bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in inquiry‐based learning at the middle school level
Authors: Lamoureux Isabelle , Beheshti Jamshid , Cole Charles , Abuhimed Dhary , AlGhamdi Mohammed J.
Published: May 2014

This poster presents empirical findings on gender differences during an inquiry‐ based learning history project at the middle school level. Weekly surveys during the project designed to solicit cognitive and affective responses from students' as well as demographic surveys and exit surveys were conducted. Overall the results show that boys are more confident than girls during inquiry‐ based learning while girls feel more confident, sure and satisfied than boys after the project is completed. Although only the confidence level of boys and girls will be discussed here the results show that gender analysis is essential to understanding how preteens seek information. This poster is an exploration of new and promising work on the topic of gender, preteens and inquiry‐based learning.
Mental health in library and information science research: Preliminary results of a literature review focusing on information behavior
Authors: Mayrand Julie , Bartlett Joan C.
Published: May 2014

Worldwide, mental illnesses are extremely prevalent and costly. Help‐seeking and recovery may be facilitated by information and online resources. The aim of this literature review is to examine interest in mental health within Library and Information Science empirical research, published from 2000 onward, with a focus on information behavior. In this preliminary phase, we performed a qualitative content analysis on 51 relevant articles. Results show that mental health is not only examined as a topic, but also as a personal state (illness or state to maintain) and as a professionally‐related activity. Studies investigating information behavior mainly focus on the use of the Internet or online resources, with very few exploring the purposes for which these resources are used. Research opportunities for this field of inquiry are further discussed.
Difference in citation rates by subject areas of LIS in Korea
Authors: Lee Jongwook , Choi Wonchan
Published: May 2014

Citation analysis, in addition to peer review, is one of the popular methods to assess faculty research performance. In some disciplines, the validity of citation counts for evaluating research has been proven by many studies. However, it should be used cautiously when different disciplines are concerned, because citation practices may vary across disciplines. Although there have been studies that have examined the different citation practices across disciplines, relatively little research has investigated the citation rates of subject areas within a single discipline. This study explores the citation rates of subject areas in library and information science (LIS) in Korea. The preliminary results of this study will provide the rationale for further work, analyzing the causes of different citation patterns in a discipline. Ultimately, the study could provide useful implications for understanding and using the citation counts in assessing research performance.
Taking the HINTS about health: An analysis of the health information behavior of a sample of the U.S. public
Authors: Chan Katherine , Jean Beth St.
Published: May 2014

Preliminary findings are presented from a secondary analysis of recent Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data. HINTS data is collected and made available for public use by the National Cancer Institute. The goal of this analysis was to discover patterns in respondents' health‐related information seeking practices, their confidence in their ability to obtain health information, the types of barriers they face when looking for health information, the sources they consult for health information, the types of health‐related information activities they perform on the Internet, and their relative levels of trust toward health information from various sources. We also sought to identify associations between each of these variables and respondent age and educational attainment. The SPSS version of the HINTS 4 Cycle 1 dataset was downloaded and prepared for data analysis. Cross‐tabulations and chi‐square tests for independence were run. The findings reveal several interesting patterns in people's health‐related information seeking practices and perceptions, as well as some intriguing statistically significant associations between these practices/perceptions and respondent age and educational attainment.
Potential of inducing serendipitous news discovery in social gaming environment
Authors: Yadamsuren Borchuluun
Published: May 2014

This poster presents the preliminary findings from the study, which aimed to explore the potential of inducing serendipitous news discovery in social gaming environment. Erdelez' (2004) model of Information Encountering was used as a theoretical foundation to create a social game site, which was intended to provide a relaxed natural foreground activity for players without their awareness about serendipitous opportunity. A total of 269 players signed up to the site. Only half of those who signed up actually played and about 4% of those did what the game required to an extent that would allow them a chance to win prizes. Despite a low number of active players, there were 76 incidents of news clicks, which indicates serendipitous news discovery. About 29 participants clicked on news stories during their stay in the game site. The findings of this study indicate that social gaming environment is worth to explore further as a potential platform to facilitate serendipitous news discovery. The social game template created for this research could be used for various user‐engagement games to continue testing the idea of inducing serendipitous information discovery in natural context. A novel approach of measuring serendipitous news exposure using log data and data mining algorithm was developed as a result of this study.
Social Q&A vs. library virtual reference: User choices and comparisons
Authors: Zhang Yin , Deng Shengli
Published: May 2014

