in the case of Zimbabwe, bear the effects of HIV and AIDS, poverty, unemployment and domestic violence.
What Is a Good Tomato? A Case of Valuing in Practice
Authors: Heuts Frank , Mol Annemarie
Published: November 2013

As a contribution to the field of valuation studies this article lays out a number of lessons that follow from an exploratory inquiry into ‘good tomatoes’. We held interviews with tomato experts (developers, growers, sellers, processors, professional cooks and so-called consumers) in the Netherlands and analysed the transcriptions carefully. Grouping our informants’ concerns with tomatoes into clusters, we differentiate between five registers of valuing. These have to do with money, handling, historical time, what it is to be natural, and sensual appeal. There are tensions between and within these registers that lead to clashes and compromises. Accordingly, valuing tomatoes does not fit into inclusive formal schemes. Neither is it simply a matter of making judgements. Our informants told us how they know whether a tomato is good, but also revealed what they do to make tomatoes good. Their valuing includes activities such as pruning tomato plants and preparing tomato dishes. But if such activities are meant to make tomatoes good, success is never guaranteed. This prompts us to import the notion of care. Care does not offer control, but involves sustained and respectful tinkering towards improvement. Which is not to say in the end the tomatoes our informants care for are good. In the end these tomatoes get eaten. And while eating performs tomatoes as ‘good to eat’, it also finishes them off. Valuing may lead on to destruction. An important lesson for valuation studies indeed.
Role of Met Axis in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Xu Yiru , Fisher Gary
Published: November 2013

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. Despite advances in aggressive multidisciplinary treatments, the 5-year survival rate for this dreadful disease is only 50%, mostly due to high rate of recurrence and early involvement of regional lymph nodes and subsequent metastasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for invasion and metastasis is one of the most pressing goals in the field of head and neck cancer. Met, also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), is a member of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RPTK) family. There is compelling evidence that Met axis is dysregulated and plays important roles in tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance in head and neck cancer. We describe in this review current understanding of Met axis in head and neck cancer biology and development of therapeutic inhibitors targeting Met axis.
Non–Parametric Estimation of Mutual Information through the Entropy of the Linkage
Authors: Giraudo Maria , Sacerdote Laura , Sirovich Roberta
Published: November 2013

A new, non–parametric and binless estimator for the mutual information of a d–dimensional random vector is proposed. First of all, an equation that links the mutual information to the entropy of a suitable random vector with uniformly distributed components is deduced. When d = 2 this equation reduces to the well known connection between mutual information and entropy of the copula function associated to the original random variables. Hence, the problem of estimating the mutual information of the original random vector is reduced to the estimation of the entropy of a random vector obtained through a multidimensional transformation. The estimator we propose is a two–step method: first estimate the transformation and obtain the transformed sample, then estimate its entropy. The properties of the new estimator are discussed through simulation examples and its performances are compared to those of the best estimators in the literature. The precision of the estimator converges to values of the same order of magnitude of the best estimator tested. However, the new estimator is unbiased even for larger dimensions and smaller sample sizes, while the other tested estimators show a bias in these cases.
Statistical Mechanics Ideas and Techniques Applied to Selected Problems in Ecology
Authors: Fort Hugo
Published: November 2013

