bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NLO and NBO Analysis of Sarcosine‐Maleic Acid by Using HF and B3LYP Calculations
Authors: Günay N. , Pir H. , Avcı D. , Atalay Y.
Published: November 2012

We report a theoretical study on molecular structure, vibrational spectra, nonlinear optical (NLO), and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of sarcosine‐maleic acid (C7H11NO6) in the ground state calculated by using the Hartree‐Fock (HF) and density functional method (DFT/B3LYP) with 6–31++G(d,p) basis set. We repeat NBO calculations with 6–31G(d,p) basis set so as to see the diffuse function impact on NBO analysis. Stability of the molecule arising from hyper conjugative interactions and charge delocalization has been analyzed using NBO analysis. NBO analysis shows that there is a O–H⋯O and N–H⋯O hydrogen bond in the title compound, which is consistent with the conclusion obtained by the analysis of molecular structure. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. Also, these results are supported by the NLO parameters. Finally, the calculated results were applied to simulate infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound which showed good agreement with experimental ones.
Improving the Spectral Response of Black Dye by Cosensitization with a Simple Indoline Based Dye in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Akhtaruzzaman Md. , Islam Ashraful , Karim Mohammad Rezaul , Mahmud Hasan A. K. , Han Liyuan
Published: November 2012

Indoline dye D-1 was successfully applied as a cosensitizer for improving the spectral response of black dye in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). It was observed that D-1 effectively increases the short‐circuit photocurrent by offsetting the competitive light absorption by electrolyte in the wavelength region 350–500 nm when adsorbed on the TiO2 nanocrystaline films in a mix dye system. The DSCs containing the D-1 and black dye achieved a power conversion efficiency of 9.80% with higher short‐circuit photocurrent of 19.54 mA/cm2 compared to the system of black dye without cosensitization under standard AM 1.5 sunlight.
Right Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Complicating Acute Pancreatitis: A Case Report
Authors: Shiozawa Kazue , Watanabe Manabu , Ikehara Takashi , Mukozu Takanori , Kamata Itaru , Kishimoto Yui , Mimura Takahiko , Ito Ken , Okano Naoki , Igarashi Yoshinori , Sumino Yasukiyo
Published: November 2012

Objective: To report a rare case of right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm complicating acute pancreatitis based upon imaging findings obtained before and after the development of pseudoaneurysm. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 32-year-old male with a history of acute pancreatitis 1 year prior was readmitted for acute pancreatitis. Computed tomography (CT) and angiography after admission revealed pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery. Transcatheter arterial embolization with coils was used to successfully treat the pseudoaneurysm. A CT and angiography 1 year earlier did not reveal any pseudoaneurysm. Conclusion: This patient with a rare right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm complicating acute pancreatitis was successfully treated with coil embolization.
Exosomes Mediate the Cytoprotective Action of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Lee Changjin , Mitsialis S. Alex , Aslam Muhammad , Vitali Sally H. , Vergadi Eleni , Konstantinou Georgios , Sdrimas Konstantinos , Fernandez-Gonzalez Angeles , Kourembanas Stella
Published: November 2012

Background—

Hypoxia induces an inflammatory response in the lung manifested by alternative activation of macrophages with elevation of proinflammatory mediators that are critical for the later development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation inhibits lung inflammation, vascular remodeling, and right heart failure and reverses hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in experimental models of disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the paracrine mechanisms by which mesenchymal stromal cells are protective in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

Methods and Results—

We fractionated mouse mesenchymal stromal cell–conditioned media to identify the biologically active component affecting in vivo hypoxic signaling and determined that exosomes, secreted membrane microvesicles, suppressed the hypoxic pulmonary influx of macrophages and the induction of proinflammatory and proproliferative mediators, including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and hypoxia-inducible mitogenic factor, in the murine model of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Intravenous delivery of mesenchymal stromal cell–derived exosomes (MEX) inhibited vascular remodeling and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, whereas MEX-depleted media or fibroblast-derived exosomes had no effect. MEX suppressed the hypoxic activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and the upregulation of the miR-17 superfamily of microRNA clusters, whereas it increased lung levels of miR-204, a key microRNA, the expression of which is decreased in human pulmonary hypertension. MEX produced by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells inhibited STAT3 signaling in isolated human pulmonary artery endothelial cells, demonstrating a direct effect of MEX on hypoxic vascular cells.