In recent years, there has been an increased use of Social Q&A (SQA). At the same time, there has been a reported decline of library virtual reference (VR). Most current research touches on the phenomenon from the perspective of libraries or library users. In this study, a survey of SQA users was conducted to understand SQA uses and experiences, and user comparisons of SQA and VR. The results help shed light on SQA user behavior, reasons for participating in SQA, important factors in using online services to seek answers, and service awareness and comparison of SQA and VR. The results also offer implications for enhancing library VR.
An exploratory study of middle school students' sensemaking in a collaborative game design educational project
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Reynolds Rebecca B.
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study is to understand collaborative sensemaking processes among middle school students in a discovery based hybrid e‐learning environment. Our exploratory study reports interview findings on student experiences, and contributes to our ongoing investigation of this complex social learning system. This paper is also an effort to extend the understanding of Dervin's (1992) sense‐making model to incorporate collaborative knowledge building and associated information behaviors. Our preliminary findings identify and discuss several situations, gaps and collaborative sensemaking strategies.
The correlations between article citation and references' impact measures: What can we learn?
Authors: Jiang Jiepu , He Daqing , Ni Chaoqun
Published: May 2014

We examined the correlations between an article's citation count (as an indicator of the article's quality) and different impact measures regarding the article's references (as indicators of the quality of the authors' information seeking while producing the article). Two research questions of interest were studied. First, do authors' information seeking and use affect the quality of their research output? Second, if yes, which metrics can better identify those references that may inspire researchers to produce high quality research work (so that we can recommend these references to others)? We found that the impact measures for the references have a slight or moderate correlation with article citations. Among these measures, references' article level impact measures calculated based on altmetrics data sources have a consistently stronger correlation with high quality research output, which may serve to identify helpful articles for researchers.
Ethical implications of searching for a kidney donor online
Authors: Costello Kaitlin Light
Published: May 2014

This paper describes an exploratory study investigating the ethical implications of searching for a kidney donor online. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight individuals – four people who found a kidney donor online and four people who were still searching – about the process of looking for an altruistic kidney donor on the Internet. To explore ethical issues discussed by participants, the interviews were coded using the resource‐product‐target model of information ethics. All three types of moral issues outlined in this model were present in the data. When viewing information as a resource, participants discussed their choice to go online to find a donor, the process of encouraging others to share their solicitation message, and ways of handling requests for payment in exchange for a donation. In the information‐as‐product perspective, people discussed the management of their online persona. Finally, the ramifications of patients and caregivers choosing to share personal health information online was discussed when participants considered information as a target. Several fruitful areas for future research are identified in this study, which is the first qualitative study investigating the phenomenon of searching for a kidney donor online – an area of great interest to information scientists, healthcare providers, medical ethicists, and chronic kidney disease patients.
Library catalog as a tool for e‐book discovery and access in patron‐driven acquisition (PDA): A Case Study
Authors: Urbano Cristóbal , Downey Kay , Zhang Yin , Klingler Tom
Published: May 2014

In January 2012, Kent State University Libraries implemented a 6‐month pilot project for a Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA) e‐book purchasing model that uses a combination of the acquisition services provided by the primary book jobber (YBP) and the access services provided by a well‐known e‐book distributer (ebrary). Using the book jobber mediated PDA model provided the library with selected discovery records that closely matched specifications of the library's print approval plan. This poster presents a study that examines the role of the library catalog as a tool for e‐book discovery and access in a new library collection acquisition model called Patron‐Driven Acquisition (PDA).
Gender‐brand effect of search queries on sponsored search performance
Authors: Mukherjee Partha , Jansen Bernard J.
Published: May 2014

In this research, we analyze the relationship among (1) the performance metrics of key phrases used in a sponsored search campaign, (2) the gender orientation of those key phrases, and (3) the occurrence of branded terms in those search queries. The aim of this research is increased personalization of search engine results in order to improve the consumer's online searching experience and potential interest in ads with branding focus. We segregate the key phrases into six different categories combining gender orientation with branding focus of the key phrases from a rich dataset that consists of 7 million daily records of a real time sponsored search campaign. The result of ANOVA shows that the means of sponsored search metrics significantly vary among the categories and exhibits the female's preference over branded terms.
Exploring interface effect on skimming comprehension: Comparing low‐clutter and no‐clutter documentation presentation environments
Authors: Lowrance Nathan , Mouliason Heather Lea
Published: May 2014

Due to the wide variety of web‐based reading environments, it is important to study reading environment effects on the skimming comprehension of information foragers. New readability applications have been developed to reduce visual clutter on web pages and enhance elements of text. This pilot study explored the effects of one of these new readability applications on skimming comprehension in a low‐clutter research environment. When comparing the results of skimming for meaning tests between a low‐clutter document display and that of the same article in the readability application display, no significant benefits were found. These findings suggest that if a readability application were to have a beneficial effect on skimming, then it would only potentially affect skimming pages presented with higher amounts of web page clutter. Additionally, the exit interview revealed that almost all of the participants preferred the readability display.
On the convergence of an approximate deconvolution model to the 3D mean Boussinesq equations
Authors: Bisconti Luca
Published: May 2014

