bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rickettsia parkeri Rickettsiosis in Different Ecological Regions of Argentina and Its Association with Amblyomma tigrinum as a Potential Vector
Authors: Romer Yamila , Nava Santiago , Govedic Francisco , Cicuttin Gabriel , Denison Amy M. , Singleton Joseph , Kelly Aubree J. , Kato Cecilia Y. , Paddock Christopher D.
Published: October 2014

Rickettsia parkeri, a newly recognized tick-borne pathogen of humans in the Americas, is a confirmed cause of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Argentina. Until recently, almost all cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis in Argentina have originated from the Paraná River Delta, where entomological surveys have identified populations of R. parkeri-infected Amblyomma triste ticks. In this report, we describe confirmed cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis from Córdoba and La Rioja provinces, which are located several hundred kilometers inland, and in a more arid ecological region, where A. triste ticks do not occur. Additionally, we identified questing A. tigrinum ticks naturally infected with R. parkeri in Córdoba province. These data provide evidence that another human-biting tick species serves as a potential vector of R. parkeri in Argentina and possibly, other countries of South America.
Calcified Neurocysticercosis Associates with Hippocampal Atrophy: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Del Brutto Oscar H. , Salgado Perla , Lama Julio , Del Brutto Victor J. , Campos Xavier , Zambrano Mauricio , García Héctor H.
Published: October 2014

Calcified neurocysticercosis has been associated with hippocampal atrophy in patients with refractory epilepsy, but the relevance of this association in the population at large is unknown. We assessed calcified cysticerci and its association with hippocampal atrophy in elderly persons living in Atahualpa, an Ecuadorian village endemic for neurocysticercosis. All Atahualpa residents ≥ 60 years of age were invited to undergo computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging for neurocysticercosis detection. Twenty-eight (11%) out of 248 enrolled persons had calcified cysticerci (case-patients) and were matched 1:1 by age, sex, and years of education to individuals without neurocysticercosis on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (controls). Four case-patients and none of the controls had epilepsy (P = 0.134). Cognitive performance was similar across both groups. The Scheltens' medial temporal atrophy scale was used for hippocampal rating in case-patients and matched controls without neurocysticercosis. Mean score in the Scheltens' scale was higher in case-patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Atrophic hippocampi were noticed in 19 case-patients and five controls (P = 0.003). Atrophy was bilateral in 11 case-patients and unilateral in eight. All case-patients with unilateral hippocampal atrophy had at least one ipsilateral calcification. This study shows an association between calcified cysticerci and hippocampal atrophy and raises the possibility of an inflammation-mediated hippocampal damage as the responsible mechanism for these findings.
Reply to the Commentary on "Granular discharge rate for submerged hoppers"
Authors: Wilson T. J. , Pfeifer C. R. , Meysingier N. , Durian D. J.
Published: October 2014

A Reply to the Commentary by L. Staron [Pap. Phys. 6, 060010 (20014)]. Received: 16 October 2014,  Accepted: 16 October 2014; Edited by: L. A. Pugnaloni; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4279/PIP.060011Cite as: T J Wilson, C R Pfeifer, N Meysingier, D J Durian, Papers in Physics 6, 060011 (2014)
Gaming machine density is correlated with rates of help-seeking for problem gambling: a local area analysis in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Barratt Monica J. , Livingston Michael , Matthews Sharon , Clemens Susan L.
Published: October 2014

Local environment plays an important role in understanding gambling as a public health issue. This study uses help-seeking as an outcome measure for a local area analysis of problem gambling in Victoria, Australia. We used a cross-sectional ecological design to investigate the extent to which gaming industry and demographic, economic, and social factors are associated with rates of telephone and face-to-face counselling for problem gambling at the local government area level. Electronic gaming machine density was independently correlated with both types of help-seeking, with a range of local factors controlled. This study supports previous research that has consistently found an association between gaming machine density and problem gambling, using gaming machine expenditure as a proxy measure of harm. We build on previous work by confirming that this relationship exists when gambling harm is measured through two types of help-seeking.
Comparing the Japanese Version of the Gambling Functional Assessment -Revised to an American Sample
Authors: Weatherly Jeffrey N. , Aoyama Kenjiro , Terrell Heather K. , Berry J. Colleen
Published: October 2014

The Gambling Functional Assessment -Revised (GFA-R) was developed to determine the degree to which gambling behaviour was maintained by positive reinforcement or escape. For this study, the GFA-R was translated into Japanese and completed by 126 Japanese university students, who also completed the Japanese version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Their results were compared to those from 133 American university students. All respondents endorsed gambling for positive reinforcement to a greater extent than as an escape. For both samples, the factor structure for the original GFA-R adequately fit the data, and internal consistency measures were very good. SOGS scores correlated more strongly with gambling as an escape than for positive reinforcement. The Japanese version of the GFA-R may be a useful research tool in a variety of ways, and may be helpful for practitioners in Japan interested in knowing the contingency maintaining their client's gambling behaviour.
Youth gambling as risky business: An examination of risk perception and perception of skill and luck among Danish adolescents
Authors: Kristiansen Søren , Jensen Sara Marie , Trabjerg Maria Camilla
Published: October 2014

