bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Overfitting in Analysis of Symmetrically Predicted Endogenous Subgroups From Randomized Experimental Samples
Authors: Harvill Eleanor L. , Peck Laura R. , Bell Stephen H.
Published: October 2013

Using exogenous characteristics to identify endogenous subgroups, the approach discussed in this method note creates symmetric subsets within treatment and control groups, allowing the analysis to take advantage of an experimental design. In order to maintain treatment–control symmetry, however, prior work has posited that it is necessary to use a prediction subsample, separate from the subsample used for impact estimation in order to prevent overfitting from affecting impact estimates. Doing so diminishes sample size—both for prediction and analysis—and so has costs. This article delves into this topic to consider the conditions under which overfitting occurs and to characterize the effects of overfitting in terms of bias and variance. It suggests a strategy for preserving the full sample size in all phases of the analysis. The research uses Monte Carlo simulation to directly measure overfitting, identify the circumstances that should concern us, and to explore possible recommended practices and future research implications.
Effect of T7 heat treatment on the dry sliding friction and wear properties of the SiC-reinforced AA 2014 aluminium matrix composites produced by vacuum infiltration
Authors: Aksöz Sinan , Bican Osman , Çalın Recep , Bostan Bülent
Published: October 2013

Dry sliding wear properties of SiC-reinforced AA 2014 aluminium matrix composites produced by vacuum infiltration method were investigated using a pin-on-disc test machine after examining their microstructural and mechanical properties. It was observed that the porosity of the composites decreased with increasing volume ratio up to 2% SiC; above this level, porosity of the composites reached almost constant levels. The hardness of the composites increased continuously with increasing SiC content. It was observed that T7 heat treatment increased the wear resistance and removed the dendritic structure of the produced composites. The highest wear resistance was obtained from AA 2014-2%SiC composite both as-cast and heat-treated conditions. Wear resistance of the composites tested was observed to be strongly dependent on their porosity rather than their other properties.
Mainland Chinese gamblers’ casino design preferences
Authors: Wan Yim King Penny
Published: October 2013

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, hospitality firms need to increase their competitiveness by improving their service quality. Apart from maintaining quality products and service delivery, enough attention should also be paid to the physical settings and design because it could affect a customer’s total service experience. It is necessary to first understand the preferences of customers for design types and physical settings to offer products that meet their needs. This study focuses on the casino design preferences of Mainland Chinese customers who are a major source of customers for many casinos including those in Macao. Twenty-five Mainland Chinese gamblers who have visited casinos in Macao were interviewed. A total of 30 preferences were identified, which were further grouped into the following 11 categories: spaciousness and openness; architectural style; exterior design; interior decor; theme; signage; floor layout; color; air temperature and quality; lighting; and greenery/natural landscape. Practical implications are discussed and future research directions are provided.
Studying factors influencing repeat visitation of cultural tourists
Authors: Kastenholz Elisabeth , Eusébio Celeste , Carneiro Maria João
Published: October 2013

This study identifies factors determining repeat visitation of cultural tourists, a market particularly motivated by novelty and thus theoretically less loyal to positively experienced destinations. After a conceptual discussion of the potential role of repeat visitation in the cultural tourism context, binary regression analysis, applied to the data collected in a European research project, identifies factors explaining repeat visitation. Differences between domestic and international tourists are also discussed. Results should contribute to a better understanding of the cultural tourist market and to the development of differentiated marketing strategies enhancing repeat visitation within this market.
Hotel brand personality and brand quality
Authors: Tran Xuan , Dauchez Camille , Szemik Anna-Milena
Published: October 2013

Hotel brand quality itself may not guarantee to increase hotel brand value and loyalty, but the combination between brand quality and brand personality will be significantly associated with brand value and brand loyalty (Boo et al., 2009). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between hotel brand quality and hotel brand personality in order to find an effective way for hotel brand managers to develop their brand value and loyalty. The results of the study demonstrated that the five dimensions of hotel brand quality construct (assurance, tangible, empathy, reliability, and responsiveness) are significantly related to preferences on the five dimensions of hotel brand personality (competence, excitement, sincerity, sophistication, and ruggedness), respectively. In addition, effects of hotel prices on brand quality are significant. These findings suggest that in order to develop a successful brand value and loyalty, hotel brand managers should (1) increase high-assurance performance for a competence hotel brand, (2) strengthen tangibles for an excitement hotel brand, (3) develop empathy performance for a sincerity hotel brand, (4) escalate reliability performance for a sophistication hotel brand, and (5) advance responsiveness for the ruggedness hotel brand. This could be an effective way to develop hotel brand value and loyalty. It may be postulated that the interaction between brand quality and brand personality of the hotel experience directly affects brand value and loyalty. Hotel brand managers may then specify their hotel designs and packages such that the congruence between brand personality and perceived quality develop brand value and loyalty.
Using Tic-Tac software to reduce anxiety-related behaviour in adults with autism and learning difficulties during waiting periods: A pilot study
Authors: Campillo Cristina , Herrera Gerardo , Remírez de Ganuza Conchi , Cuesta José L , Abellán Raquel , Campos Arturo , Navarro Ignacio , Sevilla Javier , Pardo Carlos , Amati Fabián
Published: October 2013

