bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ritual Use of Jhakro in Magar Community
Authors: Sapkota Prakash Prasad
Published: April 2011

Human- plant relation is tightly attached on life of human beings. From the beginning of civilization, people used many plants and their products for different purpose to adopt with their environment. The essential and valuable materials including plant species are gathered, used, saved and always remain hunger for knowledge yet now. They developed different kinds of ceremonies and rituals and include valuable materials and plants within it to protect and remains as indigenous knowledge in particular communities and groups. In this context, I want to raise the issue of material culture to search why people used plants in their rituals with reference to a plant species the Jhakro the Magars inhabitant of Baglung district, western Nepal. The research was carried out by using descriptive and exploratory research design. Observation, interview and group discussion were used in the field for primary data collection. The Magars are rich in their rituals among them death and kul pujane rituals are significant for cohesive and solidarity of the group; within these rituals a shrub plant species with special type of smell remains in central position for purity and soul. They believed that in death ritual all the polluted activities are purified and in kul pujane Jhakro acts as purity as well as help to join their ancestors with them. Unfortunately, they are unknown of the materialistic meaning of it due to lack of transferring knowledge. In etic aspect, this plant has important medicinal properties and the Magar preserved by keeping it in important rituals within their community. Keywords: Ritual; Jhakro; the Magars; ethno-botany; ancestors DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v4i0.4522 Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.4 2010 pp.223-234
Working Hour and its Impact on Backache from Gender Perspective
Authors: Pradhan Amita , Shrestha Neera
Published: April 2011

This paper aims to analyze the association between work burden and backache among women and men. The study design is descriptive cross sectional. Thirty two households are selected. From each of the households sample size of 64 in terms of a pair of either married couple or the unmarried sister and brother are selected. Respondent's age is between 15 to 49 years. Semi structured questionnaire is used to collect data. This study shows significant differences in working hour between male and female. The working hour is significantly higher among the persons with backache. Gender inequality is a stark reality. The gender division of labour may add more work to women resulting into longer working hour for women. This may reflect in some health hazards among women. Hence, more focused attention is needed to understand the non reproductive health problems of women. Keywords: working hour; backache; women empowerment; health problem; health seeking behaviour DOI: 10.3126/dsaj.v4i0.4523 Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.4 2010 pp.235-246
Bacteriophage Lambda Genomic Library Construction of Oryza sativa L. var. Pokkali
Authors: Rahman Suhaila , Ohto Masa-aki , Seraj Zeba I. , Blumwald Eduardo
Published: April 2011

A major QTL called ‘Saltol’ on rice chromosome 1 has been identified as linked to salinity tolerance traits of the landrace, Pokkali. A genomic library of Pokkali rice variety was constructed in bacteriophage Lamda Fix II with 20 kb inserts. Plaques containing genes implicated to salt tolerance have been identified using probes homologous to S-Ad methionine synthetase (SAM) and cation chloride co-transporter after two rounds of hybridization. Clearly demarcated plaques of the two clones of interest have been lifted out for DNA isolation and subsequent characterization to be followed by subcloning into TAC vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of large genomic fragments into sensitive rice.  Key words: Rice, Pokkali, Genomic library, Lambda vector, Partial Fill-In, Titer  D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v17i2.3235 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 17(2): 149-159, 2007 (December)
In vitro Plant Regeneration in Mungbean (Vigna radiate (L.) Wilczek)
Authors: Hoque M.I. , Zahan Most. Mosfeqa , Sarker R.H.
Published: April 2011

An efficient regeneration protocol without the intervention of callus using cotyledon explants of three mungbean varieties namely, BARI mug-3, BARI mug-5 and BINA mug-5 was developed. Best response toward multiple shoot regeneration in BARI mug-5 and BINA mug-5 was observed on MS supplemented with 0.5 and 0.5 mg/l Kn. However, for BARI mug-3, MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l Kn was found to be most effective for multiple shoot regeneration. Half-strength of MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA was found to induce healthy roots from the excised shoots in all the three mungbean varieties. In vitro regenerated plantlets with well developed roots were successfully established in soil.  Key words: Regeneration protocol, mungbean, Vigna radiata D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v17i2.3241 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 17(2): 209-216, 2007 (December)
INVESTIGATION OF CHARACTERISTIC CURVE FOR STURM–LIOUVILLE PROBLEM WITH NONLOCAL BOUNDARY CONDITIONS ON TORUS
Authors: Štikonas Artūras
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we investigate the second-order Sturm–Liouville problem with two additional Nonlocal Boundary Conditions. Nonlocal boundary conditions depends on two parameters. We find condition for existence of zero eigenvalue in the parameters space and classified Characteristic Curves in the plane and extended plane is described as torus. The Characteristic Curve on torus may be of three types only. Some new conclusions about existence and uniqueness domain of solution are presented.
ASYMPTOTICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME COUPLED NONLINEAR WAVE EQUATIONS
Authors: Krylovas Aleksandras , Kriauzienė Rima
Published: April 2011

