bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CD133 is indicative for a resistance phenotype but does not represent a prognostic marker for survival of non‐small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Salnikov Alexei V. , Gladkich Jury , Moldenhauer Gerhard , Volm Manfred , Mattern Jürgen , Herr Ingrid
Published: August 2009

Despite advances in anticancer treatment, lung cancer still has poor prognosis. Recently, a cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has emerged describing a small subset of tumor cells with stem cell properties. CSCs found in many solid tumors express CD133 antigen on the cell surface. The presence of CSC is correlated with poor survival of patients with glioblastomas, colon or prostate cancers. In this study, we evaluated whether CD133 expression in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a prognostic value in patients' survival. We also analyzed whether CD133 positivity of NSCLC correlates with the expression of resistance‐related proteins, angiogenic factors, oncogenes, proliferative activity or apoptosis. CD133 expression was retrospectively examined in a total of 88 cases of previously untreated NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. We found no correlation between CD133 positivity or the amount of CD133+ cells with NSCLC patients' survival, expression of oncogenes c‐myc, c‐N‐ras, c‐jun, c‐fos, c‐erbB1, c‐erbB2 or p53, angiogenic factors VEGF, VEGFR‐1, FGF, FGFR‐1, tissue factor and with proliferative activity or apoptosis in NSCLC tissues. However, there was a significant association between the expression of resistance‐related proteins glutathione S‐transferase, thymidylate synthase, catalase, O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase and p170 and CD133. Because CD133 expression is linked to a resistant phenotype, detection of CD133+ cells may be useful to predict efficacy of cytotoxic therapy but CD133 is not a strong prognostic parameter for survival of patients with NSCLC.
Downregulations of B‐cell lymphoma 2 and myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 by microRNA 153 induce apoptosis in a glioblastoma cell line DBTRG‐05MG
Authors: Xu Jianzhen , Liao Xuemei , Wong Chiwai
Published: August 2009

MicroRNA‐153 (miR‐153) is a brain‐specific miRNA that is expressed at a significantly lower level in glioblastoma (GBM) relative to non‐neoplastic brain tissue. Although the expression pattern of miR‐153 has been extensively established, its target genes and cellular mechanism remain undefined. To investigate into the potential function of miR‐153 in glioblastmas, we transfected a GBM cell line DBTRG‐05MG with synthetic miR‐153 oligos and observed decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that anti‐apoptosis family member B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) and myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl‐1) are potential targets of miR‐153. Indeed, Western blot analysis indicated that miR‐153 downregulated both Bcl‐2 and Mcl‐1 at the protein levels. Single strand miR‐153 inhibitor, which forms complementary base‐pair with endogenous miR‐153, efficiently blocked the apoptosis and target protein degradation induced by overexpression of miR‐153. By luciferase reporter assays, we further showed that miR‐153 inhibited Bcl‐2 and Mcl‐1 expressions by directly targeting the 3′UTR regions of their respective mRNAs.
BIIB021, a synthetic Hsp90 inhibitor, has broad application against tumors with acquired multidrug resistance
Authors: Zhang Hong , Neely Laura , Lundgren Karen , Yang Yong‐Ching , Lough Rachel , Timple Noel , Burrows Francis
Published: August 2009

17‐AAG, the first‐generation clinical Hsp90 inhibitor, exhibits promising antitumor activity in clinical studies, but is limited by poor solubility and hepatotoxicity. To pursue compounds with better biopharmaceutical properties, we have developed a series of fully synthetic orally bioavailable inhibitors of Hsp90. Here, we report that 17‐AAG and other ansamycin derivatives are inactive in P‐gp and/or MRP‐1 expressing cell lines and sensitivity could be restored by coadministration of P‐gp or MRP inhibitors. In contrast, the synthetic Hsp90 inhibitor, BIIB021 was active in these models. Accordingly, BIIB021 was considerably more active than 17‐AAG against adrenocortical carcinoma, a tumor that naturally expresses P‐gp, both in vitro and in vivo. This efflux pump‐mediated resistance is manifested in both cytotoxicity assays and measurements of target inhibition, such as client protein degradation. Other than this, the cytotoxic activity of BIIB021 was also not influenced by loss of NQO1 or Bcl‐2 overexpression, molecular lesions that do not prevent client loss but are nonetheless associated with reduced cell killing by 17‐AAG. Our results indicate that the activity of 17‐AAG and other ansamycins may be curtailed in tumors that have upregulated efflux pumps or antiapoptotic proteins or other genetic alterations. These data indicate that the new generation of synthetic anti‐Hsp90 drugs, exemplified by BIIB021 that is currently undergoing Phase II testing, may have broader application against tumors with acquired multidrug resistance or tumors located in organs protected by MDR proteins, such as the adrenal glands, brain and testis.
Diagnostic and prognostic implications of microRNA profiling in prostate carcinoma
Authors: Schaefer Annika , Jung Monika , Mollenkopf Hans‐Joachim , Wagner Ina , Stephan Carsten , Jentzmik Florian , Miller Kurt , Lein Michael , Kristiansen Glen , Jung Klaus
Published: August 2009