Conclusion—

This study indicates that MEX exert a pleiotropic protective effect on the lung and inhibit pulmonary hypertension through suppression of hyperproliferative pathways, including STAT3-mediated signaling induced by hypoxia.
On Eddy Viscosity, Energy Cascades, and the Horizontal Resolution of Gridded Satellite Altimeter Products*
Authors: Arbic Brian K. , Polzin Kurt L. , Scott Robert B. , Richman James G. , Shriver Jay F.
Published: November 2012

Motivated by the recent interest in ocean energetics, the widespread use of horizontal eddy viscosity in models, and the promise of high horizontal resolution data from the planned wide-swath satellite altimeter, this paper explores the impacts of horizontal eddy viscosity and horizontal grid resolution on geostrophic turbulence, with a particular focus on spectral kinetic energy fluxes Π(K) computed in the isotropic wavenumber (K) domain. The paper utilizes idealized two-layer quasigeostrophic (QG) models, realistic high-resolution ocean general circulation models, and present-generation gridded satellite altimeter data. Adding horizontal eddy viscosity to the QG model results in a forward cascade at smaller scales, in apparent agreement with results from present-generation altimetry. Eddy viscosity is taken to roughly represent coupling of mesoscale eddies to internal waves or to submesoscale eddies. Filtering the output of either the QG or realistic models before computing Π(K) also greatly increases the forward cascade. Such filtering mimics the smoothing inherent in the construction of present-generation gridded altimeter data. It is therefore difficult to say whether the forward cascades seen in present-generation altimeter data are due to real physics (represented here by eddy viscosity) or to insufficient horizontal resolution. The inverse cascade at larger scales remains in the models even after filtering, suggesting that its existence in the models and in altimeter data is robust. However, the magnitude of the inverse cascade is affected by filtering, suggesting that the wide-swath altimeter will allow a more accurate determination of the inverse cascade at larger scales as well as providing important constraints on smaller-scale dynamics.
The Langer-Improved Wald Test for DIF Testing With Multiple Groups
Authors: Woods Carol M. , Cai Li , Wang Mian
Published: November 2012

Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when the probability of responding in a particular category to an item differs for members of different groups who are matched on the construct being measured. The identification of DIF is important for valid measurement. This research evaluates an improved version of Lord’s χ2 Wald test for comparing item response model parameter estimates between two groups. The improved version uses better approaches for computation of the covariance matrix and equating the item parameters across groups. There are two equating algorithms implemented in IRTPro and flexMIRT software: Wald-1 (one-stage) and Wald-2 (two-stage), only one of which has been studied in simulations before. The present study evaluates for the first time the Wald-1 algorithm and Wald-1 and Wald-2 for three groups simultaneously. A comparison to two-group IRT-LR-DIF is included. Results indicate that Wald-1 performs very well and is recommended, whereas Type I error is extremely inflated for Wald-2. Performance of IRT-LR-DIF and Wald-1 was similar, even for three groups.
Enhancing social work students’ multicultural counseling competency: Can travel abroad substitute for study abroad?
Authors: Kim Wook-Jin
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between studying abroad, traveling abroad, and social work students’ multicultural counseling competencies. Findings indicated that students’ multicultural counseling competencies were significantly positively related to their experiences studying abroad but not to traveling abroad.
Child adoption and war: ‘Living disappeared’ children and the social worker’s post-conflict role in El Salvador and Argentina
Authors: Rotabi Karen Smith
Published: November 2012

The illegal removal of children from biological family life during conflict has a longstanding history. Briefly overviewed are the Vietnam Babylift and a more recent child abduction attempt in Chad. Then, turning to the history of child abduction and adoption history in Latin America, the conflicts of El Salvador and Argentina are presented and ‘living disappeared’ children – those who disappear into adoption networks during war – are discussed. The post-conflict social realities in both nations are explored. The role of the social worker and specific practices are identified and discussed in context of generalist social work practice.
Evaluation of structure and mechanical properties of Ni–P–Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings
Authors: Alirezaei S , Vaghefi SM Monir , Ürgen M , Saatchi A , Kazmanli K
Published: November 2012

In this article, alumina nanoparticles were co-deposited within Ni–P electroless coating on mild steel samples and then isothermal heat treatment was done at 400℃ for 1 h. The size distribution of nanoparticles was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and the concentration of alumina reinforcements in Ni–P matrix was determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and image analysis software. The phase transformation of coatings was analysed by X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. Also, mechanical properties of coatings were evaluated by microhardness and indentation tests. The results showed that mechanical properties of Ni–P–Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings strongly influences by dispersion and/or precipitation hardening mechanisms.
Potential Mechanism for the Laser-Fluoride Effect on Enamel Demineralization
Authors: Liu Y. , Hsu C.-Y.S. , Teo C.M.J. , Teoh S.H.
Published: November 2012

Laser-induced prevention of dental caries has been studied extensively. However, the cariostatic mechanisms of a combined fluoride-laser treatment are not well-understood. Using micro- computed tomography (micro-CT), we quantified the effect of fluoride and/or Er:YAG laser treatment on enamel demineralization. The mean mineral loss (%/V) for each group was 4,870 ± 1,434 (fluoride followed by laser treatment), 6,341 ± 2,204 (laser treatment), 7,669 ± 2,255 (fluoride treatment), and 10,779 ± 2,936 (control). The preventive effect of the laser ( p < 0.001) and fluoride ( p = 0.010) treatment was statistically significant. Characterized by micro-x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the significant contraction in the a-axis after both laser and combined laser/fluoride treatment was revealed (both p < 0.05). In conclusion, subablative low-energy Er:YAG laser irradiation following fluoride treatment may instantaneously transform enamel hydroxyapatite into fluoridated hydroxyapatite to reduce enamel solubility as a preventive treatment for enamel demineralization.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in the Open Abdomen Patient
Authors: Fei Jeffrey Zhaoke , DeMuro Jonas P.
Published: November 2012

