bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual consultant practice does not affect the overall intervention rate: a 6-year study
Authors: Manohar Sanjay , Woods Christopher F.G. , Lindow Stephen W.
Published: May 2014

Background: Differences exist in obstetric intervention rates between hospitals but it is not known if the individual consultant governs the decision to intervene or whether intervention is a product of agreed protocols and working practices. The purpose of this study is to analyse the differences in obstetric intervention rates amongst individual consultants working in a large maternity unit.

Methods: Each consultant was responsible for all deliveries occurring in successive 24-h periods. Over a 6-year period all deliveries resulting from a spontaneous onset of labour were matched to the consultant in charge at the time of the delivery and analysed.

Results: There were no differences seen in normal delivery rates (χ2=4.478, P=0.812) and vacuum (χ2=12.232, P=0.141) rates for the consultants. Significant differences were found in both forceps rate (χ2=21.462, P=0.006) and caesarean rate (χ2=24.535, P=0.002) between consultants. When the forceps rate was combined with vacuum rate there were no significant differences.

Conclusions: Within the hospital, individual consultants demonstrated no significant variations in overall intervention rates. However, when intervention occurred, different consultants showed preferences for forceps and caesarean section.
Geminate timing in Lebanese Arabic: the relationship between phonetic timing and phonological structure
Authors: Khattab Ghada , Al-Tamimi Jalal
Published: May 2014

This study investigates medial gemination patterns in Lebanese Arabic (LA). It offers an account of the duration patterns of quantity distinction for vowels and consonants in LA by using the most comprehensive dataset for this variety, and for Arabic in general, so far in terms of the number of speakers (20), the consonant types examined (24), the inspection of vowels preceding and following the consonant in durational analyses, and the inclusion of male and female speakers. The main aim is to show correspondence between phonetic timing in LA and phonological accounts of syllabic structure that are based on moraic weight (Hayes 1989; Broselow 1995; McCarthy and Prince 1995). The study extends predictions of mora-sharing in disyllables with medial clusters that are preceded by a long vowel (e.g., /ˈmaal.ħa/ ‘salty-FEM-SG’) to comparable syllables with a medial geminate (e.g., /ˈmaal.la/ ‘bored-FEM-SG’), which have not been investigated in Arabic before. It shows that vowel shortening preceding medial geminates affects phonologically long but not short vowels, downplaying the commonly referred to closed-syllable shortening effect as the main reason for this phenomenon (Maddieson 1997). Instead, an account based on the interface between phonetic and phonological effects on compensatory vowel shortening offers better predictions.
A “plasmonic cuvette”: dye chemistry coupled to plasmonic interferometry for glucose sensing
Authors: Siu Vince S. , Feng Jing , Flanigan Patrick W. , Palmore G. Tayhas R. , Pacifici Domenico
Published: May 2014

A non-invasive method for the detection of glucose is sought by millions of diabetic patients to improve personal management of blood glucose over a lifetime. In this work, the synergistic advantage of combining plasmonic interferometry with an enzyme-driven dye assay yields an optical sensor capable of detecting glucose in saliva with high sensitivity and selectivity. The sensor, coined a “plasmonic cuvette,” is built around a nano-scale groove-slit-groove (GSG) plasmonic interferometer coupled to an Amplex–red/Glucose–oxidase/Glucose (AR/GOx/Glucose) assay. The proposed device is highly sensitive, with a measured intensity change of 1.7×105%/m (i.e., one order of magnitude more sensitive than without assay) and highly specific for glucose sensing in picoliter volumes, across the physiological range of glucose concentrations found in human saliva (20–240 μm). Real-time glucose monitoring in saliva is achieved by performing a detailed study of the underlying enzyme-driven reactions to determine and tune the effective rate constants in order to reduce the overall assay reaction time to ∼2 min. The results reported suggest that by opportunely choosing the appropriate dye chemistry, a plasmonic cuvette can be turned into a general, real-time sensing scheme for detection of any molecular target, with high sensitivity and selectivity, within extremely low volumes of biological fluid (down to femtoliters). Hereby, we present the results on glucose detection in artificial saliva as a notable and clinically relevant case study.
Crystal structure of poly[(μ3-di-2-pyrimidylsulfide-κ3S:N,N')-silver(I)] pentafluoropropionate, C11H6AgF5N4O2S
Authors: Sun Xin-Zhan , Yan Hao-Jie , Wan Chong-Qing
Published: May 2014

C11H6AgF5N4O2S, monoclinic, P21/m (No. 11), a = 5.962(3) Å, b = 13.088(6)Å, c = 9.339(4)Å, β = 105.449(5)°, V = 702.4 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0214, wRref(F2) = 0.0556, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of trans-dichloridobis(isoquinoline-κN)palladium(II), C18H14Cl2N2Pd
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: May 2014

C18H14Cl2N2Pd, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 4.7559(4) Å, b = 11.3651(9) Å, c = 15.080(1) Å, β = 95.852(2)°, V = 810.9 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0206, wRref(F2) = 0.0537, T = 200 K.
Crystal structure of bromido(2,2ʹ:6ʹ,2"-terpyridine-κ3N,Nʹ,Nʺ)platinum( II) tribromido(dimethyl sulfoxide-κS)platinate(II), C17H17Br4N3OPt2S
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: May 2014