Deficits in the perception of time and processing of changes across time are commonly observed in individuals with autism. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of the use of the software tool Tic-Tac, designed to make time visual, in three adults with autism and learning difficulties. This research focused on applying the tool in waiting situations where the participants exhibited anxiety-related behaviour. The intervention followed a baseline and intervention (AB) design, and a partial interval recording procedure was used to code the presence of stereotypes, nervous utterances, wandering or other examples of nervousness during the selected waiting situations. The results showed that the use of Tic-Tac resulted in lower levels of anxiety-related behaviour in all three participants, compared to the baseline, suggesting that this software may be an effective technology for helping people with autism with organisation and predictability during waiting periods. The results are discussed in terms of limitations and implications for further study.
Maladaptive cognitive appraisals in children with high-functioning autism: Associations with fear, anxiety and theory of mind
Authors: Sharma Shilpi , Woolfson Lisa M , Hunter Simon C
Published: October 2013

Despite the well-documented success of cognitive restructuring techniques in the treatment of anxiety disorders, there is still little clarity on which cognitions underpin fear and anxiety in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. This study examined whether certain cognitive appraisals, known to be associated with fear and anxiety in typically developing groups, may help explain these emotions in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. It also investigated relations between these cognitive appraisals and theory of mind. Appraisals, fear and anxiety were assessed using a vignette approach in 22 children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and 22 typically developing children. The two groups differed significantly on all four appraisal types. Anxiety was negatively correlated with future expectancy and positively with problem-focused coping potential in the high-functioning autism spectrum disorder group but was not correlated with appraisals in the typically developing group. The two appraisals associated with fear were emotion-focused coping potential (in the high-functioning autism spectrum disorder group only) and self-accountability (in the typically developing group only). Linear regression analysis found that appraisals of emotion-focused coping potential, problem-focused coping potential and future expectancy were significant predictors of theory-of-mind ability in the high-functioning autism spectrum disorders group. These findings indicate that specific, problematic patterns of appraisal may characterise children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.
Changing fate? Agency and the desistance process
Authors: Healy Deirdre
Published: October 2013

There is a significant conceptual divide between criminological theories that treat offenders as rational agents who freely choose their actions and those that portray offenders as individuals whose behaviour is determined by external forces. Recently, research into desistance from crime has produced a more complex and nuanced account of crime causation which acknowledges the interplay between agency and structure. Yet, while the concept of agency is frequently invoked in contemporary discourse, the variety of definitions and measures employed by researchers makes it difficult to establish a clear and consistent picture of its role. This article attempts to address this deficit by evaluating the contributions of agency-centred theories of desistance. An integrated framework, which aims to consolidate existing knowledge about agency and provide additional insights into its role in desistance, is then proposed.
Service characteristics as predictors of parents’ perceptions of child rehabilitation outcomes
Authors: Järvikoski Aila , Härkäpää Kristiina , Martin Marjatta , Vasari Pekka , Autti-Rämö Ilona
Published: October 2013

Medical rehabilitation arranged by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland is provided for children with severe disabilities. The study aimed to find out which service characteristics were associated with perceived outcomes of rehabilitation. Parents whose children had participated in rehabilitation ( n = 496) responded to a mail questionnaire that included questions on service characteristics and possible outcomes. Based on factor analysis, four outcome variables were formed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the particular service characteristics that were associated with the perceived outcomes. The family’s participation in rehabilitation planning and the child’s willingness to participate in rehabilitation activities were associated with good outcomes. Having a contact person for the rehabilitation process predicted child and family empowerment outcomes. The results emphasize the significance of establishing a good partnership between the professionals and the family; of developing the contents of the rehabilitation program, so that they motivate the child, and of organizing service coordinators for each family.
In praise of doubt: Academic virtues, transnational encounters and the problem of the public
Authors: Kuipers Giselinde
Published: October 2013

Inspired by the ‘rise of Asia’ in academia, this article explores the question of academic publics: who are we addressing in our writing and teaching? With the increasing globalisation of academic life, the global rise of the neoliberal university and, as Latour puts it, ‘critique running out of steam’ in the West, the question of academic publics becomes increasingly pressing, especially for cultural studies. This article proposes that transnational academic encounters may offer a way out of the crisis of critique and a transnational ethics of scholarly virtues, stressing the personal predispositions and concomitant practices that shape the distinct quality of academic inquiry. It highlights five main academic virtues: doubt, systematic analysis, realism, complexity and slowness. Of these five virtues, doubt (of oneself) is the central academic virtue: it should take center stage in university teaching, academic writing and in academic forays into the public and the transnational spheres.
A re-examination of the opportunity and motivation effects underlying criminal activity
Authors: Cook Steve , Watson Duncan
Published: October 2013