In this paper, we study an LES model for the approximation of large scales of the 3D Boussinesq equations. This model is obtained using the approach first described by Stolz and Adams, based on the Van Cittern approximate deconvolution operators, and applied to the filtered Boussinesq equations. Existence and uniqueness of a regular weak solution are provided. Our main objective is to prove that this solution converges towards a solution of the filtered Boussinesq equations, as the deconvolution parameter goes to zero. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assisted reproductive technology results: Why are live‐birth percentages so low?
Authors: Tarín Juan J. , García‐Pérez Miguel A. , Cano Antonio
Published: May 2014

The present bioessay aims to analyze the impact of parental age, cause of infertility, embryo chromosomal anomalies, assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatments, and environmental and occupational exposures to xenobiotics on ART results, particularly on live‐birth percentages per transfer. Special attention is paid to analyzing the effects of these factors on the mitochondrial, genetic, and epigenetic traits of gametes and embryos to ascertain the molecular/cellular mechanisms responsible for the relatively low percentages of live births reported year after year in ART cycles. The bias of age distribution of women attending fertility clinics toward the late thirties and beyond and the high incidence of mosaicism found in pre‐implantation embryos emerge as the two biggest players in this scenario. Parental reproductive aging and some causes of infertility are associated with mitochondrial, genetic, and epigenetic alterations to gametes. ART treatments such as ovarian stimulation, gamete/embryo cryopreservation, oocyte in vitro maturation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro culture system, and embryo biopsy may also induce epigenetic changes in gametes and/or pre‐implantation embryos. Finally, exposure to numerous environmental chemicals is linked to sperm genetic and epigenetic defects. Whereas the selective transfer of euploid blastocysts may improve implantation and pregnancy percentages, especially in reproductively older women, it does not guarantee the total absence of mitochondrial and/or epigenetic defects in embryos. The presence of induced and/or inherited DNA epigenetic disturbances in ART offspring is unlikely to be prevented, even by replacing the whole cytoplasm of oocytes using nuclear‐genome‐transfer technology. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 568–583, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and analysis of injection‐molded nanocomposites of recycled high‐density polyethylene incorporated with graphene nanoflakes
Authors: Asmatulu Ramazan , Khan Waseem S. , Reddy Ramya J. , Ceylan Muhammet
Published: May 2014

Recycled high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) was incorporated with graphene nanoflakes in a solvent at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt%), and then the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and surface hydrophobic properties of the resultant nanocomposites were determined using universal tensile testing, thermal comparative, capacitance bridge, and goniometer techniques, respectively. The test results revealed that the mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties of the polymer matrix nanocomposites were increased as a function of graphene concentrations, whereas the surface hydrophobic values were slightly increased at lower concentrations and then reduced at higher concentrations. These improvements occur mainly because of the excellent properties of graphene nanoflakes, such as tensile strength (150 GPa), Young's modulus (1.0 TPa), thermal conductivity (4,840–5,300 W/m K), electrical conductivity (1.3 × 106 S/cm), electrical current density (1013 A/cm2), surface hydrophobicity (>120°), and surface smoothness/roughness (<1 nm). The worldwide consumption of polymeric products has been drastically growing, and consequently polymeric waste materials have been rising up, as well. Although the plastic recycling and reprocessing rates are considerably high, physical properties and economical values of the recycled plastics are significantly low, limiting the reuse of recycled plastics in many industrial applications. As a result, this study provides a detailed explanation of how to improve recycled plastics into highly valued new products for applications in various industries, such as transportation, energy, electronic, construction, and so forth. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1565–1573, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Atomic layer superconductivity
Authors: Stępniak Agnieszka , Leon Vanegas Augusto , Caminale Michael , Oka Hirofumi , Sander Dirk , Kirschner Jürgen
Published: May 2014

We present scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of superconductivity of single layer Pb and Pb islands on Si(111). We perform temperature‐dependent measurements of the differential conductance from 0.38 to 4 K in fields of up to 6 T to extract the critical temperature TC for the onset of superconductivity. We find TC = 1.5 K for a single layer Pb on Si(111), and a critical out‐of‐plane field of 150 mT. This deviates from bulk Pb, where TC = 7.2 K and HC = 80 mT are reported. Our results provide the temperature dependence of the superconducting gap 2 Δ. A description of this dependence in the framework of the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory indicates an energy gap of 2 Δ0 = 0.7 meV, considerably less than the 2.7 meV found for bulk Pb. We observe that the insertion of a single layer Ag between Pb and Si suppresses superconductivity in the Pb film even at the lowest temperature of 0.38 K. Pb islands on Ag/Si(111) exhibit superconductivity. Our position‐dependent STM studies from a nine‐layer tall Pb island into the surrounding non‐superconducting Pb wetting layer on Ag/Si(111) reveal an extension of a superconducting gap in spectroscopy up to 20 nm away from the Pb island edge at 0.38 K. © 2014 The Authors Surface and Interface Analysis Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Combining information from two data sources with misreporting and incompleteness to assess hospice‐use among cancer patients: a multiple imputation approach
Authors: He Yulei , Landrum Mary Beth , Zaslavsky Alan M.
Published: May 2014