C17H17Br4N3OPt2S, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 6.7647(4) Å, b = 10.8048(6) Å, c = 31.196(2) Å, β = 95.544(1)°, V = 2269.5 Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0463, wRref(F2) = 0.1072, T = 200 K.
Catalytic chemical processes for biomass conversion: Prospects for future biorefineries
Authors: Luque Rafael
Published: May 2014

Biomass is a renewable and abundant feedstock that is poised to become a future alternative to petroleum as the understanding and technology surrounding catalytic biomass conversion and biorefineries progresses. A relevant research avenue explored in recent years deals with biomass deconstruction into simpler compounds (platform chemicals) by overcoming its recalcitrant and complex structure and subsequently converting these building blocks into value-added chemicals, fuels and materials in a similar way to that of current refineries. This contribution is aimed at providing a short overview of biomass processing chemistry by illustrating some relevant examples of catalytic strategies for biorefineries.
Anisotropic core-shell Fe3 O4 @Au magnetic nanoparticles and the effect of the immunomagnetic separation volume on the capture efficiency
Authors: Zengin Adem , Bozkurt Akif , Boyaci Ismail Hakki , Özcan Sadan , Daniel Philippe , Lagarde Fabienne , Gibaud Alain , Cetin Demet , Suludere Zekiye , Guttmann Peter , Tamer Ugur
Published: May 2014

The aim of this study was to synthesize in high product yield of anisotropic core-shell Fe3 O4@Au magnetic nanoparticles and to investigate the effect of the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) volume on the capture efficiency. For these purposes and for the first time, we synthesized polyhedral magnetic nanoparticles composed of Fe3 O4 core Au shell. To synthesize magnetic gold anisotropic core-shell particles, the seed-mediated synthetic method was carried out. By choosing an appropriate amount of iron particles and growth solution the fine control of the seed-mediated approach is enabled. This led to the high product yield of anisotropic nanoparticles. The magnetic separation of these nanoparticles was easily accomplished, and the resulting nanoparticles were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), near edge absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were examined. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were modified with antibody and interacted with Escherichia coli (E. coli). The high capture efficiency between the magnetic nanoparticles and E. coli is evidenced by SEM images. The capture efficiency decreases with an increase of volumes, and the highest capture efficiency was observed for E. coli in an experiment volume of 100 μL for magnetic nanoparticles. The percentage of captured E. coli for polyhedral nanoparticles was found to be approximately 95 % and for spherical nanoparticles 88 %, respectively.
Glycerol acetals with antioxidant properties
Authors: Dodson Jennifer R. , Avellar Thales , Athayde Julia , Mota Claudio J.A.
Published: May 2014

Glycerol acetals were prepared from glycerol and aromatic aldehydes (benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, or furfural) using a solid acid (Amberlyst-15) catalyst. The acetals show promising antioxidant activity using the DPPH test with the glycerol/anisaldehyde acetal showing the best antioxidant properties, attributed to the additional radical stabilization by the electron-releasing methoxy group. The acetals formed have a wide range of potential industrial applications particularly enabling integration of the biodiesel manufacturing chain.
Synthesis of CuO–ZnO–Al2O3 @ SAPO-34 core@shell structured catalyst by intermediate layer method
Authors: Chen Yanping , Xu Yiming , Cheng Dang-guo , Chen Yingcai , Chen Fengqiu , Lu Xiaoyong , Huang Yiping , Ni Songbo
Published: May 2014

The present study focuses on synthesis of SAPO-34 zeolite membrane on the surface of CuO–ZnO–Al2O3 (CZA) catalyst particles to form CZA@SAPO-34 core@shell structured catalyst. In contrast to the traditional support of porous alumina, CZA catalyst particles have a relatively brittle surface, which leads to a big challenge to coat SAPO-34 zeolite membrane on their surface. Moreover, the hydrothermal synthesis of SAPO-34 zeolite membrane is carried out under weakly alkaline condition at 200 °C for hours, which causes part of the surface of CZA to be fragmented. To overcome these shortcomings, the intermediate layer of alumina is introduced to the surface of the CZA particles and acts as a barrier to the high-temperature hydrothermal and alkaline condition. It also takes as a transition to enhance SAPO-34 zeolite seeds adherence to the surface of CZA particles. With the help of an alumina layer, a continuous and dense zeolite membrane has been obtained on the surface of CZA particles. The prepared core@shell structured catalyst has better selectivity in CO hydrogenation for producing light hydrocarbons because of the synergetic effects between the membrane and core catalyst.
Uranium toxicity and chelation therapy
Authors: Lawrence Glen D. , Patel Kamalkumar S. , Nusbaum Aviva
Published: May 2014