We consider coupled nonlinear equations modelling a family of travelling wave solutions. The goal of our work is to show that the method of internal averaging along characteristics can be used for wide classes of coupled non-linear wave equations such as Korteweg-de Vries, Klein – Gordon, Hirota – Satsuma, etc. The asymptotical analysis reduces a system of coupled non-linear equations to a system of integro – differential averaged equations. The averaged system with the periodical initial conditions disintegrates into independent equations in non-resonance case. These equations describe simple weakly non-linear travelling waves in the non-resonance case. In the resonance case the integro – differential averaged systems describe interaction of waves and give a good asymptotical approximation for exact solutions.
A NUMERICAL METHOD FOR A STEFAN-TYPE PROBLEM
Authors: Shishkin G. , Shishkina L. , Cronin K.
Published: April 2011

A Stefan-type problem is considered. This is an initial-boundary value problem on a composite domain for a parabolic reaction-diffusion equation with a moving interface boundary. At the moving boundary between the two subdomains, an interface condition is prescribed for the solution of the problem and its derivatives. A finite difference scheme is constructed that approximates the initial-boundary value problem. An iterative Newton-type method for the solution of the difference scheme and a numerical method for the analysis of the errors of the computed discrete solutions are both developed.
OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE AND BOARD EFFECTIVENESS AS DETERMINANTS OF TMT COMPENSATION IN SPANISH LISTED FIRMS / NUOSAVYBĖS FORMOS IR VALDYBOS EFEKTYVUMĄ LEMIANTYS VEIKSNIAI PASIRINKTOSE ISPANIJOS KOMPANIJOSE
Authors: Sanchez-Marin Gregorio , Baixauli-Soler J. Samuel , Lucas-Perez M. Encarnacion
Published: April 2011

This study analyzes the influence of ownership structure and the board of directors on top management team (TMT) pay levels in a sample of Spanish listed firms. When panel data methodology is applied, the results show that TMT pay level is affected by the supervisory effectiveness of the board. This, in turn, is influenced by ownership concentration and the type of major shareholders. When ownership is dispersed, the board is more effective in their supervision and TMT pay level is lower. However, when ownership is concentrated, the quality of supervision and, consequently, TMT pay levels depend upon the type of shareholder that is predominant. Santrauka Analizuojama nuosavybes formos strukturos ir valdybos itaka aukšèiausio lygio Ispanijos kompaniju vadovu darbo užmokesèio dydžiui. Tyrimu duomenys parode, kad aukšèiausio lygio vadovu darbo užmokesèio dydis priklauso nuo valdybos kontroles ir jos efektyvumo itakos. Tai, žinoma, yra susijê su kompanijos savininko ir pagrindiniu akcininku pozicija. Kai savininko pozicija pasyvi, tuomet valdybos veiksmai kontroles srityje yra efektyvesni, taèiau aukšèiausio lygio vadovu darbo užmokesèio lygis yra gerokai mažesnis. Taèiau kai savininkas tiesiogiai dalyvauja kompanijos veikloje ir prisideda prie jos valdymo, tuomet kontroles kokybe ir aukšèiausio lygio vadovu darbo užmokesèio lygis priklauso nuo akcininko pozicijos.
Changes of Serum Levels of Keratin-18 Fragments in Hepatitis B E Antigen-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B Patients under Oral Antiviral Therapy
Authors: Giannousis Ioannis P , Manolakopoulos Spilios G , Hadziyannis Emilia , Georgiou Anastasia , Papatheodoridis George V
Published: April 2011

Background

The effect of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment on hepatocyte apoptosis has not been evaluated. We investigated the changes in serum levels of the apoptotic caspase-generated fragments of keratin-18 (K-18) in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB patients under nucleoside/nucleotide analogue(s).

Methods

We included 46 patients with HBeAg-negative CHB who had received lamivudine or adefovir monotherapy for ≥12 months. Of the 42 lamivudine treated patients, 23 developed virological breakthroughs and received add-on adefovir therapy for ≥12 months. Levels of K-18 fragments were measured blindly in stored serum samples using the M30-Apoptosense® ELISA Kit (PEVIVA, Alexis, Grünwald, Germany).

Results

During initial therapy, the median serum K-18 fragment levels were significantly reduced from baseline (280 U/l [149–2,461]) to 6 months (164 U/l [110–454]; P<0.001) and from 6 to 12 months (145 U/l [113–280]; P=0.031). K-18 fragment levels increased at breakthroughs (187 U/l [137–1,063]) compared to last previous visits (145 U/l [118–389]; P=0.015) but remained lower than baseline ( P=0.036). Changes of K-18 fragment levels correlated positively with changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA from baseline to 6 or 12 months of initial therapy. In patients with breakthroughs, K-18 fragment levels had only a trend towards a decrease from adefovir addition (198 U/l [124–1,219]) to 6 months (170 U/l [122–1,576]; P=0.109) and mainly to 12 months (156 U/l [122–878]; P=0.055).

