bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Surfactant Concentration on Miniemulsion Polymerization for the Preparation of Hybrid Nanoparticles
Authors: Hecht Lena L. , Wagner Caroline , Özcan Özge , Eisenbart Felix , Köhler Karsten , Landfester Katharina , Schuchmann Heike P.
Published: September 2012

The surfactant concentration in miniemulsion polymerization is a very important parameter. At surfactant concentrations lower than a critical value, coalescence of monomer droplets changes their size, whereas concentrations too high lead to the formation of micelles and micellar nucleation in the polymerization step. Inorganic particles dispersed in the monomer phase, with the goal to produce hybrid particles, influence the surfactant concentration needed as shown in this contribution. Values for the ideal surfactant concentration have been determined for different combinations of particles and surfactant. Underlying mechanisms for the required adjustment of surfactant concentration are discussed.
The Effects of Incidental Ad Exposure on Consumption‐Enhancing and Consumption‐Critical Processes
Authors: Sauerland Martin , Felser Georg , Krajewski Jarek
Published: September 2012

This article focuses on consumers’ unconscious counter‐reactions to incidentally received advertising appeals. Recipients can be influenced automatically by incidental ad exposure due to evaluative conditioning processes, mere‐exposure effects, or priming events. However, it is assumed that such processes, especially priming events, can also lead to automatic counter‐reactions. To test this assumption experimentally, the type of ad exposure was systematically varied between focused, incidental, and control. Among other variables participants’ response latencies to consumption‐critical word pairs in comparison to neutral pairs were measured to assess the ability to counter‐react received advertising information. Response latencies were considerably lower in the focused and incidental test conditions than they were in the control group. Since participants in the incidental group were only able to analyze the ads preattentively, results indicate an automatic activation of consumption‐critical motives or cognitions—critical associations were more available here. Thus, results provisionally support the underlying hypothesis.
Significant differences in coeliac immunotoxicity of barley varieties
Authors: Comino Isabel , Real Ana , Gil‐Humanes Javier , Pistón Fernando , de Lorenzo Laura , Moreno Ma de Lourdes , López‐Casado Miguel Ángel , Lorite Pedro , Cebolla Ángel , Torres Ma Isabel , Barro Francisco , Sousa Carolina
Published: September 2012

Scope

The only treatment available for coeliac disease (CD) is a strict diet in which the intake of wheat, barley, rye, or oats is avoided. Barley is a major cereal crop, grown mainly for its use in brewing, and it has high nutritional value. The identification of varieties with a reduced toxicity profile may contribute to improve the diet, the quality of life and health of CD patients.

Methods and results

Searching for harmless barleys, we investigated accessions of malting and wild barley, used for developing new cultivated cereals. The CD toxicity profile of barleys was screened using G12 antibody and cell proliferation and IFN‐γ release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and intestinal biopsies from CD patients. We found a direct correlation between the reactivity with G12 and the immunogenicity of the different barleys.

Conclusion

The malting barleys were less immunogenic, with reduced levels of toxic gluten, and were possibly less harmful to CD patients. Our findings could raise the prospect of breeding barley species with low levels of harmful gluten, and the attractive goal of developing nontoxic barley cultivars, always taking into account the Codex standard for foods for special dietary use for persons intolerant to gluten.
Stem cells from innate sexual but not acquired sexual planarians have the capability to form a sexual individual
Authors: Nodono Hanae , Ishino Yugo , Hoshi Motonori , Matsumoto Midori
Published: September 2012

Planarian species may harbor as many as three populations with different reproductive strategies. Animals from innate asexual (AS) and innate sexual (InS) populations reproduce only by fission and cross‐fertilization, respectively, whereas the third population switches seasonally between the two reproductive modes. AS worms can be experimentally sexualized by feeding them with minced InS worms; we termed the resulting animals “acquired sexual” (AqS) worms. Both AqS and InS worms exhibit sexualizing activity when used as feed, suggesting that they maintain their sexual state via endogenous sexualizing substances, although the mechanisms underlying determination of reproductive strategy and sexual switching in these metazoans remain enigmatic. Therefore, we compared the endogenous sexualizing activity of InS worms and AqS worms. First, we amputated mature worms and assessed if they could re‐enter a sexual state. Regenerants of InS worms, but not AqS worms, were only sexual, indicating that sexual state regulation comprises two steps: (1) autonomous initiation of sexualizing substance production and (2) maintenance of the sexual state by continuous production of sexualizing substances. Next, InS neoblasts were characterized by transplantation, finding that they successfully engrafted, proliferated, and replaced all recipient cells. Under such conditions, the AS recipients of InS worm neoblasts, but not those of AqS worms, became sexual. These results clearly show that there is a neoblast‐autonomous determination of reproductive strategy in planarians. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 757–766, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Are polymorphisms of the β3‐adrenoceptor gene associated with an altered bladder function?
Authors: Teitsma Christine A. , de la Rosette Jean J.M.C.H. , Michel Martin C.
Published: September 2012

Aims

As the presence of a Trp64Arg polymorphism of the gene encoding the β3‐adrenoceptor (B3AR) has been linked to the presence of overactive bladder, we investigated whether additional polymorphisms are detectable in this gene and explore their relationships parameters related to lower urinary tract function.