Uranium toxicity has been a concern for more than 100 years. The toxicology of many forms of uranium, ranging from dust of several oxides to soluble uranyl ion, was thoroughly studied during the Manhattan Project in the United States in the 1940s. The development of depleted uranium kinetic penetrators as armor-piercing incendiary weaponry produced a novel form of uranium environmental contamination, which led to greater susceptibility to the adverse health effects of the toxic heavy metal after its use in various military conflicts. The aerosol from burning uranium penetrator fragments is rapidly dissolved in biological fluids and readily absorbed from the lungs, leading to a wide range of toxic effects. We have studied some chelating agents for uranyl ion, including citrate ion and desferal (desferrioxamine B), which may be effective for minimizing the toxic effects of this insidious heavy metal. Some characteristics of the desferrioxamine complex are presented, along with information about the use of citrate as an effective chelating agent for therapy of uranium toxicity.
Nanotechnology management for a safer work environment
Authors: Arancon Rick Arneil D. , Zhang Yu Tao , Luque Rafael
Published: May 2014

Nanoscience and nanotechnology have advanced in recent years followed by groundbreaking discoveries that allow a remarkable control of molecular entities in the nanoscale. Advances in the field still came in many cases without a detailed and profound understanding on the effects and impact that nanotechnology and nanomaterials can have in our future society. In this work, we have aimed to provide a short but relevant overview on the impact and risks of nanotechnogy and the possibilities to engineer safer nanomaterials for a controllable working environment.
Effects of low-level laser therapy on cartilage repair in an experimental model of osteoarthritis
Authors: dos Santos Anderson Amaro , Oliveira Poliani , Fernandes Kelly Rossetti , Rhon Lara , Tim Carla Roberta , Vasilceac Fernando Augusto , Pinto Karina Nogueira Zambone , Mattiello Stela Marcia , Parizotto Nivaldo Antonio , Renno Ana Claudia Muniz
Published: May 2014

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on the degenerative process in the articular cartilage after an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model in rats.

Methods:

Eighty male rats (Wistar) were divided into four groups: 1.) intact control group (CG), 2.) injured control group (ICG), 3.) injured laser-treated group at 10 J/cm

Results:

Initial signs of tissue degradation could be observed 5 weeks post-ACLT, evidenced by the decrease of proteoglycan concentration and increase in cartilage thickness of the ICG. After 8 weeks post-surgery, analysis showed a progression of the degenerative processes in the ICG revealed by the increased cellularity and higher TNF-α, IL1-β and MMP-13 immunoexpression. LLLT was able to modulate some of the aspects relating to the degradative process, such as biomodulation of the number of chondrocyte proliferation, prevention of proteoglycan loss, and decrease of MMP-13 immunoexpression.

Conclusion:

This study showed that the 685-nm laser irradiation, especially at 10 J/cm
Percutaneous selective laser amygdalo-hippocampectomy (SLAH) for treatment of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy within an interventional MRI suite
Authors: Nour Sherif G. , Willie Jon T. , Gross Robert E.
Published: May 2014

Percutaneous selective laser amygdalo-hippocampectomy (SLAH) procedure is a new minimally invasive alternative to surgical amygdalo-hippocampectomy that involves targeted, controlled laser energy deposition under real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring within a dedicated “interventional MRI” suite. Technical feasibility, safety and initial efficacy results from our program are encouraging and indicate a potential for paradigm shift in future treatment of patients with exclusively or predominantly focal unilateral seizure onsets within the mesial temporal lobe. Several institutions are currently employing this technology and more long-term follow-up results on larger cohorts of patients are expected in the near future. This article reviews the principles of MRI-guided SLAH, procedure set-up and equipment, the detailed phases of intra-procedural MRI guidance and treatment monitoring, and the MRI appearance of the resultant thermal ablation zones. We conclude with a discussion of our institutional experience at Emory University with MRI-guided SLAH as one of the leading sites offering this state-of-the-art technology.
A novel approach radiolabeling detonation
nanodiamonds through the tritium thermal activation
method
Authors: Badun Gennadii A. , Chernysheva Maria G. , Yakovlev Ruslan Yu. , Leonidov Nikolai B. , Semenenko Mikhail N. , Lisichkin Georgii V.
Published: May 2014

Tritium labeling was introduced into detonation nanodiamonds (ND) through the tritium thermal activation method. Two target
preparation techniques were developed to increase the radioactivity and the specific radioactivity of the labeled product: the
desiccation of the waterless solvent suspension and the lyophilization of the hydrosol. The specific radioactivity of the
labeled product was shown to correlate with the hydrogen content in the starting material and to achieve 2.6 TBq/g.
Sorption studies of strontium on carbon nanotubes using the Box–Behnken design
Authors: Aslani Ceren Kütahyalı , Belloni Fabio , Çetinkaya Berkan , Rondinella Vincenzo V.
Published: May 2014

Adsorption of Sr on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated to explore their possible use as an efficient adsorbent for
nuclear waste streams. MWCNTs were purified and oxidized with HNO3 prior to testing adsorption. Oxidized MWCNTs were then employed
in batch experiments as sorbent of Sr from aqueous solutions. The Box–Behnken experimental design was used to suitably vary the
parameters of interest, i.e., temperature, initial Sr2+ concentration, and shaking time. Langmuir, Freundlich and
Dubinin–Radushkevich models were applied to fit the adsorption isotherms. The Dubinin–Radushkevich model exhibited the best
agreement. Adsorption kinetics was also studied; it was well described by a pseudo-second-order rate model. Adsorption thermodynamics
was investigated in the temperature range 293–333 K; the variations of the standard free energy (ΔG
○),
standard enthalpy (ΔH
○) and standard entropy (ΔS
○) were obtained. Oxidized MWCNTs show the
potential to be a promising candidate for the pre-concentration and solidification of Sr from large volumes of aqueous solution.
Pre-concentration of uranium from water samples by dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction
Authors: Khajeh Mostafa , Nemch Tabandeh Karimi
Published: May 2014