The opportunity and motivation effects underlying criminal activity presented in Cantor and Land (1985) are revisited. It is argued that a full appreciation of these effects requires examination of the evolution of criminal activity over the business cycle rather than in relation to simple measures of unemployment, as has been considered often in the literature. Using the derived cyclical components of a number of socio-economic indicators, the empirical evidence in support of the proposed theoretical relationships is examined. It is found that in contrast to the results obtained when using unemployment, consideration of alternative cyclical indicators provides very strong support for the presence of opportunity and motivation effects of the form predicted by Cantor and Land (1985). An interesting distinction between results for property and violent crimes is noted and discussed.
Current status of minimally invasive endoscopic management of ureteric strictures
Authors: Kachrilas Stefanos , Bourdoumis Andreas , Karaolides Theocharis , Nikitopoulou Stavroula , Papadopoulos George , Buchholz Noor , Masood Junaid
Published: October 2013

Endourological techniques are used more often nowadays in the treatment of ureteric strictures of various etiologies. Advances in technology have provided new tools to the armamentarium of the endoscopic urological surgeon. Numerous studies exist that investigate the efficiency and safety of each of the therapeutic modalities available. In this review, we attempt to demonstrate the available and contemporary evidence supporting each minimally invasive modality in the management of ureteric strictures.
Houses and burials at Lepenski Vir
Authors: Radovanović Ivana
Published: October 2013

Houses and burials recorded in the settlements of Lepenski Vir I and II and burials previously ascribed to Lepenski Vir III are here discussed in view of the recent analyses of archaeological material and re-analyses of the field burial record from this site. Evidence of pottery in situ in houses of Lepenski Vir I, together with the evidence for important dietary change in the Lepenski Vir community in the course of the second half of the seventh millennium cal BC, reinforces the assumption, made by a number of scholars over several previous decades, of intensive contacts between early Neolithic groups and local hunter-gatherers. Burial practice throughout the seventh and sixth millennia cal BC at Lepenski Vir is thus reanalyzed in this new light. Apart from burials unrelated to architectural remains, five ‘types’ of burial deposition are noted in relation to houses of Lepenski Vir I–II, all but one having a distinct chronological and spatial patterning. The inhabitants' choice of mode of deposition of the deceased is always associated with a certain location in the settlement, sometimes used over several centuries. In the course of their history, these locations were often used for building a particular house or group of houses. The content of such houses is also discussed wherever it was possible. Duality in settlement organization could also be recognized in the burial practices related to settlement architecture. The attribution of the majority of burial remains to early Neolithic Lepenski Vir III is here also questioned in the light of new data and reinterpreted settlement sequences.
BMP-mediated specification of the erythroid lineage suppresses endothelial development in blood island precursors
Authors: Myers Candace T. , Krieg Paul A.
Published: October 2013

Key Points

Commitment to the erythroid transcriptional program precludes endothelial development in a blood island precursor population.
The prognostic impact of variant histology in nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)
Authors: Hartmann Sylvia , Eichenauer Dennis A. , Plütschow Annette , Mottok Anja , Bob Roshanak , Koch Karoline , Bernd Heinz-Wolfram , Cogliatti Sergio , Hummel Michael , Feller Alfred C. , Ott German , Möller Peter , Rosenwald Andreas , Stein Harald , Hansmann Martin-Leo , Engert Andreas , Klapper Wolfram
Published: October 2013

Key Points

Histopathologic variants of nodular lymphocyte–predominant Hodgkin lymphoma are associated with advanced stage and increased relapse rate. A prognostic score combining histopathologic and clinical features can allocate patients to 3 defined risk groups.
Antiflammin-1 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice
Authors: Liu Wei , Wan Jing , Han Jian-Zhong , Li Chen , Feng Dan-Dan , Yue Shao-Jie , Huang Yan-Hong , Chen Yi , Cheng Qing-Mei , Li Yang , Luo Zi-Qiang
Published: October 2013

Background

Antiflammin-1 (AF-1), a derivative of uteroglobin (UG), is a synthetic nonapeptide with diverse biological functions. In the present study, we investigated whether AF-1 has a protective effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were injected with bleomycin intratracheally to create an animal model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. On Day 7 and Day 28, we examined the anti-inflammatory effect and antifibrotic effect, respectively, of AF-1 on the bleomycin-treated mice. The effects of AF-1 on the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced proliferation of murine lung fibroblasts (NIH3T3) were examined by a bromodeoxycytidine (BrdU) incorporation assay and cell cycle analysis.