Combining information from multiple data sources can enhance estimates of health‐related measures by using one source to supply information that is lacking in another, assuming the former has accurate and complete data. However, there is little research conducted on combining methods when each source might be imperfect, for example, subject to measurement errors and/or missing data. In a multisite study of hospice‐use by late‐stage cancer patients, this variable was available from patients’ abstracted medical records, which may be considerably underreported because of incomplete acquisition of these records. Therefore, data for Medicare‐eligible patients were supplemented with their Medicare claims that contained information on hospice‐use, which may also be subject to underreporting yet to a lesser degree. In addition, both sources suffered from missing data because of unit nonresponse from medical record abstraction and sample undercoverage for Medicare claims. We treat the true hospice‐use status from these patients as a latent variable and propose to multiply impute it using information from both data sources, borrowing the strength from each. We characterize the complete‐data model as a product of an ‘outcome’ model for the probability of hospice‐use and a ‘reporting’ model for the probability of underreporting from both sources, adjusting for other covariates. Assuming the reports of hospice‐use from both sources are missing at random and the underreporting are conditionally independent, we develop a Bayesian multiple imputation algorithm and conduct multiple imputation analyses of patient hospice‐use in demographic and clinical subgroups. The proposed approach yields more sensible results than alternative methods in our example. Our model is also related to dual system estimation in population censuses and dual exposure assessment in epidemiology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Do Cryopreserved Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Display Impaired Immunomodulatory and Therapeutic Properties?
Authors: Moll Guido , Alm Jessica J. , Davies Lindsay C. , von Bahr Lena , Heldring Nina , Stenbeck-Funke Lillemor , Hamad Osama A. , Hinsch Robin , Ignatowicz Lech , Locke Matthew , Lönnies Helena , Lambris John D. , Teramura Yuji , Nilsson-Ekdahl Kristina , Nilsson Bo , Blanc Katarina
Published: May 2014

We have recently reported that therapeutic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have low engraftment and trigger the instant blood mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) after systemic delivery to patients, resulting in compromised cell function. In order to optimize the product, we compared the immunomodulatory, blood regulatory, and therapeutic properties of freeze-thawed and freshly harvested cells. We found that freeze-thawed MSCs, as opposed to cells harvested from continuous cultures, have impaired immunomodulatory and blood regulatory properties. Freeze-thawed MSCs demonstrated reduced responsiveness to proinflammatory stimuli, an impaired production of anti-inflammatory mediators, increased triggering of the IBMIR, and a strong activation of the complement cascade compared to fresh cells. This resulted in twice the efficiency in lysis of thawed MSCs after 1 hour of serum exposure. We found a 50% and 80% reduction in viable cells with freshly detached as opposed to thawed in vitro cells, indicating a small benefit for fresh cells. In evaluation of clinical response, we report a trend that fresh cells, and cells of low passage, demonstrate improved clinical outcome. Patients treated with freshly harvested cells in low passage had a 100% response rate, twice the response rate of 50% observed in a comparable group of patients treated with freeze-thawed cells at higher passage. We conclude that cryobanked MSCs have reduced immunomodulatory and blood regulatory properties directly after thawing, resulting in faster complement-mediated elimination after blood exposure. These changes seem to be paired by differences in therapeutic efficacy in treatment of immune ailments after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells  2014;32:2430–2442
Uremic Toxin p-Cresol Induces Akt-Pathway-Selective Insulin Resistance in Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Noh Hyunjin , Yu Mi Ra , Kim Hyun Joo , Jang Eun Jung , Hwang Eun Sook , Jeon Jin Seok , Kwon Soon Hyo , Han Dong Cheol
Published: May 2014

We reported a functional incompetence in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under uremia, but the mechanisms have not been explored. To study the mechanisms of dysfunctional MSCs induced by uremia, we characterized insulin signaling in MSCs and investigated the effect of uremic toxin, p-cresol, on the proangiogenic actions of insulin. In MSCs, insulin induced hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)−1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and stromal cell-derived factor 1α expressions via PI3K/Akt-dependent pathway. MSCs treated with p-cresol exhibited altered insulin signaling in a selective manner for insulin receptor substrate-1/PI3K/Akt pathway, whereas ERK pathway remained active. The insulin-induced increase of HIF-1α was blunted by p-cresol treatment. This Akt-selective insulin resistance was also observed in MSCs isolated from chronic kidney disease (CKD) mice. In mice model of hindlimb ischemia, blood flow recovery, capillary density, and local production of angiogenic factors in the ischemic limb treated with CKD MSCs were significantly inferior to those promoted by control MSCs. However, modifying CKD MSCs by overexpression of HIF-1α restored all of these changes. Taken together, these data suggest that p-cresol contributes to insulin resistance in a selective manner for Akt pathway. This might be a biological explanation for the functional incompetence of MSCs under uremia through defects in the insulin-induced elevation of HIF-1α protein expression. Stem Cells  2014;32:2443–2453
Complement Component 3 is Necessary to Preserve Myocardium and Myocardial Function in Chronic Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Wysoczynski Marcin , Solanki Mitesh , Borkowska Sylwia , van Hoose Patrick , Brittian Kenneth R. , Prabhu Sumanth D. , Ratajczak Mariusz Z. , Rokosh Gregg
Published: May 2014

