bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How hierarchical is language use?
Authors: Frank Stefan L. , Bod Rens , Christiansen Morten H.
Published: September 2012

It is generally assumed that hierarchical phrase structure plays a central role in human language. However, considerations of simplicity and evolutionary continuity suggest that hierarchical structure should not be invoked too hastily. Indeed, recent neurophysiological, behavioural and computational studies show that sequential sentence structure has considerable explanatory power and that hierarchical processing is often not involved. In this paper, we review evidence from the recent literature supporting the hypothesis that sequential structure may be fundamental to the comprehension, production and acquisition of human language. Moreover, we provide a preliminary sketch outlining a non-hierarchical model of language use and discuss its implications and testable predictions. If linguistic phenomena can be explained by sequential rather than hierarchical structure, this will have considerable impact in a wide range of fields, such as linguistics, ethology, cognitive neuroscience, psychology and computer science.
The epidemiological consequences of immune priming
Authors: Tidbury Hannah J. , Best Alex , Boots Mike
Published: September 2012

Exposure to low doses of pathogens that do not result in the host becoming infectious may ‘prime’ the immune response and increase protection to subsequent challenge. There is increasing evidence that such immune priming is a widespread and important feature of invertebrate host–pathogen interactions. Immune priming clearly has implications for individual hosts but will also have population-level implications. We present a susceptible–primed–infectious model—in contrast to the classic susceptible–infectious–recovered framework—to investigate the impacts of immune priming on pathogen persistence and population stability. We describe impacts of immune priming on the epidemiology of the disease in both constant and seasonal environments. A key result is that immune priming may act to destabilize population dynamics. In particular, when the proportion of individuals becoming primed rather than infected is high, but this priming does not confer full immunity, the population may be strongly destabilized through the generation of limit cycles. We discuss the implications of our model both in the context of invertebrate immunity and more widely.
HapX-Mediated Iron Homeostasis Is Essential for Rhizosphere Competence and Virulence of the Soilborne Pathogen Fusarium oxysporum
Authors: López-Berges Manuel S. , Capilla Javier , Turrà David , Schafferer Lukas , Matthijs Sandra , Jöchl Christoph , Cornelis Pierre , Guarro Josep , Haas Hubertus , Di Pietro Antonio
Published: September 2012

Soilborne fungal pathogens cause devastating yield losses and are highly persistent and difficult to control. During the infection process, these organisms must cope with limited availability of iron. Here we show that the bZIP protein HapX functions as a key regulator of iron homeostasis and virulence in the vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Deletion of hapX does not affect iron uptake but causes derepression of genes involved in iron-consuming pathways, leading to impaired growth under iron-depleted conditions. F. oxysporum strains lacking HapX are reduced in their capacity to invade and kill tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants and immunodepressed mice. The virulence defect of ΔhapX on tomato plants is exacerbated by coinoculation of roots with a biocontrol strain of Pseudomonas putida, but not with a siderophore-deficient mutant, indicating that HapX contributes to iron competition of F. oxysporum in the tomato rhizosphere. These results establish a conserved role for HapX-mediated iron homeostasis in fungal infection of plants and mammals.
Crystal structure determination of a ternary Cu(In,Sn)2intermetallic phase by electron diffraction
Authors: López Gabriel A. , San Juan Jose , Nó María L.
Published: September 2012

Small grains of an intermetallic phase with an approximate composition Cu(In,Sn)2were observed in a metal matrix composite obtained from powders of a Cu–Al–Ni shape-memory alloy and an In–Sn matrix alloy. Samples of this composite were prepared for transmission electron microscopy and the crystal structure of the intermetallic phase was carefully investigated by applying electron diffraction techniques (microdiffraction, convergent-beam electron diffraction and precession), based on the analysis of the symmetry and the relative positions of reflections in the zero- and high-order Laue zones. It was found that the intermetallic phase has a body-centred tetragonal unit cell with lattice parametersa= 0.70 (3) nm andc= 0.56 (2) nm. Its crystal symmetry can be described by theI4/mcm(No. 140) space group.
Unique thermodynamic relationships for Δf
H
o and Δf
G
o for crystalline inorganic salts. I. Predicting the possible existence and synthesis of Na2SO2 and Na2SeO2
Authors: Vegas Ángel , Liebman Joel F. , Jenkins H. Donald Brooke
Published: September 2012