Results

Severe lung inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the bleomycin-treated mice on Day 7 and Day 28, respectively. Administration of AF-1 significantly reduced the number of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the lung homogenates on Day 7. Histological examination revealed that AF-1 markedly reduced the number of infiltrating cells on Day 7 and attenuated the collagen deposition and destruction of lung architecture on Day 28. The hydroxyproline (HYP) content was significantly decreased in the AF-1-treated mice. In vitro, AF-1 inhibited the TGF-β1-induced proliferation of NIH3T3 cells, which was mediated by the UG receptor.

Conclusions

AF-1 has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic actions in bleomycin-induced lung injury. We propose that the antifibrotic effect of AF-1 might be related to its suppression of fibroblast growth in bleomycin-treated lungs and that AF-1 has potential as a new therapeutic tool for pulmonary fibrosis.
Rare recessive loss-of-function methionyl-tRNA synthetase mutations presenting as a multi-organ phenotype
Authors: van Meel Eline , Wegner Daniel J , Cliften Paul , Willing Marcia C , White Frances V , Kornfeld Stuart , Cole F Sessions
Published: October 2013

Background

Methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MARS) catalyzes the ligation of methionine to its cognate transfer RNA and therefore plays an essential role in protein biosynthesis.

Methods

We used exome sequencing, aminoacylation assays, homology modeling, and immuno-isolation of transfected MARS to identify and characterize mutations in the methionyl-tRNA synthetase gene (MARS) in an infant with an unexplained multi-organ phenotype.

Results

We identified compound heterozygous mutations (F370L and I523T) in highly conserved regions of MARS. The parents were each heterozygous for one of the mutations. Aminoacylation assays documented that the F370L and I523T MARS mutants had 18 ± 6% and 16 ± 6%, respectively, of wild-type activity. Homology modeling of the human MARS sequence with the structure of E. coli MARS showed that the F370L and I523T mutations are in close proximity to each other, with residue I523 located in the methionine binding pocket. We found that the F370L and I523T mutations did not affect the association of MARS with the multisynthetase complex.

Conclusion

This infant expands the catalogue of inherited human diseases caused by mutations in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes.
The long non-coding RNA HOTAIR indicates a poor prognosis and promotes metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Liu Xiang-hua , Liu Zhi-li , Sun Ming , Liu Jing , Wang Zhao-xia , De Wei
Published: October 2013

Background

The identification of cancer-associated long non-coding RNAs and the investigation of their molecular and biological functions are important for understanding the molecular biology and progression of cancer. HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA) has been implicated in several cancers; however, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression pattern of HOTAIR in NSCLC and to evaluate its biological role and clinical significance in tumor progression.

Methods

Expression of HOTAIR was analyzed in 42 NSCLC tissues and four NSCLC cell lines by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Over-expression and RNA interference (RNAi) approaches were used to investigate the biological functions of HOTAIR. The effect of HOTAIR on proliferation was evaluated by MTT and colony formation assays, and cell migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell assays. Tail vein injection of cells was used to study metastasis in nude mice. Protein levels of HOTAIR targets were determined by western blot analysis. Differences between groups were tested for significance using Student’s t-test (two-tailed).

Results

HOTAIR was highly expressed both in NSCLC samples and cell lines compared with corresponding normal counterparts. HOTAIR upregulation was correlated with NSCLC advanced pathological stage and lymph-node metastasis. Moreover, patients with high levels of HOTAIR expression had a relatively poor prognosis. Inhibition of HOTAIR by RNAi decreased the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro and impeded cell metastasis in vivo. HOXA5 levels were affected by HOTAIR knockdown or over-expression in vitro.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that HOTAIR is significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tissues, and regulates NSCLC cell invasion and metastasis, partially via the down-regulation of HOXA5. Thus, HOTAIR may represent a new marker of poor prognosis and is a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC intervention.
Site-specific growth and density control of carbon nanotubes by direct deposition of catalytic nanoparticles generated by spark discharge
Authors: Na Hyungjoo , Park Jae Hong , Hwang Jungho , Kim Jongbaeg
Published: October 2013

Catalytic iron nanoparticles generated by spark discharge were used to site-selectively grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and control their density. The generated aerosol nanoparticles were deposited on a cooled substrate by thermophoresis. The shadow mask on top of the cooled substrate enabled patterning of the catalytic nanoparticles and, thereby, patterning of CNTs synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. The density of CNTs could be controlled by varying the catalytic nanoparticle deposition time. It was also demonstrated that the density could be adjusted by changing the gap between the shadow mask and the substrate, taking advantage of the blurring effect of the deposited nanoparticles, for an identical deposition time. As all the processing steps for the patterned growth and density control of CNTs can be performed under dry conditions, we also demonstrated the integration of CNTs on fully processed, movable silicon microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structures.
Existence results for nonlinear fractional differential equations involving different Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives
Authors: Wang Guotao , Liu Sanyang , Baleanu Dumitru , Zhang Lihong
Published: October 2013

By applying an iterative technique, a necessary and sufficient condition is obtained for the existence of the unique solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations involving two Riemann-Liouville derivatives of different fractional orders. Finally, an example is also given to illustrate the availability of our main results.
Purified hepatitis B virus induces human Mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix expression In Vitro
Authors: Diao Zongli , Ding Jiaxiang , Yin Chenghong , Wang Liyan , Liu Wenhu
Published: October 2013

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) induces proliferation of human mesangial cells (HMCs), and extracellular matrix expression through the deposition of immune complexes in renal tissue. However, it is unclear whether HBV can directly affect HMCs. In this study, the effects of purified HBV on HMC proliferation and extracellular matrix expression in vitro was determined.