Nutrition support of critically ill patients is an integral element to their multimodal care. We describe the placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) for long‐term enteral access in a patient with an open abdomen. To our knowledge, this is the third successfully reported case that demonstrates the viability of PEG in this uncommon population. In critically ill and malnourished surgical patients with contraindications for immediate abdominal closure, PEG should be strongly considered as a procedure for enteral feedings.
Life, Death and Individuation: Simmel on the Problem of Life Itself
Authors: Pyyhtinen Olli
Published: November 2012

The article argues for the relevance of Simmel's life‐philosophy ( Lebensphilosophie) for the contemporary thought about life and death. By considering life, paradoxically, at once as a pre‐individual flux of becoming and individuated, Simmel manages to avoid both reductionism and mysticism. In addition, unlike Deleuze, for example, Simmel thinks that we can experience and know life only in some individual, actual form, never in its pure virtuality, as an absolute flow. During the course of examination, Simmel's insights will also be discussed in connection with Heidegger. The article maintains that what remains on the Simmelian side beyond the striking affinities between the two thinkers is a kind of animal vitality. Though Simmel's life‐philosophy is mainly concerned with the world‐relation of humans, when it comes to death, it places humans on a par with all living organisms. A death that is immanent in life is appropriate to anything that is living. Thus the human individual, too, is dying precisely as a living organism, as some‐body that is alive.
Public Mobility as the Defining Feature of the French Post-industrial City
Authors: Rousseau Max
Published: November 2012

During the last four decades, the general shift towards flexible accumulation of capital has led to a growing requirement for an increased mobility of labour which greatly affects the restructuring of post-industrial cities today. Using a historical perspective to enlighten the contrast with the period of industrialization when urban planning was, on the contrary, aimed at fixing a large workforce within the city, I argue that the current transformations of urban landscapes one can observe within French cities signal a consequent shift in the regulation of mobilities in the French post-industrial cities. The tactics aiming at regulating the mobilities at a narrow scale have disappeared in favour of a strategy aiming at adapting the city to the requirements of time and space compression through a simultaneous acceleration and rescaling (from the urban and the labour pool to the city-region and the transnational) of the daily mobilities. This shift in the regulation of urban mobilities reflects the recent evolution of the nature of urban power of the French post-industrial cities.
Investigating A8 migration using data from the Worker Registration Scheme: Temporal, spatial and sectoral trends
Authors: McCollum David
Published: November 2012

Since the enlargement of the European Union in May 2004, large numbers of migrants from the A8 countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Estonia) have joined the UK labour market. A8 migrants were required to register under the Worker Registration Scheme if they took up employment in the UK for one month or longer. The research presented here analysed this administrative data in order to shed light on spatial, sectoral and temporal trends in registration flows. The findings can help inform understanding of migration patterns, and responses to them, at the national and local levels. The volume of labour migration flows from East-Central Europe has been substantial and has been concentrated in particular segments of the labour market, with most migrants engaging with the hospitality and agricultural sectors and often working through recruitment agencies. The volume of new A8 arrivals has decreased since the onset of the recession in 2008 but still remained substantial at the end of the Worker Registration Scheme period. The demand for migrant labour has been relatively consistent in agriculture compared to other sectors of the economy during the recession. Conceptually this points to migrant labour serving distinct ‘functions’ in the UK labour market.
Tele-impedance: Teleoperation with impedance regulation using a body–machine interface
Authors: Ajoudani Arash , Tsagarakis Nikos , Bicchi Antonio
Published: November 2012

This work presents the concept of tele-impedance as a method for remotely controlling a robotic arm in interaction with uncertain environments. As an alternative to bilateral force-reflecting teleoperation control, in tele-impedance a compound reference command is sent to the slave robot including both the desired motion trajectory and impedance profile, which are then realized by the remote controller without explicit feedback to the operator. We derive the reference command from a novel body–machine interface (BMI) applied to the master operator’s arm, using only non-intrusive position and electromyography (EMG) measurements, and excluding any feedback from the remote site except for looking at the task. The proposed BMI exploits a novel algorithm to decouple the estimates of force and stiffness of the human arm while performing the task. The endpoint (wrist) position of the human arm is monitored by an optical tracking system and used for the closed-loop position control of the robot’s end-effector. The concept is demonstrated in two experiments, namely a peg-in-the-hole and a ball-catching task, which illustrate complementary aspects of the method. The performance of tele-impedance control is assessed by comparing the results obtained with the slave arm under either constantly low or high stiffness.
Mediating the microcomputer: The educational character of the 1980s British popular computing boom
Authors: Lean Thomas
Published: November 2012

In the early 1980s the computer entered the British home in significant numbers for the first time as many thousands of people purchased their first personal ‘microcomputer’. In this paper I explore the educational character of the home computer boom, a response to unease over the impact of new information technologies. Media, government, social movements and computer manufacturers constituted a systematic effort to enhance the public understanding of a new technology that was anticipated to change the world.
Why people attend science festivals: Interests, motivations and self-reported benefits of public engagement with research
Authors: Jensen Eric , Buckley Nicola
Published: November 2012

