bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Usability in E-Commerce Services
Authors: Konradt Udo , Held Gunther , Christophersen Timo , Nerdinger Friedemann W.
Published: January 2013

The authors examined the impact of perceived usability of websites of commercial service vendors on consumer’s affective, intentional, and behavioral variables. Reflective and formative usability measures were used within a nomological network of predictors (trust, reputation, and perceived fun), mediators (user satisfaction, and intention to use), decision to choose as the criteria, product involvement as a moderator, and controls. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that usability holds both direct and indirect paths, via trust and perceived fun, to user satisfaction. User satisfaction was positively related to the intention to use and partially mediated the relation between usability and intention to use. Furthermore, product involvement does not moderate the relation between usability and intention to use and the relation between user satisfaction and intention to use. Finally, intention to use provided an excellent prediction of the decision to choose. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Figure Based Biomedical Document Retrieval System using Structural Image Features
Authors: Rai Harikrishna G. N. , Deepak K Sai , Krishna P. Radha
Published: January 2013

Multi-modal and Unstructured nature of documents make their retrieval from healthcare document repositories a challenging task. Text based retrieval is the conventional approach used for solving this problem. In this paper, the authors explore an alternate avenue of using embedded figures for the retrieval task. Usually, context of a document is directly reflected in the associated figures, therefore embedded text within these figures along with image features have been used for similarity based retrieval of figures. The present work demonstrates that image features describing the structural properties of figures are sufficient for the figure retrieval task. First, the authors analyze the problem of figure retrieval from biomedical literature and identify significant classes of figures. Second, they use edge information as a means to discriminate between structural properties of each figure category. Finally, the authors present a methodology using a novel feature descriptor namely Fourier Edge Orientation Autocorrelogram (FEOAC) to describe structural properties of figures and build an effective Biomedical document retrieval system. The experimental results demonstrate the better retrieval performance and overall improvement of FEOAC for figure retrieval task, especially when most of the edge information is retained. Apart from invariance to scale, rotation and non-uniform illumination, the proposed feature descriptor is shown to be relatively robust to noisy edges.
Exerting Cost-Sensitive and Feature Creation Algorithms for Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Alizadehsani Roohallah , Hosseini Mohammad Javad , Boghrati Reihane , Ghandeharioun Asma , Khozeimeh Fahime , Sani Zahra Alizadeh
Published: January 2013

One of the main causes of death the world over is the family of cardiovascular diseases, of which coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major type. Angiography is the principal diagnostic modality for the stenosis of heart arteries; however, it leads to high complications and costs. The present study conducted data-mining algorithms on the Z-Alizadeh Sani dataset, so as to investigate rule based and feature based classifiers and their comparison, and the reason for the effectiveness of a preprocessing algorithm on a dataset. Misclassification of diseased patients has more side effects than that of healthy ones. To this end, this paper employs 10-fold cross-validation on cost-sensitive algorithms along with base classifiers of Naïve Bayes, Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and C4.5 and the results show that the SMO algorithm yielded very high sensitivity (97.22%) and accuracy (92.09%) rates.
Mathematics Students’ Readiness for Mobile Learning
Authors: Abu-Al-Aish Ahmad , Love Steve , Hunaiti Ziad
Published: January 2013

Mobile learning technologies and wireless networks are being increasingly used in educational settings. Mobile learning (M-learning) through wireless technology can deliver information access to anyone any time in any place. A study was conducted to investigate the readiness of Mathematics students in Brunel University to move towards using Mobile Learning in their studies, and also to explore the factors that might affect the implementation of this technology. A total number of 82 students participated in an online questionnaire in May 2011. The questionnaire was designed in order to determine the availability of the appropriate devices, students’ perceptions about M-learning and their expectations of mobile learning services. The findings of the study show that students have a positive perspective of using M-learning and they look at it as a support system for traditional class-based learning.
Merging MOOC and mLearning for Increased Learner Interactions
Authors: de Waard Inge , Koutropoulos Apostolos , Hogue Rebecca J. , Abajian Sean C. , Keskin Nilgün Özdamar , Rodriguez C. Osvaldo , Gallagher Michael Sean
Published: January 2013

In this paper, the authors suggest the merger of the Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) format and mobile learning (mLearning) based on mutual affordances of both contemporary learning/teaching formats to investigate learner interactions and dialogues in an open online course. The paper presents a case study of how MobiMOOC, a course created using the MOOC format, demonstrates the synergistic characteristics between the MOOC format and mLearning, making a combination of both fields ideal for contemporary, digital, collaborative learning, and knowledge construction based on learner interactions and dialogue. MobiMOOC was a six-week online course focusing on mLearning that ran in April and May 2011. An end-of-course survey provides insight that supports the synergies between MOOCs and mLearning: collaboration, informal and lifelong learning, and dialogue.
Value Lexicality and Human Enhancement
Authors: Hainz Tobias
Published: January 2013