Findings

HBV was purified using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. HMCs were co-cultured with purified HBV (104–106 copies/ml) for 48 h, and cell proliferation determined using 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine immunofluorescence assays. After HMCs were co-cultured with 106 copies/ml purified HBV for 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h, expression of type IV collagen and fibronectin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Three titers of purified HBV (104, 105, and 106 copies/ml) induced HMC proliferation, with the proportion of increases in cell numbers at 24.7 ± 4.3, 31.2 ± 9.4, and 36.8 ± 7.5%, respectively. All these increases were significantly higher than those for the control group (13.6 ± 4.2%) (All p < 0.05). Purified HBV (106 copies/ml) significantly increased the levels of type IV collagen and fibronectin in supernatants compared with the control group at 12 and 48 h (All p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Purified HBV can directly promote HMC proliferation and expression of type IV collagen and fibronectin, and could be involved in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated glomerulonephritis.
Urodynamic investigation by telemetry in Beagle dogs: validation and effects of oral administration of current urological drugs: a pilot study
Authors: Noël Stéphanie , Massart Laurent , Hamaide Annick
Published: October 2013

Background

Vesico-urethral function may be evaluated in humans and dogs by conventional urodynamic testing (cystometry and urethral pressure profilometry) or by electromyography. These techniques are performed under general anaesthesia in dogs. However, anaesthesia can depress bladder and urethral pressures and inhibit the micturition reflex. The primary objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the use of telemetry for urodynamic investigation in dogs. We also aimed to determine the applicability of telemetry to toxicologic studies by assessing the repeatability of telemetric recordings.

Results

Conventional diuresis cystometry was performed in six continent adult female Beagle dogs prior to surgical implantation of telemetric and electromyographic devices. In the first phase of the telemetric study, continuous recordings were performed over 8 days and nights. Abdominal, intravesical and detrusor threshold pressures (Pdet th), voided volume (Vv), urethral smooth muscle electrical activity and involuntary detrusor contractions (IDC) were measured during the bladder filling phase and during micturition episodes.

Vv recorded during telemetry was significantly lower than bladder volume obtained by diuresis cystometry. Repeatability of telemetric measurements was greater for observations recorded at night. IDC frequency and Pdet th were both lower and Vv was higher at night compared to values recorded during daytime.

In the second phase of the telemetric study, phenylpropanolamine, oestriol, bethanechol, oxybutynin or duloxetine were administered orally for 15 days. For each drug, continuous recordings were performed overnight for 12 hours on days 0, 1, 8 and 15. Electromyographic urethral activity was significantly increased 8 days after oestriol or duloxetine administration. No significant changes in bladder function were observed at any time point.

Conclusions

In dogs, the high repeatability of nocturnal telemetric recordings indicates that this technique could provide more informative results for urologic research. Urethral smooth muscle electrical activity appears to be modified by administration of drugs with urethral tropism. In this pilot telemetric study, bladder function was not affected by oral administration of urological drugs at their recommended clinical dosages. Experimental studies, (pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic) and clinical studies are warranted to further define the effects of these drugs on vesico-urethral function in dogs.
Direct DNA and PNA probe binding to telomeric regions without classical in situ hybridization
Authors: Genet Matthew D , Cartwright Ian M , Kato Takamitsu A
Published: October 2013

Background

Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) utilizes peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes to identify specific DNA sequences. Traditional techniques have required the heat denaturing of the DNA in formamide followed by multiple hours at moderated temperatures to allow the probe to hybridize to its specific target. Over the past 30 years, advancements in both protocols and probes have made FISH a more reliable technique for both biological research and medical diagnostics, additionally the protocol has been shortened to several minutes. These PNA probes were designed to target and hybridize to both DNA and RNA, and PNA-protein interactions still remain unclear.

Results

In this study we have shown that a telomeric single stranded specific PNA probe is able to bind to its target without heat denaturing of the DNA and without formamide. We have also identified a centromere specific probe, which was found to bind its target with only incubation with formamide.