In this study, a simple and rapid dispersive liquid–liquid
microextraction (DLLME) was developed for the determination of
uranium in water samples prior to high performance liquid
chromatography with diode array
detection. 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) was used as
complexing agent. The effect of various parameters on the
extraction step including type and volume of extraction and
dispersive solvents, pH of solution, concentration of PAN,
extraction time, sample volume and ionic strength were studied and
optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection
(LOD) and preconcentration factor were
0.3 μg L−1 and 194,
respectively. Furthermore, the relative standard deviation of the
ten replicate was <2.6%. The developed procedure was then
applied to the extraction and determination of uranium in the
water samples.
An overview on the role of wheat gluten as a viable substitute for biodegradable plastics
Authors: Patni Neha , Yadava Pujita , Agarwal Anisha , Maroo Vyoma
Published: May 2014

Petroleum resources are limited and stringent environmental concerns are increasing; biodegradable materials made from renewable agricultural resources such as carbohydrates, starch and proteins are attracting much attention for sustainable development and environmental conservation. As per the annual production of wheat in India, it is the second largest producer in the world after China. In this paper, we explore the possibility of wheat protein known as gluten as a promising substitute for petroleum-based plastics and environment-friendly thermosetting composites. Plant proteins from wheat show an advantage for use as films and plastics because of their abundant resources, low cost, good biodegradability and suitable properties like rheological properties, water sensitivity, sound absorption and thermal behavior. The paper aims to explain the extraction of gluten and to review the blending of gluten with different plasticizers such as glycerol, water and some cross-linking agents to enhance the above-mentioned properties. An extensive review of the existing literature reveals that wheat gluten (WG)-based bioplastics are nontoxic and fully biodegradable, whatever the technological process is applied; thus, the paper also discusses the biodegradability of WG-based bioplastics. We conclude the paper by incorporating a critical summary of the various parameters and chemicals used to enhance the properties of gluten-based composites.
Deep oxidative desulfurization of liquid fuels
Authors: Mjalli Farouq S. , Ahmed Omar U. , Al-Wahaibi Talal , Al-Wahaibi Yahya , AlNashef Inas M.
Published: May 2014

Increase in energy demand and consumption has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in sulfur emissions. These pollutants have both health and economic consequences. Furthermore, it significantly reduces the efficiency of advanced emission control systems of diesel engines, thereby indirectly causing more harm to the environment. This resulted in stringent sulfur emission limit down to about 15 ppm or less and in turn served as an incentive for research into alternative sulfur reduction technologies. Although feasible improvements to hydrodesulfurization are currently under investigation, adsorptive, extractive, oxidative and biodesulfurization have also been studied in recent years. Oxidative desulfurization appears to be one of the most promising desulfurization technologies due to its broadness and compatibility with other technologies such as extractive, adsorptive and biodesulfurization. The advent of ionic liquids as extraction solvents has made this even more so. This work, therefore, reviews the different approaches and investigations carried out on oxidative desulfurization while identifying research gaps and giving important recommendations.
Dietary inclusion of local salt substitutes induces oxidative stress and renal dysfunction in rats
Authors: Akinyemi Ayodele J. , Oboh Ganiyu , Ademiluyi Adedayo O. , Araoye Obafemi O. , Oyeleye Sunday I.
Published: May 2014

Our earlier report has shown that salt substitutes (Obu-Otoyo) contain some toxic heavy metals. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of the dietary inclusion of salt substitutes (Obu-Otoyo), namely, salt “A” and “B”, on biomarkers of oxidative stress and renal function in rats. Salt “A”, which has a gray color, is the product of a process in which ash is produced by burning palm kernel shaft soaked in water overnight and extracting the residue to produce the salt substitute while Salt “B”, which has a white color, is a rock salt mined from a local site at Ilobu town, Osun-State, Nigeria. Salt substitutes were fed to normal rats as dietary inclusion at 0.5% and 1.0% for 21 days. The dietary inclusion of the salt substitutes caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in plasma activities of creatinine, urea, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen compared with the control. Meanwhile, the dietary inclusion of the salt substitutes caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in renal superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione level, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase activities with a concomitant increase in the malondialdehyde level compared with the control. Furthermore, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the concentrations of heavy metals, such as Pb, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn and Cr, in kidney of rats fed with the salt substitute Obu-Otoyo. Therefore, this finding indicates that Obu-Otoyo induces nephrotoxicity in rats. The nephrotoxicity of Obu-Otoyo could be attributed to the induction of oxidative stress as a result of the presence of some heavy metals, suggesting possible health hazards in subjects who consume it.
How do Attributes of Broadband Plans Affect Price?
Authors: Wallsten Scott J. , Riso James
Published: May 2014