Conclusions

Serum levels of K-18 fragments decrease significantly during oral antiviral therapy in HBeAg-negative CHB in parallel with the improvements in ALT and HBV DNA levels. They increased again during breakthroughs and improved after an effective rescue therapy, perhaps at a slower rate compared to the initial therapy.
Groupe thérapeutique et setting multifocal à l'adolescence
Authors: Beck Raphaële
Published: April 2011

Résumé Réflexion autour de la notion de cadre et de l’utilisation de la structure scolaire comme relais au cadre psychothérapeutique pour des adolescents présentant des troubles du comportement et/ou de la personnalité. Présentation d’un setting multifocal illustré par deux situations cliniques. Ce setting original implique un groupe thérapeutique et deux psychologues jouant des rôles différenciés auprès des adolescents afin de mettre en lien leur réalité interne et externe d’une manière concrète par une intervention des thérapeutes à la fois dans un espace groupal thérapeutique et dans un réseau avec la famille et les acteurs scolaires.
L'éthique dans l'univers indien et hindou, pistes d'exploration et amorces de réflexion
Authors: Scheuer Jacques
Published: April 2011

Résumé Selon le dharma de l’hindouisme, l’être humain se définit par les fonctions et devoirs que lui dicte sa position au sein de la société et dans le cosmos. Cette position s’explique à son tour par le poids du karma antérieur, qui meut la roue des renaissances. L’homme en quête de libération et d’autonomie tente dès lors de réaliser sa « non-dualité » avec l’Absolu en quittant les contraintes structurelles de la société et du rituel : est-ce à dire qu’il se situe au-delà du bien et du mal ? Cette échappée sur l’Absolu lui permet certes de définir une hiérarchie des valeurs. Cependant, entre l’Absolu, qui aimante une connaissance tout intérieure, et les requêtes relatives aux devoirs socioreligieux, l’instance proprement éthique et le sens de l’action peinent à se dégager. L’emprise coloniale et la mission chrétienne, aujourd’hui relayées par la mondialisation, invitent à une refondation du dharma. Mais, si l’individu et ses droits sont à l’ordre du jour, la réflexion éthique, entre tradition autochtone et modernité exogène, demeure hésitante.
Le martyr, témoin de l'idéal
Authors: Bonnet Gérard
Published: April 2011

Le martyre témoigne de l’existence d’idéaux fondamentaux, radicalement inconscients, qui trouvent leur équivalence dans certaines valeurs considérées comme vitales pour la communauté ou le groupe auquel le sujet appartient. Il suffit parfois que ces valeurs deviennent impossibles pour provoquer des réactions d’une grande violence pour soi et pour les autres et qui visent à en réaffirmer la nécessité absolue. Cela vaut aussi bien dans le contexte chrétien que dans les attentats suicides actuels, même si c’est de façon différente. Ces idéaux renvoient à un contexte de narcissisme primaire et sont souvent réactivés et utilisés par les meneurs politiques ou religieux pour les besoins de leur cause.
Martyr et témoin : les mythes de Daniel Mendelsohn
Authors: Kohn Max
Published: April 2011

Le livre Les Disparus de Daniel Mendelsohn est très important pour la question de la place du narrateur dans un récit littéraire qui a affaire avec un passé irreprésentable. Il marque la place fondamentale du narrateur comme témoin du fait qu’il est lui-même vivant. Par conséquent, même si les autres sont morts, ils redeviennent vivants par son acte de narration. Mais le doute sous-jacent à toute littérature subsiste. Le narrateur est-il vraiment Daniel Mendelsohn ? Daniel Mendelsohn produit un mythe en ancrant son œuvre dans des mythes biblique et gréco-latins d’ailleurs et la victime est proche du martyr quand elle devient un mythe.
Le « choc » des idéaux Le cinéma révélateur de l'identité martyre
Authors: Potier Rémy
Published: April 2011

La question des idéaux se pose aujourd’hui plus que jamais à l’image. Nous trouvons des figures tragiques au cinéma qui provoquent la pensée et offrent au spectateur une issue cathartique dont il convient de prendre la mesure dans notre culture contemporaine. Cet article souhaite poser la question de la place du martyr à travers le miroir de l’identité qu’est le cinéma. Cette problématique s’illustre dans la confrontation des idéaux au sein des cultures planétaires. Le sujet contemporain dans sa construction et son identité est confronté par ce biais au choc des identités. Identité contre identité, posant l’aporie de l’altérité comme issue. Il convient d’abord d’interroger la place qu’a le cinéma pour donner à penser ce malaise. À travers l’exemple du film Lend of Plenty du cinéaste allemand Win Wenders, la dialectique de l’identité et de ses idéaux est posée dans ses enjeux paradoxaux. Ce paradoxe instaure la figure du martyr dans ses excès de façon à prendre la mesure des contradictions posées aux identités contemporaines, tentées par la victimisation et le fanatisme. Il convient donc d’interroger la place du cinéma dans notre culture, puis à partir de l’exposé narratif du film, de mettre à jour l’un des aspects du malaise contemporain à propos de ces questions.
Saints et martyrs dans la spiritualité orthodoxe : la réception de la tradition hagiographique
Authors: Christopoulou Vassiliki-Piyi
Published: April 2011

Dans cet article, qui met en relation les figures anthropologiques du héros et du saint, les principales formes de sainteté dans la spiritualité orthodoxe, dont le martyre, sont questionnées, en relation avec la réception des martyrologes en tant que « légendes dorées ». Les pathologies de l’idéalisation ou celles d’un masochisme mortifère sont appelées à être dépassées au sein d’une spiritualité authentique, qui ouvre sur la notion de « sacrifice intérieur » ou celle de « sacrifice d’action de grâces » en tant que « gratitude » dans le sens kleinien du terme.
Sound Levels in Nursing Homes
Authors: Joosse Laura L.
Published: April 2011