Activation of the complement cascade (CC) with myocardial infarction (MI) acutely initiates immune cell infiltration, membrane attack complex formation on injured myocytes, and exacerbates myocardial injury. Recent studies implicate the CC in mobilization of stem/progenitor cells and tissue regeneration. Its role in chronic MI is unknown. Here, we consider complement component C3, in the chronic response to MI. C3 knockout (KO) mice were studied after permanent coronary artery ligation. C3 deficiency exacerbated myocardial dysfunction 28 days after MI compared to WT with further impaired systolic function and LV dilation despite similar infarct size 24 hours post-MI. Morphometric analysis 28 days post-MI showed C3 KO mice had more scar tissue with less viable myocardium within the infarct zone which correlated with decreased c-kitpos cardiac stem/progenitor cells (CPSC), decreased proliferating Ki67pos CSPCs and decreased formation of new BrdUpos/α-sarcomeric actinpos myocytes, and increased apoptosis compared to WT. Decreased CSPCs and increased apoptosis were evident 7 days post-MI in C3 KO hearts. The inflammatory response with MI was attenuated in the C3 KO and was accompanied by attenuated hematopoietic, pluripotent, and cardiac stem/progenitor cell mobilization into the peripheral blood 72 hours post-MI. These results are the first to demonstrate that CC, through C3, contributes to myocardial preservation and regeneration in response to chronic MI. Responses in the C3 KO infer that C3 activation in response to MI expands the resident CSPC population, increases new myocyte formation, increases and preserves myocardium, inflammatory response, and bone marrow stem/progenitor cell mobilization to preserve myocardial function. Stem Cells  2014;32:2502–2515
Nitric Oxide-Induced Neuronal to Glial Lineage Fate-Change Depends on NRSF/REST Function in Neural Progenitor Cells
Authors: Bergsland Maria , Covacu Ruxandra , Perez Estrada Cynthia , Svensson Mikael , Brundin Lou
Published: May 2014

Degeneration of central nervous system tissue commonly occurs during neuroinflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and neurotrauma. During such conditions, neural stem/progenitor cell (NPC) populations have been suggested to provide new cells to degenerated areas. In the normal brain, NPCs from the subventricular zone generate neurons that settle in the olfactory bulb or striatum. However, during neuroinflammatory conditions NPCs migrate toward the site of injury to form oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, whereas newly formed neurons are less abundant. Thus, the specific NPC lineage fate decisions appear to respond to signals from the local environment. The instructive signals from inflammation have been suggested to rely on excessive levels of the free radical nitric oxide (NO), which is an essential component of the innate immune response, as NO promotes neuronal to glial cell fate conversion of differentiating rat NPCs in vitro. Here, we demonstrate that the NO-induced neuronal to glial fate conversion is dependent on the transcription factor neuron-restrictive silencing factor-1 (NRSF)/repressor element-1 silencing transcription (REST). Chromatin modification status of a number of neuronal and glial lineage restricted genes was altered upon NO-exposure. These changes coincided with gene expression alterations, demonstrating a global shift toward glial potential. Interestingly, by blocking the function of NRSF/REST, alterations in chromatin modifications were lost and the NO-induced neuronal to glial switch was suppressed. This implicates NRSF/REST as a key factor in the NPC-specific response to innate immunity and suggests a novel mechanism by which signaling from inflamed tissue promotes the formation of glial cells. Stem Cells  2014;32:2539–2549
The Synthesis and Crystal Structure of U7O2Se12
Authors: Ward Matthew D. , Ibers James A.
Published: May 2014

The new compound U7O2Se12 was synthesized at 1173 K as a result of both unintentional and intentional oxygen contamination. The composition balances with formal charges of +4, –2, and –2 for U, O, and Se, respectively. U7O2Se12 crystallizes with one formula unit in space group C$\rm^{1}_{3h}$‐P$\bar{6}$ of the hexagonal system in a cell of dimensions a = 11.3222(4) Å, c = 4.1362(1) Å. The structure of U7O2Se12 closely resembles that of the An7Te12 (An = Th, U) compounds, but contains cavities, in which oxygen atoms are coordinated to three uranium atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. It is not known if other members of the An7Q12 family (An = Th, U; Q = S, Se, Te) are actually An7O2Q12 compounds.
Unravelling the complex MRI pattern in glutaric aciduria type I using statistical models—a cohort study in 180 patients
Authors: Garbade Sven F. , Greenberg Cheryl R. , Demirkol Mübeccel , Gökçay Gülden , Ribes Antonia , Campistol Jaume , Burlina Alberto B. , Burgard Peter , Kölker Stefan
Published: May 2014

Background

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA‐I) is a cerebral organic aciduria caused by inherited deficiency of glutaryl‐CoA dehydrogenase and is characterized biochemically by an accumulation of putatively neurotoxic dicarboxylic metabolites. The majority of untreated patients develops a complex movement disorder with predominant dystonia during age 3–36 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have demonstrated striatal and extrastriatal abnormalities.