Broadband has become ubiquitous across OECD countries, yet because it is typically sold as part of a bundle of services, each with its own set of options, little research has explored how it is priced. In this paper we assemble a new dataset of more than 25,000 residential and business broadband plans from all OECD countries from 2007 to 2009 to explore how data metering, service contracts, and bundling voice, video, and data affect the prices consumers pay. We find that faster speeds are correlated with higher prices, although prices increase at a decreasing rate as speeds increase. Additionally, bundles including voice and video are more expensive than standalone service, and plans with more channels included in video bundles are more expensive than plans with fewer channels. Finally, the analysis shows tradeoffs consumers and suppliers make: plans with data caps are less expensive than those without caps and plans with contracts are less expensive than month-to-month plans.
Numerical Study of a Boundary Layer Bleedfor a Rocket-Based Combined-Cycle Inlet in Ejector Mode
Authors: Shi Lei , He Guoqiang , Qin Fei , Wei Xianggeng
Published: May 2014

Fully integrated numerical simulations were performed for a ready-made central strut-based rocket-based combined-cycle (RBCC) engine operating in ejector mode, and the applicability of using a boundary layer bleed in the RBCC inlet designed for supersonic speeds was investigated in detail. The operational mechanism of the boundary layer bleed and its effects on the RBCC inlet and the engine under different off-design conditions in ejector mode were determined. The boundary layer bleed played different roles in the RBCC inlet for different flight regimes. When the RBCC engine took off, some air was entrained into the inlet through the bleed block, thereby inducing significant flow separation and a low-speed vortex, which deteriorated the inner flow and reduced the entraining air mass flow rate: thus, the total pressure loss increased and extra drag was exerted on the inlet. In the low subsonic regime, the bleed block had almost no impact on the RBCC engine and its inlet. However, as the RBCC engine accelerated into a high subsonic flight regime, the boundary layer bleed had a clearly positive effect, comprehensively improving the performance of the RBCC inlet. A boundary layer bleed operation strategy for the RBCC inlet in ejector mode was also developed in this study.
Frequency-domain Model Matching PID Controller Design for Aero-engine
Authors: Liu Nan , Huang Jinquan , Lu Feng
Published: May 2014

The nonlinear model of aero-engine was linearized at multiple operation points by using frequency response method. The validation results indicate high accuracy of static and dynamic characteristics of the linear models. The improved PID tuning method of frequency-domain model matching was proposed with the system stability condition considered. The proposed method was applied to the design of PID controller of the high pressure rotor speed control in the flight envelope, and the control effects were evaluated by the nonlinear model. Simulation results show that the system had quick dynamic response with zero overshoot and zero steadystate error. Furthermore, a PID-fuzzy switching control scheme for aero-engine was designed, and the fuzzy switching system stability was proved. Simulations were studied to validate the applicability of the multiple PIDs fuzzy switching controller for aero-engine with wide range dynamics.
THAT RISING CORN ... CE BLE QUI LEVE ... DIE AUFGEHENDE SAAT ... TOWARDS A COMMON TRANSLATION PROFILE
Authors: Gerzymisch-Arbogast Heidrun
Published: May 2014

The article positions the role of translation theory vis-à.-vis the challenges of translation practice. After portraying its heterogeneous historical development and the ensuing compartrnentalization of translation today, it argues that translation theory has developed a theoretical and methodological profile in the past twenty years as a useful resource for translation practice in the future. With the understanding that any discipline as a whole sustains its success only when operating on coherent concepts and methodologies, a possible common methodological ground for the complex dimensions of translation is outlined and discussed with special reference to what it can offer to the practice of literary translation. Against this background it is illustrated that conceptual and methodological coherence and transparency are not only useful standards when making and discussing literary translation decisions but are the essential backbone for the continued success of translation as a discipline
Der Kaufmann ohne Eigenschaften: Wie Daniel Defoes Complete Tradesman im System der Kommunikationen verschwindet
Authors: Huck Christian
Published: May 2014

This article is based on the observation of a discrepancy: The tradesman, arguably one of the most important figures of eighteenth-century society, is astonishingly absent in most portraits of this century. It will be argued that such omission is more than welcome to the individuals in question. The public task of the tradesman is to a,ct as the medium of trade, and in order to perform such function he has to be as unobtrusive as possible, as if producer and consumer were dealing with each other directly. Obviously, no tradesman is without an agenda of his own, but to fulfil the position society expects from him, he has to present himself just as if he were not there. To function as a medium, the tradesman himself has to be, and, most importantly, look medium, that is: middling, average, normal, and inconspicuous. The tradesman then becomes the model of a modern individual: the man without qualities. Women, on the other hand, are denied such a place in modern, functionally differentiated society
Ditransitive Verbs and the Ditransitive Construction: A Diachronic Perspective
Authors: Colleman Timothy
Published: May 2014

This paper argues for the adoption of a construction-based perspective to the investigation of diachronic shifts in valency, which is a hitherto largely neglected topic in the framework of valency grammar. On the basis of a comparison of the set of verbs attested in the double object argument structure pattern in a corpus of 18th-century British English with the construction's present-day semantic range, I will distinguish between three kinds of valency shifts. It will be shown that the semantic ranges of schematic argument structure constructions are subject to diachronic change, and that the shifts in valency observed in individual verbs are often part of more general changes at the level of the associated argument structure constructions. The latter pan of the paper explores frequency shifts in valency and constructional semantics.
SrPdGa3 – An orthorhombic superstructure of the ThCr2 Si2 type
Authors: Seidel Stefan , Hoffmann Rolf-Dieter , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: May 2014