This study reports the findings from a national survey on gambling behaviour among students in Danish primary schools, with a special emphasis on risk perception, perceptions of skill and luck, and irrational beliefs. Two thousand two hundred and twenty-three (2,223) primary school students ranging in age from 11 to 17 years completed a questionnaire containing a gambling screen (SOGS-RA) and items measuring gambling behaviour, social networks, and cognitive perceptions. The results showed that the more frequently the individual gambles, the less risky he or she perceives gambling to be. Compared to females, males were less likely to regard frequent gambling as a risky activity, and had more confidence in their own gambling skills. The implications of the findings for further research and preventive measures are discussed.
Comparing the attitudes of recreational gamblers from Finland and France toward national gambling policies: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Pöysti Virve
Published: October 2014

Survey data from several countries indicate that public attitudes toward gambling and its deregulation are negative, or at best ambivalent. However, comparative studies on the attitudes of gamblers themselves have not been conducted, despite the valuable firsthand experience with gambling institutions that these people have. Using qualitative group interview data from recreational gamblers in France and Finland, the study asked how players from two different gambling contexts experience their national gambling arrangements. The study found that although gambling is government regulated in both countries, the Finnish respondents were generally content with their national gambling system while the French were highly critical and supported greater protective measures. The way in which gambling is experienced, and the degree to which national gambling policies are accepted among players, depend not only on objective structures, but also on the institutional and cultural context in which gambling takes place.
A monetary valuation of the quality of life loss associated with pathological gambling: an application using a health utility index
Authors: Kohler Dimitri
Published: October 2014

This study estimates the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) costs of gambling addiction. Pathological gamblers were recruited from treatment centers in Western Switzerland. The difference in HRQoL between pathological gamblers (n=52) and a sample drawn from the general population (n=93) was measured through a multi-item instrument, the SF-6D. We used a tobit regression to estimate the effect of pathological gambling on HRQoL, controlling for comorbidities and age. Finally, to obtain a monetary value of the HRQoL loss attributable to gambling addiction, we applied an existing value of a life year estimate. Results showed that pathological gambling is significantly associated with a decrease in the quality of life by 0.076 quality adjusted life year (QALY). The resulting cost per pathological gambler and per year was estimated at CHF 3,830. This study suggests that ignoring quality of life costs results in an underestimation of the social burden of gambling addiction.
The implementation of a MiXed Layer model (MXL, v1.0) for the dynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer in the Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy)
Authors: Janssen R. H. H. , Pozzer A.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. We present a new submodel for the Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy): the MiXed Layer (MXL) model for the diurnal dynamics of the convective boundary layer, including explicit representations of entrainment and surface fluxes. Through the MESSy interface, MXL is coupled with modules that represent other processes relevant to chemistry in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). In combination, these provide a computationally inexpensive tool that is ideally suited for the analysis of field data, for evaluating new parametrizations for 3-D models, and for performing systematic sensitivity analyses. A case study for the DOMINO campaign in Southern Spain is shown to demonstrate the use and performance of MXL/MESSy in reproducing and analysing field observations.
The soil N cycle: new insights and key challenges
Authors: van Groenigen J. W. , Huygens D. , Boeckx P. , Kuyper T. W. , Lubbers I. M. , Rütting T. , Groffman P. M.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. The study of soil N cycling processes has been, is, and will be at the center of attention in soil science research. The importance of N as a nutrient for all biota; the ever increasing rates of its anthropogenic input in terrestrial (agro)ecosystems; its resultant losses to the environment; and the complexity of the biological, physical, and chemical factors that regulate N cycling processes all contribute to the necessity of further understanding, measurement and mitigation of the soil N cycle. Here, we review important insights with respect to the soil N cycle that have been made over the last decade, and present a personal view on the key challenges for future research (Fig. 1). We identified four key questions with respect to N cycling processes: 1. How large is the contribution of non-symbiotic N fixation in natural systems? 2. How important is nitrifier denitrification and what are its main controlling factors? 3. What is the greenhouse gas mitigation potential and microbiological basis for N2O consumption? 4. How can we characterize hot-spots and hot-moments of denitrification? Furthermore, we propose three questions about proximal controls on N cycling processes: 1. How does functional diversity of soil fauna affect N cycling beyond mineralization? 2. What is the functional relationship between root traits and soil N cycling? 3. To what extent do different types of mycorrhizal symbioses (differentially) affect N cycling? Finally, we identified a key challenge with respect to modelling: 1. How can advanced 15N/18O tracing models help us to better disentangle gross N transformation rates? We postulate that addressing these questions would constitute a comprehensive research agenda with respect to the N cycle for the next decade. Such an agenda would help us to meet future challenges on food and energy security, biodiversity conservation and climate stability.
Model calibration for ice sheets and glaciers dynamics: a general theory of inverse problems in glaciology
Authors: Giudici M. , Baratelli F. , Comunian A. , Vassena C. , Cattaneo L.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Numerical modelling of the dynamic evolution of ice sheets and glaciers requires the solution of discrete equations which are based on physical principles (e.g. conservation of mass, linear momentum and energy) and phenomenological constitutive laws (e.g. Glen's and Fourier's laws). These equations must be accompanied by information on the forcing term and by initial and boundary conditions (IBCs) on ice velocity, stress and temperature; on the other hand the constitutive laws involve many physical parameters, some of which depend on the ice thermodynamical state. The proper forecast of the dynamics of ice sheets and glaciers requires a precise knowledge of several quantities which appear in the IBCs, in the forcing terms and in the phenomenological laws. As these quantities cannot be easily measured at the study scale in the field, they are often obtained through model calibration by solving an inverse problem (IP). The objective of this paper is to provide a thorough and rigorous conceptual framework for IPs in cryospheric studies and in particular: to clarify the role of experimental and monitoring data to determine the calibration targets and the values of the parameters that can be considered to be fixed; to define and characterise identifiability, a property related to the solution to the forward problem; to study well-posedness in a correct way, without confusing instability with ill-conditioning or with the properties of the method applied to compute a solution; to cast sensitivity analysis in a general framework and to differentiate between the computation of local sensitivity indicators with a one-at-a-time approach and first-order sensitivity indicators that consider the whole possible variability of the model parameters. The conceptual framework and the relevant properties are illustrated by means of a simple numerical example of isothermal ice flow, based on the shallow-ice approximation.
Propiedad Intelectual, globalización y desarrollo (entre el tratado de libre comercio Centroamericano y aspectos de derecho)
Authors: Carbajo Cascón Fernando
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i10.1538
El control judicial de los actos políticos en España y Nicaragua
Authors: Sendin García Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i10.1540
Acerca de la naturaleza de la prescripción extintiva
Authors: Busto Pueche José Enrique
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i11.1542
Tendencias en la reforma penal y lecciones aprendidas
Authors: Chirino Sánchez Alfredo
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i11.1547
Protección jurídica del nombre comercial y rótulos de establecimientos
Authors: Robleto Arana Cristian
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i11.1550
Los contratos de distribución y el derecho de la libre competencia. Especial referencia a las experiencias Norteamericana y Europea
Authors: Curto Polo Mercedes
Published: October 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/derecho.v0i7.1528
Eye-Tracking Film Music
Authors: Mera Miguel , Stumpf Simone
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Film music scholars, composers, directors, and audiences have always implicitly believed that music can help determine the focus of an audience’s visual attention, but researchers have not as yet been able to prove this empirically. Eyetracking research—the process of measuring either the point of gaze or the motion of the eyes—has grown exponentially in recent years. This paper reports on a foundational, empirical eye-tracking study that examined the effects of contextual musical attributes on visual attention, emotion, and user experience during exploration tasks in moving images. Our results show that music is able to direct how we see by quickly switching attention to target foci as well as lengthening fixations, and that music can also encourage exploration of visual scenes outside targets. Our work contributes the first step in understanding how music shapes visual attention using eye-tracking techniques. We encourage wider adoption of this approach, given its potential to enhance understanding of the complex processes of audiovisual perception in action.
David Lynch at the Crossroads: Deconstructing Rock, Reconstructing Wild at Heart
Authors: Miley Mike
Published: October 2014