One idea discussed in ethical theory is that values can be put in a lexical ordering. One value that ranks higher in a lexical ordering always outweighs a lower-ranked value, regardless of the amount or intensity of both values. An account of value lexicality that focuses on the practical applicability of this concept will be developed and subsequently applied to the debate about life extension technologies and human enhancement in general. Finally, a sketch of a heuristic will be provided that shows how the concept of value lexicality could be of assistance when assessing the quality of arguments in various fields of applied ethics, one of which is the debate about human enhancement.
Trust Based Service Selection in Service Oriented Environment
Authors: Li Jun , Zheng Xiaolin , Chen Deren , Song William Wei
Published: January 2013

In a service-oriented environment, it is inevitable and indeed quite common to deal with web services, whose reliability is unknown to the users. The reputation system is a popular technique currently used for providing a global quality score of a service provider to requesters. However, such global information is far from sufficient for service requesters to choose the most qualified services. In order to tackle this problem, the authors present a trust based architecture containing a computational trust model for quantifying and comparing the trustworthiness of services. In this trust model, they firstly construct a network based on the direct trust relations between participants and rating similarity in service oriented environments, then propose an algorithm for propagating trust in the social network based environment which can produce personalized trust information for a specific service requester, and finally implement the trust model and simulate various malicious behaviors in not only dense but also sparse networks which can verify the attack-resistant and robustness of the proposed approach. The experiment results also demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of the approach.
Peripheral Blood NK Cells from Breast Cancer Patients Are Tumor-Induced Composite Subsets
Authors: Mamessier Emilie , Pradel Lydie C. , Thibult Marie-Laure , Drevet Charlotte , Zouine Atika , Jacquemier Jocelyne , Houvenaeghel Gilles , Bertucci François , Birnbaum Daniel , Olive Daniel
Published: January 2013

Human NK lymphocytes are involved in antitumor immunity. The therapeutic potential of this population against cancers has stimulated their study and led to the discovery of several NK cell subsets, each of which is endowed with different immunoregulatory functions. We have previously reported that NK cell functions are profoundly altered in advanced breast cancer patients. In this study, we show that these tumor-mediated alterations also variably affect NK cell subsets. We found that in addition to the known human CD56dimCD16+, CD56brightCD16−, and CD56−CD16+ NK cell subsets, two additional subsets, namely the CD56brightCD16+ and CD56dimCD16− subsets, were increased in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced invasive breast cancers. These subsets corresponded to the main two subsets found at the tumor site. The extensive phenotype of these subsets revealed an “à la carte” pattern of expression for the various NK receptors, functional molecules, adhesion molecules, and chemokine receptors, depending on the subset. We next compared these subsets to known NK cell populations endowed with specific phenotypic characteristics, but also with functional properties. Our data show that advanced breast cancer patients have an increased proportion of more immature and noncytotoxic NK cell subsets in their peripheral blood, which might account for at least part of the low cytotoxic functions observed in these patients. They reveal a major heterogeneity and plasticity of the NK cell compartment, which are both tightly linked to the microenvironment. The identification of NK cell subsets endowed with particular functional capabilities might help monitor residual antitumor NK cell-mediated responses in breast cancer patients.
Kidins220/ARMS Associates with B-Raf and the TCR, Promoting Sustained Erk Signaling in T Cells
Authors: Deswal Sumit , Meyer Anja , Fiala Gina J. , Eisenhardt Anja E. , Schmitt Lisa C. , Salek Mogjiborahman , Brummer Tilman , Acuto Oreste , Schamel Wolfgang W. A.
Published: January 2013

The activation kinetics of MAPK Erk are critical for T cell development and activation. In particular, sustained Erk signaling is required for T cell activation and effector functions, such as IL-2 production. Although Raf-1 triggers transient Erk activation, B-Raf is implicated in sustained Erk signaling after TCR stimulation. In this study, we show that B-Raf is dephosphorylated on its inhibitory serine 365 upon TCR triggering. However, it is unknown how B-Raf activation is coupled to the TCR. Using mass spectrometry, we identified protein kinase D–interacting substrate of 220 kDa (Kidins220)/ankyrin repeat-rich membrane spanning protein, mammalian target of rapamycin, Rictor, Dock2, and GM130 as novel B-Raf interaction partners. We focused on Kidins220, a protein that has been studied in neuronal cells and found that it associated with the pre-TCR, αβTCR, and γδTCR. Upon prolonged TCR stimulation, the Kidins220–TCR interaction was reduced, as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. We show that Kidins220 is required for TCR-induced sustained, but not transient, Erk activation. Consequently, induction of the immediate early gene products and transcription factors c-Fos and Erg-1 was blocked, and upregulation of the activation markers CD69, IL-2, and IFN-γ was reduced. Further, Kidins220 was required for optimal calcium signaling. In conclusion, we describe Kidins220 as a novel TCR-interacting protein that couples B-Raf to the TCR. Kidins220 is mandatory for sustained Erk signaling; thus, it is crucial for TCR-mediated T cell activation.
Computational Identification of Antigen-Binding Antibody Fragments
Authors: Burkovitz Anat , Leiderman Olga , Sela-Culang Inbal , Byk Gerardo , Ofran Yanay
Published: January 2013