This study aimed to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) profile in prostate carcinoma tissue by microarray analysis and RT‐qPCR, to clarify associations of miRNA expression with clinicopathologic data and to evaluate the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Matched tumor and adjacent normal tissues were obtained from 76 radical prostatectomy specimens. Twenty‐four tissue pairs were analyzed using human miRNA microarrays for 470 human miRNAs. Differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by TaqMan RT‐qPCR using all 76 tissue pairs. The diagnostic potential of miRNAs was calculated by receiver operating characteristics analyses. The prognostic value was assessed in terms of biochemical recurrence using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. Fifteen differentially expressed miRNAs were identified with concordant fold‐changes by microarray and RT‐qPCR analyses. Ten microRNAs (hsa‐miR‐16, hsa‐miR‐31, hsa‐miR‐125b, hsa‐miR‐145, hsa‐miR‐149, hsa‐miR‐181b, hsa‐miR‐184, hsa‐miR‐205, hsa‐miR‐221, hsa‐miR‐222) were downregulated and 5 miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐96, hsa‐miR‐182, hsa‐miR‐182*, hsa‐miR‐183, hsa‐375) were upregulated. Expression of 5 miRNAs correlated with Gleason score or pathological tumor stage. Already 2 microRNAs classified up to 84% of malignant and nonmalignant samples correctly. Expression of hsa‐miR‐96 was associated with cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy and that prognostic information was confirmed by an independent tumor sample set from 79 patients. That was shown with hsa‐miR‐96 and the Gleason score as final variables in the Cox models build in the 2 patient sets investigated. Thus, differential miRNAs in prostate cancer are useful diagnostic and prognostic indicators. This study provides a solid basis for further functional analyses of miRNAs in prostate cancer.
Non‐Gaussian dynamic Bayesian modelling for panel data
Authors: Juárez Miguel A. , Steel Mark F. J.
Published: August 2009

A first order autoregressive non‐Gaussian model for analysing panel data is proposed. The main feature is that the model is able to accommodate fat tails and also skewness, thus allowing for outliers and asymmetries. The modelling approach is designed to gain sufficient flexibility, without sacrificing interpretability and computational ease. The model incorporates individual effects and covariates and we pay specific attention to the elicitation of the prior. As the prior structure chosen is not proper, we derive conditions for the existence of the posterior. By considering a model with individual dynamic parameters we are also able to formally test whether the dynamic behaviour is common to all units in the panel. The methodology is illustrated with two applications involving earnings data and one on growth of countries. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physicochemical properties of KDML 105 rice cultivar from different cultivated locations in Thailand
Authors: Pitiphunpong Sawidtree , Suwannaporn Prisana
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: The eating quality of KDML 105 rice cultivar, or Jasmine rice, differs greatly based on its cultivated location. Classifying KDML 105 rice according to its cultivated location could help in understanding the different characteristics of rice which affect its eating quality.

RESULTS: The pasting and calorimetric properties of KDML 105 rice from eight locations where Jasmine rice is cultivated were determined using a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) and Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied in order to classify the cultivated locations of KDML 105 according to their pasting and calorimetric properties. PCA yielded four factors which accounted for 92.7% of the total explained variance. KDML 105 rice cultivated in different locations was subdivided into five areas: (1) the upper central region; (2) the upper northeast region; (3) the lower northeast region; (4) the lower central/northeast region; and (5) the lower northern region and the upper north‐east region. These groups agreed well with the classification of favourable planting areas for Jasmine rice in Thailand. The less favourable cultivated areas correlated either with breakdown and setback or thermal properties. The most favourable locations for quality Jasmine rice in Thailand were correlated with peak viscosity, trough and final viscosity.

CONCLUSION: The location of KDML 105 rice cultivation had an impact on cooked rice quality. Pasting and thermal properties of gelatinisation and retrogradation parameters could be used to explain the quality of KDML 105 rice cultivated in different locations. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Endogenous lysine in ileal digesta in the growing rat determined using different methods
Authors: Awati Ajay , Rutherfurd Shane M , Kies Arie K , Veyry Aude , Moughan Paul J
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: Endogenous lysine in ileal digesta has been determined directly using highly digestible proteins and hydrolysates and assuming a complete absorption of dietary amino acids. In this study, the endogenous lysine in the ileal digesta of rats fed casein was determined using the guanidination method (baseline) and directly (assuming complete digestion and absorption) for casein and a highly hydrolysed casein. The peptide alimentation/ultrafiltration technique was also used to determine the endogenous ileal lysine for the casein hydrolysate (Peptopro®).

RESULTS: Mean endogenous ileal lysine for rats given the unguanidinated casein and determined directly assuming complete digestion and absorption (644 mg kg−1 dry matter intake (DMI)) or for a highly hydrolysed casein with the same assumption (596 mg kg−1 DMI) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the endogenous ileal lysine for casein determined using the guanidination method (274 mg kg−1 DMI). The endogenous lysine in ileal digesta for a casein hydrolysate determined using the alimentation/ultrafiltration method (302 mg kg−1 DMI) was not significantly (P < 0.05) different from that based on the guanidination method but was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the equivalent endogenous lysine determined directly.