Methods

The coding region and adjacent stretches of the B3AR gene was sequenced in 91 patients. In total, 1015 patients from a single academic hospital were genotyped for the presence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms. Symptom scores and parameters from pressure‐flow studies were analyzed relative to genotype in the B3AR gene.

Results

No frequent novel polymorphisms were detected in the coding region. Five polymorphisms were found in the non‐coding region of the gene but were in complete linkage with the 64Arg allele. Out of 32 parameters including bladder compliance, only prostate size was weakly (44 vs. 39 mL) but significantly associated with the 64Arg allele, but was not mirrored by an association with prostate‐specific antigen levels.

Conclusions

Our data do not support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the B3AR gene are associated with alterations of bladder function. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 276–280, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unexpected observation of carbonyl oxide radical cations from peroxy radical cations. A new isomerism of oxygen‐containing radical cations
Authors: Akaba Ryoichi , Iso Noriaki , Kishida Akira , Kamata Masaki
Published: September 2012

DFT computational studies with B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level theory has been carried out for peroxy radical cations which are formed by the reaction of molecular oxygen with aliphatic and aromatic olefin radical cations. The calculations have led us to find rearrangement reactions of the peroxy radical cations to the isomeric carbonyl oxide radical cations. The results show that the peroxy radical cations in which their positive charges at the olefinic carbons cannot be stabilized due to the structural requirements have a great tendency to undergo the rearrangement. Thus, 2‐methylpropene radical cation does not afford a peroxy radical cation formed by the addition of molecular oxygen at 2‐position of the olefinic carbon, and DFT calculations to locate the structure were found to give a rearranged ethyl methyl carbonyl oxide radical cation, which is significantly more stable than the peroxy radical cation. It was also found that carbonyl oxide radical cations, depending on the structures, are as stable as, or even more stable than, the isomeric peroxy radical cations which are formed by the addition of molecular oxygen to the aromatic olefin radical cations derived from trans‐stilbene and β‐methylstyrene. The results also indicate that the C–O bonds are shorter than the O–O bonds in the alkyl carbonyl oxide radical cations examined, which suggests that oxygen lone pair delocalization to the carbonyl carbon play an important role for the determinaton of the structures and their stability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epitrix flea beetles: new threats to potato production in Europe
Authors: Eyre Dominic , Giltrap Neil
Published: September 2012

Epitrix tuberis and E. cucumeris are major pests of potatoes in North America. E. tuberis causes the most serious damage because the larval feeding can cause superficial serpentine tunnelling on the surface of tubers as well as deeper pits. This damage can make crops unmarketable. By contrast, E. cucumeris mainly damages the foliage, and yield losses can occur when the adults reach high densities. In 2004, potato tuber damage characteristic of E. tuberis was seen in Portugal. In 2008, damage was more widespread and severe. E. cucumeris and a lesser known species, E. similaris, were recorded in affected fields. E. similaris has since been found across Galicia, Spain. E. similaris is thought to be the most likely cause of the tuber damage in Portugal, but it is possible that E. cucumeris or an as yet undetected Epitrix species is causing the damage. In 2010, a pest risk assessment for the Euro‐Mediterranean area identified the movement of adults and pupae with seed or ware potatoes and associated soil as being the highest‐risk pathways for the spread of Epitrix. In 2012, EU emergency measures were agreed to reduce the risk of further introductions and the rate of spread of these pests.
Model simulation of gravity waves triggered by a density current
Authors: Udina M. , Soler M. R. , Viana S. , Yagüe C.
Published: September 2012

In this study, starting from an observational case of internal gravity waves (IGWs) generated at the top of a drainage flow during the SABLES2006 field campaign, we aim to reproduce the IGWs and their origin through mesoscale meteorological modelling. We used the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model with fine horizontal resolution (1 km), testing the model capabilities to simulate the IGWs through a WRF fixed physics package option but two different planetary boundary layer schemes, the Mellor‐Yamada‐Janjić (MYJ) and the Yonsei University (YSU). The comparison between model simulations and measurements from a 100 m meteorological tower reveals that the MYJ scheme simulation gives much better results, as it better represents the main features of the density current measured by the tower instruments, although the event is predicted to occur sooner than it is observed to occur. The study has also shown the capacity of this scheme to detect the oscillations in temperature and specific humidity generated by the arrival of the density current. In contrast, the YSU scheme captures the arrival of the current on time but it fails to correctly track its properties and therefore it does not reproduce the gravity waves with the current arrival. In addition, wave parameters calculated from model outputs (MYJ) using the wavelet method reveal waves with longer periods and longer wavelengths (T = 20–22 min and λ = 8–10 km) than those calculated from measurements (T = 9.2 min and λ = 3.5 km) using the same technique. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Business model innovation and competitive imitation: The case of sponsor‐based business models
Authors: Casadesus‐Masanell Ramon , Zhu Feng
Published: September 2012