The concept that equates oxidation and pressure has been successfully utilized in explaining the structural changes observed in the M
2S subnets of M
2SO
x
(x = 3, 4) compounds (M = Na, K) when compared with the structures (room- and high-pressure phases) of their parent M
2S `alloy' [Martínez-Cruz et al. (1994), J. Solid State Chem.
110, 397–398; Vegas (2000), Crystallogr. Rev.
7, 189–286; Vegas et al. (2002), Solid State Sci.
4, 1077–1081]. These structural changes suggest that if M
2SO2 would exist, its cation array might well have an anti-CaF2 structure. On the other hand, in an analysis of the existing thermodynamic data for M
2S, M
2SO3 and M
2SO4 we have identified, and report, a series of unique linear relationships between the known Δf
H
o and Δf
G
o values of the alkali metal (M) sulfide (x = 0) and their oxyanion salts M
2SO
x
(x = 3 and 4), and the similarly between M
2S2 disulfide (x = 0) and disulfur oxyanion salts M
2S2O
x
(x = 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) and the number of O atoms in their anions x. These linear relationships appear to be unique to sulfur compounds and their inherent simplicity permits us to interpolate thermochemical data (Δf
H
o) for as yet unprepared compounds, M
2SO (x = 1) and M
2SO2 (x = 2). The excellent linearity indicates the reliability of the interpolated data. Making use of the volume-based thermodynamics, VBT [Jenkins et al. (1999), Inorg. Chem.
38, 3609–3620], the values of the absolute entropies were estimated and from them, the standard Δf
S
o values, and then the Δf
G
o values of the salts. A tentative proposal is made for the synthesis of Na2SO2 which involves bubbling SO2 through a solution of sodium in liquid ammonia. For this attractive thermodynamic route, we estimate ΔG
o to be approximately −500 kJ mol−1. However, examination of the stability of Na2SO2 raises doubts and Na2SeO2 emerges as a more attractive target material. Its synthesis is likely to be easier and it is stable to disproportionation into Na2S and Na2SeO4. Like Na2SO2, this compound is predicted to have an anti-CaF2 Na2Se subnet.
Single-crystal investigation of L-tryptophan with Z′ = 16
Authors: Görbitz Carl Henrik , Törnroos Karl Wilhelm , Day Graeme M.
Published: September 2012

A complex, disorder-free structure in the space group P1 has been established for L-tryptophan, for which no crystal structure has previously been available. The 16 molecules in the asymmetric unit can be divided into two groups of eight; one where the side chains have gauche orientations and one with trans orientations. Molecules within each group have almost identical molecular geometries. The unit-cell parameters mimic a hexagonal cell, but deviations from 90° for the cell angles α = 84.421 (4) and β = 87.694 (4)° give a small tilt that rules out hexagonal symmetry. The hydrogen-bonding pattern resembles that found in the crystal structure of the racemic structure of DL-tryptophan, but a lower density combined with longer hydrogen bonds and inter-aromatic interactions show that the enantiomeric structure is less efficiently packed.
Methylation of ELOVL2 gene as a new epigenetic marker of age
Authors: Garagnani Paolo , Bacalini Maria G. , Pirazzini Chiara , Gori Davide , Giuliani Cristina , Mari Daniela , Di Blasio Anna M. , Gentilini Davide , Vitale Giovanni , Collino Sebastiano , Rezzi Serge , Castellani Gastone , Capri Miriam , Salvioli Stefano , Franceschi Claudio
Published: September 2012

The discovery of biomarkers able to predict biological age of individuals is a crucial goal in aging research. Recently, researchers' attention has turn toward epigenetic markers of aging. Using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip on whole blood DNA from a small cohort of 64 subjects of different ages, we identified 3 regions, the CpG islands of ELOVL2, FHL2, and PENK genes, whose methylation level strongly correlates with age. These results were confirmed by the Sequenom's EpiTYPER assay on a larger cohort of 501 subjects from 9 to 99 years, including 7 cord blood samples. Among the 3 genes, ELOVL2 shows a progressive increase in methylation that begins since the very first stage of life (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.92) and appears to be a very promising biomarker of aging.
Review article: is non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease a spectrum, or are steatosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis distinct conditions?
Authors: Yilmaz Y.
Published: September 2012

Background

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently conceptualised as a clinical spectrum that results from a ‘multiple‐hit’ process which begins with simple steatosis and subsequently renders the hepatocytes susceptible to a variety of insults. Ultimately, more serious liver injuries like non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis may develop. Although the metabolic syndrome is considered the crucial player in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, recent studies have highlighted novel pathophysiological mechanisms in this clinical entity.

Aim

To discuss the pathophysiology of NAFLD based on the hypothesis that simple steatosis and NASH are discrete entities rather than two points on a spectrum.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in August 2012 on PubMed, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline and Scopus using the following search terms: steatosis, non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, pathophysiology, fatty liver, natural history and genetics.

Results

Simple steatosis and NASH appear as two distinct pathophysiological entities and progression from pure fatty liver to NASH appears to be so rare as to warrant publication. The possible pathogenetic pathways specifically related to NASH are highlighted.

Conclusions

Although simple steatosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis are currently viewed as two histological subtypes of the unique spectrum of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, the two conditions are likely distinct not only from a histological but also from a pathophysiological standpoint. Efforts to distinguish simple steatosis from non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis using non‐invasive modalities should be informed by the current pathophysiology of these two clinical entities.
Wheezing and asthma are independent risk factors for increased sickle cell disease morbidity
Authors: Glassberg Jeffrey A. , Chow Annie , Wisnivesky Juan , Hoffman Ronald , DeBaun Michael R. , Richardson Lynne D.
Published: September 2012