As a form of public engagement, science festivals have rapidly expanded in size and number over recent years. However, as with other domains of informal public engagement that are not linked to policy outcomes, existing research does not fully address science festivals’ impacts and popularity. This study adduces evidence from surveys and focus groups to elucidate the perspectives of visitors at a large UK science festival. Results show that visitors value the opportunities afforded by the science festival to interact with scientific researchers and to encounter different types of science engagement aimed at adults, children and families. The most significant self-reported impact of attending a science festival is the development of increased interest in and curiosity about new areas of scientific knowledge within a socially stimulating and enjoyable setting.
Propagation of a crack due to magnetoelastic shear waves in a self-reinforced medium
Authors: Chattopadhyay Amares , Singh Abhishek Kumar
Published: November 2012

This paper investigates the propagation of crack due to horizontally polarized shear waves in a magnetoelastic self-reinforced medium. The methodology includes the Weiner-Hopf technique. The effects of reinforcement and magnetic field on the propagation of the crack have been studied. The stress intensity factor at the crack tip for a concentrated force of a constant intensity has been calculated and depicted by means of graphs for various cases. It is observed that self-reinforcement increases the stress intensity factor whereas magnetoelastic coupling parameter has the reverse impact. It is remarkable to state that the stress intensity factor decreases with the increase in the length of crack. Also, the comparative study has been made through graphs to find the effect of reinforcement over the reinforced-free case on the stress intensity factor. Moreover, some important peculiarities have been observed in graphs.
Proteolytic Activity by Multiple Bacterial Species Isolated From Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers Degrades Matrix Substrates
Authors: Wysocki Annette B. , Bhalla-Regev Sandhya K. , Tierno Philip M. , Stevens-Riley Marla , Wiygul Ryan-Claire
Published: November 2012

Background:

A major feature of chronic wounds is the loss of tissue, with the exposure of dermal components preventing primary closure and leading to bacterial colonization. Bacterial colonization has been proposed as one of the common underlying pathologies present in chronic wounds. The objective of this exploratory study was to identify bacteria cultured from chronic venous leg ulcers and test for proteolytic activity that degrades matrix substrates.

Method:

Bacteria were isolated, cultured, and identified from six subjects (average age = 62.8 years) over 2–10 months under an approved protocol using swabs and microbiological culture media. Proteolytic activity against (a) gelatin, (b) an elastin substrate, and (c) a serine/trypsin-sensitive substrate was determined using a colorimetric plate assay with an ELISA plate reader and zymography.

Results:

We identified 13 bacteria that expressed proteolytic activity against one or more of the tested substrates. Of these, six were Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Corynebacterium, and Streptococcus bovis) and seven were Gram-negative ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacteroides fragilis, and Serratia marcescens) organisms. Two of these, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, are recognized wound pathogens.

Conclusions:

Multiple bacteria species isolated from colonized venous leg ulcers have the capacity to secrete proteases capable of degrading components of the extracellular matrix important for wound healing. Matrix degradation by bacteria may contribute to delays in tissue deposition and repair, suggesting that treatment of chronic wounds should include appropriate management of colonizing bacteria.
The Sylheti Bari and the Londoni Flat
Authors: Zeitlyn Benjamin
Published: November 2012

This article examines the ways in which migration from rural homesteads in Sylhet, Bangladesh, to urban flats in London has affected the practices of British Bangladeshi families around gender and childhood. Drawing on the work of Pierre Bourdieu on the “Kabyle house,” I describe relations between the spatial arrangement of homes and practices. Analyzing the “Sylheti bari” (rural homestead) and contrasting it with the “ Londoni (British Bangladeshi) flat,” I describe the significance of the way in which ideas of “inside” and “outside” have translated from one setting to another. I will show how the translation of these ideas to the urban landscape in London affects British Bangladeshi practices surrounding headscarf wearing, children’s play, and socializing, as well as attitudes toward school and language.
Towards a new party system
Authors: Poguntke Thomas
Published: November 2012

The results of the 2009 Bundestag election and subsequent Land elections suggest that the German party system is changing fundamentally. A few facts suffice to corroborate this statement: Volatility has now reached levels that were last recorded in the 1950s; turnout in national elections has reached an all-time low; the two large parties have had unprecedentedly poor results in the Bundestag elections while all three smaller parties reached more than 10 percent. The article shows that German catch-all parties are about to lose their hold on the electorate and, as a result, can no longer rely on being the senior parties of government. The article analyses these changes systematically using a range of quantitative indicators covering the entire post-war period. It shows a seminal erosion of the forces which have stabilized the German party system in earlier decades and discusses the repercussions for the functioning of German party democracy.
Surgical Telementoring in Knowledge Translation—Clinical Outcomes and Educational Benefits
Authors: Augestad Knut Magne , Bellika Johan Gustav , Budrionis Andrius , Chomutare Taridzo , Lindsetmo Rolv-Ole , Patel Hiten , Delaney Conor ,   Mobile Medical Mentor (M3) Project, Augestad Knut Magne , Budrionis Andrius , Chomutare Taridzo , Bellika Johan Gustav , Lindsetmo Rolf Ole , Hartvigsen Gunnar , Hasvold Per , Wootton Richard , Muller Stig , Patel Hiten , Delaney Conor , Horsch Alexander , Mortensen Kim , Pettersen Sture
Published: November 2012