Aims/methods

The major aim of this study was to elucidate the complex neuroradiological pattern of patients with GA‐I and to associate the MRI findings with the severity of predominant neurological symptoms. In 180 patients, detailed information about the neurological presentation and brain region‐specific MRI abnormalities were obtained via a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Patients with a movement disorder had more often MRI abnormalities in putamen, caudate, cortex, ventricles and external CSF spaces than patients without or with minor neurological symptoms. Putaminal MRI changes and strongly dilated ventricles were identified as the most reliable predictors of a movement disorder. In contrast, abnormalities in globus pallidus were not clearly associated with a movement disorder. Caudate and putamen as well as cortex, ventricles and external CSF spaces clearly collocalized on a two‐dimensional map demonstrating statistical similarity and suggesting the same underlying pathomechanism.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that complex statistical methods are useful to decipher the age‐dependent and region‐specific MRI patterns of rare neurometabolic diseases and that these methods are helpful to elucidate the clinical relevance of specific MRI findings.
Brief report: Value priorities of early adolescents
Authors: Tulviste Tiia , Tamm Anni
Published: May 2014

Although adolescence is considered to be the formative period of values, relatively few studies have addressed values held by adolescents. The present short‐term longitudinal study explores value priorities of early adolescents from two social groups (among ethnic Estonians and Russian‐speaking minority) in terms of the 10 value types defined by Schwartz, and the question whether values change during one year. 575 early adolescents filled out a 21‐item version of the Portrait Values Questionnaire. Adolescents' value priorities differed from the pan‐cultural value hierarchy of adults (Bardi, Lee, Hoffmann‐Towfigh, & Soutar, 2009) by attributing more importance to hedonism and stimulation, and less importance to benevolence and conformity. Although Russian‐speaking students rated Self‐Enhancement and Openness to Change more highly than Estonians, the value hierarchy of adolescents from two social groups was rather similar. Boys considered Self‐Enhancement more important than girls. More value change was observable in Russian‐speaking students, and boys.
The mammalian AMP‐activated protein kinase complex mediates glucose regulation of gene expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ye Tian , Bendrioua Loubna , Carmena David , García-Salcedo Raúl , Dahl Peter , Carling David , Hohmann Stefan
Published: May 2014

The AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) controls energy homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. Here we expressed hetero‐trimeric mammalian AMPK complexes in a S
accharomyces cerevisiae mutant lacking all five genes encoding yeast AMPK/SNF1 components. Certain mammalian complexes complemented the growth defect of the yeast mutant on non‐fermentable carbon sources. Phosphorylation of the AMPK α1‐subunit was glucose‐regulated, albeit not by the Glc7‐Reg1/2 phosphatase, which performs this function on yeast AMPK/SNF1. AMPK could take over SNF1 function in glucose derepression. While indirectly acting anti‐diabetic drugs had no effect on AMPK in yeast, compound 991 stimulated α1‐subunit phosphorylation. Our results demonstrate a remarkable functional conservation of AMPK and that glucose regulation of AMPK may not be mediated by regulatory features of a specific phosphatase.
Huaier suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in human pulmonary cancer cells via upregulation of miR‐26b‐5p
Authors: Wu Tangwei , Chen Weiqun , Liu Shuiyi , Lu Hongda , Wang Hui , Kong Deyong , Huang Xiaodong , Kong Qinzhi , Ning Yong , Lu Zhongxin
Published: May 2014

Various studies have reported that Huaier possesses anti‐tumor effects. However, the mechanisms are not completely elucidated. Here, we found 66 differentially expressed miRNAs in Huaier‐treated pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells, with upregulation of miR‐26b‐5p. Transfection of A549 cells with miR‐26b‐5p mimic inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis, while transfection of Huaier‐treated A549 cells with a miR‐26b‐5p inhibitor reversed the effects of Huaier. EZH2 was verified as the target of miR‐26b‐5p. Thus, our findings indicate that Huaier might suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells via a miR‐26b‐5p‐EZH2‐mediated approach, which provides a new perspective for understanding the anti‐tumor effects of Huaier.
Consistent shallow-water equations on the rotating sphere with complete Coriolis force and topography
Authors: Tort Marine , Dubos Thomas , Bouchut François , Zeitlin Vladimir
Published: May 2014