Noise in nursing homes remains problematic despite attempts to create homelike environments. The purpose of this study was to examine nursing home sound levels. Eight nursing units in four not-for-profit nursing homes were studied. The findings of this study show sound levels ranged from 24 to 89.6 dBA, with averages of 52.91 to 59.46 dBA. Twenty-six percent of the sound was created by staff talking, while only 3% was directed at or included the residents. Findings suggest mealtime has the potential to create louder sounds, and staff talking may contribute significantly to overall sound levels.
The Burden of Falling on the Quality of Life of Adults with Medicare Supplement Insurance
Authors: Hawkins Kevin , Musich Shirley , Ozminkowski Ronald J. , Bai Ming , Migliori Richard J. , Yeh Charlotte S.
Published: April 2011

To study the impact of falling or risk of falling on quality of life (QOL) outcomes, a survey was mailed to a random sample of 15,000 adults with an AARP® Medicare Supplement plan insured by UnitedHealthcare from 10 states in 2008. Approximately 21% had fallen in the past year; 17% did not fall but reported balance or walking problems (i.e., at high risk of falling); and 62% were in the low-risk, no-falls comparison group. Multiple regression analyses showed the strongest predictors of falling or being at high risk of falling were advancing age, female gender, heart conditions, stroke, digestive disorders, arthritis, sciatica, diabetes, and hearing problems. Average physical and mental component scores were significantly lower for both those who fell and those at risk of falling than the comparison group, indicating that falling or being at risk of falling had a stronger negative influence on QOL than most of the comorbidities measured. Clinicians, patients, and families should be aware of the potential negative impact of falling and fear of falling on the QOL of older adults.
Synergistic Interactions of TLR2/6 and TLR9 Induce a High Level of Resistance to Lung Infection in Mice
Authors: Duggan Jeffrey M. , You Dahui , Cleaver Jeffrey O. , Larson Derek T. , Garza R. Joshua , Guzmán Pruneda Francisco A. , Tuvim Michael J. , Zhang Jiexin , Dickey Burton F. , Evans Scott E.
Published: April 2011

Infectious pneumonias exact an unacceptable mortality burden worldwide. Efforts to protect populations from pneumonia have focused historically on antibiotic development and vaccine-enhanced adaptive immunity. However, we have reported recently that the lungs’ innate defenses can be induced therapeutically by inhalation of a bacterial lysate that protects mice against otherwise lethal pneumonia. In this study, we tested in mice the hypothesis that TLRs are required for this antimicrobial phenomenon and found that resistance could not be induced in the absence of the TLR signaling adaptor protein MyD88. We then attempted to recapitulate the protection afforded by the bacterial lysate by stimulating the lung epithelium with aerosolized synthetic TLR ligands. Although most single or combination treatments yielded no protection, simultaneous treatment with ligands for TLR2/6 and TLR9 conferred robust, synergistic protection against virulent Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Protection was associated with rapid pathogen killing in the lungs, and pathogen killing could be induced from lung epithelial cells in isolation. Taken together, these data demonstrate the requirement for TLRs in inducible resistance against pneumonia, reveal a remarkable, unanticipated synergistic interaction of TLR2/6 and TLR9, reinforce the emerging evidence supporting the antimicrobial capacity of the lung epithelium, and may provide the basis for a novel clinical therapeutic that can protect patients against pneumonia during periods of peak vulnerability.
Differential Outcome of IL-2/Anti–IL-2 Complex Therapy on Effector and Memory CD8+ T Cells following Vaccination with an Adenoviral Vector Encoding EBV Epitopes
Authors: Smith Corey , Martinez Michelle , Peet Jesse , Khanna Rajiv
Published: April 2011

IL-2/anti–IL-2 complex-based therapy has been proposed as a potential adjunct therapeutic tool to enhance in vivo efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies for chronic viral infections and human cancers. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-2 complex therapy can have discerning effects on CD8+ T cells depending on their stage of differentiation. To delineate the underlying mechanism for these opposing effects on CD8+ T cells, we examined the effects of IL-2 therapy during early priming, effector, and memory phases of T cell responses generated following immunization with an adenoviral vector encoding multiple EBV CD8+ epitopes. IL-2 complex treatment during the early priming phase, which coincided with low levels of IL-2Rβ (CD122) and higher levels of IL-2Rα (CD25) on CD8+ T cells, did not induce the expansion of effector T cells. In contrast, IL-2 complex treatment following the establishment of memory enhanced the expansion of Ag-specific T cells. Additionally, central memory T cells preferentially expanded following treatment at the expense of effector memory T cell populations. These studies demonstrate how differentiation status of the responding CD8+ T cells impacts on their responsiveness to IL-2 complexes and highlight that timing of treatment should be considered before implementing this therapy in a clinical setting.
Two Sorting Motifs, a Ubiquitination Motif and a Tyrosine Motif, Are Involved in HIV-1 and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Nef-Mediated Receptor Endocytosis
Authors: Cai Catherine Yi , Zhang Xiaoping , Sinko Patrick J. , Burakoff Steven J. , Jin Yong-Jiu
Published: April 2011