Abstract. This paper examines the use of rock music in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart (1990) to challenge the film’s reputation as a vapid mess of postmodern irony and show how the film’s references to rock ’n’ roll forms, iconography, and history assert a Romantic conception of art as a generative force in the American spirit.
Elevated atmospheric CO2 does not modify osmotic adjustment to light and drought in the Mediterranean oak Quercus suber L.
Authors: Aranda I. , Puertolas J. , Pardos M. , Pardos J. A.
Published: October 2014

The current ongoing increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration is an unquestionable fact. Thus, plants are bound to live in a more enriched CO2 world in a not far-off future. In this new framework, regeneration of forest tree species may be modified as a consequence of the change in the current patterns of seedling response to other environmental resources, such as water or light. We studied the impact of an elevated CO2 concentration on the interaction of drought and light upon the water relations of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings. In a complete factorial design of contrasting light (HL vs LL), water (WW vs S) and CO2 levels (800 ppm vs 370 ppm), we analysed the influence of each factor and its interaction in the modification of different leaf water parameters in potted seedlings after a 6 months experimental period. These parameters were derived from the construction, with leaf materials, of the P-V curves: osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψπ100), osmotic potential at zero turgor (Ψπ0), modulus of elasticity at full turgor (εmax), and the ratio dry/turgor weight (DW/TW). Doubling of the CO2 levels over the current concentration (380 ppm) did not change any of the studied leaf water parameters, while light and water availabilities had a significant influence. This result does not exclude changes in other basic physiological parameters that could modify the pattern of cork oak regeneration responding to a CO2 enriched atmosphere in the future, and under climatic conditions different to the current ones.
Carbon accumulation and fixation in aerial biomass of Pinus oocarpa in natural forests in Honduras
Authors: Alberto D. M. , Elvir J. A.
Published: October 2014