Conclusions

Certain PNA probes are able to hybridize with their targets with minimal to no denaturing of the DNA itself. This limited denaturing preserves the chromosome structure and may lead to more effective and specific staining.
Adrenocortical carcinoma initially presenting with hypokalemia and hypertension mimicking hyperaldosteronism: a case report
Authors: Huang Chun-Jui , Wang Ti-Hao , Lo Yuan-Hao , Hou Kuan-Ting , Won Justin Ging-Shing , Jap Tjin-Shing , Kuo Chin-Sung
Published: October 2013

Background

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy and rare cause of Cushing’s syndrome.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old seemingly well male patient was referred to our clinic under the suspicion of hyperaldosteronism due to hypertension combined with hypokalemia. However, his serum aldosterone and plasma renin activity were within normal limits. Instead, Cushing’s syndrome was diagnosed by elevated urine free cortisol and a non-suppressible dexamethasone test. Abdominal computed tomography showed a 7.8 × 4.8 cm mass lesion at the right adrenal gland with liver invasion. Etomidate infusion was performed to reduce his cortisol level before the patient received a right adrenalectomy and liver wedge resection. The pathology report showed adrenocortical carcinoma with liver and lymph node metastasis. According to the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) staging system, the tumor was classified as T4N1M1, stage IV. Recurrent hypercortisolism was found shortly after surgery. The patient died of Fournier’s gangrene with septic shock on the 59th day after diagnosis.

Conclusions

We report a case of rapidly progressive stage IV adrenocortical carcinoma with initial presentations of hypokaelmia and hypertension, mimicking hyperaldosteronism.
IGF binding protein 2 is a cell-autonomous factor supporting survival and migration of acute leukemia cells
Authors: Chen Xiaoli , Zheng Junke , Zou Yizhou , Song Chun , Hu Xuemei , Zhang Cheng Cheng
Published: October 2013

Background

The role of IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) in cancer development is intriguing. Previously we identified IGFBP2 as an extrinsic factor that supports the activity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Methods and results

Here we investigated the role of IGFBP2 in in human leukemia cells and in the retroviral AML1-ETO9a transplantation acute myeloid leukemia (AML) mouse model.

Results

IGFBP2 is highly expressed in certain human AML and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Inhibition of expression of endogenous IGFBP2 in human leukemia cells led to elevated apoptosis and decreased migration and, consistently, to decreased activation of AKT and other signaling molecules. We also studied the effects of IGFBP2 knockout in the retroviral AML1-ETO9a transplantation AML mouse model. The deletion of IGFBP2 in donor AML cells significantly decreased leukemia development in transplanted mice. Lack of IGFBP2 resulted in upregulation of PTEN expression and downregulation of AKT activation, in the mouse AML cells. The treatment of IGFBP2 deficient AML cells with a PTEN inhibitor restored the wild-type colony forming ability. The deletion of IGFBP2 also led to decreased AML infiltration into peripheral organs and tissues, suggesting that IGFBP2 is required for the migration of AML cells out of bone marrow.

Conclusion

IGFBP2 is a critical cell-autonomous factor that promotes the survival and migration of acute leukemia cells.
Atypical brain lateralisation in the auditory cortex and language performance in 3- to 7-year-old children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: a child-customised magnetoencephalography (MEG) study
Authors: Yoshimura Yuko , Kikuchi Mitsuru , Shitamichi Kiyomi , Ueno Sanae , Munesue Toshio , Ono Yasuki , Tsubokawa Tsunehisa , Haruta Yasuhiro , Oi Manabu , Niida Yo , Remijn Gerard B , Takahashi Tsutomu , Suzuki Michio , Higashida Haruhiro , Minabe Yoshio
Published: October 2013

Background

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is used to measure the auditory evoked magnetic field (AEF), which reflects language-related performance. In young children, however, the simultaneous quantification of the bilateral auditory-evoked response during binaural hearing is difficult using conventional adult-sized MEG systems. Recently, a child-customised MEG device has facilitated the acquisition of bi-hemispheric recordings, even in young children. Using the child-customised MEG device, we previously reported that language-related performance was reflected in the strength of the early component (P50m) of the auditory evoked magnetic field (AEF) in typically developing (TD) young children (2 to 5 years old) [Eur J Neurosci2012,35:644–650]. The aim of this study was to investigate how this neurophysiological index in each hemisphere is correlated with language performance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and TD children.

Methods

We used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure the auditory evoked magnetic field (AEF), which reflects language-related performance. We investigated the P50m that is evoked by voice stimuli (/ne/) bilaterally in 33 young children (3 to 7 years old) with ASD and in 30 young children who were typically developing (TD). The children were matched according to their age (in months) and gender. Most of the children with ASD were high-functioning subjects.

Results

The results showed that the children with ASD exhibited significantly less leftward lateralisation in their P50m intensity compared with the TD children. Furthermore, the results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that a shorter P50m latency in both hemispheres was specifically correlated with higher language-related performance in the TD children, whereas this latency was not correlated with non-verbal cognitive performance or chronological age. The children with ASD did not show any correlation between P50m latency and language-related performance; instead, increasing chronological age was a significant predictor of shorter P50m latency in the right hemisphere.