HIV-1 and SIV Nef proteins downregulate cell surface CD4 and MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules of infected cells, which are necessary for efficient viral replication and pathogenicity. We previously reported that K144 in HIV-1 Nef is di-ubiquitinated, and K144R substitution impairs Nef-mediated CD4 downregulation. In this report, we extend the role of ubiquitination at this lysine residue from Nef-mediated CD4 downregulation to Nef-mediated MHC-I downregulation and from HIV Nef to SIV Nef. All HIV-1 Nef mutants that contain K144R substitution are inactive in MHC-I downregulation. Tested MHC-I alleles include HLA-ABC endogenously expressed and HLA-A2 exogenously expressed in Jurkat T cells. CD4 downregulation by SIV Nef involves K176 that aligns with K144 in HIV-1 Nef, as well as an N-terminal tyrosine motif Y28Y39 not present in HIV-1 Nef. Dual mutation at K176 and Y28Y39 completely impaired SIV Nef-mediated CD4 and MHC-I downregulation, whereas a single mutation at K176 or Y28Y39 did not. The involvement of tyrosine motif in SIV Nef-mediated CD4 and MHC-I downregulation prompted us to investigate a putative tyrosine motif (Y202Y/F203) in HIV-1 Nef that is conserved among HIV-1 species. Single mutation at the tyrosine motif Y202F203 in HIV-1 Nef (NA7) greatly impaired Nef-mediated CD4 downregulation, which is similar to what we observed previously with the single mutation at lysine K144. Thus, our study demonstrated that Nef-mediated receptor endocytosis involves the ubiquitination motif and tyrosine motif.
Extensive Dissection to the Coronary Sinus of Valsalva during Percutaneous Intervention in Right Coronary Artery—A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Li Li , Cao Yunshan
Published: April 2011