Determining which parts of the Ab are essential for Ag recognition and binding is crucial for understanding B cell–mediated immunity. Identification of fragments of Abs that maintain specificity to the Ag will also allow for the development of improved Ab-based therapy and diagnostics. In this article, we show that structural analysis of Ab–Ag complexes reveals which fragments of the Ab may bind the Ag on their own. In particular, it is possible to predict whether a given CDR is likely to bind the Ag as a peptide by analyzing the energetic contribution of each CDR to Ag binding and by assessing to what extent the interaction between that CDR and the Ag depends on other CDRs. To demonstrate this, we analyzed five Ab–Ag complexes and predicted for each of them which of the CDRs may bind the Ag on its own as a peptide. We then show that these predictions are in agreement with our experimental analysis and with previously published experimental results. These findings promote our understanding of the modular nature of Ab–Ag interactions and lay the foundation for the rational design of active CDR-derived peptides.
Keratinocyte Overexpression of IL-17C Promotes Psoriasiform Skin Inflammation
Authors: Johnston Andrew , Fritz Yi , Dawes Sean M. , Diaconu Doina , Al-Attar Paul M. , Guzman Andrew M. , Chen Cynthia S. , Fu Wen , Gudjonsson Johann E. , McCormick Thomas S. , Ward Nicole L.
Published: January 2013

IL-17C is a functionally distinct member of the IL-17 family that binds IL-17 receptor E/A to promote innate defense in epithelial cells and regulate Th17 cell differentiation. We demonstrate that IL-17C (not IL-17A) is the most abundant IL-17 isoform in lesional psoriasis skin (1058 versus 8 pg/ml; p < 0.006) and localizes to keratinocytes (KCs), endothelial cells (ECs), and leukocytes. ECs stimulated with IL-17C produce increased TNF-α and KCs stimulated with IL-17C/TNF-α produce similar inflammatory gene response patterns as those elicited by IL-17A/TNF-α, including increases in IL-17C, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1α/β, IL-1F5, IL-1F9, IL-6, IL-19, CCL20, S100A7/A8/A9, DEFB4, lipocalin 2, and peptidase inhibitor 3 (p < 0.05), indicating a positive proinflammatory feedback loop between the epidermis and ECs. Psoriasis patients treated with etanercept rapidly decrease cutaneous IL-17C levels, suggesting IL-17C/TNF-α–mediated inflammatory signaling is critical for psoriasis pathogenesis. Mice genetically engineered to overexpress IL-17C in KCs develop well-demarcated areas of erythematous, flakey involved skin adjacent to areas of normal-appearing uninvolved skin despite increased IL-17C expression in both areas (p < 0.05). Uninvolved skin displays increased angiogenesis and elevated S100A8/A9 expression (p < 0.05) but no epidermal hyperplasia, whereas involved skin exhibits robust epidermal hyperplasia, increased angiogenesis and leukocyte infiltration, and upregulated TNF-α, IL-1α/β, IL-17A/F, IL-23p19, vascular endothelial growth factor, IL-6, and CCL20 (p < 0.05), suggesting that IL-17C, when coupled with other proinflammatory signals, initiates the development of psoriasiform dermatitis. This skin phenotype was significantly improved following 8 wk of TNF-α inhibition. These findings identify a role for IL-17C in skin inflammation and suggest a pathogenic function for the elevated IL-17C observed in lesional psoriasis skin.
Butyrophilin-like 2 Modulates B7 Costimulation To Induce Foxp3 Expression and Regulatory T Cell Development in Mature T Cells
Authors: Swanson Ryan M. , Gavin Marc A. , Escobar Sabine S. , Rottman James B. , Lipsky Brian P. , Dube Shishir , Li Li , Bigler Jeannette , Wolfson Martin , Arnett Heather A. , Viney Joanne L.
Published: January 2013

Naive T cell activation involves at least two signals from an APC, one through the TCR via interaction with peptide–MHC complexes and a second through ligation of CD28 with B7 ligands. Following activation, T cells upregulate a host of other membrane-bound costimulatory molecules that can either promote or inhibit further T cell maturation and proliferation. In some cases, it is necessary to attenuate T cell activation to prevent deleterious inflammation, and inhibitory members of the B7/butyrophilin family of ligands have evolved to balance the strong stimuli the activating B7 ligands confer. Human genetic association and in vitro studies have implicated one such ligand, BTNL2, in controlling inflammation at mucosal surfaces. In this study, we show that recombinant mouse BTNL2 modifies B7/CD28 signaling to promote expression of Foxp3, a transcription factor necessary for regulatory T cell (Treg) development and function. BTNL2 blocks Akt-mediated inactivation of Foxo1, a transcription factor necessary for Foxp3 expression. Immunophenotyping and gene profiling reveal that BTNL2-induced Treg share many properties with natural Treg, and in vivo they suppress enteritis induced by mouse effector T cells. These findings describe a mechanism by which environmental Ag-specific Tregs may be induced by APC expressing specific modulators of costimulatory signals.
Antitumor Effect of Paclitaxel Is Mediated by Inhibition of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Chronic Inflammation in the Spontaneous Melanoma Model
Authors: Sevko Alexandra , Michels Tillmann , Vrohlings Melissa , Umansky Ludmila , Beckhove Philipp , Kato Masashi , Shurin Galina V. , Shurin Michael R. , Umansky Viktor
Published: January 2013