CONCLUSION: Dietary amino acids are not completely absorbed from casein or its hydrolysate and determining endogenous amino acids in ileal digesta directly, assuming complete absorption, overestimates the amount of endogenous ileal amino acids. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Inactivation of SNF5 cooperates with p53 loss to accelerate tumor formation in Snf5+/−;p53+/− mice
Authors: DelBove Jessica , Kuwahara Yasumichi , Mora‐Blanco E. Lorena , Godfrey Virginia , Funkhouser William K. , Fletcher Christopher D.M. , Van Dyke Terry , Roberts Charles W.M. , Weissman Bernard E.
Published: August 2009

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs) are poorly differentiated pediatric cancers that arise in various anatomical locations and have a very poor outcome. The large majority of these malignancies are caused by loss of function of the SNF5/INI1 component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. However, the mechanism of tumor development associated with SNF5 loss remains unclear. Multiple studies have demonstrated a role for SNF5 in the regulation of cyclin D1, p16INK4A, and pRbf activities suggesting it functions through the SWI/SNF complex to affect transcription of genes involved in cell cycle control. Previous studies in genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) have shown that loss of SNF5 on a p53‐null background significantly accelerates tumor development. Here, we use established GEMM to further define the relationship between the SNF5 and p53 tumor suppressor pathways. Combined haploinsufficiency of p53 and Snf5 leads to decreased latency for MRTs arising in alternate anatomical locations but not for the standard facial MRTs. We also observed acceleration in the appearance of T‐cell lymphomas in the p53+/−;Snf5+/− mice. Our studies suggest that loss of SNF5 activity does not bestow a selective advantage on the p53 spectrum of tumors in the p53+/−;Snf5+/− mice. However, reduced p53 expression specifically accelerated the growth of a subset of MRTs in these mice. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A 3D SMA constitutive model in the framework of finite strain
Authors: Evangelista Veronica , Marfia Sonia , Sacco Elio
Published: August 2009

The aim of the present paper is to propose a phenomenological thermodynamically consistent 3D model for shape memory alloys (SMA) in the finite strain range. In particular, a model able to predict the main features of SMA materials, such as the superelastic and the shape‐memory effects, is proposed. The model is based on the assumption of the local multiplicative split of the deformation gradient into an elastic and a phase transformation part. The governing state and evolutive equations are written in the undeformed configuration. The material parameters of the model are characterized by a clear physical meaning so that they can be determined by simple experimental tests. The finite deformation SMA model is also reformulated in the framework of small strain, linearizing the strain and stress measures in order to obtain a consistent constitutive model preserving the nonlinear material response. A robust algorithm is adopted in order to integrate the nonlinear evolutive equations; 2D and 3D finite elements are implemented in a numerical code considering finite and small deformations. Some numerical applications are carried out showing the performances of the proposed model and the developed numerical procedure to describe the superelastic and the shape‐memory effects of SMA devices. Comparisons of different results obtained by the small and finite strain formulations are reported. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ fibrillation of polyamide 6 in isotactic polypropylene occurring in the laminating‐multiplying die
Authors: Shen Jiabin , Wang Ming , Li Jiang , Guo Shaoyun
Published: August 2009

The polyamide 6 (PA6)/isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in situ fibrillation composites are prepared by a novel extrusion die with an assembly of laminating‐multiplying elements (LMEs). The scanning electron micrographs illustrate that the dividing‐multiplying processes in LMEs elongate, break, and stabilize the dispersed PA6 phase in the iPP matrix along the flowing direction (FD). The morphology development of PA6 with different LME numbers greatly affects the rheological properties, crystalline behaviors, and mechanical properties. The dynamic rheological test performed at 195°C shows that the increased spatial restriction of the high‐aspect‐ratio PA6 particles increases the viscoelastic moduli, complex viscosity, and relaxation time. The crystalline analysis reveals that the heterogeneous nucleation becomes predominant and the transcrystalline morphology is observed in those samples produced by more LMEs. The tensile tests indicate that both, breaking strength and elongation, enhanced simultaneously because of the fibrillation of dispersed phase and the improvement in interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the matrix. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein‐binding site prediction based on three‐dimensional protein modeling
Authors: Oh Mina , Joo Keehyoung , Lee Jooyoung
Published: August 2009

Structural information of a protein can guide one to understand the function of the protein, and ligand binding is one of the major biochemical functions of proteins. We have applied a two‐stage template‐based ligand binding site prediction method to CASP8 targets and achieved high quality results with accuracy/coverage = 70/80 (LEE). First, templates are used for protein structure modeling and then for binding site prediction by structural clustering of ligand‐containing templates to the predicted protein model. Remarkably, the results are only a few percent worse than those one can obtain from native structures, which were available only after the prediction. Prediction was performed without knowing identity of ligands, and consequently, in many cases the ligand molecules used for prediction were different from the actual ligands, and yet we find that the prediction was quite successful. The current approach can be easily combined with experiments to investigate protein activities in a systematic way. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The (non)malignancy of cancerous amino acidic substitutions
Authors: Talavera David , Taylor Martin S. , Thornton Janet M.
Published: August 2009