Ecosystem dynamics provides an interesting arena for the application of a plethora concepts and techniques from statistical mechanics. Here I review three examples corresponding each one to an important problem in ecology. First, I start with an analytical derivation of clumpy patterns for species relative abundances (SRA) empirically observed in several ecological communities involving a high number n of species, a phenomenon which have puzzled ecologists for decades. An interesting point is that this derivation uses results obtained from a statistical mechanics model for ferromagnets. Second, going beyond the mean field approximation, I study the spatial version of a popular ecological model involving just one species representing vegetation. The goal is to address the phenomena of catastrophic shifts—gradual cumulative variations in some control parameter that suddenly lead to an abrupt change in the system—illustrating it by means of the process of desertification of arid lands. The focus is on the aggregation processes and the effects of diffusion that combined lead to the formation of non trivial spatial vegetation patterns. It is shown that different quantities—like the variance, the two-point correlation function and the patchiness—may serve as early warnings for the desertification of arid lands. Remarkably, in the onset of a desertification transition the distribution of vegetation patches exhibits scale invariance typical of many physical systems in the vicinity a phase transition. I comment on similarities of and differences between these catastrophic shifts and paradigmatic thermodynamic phase transitions like the liquid-vapor change of state for a fluid. Third, I analyze the case of many species interacting in space. I choose tropical forests, which are mega-diverse ecosystems that exhibit remarkable dynamics. Therefore these ecosystems represent a research paradigm both for studies of complex systems dynamics as well as to unveil the mechanisms responsible for the assembly of species-rich communities. The more classical equilibrium approaches are compared versus non-equilibrium ones and in particular I discuss a recently introduced cellular automaton model in which species compete both locally in physical space and along a niche axis.
Addressing Semantic Geographic Information Systems
Authors: Pileggi Salvatore , Amor Robert
Published: November 2013

The progressive consolidation of information technologies on a large scale has been facilitating and progressively increasing the production, collection, and diffusion of geographic data, as well as facilitating the integration of a large amount of external information into geographic information systems (GIS). Traditional GIS is transforming into a consolidated information infrastructure. This consolidated infrastructure is affecting more and more aspects of internet computing and services. Most popular systems (such as social networks, GPS, and decision support systems) involve complex GIS and significant amounts of information. As a web service, GIS is affected by exactly the same problems that affect the web as a whole. Therefore, next generation GIS solutions have to address further methodological and data engineering challenges in order to accommodate new applications’ extended requirements (in terms of scale, interoperability, and complexity). The conceptual and semantic modeling of GIS, as well as the integration of semantics into current GIS, provide highly expressive environments that are capable of meeting the needs and requirements of a wide range of applications. [...]
Comparison of SPME Methods for Determining Volatile Compounds in Milk, Cheese, and Whey Powder
Authors: Tunick Michael , Iandola Susan , Van Hekken Diane
Published: November 2013

Solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) are commonly used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile compounds in various dairy products, but conditions have to be adjusted to maximize release while not generating new compounds that are absent in the original sample. Queso Fresco, a fresh non-melting cheese, may be heated at 60 °C for 30 min; in contrast, compounds are produced in milk when exposed to light and elevated temperatures, so milk samples are heated as little as possible. Products such as dehydrated whey protein are more stable and can be exposed to longer periods (60 min) of warming at lower temperature (40 °C) without decomposition, allowing for capture and analysis of many minor components. The techniques for determining the volatiles in dairy products by SPME and GC-MS have to be optimized to produce reliable results with minimal modifications and analysis times.
Determination of Listeria monocytogenes Growth during Mushroom Production and Distribution
Authors: Leong Dara , Alvarez-Ordóez Avelino , Guillas Floriane , Jordan Kieran
Published: November 2013

In the EU, food is considered safe with regard to Listeria monocytogenes if its numbers do not exceed 100 CFU/g throughout the shelf-life of the food. Therefore, it is important to determine if a food supports growth of L. monocytogenes. Challenge studies to determine the ability of a food to support growth of L. monocytogenes are essential as predictive modelling often overestimates the growth ability of L. monocytogenes. The aim of this study was to determine if growth of L. monocytogenes was supported during the production and distribution of mushrooms. A three-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes was inoculated onto three independent batches of whole mushrooms, sliced mushrooms, mushroom casing and mushroom substrate at a concentration of about 100–1000 CFU/g. The batches were incubated at potential abuse temperatures, as a worst case scenario, and at intervals during storage L. monocytogenes numbers, % moisture and pH were determined. The results showed that the sliced and whole mushrooms had the ability to support growth, while mushroom casing allowed survival but did not support growth. Mushroom substrate showed a rich background microflora that grew on Listeria selective media and this hindered enumeration of L. monocytogenes. In the case of this study, Combase predictions were not always accurate, indicating that challenge studies may be a necessary part of growth determination of L. monocytogenes.
Issues to Consider When Measuring and Applying Socioeconomic Position Quantitatively in Immigrant Health Research
Authors: Nielsen Signe , Hempler Nana , Krasnik Allan
Published: November 2013