The antitumor effects of paclitaxel are generally attributed to the suppression of microtubule dynamics resulting in defects in cell division. New data demonstrated that in ultralow noncytotoxic concentrations, paclitaxel modulated in immune cells in vitro the activity of small Rho GTPases, the key regulators of intracellular actin dynamics. However, the immunomodulatory properties of paclitaxel in vivo have not been evaluated. In this study, using the ret transgenic murine melanoma model, which mimics human cutaneous melanoma, we tested effects of ultralow noncytotoxic dose paclitaxel on functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), chronic inflammatory mediators, and T cell activities in the tumor microenvironment in vivo. Administration of paclitaxel significantly decreased accumulation and immunosuppressive activities of tumor-infiltrating MDSCs without alterations of the bone marrow hematopoiesis. This was associated with the inhibition of p38 MAPK activity, TNF-α and production, and S100A9 expression in MDSCs. The production of mediators of chronic inflammation in the tumor milieu also was diminished. Importantly, reduced tumor burden and increased animal survival upon paclitaxel application was mediated by the restoration of CD8 T cell effector functions. We suggest that the ability of paclitaxel in a noncytotoxic dose to block the immunosuppressive potential of MDSCs in vivo represents a new therapeutic strategy to downregulate immunosuppression and chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment for enhancing the efficacy of concomitant anticancer therapies.
Porcine γδ T Lymphocytes Can Be Categorized into Two Functionally and Developmentally Distinct Subsets according to Expression of CD2 and Level of TCR
Authors: Stepanova Katerina , Sinkora Marek
Published: January 2013

Porcine γδ T cells have two levels of TCRγδ expression. Whereas TCRγδmed cells are mostly CD2+CD8− and CD2+CD8+, TCRγδhi cells are highly enriched for CD2−CD8−. This distribution is independent of bacterial colonization and it is already established in the thymus prior to export of γδ cells to the periphery. Sorting and cultivation experiments revealed that CD2−CD8− γδ cells are unable to acquire CD2 and CD8, whereas CD2+ subsets can gain or loose CD8. There is also differential susceptibility for proliferation between CD2+ and CD2− γδ cells. Although CD2−CD8− almost do not proliferate, proliferation of CD2+CD8− and CD2+CD8+ is substantial. Population of CD2− γδ cells is also absent in CD1+ immature thymocytes. Additionally, subpopulations of CD2+ and CD2− γδ cells in the thymus differ in expression of auxiliary surface molecules such as CD25, CD45RA/RC, and MHC class II. Moreover, TCRγδhi cells can generate TCRγδmed cells but never the opposite. The only exception is the thymus, where a few TCRγδmed cells can be induced to TCRγδhi but only under IL-2 influence. The repertoire of TCRδ is polyclonal in all subsets, indicating that there is the same extent of diversification and equal capability of immune responses. Results collectively indicate that CD2 expression determines two lineages of γδ cells that differ in many aspects. Because CD2− γδ cells are missing in the blood of humans and mice but are obvious in other members of γδ-high species such as ruminants and birds, our findings support the idea that circulating CD2− γδ T cells are a specific lineage.
Prostaglandin E2 Potentiates Mesenchymal Stem Cell–Induced IL-10+IFN-γ+CD4+ Regulatory T Cells To Control Transplant Arteriosclerosis
Authors: Hsu Wan-Tseng , Lin Cheng-Hsin , Chiang Bor-Luen , Jui Hsiang-Yiang , Wu Kenneth Kun-Yu , Lee Chii-Ming
Published: January 2013

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known for their immunomodulatory functions. We previously demonstrated that bone marrow–derived MSCs effectively control transplant arteriosclerosis (TA) by enhancing IL-10+ and IFN-γ+ cells. The objective of this study is to elucidate the mechanism by which MSCs induce IL-10+IFN-γ+CD4+ regulatory T type 1 (TR1)–like cells. In an MLR system using porcine PBMCs, MSC-induced IL-10+IFN-γ+CD4+ cells, which confer resistance to allogeneic proliferation in an IL-10–dependent manner, resemble TR1-like cells. Both cyclooxygenase-derived PGE2 and IDO help to induce TR1-like cells by MSCs. MSCs constitutively secrete PGE2, which is augmented in allogeneic reactions. However, TR1-like cells were deficient in PGE2 and 4-fold less potent than were MSCs in suppressing MLR. PGE2 mimetic supplements can enhance the immunosuppressive potency of TR1-like cells. In a porcine model of allogeneic femoral arterial transplantation, MSC-induced TR1-like cells combined with PGE2, but not either alone, significantly reduced TA at the end of 6 wk (percentage of luminal area stenosis: TR1-like cells + PGE2: 11 ± 10%; PGE2 alone: 93 ± 8.7%; TR1-like cells alone: 88 ± 2.4% versus untreated 94 ± 0.9%, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that PGE2 helps MSC-induced IL-10+IFN-γ+CD4+ TR1-like cells inhibit TA. PGE2 combined with MSC-induced TR1-like cells represents a new approach for achieving immune tolerance.
A Posteriori Error Estimates of a Combined Mixed Finite Element and Discontinuous Galerkin Method for a Kind of Compressible Miscible Displacement Problems
Authors: Yang Jiming , Xiong Zhiguang
Published: January 2013