Conclusions

Using a child-customised MEG device, we studied the P50m component that was evoked through binaural human voice stimuli in young ASD and TD children to examine differences in auditory cortex function that are associated with language development. Our results suggest that there is atypical brain function in the auditory cortex in young children with ASD, regardless of language development.
The clinical measurement, measurement method and experimental condition ontologies: expansion, improvements and new applications
Authors: Smith Jennifer R , Park Carissa A , Nigam Rajni , Laulederkind Stanley JF , Hayman G Thomas , Wang Shur-Jen , Lowry Timothy F , Petri Victoria , Pons Jeff De , Tutaj Marek , Liu Weisong , Worthey Elizabeth A , Shimoyama Mary , Dwinell Melinda R
Published: October 2013

Background

The Clinical Measurement Ontology (CMO), Measurement Method Ontology (MMO), and Experimental Condition Ontology (XCO) were originally developed at the Rat Genome Database (RGD) to standardize quantitative rat phenotype data in order to integrate results from multiple studies into the PhenoMiner database and data mining tool. These ontologies provide the framework for presenting what was measured, how it was measured, and under what conditions it was measured.

Results

There has been a continuing expansion of subdomains in each ontology with a parallel 2–3 fold increase in the total number of terms, substantially increasing the size and improving the scope of the ontologies. The proportion of terms with textual definitions has increased from ~60% to over 80% with greater synchronization of format and content throughout the three ontologies. Representation of definition source Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) has been standardized, including the removal of all non-URI characters, and systematic versioning of all ontology files has been implemented. The continued expansion and success of these ontologies has facilitated the integration of more than 60,000 records into the RGD PhenoMiner database. In addition, new applications of these ontologies, such as annotation of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), have been added at the sites actively using them, including RGD and the Animal QTL Database.

Conclusions

The improvements to these three ontologies have been substantial, and development is ongoing. New terms and expansions to the ontologies continue to be added as a result of active curation efforts at RGD and the Animal QTL database. Use of these vocabularies to standardize data representation for quantitative phenotypes and quantitative trait loci across databases for multiple species has demonstrated their utility for integrating diverse data types from multiple sources. These ontologies are freely available for download and use from the NCBO BioPortal website at http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/1583 (CMO), http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/1584 (MMO), and http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/1585 (XCO), or from the RGD ftp site at ftp://rgd.mcw.edu/pub/ontology/.
Functional outcome and prognostic factors in anti-Jo1 patients with antisynthetase syndrome
Authors: Marie Isabelle , Hatron Pierre-Yves , Cherin Patrick , Hachulla Eric , Diot Elisabeth , Vittecoq Olivier , Menard Jean-François , Jouen Fabienne , Dominique Stéphane
Published: October 2013

Introduction

The aims of this present study were firstly to assess the outcome, including functional course, in anti-Jo1 positive patients with antisynthetase syndrome (ASS), and secondly to determine predictive parameters of poor outcome in these patients.

Methods

The medical records of 86 consecutive anti-Jo1 patients with ASS were reviewed in 4 academic centers.

Results

13 patients (15.1%) achieved remission of ASS, whereas 55 (63.9%) improved and 18 (20.9%) deteriorated in their clinical status. Both steroid and cytotoxic drugs could be discontinued in only 4.7% of patients. ASS was associated with decreased quality of life at long-term follow-up: only 69.2% of patients considered to be in remission experienced a return to previous normal activities; and 24.7% of other patients with non-remitting ASS still had a marked reduction of activities (as shown by the disability scale of the Health Assessment Questionnaire). Decreased quality of life was further due to calcinosis cutis (8.1%) and adverse effects of steroid therapy (36%). Factors associated with ASS deterioration were older age, pulmonary and esophageal involvement, calcinosis cutis and cancer. Higher anti-Jo1 levels were further associated with disease severity in ASS patients.

Conclusions

The present study shows high morbidity related to ASS. Furthermore, we suggest that patients with predictive factors of ASS deterioration may require more aggressive therapy. Our findings also suggest that in anti-Jo1 patients with severe esophageal manifestations, combined high dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulins might be proposed as the first line therapy. Finally, as cancer occurred in 14% of anti-Jo1 patients, our findings underscore that the search for cancer should be performed in these patients.
Biphasic positive airway pressure minimizes biological impact on lung tissue in mild acute lung injury independent of etiology
Authors: Saddy Felipe , Moraes Lillian , Santos Cintia Lourenço , Oliveira Gisele Pena , Cruz Fernanda Ferreira , Morales Marcelo Marcos , Capelozzi Vera Luiza , de Abreu Marcelo Gama , Baez Garcia Cristiane Souza Nascimento , Pelosi Paolo , Rocco Patricia Rieken Macêdo
Published: October 2013

Introduction

Biphasic positive airway pressure (BIVENT) is a partial support mode that employs pressure-controlled, time-cycled ventilation set at two levels of continuous positive airway pressure with unrestricted spontaneous breathing. BIVENT can modulate inspiratory effort by modifying the frequency of controlled breaths. Nevertheless, the optimal amount of inspiratory effort to improve respiratory function while minimizing ventilator-associated lung injury during partial ventilatory assistance has not been determined. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the effects of partial ventilatory support depend on acute lung injury (ALI) etiology. This study aimed to investigate the impact of spontaneous and time-cycled control breaths during BIVENT on the lung and diaphragm in experimental pulmonary (p) and extrapulmonary (exp) ALI.