The process of natural selection acts both on individual organisms within a population and on individual cells within an organism as they develop into cancer. In this work, we have taken a first step toward understanding the differences in selection pressures exerted on the human genome under these disparate circumstances. Focusing on single amino acid substitutions, we have found that cancer‐related mutations (CRMs) are frequent in evolutionarily conserved sites, whereas single amino acid polymorphisms (SAPs) tend to appear in sites having a more relaxed evolutionary pressure. Those CRMs classed as cancer driver mutations show greater enrichment for conserved sites than passenger mutations. Consistent with this, driver mutations are enriched for sites annotated as key functional residues and their neighbors, and are more likely to be located on the surface of proteins than expected by chance. Overall the pattern of CRM and polymorphism is remarkably similar, but we do see a clear signal indicative of diversifying selection for disruptive amino acid substitutions in the cancer driver mutations. The ultimate consequence of the appearance of those mutations must be advantageous for the tumor cell, leading to cell population‐growth and migration events similar to those seen in natural ecosystems. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of post‐annealing on (110) Cu2O epitaxial films and origin of low mobility in Cu2O thin‐film transistor
Authors: Matsuzaki Kosuke , Nomura Kenji , Yanagi Hiroshi , Kamiya Toshio , Hirano Masahiro , Hosono Hideo
Published: August 2009

We grew epitaxial (110) Cu2O films on (110) MgO substrates toward high‐mobility p‐channel oxide thin‐film transistors (TFTs). The (110) Cu2O films exhibited high Hall mobilities ∼90 cm2(Vs)−1 comparable to those of high‐quality single‐crystals, which were obtained in a narrow growth condition for 650 nm‐thick films. TFTs using the epitaxial (110) Cu2O channels exhibited p‐channel operation, but the field‐effect mobilities and the on‐to‐off drain current ratio were far from satisfaction (∼0.04 cm2(Vs)−1 and ∼2, respectively). In order to investigate the origin of the poor mobility, the films were subjected to post‐deposition annealing under various oxygen partial pressures (PO2−A = 0.65–10−3 Pa). Optical measurements revealed that subgap states exist in all the films and their amounts were increased by post‐deposition annealing irrespective of PO2−A. The subgap density of states estimated by the optical analyses are consistent roughly with that estimated from the TFT mobility.
Sputtered multicomponent amorphous dielectrics for transparent electronics
Authors: Pereira Luís , Barquinha Pedro , Gonçalves Gonçalo , Vilà Anna , Olziersky Antonis , Morante Joan , Fortunato Elvira , Martins Rodrigo
Published: August 2009

In this work, we present the structural and electrical properties of HfO2, HfO2 + SiO2, and HfO2 + Al2O3 dielectric composite layers deposited by sputtering without any intentional substrate heating. The films were deposited on glass and 〈100〉 crystalline silicon (c‐Si) substrates from ceramic targets by using argon (Ar) and oxygen (O2) as sputtering and reactive gases, respectively. The incorporation of SiO2 and Al2O3 into hafnia was obtained by co‐sputtering and it was controlled by adjusting the ratio of r.f. power applied between the targets. The HfO2 films present a microcrystalline structure, when deposited at room temperature (RT). The lowest leakage current in c‐Si MIS (Metal‐Insulator‐Semiconductor) structures (below 109 A/cm2 at 10 V on films with a thickness around 180 nm) was obtained for an Ar/O2 ratio of 14:1 sccm, and further increase in O2 flow does not enhance the electrical characteristics. The co‐deposition of SiO2 or Al2O3 with hafnia has a strong influence on the structure of the resulting films since they become amorphous. The leakage current in MIS structures incorporating these multi‐component dielectrics is reduced at least by a factor of 2, which is accompanied by an increase on the band gap. The dielectric constant is decreased due to the lower values for SiO2 and Al2O3.
Responses of Chironomid larvae (insecta, Diptera) to ecological quality in Mediterranean river mesohabitats (South Italy)
Authors: Marziali Laura , Armanini David Giordano , Cazzola Marcello , Erba Stefania , Toppi Elisa , Buffagni Andrea , Rossaro Bruno
Published: August 2009

Chironomid larvae and pupae were studied in selected Mediterranean rivers with the aim of identifying pool and riffle taxa assemblages and of analysing their response to ecological quality gradients. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in six Italian rivers along a pool‐riffle sequence in three seasons following a multihabitat sampling technique. Chironomids were identified as genus/species, other macroinvertebrates as family/genus. The main physico‐chemical, hydromorphological and geographical data were collected. Samples were ascribed to five quality classes according to the STAR_ICM index. Based on Chironomid taxa, principal component analysis (PCA) axis 1 represented an organic pollution gradient, axis 2 represented seasonality. Pool and riffle samples were significantly different according to taxa assemblages. Similar results were obtained with PCA based on the whole macrobenthic community. Indicator value (IndVal) analysis facilitated the detection of the Chironomid indicators of high/good quality pools (e.g. Conchapelopia pallidula, Rheopelopia ornata, Epoicocladius ephemerae) and riffles (Tvetenia calvescens, Eukiefferiella gracei). The Berger–Parker dominance index based on Chironomid assemblages in pools was correlated to PCA axis 1 and performed well in discriminating between quality classes. In riffles, no correlations to PCA axes were detected and a wide overlap between quality classes was present. Thus, assessment in the analysed river type may focus on pool mesohabitat as this seems to represent best the ecological gradient of sites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Novel Polymeric Lead(II)‐Azido Compound: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and DFT Calculations of [Pb(dmp)(N3)2]n
Authors: Shaabani Behrouz , Mirtamizdoust Babak , Shadman Muhammad , Fun Hoong‐Kun
Published: August 2009