This paper provides the first formal model of business model innovation. Our analysis focuses on sponsor‐based business model innovations where a firm monetizes its product through sponsors rather than setting prices to its customer base. We analyze strategic interactions between an innovative entrant and an incumbent where the incumbent may imitate the entrant's business model innovation once it is revealed. The results suggest that an entrant needs to strategically choose whether to reveal its innovation by competing through the new business model, or conceal it by adopting a traditional business model. We also show that the value of business model innovation may be so substantial that an incumbent may prefer to compete in a duopoly rather than to remain a monopolist. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiphoton microscopy applications in nanodermatology
Authors: Prow Tarl W.
Published: September 2012

Multiphoton microscopy is being used as a tool for tracking nanoparticles and assessing endogenous autofluorescent molecules. This technology is founded on femtosecond lasers that are capable of exciting unlabeled metal nanoparticles, quantum dots, and upconverting nanoparticles. The addition of time‐correlated single‐photon counting detectors enables fluorescence lifetime imaging. Fluorescence lifetime measurements result in high‐resolution, quantitative data that can be used to distinguish nanoparticle signals from those of endogenous fluorophores. This application of multiphoton microscopy is capable of simultaneous nanoparticle and NAD(P)H imaging, resulting in the capacity for dye‐free assessments of treatment‐induced metabolic changes. The stage is set for advanced, clinical imaging focused nanoparticle trials that can directly address critical issues in nanomedicine and nanotoxicology. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2012, 4:680–690. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1189

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging

Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
Effect of low temperature upon vitality of Saccharomyces cerevisiae phospholipid mutants
Authors: Redón Marian , Borrull Anna , López Maria , Salvadó Zoel , Cordero Ricardo , Mas Albert , Guillamón José Manuel , Rozès Nicolas
Published: September 2012

The phospholipid metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays a central role in its adaptation to low temperatures. In order to detect the key genes in this adaptation, various phospholipid mutants from the EUROSCARF collection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4742 were tested to ascertain whether the suppression of some genes could improve the fermentation vitality of the cells at low temperature. The cell vitality and phospholipid composition of these mutants were analysed. Some knockouts improved (hmn1Δ) or impaired (cho2Δ and psd1Δ) their vitality at low temperature (13 °C) but were not affected at optimum temperature (25 °C). A common trait of the mutants that had some defect in vitality was a lower concentration of phosphatidylcholine and/or phosphatidylethanolamine. The supplementation with choline allowed them to recover viability, probably by synthesis through the Kennedy pathway. Hmn1Δ showed a lower concentration of phosphatidylcholine, which explains the dominant role of the de novo pathway in cellular phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine vs the Kennedy pathway. The absence of such genes as CRD1 or OPI3 produced important changes in phospholipid composition. Cardiolipin was not detected in crd1Δ but phosphatidylglycerol circumvents most of the functions assigned to CL. The considerable reduction in PC diminished the cell vitality of opi3Δ at both temperatures, although the decrease at 13 °C was more marked. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Greater risk of parkinsonism associated with non‐N370S GBA1 mutations
Authors: Barrett M. J. , Giraldo P. , Capablo J. L. , Alfonso P. , Irun P. , Garcia‐Rodriguez B. , Pocovi M. , Pastores G. M.
Published: September 2012

Mutations in β‐glucosidase (GBA1) are the most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson disease (PD). There is evidence to suggest that PD risk is greater (1) in GBA1 heterozygotes with non‐N370S GBA1 mutations compared to N370S mutations and (2) in GD type 1 (GD1) patients compared to GBA1 heterozygotes. This study aimed to determine the comparative risk of parkinsonism in individuals who are affected or carriers of Gaucher disease (GD) and to ascertain the influence of different GBA1 mutations on risk/clinical expression. We conducted a secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data assessing the prevalence of parkinsonism in a population of GD1 patients and their heterozygote and non‐carrier family members. Two logistic regression models, both employing a family‐specific random effect, were used to assess (1) the association between GBA1 mutation (N370S or non‐N370S) and parkinsonism among GBA1 heterozygotes and (2) the association between GBA1 genotype and parkinsonism. Parkinsonism was present in 8.6 % of GD1 (7/81), 8.7 % of GBA1 heterozygotes (18/207), and 2.2 % of non‐carriers (1/45). For those greater than 60 years old, parkinsonism was present in 38.5 % (5/13) of GD1 (5/13), 15.3 % of GBA1 heterozygotes (13/85), and 7.1 % of non‐carriers (1/14). Among GBA1 heterozygotes, non‐N370S mutations were associated with a significantly increased risk of parkinsonism compared to N370S (OR = 22.5; p = 0.035; 95%CI: 1.24, 411). In this population, each additional GBA1 mutation was associated with a non‐significant two‐fold increased risk of parkinsonism. GBA1 heterozygotes with non‐N370S mutations associated with Gaucher disease have an increased risk of parkinsonism compared to those with N370S mutations.
Scarring and Mortality Selection Among Civil War POWs: A Long-Term Mortality, Morbidity, and Socioeconomic Follow-Up
Authors: Costa Dora L.
Published: September 2012