A kind of compressible miscible displacement problems which include molecular diffusion and dispersion in porous media are investigated. The mixed finite element method is applied to the flow equation, and the transport one is solved by the symmetric interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin method. Based on a duality argument, employing projection estimates and approximation properties, a posteriori residual-type hp error estimates for the coupled system are presented, which is often used for guiding adaptivity. Comparing with the error analysis carried out by Yang (Int. J. Numer. Meth. Fluids, 65(7) (2011), pp. 781–797), the current work is more complicated and challenging.
Estimation of the Impact of a Japanese Encephalitis Immunization Program with Live, Attenuated SA 14-14-2 Vaccine in Nepal
Authors: Upreti Shyam Raj , Janusz Kristen B. , Schluter W. William , Bichha Ram Padarath , Shakya Geeta , Biggerstaff Brad J. , Shrestha Murari Man , Sedai Tika Ram , Fischer Marc , Gibbons Robert V. , Shrestha Sanjaya K. , Hills Susan L.
Published: January 2013

Wider availability of the live, attenuated SA 14-14-2 Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine has facilitated introduction or expansion of immunization programs in many countries. However, information on their impact is limited. In 2006, Nepal launched a JE immunization program, and by 2009, mass campaigns had been implemented in 23 districts. To describe the impact, we analyzed surveillance data from 2004 to 2009 on laboratory-confirmed JE and clinical acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases. The post-campaign JE incidence rate of 1.3 per 100,000 population was 72% lower than expected if no campaigns had occurred, and an estimated 891 JE cases were prevented. In addition, AES incidence was 58% lower, with an estimated 2,787 AES cases prevented, suggesting that three times as many disease cases may have been prevented than indicated by the laboratory-confirmed JE cases alone. These results provide useful information on preventable JE disease burden and the potential value of JE immunization programs.
Origin of the St. Elizabeth Strain of Plasmodium vivax
Authors: Collins William
Published: January 2013

The St. Elizabeth strain of Plasmodium vivax originated in the South Carolina State Hospital instead of the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington, DC.
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira borgpetersenii Isolates from the Urban Rat Populations of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Authors: Benacer Douadi , Mohd Zain Siti Nursheena , Amran Fairuz , Galloway Renee L. , Thong Kwai Lin
Published: January 2013

Rats are considered the principal maintenance hosts of Leptospira. The objectives of this study were isolation and identification of Leptospira serovars circulating among urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur. Three hundred urban rats (73% Rattus rattus and 27% R. norvegicus) from three different sites were trapped. Twenty cultures were positive for Leptospira using dark-field microscopy. R. rattus was the dominant carrier (70%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed that all isolates were pathogenic Leptospira species. Two Leptospira serogroups, Javanica and Bataviae, were identified using microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) identified two serovars in the urban rat populations: L. borgpetersenii serovar Javanica (85%) and L. interrogans serovar Bataviae (15%). We conclude that these two serovars are the major serovars circulating among the urban rat populations in Kuala Lumpur. Despite the low infection rate reported, the high pathogenicity of these serovars raises concern of public health risks caused by rodent transmission of leptospirosis.
Inter-Relationships of Cardinal Features and Outcomes of Symptomatic Pediatric Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in 1,933 Children in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Cserti-Gazdewich Christine M. , Dhabangi Aggrey , Musoke Charles , Ssewanyana Isaac , Ddungu Henry , Nakiboneka-Ssenabulya Deborah , Nabukeera-Barungi Nicolette , Mpimbaza Arthur , Dzik Walter H.
Published: January 2013

Malaria remains a challenging diagnosis with variable clinical presentation and a wide spectrum of disease severity. Using a structured case report form, we prospectively assessed 1,933 children at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Children with uncomplicated malaria significantly differed from those with severe disease for 17 features. Among 855 children with severe disease, the case-fatality rate increased as the number of severity features increased. Logistic regression identified five factors independently associated with death: cerebral malaria, hypoxia, severe thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, and lactic acidosis. Cluster analysis identified two groups: one combining anemia, splenomegaly, and leukocytosis; and a second group centered on death, severe thrombocytopenia, and lactic acidosis, which included cerebral malaria, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and hyper-parasitemia. Our report updates previous clinical descriptions of severe malaria, quantifies significant clinical and laboratory inter-relationships, and will assist clinicians treating malaria and those planning or assessing future research (NCT00707200) (www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Gastroenteritis at a Diarrheal Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1996–2011
Authors: Leung Daniel T. , Das Sumon K. , Malek M. A. , Ahmed Dilruba , Khanam Farhana , Qadri Firdausi , Faruque A. S. G. , Ryan Edward T.
Published: January 2013