Background. Surgical telementoring has been reported for decades. However, there exists limited evidence of clinical outcome and educational benefits. Objective. To perform a comprehensive review of surgical telementoring surveys published in the past 2 decades. Results. Of 624 primary identified articles, 34 articles were reviewed. A total of 433 surgical procedures were performed by 180 surgeons. Most common telementored procedures were laparoscopic cholecystectomy (57 cases, 13%), endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysm (48 cases, 11%), laparoscopic colectomy (32 cases, 7%), and nefrectomies (41 cases, 9%). In all, 167 (38%) cases had a laparoscopic approach, and 8 cases (5%) were converted to open surgery. Overall, 20 complications (5%) were reported (liver bleeding, trocar port bleeding, bile collection, postoperative ileus, wound infection, serosa tears, iliac artery rupture, conversion open surgery). Eight surveys (23%) have structured assessment of educational outcomes. Telementoring was combined with simulators (n = 2) and robotics (n = 3). Twelve surveys (35%) were intercontinental. Technology satisfaction was high among 83% of surgeons. Conclusion. Few surveys have a structured assessment of educational outcome. Telementoring has improved impact on surgical education. Reported complication rate was 5%.
Development of very thin YSZ films deposited on substrates of varying porosity by e-beam evaporation
Authors: Sompolos Z , Yianoulis P
Published: November 2012

We present results of our efforts to develop thin films that may prove to be appropriate solid electrolytes for lower operating temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The electron beam evaporation technique has been used to deposit yttrium stabilised zirconia (YSZ: ZrO2 stabilised with 8 wt-%Y2O3) thin films on a variety of porous and non-porous substrates. Thin films have been grown on conducting films on glass, monocrystalline silicon wafers and highly porous NiO/YSZ substrates. Some of the porous substrates have been polished in order to be able to support thinner films. Films ranging from 0·2 to 2 μm in thickness have been manufactured. Submicrometre thin films have successfully been deposited on NiO/YSZ polished substrates. Operating technical parameters that influence the film properties were studied and the influence of substrate structure and deposition rate has been investigated. The film thickness has been measured in situ via a quartz crystal monitor and ex situ by a stylus profilometer. The morphology of the films has been studied by scanning electron microscopy. Samples have also been investigated in terms of chemical composition via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using the Scotch tape test, it has been found that the films exhibited good adhesive qualities; however, in some occasions, when annealed, cracks appeared. Using a polished – hence smoother – substrate has reduced the occurrence of cracks and other abnormalities. The electron gun power – and subsequently the rate of deposition – played an important role in film morphology. The latter presented an interesting crystallite structure in the nanometre range.
Raberite, Tl5Ag4As6SbS15, a new Tl-bearing sulfosalt from Lengenbach quarry, Binn valley, Switzerland: description and crystal structure
Authors: Bindi L. , Nestola F. , Guastoni A. , Peruzzo L. , Ecker M. , Carampin R.
Published: November 2012

Raberite, ideally Tl5Ag4As6SbS15, is a new mineral from Lengenbach quarry in the Binn Valley, Valais, Switzerland. It occurs very rarely as euhedral crystals up to 150 m m across associated with yellow needle-like smithite, realgar, hatchite and probable trechmannite, edenharterite, jentschite and two unidentified sulfosalts. Raberite is opaque with a metallic lustre and has a dark brown–red streak. It is brittle with a Vickers hardness (VHN10) of 52 kg mm–2 (range 50–55) corresponding to a Mohs hardness of 2½–3. In reflected light raberite is moderately bireflectant and very weakly pleochroic from light grey to a slightly greenish grey. It is very weakly anisotropic with greyish to light blue rotation tints between crossed polars. Internal reflections are absent. Reflectance percentages for the four COM wavelengths [listed as Rmin, Rmax, (λ)] are 30.6, 31.8 (471.1 nm), 28.1, 29.3 (548.3 nm), 27.1, 28.0 (586.6 nm), and 25.8, 26.9 (652.3 nm).

Raberite is triclinic, space group P1, with a = 8.920(1), b = 9.429(1), c = 20.062(3) Å, α = 79.66(1), β = 88.84(1), γ = 62.72(1)º, V = 1471.6(4) Å3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure [R1 = 0.0827 for 2110 reflections with I > 2σ(I)] consists of columns of nine-coordinate Tl atoms forming irregular polyhedra extending along [001] and forming sheets parallel to (010). The columns are decorated by cornersharing MS3 pyramids (M = As, Sb) and linked by AgS3 triangles. Of the seven M positions, one is dominated by Sb and the others by As; the mean M-S bond distances reflect As ↔ Sb substitution at these sites.