The gallide SrPdGa3 was synthesized by melting of the elements in a sealed tantalum tube in an induction furnace. SrPdGa3 crystallizes with a new structure type which was determined on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Cmcm, a=643.7(1), b=1044.9(2), c=600.4(1) pm, wR=0.0283, 504 F
2 values, 19 variables. SrPdGa3 is a new ternary ordering variant of the aristotype BaAl4/ThCr2 Si2. The structural relation with ThCr2 Si2 and the closely related silicide BaNi2 Si2 is discussed on the basis of a group-subgroup relation. The three-dimensional [PdGa3]δ– network is dominated by Pd-Ga and Ga-Ga bonding interactions with 251–256 pm Pd-Ga and 267 pm Ga-Ga distances.
Role of Plasticity at Different Sites across the Time Course of Cerebellar Motor Learning
Authors: Yang Yan , Lisberger Stephen G.
Published: May 2014

Learning comprises multiple components that probably involve cellular and synaptic plasticity at multiple sites. Different neural sites may play their largest roles at different times during behavioral learning. We have used motor learning in smooth pursuit eye movements of monkeys to determine how and when different components of learning occur in a known cerebellar circuit. The earliest learning occurs when one climbing-fiber response to a learning instruction causes simple-spike firing rate of Purkinje cells in the floccular complex of the cerebellum to be depressed transiently at the time of the instruction on the next trial. Trial-over-trial depression and the associated learning in eye movement are forgotten in <6 s, but facilitate long-term behavioral learning over a time scale of ∼5 min. During 100 repetitions of a learning instruction, simple-spike firing rate becomes progressively depressed in Purkinje cells that receive climbing-fiber inputs from the instruction. In Purkinje cells that prefer the opposite direction of pursuit and therefore do not receive climbing-fiber inputs related to the instruction, simple-spike responses undergo potentiation, but more weakly and more slowly. Analysis of the relationship between the learned changes in simple-spike firing and learning in eye velocity suggests an orderly progression of plasticity: first on Purkinje cells with complex-spike (CS) responses to the instruction, later on Purkinje cells with CS responses to the opposite direction of instruction, and last in sites outside the cerebellar cortex. Climbing-fiber inputs appear to play a fast and primary, but nonexclusive, role in pursuit learning.
Anti-ApoE Antibody Given after Plaque Onset Decreases Aβ Accumulation and Improves Brain Function in a Mouse Model of Aβ Amyloidosis
Authors: Liao Fan , Hori Yukiko , Hudry Eloise , Bauer Adam Q. , Jiang Hong , Mahan Thomas E. , Lefton Katheryn B. , Zhang Tony J. , Dearborn Joshua T. , Kim Jungsu , Culver Joseph P. , Betensky Rebecca , Wozniak David F. , Hyman Bradley T. , Holtzman David M.
Published: May 2014

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). It influences amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance and aggregation, which likely contributes in large part to its role in AD pathogenesis. We recently found that HJ6.3, a monoclonal antibody against apoE, significantly reduced Aβ plaque load when given to APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) mice starting before the onset of plaque deposition. To determine whether the anti-apoE antibody HJ6.3 affects Aβ plaques, neuronal network function, and behavior in APP/PS1 mice after plaque onset, we administered HJ6.3 (10 mg/kg/week) or PBS intraperitoneally to 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice for 21 weeks. HJ6.3 mildly improved spatial learning performance in the water maze, restored resting-state functional connectivity, and modestly reduced brain Aβ plaque load. There was no effect of HJ6.3 on total plasma cholesterol or cerebral amyloid angiopathy. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of anti-apoE immunotherapy, HJ6.3 was applied to the brain cortical surface and amyloid deposition was followed over 2 weeks usingin vivoimaging. Acute exposure to HJ6.3 affected the course of amyloid deposition in that it prevented the formation of new amyloid deposits, limited their growth, and was associated with occasional clearance of plaques, a process likely associated with direct binding to amyloid aggregates. Topical application of HJ6.3 for only 14 d also decreased the density of amyloid plaques assessed postmortem. Collectively, these studies suggest that anti-apoE antibodies have therapeutic potential when given before or after the onset of Aβ pathology.
Prefrontal Oscillations during Recall of Conditioned and Extinguished Fear in Humans
Authors: Mueller Erik M. , Panitz Christian , Hermann Christiane , Pizzagalli Diego A.
Published: May 2014