Severe retrograde dissection extending into the sinus of Valsalva is a rare complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but life threatening. There is some literature about this complication, but this particular complication has not been previously reported in China. We present a case of coronary artery dissection during a PCI in which progressively extended retrogradely into the sinus of valsalva, and was successfully treated with stenting without an operation.
Three-year observations of halocarbons at the Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid (NCO-P, 5079 m a.s.l.) on the Himalayan range
Authors: Maione M. , Giostra U. , Arduini J. , Furlani F. , Bonasoni P. , Cristofanelli P. , Laj P. , Vuillermoz E.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. A monitoring programme for halogenated climate-altering gases has been established in the frame of the SHARE EV-K2-CNR project at the Nepal Climate Laboratory – Pyramid in the Himalayan range at the altitude of 5079 m a.s.l. The site is very well located to provide important insights on changes in atmospheric composition in a region that is of great significance for emissions of both anthropogenic and biogenic halogenated compounds. Measurements are performed since March 2006, with grab samples collected on a weekly basis. The first three years of data have been analysed. After the identification of the atmospheric background values for fourteen halocarbons, the frequency of occurrence of pollution events have been compared with the same kind of analysis for data collected at other global background stations. The analysis showed the fully halogenated species, whose production and consumption are regulated under the Montreal Protocol, show a significant occurrence of "above the baseline" values, as a consequence of their current use in the developing countries surrounding the region, meanwhile the hydrogenated gases, more recently introduced into the market, show less frequent spikes. Atmospheric concentration trends have been calculated as well, and they showed a fast increase, ranging from 5.7 to 12.6%, of all the hydrogenated species, and a clear decrease of methyl chloroform (−17.7%). The comparison with time series from other stations has also allowed to derive Meridional gradients, which are absent for long living well mixed species, while for the more reactive species, the gradient increases inversely with respect to their atmospheric lifetime. The effect of long range transport and of local events on the atmospheric composition at the station has been analysed as well, allowing the identification of relevant source regions the Northern half of the Indian sub-continent. Also, at finer spatial scales, a smaller, local contribution of forest fires from the Khumbu valley has been detected.
A model study of the impact of source gas changes on the stratosphere for 1850–2100
Authors: Fleming E. L. , Jackman C. H. , Stolarski R. S. , Douglass A. R.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. The long-term stratospheric impacts due to emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, and ozone depleting substances (ODSs) are investigated using an updated version of the Goddard two-dimensional (2-D) model. Perturbation simulations with the ODSs, CO2, CH4, and N2O varied individually are performed to isolate the relative roles of these gases in driving stratospheric changes over the 1850–2100 time period. We also show comparisons with observations and the Goddard Earth Observing System chemistry-climate model simulations for the time period 1960–2100 to illustrate that the 2-D model captures the basic processes responsible for long-term stratospheric change. The 2-D simulations indicate that prior to 1940, the ozone increases due to CO2 and CH4 loading outpace the ozone losses due to increasing N2O and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) emissions, so that ozone reaches a broad maximum during the 1920s–1930s. This preceeds the significant ozone depletion during ~1960–2050 driven by the ODS loading. During the latter half of the 21st century as ODS emissions diminish, CO2, N2O, and CH4 loading will all have significant impacts on global total ozone based on the IPCC A1B (medium) scenario, with CO2 having the largest individual effect. Sensitivity tests illustrate that due to the strong chemical interaction between methane and chlorine, the CH4 impact on total ozone becomes significantly more positive with larger ODS loading. The model simulations also show that changes in stratospheric temperature, Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC), and age of air during 1850–2100 are controlled mainly by the CO2 and ODS loading. The simulated acceleration of the BDC causes the age of air to decrease by ~1 year from 1860–2100. The corresponding photochemical lifetimes of N2O, CFCl3, CF2Cl2, and CCl4 decrease by 11–13% during 1960–2100 due to the acceleration of the BDC, with much smaller lifetime changes (<4%) caused by changes in the photochemical loss rates.
The size-dependent charge fraction of sub-3-nm particles as a key diagnostic of competitive nucleation mechanisms under atmospheric conditions
Authors: Yu F. , Turco R.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. A clear physical understanding of atmospheric particle nucleation mechanisms is critical in assessing the influences of aerosols on climate and climate variability. Currently, several mechanisms have been proposed and are being employed to interpret field observations of nucleation events. Roughly speaking, the two most likely candidates are neutral cluster nucleation (NCN) and ion-mediated nucleation (IMN). Detailed nucleation event data has been obtained in boreal forests. In one set of analyses of these measurements, NCN was suggested as the dominant formation mode, while in another, it was IMN. Obviously, information on the electrical charge distribution carried by the nucleating clusters themselves is the key to identifying the relative contributions of neutral and ion-mediated processes under various conditions. Fortunately, ground-breaking measurements of the charged states or fractions of ambient nanometer-sized particles soon after undergoing nucleation are now available to help resolve the main pathway. In the present study, the size-dependent "apparent" formation rates and fractions of charged and neutral particles are simulated with a detailed kinetic model. We show that the predicted "apparent" formation rates of charged and neutral particles at 2 nm agree well with the corresponding values derived from the boreal forest data, but the "apparent" contribution of ion-based nucleation increases by up to ~ one order of magnitude as the size of particles decreases from 2 nm to ~1.5 nm. It appears that most of the neutral particles detected at sizes around 2 nm are in reality initially formed on ionic cores that are neutralized before the particles grow to this size. Thus, although the apparent rate of formation of neutral 2-nm particles might seem to be dominated by a neutral clustering process, in fact those particles are largely the result of an ion-induced nucleation mechanism. This point is clarified when the formation rates of smaller particles (e.g., ~1.5 nm) are explicitly analyzed (noting that measurements at these smaller sizes are not yet available), showing that IMN dominates NCN processes under typical circumstances in the boreal forest.
Comparison of aerosol properties from the Indian Himalayas and the Indo-Gangetic plains
Authors: Raatikainen T. , Hyvärinen A.-P. , Hatakka J. , Panwar T. S. , Hooda R. K. , Sharma V. P. , Lihavainen H.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. Gual Pahari is a polluted semi-urban background measurement site at the Indo-Gangetic plains close to New Delhi and Mukteshwar is a relatively clean background measurement site at the foothills of the Himalayas about 270 km NE from Gual Pahari and about 2 km above the nearby plains. Two years long data sets including aerosol and meteorological parameters as well as modeled backward trajectories and boundary layer heights were compared. The purpose was to see how aerosol concentrations vary between clean and polluted sites not very far from each other. Specifically, we were exploring the effect of boundary layer evolution on aerosol concentrations. The measurements showed that especially during the coldest winter months, aerosol concentrations are significantly lower in Mukteshwar. On the other hand, the difference is smaller and also the concentration trends are quite similar from April to October. With the exception of the monsoon season, when rains are affecting on aerosol concentrations, clear but practically opposite diurnal cycles are observed. When the lowest daily aerosol concentrations are seen during afternoon hours in Gual Pahari, there is a peak in Mukteshwar aerosol concentrations. In addition to local sources and long-range transport of dust, boundary layer dynamics can explain the observed differences and similarities. When mixing of air masses is limited during the relatively cool winter months, aerosol pollutions are accumulated to the plains, but Mukteshwar is above the pollution layer. When mixing increases in the spring, aerosol concentrations are increased in Mukteshwar and decreased in Gual Pahari. The effect of mixing is also clear in the diurnal concentration cycles. When daytime mixing decreases aerosol concentrations in Gual Pahari, those are increased in Mukteshwar.
Climate dependent diatom production is preserved in biogenic Si isotope signatures
Authors: Sun X. , Andersson P. , Humborg C. , Conley D. J. , Crill P. , Mörth C.-M.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. Climate change is likely to have the greatest impact on high-latitude ecosystems which are sensitive to climate fluctuations due to the relatively short growth season of diatoms. Biogenic silica (BSi) derived from diatoms provides a direct measure for tracking these processes although the knowledge gained from the amount of BSi preserved may be limited. In this study we report an application of a method based on Si isotope analyses of diatoms derived from a Gulf of Bothnia sediment core to reconstruct diatom production during the last two hundred years. During this time period large scale anthropogenic disturbances, such as the damming of rivers, can be observed. There is a relationship between measured Si isotope values of BSi, e.g. the silica incorporated into diatom frustules, in Bothnian Bay sediments and air temperature. This relationship suggests that the diatom Si isotope composition can be used to trace temperature variations over time. This method can be applied to other diatom dominated aquatic systems, i.e., a large part of the world's ocean and coastal seas, in order to improve our knowledge of impacts of temperature variations and thus also climate change and anthropogenic disturbance.
Integration of vegetation indices into a water balance model to estimate evapotranspiration of wheat and corn
Authors: Padilla F. L. M. , González-Dugo M. P. , Gavilán P. , Domínguez J.
Published: April 2011