The relationship between migration and health is complex, yet, immigrant-related inequalities in health are largely influenced by socioeconomic position. Drawing upon previous findings, this paper discusses issues to consider when measuring and applying socioeconomic position in quantitative immigrant health research. When measuring socioeconomic position, it is important to be aware of four aspects: (1) there is a lack of clarity about how socioeconomic position should be measured; (2) different types of socioeconomic position may be relevant to immigrants compared with the native-born population; (3) choices of measures of socioeconomic position in quantitative analyses often rely on data availability; and (4) different measures of socioeconomic position have different effects in population groups. Therefore, caution should be used in the collection, presentation, analyses, and interpretation of data and researchers need to display their proposed conceptual models and data limitations as well as apply different approaches for analyses.
Monitoring Street-Level Spatial-Temporal Variations of Carbon Monoxide in Urban Settings Using a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Framework
Authors: Wen Tzai-Hung , Jiang Joe-Air , Sun Chih-Hong , Juang Jehn-Yih , Lin Tzu-Shiang
Published: November 2013

Air pollution has become a severe environmental problem due to urbanization and heavy traffic. Monitoring street-level air quality is an important issue, but most official monitoring stations are installed to monitor large-scale air quality conditions, and their limited spatial resolution cannot reflect the detailed variations in air quality that may be induced by traffic jams. By deploying wireless sensors on crossroads and main roads, this study established a pilot framework for a wireless sensor network (WSN)-based real-time monitoring system to understand street-level spatial-temporal changes of carbon monoxide (CO) in urban settings. The system consists of two major components. The first component is the deployment of wireless sensors. We deployed 44 sensor nodes, 40 transmitter nodes and four gateway nodes in this study. Each sensor node includes a signal processing module, a CO sensor and a wireless communication module. In order to capture realistic human exposure to traffic pollutants, all sensors were deployed at a height of 1.5 m on lampposts and traffic signs. The study area covers a total length of 1.5 km of Keelung Road in Taipei City. The other component is a map-based monitoring platform for sensor data visualization and manipulation in time and space. Using intensive real-time street-level monitoring framework, we compared the spatial-temporal patterns of air pollution in different time periods. Our results capture four CO concentration peaks throughout the day at the location, which was located along an arterial and nearby traffic sign. The hourly average could reach 5.3 ppm from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm due to the traffic congestion. The proposed WSN-based framework captures detailed ground information and potential risk of human exposure to traffic-related air pollution. It also provides street-level insights into real-time monitoring for further early warning of air pollution and urban environmental management.
Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency and Neuroinflammation: Balance between Apoptosis and Pyroptosis
Authors: Tricarico Paola , Marcuzzi Annalisa , Piscianz Elisa , Monasta Lorenzo , Crovella Sergio , Kleiner Giulio
Published: November 2013

Mevalonic aciduria, a rare autosomal recessive disease, represents the most severe form of the periodic fever, known as Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency. This disease is caused by the mutation of the MVK gene, which codes for the enzyme mevalonate kinase, along the cholesterol pathway. Mevalonic aciduria patients show recurrent fever episodes with associated inflammatory symptoms, severe neurologic impairments, or death, in early childhood. The typical neurodegeneration occurring in mevalonic aciduria is linked both to the intrinsic apoptosis pathway (caspase-3 and -9), which is triggered by mitochondrial damage, and to pyroptosis (caspase-1). These cell death mechanisms seem to be also related to the assembly of the inflammasome, which may, in turn, activate pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Thus, this particular molecular platform may play a crucial role in neuroinflammation mechanisms. Nowadays, a specific therapy is still lacking and the pathogenic mechanisms involving neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction have not yet been completely understood, making mevalonic aciduria an orphan drug disease. This review aims to analyze the relationship among neuroinflammation, mitochondrial damage, programmed cell death, and neurodegeneration. Targeting inflammation and degeneration in the central nervous system might help identify promising treatment approaches for mevalonic aciduria or other diseases in which these mechanisms are involved.
Self/Co-Assembling Peptide, EAR8-II, as a Potential Carrier for a Hydrophobic Anticancer Drug Pirarubicin (THP)—Characterization and in-Vitro Delivery
Authors: Sadatmousavi Parisa , Chen P.
Published: November 2013