The eight strongest lines in the powder diffraction pattern [dcalc in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 3.580 (100) (13); 3.506 (58) (23); 3.281 (73) (006); 3.017 (54) (3); 3.001 (98) (133); 2.657 (51) (226); 2.636 (46) (300); 2.591 (57) (330). A mean of 9 electron microprobe analyses gave Tl 39.55(13), Ag 18.42(8), Cu 0.06(2), As 17.08(7), Sb 5.61(6), S 19.15(11); total 99.87 wt.%, which corresponds to Tl4.85Ag4.28Cu0.02As5.72Sb1.16S14.97 with 31 atoms per formula unit. The new mineral has been approved by the IMA-CNMNC Commission (IMA 2012-017) and is named for Thomas Raber, an expert on Lengenbach minerals.
Impaired ribosomal subunit association in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
Authors: Burwick Nicholas , Coats Scott A. , Nakamura Tomoka , Shimamura Akiko
Published: November 2012

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an autosomal-recessive marrow failure syndrome with a predisposition to leukemia. SDS patients harbor biallelic mutations in the SBDS gene, resulting in low levels of SBDS protein. Data from nonhuman models demonstrate that the SBDS protein facilitates the release of eIF6, a factor that prevents ribosome joining. The complete abrogation of Sbds expression in these models results in severe cellular and lethal physiologic abnormalities that differ from the human disease phenotype. Because human SDS cells are characterized by partial rather than complete loss of SBDS expression, we interrogated SDS patient cells for defects in ribosomal assembly. SDS patient cells exhibit altered ribosomal profiles and impaired association of the 40S and 60S subunits. Introduction of a wild-type SBDS cDNA into SDS patient cells corrected the ribosomal association defect, while patient-derived SBDS point mutants only partially improved subunit association. Knockdown of eIF6 expression improved ribosomal subunit association but did not correct the hematopoietic defect of SBDS-deficient cells. In summary, we demonstrate an SBDS-dependent ribosome maturation defect in SDS patient cells. The role of ribosomal subunit joining in marrow failure warrants further investigation.
Gene expression studies of host response to Salmonid alphavirus subtype 3 experimental infections in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Xu Cheng , Guo Tz-Chun , Mutoloki Stephen , Haugland Øyvind , Evensen Øystein
Published: November 2012

Salmonid alphavirus subtype-3 (SAV-3) infection in Atlantic salmon is exclusively found in Norway. The salmonid alphaviruses have been well characterized at the genome level but there is limited information about the host-pathogen interaction phenomena. This study was undertaken to characterize the replication and spread of SAV-3 in internal organs of experimentally infected Atlantic salmon and the subsequent innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, suitability of a cohabitation challenge model for this virus was also examined. Groups of fish were infected by intramuscular injection (IM), cohabited (CO) or kept uninfected in a separate tank. Samples of pancreas, kidney, spleen, heart and skeletal muscles were collected at 2, 4 and 8 weeks post infection (wpi). Pathological changes were assessed by histology concurrently with viral loads and mRNA expression of immune genes by real time RT-PCR. Pathological changes were only observed in the pancreas and heart (target organs) of both IM and CO groups, with changes appearing first in the pancreas (2 wpi) in the former. Lesions with increasing severity over time coincided with high viral loads despite significant induction of IFN-α, Mx and ISG15. IFN-γ and MHC-I were expressed in all tissues examined and their induction appeared in parallel with that of IL-10. Inflammatory genes TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-8 were only induced in the heart during pathology while T cell-related genes CD3ε, CD4, CD8, TCR-α and MHC-II were expressed in target organs at 8 wpi. These findings suggest that the onset of innate responses came too late to limit virus replication. Furthermore, SAV-3 infections in Atlantic salmon induce Th1/cytotoxic responses in common with other alphaviruses infecting higher vertebrates. Our findings demonstrate that SAV-3 can be transmitted via the water making it suitable for a cohabitation challenge model.
Heat shock factor-1 intertwines insulin/IGF-1, TGF-β and cGMP signaling to control development and aging
Authors: Barna János , Princz Andrea , Kosztelnik Mónika , Hargitai Balázs , Takács-Vellai Krisztina , Vellai Tibor
Published: November 2012

Background

Temperature affects virtually all cellular processes. A quick increase in temperature challenges the cells to undergo a heat shock response to maintain cellular homeostasis. Heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1) functions as a major player in this response as it activates the transcription of genes coding for molecular chaperones (also called heat shock proteins) that maintain structural integrity of proteins. However, the mechanisms by which HSF-1 adjusts fundamental cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, differentiation and aging to the ambient temperature remain largely unknown.