Data on non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection in South Asia are limited. We used data gathered prospectively from 1996 to 2011 as part of a hospital surveillance system in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to identify diarrheal patients with NTS isolated from stool. NTS was isolated in 1.3% (468 of 37,439) of diarrheal patients; 47% of total cases of NTS were in children < 5 years of age, although older adults (≥ 60 years) had the highest isolation rates. NTS isolation peaked in the monsoon months of July and August. Over the study period, rates of multidrug resistance decreased, whereas rates of decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin increased. Compared with control patients, NTS patients were older and wealthier; however, no differences in type of housing or exposure to animals were found. NTS patients had increased inflammatory cells in stool and required more fluid resuscitation.
Precise continuous measurements of pelagic respiration in coastal waters with Oxygen Optodes
Authors: Wikner Johan , Panigrahi Satya , Nydahl Anna , Lundberg Erik , Båmstedt Ulf , Tengberg Anders
Published: January 2013

An analytical setup for respiration rate measurements was developed and evaluated in pelagic water samples using a commercially available optical oxygen sensor (Optode™). This setup required the development of a gas tight stopper to connect the sensors to a 1 dm3 glass sample bottle, precise temperature control (± 0.05°C), and proper stirring of samples. The detection limit and precision of the method was 0.3 mmol O2 m−3 d−1. This was similar to the detection limit for the high‐precision Winkler titration method reported in field studies. When compared with the Winkler method, the Optode sensor enabled operator‐independent, high temporal resolution measurement of respiration, better coverage of plankton groups and detection of non‐linear oxygen decline, without the need for wet chemistry. Respiration rates measured by the Optodes showed good accuracy when compared with measurements made with the Winkler titration method (3% deviation), followed the expected temperature response (Q10 = 3.0), were correlated with chlorophyll a and were congruent with earlier reported values in the literature. The main source of uncertainty was a necessary correction for system drift during the incubation period, due to oxygen release from the plastic components. Additionally, less stringent temperature control on board research vessels during rough seas reduced the precision. We conclude that the developed Optode system can be used to measure respiration in productive coastal waters. Samples from cold or deep waters were, however, often below the detection limit.
An automated system for spectrophotometric seawater pH measurements
Authors: Carter B. R. , Radich J. A. , Doyle H. L. , Dickson A. G.
Published: January 2013