A novel 1D PbII coordination polymer containing Pb2‐(μ‐N3)2 unit [Pb(dmp)(N3)2]n (dmp =  2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) has been prepared and characterized. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses show that the coordination number for PbII ions is six, PbN6, with “stereochemically active” electron lone pairs and the coordination sphere being hemidirected. The single‐crystal X‐ray data show the chains interact with each other through the π–π stacking interactions, which create a 3D framework. The structure of title complex has been optimized by density functional theory. Structural parameters and IR spectra for the complex are in agreement with the crystal structure.
Morphology and Photoluminescence of HfO2Obtained by Microwave-Hydrothermal
Authors: Eliziário SA , Cavalcante LS , Sczancoski JC , Pizani PS , Varela JA , Espinosa JWM , Longo E
Published: August 2009

In this letter, we report on the obtention of hafnium oxide (HfO2) nanostructures by the microwave-hydrothermal method. These nanostructures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission gum scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns confirmed that this material crystallizes in a monoclinic structure. FEG-SEM and TEM micrographs indicated that the rice-like morphologies were formed due to an increase in the effective collisions between the nanoparticles during the MH processing. The EDXS spectrum was used to verify the chemical compositional of this oxide. UV–vis spectrum revealed that this material have an indirect optical band gap. When excited with 488 nm wavelength at room temperature, the HfO2nanostructures exhibited only one broad PL band with a maximum at around 548 nm (green emission).
Jid1 is a J‐protein functioning in the mitochondrial matrix, unable to directly participate in endoplasmic reticulum associated protein degradation
Authors: Bursać Dejan , Lithgow Trevor
Published: August 2009

J‐proteins are a class of molecular chaperones that serve to stimulate the activity of Hsp70s and are often located to recruit Hsp70 to a particular cellular function. Protein degradation associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ERAD) is one such cellular process that requires Hsp70 on both faces of the endoplasmic reticulum. At least five J‐proteins, including Jid1 (DnaJ protein Involved in ER‐associated Degradation), have been implicated in controlling ERAD. Here we show that Jid1 is confined within the mitochondrial matrix – Jid1 has the same topology as the J‐proteins Pam18 and Mdj2, which stimulate mitochondrial Hsp70 to drive protein import into the mitochondrial matrix. The location of Jid1 within mitochondria makes it unavailable to participate directly in the regulation of ERAD.
Investigating vulnerability to eating disorders: biases in emotional processing
Authors: Pringle A. , Harmer C. J. , Cooper M. J.
Published: August 2009

Background

Biases in emotional processing and cognitions about the self are thought to play a role in the maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). However, little is known about whether these difficulties exist pre-morbidly and how they might contribute to risk.

Method

Female dieters (n=82) completed a battery of tasks designed to assess the processing of social cues (facial emotion recognition), cognitions about the self [Self-Schema Processing Task (SSPT)] and ED-specific cognitions about eating, weight and shape (emotional Stroop). The 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garneret al.1982) was used to assess subclinical ED symptoms; this was used as an index of vulnerability within this at-risk group.

Results

Regression analyses showed that biases in the processing of both neutral and angry faces were predictive of our measure of vulnerability (EAT-26). In the self-schema task, biases in the processing of negative self descriptors previously found to be common in EDs predicted vulnerability. Biases in the processing of shape-related words on the Stroop task were also predictive; however, these biases were more important in dieters who also displayed biases in the self-schema task. We were also able to demonstrate that these biases are specific and separable from more general negative biases that could be attributed to depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

These results suggest that specific biases in the processing of social cues, cognitions about the self, and also about eating, weight and shape information, may be important in understanding risk and preventing relapse in EDs.
Comparison of social cognitive functioning in schizophrenia and high functioning autism: more convergence than divergence
Authors: Couture S. M. , Penn D. L. , Losh M. , Adolphs R. , Hurley R. , Piven J.
Published: August 2009

Background

Individuals with schizophrenia and individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) seem to share some social, behavioral and biological features. Although marked impairments in social cognition have been documented in both groups, little empirical work has compared the social cognitive functioning of these two clinical groups.

Method

Forty-four individuals with schizophrenia, 36 with HFA and 41 non-clinical controls completed a battery of social cognitive measures that have been linked previously to specific brain regions.

Results

The results indicate that the individuals with schizophrenia and HFA were both impaired on a variety of social cognitive tasks relative to the non-clinical controls, but did not differ from one another. When individuals with schizophrenia were divided into negative symptom and paranoid subgroups, exploratory analyses revealed that individuals with HFA may be more similar, in terms of the pattern of social cognition impairments, to the negative symptom group than to the paranoia group.