Debilitating events could leave either more frail or more robust survivors, depending on the extent of scarring and mortality selection. The majority of empirical analyses find more frail survivors. I find heterogeneous effects. Among severely stressed former Union Army prisoners of war (POWs), the effect that dominates 35 years after the end of the Civil War depends on age at imprisonment. Among survivors to 1900, those younger than 30 at imprisonment faced higher old-age mortality and morbidity and worse socioeconomic outcomes than non-POW and other POW controls, whereas those older than 30 at imprisonment faced a lower older-age death risk than the controls.
Radiological protection in paediatric computed tomography
Authors: Khong P-L. , Frush D. , Ringertz H.
Published: September 2012

It is well known that paediatric patients are generally at greater risk for the development of cancer per unit of radiation dose compared with adults, due both to the longer life expectancy for any harmful effects of radiation to manifest, and the fact that developing organs and tissues are more sensitive to the effects of radiation. Multiple computed tomography (CT) examinations may cumulatively involve absorbed doses to organs and tissues that can sometimes approach or exceed the levels known from epidemiological studies to significantly increase the probability of cancer development. Radiation protection strategies include rigorous justification of CT examinations and the use of imaging techniques that are non-ionising, followed by optimisation of radiation dose exposure (according to the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ principle). Special consideration should be given to the availability of dose reduction technology when acquiring CT scanners. Dose reduction should be optimised by adjustment of scan parameters (such as mAs, kVp, and pitch) according to patient weight or age, region scanned, and study indication (e.g. images with greater noise should be accepted if they are of sufficient diagnostic quality). Other strategies include restricting multiphase examination protocols, avoiding overlapping of scan regions, and only scanning the area in question. Newer technologies such as tube current modulation, organ-based dose modulation, and iterative reconstruction should be used when appropriate. Attention should also be paid to optimising study quality (e.g. by image post-processing to facilitate radiological diagnoses and interpretation). Finally, improving awareness through education and advocacy, and further research in paediatric radiological protection are important to help reduce patient dose.
Reference levels in the context of Fukushima - lessons learned and a challenge for the radiation protection system
Authors: Sakai K.
Published: September 2012

A number of dose criteria were set after the accident in Fukushima, including a criterion regarding the use of school playgrounds in Fukushima. Considering the band of 1–20 mSv/year recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for public exposure under existing exposure situations, Japanese authorities set 20 mSv/year as a ‘start line’ for reducing the dose to school children. However, this led to considerable confusion among the general public and some experts. They thought that the dose limit was increased to 20 mSv/year (20 times as high as before), and that school children could be exposed to 20 mSv in 1 year. This is just an example of confusion caused by inadequate comprehension of radiation effects, misunderstanding of radiation protection concepts, or both.

Another issue was raised regarding the higher radiosensitivity of children compared with adults. In the 2007 ICRP Recommendations, a higher risk coefficient is given to the whole population than the adult population, because the whole population includes children; a subpopulation with higher radiosensitivity and a longer life span. The point of argument was whether a lower reference level should be set for children alone. Radiation protection experts should continue to collect scientific information to improve the radiation protection system. In addition, it is the role of these experts to explain the framework of radiation protection to the general public in plain language.
Particle image velocimetry study of fractal-generated turbulence
Authors: Gomes-Fernandes R. , Ganapathisubramani B. , Vassilicos J. C.
Published: September 2012

An experimental investigation involving space-filling fractal square grids is presented. The flow is documented using particle image velocimetry (PIV) in a water tunnel as opposed to previous experiments which mostly used hot-wire anemometry in wind tunnels. The experimental facility has non-negligible incoming free-stream turbulence (with 2.8 % and 4.4 % in the streamwise (${u}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } / U$) and spanwise (${v}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } / U$) directions, respectively) which presents a challenge in terms of comparison with previous wind tunnel results. An attempt to characterize the effects of the incoming free stream turbulence on the grid-generated turbulent flow is made and an improved wake-interaction length scale is proposed which enables the comparison of the present results with previous ones for both fractal square and regular grids. This length scale also proves to be a good estimator of the turbulence intensity peak location. Furthermore, a new turbulence intensity normalization capable of collapsing${u}^{\ensuremath{\prime} } / U$for various grids in various facilities is proposed. Comparison with previous experiments indicates good agreement in turbulence intensities, Taylor microscale, as well as various other quantities, if the improved wake-interaction length scale is used. Global and local isotropy of fractal-generated turbulence is assessed using the velocity gradients of the two-component (2C) two-dimensional (2D) PIV and compared with regular grid results. Finally, the PIV data appear to confirm the new dissipation behaviour previously observed in hot-wire measurements.
Characterising the ‘Txt2Stop’ Smoking Cessation Text Messaging Intervention in Terms of Behaviour Change Techniques
Authors: Michie Susan , Free Caroline , West Robert
Published: September 2012