Spectrophotometric pH measurements stand to benefit greatly from the consistency and speed made possible through automation. Here we describe a simple, fast, and precise automated spectrophotometric pH measurement system for seawater samples. The system requires 4 min per analysis, consumes 60 mL seawater from a sample bottle, and requires little operator interaction to obtain repeatability comparable with the best results published with other techniques (± 0.0004). The system and the suggested sample handling methods are assessed using over 5000 at‐sea measurements obtained during a hydrographic cruise in the Indian Ocean. We estimate the overall measurement uncertainty of the existing, pre‐2011, body of at‐sea spectrophotometric pH measurements—made using these methods or otherwise—to currently be in the range of 0.01 to 0.02 pH units. However, a new approach for using purified dyes at a range of temperatures and salinities (Liu et al. 2011) stands to greatly reduce this uncertainty for future spectrophotometric pH measurements: our assessment suggests that the overall uncertainty should improve to ~0.005 pH units if dye impurities and the indicator's temperature and salinity sensitivity are adequately addressed. Any such improvement in measurement accuracy may provide a basis from which to determine adjustments appropriate for the existing body of spectrophotometric pH measurements made using commercially available (and impure) dyes.
Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements
Authors: Friedrich M. , Torkar K. M. , Hoppe U.-P. , Bekkeng T.-A. , Barjatya A. , Rapp M.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. The ECOMA (Existence and Charge state Of Meteoric dust grains in the middle Atmosphere) series of sounding rocket flights consisted of nine flights with almost identical payload design and flight characteristics. All flights carried a radio wave propagation experiment together with a variety of plasma probes. Three of these measured electron densities, two ion densities. The rockets were all launched from the Andøya Rocket Range, Norway, in four campaigns between 2006 and 2010. Emphasis is on the final three flights from 2010 where the payloads were equipped with four instruments capable of measuring plasma densities in situ, among them a novel probe flown for the first time in conjunction with a wave propagation experiment. Deviation factors of all probe data relative to the wave propagation results were derived and revealed that none of the probe data were close to the wave propagation results at all heights, but – more importantly – the instruments showed very different behaviour at different altitudes. The novel multi-needle Langmuir probe exhibits the best correlation to the wave propagation data, as there is minimal influence of the payload potential, but it is still subject to aerodynamics, especially at its location at the rear of the payload. For all other probe types, the deviation factor comes closer to unity with increasing plasma density. No systematic difference of the empirical deviation factor between day and night can be found. The large negative payload potential in the last three flights may be the cause for discrepancies between electron and ion probe data below 85 km.
Iodine-129 concentration in seawater near Fukushima before and after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Suzuki T. , Otosaka S. , Kuwabara J. , Kawamura H. , Kobayashi T.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Anthropogenic radionuclides were released into the environment in large quantities by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (1FNPP) accident. To evaluate accident-derived 129I, the 129I concentrations in seawater before and after the accident were compared. Before the accident (2009–2010), the 129I concentrations in the western margin of the North Pacific between 36° N and 44° N showed a atitudinal gradient that was expressed as a linear function of latitude. The highest and average 129I concentrations after the accident were 73 times and approximately 8 times, respectively, higher than those before the accident in this study area. Considering the distribution of 129I in surface seawater, the accident-derived 129I in the southern and northern stations of the 1FNPP was predominantly supplied by seawater advection and atmospheric deposition, respectively. As of October 2011, depth profiles of 129I revealed that 129I originating from the 1FNPP existed mainly in the upper 100 m depth. From the depth profiles, the cumulative inventories of accident-derived 129I were estimated to be (1.8–9.9) × 1012 atoms m−2 in this study area. On the basis of the 129I data in the seawater near Fukushima, the effective dose of 129I from seafood ingestion was much smaller than the annual dose limit.
Brief communication "Further comments on the ionospheric precursor of the 1999 Hector Mine earthquake"
Authors: Masci F.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Pulinets et al. (2007) document anomalous changes in the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) starting one week before the 16 October 1999 Hector Mine earthquake. The authors maintain that this TEC anomalous change is a precursor of the subsequent earthquake. In a previous paper, Afraimovich et al. (2004) excluded that TEC variations, which occurred before the Hector Mine earthquake, were induced by the preparation process of the seismic event. Thomas et al. (2012) reach similar conclusions by performing new analyses of the same TEC data which were investigated by Pulinets et al. (2007). They show that the TEC changes documented by Pulinets et al. (2007) are not anomalous but normal variations on global scale, and, therefore, these changes are not related to the localised seismic activity of the Hector Mine area. This paper confirms the results of Afraimovich et al. (2004) and Thomas et al. (2012). Through the use of geomagnetic indices time series it is shown that the presumed precursor of Pulinets et al. (2007) was a normal TEC variation induced by solar-terrestrial interaction.
Phosphorus Sorption and Lime Requirements of Maize Growing Acid Soils of Kenya
Authors: Kisinyo P. O. , Othieno C. O. , Gudu S. O. , Okalebo J. R. , Opala P. A. , Maghanga J. K. , Ng’etich W. K. , Agalo J. J. , Opile R. W. , Kisinyo J. A. , Ogola B. O.
Published: January 2013

In Kenya, maize (Zea mays L.) is mainly grown on acid soils in high rainfall areas. These soils are known for low available phosphorus (P), partly due to its sorption by aluminium (Al) and iron oxides. The study determined soil P sorption, lime requirements and the effects of lime on soil pH, Al levels and available P on the main maize growing acids soils in the highlands east and west of Rift Valley (RV), Kenya. Burnt lime containing 21% calcium oxide was used. The soils were strongly to extremely acid (pH 4.85-4.07), had high exchangeable Al3+ (> 2 cmol Al kg-1) and Al saturation (> 20% Al), which most maize germplasm grown in Kenya are sensitive to. The base cations, cation exchange capacity and available P (< 10 mg P kg-1 bicarbonate extractable P) were low, except at one site in the highlands east of RV indicative with history of high fertilizer applications. Highlands east of RV soils had higher P sorption (343-402 mg P kg-1) than the west (107-258 mg P kg-1), probably because of their high Al3+ ions and also the energies of bonding between the soil colloids and phosphate ions. Highlands east of RV also had higher lime requirements (11.4-21.9 tons lime ha-1) than the west (5.3-9.8 tons lime ha-1). Due to differences in soil acidity, Al levels and P sorption capacities within and between highlands east and west of RV, blanket P fertilizer and lime recommendations may not serve all soils equally well.
Nouvelles perspectives sur la mixité conjugale : le sujet et l’acteur au coeur de l’analyse
Authors: Therrien Catherine , Le Gall Josiane
Published: January 2013

En prenant la teinte des préoccupations sociopolitiques et intellectuelles d’une période donnée, les travaux en sciences sociales reflètent « l’air du temps » (Varro, ce numéro). La façon dont les chercheurs appréhendent leurs objets d’étude est donc liée au temps, mais également à l’espace, c’est-à-dire au contexte dans lequel ils sont ancrés. Il nous a donc semblé intéressant de faire un survol des différentes perspectives théoriques ayant structuré le champ des études sur la mixité conjugale en débutant par une synthèse des cadres théoriques qui ont longtemps dominé les recherches sur les couples mixtes pour ensuite mettre au jour l’émergence de perspectives récentes qui accordent une place privilégiée aux acteurs et placent l’identité personnelle au coeur de leur analyse. Ces perspectives, qui ouvrent sur des thèmes et des points de vue nouveaux tout en contribuant à la transformation du langage même qui structure ce domaine de recherche, reflètent incontestablement les préoccupations de notre époque.
Les « couples mixtes » à travers le temps : vers une épistémologie de la mixité
Authors: Varro Gabrielle
Published: January 2013