Conclusions

Our findings provide further support for similarities in social cognition deficits between HFA and schizophrenia, which have a variety of implications for future work on gene–brain–behavior relationships.
PTSD after deployment to Iraq: conflicting rates, conflicting claims
Authors: Sundin J. , Fear N. T. , Iversen A. , Rona R. J. , Wessely S.
Published: August 2009

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been called one of the signature injuries of the Iraq War. In this review prevalence estimates of PTSD are summarized and discrepancies are discussed in relation to methodological differences between studies.

Method

We searched for population-based studies with a minimum sample size of 300. Studies based on help-seeking samples were excluded. We identified 60 possible papers, of which 19 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Prevalence estimates and study characteristics were examined graphically with forest plots, but because of high levels of heterogeneity between studies, overall estimates of PTSD prevalence were not discussed.

Results

The prevalence of PTSD in personnel deployed to Iraq varied between 1.4% and 31%. Stratifying studies by PTSD measure only slightly reduced the variability in prevalence. Anonymous surveys of line infantry units reported higher levels of PTSD compared to studies that are representative of the entire deployed population. UK studies tend to report lower prevalence of PTSD compared with many US studies; however, when comparisons are restricted to studies with random samples, prevalences are similar. US studies that have assessed personnel more than once since return from deployment have shown that PTSD prevalence increases over the 12 months following deployment.

Conclusions

Differences in methodologies and samples used should be considered when making comparisons of PTSD prevalence between studies. Further studies based on longitudinal samples are needed to understand how the prevalence of PTSD changes over time.
Uniqueness of the measure with full dimension on sofic affine-invariant subsets of the 2-torus
Authors: OLIVIER ERIC
Published: August 2009

We consider the variational principle for dimension on compact subsets of the 2-torus which are invariant under a non-conformal expanding diagonal endomorphism. Condition (H) ensures that the invariant measures with full dimension are the equilibrium states of some potential function. This result applies to the problem of uniqueness of the measure with full dimension on the sofic affine-invariant sets.
LOCAL LIMIT THEORY AND SPURIOUS NONPARAMETRIC REGRESSION
Authors: Phillips Peter C.B.
Published: August 2009

A local limit theorem is proved for sample covariances of nonstationary time series and integrable functions of such time series that involve a bandwidth sequence. The resulting theory enables an asymptotic development of nonparametric regression with integrated or fractionally integrated processes that includes the important practical case of spurious regressions. Some local regression diagnostics are suggested for forensic analysis of such regresssions, including a localR2and a local Durbin–Watson (DW) ratio, and their asymptotic behavior is investigated. The most immediate findings extend the earlier work on linear spurious regression (Phillips, 1986,Journal of Econometrics33, 311–340) showing that the key behavioral characteristics of statistical significance, lowDWratios and moderate to highR2continue to apply locally in nonparametric spurious regression. Some further applications of the limit theory to models of nonlinear functional relations and cointegrating regressions are given. The methods are also shown to be applicable in partial linear semiparametric nonstationary regression.
THE PROPERTIES OF KULLBACK–LEIBLER DIVERGENCE FOR THE UNIT ROOT HYPOTHESIS
Authors: Marsh Patrick
Published: August 2009

The fundamental contributions made by Paul Newbold have highlighted how crucial it is to detect when economic time series have unit roots. This paper explores the effects that model specification has on our ability to do that. Asymptotic power, a natural choice to quantify these effects, does not accurately predict finite-sample power. Instead, here the Kullback–Leibler divergence between the unit root null and any alternative is used and its numeric and analytic properties detailed. Numerically it behaves in a similar way to finite-sample power. However, because it is analytically available we are able to prove that it is a minimizable function of the degree of trending in any included deterministic component and of the correlation of the underlying innovations. It is explicitly confirmed, therefore, that it is approximately linear trends and negative unit root moving average innovations that minimize the efficacy of unit root inferential tools. Applied to the Nelson and Plosser macroeconomic series the effect that different types of trends included in the model have on unit root inference is clearly revealed.
Interannual properties of the CO2 system in the Southern Ocean south of Australia
Authors: Laika H.E. , Goyet C. , Vouve F. , Poisson A. , Touratier F.
Published: August 2009

In order to quantify the temporal variations of ocean properties, the MINERVE programme was designed to perform time-series measurements in the Southern Indian Ocean south of Australia. In the sub-Antarctic region (SAR, 48.5 ± 6.0°S), the mean CO2 flux increased from spring to summer from -6.8 mmol.m-2.d-1 in October 2005 to -9.9 mmol.m-2.d-1 in February 2006. In the Permanent Open Ocean Zone (POOZ, 57.5 ± 3.0°S), we observed lower pCO2 in summer than in spring (340 and 398 μatm, respectively). The mean CO2 flux showed large temporal variations from -0.2 mmol.m-2.d-1 in October 2005 to -8.2 mmol.m-2.d-1 in February 2006. The large temporal variation was associated with increased phytoplankton biomass. In the Continental Antarctic Zone (66.0 ± 1.0°S), the mean CO2 flux decreased from +14.9 mmol.m-2.d-1 in October 2005 to -8.4 mmol.m-2.d-1 in February 2006. In winter and spring, deep water mixing and seasonal sea-ice strongly increase pCO2sea above atmospheric level. In contrast, during summer, the effect of biological CO2 uptake decreased pCO2sea. Furthermore, these data allowed us to parameterize AT and CT as a function of temperature and salinity.
Penguin population dynamics for the past 8500 years at Gardner Island, Vestfold Hills
Authors: Huang Tao , Sun Liguang , Wang Yuhong , Liu Xiaodong , Zhu Renbin
Published: August 2009