Results

We demonstrate here that in Caenorhabditis elegans HSF-1 represses the expression of daf-7 encoding a TGF-β (transforming growth factor-beta) ligand, to induce young larvae to enter the dauer stage, a developmentally arrested, non-feeding, highly stress-resistant, long-lived larval form triggered by crowding and starvation. Under favorable conditions, HSF-1 is inhibited by crowding pheromone-sensitive guanylate cyclase/cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) and systemic nutrient-sensing insulin/IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) signaling; loss of HSF-1 activity allows DAF-7 to promote reproductive growth. Thus, HSF-1 interconnects the insulin/IGF-1, TGF-β and cGMP neuroendocrine systems to control development and longevity in response to diverse environmental stimuli. Furthermore, HSF-1 upregulates another TGF-β pathway-interacting gene, daf-9/cytochrome P450, thereby fine-tuning the decision between normal growth and dauer formation.

Conclusion

Together, these results provide mechanistic insight into how temperature, nutrient availability and population density coordinately influence development, lifespan, behavior and stress response through HSF-1.
smRNAome profiling to identify conserved and novel microRNAs in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni
Authors: Mandhan Vibha , Kaur Jagdeep , Singh Kashmir
Published: November 2012

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a family of small RNA (sRNA) population that regulates the gene expression and plays an important role in plant development, metabolism, signal transduction and stress response. Extensive studies on miRNAs have been performed in different plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa etc. and volume of the miRNA database, mirBASE, has been increasing on day to day basis. Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an important perennial herb which accumulates high concentrations of diterpene steviol glycosides which contributes to its high indexed sweetening property with no calorific value. Several studies have been carried out for understanding molecular mechanism involved in biosynthesis of these glycosides, however, information about miRNAs has been lacking in S. rebaudiana. Deep sequencing of small RNAs combined with transcriptomic data is a powerful tool for identifying conserved and novel miRNAs irrespective of availability of genome sequence data.

Results

To identify miRNAs in S. rebaudiana, sRNA library was constructed and sequenced using Illumina genome analyzer II. A total of 30,472,534 reads representing 2,509,190 distinct sequences were obtained from sRNA library. Based on sequence similarity, we identified 100 miRNAs belonging to 34 highly conserved families. Also, we identified 12 novel miRNAs whose precursors were potentially generated from stevia EST and nucleotide sequences. All novel sequences have not been earlier described in other plant species. Putative target genes were predicted for most conserved and novel miRNAs. The predicted targets are mainly mRNA encoding enzymes regulating essential plant metabolic and signaling pathways.

Conclusions

This study led to the identification of 34 highly conserved miRNA families and 12 novel potential miRNAs indicating that specific miRNAs exist in stevia species. Our results provided information on stevia miRNAs and their targets building a foundation for future studies to understand their roles in key stevia traits.
Common genetic polymorphisms of microRNA biogenesis pathway genes and breast cancer survival
Authors: Sung Hyuna , Jeon Sujee , Lee Kyoung-Mu , Han Sohee , Song Minkyo , Choi Ji-Yeob , Park Sue K , Yoo Keun-Young , Noh Dong-Young , Ahn Sei-Hyun , Kang Daehee
Published: November 2012

Background

Although the role of microRNA’s (miRNA’s) biogenesis pathway genes in cancer development and progression has been well established, the association between genetic variants of this pathway genes and breast cancer survival is still unknown.

Methods

We used genotype data available from a previously conducted case–control study to investigate association between common genetic variations in miRNA biogenesis pathway genes and breast cancer survival. We investigated the possible associations between 41 germ-line single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and both disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) among 488 breast cancer patients. During the median follow-up of 6.24 years, 90 cases developed disease progression and 48 cases died.

Results

Seven SNPs were significantly associated with breast cancer survival. Two SNPs in AGO2 (rs11786030 and rs2292779) and DICER1 rs1057035 were associated with both DFS and OS. Two SNPs in HIWI (rs4759659 and rs11060845) and DGCR8 rs9606250 were associated with DFS, while DROSHA rs874332 and GEMIN4 rs4968104 were associated with only OS. The most significant association was observed in variant allele of AGO2 rs11786030 with 2.62-fold increased risk of disease progression (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.41-4.88) and in minor allele homozygote of AGO2 rs2292779 with 2.94-fold increased risk of death (95% CI, 1.52-5.69). We also found cumulative effects of SNPs on DFS and OS. Compared to the subjects carrying 0 to 2 high-risk genotypes, those carrying 3 or 4–6 high-risk genotypes had an increased risk of disease progression with a hazard ratio of 2.16 (95% CI, 1.18- 3.93) and 4.47 (95% CI, 2.45- 8.14), respectively (P for trend, 6.11E-07).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that genetic variants in miRNA biogenesis pathway genes may be associated with breast cancer survival. Further studies in larger sample size and functional characterizations are warranted to validate these results.
Association between body size and blood pressure in children from different ethnic origins
Authors: LA de Hoog Marieke , van Eijsden Manon , Stronks Karien , Gemke Reinoud JBJ , Vrijkotte Tanja GM
Published: November 2012

Objective

To assess associations between body size and blood pressure in children (5-6 years) from different ethnic origins.