To assess the associations between a doctor diagnosis of asthma and wheezing (independent of a diagnosis of asthma) with sickle cell disease (SCD) morbidity, we conducted a retrospective review of Emergency Department (ED) visits to the Mount Sinai Medical Center for SCD between 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2011. Outcomes were ED visits for pain and acute chest syndrome. The cohort included 262 individuals, median age 23·8 years, (range: 6 months to 67·5 years). At least one episode of wheezing recorded on a physical examination was present in 18·7% (49 of 262). Asthma and wheezing did not overlap completely, 53·1% of patients with wheezing did not carry a diagnosis of asthma. Wheezing was associated with a 118% increase in ED visits for pain (95% confidence interval [CI]: 56–205%) and a 158% increase in ED visits for acute chest syndrome (95% CI: 11–498%). A diagnosis of asthma was associated with a 44% increase in ED utilization for pain (95% CI: 2–104%) and no increase in ED utilization for acute chest syndrome (rate ratio 1·00, 95%CI 0·41–2·47). In conclusion, asthma and wheezing are independent risk factors for increased painful episodes in individuals with SCD. Only wheezing was associated with more acute chest syndrome.
Resonance Frequency Analysis Assessment of Implants Placed with a Simultaneous or a Delayed Approach in Grafted and Nongrafted Sinus Sites: A 12‐Month Clinical Study
Authors: Di Lallo Sergio , Ricci Laura , Orecchioni Stefano , Piattelli Adriano , Iezzi Giovanna , Perrotti Vittoria
Published: September 2012

Background

Implant stability is one of the key factors for a successful osseointegration. At present, several techniques are available to regenerate bone tissue, but it is not clear whether implants placed in grafted bone are as stable as implants in native bone over time.

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to compare, by means of resonance frequency analysis (RFA), the stability of implants placed in sinus‐grafted and ‐nongrafted sites during 12‐month follow‐up.

Methods

Twenty‐five patients received a total of 38 implants. Nineteen implants were placed in maxillary native bone (group A) and 19 implants following maxillary sinus floor augmentation using anorganic bovine bone and autogenous bone (group B) in a 50:50 ratio. Group B was divided into groups B1 and B2 depending on the timing of implant insertion, that is, B1 simultaneously and B2 6 months after sinus lift. The implants were inserted according to a two‐stage procedure. RFA values were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months after implant placement.

Results

Between the tested groups, no statistically significant difference was found in RFA values of implants placed in sinus‐grafted and ‐nongrafted sites after the surgery as well as at 6 and 12 months, while a significant difference was recorded in group B1 (p = .0297) when RFA values were compared over time.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that regenerated bone can offer good stability for dental implants.
Biomass management targets and the conservation and economic benefits of marine reserves
Authors: Yamazaki Satoshi , Grafton Quentin R , Kompas Tom , Jennings Sarah
Published: September 2012

The establishment of no‐take marine reserves has been increasingly promoted as a key measure to achieve conservation and sustainability goals in fisheries. Regardless of the wide range of benefits cited, the effectiveness of reserve establishment depends critically on fisheries management outside the reserves. We construct a bioeconomic model of a fishery that allows for the establishment of a no‐take marine reserve and evaluate how the choice of the off‐reserve management target influences the effectiveness of reserve establishment. We evaluate two biomass targets: (i) BMSY or the biomass that produces the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and (ii) BMEY or the biomass that maximizes the net present value of the returns to fishing. The parameterized model shows that, for a wide range of scenarios, the fishery will be better off in terms of both conservation and economic objectives when the no‐take reserve is established in conjunction with the BMEY target rather than with the BMSY target. Model results further show that the opportunity cost of securing additional fish biomass, in both deterministic and stochastic environments, is lower when the reserve size is increased under the BMEY target. This finding is important because marine reserves have been established as a key measure to restore depleted fish stocks, and the results suggest that this objective can be achieved with lower economic costs in a BMEY managed fishery.
Taste ability in hospitalised older people compared with healthy, age‐matched controls
Authors: Solemdal Kirsten , Sandvik Leiv , Willumsen Tiril , Mowe Morten
Published: September 2012

Objective

To investigate whether taste ability is reduced in acutely hospitalised older people compared with healthy, age‐matched, non‐ hospitalised controls.

Background

Proper gustatory function in older people is important for quality of life and enjoyment of food. Impaired taste may contribute to weight loss in elderly.

Material and Methods

Cross‐ sectional study. The participants comprised two groups with age ≥ 70 years. Older people hospitalised for acute disease, home‐living prior to hospital admission and with adequate cognitive function (n = 174 with mean age = 84 years). The controls (n = 63, mean age 82 years) were home‐living, and healthy by their own judgement. Whole mouth gustatory function was assessed with taste strips impregnated with sweet, sour, bitter and salty taste solutions in four different concentrations each. Correct identifications were summarized, and maximum total score was 16.

Results

Total taste score was reduced in the hospitalised group compared with the control group (p = 0.035). The difference was mainly due to reduced ability to detect sour and bitter taste qualities (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003).