In order to reconstruct past changes in penguin populations we performed geochemical analyses on a penguin ornithogenic sediment core DG4 retrieved from a lake catchment on Gardner Island, Vestfold Hills. P, Se, F, S, As, Sr and Cu in DG4 were identified as the bio-element assemblage by R-clustering analyses on the elemental concentrations and comparisons with those in bedrock and fresh penguin guano. Factor analysis on the levels of these bio-elements in the core permitted a reconstruction of variations in historical penguin populations at Gardner Island spanning the past 8500 years. The penguin population showed significant fluctuations, reaching its highest density between 4700–2400 calibrated years before present. This coincides with evidence for a late Holocene warm period in the Vestfold Hills, similar to that associated with the late Holocene penguin optimum recorded in the Ross Sea and Antarctic Peninsula regions.
Developing conversational competence through language awareness and multimodality: the use of DVDs
Authors: Jaén María Moreno , Basanta Carmen Pérez
Published: August 2009

The argument for a pedagogy of input oriented learning for the development of speaking competence (Sharwood-Smith, 1986; Bardovi-Harlig and Salsbury, 2004; Eslami-Rasekh, 2005) has been of increasing interest in Applied Linguistics circles. It has also been argued that multimedia applications, in particular DVDs, provide language learners with multimodal representations that may help them ‘to gain broad access to oral communication both visually and auditory’ (Tschirner, 2001: 305). Thus this paper focuses on an exploratory study of teaching oral interaction through input processing by means of multimodal texts.

The paper is divided into a number of interconnected sections. First, we outline briefly what teaching conversation implies and examine the important role of oral comprehension in the development of conversational interaction. In fact, it has been suggested that effective speaking depends very much on successful understanding (Oprandy, 1994). In this paper we pay special attention to the crucial role of context in understanding oral interactions. Therefore, we outline the theory of context in English Language Teaching (ELT). The discussion draws on approaches to teaching conversation and it also offers a brief reflection about the need for materials which might convey the sociocultural and semiotic elements of oral communication through which meaning is created.

We then discuss the decisions taken to propose a new multimodal approach to teaching conversation from a three-fold perspective: (a) the selection of texts taken from films, and the benefits of using DVDs (digital versatile disc); (b) the development of a multimodal analysis of film clips for the design of activities; and (c) the promotion of a conversation awareness methodology through a bank of DVD clips to achieve an understanding of how native speakers actually go about the process of constructing oral interactions.

In sum, the main thrust of this paper is to pinpoint the advantages of using multimodal materials taken from DVDs, as they provide learners with broad access to oral communication, both visual and auditory, making classroom conditions similar to the target cultural environment (Tschirner, 2001).
Speed bumps for authentic listening material
Authors: Meinardi Marty
Published: August 2009

This article investigates whether authentic native speaker (NS) to NS speech can be made available to the learner listener through the use of a novel slow-down tool. Results from various preliminary tests seem to indicate that the use of a slow-down algorithm in many cases, and in particular in samples with a higher speed rate and word count, leads to an improvement in subjects’ ability to perceive and understand what was being uttered in the samples. Tests revealed that even NS listeners, as opposed to non-native (NN) listeners, prefer to hear authentic NS speech which is either unscripted or is influenced by regional accent, at a slowed down speed. It also seems that ‘unexpected’ words (such as words with high contextual value, but which cannot be processed in a top-down fashion because of the size of the sound snippet) are initially not understood at the original speed of delivery, even in a scripted and carefully pronounced pedagogic sample. Samples containing chunks or formulaic sequences, however, appear to be easily understood at 100% by the majority of NS listeners due to the holistic processing of these language units.
Discussing course literature online: analysis of macro speech acts in an asynchronous computer conference
Authors: Kosunen Riitta
Published: August 2009

This paper presents a macro speech act analysis of computer-mediated conferencing on a university course on language pedagogy. Students read scholarly articles on language learning and discussed them online, in order to make sense of them collaboratively in preparation for a reflective essay. The study explores how the course participants made use of computer-mediated conferencing for such collaborative text processing. A discussion thread with 97 messages was analyzed for itsmacro speech acts. The conference messages were treated as pragmatic macrostructures where micro-level speech act sequences can be mapped onto a higher-level, global speech act or textual function. The discussion turned out to be reader-centred and practice-oriented. Approximately two thirds of the messages were concerned with interpreting theory from a practical point of view, expressing the students’ personal experience, opinion or idea about a certain issue related to the article. In comparison, only one tenth dealt with checking the explicit propositional content of the article. The results are interpreted in terms of the distinction between a narrative and paradigmatic/expository discourse.
Complete congenital obstruction of a scimitar vein in an infant with severe respiratory failure
Authors: Bauch Alexandra , Lee Kyong-Jin , Yoo Shi-Joon
Published: August 2009