Consistent shallow-water equations are derived on the rotating sphere with topography retaining the Coriolis force due to the horizontal component of the planetary angular velocity. Unlike the traditional approximation, this ‘non-traditional’ approximation captures the increase with height of the solid-body velocity due to planetary rotation. The conservation of energy, angular momentum and potential vorticity are ensured in the system. The caveats in extending the standard shallow-water wisdom to the case of the rotating sphere are exposed. Different derivations of the model are possible, being based, respectively, on (i) Hamilton’s principle for primitive equations with a complete Coriolis force, under the hypothesis of columnar motion, (ii) straightforward vertical averaging of the ‘non-traditional’ primitive equations, and (iii) a time-dependent change of independent variables in the primitive equations written in the curl (‘vector-invariant’) form, with subsequent application of the columnar motion hypothesis. An intrinsic, coordinate-independent form of the non-traditional equations on the sphere is then given, and used to derive hyperbolicity criteria and Rankine–Hugoniot conditions for weak solutions. The relevance of the model for the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, as well as other planets, is discussed.
Coherent structure and sound production in the helical mode of a screeching axisymmetric jet
Authors: Edgington-Mitchell Daniel , Oberleithner Kilian , Honnery Damon R. , Soria Julio
Published: May 2014

The structure of a screeching axisymmetric jet in the helical C mode at a nozzle pressure ratio of 3.4 issuing from a convergent nozzle is studied using high-resolution particle image velocimetry. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is used to extract the dominant coherent structures within the jet. The first two modes produced by the POD are used to reconstruct a phase-averaged data sequence. A triple decomposition into mean, coherent and random velocity components is performed. The embedded shock structures within the jet are shown to strongly modulate the coherent axial stresses within the shear layer and to weakly modulate the random axial stresses. Analysis of the third and fourth moments of the velocity probability density function is used as an indicator of possible regions of shock–vortex interaction and thus screech tone generation. Peaks of kurtosis (flatness) occur at the second, third and fourth shock–boundary intersection points, with the radial position shifting towards the centreline with increasing downstream distance. Analysis of the coherent component of vorticity shows that the largest fluctuations in coherent vorticity occur at the high-speed side of the shear layer in an area extending from the second to the fourth shock cell. With reference to prior literature, the argument is made that it is this increased magnitude of coherent vorticity fluctuation that is the primary factor in the determination of which shock cells act as dominant screech sources.
Radiofrequency plasma stabilization of a low-Reynolds-number channel flow
Authors: Fuller Timothy J. , Hsu Andrea G. , Sanchez-Gonzalez Rodrigo , Dean Jacob C. , North Simon W. , Bowersox Rodney D. W.
Published: May 2014

The effects of plasma heating and thermal non-equilibrium on the statistical properties of a low-Reynolds-number ($Re_{\tau } = 49$) turbulent channel flow were experimentally quantified using particle image velocimetry, two-line planar laser-induced fluorescence, coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy and emission spectroscopy. Tests were conducted at two radiofrequency plasma settings. The nitrogen, in air, was vibrationally excited to $T_{vib} \sim 1240\ \mathrm{K}$ and 1550 K for 150 W and 300 W plasma settings, respectively, while the vibrational temperature of the oxygen and the rotational/translational temperatures of all species remained near room temperature. The peak axial turbulence intensities in the shear layers were reduced by 15 and 30 % in moving across the plasma for the 150 and 300 W cases, respectively. The plasma did not alter the transverse intensities. The Reynolds shear stresses were reduced by 30 and 50 % for the 150 and 300 W cases. The corresponding Reynolds shear stress correlation coefficient was also reduced, which indicates that the large-scale structures were diminished. Finally, the plasma enhanced the turbulence decay in the zero-shear regions, where the power law decay $t^{-1/n}$ exponential factor $n$ decreased from 1.0 to 0.8.
Simulation of swimming oblate jellyfish with a paddling-based locomotion
Authors: Park Sung Goon , Chang Cheong Bong , Huang Wei-Xi , Sung Hyung Jin
Published: May 2014

The hydrodynamics of a swimming jellyfish depends on the morphology of the species. For example, oblate jellyfish appear to generate wide vortex structures near the bell margin. The vortex structures affect both the propulsion system and the feeding structure because the swimming and prey capturing activities are interrelated processes in these taxa. A three-dimensional computational model was established for an oblate jellyfish to analyse how the vortex structures present in the wake affect the swimming mechanism and the propulsion efficiency, which is defined as the ratio of power output (thrust multiplied by centre velocity) to power input (energy rate required for bell contraction). An improved penalty immersed boundary method was adopted to consider the interactions between the swimming jellyfish and the ambient fluid. The vortex structures in the wake of the swimming jellyfish were investigated in detail. The vortices generated by the contraction and expansion of the jellyfish bell interact with the vortex structures generated by the forward-moving behaviour of the jellyfish. The resulting vortex structures not only transfer momentum to the swimming jellyfish via the fluid, thereby providing the main source of thrust, but also have an implication for feeding. The effects of the elastic properties of the jellyfish on the propulsion were examined. The propulsion efficiency reaches its optimum value at particular elastic properties. We also investigated the effect of the swimming pattern of jellyfish on the propulsion efficiency. The efficiency increases with the flapping frequency and force duration.
Francesca Rendle-Short, 'Bite your tongue', Melbourne: Spinifex, 2011, ISBN 9 7818 7675 6963, 246 pp., RRP $29.95
Authors: Gildersleeve Jessica
Published: May 2014