Human neuroimaging studies indicate that the anterior midcingulate cortex (AMC) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) play important roles in the expression and extinction of fear, respectively. Electrophysiological rodent studies further indicate that oscillatory neuronal activity in homolog regions (i.e., prelimbic and infralimbic cortices) changes during fear expression and fear extinction recall. Whether similar processes occur in humans remains largely unexplored. By assessing scalp surface EEG in conjunction with LORETA source estimation of CS-related theta and gamma activity, we tested whethera prioridefined ROIs in the human AMC and vmPFC similarly modulate their oscillatory activity during fear expression and extinction recall, respectively. To this end, 42 healthy individuals underwent a differential conditioning/differential extinction protocol with a Recall Test on the next day. In the Recall Test, nonextinguished versus extinguished stimuli evoked an increased differential (CS+vs CS−) response with regard to skin conductance and AMC-localized theta power. Conversely, extinguished versus nonextinguished stimuli evoked an increased differential response with regard to vmPFC-localized gamma power. Finally, individuals who failed to show a suppressed skin conductance response to the extinguished versus nonextinguished CS+also failed to show the otherwise observed alterations in vmPFC gamma power to extinguished CS+. These results indicate that fear expression is associated with AMC theta activity, whereas successful fear extinction recall relates to changes in vmPFC gamma activity. The present work thereby bridges findings from prior rodent electrophysiological research and human neuroimaging studies and indicates that EEG is a valuable tool for future fear extinction research.
Brief Cortical Deactivation Early in Life Has Long-Lasting Effects on Multisensory Behavior
Authors: Rowland Benjamin A. , Jiang Wan , Stein Barry E.
Published: May 2014

Detecting and locating environmental events are markedly enhanced by the midbrain's ability to integrate visual and auditory cues. Its capacity for multisensory integration develops in cats 1–4 months after birth but only after acquiring extensive visual–auditory experience. However, briefly deactivating specific regions of association cortex during this period induced long-term disruption of this maturational process, such that even 1 year later animals were unable to integrate visual and auditory cues to enhance their behavioral performance. The data from this animal model reveal a window of sensitivity within which association cortex mediates the encoding of cross-modal experience in the midbrain. Surprisingly, however, 3 years later, and without any additional intervention, the capacity appeared fully developed. This suggests that, although sensitivity degrades with age, the potential for acquiring or modifying multisensory integration capabilities extends well into adulthood.
Phasic, Nonsynaptic GABA-A Receptor-Mediated Inhibition Entrains Thalamocortical Oscillations
Authors: Rovó Zita , Mátyás Ferenc , Barthó Péter , Slézia Andrea , Lecci Sandro , Pellegrini Chiara , Astori Simone , Dávid Csaba , Hangya Balázs , Lüthi Anita , Acsády László
Published: May 2014

GABA-A receptors (GABA-ARs) are typically expressed at synaptic or nonsynaptic sites mediating phasic and tonic inhibition, respectively. These two forms of inhibition conjointly control various network oscillations. To disentangle their roles in thalamocortical rhythms, we focally deleted synaptic, γ2 subunit-containing GABA-ARs in the thalamus using viral intervention in mice. After successful removal of γ2 subunit clusters, spontaneous and evoked GABAergic synaptic currents disappeared in thalamocortical cells when the presynaptic, reticular thalamic (nRT) neurons fired in tonic mode. However, when nRT cells fired in burst mode, slow phasic GABA-AR-mediated events persisted, indicating a dynamic, burst-specific recruitment of nonsynaptic GABA-ARs.In vivo, removal of synaptic GABA-ARs reduced the firing of individual thalamocortical cells but did not abolish slow oscillations or sleep spindles. We conclude that nonsynaptic GABA-ARs are recruited in a phasic manner specifically during burst firing of nRT cells and provide sufficient GABA-AR activation to control major thalamocortical oscillations.
Refractory Sampling Links Efficiency and Costs of Sensory Encoding to Stimulus Statistics
Authors: Song Zhuoyi , Juusola Mikko
Published: May 2014

Sensory neurons integrate information about the world, adapting their sampling to its changes. However, little is understood mechanistically how this primary encoding process, which ultimately limits perception, depends upon stimulus statistics. Here, we analyze this open question systematically by using intracellular recordings from fly (Drosophila melanogasterandCoenosia attenuata) photoreceptors and corresponding stochastic simulations from biophysically realistic photoreceptor models. Recordings show that photoreceptors can sample more information from naturalistic light intensity time series (NS) than from Gaussian white-noise (GWN), shuffled-NS or Gaussian-1/f stimuli; integrating larger responses with higher signal-to-noise ratio and encoding efficiency to large bursty contrast changes. Simulations reveal how a photoreceptor's information capture depends critically upon the stochastic refractoriness of its 30,000 sampling units (microvilli). In daylight, refractoriness sacrifices sensitivity to enhance intensity changes in neural image representations, with more and faster microvilli improving encoding. But for GWN and other stimuli, which lack longer dark contrasts of real-world intensity changes that reduce microvilli refractoriness, these performance gains are submaximal and energetically costly. These results provide mechanistic reasons why information sampling is more efficient for natural/naturalistic stimulation and novel insight into the operation, design, and evolution of signaling and code in sensory neurons.
Heterosynaptic Modulation of Motor Cortical Plasticity in Human
Authors: Ni Zhen , Gunraj Carolyn , Kailey Paramjit , Cash Robin F. H. , Chen Robert
Published: May 2014