We report an infant of 3 1/2 months with complete obstruction of the venous component of the scimitar syndrome, a large atrial septal defect within the oval fossa, a common left pulmonary vein, and pulmonary hypertension. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first description of complete congenital obstruction of a scimitar vein.
Antibiotikatherapie in der Praxis: Update 2009
Authors: Täuber  , Mühlemann
Published: August 2009

Die rationale Antibiotikatherapie in der Praxis basiert auf einem zurückhaltenden und resistenzgerechten Einsatz oraler Substanzen. Bei meist durch Viren verursachten Atemwegsinfektionen soll à priori auf ein Antibiotikum verzichtet werden (z.B. Rhinitis, Bronchitis, Sinusitis). Viele durch Bakterien verursachte Atemwegsinfektionen können mit einem Penicillin, je nach klinischer Indikation kombiniert mit einem Beta-Laktamasehemmer behandelt werden. Chinolone sollen bei Atemwegsinfektionen kaum eingesetzt werden, da Chinolon-Resistenzen schnell zunehmen. Diese Zunahme begründet auch die Empfehlung, bei unkomplizierten Harnwegsinfektionen (Zystitiden) anstatt eines Chinolons Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazol (TMP-SMX) einzusetzen, obwohl ca. 20% der Escherichia coli gegen TMP-SMX resistent sind. Für Infektionen von Haut und Weichteilen bleiben Penicilline kombiniert mit einem Beta-Laktamase-Inhibitor die Therapie der Wahl, solange die sich in gewissen Ländern ausserhalb des Spitals rasch ausbreitenden Methicillin-resistenten S.-aureus-Stämme bei uns noch selten sind.
Idiopathischer Normaldruckhydrozephalus
Authors: Gautschi  , Cadosch  , Stienen  , Hildebrandt  , Fournier
Published: August 2009

Normaldruckhydrozephalus (NPH = normal pressure hydrocephalus) ist ein Syndrom, welches durch die Symptomen-Trias Gangstörungen, Urininkontinenz und demenzielle Entwicklung charakterisiert ist, wobei die Gangstörung das Kardinalsymptom darstellt. Der NPH ist mit einer radiologisch verifizierbaren Ventrikelerweiterung ohne wesentlich erhöhten intrakraniellen Druck vergesellschaftet. Da sich viele Patienten nicht mit den klassischen klinischen und bildgebenden Befunden eines NPH präsentieren, stellt die Diagnosestellung und das Management der fortschreitenden Erkrankung eine Herausforderung für die behandelnden Hausärzte, Neurologen und Neurochirurgen dar. Eine Reihe von ergänzenden präoperativen Untersuchungen wie zum Beispiel die lumbale Liquorpunktion oder der Liquorinfusionstest liefern Hinweise auf das Ansprechen einer chirurgischen Intervention. Eine permanente Liquorableitung über einen Shunt führt bei der Mehrzahl eines vorsichtig ausgewählten Patientenkollektives zu einer signifikanten klinischen Verbesserung. Im Folgenden werden sowohl die klinischen Aspekte und die Diagnostik und die aktuellsten Therapieoptionen des NPH praxisnah besprochen.
Bullying an Grundschulen
Authors: von Marées Nandoli , Petermann Franz
Published: August 2009

Zusammenfassung. Bullying unter Grundschülern wurde in Bezug auf Geschlechts- und Altersunterschiede untersucht sowie einhergehende psychosoziale Probleme analysiert. Mittels eines neuen Bi-Informanden-Ansatzes (Selbst- und Lehrerbeurteilung) wurde Bullying unter 550 Kindern (Alter: 6;5 bis 10;8 Jahre) erfasst, zudem wurden emotionale und Verhaltensprobleme erhoben. Insgesamt wurden 10.0% aller Kinder als Täter identifiziert, 17.4% als Opfer und 16.5% als Täter-Opfer. Signifikante Geschlechtsunterschiede gab es bei direktem (physischen und verbalen) Bullying: Jungen waren häufiger Täter und Opfer. Indirektes/relationales Bullying trat v.a. innerhalb gleichgeschlechtlicher Gruppen auf, direktes Bullying wurde eher von und gegenüber Jungen angewandt. Bullying nahm mit dem Alter zu, Viktimisierung blieb stabil. Kovarianzanalysen bestätigten bei den identifizierten Tätern, Opfern und Täter-Opfern die spezifischen psychosozialen Probleme, wie sie aus der internationalen Bullyingforschung bekannt sind.
The RNA world: Conditions for prebiotic synthesis
Authors: Schrader Malcolm E.
Published: August 2009

An overview of proposed steps in the synthesis of RNA from the prebiotic atmosphere and Earth is given, along with some suggestions designed to increase the plausibility of the process. It is assumed that the atmosphere was “slightly reducing,” consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water and traces of other gases, and that the important source of energy fueling the process is solar ultraviolet radiation. The products HCHO and HCN begin the progress of chemical evolution toward RNA. The traditional approach of a “reaction soup” in the oceans, with its built‐in problem of hydrolysis of the products, is abandoned in favor of flow through a solid earth chromatographic adsorption–type reactor. This may be vertical through the surface of solid earth or parallel to it, as in paper chromatography. It is shown that the entire process, on through polymerization of RNA, can be regarded as photochemically driven.