Carbon fixation could be the base of international payment for environmental services mechanisms. The accumulation and growth of aerial biomass as well as the carbon fixation associated to this growth has to be measured In order to establish these schemes. These were studied in 36,139.78 hectares of natural forests of Pinus oocarpa Schiede, the most frequent tree in Honduras, in Cabañas, Santa Ana y Opatoro in the Department of La Paz. A forest survey was done to collect the information on tree distribution in diameter at breast height as well as tree densities. The 71% of the aerial biomass was found in the stems and 21% in branches. The specific gravity of wood and bark was 0.55 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) and 0.53 g/cm3, respectively. The allometric equation with the best fitness for the total aerial biomass estimation was the Combined Logarithmic Equation. The aerial biomass accumulation per hectare and in the total area was estimated as well as the annual biomass growth. The chemical analysis of the aerial biomass samples of Pinus oocarpa showed that the carbon fraction was 51.8% dried weight basis. The carbon accumulation in Pinus oocarpa for the pine forest area of cabañas, Opatoro and Santa Ana was estimated in 913,925.50 metric tons, with an annual CO2 sequestration of 105,989.86 metric to
Canary Islands burned land mapping using MODIS and HOTSPOT data
Authors: Huesca M. , González-Alonso F. , Cuevas J. M. , Merino-de-Miguel S.
Published: October 2014

This study presents a rapid, accurate and economic methodology for forest fire burned areas estimation using remote sensing techniques. The algorithm used is based on thresholds identifications from infrared spectral band, using MODIS images and hotspots time series delivered from NASA. The threshold is defined by the maximum correlation between the infrared band and hotspot influence area. The results show the usefulness of the presented methodology in forest fire burned area estimation and its relevance for prioritizing forest management activities and for planning future reforestations work in the affected area.
Internationale politiële openbareordehandhaving in Benelux-verband: relevante wetgeving en praktische toepassing
Authors: van Gelderen Benjamin R.
Published: October 2014

International police public order enforcement in the Benelux: relevant legislation and practical application

Police agencies in Europe operate outside their domestic territory more and more often. Within the European Union, special attention is focused on the exchange of information and on countering organized crime. However, international public order enforcement receives less attention. The present article highlights the relevant legislation and practical opportunities applicable to public order enforcement in the cooperation between the Dutch and Belgium police force. In addition, the use of force and the principle of sovereignty are debated. Finally, recommendations will be given in order to improve future cooperation within the field of international public order enforcement in the Benelux.
Training Diamant
Authors: Bovenkerk Frank
Published: October 2014

Training Diamant: a personal impression

This is an ethnographic evaluation study on a train the trainer programme (Diamant) for the prevention of political radicalisation among young Muslims in the Netherlands. Especially the training of independent judgement on moral issues looks promising to overcome cultural disorientation. Its preventive power for radicalisation is unclear since there were no radicals among the participants of the training.
Antiradicaliseringsbeleid: de dingen goed doen of de goede dingen doen?
Authors: Gielen Amy-Jane , van Wonderen Ron
Published: October 2014

Countering radicalisation: doing things right or doing the right things?

In 2011 we executed a quantitative and qualitative research on the extent of discrimination, polarisation and radicalisation in a region in the Netherlands. The results are representative for The Netherlands. The research shows that there is breeding ground for radicalization, in particular Muslim youths. The outcome also provides insights in relevant avenues for public policy. Over the past years, several inventories have been made of public policy that aims to counter radicalisation. Most of the interventions listed do not conjure with the interventions we propose on the basis of our research, such as awareness raising for practitioners, prevention of and education about discrimination, focus on neighbourhood grievances and nuisances caused by specific ethnic groups and the negative tone of the public debate regarding Islam and the multicultural society. If measures to counter radicalization are even evaluated, they tend to focus on the process and effectiveness of the intervention, but they do not answer the question if that is actually also the right intervention. We therefore propose not only to focus on doing things right, but also to ask the question if we are doing the right things. We suggest not only measuring effectiveness, but also measuring impact.
“Like, Pasta, Pizza and Stuff” – New Trends in Online Food Discourse
Authors: Diemer Stefan , Brunner Marie-Louise , Schmidt Selina
Published: October 2014

This paper examines two examples of online food discourse to illustrate how the medium changes parameters established in print recipes: food blogs for written and Skype talks for oral computer-mediated discourse about food. The language of food blogs will be analysed with the help of examples from the Food Blog Corpus (Diemer and Frobenius 2011),i compiled at Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. This corpus includes 100 blog posts in total from The Times Online. Skype conversations about food between non-native speakers of English are taken from CASE, the Corpus of Academic Spoken English (Diemer et al. forthcoming),ii also compiled at Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. For the purpose of this analysis, a subcorpus of food-related conversations was extracted, containing seven conversations (5.5h) between 14 German and Italian participants in total. The two corpora were examined in terms of contextualisation (reference to place, time, and personal background), register (audience, and linguistic features), as well as personal opinions and lifestyle comments. The paper suggests that both discourse types make use of the multimodal online environment and add evaluative content, for example integrating positively connoted terms to describe food-related issues. The paper also illustrates possible trends towards an increasing inclusion of non-expert language features, such as vagueness and a reduction of presuppositions, and of cultural and personal references, integrating individual background information.
Assessing Earthquake Risks in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2014