Inductions of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) are modulated if they are preceded by a priming protocol, in a manner consistent with metaplasticity. Depotentiation refers to reversal of LTP by a subsequent protocol that has no effect by itself. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) at interstimulus interval of 25 ms (PAS25) and 10 ms (PAS10) produces spike timing-dependent LTP-like and LTD-like effects in human primary motor cortex. Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) with 600 pulses produces an LTD-like effect, whereas cTBS with 150 pulses (cTBS150) has no effect by itself. We investigated whether cortical plasticity induced by PAS can be modulated by heterosynaptic inputs of cTBS150. PAS25 and PAS10 primed and followed by cTBS150 were compared withPAS25 and PAS10 alone. Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, recruitment curve, and intracortical circuits including short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI), intracortical facilitation, and short-latency afferent inhibition were measured before and after the interventions. After PAS25 alone, MEP amplitude increased while intracortical circuits did not change. A priming cTBS150 enhanced the effects of PAS25 with further increase in MEP amplitude and led to reduction in SICI and LICI. PAS25 followed by cTBS150 led to reduced MEP amplitude and increased LICI and SICI. Both priming and following cTBS150 reversed the LTD-like effect produced by PAS10 with little change in intracortical circuits. We conclude that cortical plasticity induced by PAS and cTBS interacts in a heterosynaptic and bidirectional manner. The order of the interventions determines whether the underlying mechanisms are related to metaplasticity or depotentiation.
Calcium Release from Intra-Axonal Endoplasmic Reticulum Leads to Axon Degeneration through Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Authors: Villegas Rosario , Martinez Nicolas W. , Lillo Jorge , Pihan Phillipe , Hernandez Diego , Twiss Jeffery L. , Court Felipe A.
Published: May 2014

Axonal degeneration represents an early pathological event in neurodegeneration, constituting an important target for neuroprotection. Regardless of the initial injury, which could be toxic, mechanical, metabolic, or genetic, degeneration of axons shares a common mechanism involving mitochondrial dysfunction and production of reactive oxygen species. Critical steps in this degenerative process are still unknown. Here we show that calcium release from the axonal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through ryanodine and IP3channels activates the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and contributes to axonal degeneration triggered by both mechanical and toxic insults inex vivoandin vitromouse and rat model systems. These data reveal a critical and early ER-dependent step during axonal degeneration, providing novel targets for axonal protection in neurodegenerative conditions.
The Role of Intracellular Linkers in Gating and Desensitization of Human Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
Authors: Papke David , Grosman Claudio
Published: May 2014

It has recently been proposed that post-translational modification of not only the M3–M4 linker but also the M1–M2 linker of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels modulates functionin vivo. To estimate the involvement of the M1–M2 linker in gating and desensitization, we engineered a series of mutations to this linker of the human adult-muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR), the α3β4 AChR and the homomeric α1 glycine receptor (GlyR). All tested M1–M2 linker mutations had little effect on the kinetics of deactivation or desensitization compared with the effects of mutations to the M2 α-helix or the extracellular M2–M3 linker. However, when the effects of mutations were assessed with 50 Hz trains of ∼1 ms pulses of saturating neurotransmitter, some mutations led to much more, and others to much less, peak-current depression than observed for the wild-type channels, suggesting that these mutations could affect the fidelity of fast synaptic transmission. Nevertheless, no mutation to this linker could mimic the irreversible loss of responsiveness reported to result from the oxidation of the M1–M2 linker cysteines of the α3 AChR subunit. We also replaced the M3–M4 linker of the α1 GlyR with much shorter peptides and found that none of these extensive changes affects channel deactivation strongly or reduces the marked variability in desensitization kinetics that characterizes the wild-type channel. However, we found that these large mutations to the M3–M4 linker can have pronounced effects on desensitization kinetics, supporting the notion that its post-translational modification could indeed modulate α1 GlyR behavior.
Reversal of apoE4-Driven Brain Pathology and Behavioral Deficits by Bexarotene
Authors: Boehm-Cagan Anat , Michaelson Daniel M.
Published: May 2014

Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), is less lipidated than its corresponding AD-benign form, apoE3, and it has been suggested that the pathological effects of apoE4 are mediated by lipid-related mechanisms. ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and G1 (ABCA1 and ABCG1, respectively) are the most important apoE-lipidating proteins. The expression of these proteins, as well as that of apoE, is controlled by the transcription regulation retinoid X receptor (RXR)–liver X receptor (LXR) system. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the RXR agonist bexarotene on mRNA and protein levels of apoE, ABCA1, and ABCG1 in young, naive apoE3- and apoE4-targeted replacement mice and assessed the extent to which this reverses the apoE4-driven pathological phenotype. This investigation reveled that bexarotene increases the mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in hippocampal neurons, but has no effect on the corresponding levels of apoE. These findings were associated with reversal of the lipidation deficiency of apoE4 and of the cognitive impairments of apoE4 mice in several tests. Furthermore, bexarotene reversed the apoE4-driven accumulation of Aβ42 and hyperphosphorylated tau in hippocampal neurons, as well as the apoE4-induced reduction in the levels of the presynaptic marker vesicular glutamatergic transporter 1 (VGluT1). In conclusion, the results show that treatment of apoE4 mice with the RXR agonist bexarotene reverses the apoE4-induced cognitive and neuronal impairmentsin vivoand suggest that this is due to reversal of the lipidation deficiency of apoE4. This puts forward the possibility that RXR activation and increased levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 could be useful in the treatment of human apoE4 carriers.