Francesca Rendle-Short, Bite your tongue, Melbourne: Spinifex, 2011, ISBN 9 7818 7675 6963, 246 pp., RRP $29.95
Ilma Martinuzzi O’Brien (edited and annotated), 'The internment diaries of Mario Sardi', Alphington, Vic.: Lucerne Press, 2013, ISBN 9 7806 4690 7512
Authors: Dewhirst Catherine
Published: May 2014

Ilma Martinuzzi O’Brien (edited and annotated), The internment diaries of Mario Sardi, Alphington, Vic.: Lucerne Press, 2013, ISBN 9 7806 4690 7512
Going Forward to the Past
Authors: Buckridge Patrick
Published: May 2014

The imminent death of the study of past literature in Australian universities has been pronounced many times since the 1980s. It seems to have been taking several decades to die, but its time may finally be upon us. When I first joined Griffith Humanities in 1981, the then Head of School, David Saunders, told me that though he might wish it otherwise, the literature of the past would always be studied in universities — if only because there was so much of it and because, like Everest, it was simply ‘there’. I now think he may have been wrong.
Lyceum Club and the Making of the Modern Woman
Authors: Ferres Kay
Published: May 2014

In 1934, the editor of the Courier-Mail’s women’s page, Winifred Moore, reflected on the growth and importance of women’s clubs in Queensland in the early decades of the twentieth century. Moore herself had been involved in community organisations since she took up her career in journalism during World War I. She was a foundation member of the National Parks Association, a member of the Press Association, the Queensland Women’s Electoral league (QWEL) and the Lyceum Club. Many of her contemporaries shared what she called ‘the club habit’, a habit that had enabled women to ‘find their tongues in public assemblies’ in the decades after they achieved the vote (Courier-Mail, 8 February 1934, 16).
Respect for Human Rights has Improved Over Time: Modeling the Changing Standard of Accountability
Authors: FARISS CHRISTOPHER J.
Published: May 2014

According to indicators of political repression currently used by scholars, human rights practices have not improved over the past 35 years, despite the spread of human rights norms, better monitoring, and the increasing prevalence of electoral democracy. I argue that this empirical pattern is not an indication of stagnating human rights practices. Instead, it reflects a systematic change in the way monitors, like Amnesty International and the U.S. State Department, encounter and interpret information about abuses. The standard of accountability used to assess state behaviors becomes more stringent as monitors look harder for abuse, look in more places for abuse, and classify more acts as abuse. In this article, I present a new, theoretically informed measurement model, which generates unbiased estimates of repression using existing data. I then show that respect for human rights has improved over time and that the relationship between human rights respect and ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture is positive, which contradicts findings from existing research.
Social Policy and Regime Legitimacy: The Effects of Education Reform in China
Authors: LÜ XIAOBO
Published: May 2014

Elites often use social policies to garner political support and ensure regime survival, but social policies are not a silver bullet. Using two waves of Chinese national surveys, I find that a recent policy of abolishing school fees has significantly increased citizens’ demand for greater government responsibility in financing compulsory education. I argue that policy awareness, rather than policy benefits, drives citizens’ demand. Finally, I show that policy awareness has enhanced citizens’ trust in China's central government, but not in local governments. This asymmetry in regime support has two sources—the decentralization of education provision and biased media reporting—which induce citizens to credit the central government for good policy outcomes. Given that citizens’ responses are primarily influenced by policy awareness that is promoted by the state media, this study casts doubt on the use of social policies to sustain long-term political support.
THE CURSE OF MEROZ AND THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
Authors: DOWNS JORDAN S.
Published: May 2014

This article attempts to uncover the political significance of the Old Testament verse Judges 5:23, ‘the curse of Meroz’, during the English Civil War. Historians who have commented on the printed text of Meroz have done so primarily in reference to a single edition of the parliamentarian fast-day preacher Stephen Marshall's 1642Meroz cursedsermon. Usage of the curse, however, as shown in more than seventy unique sermons, tracts, histories, libels, and songs considered here, demonstrates that the verse was far more widespread and politically significant than has been previously assumed. Analysing Meroz in its political and polemical roles, from the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion in 1641 and through the Restoration of Charles II in the 1660s, sheds new light on the ways in which providentialism functioned during the Civil Wars, and serves, more specifically, to illustrate some of the important means by which ministers and polemicists sought to mobilize citizens and construct party identities.