A short ionic-complementary peptide, EAR8-II, was employed to encapsulate the hydrophobic anticancer drug pirarubicin (THP). EAR8-II was designed to inherit advantages from two previously introduced peptides, AAP8 and EAK16-II, in their self/co-assembly. This peptide is short, simple, and inexpensive to synthesize, while possessing a low critical assembly concentration (CAC). The choice of alanine (A) residues in the peptide sequence provides moderate hydrophobic interactions, causing a minimal degree of aggregation, compared with other more hydrophobic residues. EAR8-II is an ionic-complementary peptide, similar to EAK16-II, can self/co-assemble with hydrophobic compounds such as THP, and forms a stable fibular nanostructure in aqueous solution. Physiochemical properties and cellular activities of the EAR8-II and THP complexes were evaluated and show dependency on the peptide-to-drug ratio. The complex at the peptide-to-drug mass ratio of 5:1 provides a stable solution, uniform nanostructure, and highly effective anticancer activity against various cancer cell lines. This work forms the basis for detailed studies on EAR8-II and THP formulations in vitro and in vivo, for future development of peptide-based delivery systems for hydrophobic anticancer drugs.
Biological Significance of Calbindin-D9k within Duodenal Epithelium
Authors: Hong Eui-Ju , Jeung Eui-Bae
Published: November 2013

Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) binds calcium with high affinity and regulates the distribution of free calcium in the cytoplasm. The expression of CaBP-9k is detected primarily in intestine that is vitamin D target tissue, and accumulates in the enterocytes of the duodenal villi. These enterocytes are the clearest example of vitamin D responsive cells, and the presence of CaBP-9k within them accentuates calcium absorption mediated by active transcellular calcium transport. It has been well established that the expression of CaBP-9k is mediated with vitamin D response element on its promoter and it regulates the amount of intracellular calcium in order to prevent cell death from reaching the toxicity of free calcium. There is now little doubt that glucocorticoid also decreases CaBP-9k expression in duodenal epithelial cells. In addition, it was reported that the level of CaBP-9k gene in enterocytes is increased in pregnancy when the plasma estradiol concentration is generally associated with a concomitant increase. Although calcium homeostasis was not disturbed in mice lacking the CaBP-9k gene, we found that CaBP-9k has a buffering role of free calcium in the cytosolic environment beyond that of calcium transfer. To expand our knowledge of the biological functions of CaBP-9k, our research has focused on defining the biological significance of intracellular CaBP-9k. Our findings suggest that the CaBP-9k gene is involved in compensatory induction of other calcium transporter genes in duodenal epithelial cells. This article summarizes the findings from recent studies on the expression and the functions of CaBP-9k in the small intestine.
Modification of Pectin and Hemicellulose Polysaccharides in Relation to Aril Breakdown of Harvested Longan Fruit
Authors: Wang Duoduo , Zhang Haiyan , Wu Fuwang , Li Taotao , Liang Yuxiang , Duan Xuewu
Published: November 2013