Conclusion

Acutely hospitalised older people had significantly reduced taste ability compared with non‐hospitalised controls. Sour and bitter taste qualities were mostly affected. Hospital staff should pay attention to these findings when preparing food for hospitalised older people.
Underexpression of hepatocyte nuclear factor‐1β in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Chung‐Chieh , Mao Tsui‐Lien , Yang Wan‐Ching , Jeng Yung‐Ming
Published: September 2012

Aims

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) is an uncommon malignant renal neoplasm with a generally indolent clinical behaviour. Previous studies revealed biallelic inactivation of the hepatocyte nuclear factor‐1β (HNF1β) gene in several patients with ChRCC. The aims of this study were to determine HNF1β expression in renal neoplasms and the potential of HNF1β as a diagnostic marker for ChRCC.

Methods and results

We performed immunohistochemical staining of 79 samples taken from patients with primary renal neoplasm [19 renal oncocytomas, 18 ChRCCs, 24 clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CCRCCs), and 18 papillary renal cell carcinomas]. HNF1β was underexpressed in 16 of 18 cases of ChRCC (88.9%). By contrast, HNF1β expression was preserved in the majority of renal oncocytoma (94.7%, 18/19) and CCRCC (95.8%, 23/24) cases. The combined use of HNF1β and cytokeratin 7 (CK7) further increased the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity; the profile of HNF1β positivity and CK7 negativity was not visible in any ChRCC sample, but was common in both renal oncocytoma (94.7%, 18/19) and CCRCC (91.7%, 22/24) samples.

Conclusions

The results suggest that a lack of HNF1β expression might play an important role in the pathogenesis of ChRCC, and may serve as a good diagnostic marker for this neoplasm.
Enhanced efficacy and sensory properties of an anti‐dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione and climbazole
Authors: Turner G. A. , Matheson J. R. , Li G.‐Z. , Fei X.‐Q. , Zhu D. , Baines F. L.
Published: September 2012

Synopsis

Dandruff is a common complaint and is suffered by as much as half of the population at some time post puberty. The condition is characterized by the presence of flakes on the scalp and in the hair, and is often accompanied by itch. The most common treatment for dandruff is the use of shampoo formulations that contain fungistatic agents such as zinc pyrithione (ZPT) and octopirox. Whilst most antidandruff shampoos are effective in resolving the symptoms of dandruff these shampoos can often result in hair condition that is less than acceptable to consumers which can lead to a tendency for them to revert to use of a non‐antidandruff shampoo. This can result in a rapid return of dandruff symptoms.

The aim of this investigation was to study the impact of using a combination of antidandruff actives and silicones on the resolution of dandruff and to deliver superior sensory properties to the hair. We have demonstrated that shampoo containing the dual active system of ZPT/Climbazole deposits both active agents onto a model skin surface (VitroSkin) and reduces Malassezia furfur regrowth in vitro. Clinical evaluation of the dual active shampoo demonstrated superior efficacy and retained superiority during a regression phase where all subjects reverted to using a non‐antidandruff shampoo. We have also demonstrated that it is possible to deposit silicone materials from antidandruff shampoo uniformly over both virgin and damaged hair fibres that results in smoother hair fibres (as evidenced by reduced dry friction). This combination of antidandruff agents and conditioning silicones delivered from a shampoo provides subjects with superior antidandruff efficacy and desired end sensory benefits ensuring compliance and longer term dandruff removal.
Antimicrobial efficacy of a human β‐defensin‐3 peptide using an Enterococcus faecalis dentine infection model
Authors: Lee J.‐K. , Park Y.‐J. , Kum K.‐Y. , Han S. H. , Chang S.‐W. , Kaufman B. , Jiang J. , Zhu Q. , Safavi K. , Spångberg L.
Published: September 2012

Aim

To assess the antibacterial efficacy of a human β‐defensin‐3 (HBD3) peptide against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.

Methodology

Standardized human dentine blocks were infected with E. faecalis ATCC 29212 for 3 weeks. Aqueous calcium hydroxide paste (n = 12, CH), a 2% chlorhexidine gel (n = 12, CHX), an HBD3 peptide gel (n = 12) and saline (n = 12) were tested as experimental groups. A mismatched peptide gel group (n = 12, MP) and sterilized but noninoculated block group (n = 12) were included as controls. After 1 week of medication, the dentinal samples at the depth of 200 and 400 μm were collected from medicated canal lumens. Bacterial growth was assessed by spectrophotometric analysis of optical density (OD) after 72 h of incubation. Statistical analysis was performed with repeated‐measures anova and Tukey's post hoc test.

Results

The HBD3 group was associated with significantly lower OD values (P < 0.05) than the CH or CHX groups at both depths. The CH group did not differ significantly from MP or Saline group at either depth (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the OD values of the inner (200 μm) and outer (400 μm) dentinal samples for any group.