The ‘Txt2Stop’ SMS messaging programme has been found to double smokers’ chances of stopping. It is important to characterise the content of this information in terms of specific behaviour change techniques (BCTs) for the purpose of future development. This study aimed to (i) extend a proven system for coding BCTs to text messaging and (ii) characterise Txt2Stop using this system. A taxonomy previously used to specify BCTs in face-to-face behavioural support for smoking cessation was adapted for the Txt2Stop messages and inter-rater reliability for the adapted system assessed. The system was then applied to all the messages in the Txt2Stop programme to determine its profile in terms of BCTs used. The text message taxonomy comprised 34 BCTs. Inter-rater reliability was moderate, reaching a ceiling of 61% for the core program messages with all discrepancies readily resolved. Of 899 texts delivering BCTs, 218 aimed to maintain motivation to remain abstinent, 870 to enhance self-regulatory capacity or skills, 39 to promote use of adjuvant behaviours such as using stop-smoking medication, 552 to maintain engagement with the intervention and 24 were general communication techniques. The content of Txt2Stop focuses on helping smokers with self-regulation and maintaining engagement with the intervention. The intervention focuses to a lesser extent on boosting motivation to remain abstinent; little attention is given to promoting effective use of adjuvant behaviours such as use of nicotine replacement therapy. As new interventions of this kind are developed it will be possible to compare their effectiveness and relate this to standardised descriptions of their content using this system.
Three Worlds of Social Insurance: On the Validity of Esping-Andersen's Welfare Regime Dimensions
Authors: van der Veen Robert Jan , van der Brug Wouter
Published: September 2012

Esping-Andersen developed a typology of welfare regimes: conservative, liberal and social democratic, which are measured on the basis of seven indicators. We re-examine Esping-Andersen's data as well as replication data compiled by Scruggs and Allan to show that the seven indicators do not form valid measures of these welfare regimes. In addition to divergences in their measurement, the seven indicators are a mixture of institutional characteristics of welfare systems and outcome measures of social stratification. A measurement model based on the five institutional characteristics of welfare regimes that pertain to social insurance, however, does fit both the original and replication data. This article therefore proposes a three-dimensional model of conservative and liberal social insurance, which treats universal insurance coverage as the third dimension, instead of Esping-Andersen's ‘socialist’ regime. Although this does not fundamentally alter the typology of countries, it has implications for previous studies that employ country scores based on Esping-Andersen's method as independent variables in causal models. To illustrate these implications, this article re-examines a study by Noël and Thérien and calls into question their conclusions on the causal connections between the social democratic welfare state and levels of foreign aid.
Predictive significance of the overvaluation of shape/weight in obese patients with binge eating disorder: findings from a randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up
Authors: Grilo C. M. , White M. A. , Gueorguieva R. , Wilson G. T. , Masheb R. M.
Published: September 2012

Background

Undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation – referred to as overvaluation – is considered a core feature across eating disorders, but is not a diagnostic requirement for binge eating disorder (BED). This study examined the concurrent and predictive significance of overvaluation of shape/weight in obese patients with BED participating in a randomized clinical trial testing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral weight loss (BWL).

Method

A total of 90 participants were randomly assigned to 6-month group treatments of CBT or BWL. Assessments were performed at baseline, throughout- and post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups after completing treatments with reliably administered semi-structured interviews and established measures.

Results

Participants categorized with overvaluation (n = 52, 58%) versus without overvaluation (n = 38, 42%) did not differ significantly in demographic features (age, gender and ethnicity), psychiatric co-morbidity, body mass index or binge eating frequency. The overvaluation group had significantly greater levels of eating disorder psychopathology and poorer psychological functioning (higher depression and lower self-esteem) than the non-overvaluation group. Overvaluation of shape/weight significantly predicted non-remission from binge eating and higher frequency of binge eating at the 12-month follow-up, even after adjusting for group differences in depression and self-esteem levels.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that overvaluation does not simply reflect concern commensurate with being obese or more frequent binge eating, but also is strongly associated with heightened eating-related psychopathology and psychological distress, and has negative prognostic significance for longer-term treatment outcomes. Overvaluation of shape/weight warrants consideration as a diagnostic specifier for BED as it provides important information about severity and treatment outcome.
The Micropolitics of “the Army You Have”: Explaining the Development of U.S. Military Doctrine After Vietnam
Authors: Joyce Adam
Published: September 2012