Megaquakes, which are subduction earthquakes with magnitudes of 8 or greater, occur about every 500 years on average along the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the Pacific Northwest. The earthquakes and related tsunamis can cause enormous damage. However, they may not be the most urgent seismic threat in the region, according to John Clague, a professor and expert on natural hazards at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in British Columbia.
The contribution of reduction in evaporative cooling to higher surface air temperatures during drought
Authors: Yin Dongqin , Roderick Michael L. , Leech Guy , Sun Fubao , Huang Yuefei
Published: October 2014

Higher temperatures are usually reported during meteorological drought and there are two prevailing interpretations for this observation. The first is that the increase in temperature (T) causes an increase in evaporation (E) that dries the environment. The second states that the decline in precipitation (P) during drought reduces the available water thereby decreasing E, and in turn the consequent reduction in evaporative cooling causes higher T. To test which of these interpretations is correct, we use climatic data (T, P) and a recently released database (CERES) that includes incoming and outgoing shortwave and longwave surface radiative fluxes to study meteorological drought at four sites (parts of Australia, US, and Brazil), using the Budyko approximation to calculate E. The results support the second interpretation at arid sites. The analysis also showed that increases in T due to drought have a different radiative signature from increases in T due to elevated CO2.
Supersaturation and diffusional droplet growth in liquid clouds: Polydisperse spectra
Authors: Pinsky M. , Mazin I. P. , Korolev A. , Khain A.
Published: October 2014

Evolution of droplet size distribution (DSD) due to the water vapor diffusion in a vertically moving adiabatic parcels is investigated. Analytical expressions for height dependences of the main DSD parameters and DSD moments are obtained. The asymptotic behavior of the DSD parameters at large heights above cloud base is determined. It is shown that during diffusion growth, the width and the relative dispersion of the DSD decrease with height as z− 1/3 and z− 2/3, respectively. The paper presents examples of DSD evolution in cases DSD forms on aerosols with a three‐mode lognormal distribution. The aerosol distribution parameters used in the study correspond to four aerosol types: “Marine,” “Clean continental,” “Background,” and extremely polluted “Urban.” The vertical profiles of DSD parameters are compared with the asymptotic profiles. It is shown that in case of polydisperse DSD evolution, the vertical profile of supersaturation within several hundred meters above the cloud base can be approximated by a supersaturation profile corresponding to the “equivalent” monodisperse DSD. The initial radius of this equivalent DSD is equal to the mean radius of polydisperse DSD (haze size distribution) at cloud base, which is estimated using the Kohler theory. This result of the relation between the polydisperse and monodisperse solutions is universal. A new equation for estimation of supersaturation maximum for polydisperse case is obtained. The obtained analytical expressions and numerical results are useful for understanding the mechanisms of DSD formation in clouds and for parameterization of warm microphysical processes in cloud models.
Overview of Digital Electrophoresis Analysis
Authors: Moomaw Butch , Medberry Scott , Gallagher Sean R.
Published: October 2014

Digital imaging is the method of choice for documentation and analysis of electrophoretic separations of protein and DNA. Digital images of gel electropherograms can be obtained rapidly using CCD‐based cameras, and the images can be easily archived and analyzed using image analysis software. This overview defines important key terms and calculations for imaging, explains the capture process, reviews the range of CCD technologies used for image capture, and provides an introduction to the software and methods used for one‐ and two‐dimensional digital image analysis. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Incidence of persistent/late chronic anemia in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia responsive to imatinib
Authors: Latagliata Roberto , Volpicelli Paola , Breccia Massimo , Vozella Federico , Romano Angela , Montagna Chiara , Molica Matteo , Finsinger Paola , Carmosino Ida , Serrao Alessandra , Zacheo Irene , Santopietro Michelina , Salaroli Adriano , Alimena Giuliana
Published: October 2014

In patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) responsive to imatinib, it is still unknown whether the long‐lasting treatment could induce the appearance of a persistent/late chronic anemia. To highlight this issue, we revised 128 patients with CML (M/F 64/64, median age at diagnosis 56.9 years, interquartile range 43.0–69.3) treated at our Institution with 1st line imatinib for at least 36 months and in stable complete cytogenetic response. At the 36th month of imatinib, a chronic anemia (Hb < 12 g/dl for > 6 months) was present in 38/128 patients (29.6%): the anemia was moderate (Hb > 8 ≤ 10 g/dl) in 12 patients (9.3%) and mild (Hb > 10 < 12 g/dl) in 26 patients (20.3%). All patients with persistent/late chronic anemia had a low reticulocyte count and 8/38 a condition of iron deficiency without clinical and instrumental signs of chronic blood loss. Four out of 38 patients (10.5%) needed red cell transfusions during the follow‐up. At a landmark analysis from the 36th month of imatinib treatment, cumulative 4‐year overall survival (OS) for patients with chronic anemia was 94.4% (CI 95% 83.8–100) compared to 93.5% (CI 95% 87.2–99.8) for patients without chronic anemia (P = 0.617). In conclusion, the occurrence of a late chronic anemia during long‐lasting treatment with imatinib has been observed in about 30% of our responsive patients: its occurrence does not seem to affect OS, but its real impact should be evaluated on a larger cohort of patients. Am. J. Hematol. 90:105–108, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extramedullary Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Authors: Banwait Ranjit , Aljawai Yosra , Cappuccio Joseph , McDiarmid Serena , Morgan Elizabeth A. , Leblebjian Houry , Roccaro Aldo M. , Laubach Jacob , Castillo Jorge J. , Paba‐Prada Claudia , Treon Steven , Redd Robert , Weller Edie , Ghobrial Irene M.
Published: October 2014