Conclusions

The HBD3 peptide inhibited the growth of E. faecalis biofilms in infected dentine blocks.
Multitoxin evaluation in fermented beverages and cork stoppers by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Scussel Vildes M. , Scholten Jos M. , Rensen Peter M. , Spanjer Martien C. , Giordano Barbara N. E. , Savi Geovana D.
Published: September 2012

A total of twenty‐eight mycotoxins were surveyed in wine (red, white and rose), cider (white and rose) and their cork stoppers from eight countries. Toxins of different fungi genera were detected as follows:Alternaria(ATs: alternariol –AOH; alternariol methyl –AME) andPenicillium/Aspergillus(ochratoxinA–OTA; penicillic acid –PAC). Toxins and levels varied with the sample types and country of origin. Wine presented contamination ofOTA,AOHandAME.OTAwas detected in forty‐one wine samples with levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.86 μg L−1, belowEUlegislation.AOHandAMEwere detected in thirty‐three and eight of wines samples, respectively, at levels from 0.2 to 13.3 μg L−1, while no contamination was detected in ciders up to the methodLOQs. Regarding the cork stoppers toxins detected, they wereAOH,AMEandPAC. Corks of red wine from different countries had levels ofOAHandAMEranging from 5.0 to 101.0 and 2.5 to 5 μg g−1, respectively. It is necessary to pay more attention on the corks processing and cork type used in the bottles as, different from the ordinary ones, the ground bark and compressed type did not have toxins detected.
Ultrasound‐assisted extraction of quercetin from onion solid wastes
Authors: Jang Mi , Asnin Leonid , Nile Shivraj Hariram , Keum Young Soo , Kim Hwang Yeon , Park Se Won
Published: September 2012

The extraction of quercetin with aqueous ethanol solutions from onion solid waste under sonication conditions was investigated using rational experimental design methodologies. It was found that the ethanol concentration (40–80%, v/v) and the temperature (40–60 °C) of extraction are the most influential parameters in the recovery yield, whereas pH (2–6), liquid/solid ratio (30–60 mL g−1) and extraction time (15–35 min) do not significantly influence the completeness of the extraction. The optimal extraction conditions were determined to be an ethanol percentage of 59% and extraction temperature of 49 °C, yielding a total quercetin content of 11.08 mg per g dry weight of onion solid waste. An empirical relationship between extraction parameters and the extraction yield was suggested and verified.
Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase is an Upstream Regulator of the Phosphodiesterase 3B Pathway of Leptin Signalling that may not Involve Activation of Akt in the Rat Hypothalamus
Authors: Sahu A. , Koshinaka K. , Sahu M.
Published: September 2012

Leptin, the product of the obese gene, regulates energy homeostasis by acting primarily at the level of the hypothalamus. Leptin action through its receptor involves various pathways, including the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), and phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B)‐cAMP signalling in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. In the hypothalamus, leptin stimulates STAT3 activation, and induces PI3K and PDE3B activities, among others. We have previously demonstrated that PDE3B activation in the hypothalamus is critical for transducing the anorectic and body weight reducing effects of leptin. Similarly, PI3K has been implicated to play a critical role in leptin signalling in the hypothalamus. Although, in the insulin signalling pathway, PI3K is known to be an upstream regulator of PDE3B in non‐neuronal tissues, it is still unknown whether this is also the case for leptin signalling in the hypothalamus. To address this possibility, the effect of wortmannin, a specific PI3K inhibitor, was examined on leptin‐induced PDE3B activity in the hypothalamus of male rats. Intracerebroventricular injection of leptin (4 μg) significantly increased PDE3B activity by two‐fold in the hypothalamus as expected. However, previous administration of wortmannin completely reversed the stimulatory effect of leptin on PDE3B activity in the hypothalamus. To investigate whether leptin stimulates phospho (p)‐Akt levels and that there might be a possible upstream regulator of PDE3B, we examined the effects of i.c.v. leptin on p‐Akt levels in the hypothalamus and compared them with the known stimulatory effect of insulin on p‐Akt. We observed that insulin increased p‐Akt levels but leptin failed to do so, although it increased p‐STAT3 levels, in the rat hypothalamus. Immunocytochemistry confirmed the biochemical findings in that leptin failed but insulin increased the number of p‐Akt positive cells in various hypothalamic nuclei. Taken together, these results implicate PI3K but not Akt as an upstream regulator of the PDE3B pathway of leptin signalling in the rat hypothalamus.
Geometric morphometric analysis of a new Miocene bumble bee from the Randeck Maar of southwestern Germany (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: WAPPLER TORSTEN , DE MEULEMEESTER THIBAUT , MURAT AYTEKIN A. , MICHEZ DENIS , ENGEL MICHAEL S.
Published: September 2012

The first fossil bumble bee (Apinae: Bombini) from the Miocene Randeck Maar of southwestern Germany is described and illustrated. The specimen is subjected to a geometric morphometric analysis along with a diversity of other bumble bee species representing most major extant lineages, and particularly the subgenus Bombus s.s. The morphometric analysis supports the placement of the Randeck Maar species within Bombus s.s., as a species distinct from all others in the subgenus. It shows that extant subgenera of bumblebees were already derived in the early/middle Miocene. The Randeck Maar fossil is formally described as Bombus (Bombus) randeckensis Wappler & Engel sp. n..
Monitoring costs in the ICU: a search for a pertinent methodology
Authors: REIS MIRANDA D. , JEGERS M.
Published: September 2012