Method

Five ethnic groups of the ABCD cohort were examined: Dutch (n=1 923), Turkish (n=99), Moroccan (n=187), Black-African (n=67) and Black-Caribbean (n=121). Data on body-mass-index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), fat-mass-index (FMI), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), were collected. Linear regression analysis with restricted cubic splines was used to examine non-linear associations between body size and blood pressure, adjusted for age, sex, height and birth weight.

Results

Ethnic differences were found in associations of BMI with SBP and DBP (SBP: p=0.001 and DBP: p=0.01) and FMI with SBP (p=0.03). BMI and FMI had a relatively large positive association with SBP in Turkish children (BMI: β=2.46mmHg; 95%CI:1.20-3.72; FMI: β=2.41mmHg; 95%CI:1.09-3.73) compared to Dutch (BMI: β=1.31mmHg; 95%CI:0.71-1.92; FMI: β=0.84mmHg; 95%CI:0.23-1.45). Black-Caribbean and Moroccan children showed high blood pressure with low BMI and FMI. Moroccan children showed higher SBP with high BMI and FMI. WHtR was positively associated with SBP and DBP, similar in all ethnic groups. Generally, strongest associations with blood pressure were found for BMI in all ethnic groups.

Conclusion

Ethnic-specific associations between BMI, and FMI and blood pressure are present at young age, with Turkish children showing the highest increase in blood pressure with increasing body size. The higher blood pressure in the Black-Caribbean and Moroccan children with low BMI needs further research. WHtR or FMI do not seem to be associated more strongly to blood pressure than BMI in any ethnic group.
Alzheimer's disease biomarker discovery using in silico literature mining and clinical validation
Authors: Greco Ines , Day Nicola , Riddoch-Contreras Joanna , Reed Jane , Soininen Hilkka , Kłoszewska Iwona , Tsolaki Magda , Vellas Bruno , Spenger Christian , Mecocci Patrizia , Wahlund Lars-Olof , Simmons Andrew , Barnes Julie , Lovestone Simon
Published: November 2012

Background

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most widespread form of dementia in the elderly but despite progress made in recent years towards a mechanistic understanding, there is still an urgent need for disease modification therapy and for early diagnostic tests. Substantial international efforts are being made to discover and validate biomarkers for AD using candidate analytes and various data-driven 'omics' approaches. Cerebrospinal fluid is in many ways the tissue of choice for biomarkers of brain disease but is limited by patient and clinician acceptability, and increasing attention is being paid to the search for blood-based biomarkers. The aim of this study was to use a novel in silico approach to discover a set of candidate biomarkers for AD.

Methods

We used an in silico literature mining approach to identify potential biomarkers by creating a summarized set of assertional metadata derived from relevant legacy information. We then assessed the validity of this approach using direct assays of the identified biomarkers in plasma by immunodetection methods.

Results

Using this in silico approach, we identified 25 biomarker candidates, at least three of which have subsequently been reported to be altered in blood or CSF from AD patients. Two further candidate biomarkers, indicated from the in silico approach, were choline acetyltransferase and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor. Using immunodetection, we showed that, in a large sample set, these markers are either altered in disease or correlate with MRI markers of atrophy.

Conclusions

These data support as a proof of concept the use of data mining and in silico analyses to derive valid biomarker candidates for AD and, by extension, for other disorders.
Human cytomegalovirus infection inhibits CXCL12- mediated migration and invasion of human extravillous cytotrophoblasts
Authors: Warner Jessica A , Zwezdaryk Kevin J , Day Bonita , Sullivan Deborah E , Pridjian Gabriella , Morris Cindy A
Published: November 2012

Background

During the first trimester of pregnancy, a series of tightly regulated interactions govern the formation of a highly invasive population of fetal-derived extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVT). Successful pregnancy is dependent on efficient invasion of the uterine wall and maternal spiral arteries by EVT. Dysregulated trophoblast invasion is associated with intrauterine growth restriction, birth defects, spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia. A number of soluble growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines modulate this process, fine-tuning the temporal and spatial aspects of cytotrophoblast invasion. In particular, the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis has been shown to specifically modulate cytotrophoblast differentiation, invasion, and survival throughout early pregnancy. Infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been associated with impaired differentiation of cytotrophoblasts down the invasive pathway, specifically dysregulating the response to mitogens including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In this study, the effect of HCMV infection on the CXCL12-mediated migration and invasion of the EVT cell line SGHPL-4 was investigated.

Results

Infection with HCMV significantly decreased secretion of CXCL12 by SGHPL-4 cells, and induced a striking perinuclear accumulation of the chemokine. HCMV infection significantly increased mRNA and total cell surface expression of the two known receptors for CXCL12: CXCR4 and CXCR7. Functionally, HCMV-infected SGHPL-4 cells were unable to migrate or invade in response to a gradient of soluble CXCL12 in transwell assays.

Conclusions

Collectively, these studies demonstrate that HCMV impairs EVT migration and invasion induced by CXCL12. As HCMV has the ability to inhibit EVT migration and invasion through dysregulation of other relevant signaling pathways, it is likely that the virus affects multiple signaling pathways to impair placentation and contribute to some of the placental defects seen in HCMV-positive pregnancies.