The U.S. Army's recent embrace of counterinsurgency warfare and nation building complicates theories of military politics. For decades, critics declared the army too risk averse, too parochial, and too insulated to change, often thwarting civilian demands for greater flexibility. How should we understand these recent, unexpected changes? In this article I synthesize insights from historical institutionalism and American political development to derive a micropolitical perspective on institutional change. This approach advances two components as necessary before an institution transforms. First, mid-level agents shift the unofficial discourses through which they understand and describe the institution's core missions and capabilities. These slow and often subtle changes create a mismatch between the mid-level actors and the institution's paradigm. This erosion of institutional order provides an opportunity to reformers. The second component of transformation is the work of these reformers to forge coalitions with elites inside and outside government and press institutional leaders for change. In the rest of the article, I demonstrate the efficacy of the micropolitical approach by investigating how the army developed its AirLand Battle doctrine after the Vietnam War. My analysis of recently declassified correspondence, oral-history interviews, and the writings of officers and experts shows how mid-level officers and external reformers were able to shift the discourses of army leaders and develop an institutional paradigm that endured for decades. Indeed, AirLand Battle influenced the Weinberger criteria for deploying American troops, and it shaped U.S. conduct during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. This suggests a research program that could demonstrate why and how the U.S. Army's way of war changed during the 2000s, as well as how durable this transformation will be.
Predicting first episode psychosis in those at high risk for genetic or cognitive reasons
Authors: Lawrie Stephen M. , Stanfield Andrew , Johnstone Eve C. , McIntosh Andrew M.
Published: September 2012

Structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with psychosis has advanced to the point where there are clear abnormalities at a group level between patients and groups of healthy controls, and suggestions of different patterns of abnormalities between groups of patients. A major area of research endeavour is being able to translate these group differences into clinically relevant predictions at an individual patient level. Here, we briefly summarize our main findings in cohorts at high risk of psychosis because they come from families in which several members have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or have educational impairments. We highlight consistent predictors of psychosis in those at high risk of schizophrenia for genetic or cognitive reasons, as compared with quite distinct profiles between those at genetic high risk of schizophreniav. bipolar disorder on functional MRI during an executive language task. We also consider future research directions and ethical issues in the early diagnostic testing of people at high risk of psychosis.
Alterations in Cerebral Oxygen Metabolism after Traumatic Brain Injury in Children
Authors: Ragan Dustin K , McKinstry Robert , Benzinger Tammie , Leonard Jeffrey R , Pineda Jose A
Published: September 2012

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of acquired disability in children. Metabolic defects, and in particular mitochondrial dysfunction, are important contributors to brain injury after TBI. Studies of metabolic dysfunction are limited, but magnetic resonance methods suitable for use in children are overcoming this limitation. We performed noninvasive measurements of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolic index (OMI) to assess metabolic dysfunction in children with severe TBI. Cerebral blood flow is variable after TBI but hypoperfusion and low OMI are predominant, supporting metabolic dysfunction. This finding is consistent with preclinical and adult clinical studies of brain metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction after TBI.
A Genetic Polymorphism for Translocator Protein 18 Kda Affects both in Vitro and in Vivo Radioligand Binding in Human Brain to this Putative Biomarker of Neuroinflammation
Authors: Kreisl William C , Jenko Kimberly J , Hines Christina S , Lyoo Chul Hyoung , Corona Winston , Morse Cheryl L , Zoghbi Sami S , Hyde Thomas , Kleinman Joel E , Pike Victor W , McMahon Francis J , Innis Robert B ,   the Biomarkers Consortium PET Radioligand Project Team
Published: September 2012

Second-generation radioligands for translocator protein (TSPO), an inflammation marker, are confounded by the codominant rs6971 polymorphism that affects binding affinity. The resulting three groups are homozygous for high-affinity state (HH), homozygous for low-affinity state (LL), or heterozygous (HL). We tested if in vitro binding to leukocytes distinguished TSPO genotypes and if genotype could affect clinical studies using the TSPO radioligand [11C]PBR28. In vitro binding to leukocytes and [11C]PBR28 brain imaging were performed in 27 human subjects with known TSPO genotype. Specific [3H]PBR28 binding was measured in prefrontal cortex of 45 schizophrenia patients and 47 controls. Leukocyte binding to PBR28 predicted genotype in all subjects. Brain uptake was ~40% higher in HH than HL subjects. Specific [3H]PBR28 binding in LL controls was negligible, while HH controls had ~80% higher binding than HL controls. After excluding LL subjects, specific binding was 16% greater in schizophrenia patients than controls. This difference was insignificant by itself ( P = 0.085), but was significant after correcting for TSPO genotype ( P = 0.011). Our results show that TSPO genotype influences PBR28 binding in vitro and in vivo. Correcting for this genotype increased statistical power in our postmortem study and is recommended for in vivo positron emission tomography studies.
Glucose Modulation of Spreading Depression Susceptibility
Authors: Hoffmann Ulrike , Sukhotinsky Inna , Eikermann-Haerter Katharina , Ayata Cenk
Published: September 2012