Attempts to determine costs in the intensive care unit (ICU) were not successful until now, as they failed to detect differences of costs between patients. The methodology and/or the instruments used might be at the origin of this failure. Based on the results of the European ICUs studies and on the descriptions of the activities of care in the ICU, we gathered and analysed the relevant literature concerning the monitoring of costs in the ICU. The aim was to formulate a methodology, from an economic perspective, in which future research may be framed. A bottom‐up microcosting methodology will enable to distinguish costs between patients. The resulting information will at the same time support the decision‐making of top management and be ready to include in the financial system of the hospital. Nursing staff explains about 30% of the total costs. This relation remains constant irrespective of the annual nurse/patient ratio. In contrast with other scoring instruments, the nursing activities score (NAS) covers all nursing activities. (1) NAS is to be chosen for quantifying nursing activities; (2) an instrument for measuring the physician's activities is not yet available; (3) because the nursing activities have a large impact on total costs, the standardisation of the processes of care (following the system approach) will contribute to manage costs, making also reproducible the issue of quality of care; (4) the quantification of the nursing activities may be the required (proxy) input for the automated bottom‐up monitoring of costs in the ICU.
Identification of quantitative trait loci for seed storability in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: LI LINFANG , LIN QIUYUN , LIU SHIJIA , LIU XI , WANG WENYAN , HANG NGO THI , LIU FENG , ZHAO ZHIGANG , JIANG LING , WAN JIANMIN
Published: September 2012

With 5 figures and 2 tables

Seed storability is an important agronomic trait for rice. A population comprising 182 backcross recombinant inbred lines derived from the backcross ‘Koshihikari’ (japonica)/‘Kasalath’ (indica)//‘Koshihikari’ was used for detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed storability. Germination rate was used as the phenotype of seed storability under room temperature conditions after storage for 32 months (grown only at Nanjing) and 48 months (grown at Nanjing, Jinhu and Lianyungang). Six QTL named qSS‐2, qSS‐3, qSS‐4, qSS‐6, qSS‐9 and qSS‐11 were detected. qSS‐9 was the most stable one and was detected in seeds from all environments and storage times, explaining 10.63–33.10% of the phenotypic variation. The existence of QTL qSS‐2, qSS‐4, qSS‐6 and qSS‐9 was confirmed using ‘Kasalath’ chromosome segment substitution lines in a ‘Koshihikari’ genetic background. These results provide an opportunity for map‐based cloning of qSS‐9, thereby gaining an understanding of seed storability in rice and possibilities for its improvement.
Interactions between superficial and deep dorsal horn spinal cord neurons in the processing of nociceptive information
Authors: Petitjean Hugues , Rodeau Jean‐Luc , Schlichter Rémy
Published: September 2012

In acute rat spinal cord slices, the application of capsaicin (5 μm, 90 s), an agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors expressed by a subset of nociceptors that project to laminae I–II of the spinal cord dorsal horn, induced an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in about half of the neurons in laminae II, III–IV and V. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, which blocks action potential generation and polysynaptic transmission, capsaicin increased the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in only 30% of lamina II neurons and had no effect on the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in laminae III–V or on the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in laminae II–V. When the communication between lamina V and more superficial laminae was interrupted by performing a mechanical section between laminae IV and V, capsaicin induced an increase in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current frequency in laminae II–IV and an increase in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current frequency in lamina II that were similar to those observed in intact slices. However, in laminae III–IV of transected slices, the increase in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current frequency was virtually abolished. Our results indicate that nociceptive information conveyed by transient receptor potential vanilloid 1‐expressing nociceptors is transmitted from lamina II to deeper laminae essentially by an excitatory pathway and that deep laminae exert a ‘feedback’ control over neurons in laminae III–IV by increasing inhibitory synaptic transmission in these laminae. Moreover, we provide evidence that laminae III–IV might play an important role in the processing of nociceptive information in the dorsal horn.
Systemic empathy with adults affected by intellectual disabilities and their families
Authors: Webb‐Peploe Hilly , Fredman Glenda
Published: September 2012

This article explores how we might bring forth and value the voice of the person with intellectual disabilities alongside the voice of their family and carers so that all those present can feel understood and appreciated. We offer a description of systemic empathy as the ability to connect with one person while maintaining the possibility of connecting with other individuals in the system and at the same time tuning in to those people's connections with each other. We share examples from practice that challenge our ability to work empathically when there are several people in the same room holding different or opposing perspectives and who evoke different emotional reactions in us. We offer principles and practices through which we have been able to make empathy systemic with examples from our work with adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. These include empathizing through curiosity and irreverence, co‐creating meanings with more than one person, double listening with ears, eyes and bodies, preparing our own emotional postures, taking the perspectives of others and creating reflecting processes.
Doing gesture promotes learning a mental transformation task better than seeing gesture
Authors: Goldin‐Meadow Susan , Levine Susan C. , Zinchenko Elena , Yip Terina KuangYi , Hemani Naureen , Factor Laiah
Published: September 2012

Performing action has been found to have a greater impact on learning than observing action. Here we ask whether a particular type of action – the gestures that accompany talk – affect learning in a comparable way. We gave 158 6‐year‐old children instruction in a mental transformation task. Half the children were asked to produce a Move gesture relevant to the task; half were asked to produce a Point gesture. The children also observed the experimenter producing either a Move or Point gesture. Children who produced a Move gesture improved more than children who observed the Move gesture. Neither producing nor observing the Point gesture facilitated learning. Doing gesture promotes learning better than seeing gesture, as long as the gesture conveys information that could help solve the task.
Family Functioning and Early Learning Practices in Immigrant Homes
Authors: Jung Sunyoung , Fuller Bruce , Galindo Claudia
Published: September 2012