Abstract. Vegetation indices (VIs) have been traditionally used for quantitative monitoring of vegetation. Remotely sensed radiometric measurements of visible and infrared solar energy, which is reflected or emitted by plant canopies, can be used to obtain rapid, non-destructive estimates of certain canopy attributes and parameters. One parameter of special interest for water management applications, is the crop coefficient employed by the FAO-56 model to derive actual crop evapotranspiration (ET). The aim of this study was to evaluate a methodology that combines the basal crop coefficient derived from VIs with a daily soil water balance in the root zone to estimate daily evapotranspiration rates for corn and wheat crops at field scale. The ability of the model to trace water stress in these crops was also assessed. Vegetation indices were first retrieved from field hand-held radiometer measurements and then from Landsat 5 and 7 satellite images. The results of the model were validated using two independent measurement systems for ET and regular soil moisture monitoring, in order to evaluate the behavior of the soil and atmosphere components of the model. ET estimates were compared with latent heat flux measured by an eddy covariance system and with weighing lysimeter measurements. Average overestimates of daily ET of 8 and 11% were obtained for corn and wheat, respectively, with good agreement between the estimated and measured root-zone water deficit for both crops when field radiometry was employed. When the satellite sensor data replaced the field radiometry data the overestimation figures slightly changed to 9 and 6% for the same two crops. The model was also used to monitor the water stress during the 2009 growing season, detecting several periods of water stress in both crops. Some of these stresses occurred during stages like grain filling, when the water stress is know to have a negative effect on yield. This fact could explain the lower yield reached compared to local yield statistics for wheat and corn. The results showed that the model can be used to calculate the water requirements of these crops in irrigated areas and that its ability to monitor water stress deserves further research.
Can We Exclude the Diagnosis of Non-ST Segment Myocardial Infarction on the Basis of a Single Troponin I and a Symptom Duration ≥8 Hours?
Authors: Lynn Jeremy S. , Singh Amandeep , Snoey Eric R.
Published: April 2011

Background. The use of a single troponin measurement to exclude the diagnosis of non-ST segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients that present with ischemic symptom duration ≥8 hours is sometimes used in the Emergency Department. Study Objective. To describe the characteristics of patients with initial nondiagnostic troponin values who develop a positive troponin while in the Emergency Department and to evaluate whether NSTEMI can be excluded using symptom duration ≥8 hours and initial troponin I. Methods. Retrospective chart review of patients evaluated for NSTEMI in the Emergency Department. Results. 4,510 patients had at least two troponin I values obtained during the two-year study period. 115 (2.5%) of these patients had an initially nondiagnostic (<0.6 ng/mL) and subsequent positive (≥0.6 ng/mL) troponin I result. Twenty-five (22%) of the 115 had duration of symptoms ≥8 hours. Of these 25 patients, 18 had an intermediate first troponin value (i.e., >0.06 ng/mL, but <0.6 ng/mL). Only two of the remaining seven patients had a final primary diagnosis of NSTEMI. Conclusion. The use of a negative initial troponin I together with a symptom onset of ≥8 hours defines a population with a very low incidence of a hospital diagnosis of NSTEMI.
Gravitational Instability of Rotating Viscoelastic Partially Ionized Plasma in the Presence of an Oblique Magnetic Field and Hall Current
Authors: El-Sayed M. F. , Mohamed R. A.
Published: April 2011

The gravitational instability of a rotating Walters B′
viscoelastic partially ionized plasma permeated by an oblique magnetic field has been investigated in the presence of the effects of Hall currents, electrical resistivity, and ion viscosity. The dispersion relation and numerical calculations have been performed to obtain the dependence of the growth rate of the gravitational unstable mode on the various physical effects. It is found that viscosity and collision frequency of plasma
have stabilizing effects, while viscoelasticity and angular frequency of rotation have destabilizing effect; the electrical resistivity has a destabilizing effect only for small wavenumbers; the density of neutral particles and the magnetic field component in z-direction have stabilizing effects for wavenumbers ranges k<5 and k<10, respectively; the Hall current has a slightly destabilizing effect. Finally, the inclination angle to z-direction has a destabilizing effect to all physical parameters.
Diffuse Involvement of Aorta in Patient with Familial Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Can Mehmet Mustafa , Tanboga Ibrahim Halil , Akgun Taylan
Published: April 2011

Familial hyperlipidemia (FH) is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor abnormality. The delayed clearance of serum LDL results in severe hypercholesterolemia, which leads to the accumulation of LDL-derived cholesterol in skin, tendons, and arterial walls.In homozygous form of the disease, severely atheromatous involvement of the aorta extending to the coronary ostia is almost always present, and particular surgical strategy is required to prevent atheroembolic events.
Rapid communication: Semantic size does not matter: “Bigger” words are not recognized faster
Authors: Kang Sean H. K. , Yap Melvin J. , Tse Chi-Shing , Kurby Christopher A.
Published: April 2011

Sereno, O'Donnell, and Sereno (2009) reported that words are recognized faster in a lexical decision task when their referents are physically large than when they are small, suggesting that “semantic size” might be an important variable that should be considered in visual word recognition research and modelling. We sought to replicate their size effect, but failed to find a significant latency advantage in lexical decision for “big” words (cf. “small” words), even though we used the same word stimuli as Sereno et al. and had almost three times as many subjects. We also examined existing data from visual word recognition megastudies (e.g., English Lexicon Project) and found that semantic size is not a significant predictor of lexical decision performance after controlling for the standard lexical variables. In summary, the null results from our lab experiment—despite a much larger subject sample size than Sereno et al.—converged with our analysis of megastudy lexical decision performance, leading us to conclude that semantic size does not matter for word recognition. Discussion focuses on why semantic size (unlike some other semantic variables) is unlikely to play a role in lexical decision.
Rapid communication: Integrating working memory capacity and context-processing views of cognitive control
Authors: Redick Thomas S. , Engle Randall W.
Published: April 2011