Lorsque l’on traite de mixité conjugale, la recherche exige de remettre dans leur contexte historique et politique les notions qui semblent les plus « évidentes », tels que les groupes d’origine et les identités… Après une évocation des racines de l’implication personnelle de l’auteure dans cette recherche – initialement orientée sur les rapports sociaux de sexe – la construction du sens des termes mixte et mixité en lien avec le genre, la religion et la nationalité est explorée dans une perspective historique. L’article se termine par un survol de quelques recherches françaises sur le couple mixte et les changements intervenus depuis les années 1950.
O nascimento da metapsicologia: representação e consciência na obra inicial de Freud
Authors: Caropreso Fátima
Published: January 2013

O resultado do trabalho aqui apresentado não poderia ser melhor: Fátima Caropreso faz nascer, aos nossos olhos, a Metapsicologia, ciência fundamental no entender do próprio Freud. Nessa aliança, até agora pouco estudada, entre a Concepção das afasias e o "Projeto", ela vê o nascimento da metapsicologia quando insere, num "golpe de mestre", as associações linguísticas da Concepção no âmago da teoria do "Projeto", revelando assim o imbricamento entre as duas obras-chave do fundador da psicanálise. Junção por meio da qual Freud tornou possível desenvolver o projeto de uma metapsicologia. Alia-se a isso o fato de que nossa autora se distingue na leitura de numerosos textos relativos à "História da Psicanálise" (frequentemente uma história de bastidores e que alinha textos sem relacioná-los), porque ela não só trata dos textos centrais, mas também estabelece uma verdadeira análise conceitual - fazendo ver como brotaram os conceitos centrais da Teoria Psicanalítica. Enfim, um livro que vem preencher uma lacuna na história das ideias.
Bacteria herald a new era of gene editing
Authors: Segal David J
Published: January 2013

The demonstration that nucleases guided by bacterial RNA can disrupt human genes represents a landmark in the rapidly developing field of genome engineering.
Assessment of the population genetic structure of Sphyrna lewini to identify conservation units in the Mexican Pacific
Authors: Castillo-Olguín E , Uribe-Alcocer M , Díaz-Jaimes P
Published: January 2013

Due to the current status of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) as a threatened species, the assessment of genetic diversity, divergence, and demographic parameters of populations in the eastern Pacific Ocean may assist in developing appropriate strategies for sustainable fisheries and species conservation. We analyzed samples collected from 2001 to 2003 from seven locations in the Mexican Pacific Ocean and two in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, using single-stranded conformation polymorphism of a mitochondrial control region fragment and five microsatellite loci. The mitochondrial data did not show population divergence among locations from the Mexican Pacific Ocean; however, the microsatellite data showed a divergent population in Baja California. Additional differences were also observed between the northern and central locations of the Mexican Pacific. The historical demography analysis revealed spatial expansion events, possibly related to glacial-interglacial cycles that occurred approximately 450,000 years ago. The divergence found should be considered in the formulation of fisheries management and conservation policies of the species in the region.
Phenotypic characterization of culturable marine luminous bacteria isolated from coastal waters of the southern Adriatic Sea (Otranto, Italy)
Authors: Bagordo F , Serio F , Lugoli F , Grassi T , Idolo A , Gabutti G , De Donno A
Published: January 2013

To determine the abundance and species composition of luminous bacteria in the coastal waters of the southern Adriatic Sea (Otranto, Italy), samples were collected from three sites affected by different degrees of anthropogenic pollution. A total of 116 strains of marine luminous bacteria were isolated and subjected to phenotypic characterization, which included 36 biochemical tests. Numerical analysis of the data revealed five clusters with > 86% similarity, which were readily identified as Photobacterium leiognathi, Vibrio fischeri, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio splendidus biovar I, and Shewanella hanedai. The relative abundance of each species shows that culturable luminous bacteria in the monitored waters are composed mainly of V. harveyi (69.0%), followed by V. fischeri (13.8%) and P. leiognathi (12.1%). In addition, human activity appears to affect the total abundance of luminous bacteria but not the selection of individual species, since the frequencies of the bacteria were similar at all examined sites.
Clinician Knowledge of Chagas Disease After an Educational Intervention
Authors: Bernabé Kerlly J. , Dumonteil Eric , Herrera Claudia
Published: July 2024

This survey study describes the self-reported medical knowledge among physicians before and after attending a lecture on Chagas disease.
Cutaneous Angiosarcoma
Authors: Roberto Scirpo , Riccardo Nocini , Sokol Sina , Paolo Dei Tos Angelo , Marta Sbaraglia , Milella Michele , Aldo Scarpa
Published: July 2024

This case report describes a 42-year-old woman with cutaneous angiosarcoma and venous malformation of the nasal tip.