Poverty‐related developmental‐risk theories dominate accounts of uneven levels of household functioning and effects on children. But immigrant parents may sustain norms and practices—stemming from heritage culture, selective migration, and social support—that buffer economic exigencies.Comparablelevels of social‐emotional functioning in homes of foreign‐born Latino mothers were observed relative to native‐born Whites, despite sharp social‐class disparities, but learning activities were muchweaker, drawing on a national sample of mothers with children aging from 9 to 48 months (n = 5,300). Asian‐heritage mothers reportedweakersocial functioning—greater martial conflict and depression—yetstrongerlearning practices. Mothers’ migration history, ethnicity, and social support helped to explain levels of functioning, after taking into account multiple indicators of class and poverty.
Migration Timing and Parenting Practices: Contributions to Social Development in Preschoolers With Foreign‐Born and Native‐Born Mothers
Authors: Glick Jennifer E. , Hanish Laura D. , Yabiku Scott T. , Bradley Robert H.
Published: September 2012

Little is known about how key aspects of parental migration or childrearing history affect social development across children from immigrant families. Relying on data on approximately 6,400 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, analyses assessed the role of mother’s age at migration on children’s social development in the United States (sociability and problem behaviors). Consistent with models of divergent adaptation and assimilation, the relation between age at arrival and children’s social development is not linear. Parenting practices, observed when children were approximately 24 months of age, partially mediated the relation between mother’s age at arrival and children’s social development reported at approximate age 48 months, particularly in the case of mothers who arrived as adults.
Health and Medical Care among the Children of Immigrants
Authors: Ziol‐Guest Kathleen M. , Kalil Ariel
Published: September 2012

Using data spanning 1996–2009 from multiple panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, this study investigates children’s (average age 8.5 years) physical health, dental visits, and doctor contact among low‐income children (n = 46,148) in immigrant versus native households. Immigrant households are further distinguished by household citizenship and immigration status. The findings show that children residing in households with non‐naturalized citizen parents, particularly those with a nonpermanent resident parent, experience worse health and less access to care even when controlling for important demographic, socioeconomic, and health insurance variables.
The Development of Young Children of Immigrants in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Authors: Washbrook Elizabeth , Waldfogel Jane , Bradbury Bruce , Corak Miles , Ghanghro Ali A.
Published: September 2012

In spite of important differences in some of the resources immigrant parents have to invest in their children, and in immigrant selection rules and settlement policies, there are significant similarities in the relative positions of 4‐ and 5‐year‐old children of immigrants in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Children of immigrants underperform their counterparts with native‐born parents in vocabulary tests, particularly if a language other than the official language is spoken at home, but are not generally disadvantaged in nonverbal cognitive domains, nor are there notable behavioral differences. These findings suggest that the cross‐country differences in cognitive outcomes during the teen years documented in the existing literature are much less evident during the early years.
Mexican‐Origin Youth’s Cultural Orientations and Adjustment: Changes From Early to Late Adolescence
Authors: Updegraff Kimberly A. , Umaña‐Taylor Adriana J. , McHale Susan M. , Wheeler Lorey A. , Perez‐Brena Norma J.
Published: September 2012

Drawing from developmental and cultural adaptation perspectives and using a longitudinal design, this study examined: (a) mean‐level changes in Mexican‐origin adolescents’ cultural orientations and adjustment from early to late adolescence and (b) bidirectional associations between cultural orientations and adjustment using a cross‐lag panel model. Participants included 246 Mexican‐origin, predominantly immigrant families that participated in home interviews and a series of nightly phone calls when target adolescents were 12 and 18 years of age. Girls exhibited more pronounced declines in traditional gender role attitudes than did boys, and all youth declined in familism values, time spent with family, and involvement in Mexican culture. Bidirectional relations between cultural orientations and adjustment emerged, and some associations were moderated by adolescent nativity and gender.
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS FOR A HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFIER WITH OVERLAPPING CLUSTERS
Authors: Podolak Igor T. , Roman Adam
Published: September 2012

This paper proposes a classification framework based on simple classifiers organized in a tree‐like structure. It is observed that simple classifiers, even though they have high error rate, find similarities among classes in the problem domain. The authors propose to trade on this property by recognizing classes that are mistaken and constructing overlapping subproblems. The subproblems are then solved by other classifiers, which can be very simple, giving as a result a hierarchical classifier (HC). It is shown that HC, together with the proposed training algorithm and evaluation methods, performs well as a classification framework. It is also proven that such constructs give better accuracy than the root classifier it is built upon.
France and the International Financial Crisis: The Legacy of State‐Led Finance
Authors: Howarth David
Published: September 2012