Disease assessment in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM) is dependent on the percent involvement of B‐cell neoplasm in the bone marrow and IgM paraprotein in the serum. A subset of patients also demonstrates extramedullary involvement, which is infrequently examined. The role of extramedullary involvement in the diagnosis and prognosis of WM is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to report the characteristics of WM patients with extramedullary disease (EMD). Nine hundred and eight‐five patients with WM were evaluated at one academic center and the presence of EMD was assessed in these patients. Forty‐three (4.4%) patients were identified to have EMD. Nine (21%) patients presented with involvement at WM diagnosis, while 34 (79%) developed EMD post‐therapy for WM. Most frequent EMD sites involved were pulmonary (30%), soft tissue (21%), cerebrospinal fluid (23%), renal (8%), and bone (9%). The median overall survival at 10 years was 79% (95% CI: 57–90%). This is the first study to describe the clinical characteristics, response and overall survival in patients with extramedullary WM. Further studies to define the molecular characteristics of this entity and mechanisms of its development are warranted. Am. J. Hematol. 90:100–104, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrospun polystyrene coatings with tunable wettability
Authors: Ghochaghi Negar , Taiwo Adetoun , Winkel Matthew , Dodd Brandon , Mossi Karla , Tepper Gary
Published: October 2014

Hydrophobic materials with tunable wettability were developed by electrospinning aligned polystyrene (PS) fibers onto the surface of a unimorph composite piezoelectric substrate. An electric field was used to modify the curvature of the substrate resulting in a corresponding change in the morphology of the electrospun coating. Contact angle measurements were performed on droplets deposited onto the surface before and after application of the electric field. The water droplet contact angle was observed to change in response to the applied voltage. Contact angle measurements were performed as a function of surface fiber density and suggest that the change in contact angle is caused by a transition from Wenzel to Cassie–Baxter wetting. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41592.
Assessment of ball milling methodology to develop polylactide‐bacterial cellulose nanocrystals nanocomposites
Authors: Ambrosio‐Martín Jesús , Lopez‐Rubio Amparo , Fabra María José , Gorrasi Giuliana , Pantani Roberto , Lagaron Jose María
Published: October 2014

In this work, ball milling is evaluated as a methodology to develop polylactide (PLA)‐bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) nanocomposites. This technique, widely used for clay‐based nanocomposites, is effective in breaking up to a very large extent the freeze‐dried nanocellulose aggregates, giving raise to transparent films similar to the neat PLA films. Incorporation of the nanofiller through this methodology enhances the polymer crystallinity index. An increase in the onset degradation temperature and a significant reinforcing effect in terms of an increase in the storage modulus and in the tan delta peak are also observed. Improved barrier to oxygen at high relative humidity (80%) is also noticed, reaching the best performance at the lowest BCNC loading (0.5 wt %). These improvements are related to the relatively good nanocellulose dispersion and distribution attained for low loadings of the nanofiller. Thus, the ball milling methodology appears as a feasible processing methodology for developing PLA‐BCNC nanocomposites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41605.
Improving the Time Resolution for Remote Control of Enzyme Activity by a Nanosecond Laser‐Induced pH Jump
Authors: Kohse Stefanie , Neubauer Antje , Lochbrunner Stefan , Kragl Udo
Published: October 2014

Application of light as a trigger for remote control of enzyme activation offers high temporal and spatial resolution. A known enzymatic system based on an acid phosphatase and 6‐chloro‐8‐fluoro‐4‐methylumbelliferone phosphate as substrate is employed to study different strategies for improving the time resolution of enzyme activation by a light‐induced pH jump. Hence, a single laser pulse excitation with a pulse duration of 6 ns resulted in a 4‐fold enzyme activation by instantaneous proton release through the rearrangement of 2‐nitrobenzaldehyde. The time resolution of the activation experiment is now limited only by the detection system, no longer by the excitation step. In addition, halogenated 2‐nitrobenzaldehydes are tested for their suitability as phototriggers and a detailed study of the pH‐dependent kinetics of the enzymatic reaction is performed, which reveals that the substrate can probably only bind to the enzyme in its monoanionic form.
Light‐Harvesting Three‐Chromophore Systems Based on Biphenyl‐Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica
Authors: Grösch Lyubov , Lee Young Joo , Hoffmann Frank , Fröba Michael
Published: October 2014