Methods

This was a prospective, randomized, controlled experimental study of 60 adult male Wistar rats. Mild ALI was induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide either intratracheally (ALIp) or intraperitoneally (ALIexp). After 24 hours, animals were anesthetized and further randomized as follows: (1) pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) with tidal volume (Vt) = 6 ml/kg, respiratory rate = 100 breaths/min, PEEP = 5 cmH2O, and inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio (I:E) = 1:2; or (2) BIVENT with three spontaneous and time-cycled control breath modes (100, 75, and 50 breaths/min). BIVENT was set with two levels of CPAP (Phigh = 10 cmH2O and Plow = 5 cmH2O). Inspiratory time was kept constant (Thigh = 0.3 s).

Results

BIVENT was associated with reduced markers of inflammation, apoptosis, fibrogenesis, and epithelial and endothelial cell damage in lung tissue in both ALI models when compared to PCV. The inspiratory effort during spontaneous breaths increased during BIVENT-50 in both ALI models. In ALIp, alveolar collapse was higher in BIVENT-100 than PCV, but decreased during BIVENT-50, and diaphragmatic injury was lower during BIVENT-50 compared to PCV and BIVENT-100. In ALIexp, alveolar collapse during BIVENT-100 and BIVENT-75 was comparable to PCV, while decreasing with BIVENT-50, and diaphragmatic injury increased during BIVENT-50.

Conclusions

In mild ALI, BIVENT had a lower biological impact on lung tissue compared to PCV. In contrast, the response of atelectasis and diaphragmatic injury to BIVENT differed according to the rate of spontaneous/controlled breaths and ALI etiology.
Magnetization vector imaging for borehole magnetic data based on magnitude magnetic anomaly
Authors: Liu Shuang , Hu Xiangyun , Liu Tianyou , Feng Jie , Gao Wenli , Qiu Liquan
Published: October 2013

Remanent magnetization and self-demagnetization change the magnitude and direction of the magnetization vector, which complicates the interpretation of magnetic data. To deal with this problem, we evaluated a method for inverting the distributions of 2D magnetization vector or effective susceptibility using 3C borehole magnetic data. The basis for this method is the fact that 2D magnitude magnetic anomalies are not sensitive to the magnetization direction. We calculated magnitude anomalies from the measured borehole magnetic data in a spatial domain. The vector distributions of magnetization were inverted methodically in two steps. The distributions of magnetization magnitude were initially solved based on magnitude magnetic anomalies using the preconditioned conjugate gradient method. The preconditioner determined by the distances between the cells and the borehole observation points greatly improved the quality of the magnetization magnitude imaging. With the calculated magnetization magnitude, the distributions of magnetization direction were computed by fitting the component anomalies secondly using the conjugate gradient method. The two-step approach made full use of the amplitude and phase anomalies of the borehole magnetic data. We studied the influence of remanence and demagnetization based on the recovered magnetization intensity and direction distributions. Finally, we tested our method using synthetic and real data from scenarios that involved high susceptibility and complicated remanence, and all tests returned favorable results.
A dynamic adaptive radial basis function approach for total organic carbon content prediction in organic shale
Authors: Tan Maojin , Liu Qiong , Zhang Songyang
Published: October 2013

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an important parameter for characterizing shale gas and oil reservoirs. Estimation of TOC from well logs has previously been achieved by an empirical model. The radial basis function (RBF) neural network is a new quantitative method that can generate a smooth and continuous function of several input variables to approximate the unknown forward model. We investigated the basic principles of the RBF including network structure, basis function, network training method, and its application in the TOC prediction. The nearest neighbor algorithm was selected for the network training. Then, the Gaussian width was investigated to improve the TOC prediction accuracy through leave-one-out cross-validation. Finally, field cases of organic shale were studied for the TOC prediction, and the prediction results using the RBF method were compared with those of the [Formula: see text] method. Furthermore, according to sensitive attribute ranking, the impacts of different input logs on the predicted results were also investigated through various experiments, and the best network model was finally chosen. The error analysis between the prediction results and lab-measured TOC in some examples indicated that the new approach is more accurate than a single empirical regression method and more flexible than the [Formula: see text] method.