Spreading depression of Leão is an intense spreading depolarization (SD) wave associated with massive transmembrane ionic, water, and neurotransmitter shifts. Spreading depolarization underlies migraine aura, and occurs in brain injury, making it a potential therapeutic target. While susceptibility to SD can be modulated pharmacologically, much less is known about modulation by systemic physiological factors, such as the glycemic state. In this study, we systematically examined modulation of SD susceptibility by blood glucose in anesthetized rats under full physiological monitoring. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia were induced by insulin or dextrose infusion (blood glucose ~40 and 400 mg/dL, respectively). Spreading depolarizations were evoked by direct cortical electrical stimulation to determine the intensity threshold, or by continuous topical KCl application to determine SD frequency. Hyperglycemia elevated the electrical SD threshold and reduced the frequency of KCl-induced SDs, without significantly affecting other SD properties. In contrast, hypoglycemia significantly prolonged individual and cumulative SD durations, but did not alter the electrical SD threshold, or SD frequency, amplitude or propagation speed. These data show that increased cerebral glucose availability makes the tissue resistant to SD.
Controlled nuclear import of the transcription factor NTL6 reveals a cytoplasmic role of SnRK2.8 in the drought-stress response
Authors: Kim Mi Jung , Park Mi-Jeong , Seo Pil Joon , Song Jin-Su , Kim Hie-Joon , Park Chung-Mo
Published: September 2012

Controlled proteolytic activation of membrane-anchored transcription factors provides an adaptation strategy that guarantees rapid transcriptional responses to abrupt environmental stresses in both animals and plants. NTL6 is a plant-specific NAC [NAM/ATAF1/2/CUC2] transcription factor that is expressed as a dormant plasma membrane-associated form in Arabidopsis. Proteolytic processing of NTL6 is triggered by abiotic stresses and ABA (abscisic acid). In the present study, we show that NTL6 is linked directly with SnRK (Snf1-related protein kinase) 2.8-mediated signalling in inducing a drought-resistance response. SnRK2.8 phosphorylates NTL6 primarily at Thr142. NTL6 phosphorylation by SnRK2.8 is required for its nuclear import. Accordingly, a mutant NTL6 protein, in which Thr142 was mutated to an alanine, was poorly phosphorylated and failed to enter the nucleus. In accordance with the role of SnRK2.8 in drought-stress signalling, transgenic plants overproducing either NTL6 or its active form 6ΔC (35S:NTL6 and 35S:6ΔC) exhibited enhanced resistance to water-deficit conditions such as those overproducing SnRK2.8 (35S:SnRK2.8). In contrast, NTL6 RNAi (RNA interference) plants were susceptible to dehydration as observed in the SnRK2.8-deficient snrk2.8-1 mutant. Furthermore, the dehydration-resistant phenotype of 35S:NTL6 transgenic plants was compromised in 35S:NTL6 X snrk2.8-1 plants. These observations indicate that SnRK2.8-mediated protein phosphorylation, in addition to a proteolytic processing event, is important for NTL6 function in inducing a drought-resistance response.
Protein instability and functional defects caused by mutations of dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase in Miller syndrome patients
Authors: Fang JingXian , Uchiumi Takeshi , Yagi Mikako , Matsumoto Shinya , Amamoto Rie , Saito Toshiro , Takazaki Shinya , Kanki Tomotake , Yamaza Haruyoshi , Nonaka Kazuaki , Kang Dongchon
Published: September 2012

Miller syndrome is a recessive inherited disorder characterized by postaxial acrofacial dysostosis. It is caused by dysfunction of the DHODH (dihydroorotate dehydrogenase) gene, which encodes a key enzyme in the pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis pathway and is localized at mitochondria intermembrane space. We investigated the consequence of three missense mutations, G202A, R346W and R135C of DHODH, which were previously identified in patients with Miller syndrome. First, we established HeLa cell lines stably expressing DHODH with Miller syndrome-causative mutations: G202A, R346W and R135C. These three mutant proteins retained the proper mitochondrial localization based on immunohistochemistry and mitochondrial subfractionation studies. The G202A, R346W DHODH proteins showed reduced protein stability. On the other hand, the third one R135C, in which the mutation lies at the ubiquinone-binding site, was stable but possessed no enzymatic activity. In conclusion, the G202A and R346W mutation causes deficient protein stability, and the R135C mutation does not affect stability but impairs the substrate-induced enzymatic activity, suggesting that impairment of DHODH activity is linked to the Miller syndrome phenotype.
Optimization of the configuration of pixilated detectors based on the Shannon-Nyquist theory
Authors: Wang E. , Beiersdorfer P. , Bitter M. , Delgado-Aparicio L. F. , Hill K. W. , Pablant N.
Published: September 2012

The configurations of pixilated detectors for x-ray imaging crystal spectrometers and x-ray pinhole cameras can be optimized based on the Shannon-Nyquist sampling and interpolation theory, since the observed spectra are typically oversampled. The degree of oversampling is quantified and alternative uses for redundant pixels are proposed.
Formation of liquid crystal multi-domains with different threshold voltages by varying the surface anchoring energy
Authors: Lee Ji-Hoon , Jin Huillian , Kim Jung-Wook , Kim Ki-Han , Park Byung Wok , Yoon Tae-Hoon , Kim Hoon , Shin Ki-Chul , Kim Hee Seop
Published: September 2012

We propose methods to obtain multi-domains with different threshold voltages for vertically aligned liquid crystal displays without additional transistors or capacitors. We exposed an ultraviolet light through a photomask and spatially varied the surface anchoring energy by partially decomposing the polyimide or inducing the adsorption of reactive monomers. The threshold voltage was reduced with smaller surface anchoring, and the reduction of the threshold could be qualitatively interpreted using a model describing a weak anchoring condition.
Matrix models and stochastic growth in Donaldson-Thomas theory
Authors: Szabo Richard J. , Tierz Miguel
Published: September 2012