Three‐chromophore systems with light‐harvesting behavior were prepared, which are based on periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) with crystal‐like ordered structure. The organic bridges of biphenyl‐PMO in the pore walls act as donors and two types of dye are incorporated in the one‐dimensional channels. Consecutive two‐step‐Förster resonance energy transfer is observed from the biphenyl moieties to mediators (diethyl‐aminocoumarin or aminoacridone), followed by energy transfer from mediators to acceptors (dibenzothiacarbocyanine, indodicarbocyanine, sulforhodamine G). High energy‐transfer efficiencies ranging from 70 to 80 % are obtained for two‐step‐FRET, indicating that the mesochannel structure with one‐dimensional ordering provides spatial arrangement of chromophore pairs for an efficient direct energy transfer. The emission wavelength can be tuned by a choice of acceptor dye: 477 nm (diethylaminocoumarin), 519 nm (aminoacridone), 567 nm (sulforhodamine G), 630 nm (dibenzothiacarbocyanine), and 692 nm (indodicarbocyanine).
Oligotriarylamines with a Pyrene Core: A Multicenter Strategy for Enhancing Radical Cation and Dication Stability and Tuning Spin Distribution
Authors: Nie Hai‐Jing , Yao Chang‐Jiang , Shao Jiang‐Yang , Yao Jiannian , Zhong Yu‐Wu
Published: October 2014

Monoamine 1, diamines 2–4, triamine 5, and tetraamine 6 have been synthesized by substituting dianisylamino groups at the 1‐, 3‐, 6‐, and/or 8‐positions of pyrene. Diamines 2–4 differ in the positions of the amine substituents. No pyrene–pyrene interactions are evident in the single‐crystal packing of 3, 4, and 6. With increasing numbers of amine substituents, the first oxidation potential decreases progressively from the mono‐ to the tetraamine. These compounds show intense charge‐transfer (CT) emission in CH2Cl2 at around 530 nm with quantum yields of 48–68 %. Upon stepwise oxidation by electrolysis or chemical oxidation, these compounds were transformed into radical cations 1⋅+–6⋅+ and dications 22+–62+, which feature strong visible and near‐infrared absorptions. Time‐dependent density functional theory studies suggested the presence of localized transitions from the pyrene radical cation and aminium radical cation, intervalence CT, and CT between the pyrene and amine moieties. Spectroscopic studies indicated that these radical cations and dications have good stability. Triamine 5 and tetraamine 6 formed efficient CT complexes with tetracyanoquinodimethane in solution. The results of EPR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations suggested that the dications 22+–42+ have a triplet ground state, whereas 52+ and 62+ have a singlet ground state. The dication of 1,3‐disubstituted diamine 4 exhibits a strong EPR signal.
Intermediate clinical endpoints: A bridge between progression‐free survival and overall survival in ovarian cancer trials
Authors: Matulonis Ursula A. , Oza Amit M. , Ho Tony W. , Ledermann Jonathan A.
Published: October 2014

Ovarian cancer patients are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, experience recurrence after platinum‐based chemotherapy, and eventually develop resistance to chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS), which has improved in recent years as more active treatments have been incorporated into patient care, is regarded as the most clinically relevant endpoint in ovarian cancer trials. However, although there remains a significant need for new treatments that prolong OS further without compromising quality of life, it has become increasingly difficult to detect an OS benefit for investigational treatments because of the use of multiple lines of chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer. Progression‐free survival (PFS), which measures the time to disease progression or death, is unaffected by postprogression therapies but does not evaluate the long‐term impact of investigational treatments on tumor biology and responses to future therapies. Recent clinical trials of targeted agents in relapsed ovarian cancer have shown improvements in PFS but not OS, and this is possibly reflective of the long postprogression survival (PPS) period associated with this disease. Intermediate endpoints such as the time to second disease progression or death and the time to second subsequent therapy or death may provide supportive evidence for clinically meaningful PFS improvements and may be used to determine whether these improvements persist beyond the first disease progression and throughout subsequent lines of therapy. For clinical trials that have settings with a long PPS duration and/or involve multiple rounds of postprogression therapy, a primary endpoint of PFS supported by intermediate clinical endpoints and OS may provide a more comprehensive approach for evaluating efficacy. Cancer 2015;121:1737–1746. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
One‐pot, One‐step Synthesis of 2,5‐Diformylfuran from Carbohydrates over Mo‐Containing Keggin Heteropolyacids
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhu Liangfang , Tang Jinqiang , Liu Mingyang , Cheng Ruodi , Hu Changwei
Published: October 2014