To investigate the modification of cell wall polysaccharides in relation to aril breakdown in harvested longan fruit, three pectin fractions (WSP, water soluble pectin; CSP, CDTA-soluble pectin; ASP, alkali soluble pectin) and one hemicellulose fraction (4 M KOH-SHC, 4 M KOH-soluble hemicellulose) were extracted, and their contents, monosaccharide compositions and molecular weights were evaluated. As aril breakdown intensified, CSP content increased while ASP and 4 M KOH-SHC contents decreased, suggesting the solubilization and conversion of cell wall components. Furthermore, the molar percentage of arabinose (Ara), as the main component of the side-chains, decreased largely in CSP and ASP while that of rhamnose (Rha), as branch point for the attachment of neutral sugar side chains, increased during aril breakdown. Analysis of (Ara + Gal)/Rha ratio showed that the depolymerization of CSP and ASP happened predominantly in side-chains formed of Ara residues. For 4 M KOH-SHC, more backbones were depolymerized during aril breakdown. Moreover, it was found that the molecular weights of CSP, ASP and 4 M KOH-SHC polysaccharides tended to decrease as aril breakdown intensified. These results suggest that both enhanced depolymerization and structural modifications of polysaccharides in the CSP, ASP and 4 M KOH-SHC fractions might be responsible for aril breakdown of harvested longan fruit.
Regulating Lesbian Motherhood: Gender, Sexuality and Medically Assisted Reproduction in Portugal
Authors: Machado Tânia , Brandão Ana
Published: November 2013

This article analyses juridical discourses about Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) in Portugal, focusing specifically on the access of lesbians to this type of intervention. Empirical data refer to an exploratory research that combined the analysis of legislation with non-directive interviews to five judges from Family and Juvenile Courts of Law of the Northern Region of Portugal. One argues that the representation of motherhood present in the law reinforces and reproduces normative sexuality and femininity while simultaneously justifies the exclusion of lesbians from MAR. As such, although Portuguese legislation emerges as a mechanism of partial deregulation of the gender regime since it appears to weaken the practical and causal association between sexuality and procreation, in fact, it ends up reinforcing dominant ideas of femininity and family. As for the judges who were interviewed, their representations of motherhood are broad enough to encompass medically assisted motherhood and/or motherhood accomplished within a lesbian couple. This is achieved through a process of normalisation of the lesbian and/or of lesbian motherhood, which may resort to five different assumptions: (i) parenthood as a desire inherent to every human being; (ii) motherhood as a defining element of femininity; (iii) motherhood as a project framed by a stable conjugal relationship; (iv) lesbian motherhood as something that can be accomplished through “natural” means; (v) parenthood as a mechanism of social reproduction of the gender regime. These assumptions are differently combined and support different positions regarding lesbian motherhood: although some judges seem to concur with the preservation of heteronormativity, most favour legal changes to encompass other models of sexuality and family.
Glycerophosphoglycerol, Beta-Alanine, and Pantothenic Acid as Metabolic Companions of Glycolytic Activity and Cell Migration in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Hutschenreuther Antje , Birkenmeier Gerd , Bigl Marina , Krohn Knut , Birkemeyer Claudia
Published: November 2013

In cancer research, cell lines are used to explore the molecular basis of the disease as a substitute to tissue biopsies. Breast cancer in particular is a very heterogeneous type of cancer, and different subgroups of cell lines have been established according to their genomic profiles and tumor characteristics. We applied GCMS metabolite profiling to five selected breast cancer cell lines and found this heterogeneity reflected on the metabolite level as well. Metabolite profiles of MCF-7 cells belonging to the luminal gene cluster proved to be more different from those of the basal A cell line JIMT-1 and the basal B cell lines MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435, and MDA-MB-436 with only slight differences in the intracellular metabolite pattern. Lactate release into the cultivation medium as an indicator of glycolytic activity was correlated to the metabolite profiles and physiological characteristics of each cell line. In conclusion, pantothenic acid, beta-alanine and glycerophosphoglycerol appeared to be related to the glycolytic activity designated through high lactate release. Other physiological parameters coinciding with glycolytic activity were high glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activity as well as cell migration as an additional important characteristic contributing to the aggressiveness of tumor cells. Metabolite profiles of the cell lines are comparatively discussed with respect to known biomarkers of cancer progression.
Performance of Short Food Questions to Assess Aspects of the Dietary Intake of Australian Children
Authors: Hendrie Gilly , Riley Malcolm
Published: November 2013