Despite the far‐reaching liberalization of theFrench banking system over the past quarter century,French banks suffered far less in the international financial crisis (2007–2009) than banks in theUnitedKingdom andGermany. However, theFrench system also suffered far more—at least in the first stages of the crisis—than the banking systems ofSouthernEurope. By several measures,French banks were world leaders in financial innovation, and theFrench banking system was highly exposed to international market movements. The limited impact of the crisis, however, owed to the specificities ofFrench “market‐based banking.” Deliberate state action over the two decades prior to the crisis created a specific kind of banking system and encouraged forms of financial innovation, the unintentional consequence of which was the limited exposure to the securitization that caused the damage wrought during the financial crisis.
Long‐term efficacy and safety of safinamide as add‐on therapy in early Parkinson's disease
Authors: Schapira A. H. V. , Stocchi F. , Borgohain R. , Onofrj M. , Bhatt M. , Lorenzana P. , Lucini V. , Giuliani R. , Anand R. ,   The Study 017 Investigators
Published: September 2012

Background and purpose

Safinamide is an α‐aminoamide with both dopaminergic and non‐dopaminergic mechanisms of action in Phase III clinical development as a once‐daily add‐on to dopamine agonist (DA) therapy for early Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods

Study 017 was a 12‐month, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled pre‐planned extension study to the previously reported Study 015. Patients received safinamide 100 or 200 mg/day or placebo added to a single DA in early PD. The primary efficacy endpoint was the time from baseline (Study 015 randomization) to ‘intervention’, defined as increase in DA dose; addition of another DA, levodopa or other PD treatment; or discontinuation due to lack of efficacy. Safinamide groups were pooled for the primary efficacy endpoint analysis; post hoc analyses were performed on each separate dose group.

Results

Of the 269 patients randomized in Study 015, 227 (84%) enrolled in Study 017 and 187/227 (82%) patients completed the extension study. Median time to intervention was 559 and 466 days in the pooled safinamide and placebo groups, respectively (log‐rank test; P = 0.3342). In post hoc analyses, patients receiving safinamide 100 mg/day experienced a significantly lower rate of intervention compared with placebo (25% vs. 51%, respectively) and a delay in median time to intervention of 9 days (P < 0.05; 240‐ to 540‐day analysis).

Conclusions

The pooled data from the safinamide groups failed to reach statistical significance for the primary endpoint of median time from baseline to additional drug intervention. Post hoc analyses indicate that safinamide 100 mg/day may be effective as add‐on treatment to DA in PD.
No globally consistent effect of ectomycorrhizal status on foliar traits
Authors: Koele Nina , Dickie Ian A. , Oleksyn Jacek , Richardson Sarah J. , Reich Peter B.
Published: September 2012

The concept that ectomycorrhizal plants have a particular foliar trait suite characterized by low foliar nutrients and high leaf mass per unit area (LMA) is widely accepted, but whether this trait suite can be generalized to all ectomycorrhizal clades is unclear.

We identified 19 evolutionary clades of ectomycorrhizal plants and used a global leaf traits dataset comprising 11 466 samples across c. 3000 species to test whether there were consistent shifts in leaf nutrients or LMA with the evolution of ectomycorrhiza.

There were no consistent effects of ectomycorrhizal status on foliar nutrients or LMA in the 17 ectomycorrhizal/non‐ectomycorrhizal pairs for which we had sufficient data, with some ectomycorrhizal groups having higher and other groups lower nutrient status than non‐ectomycorrhizal contrasts. Controlling for the woodiness of host species did not alter the results.

Our findings suggest that the concepts of ectomycorrhizal plant trait suites should be re‐examined to ensure that they are broadly reflective of mycorrhizal status across all evolutionary clades, rather than reflecting the traits of a few commonly studied groups, such as the Pinaceae and Fagales.
Community Resilience and Decision Theory Challenges for Catastrophic Events
Authors: Cox, Jr. Louis Anthony (Tony)
Published: September 2012

Extreme and catastrophic events pose challenges for normative models of risk management decision making. They invite development of new methods and principles to complement existing normative decision and risk analysis. Because such events are rare, it is difficult to learn about them from experience. They can prompt both too little concern before the fact, and too much after. Emotionally charged and vivid outcomes promote probability neglect and distort risk perceptions. Aversion to acting on uncertain probabilities saps precautionary action; moral hazard distorts incentives to take care; imperfect learning and social adaptation (e.g., herd‐following, group‐think) complicate forecasting and coordination of individual behaviors and undermine prediction, preparation, and insurance of catastrophic events. Such difficulties raise substantial challenges for normative decision theories prescribing how catastrophe risks should be managed. This article summarizes challenges for catastrophic hazards with uncertain or unpredictable frequencies and severities, hard‐to‐envision and incompletely described decision alternatives and consequences, and individual responses that influence each other. Conceptual models and examples clarify where and why new methods are needed to complement traditional normative decision theories for individuals and groups. For example, prospective and retrospective preferences for risk management alternatives may conflict; procedures for combining individual beliefs or preferences can produce collective decisions that no one favors; and individual choices or behaviors in preparing for possible disasters may have no equilibrium. Recent ideas for building “disaster‐resilient” communities can complement traditional normative decision theories, helping to meet the practical need for better ways to manage risks of extreme and catastrophic events.