We show that the partition functions which enumerate Donaldson-Thomas invariants of local toric Calabi-Yau threefolds without compact divisors can be expressed in terms of specializations of the Schur measure. We also discuss the relevance of the Hall-Littlewood and Jack measures in the context of BPS state counting and study the partition functions at arbitrary points of the Kähler moduli space. This rewriting in terms of symmetric functions leads to a unitary one-matrix model representation for Donaldson-Thomas theory. We describe explicitly how this result is related to the unitary matrix model description of Chern-Simons gauge theory. This representation is used to show that the generating functions for Donaldson-Thomas invariants are related to tau-functions of the integrable Toda and Toeplitz lattice hierarchies. The matrix model also leads to an interpretation of Donaldson-Thomas theory in terms of non-intersecting paths in the lock-step model of vicious walkers. We further show that these generating functions can be interpreted as normalization constants of a corner growth/last-passage stochastic model.
Comment on “Geometric phase of the gyromotion for charged particles in a time-dependent magnetic field” [Phys. Plasmas 18, 072505 (2011)]
Authors: Brizard Alain J. , de Guillebon Loïc
Published: September 2012

The geometric analysis of the gyromotion for charged particles in a time-dependent magnetic field by Liu and Qin [Phys. Plasmas 18, 072505 (2011)] is reformulated in terms of the spatial angles that represent the instantaneous orientation of the magnetic field. This new formulation, which includes the equation of motion for the pitch angle, clarifies the decomposition of the gyroangle-averaged equation of motion for the gyrophase into its dynamic and geometric contributions.
ORION laser target diagnostics
Authors: Bentley C. D. , Edwards R. D. , Andrew J. E. , James S. F. , Gardner M. D. , Comley A. J. , Vaughan K. , Horsfield C. J. , Rubery M. S. , Rothman S. D. , Daykin S. , Masoero S. J. , Palmer J. B. , Meadowcroft A. L. , Williams B. M. , Gumbrell E. T. , Fyrth J. D. , Brown C. R. D. , Hill M. P. , Oades K. , Wright M. J. , Hood B. A. , Kemshall P.
Published: September 2012

The ORION laser facility is one of the UK's premier laser facilities which became operational at AWE in 2010. Its primary mission is one of stockpile stewardship, ORION will extend the UK's experimental plasma physics capability to the high temperature, high density regime relevant to Atomic Weapons Establishment's (AWE) program. The ORION laser combines ten laser beams operating in the ns regime with two sub ps short pulse chirped pulse amplification beams. This gives the UK a unique combined long pulse/short pulse laser capability which is not only available to AWE personnel but also gives access to our international partners and visiting UK academia. The ORION laser facility is equipped with a comprehensive suite of some 45 diagnostics covering optical, particle, and x-ray diagnostics all able to image the laser target interaction point. This paper focuses on a small selection of these diagnostics.
Acoustic-wave effects in violent bubble collapse
Authors: Geers Thomas L. , Lagumbay Randy S. , Vasilyev Oleg V.
Published: September 2012

The effects of acoustic-wave propagation both outside and inside a radially collapsing and rebounding bubble are examined. This is done by comparing computational results produced by various reduced-model equations with benchmark results produced by numerical solution of the Euler equations under adiabatic conditions. Numerical inaccuracy associated with the moving bubble surface is avoided by means of a coordinate transformation that yields a fixed surface coordinate. Comparisons of calculated bubble-radius histories and peak surface pressures show that, while acoustic-wave effects in the external liquid are important, such effects in the internal gas are not.
Electron ionization and dissociation of aliphatic amino acids
Authors: Papp P. , Shchukin P. , Kočíšek J. , Matejčík Š.
Published: September 2012

We present experimental and theoretical study of electron ionization and dissociative ionization to the gas phase amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine. A crossed electron/molecular beams technique equipped with quadrupole mass analyzer has been applied to measure mass spectra and ion efficiency curves for formation of particular ions. From experimental data the ionization energies of the molecules and the appearance energies of the fragment ions were determined. Ab initio calculations (Density Functional Theory and G3MP2 methods) were performed in order to calculate the fragmentation paths and interpret the experimental data. The experimental ionization energies of parent molecules [P]+ 8.91 ± 0.05, 8.85 ± 0.05, and 8.79 ± 0.05 eV and G3MP2 ionization energies (adiabatic) of 8.89, 8.88, and 8.81 eV were determined for valine, leucine, and isoleucine, respectively, as well as the experimental and theoretical threshold energies for dissociative ionization channels. The comparison of experimental data with calculations resulted in identification of the ions as well as the neutral fragments formed in the dissociative reactions. Around 15 mass/charge ratio fragments were identified from the mass spectra by comparison of experimental appearance energies with calculated reaction enthalpies for particular dissociative reactions.