Single dietary questions are used as a rapid method of monitoring diet. The aim of this investigation was to assess the performance of questions to measure population group intake compared to the mean of two 24-h recalls. Data from the Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2007 was used (n = 4487). Children reported their intake on three questions relating to usual serves of fruit, vegetables and type of milk. Age, gender and body weight status were assessed as modifiers of the relationship between methods. There was a stepwise increase in fruit and vegetable intake (p < 0.001) measured by recall when grouped by response category of the short question. By recall, fruit consumption decreased with age (F = 12.92, p < 0.001) but this trend was not detectable from the short question (F = 2.31, p = 0.075). The difference in fruit intake between methods was greatest for obese children. Almost 85% of children who consumed whole milk by short question consumed mainly whole fat milk by recall, but agreement was lower for other milk types. Saturated fat and volume of milk was highest in whole milk consumers. Ease of administration suggests that short questions, at least for some aspects of diet, are a useful method to monitor population intakes for children.
A Test Platform for Planned Field Operations Using LEGO Mindstorms NXT
Authors: Edwards Gareth , Christiansen Martin , Bochtis Dionysis , Sørensen Claus
Published: November 2013

Testing agricultural operations and management practices associated with different machinery, systems and planning approaches can be both costly and time-consuming. Computer simulations of such systems are used for development and testing; however, to gain the experience of real-world performance, an intermediate step between simulation and full-scale testing should be included. In this paper, a potential common framework using the LEGO Mindstorms NXT micro-tractor platform is described in terms of its hardware and software components. The performance of the platform is demonstrated and tested in terms of its capability of supporting decision making on infield operation planning. The proposed system represents the basic measures for developing a complete test platform for field operations, where route plans, mission plans, multiple-machinery cooperation strategies and machinery coordination can be executed and tested in the laboratory.
Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) for NMR/MRI Instruments at Low-Field
Authors: Asfour Aktham , Raoof Kosai , Yonnet Jean-Paul
Published: November 2013

A proof-of-concept of the use of a fully digital radiofrequency (RF) electronics for the design of dedicated Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) systems at low-field (0.1 T) is presented. This digital electronics is based on the use of three key elements: a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) for pulse generation, a Software Defined Radio (SDR) for a digital receiving of NMR signals and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for system control and for the generation of the gradient signals (pulse programmer). The SDR includes a direct analog-to-digital conversion and a Digital Down Conversion (digital quadrature demodulation, decimation filtering, processing gain…). The various aspects of the concept and of the realization are addressed with some details. These include both hardware design and software considerations. One of the underlying ideas is to enable such NMR systems to “enjoy” from existing advanced technology that have been realized in other research areas, especially in telecommunication domain. Another goal is to make these systems easy to build and replicate so as to help research groups in realizing dedicated NMR desktops for a large palette of new applications. We also would like to give readers an idea of the current trends in this field. The performances of the developed electronics are discussed throughout the paper. First FID (Free Induction Decay) signals are also presented. Some development perspectives of our work in the area of low-field NMR/MRI will be finally addressed.
Proximal Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy to Predict Soil Properties Using Windows and Full-Spectrum Analysis Methods
Authors: Mahmood Hafiz , Hoogmoed Willem , Van Henten Eldert
Published: November 2013

Fine-scale spatial information on soil properties is needed to successfully implement precision agriculture. Proximal gamma-ray spectroscopy has recently emerged as a promising tool to collect fine-scale soil information. The objective of this study was to evaluate a proximal gamma-ray spectrometer to predict several soil properties using energy-windows and full-spectrum analysis methods in two differently managed sandy loam fields: conventional and organic. In the conventional field, both methods predicted clay, pH and total nitrogen with a good accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.56) in the top 0–15 cm soil depth, whereas in the organic field, only clay content was predicted with such accuracy. The highest prediction accuracy was found for total nitrogen (R2 = 0.75) in the conventional field in the energy-windows method. Predictions were better in the top 0–15 cm soil depths than in the 15–30 cm soil depths for individual and combined fields. This implies that gamma-ray spectroscopy can generally benefit soil characterisation for annual crops where the condition of the seedbed is important. Small differences in soil structure (conventional vs. organic) cannot be determined. As for the methodology, we conclude that the energy-windows method can establish relations between radionuclide data and soil properties as accurate as the full-spectrum analysis method.