Individuals low in working memory capacity (WMC) exhibit impaired performance on a variety of cognitive control tasks. The executive-attention theory of WMC (Engle & Kane, [2004[) accounts for these findings as failures of goal maintenance and response conflict resolution. Similarly, the context-processing view (Braver et al., [2001]) provides an explanation of cognitive control deficits observed in schizophrenia patients and older adults that is based on the ability to maintain context information. Instead of maintenance deficits, the inhibition view (Hasher, Lustig, & Zacks, [2007]) states that older adults and individuals low in WMC primarily have an impairment in the ability to inhibit information. In the current experiment, we explored the relationships among these theories. Individuals differing in performance on complex span measures of WMC performed the AX-Continuous Performance Test to measure context-processing performance. High-WMC individuals were predicted to maintain the context afforded by the cue, whereas low-WMC individuals were predicted to fail to maintain the context information. Low-WMC individuals made more errors on AX and BX trials and were slower to respond correctly on AX, BX, and BY trials. The overall pattern of results is most consistent with both the executive-attention and context-processing theories of cognitive control.
Reliability-Oriented bioinformatic networks visualization
Authors: Aladağ Ahmet Emre , Erten Cesim , Sözdinler Melih
Published: April 2011

Summary: We present our protein-protein interaction (PPI) network visualization system RobinViz (reliability-oriented bioinformatic networks visualization). Clustering the PPI network based on gene ontology (GO) annotations or biclustered gene expression data, providing a clustered visualization model based on a central/peripheral duality, computing layouts with algorithms specialized for interaction reliabilities represented as weights, completely automated data acquisition, processing are notable features of the system.

Availability: RobinViz is a free, open-source software protected under GPL. It is written in C++ and Python, and consists of almost 30 000 lines of code, excluding the employed libraries. Source code, user manual and other Supplementary Material are available for download at http://code.google.com/p/robinviz/.

Contacts:  cesim@khas.edu.tr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Comrad: detection of expressed rearrangements by integrated analysis of RNA-Seq and low coverage genome sequence data
Authors: McPherson Andrew , Wu Chunxiao , Hajirasouliha Iman , Hormozdiari Fereydoun , Hach Faraz , Lapuk Anna , Volik Stanislav , Shah Sohrab , Collins Colin , Sahinalp S. Cenk
Published: April 2011

Motivation: Comrad is a novel algorithmic framework for the integrated analysis of RNA-Seq and whole genome shotgun sequencing (WGSS) data for the purposes of discovering genomic rearrangements and aberrant transcripts. The Comrad framework leverages the advantages of both RNA-Seq and WGSS data, providing accurate classification of rearrangements as expressed or not expressed and accurate classification of the genomic or non-genomic origin of aberrant transcripts. A major benefit of Comrad is its ability to accurately identify aberrant transcripts and associated rearrangements using low coverage genome data. As a result, a Comrad analysis can be performed at a cost comparable to that of two RNA-Seq experiments, significantly lower than an analysis requiring high coverage genome data.

Results: We have applied Comrad to the discovery of gene fusions and read-throughs in prostate cancer cell line C4-2, a derivative of the LNCaP cell line with androgen-independent characteristics. As a proof of concept, we have rediscovered in the C4-2 data 4 of the 6 fusions previously identified in LNCaP. We also identified six novel fusion transcripts and associated genomic breakpoints, and verified their existence in LNCaP, suggesting that Comrad may be more sensitive than previous methods that have been applied to fusion discovery in LNCaP. We show that many of the gene fusions discovered using Comrad would be difficult to identify using currently available techniques.

Availability: A C++ and Perl implementation of the method demonstrated in this article is available at http://compbio.cs.sfu.ca/.

Contact:  andrew.mcpherson@gmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Idiopathic Pancreatitis Preceding the Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is More Frequent in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Broide Efrat , Dotan Iris , Weiss Batia , Wilschanski Michael , Yerushalmi Baruch , Klar Aharon , Levine Arie
Published: April 2011

Background and Objectives:

Acute pancreatitis (AP) can be a rare extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There are only a few reports of AP presenting before the diagnosis of IBD. We aimed to characterize the demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of patients with IBD in whom AP preceded disease onset and compare the presentation of AP between children and adults.

Patients and Methods:

Pediatric and adult patients presenting with AP as the first symptom of IBD were retrospectively identified (10 years, 7 university hospitals). Demographic and clinical data, IBD type, disease extension, and laboratory data were extracted from the charts. Imaging methods, number of AP episodes, and lag time between onset of first pancreatitis episode and onset of IBD were recorded.

Results:

AP preceding the diagnosis of IBD was found in 10 in 460 pediatric patients with IBD (2.17%), compared with only 2 in 3500 adults (0.06%). Eight children had colonic disease (4 Crohn disease, 4 ulcerative colitis [3 pancolitis]). Mean amylase level was 1419 and range 100 to 1370. Three children (30%) had mildly elevated transaminases. Median time between onset of first episode of AP in relation to onset of IBD was 24 (range 1–156) weeks. AP most commonly presented with abdominal pain.

Conclusions:

IBD presenting as AP was more frequent among the pediatric population with IBD in comparison to adults. It was more common in patients with colitis than in those with ileal disease, suggesting that patients with idiopathic AP should be observed carefully for a possible diagnosis of IBD.