In this work, a one‐pot strategy for directly converting fructose into 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF) over Mo‐containing Keggin heteropolyacids (HPAs) in open air is developed. H3PMo12O40 HPA is found to show high activity and selectivity to the formation of DFF owing to its higher Brønsted acidity and moderate redox potential. The partial substitution of the H+ in H3PMo12O40 with Cs+ leads to the heterogenization of the HPA by forming its cesium salts CsxH3−xPMo12 (x=0.5, 1.5, and 2.5). A satisfactory yield of 69.3 % to DFF is obtained over Cs0.5H2.5PMo12 polyoxometalate after deliberate optimization of the reaction conditions. The heterogenized polyoxometalate could be recycled and reused without significant loss of catalytic activity for five runs. The produced DFF could be separated from the resulting mixture by an adsorption–desorption method using activated carbon as the adsorbent and furfural as the desorbent. A highest isolated yield of 58.2 % is obtained.
Successive recruitment of p‐CDC25B‐Ser351 and p‐cyclin B1‐Ser123 to centrosomes contributes to the release of mouse oocytes from prophase I arrest
Authors: Zhao Xiangyu , Feng Chen , Yu Dahai , Deng Xin , Wu Didi , Jin Minglin , Wang Enhua , Wang Xiuxia , Yu Bingzhi
Published: October 2014

Background: The molecular mechanism that controls the activation of Cyclin B1‐CDK1 complex has been widely investigated. It is generally believed that CDC25B acts as a “starter phosphatase” of mitosis. In this study, we investigate the sequential regulation of meiotic resumption by CDC25B and Cyclin B1 in mouse oocytes. Results: Injection of mRNAs coding for CDC25B‐Ser351A and/or Cyclin B1‐Ser123A shows a more potent maturation‐inhibiting ability than their respective wild type. Co‐injection of mRNAs coding for phosphor‐mimic CDC25B‐Ser351D and Cyclin B1‐Ser123D can rescue this prophase I arrest induced by CDC25B‐Ser351A or Cyclin B1‐Ser123A. In addition, p‐CDC25B‐Ser351 is co‐localized at the microtubule‐organizing centers (MTOCs) with Aurora kinase A (AURKA) during maturation and p‐Cyclin B1‐Ser123 is only captured on MTOCs shortly before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Depletion of AURKA not only resulted in metaphase I (MI) spindle defects and anaphase I (AI) abnormal chromosomes separation but also prevented the phosphorylation of CDC25B‐Ser351 at centrosomes. AURKA depletion induced deficiencies of spindle assembly and progression to MII can be rescued by CDC25B‐Ser351D mRNA injection. Conclusions: AURKA induced phosphorylation and recruitment of CDC25B to MTOCs prior to p‐Cyclin B1‐Ser123, and this sequential regulation is essential for the commitment of the oocytes to resume meiosis. Developmental Dynamics 244:110–121, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variability of coloured dissolved organic carbon in seepage humic lakes as related to lake morphometry, catchment characteristics and precipitation.
Authors: Pęczuła Wojciech
Published: October 2014

The variability of coloured dissolved organic carbon (CDOC) in ten seepage and humic lakes was studied in an attempt to find out whether the morphometry of lake bodies and their catchment characteristics influence the studied factor during the ice‐free season. The study was carried out in two consecutive years differed with annual sum of precipitation. Using an absorption coefficient at 320 nm as a proxy of CDOC content, and a coefficient of variation as a measure of its variability, we correlated these to lake and catchment features. The results showed that out of 11 studied characteristics, two (maximum and mean depth of the lake) were negatively correlated (−0.85 and −0.78, P < 0.01) and three (catchment size, drainage ratio and Schindler ratio) were positively correlated (0.64, 0.73, P < 0.05; 0.86, P < 0.01) to the studied variable. We have hence concluded that: (1) in more shallow lakes with greater catchment size, more intense mechanism of DOC loss exist during the summer, in contrast to deeper lakes with thermal stratification; (2) precipitation has a strong influence on CDOC inter‐annual and seasonal variability, particularly in shallow lakes with high forest cover in their catchments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental biodegradability of [14C] single-walled carbon nanotubes by Trametes versicolor and natural microbial cultures found in New Bedford Harbor sediment and aerated wastewater treatment plant sludge
Authors: Parks Ashley N. , Chandler G. Thomas , Ho Kay T. , Burgess Robert M. , Ferguson P. Lee
Published: October 2014

Little is known about environmental biodegradability or biotransformations of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Because of their strong association with aquatic organic matter, detailed knowledge of the ultimate fate and persistence of SWNT requires investigation of possible biotransformations (i.e., biodegradation) in environmental media. In the present study, [14C]SWNT were utilized to track biodegradation over 6 mo by pure liquid culture of the fungus Trametes versicolor and mixed bacterial isolates from field-collected sediment or aerated wastewater treatment plant sludge. The mixed cultures were chosen as more environmentally relevant media where SWNT will likely be deposited under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Activity of [14C] was assessed in solid, aqueous, and 14CO2 gaseous phases to determine amounts of intact SWNT, partially soluble SWNT degradation products, and mineralized SWNT, respectively, during the 6 mo of the experiment. Mass balances based on radiocarbon activity were approximately 100% over 6 mo, and no significant degradation of SWNT was observed. Approximately 99% of the [14C] activity remained in the solid phase, 0.8% in the aqueous phase, and less than 0.1% was mineralized to 14CO2, regardless of culture type. These results suggest that SWNT are not readily biodegraded by pure fungal cultures or environmental microbial communities, and are likely persistent in environmental media. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;9999:1–5. © 2014 SETAC