bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autoantibodies against TIF‐1‐γ and CADM‐140 in Spanish patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM): clinical significance and diagnostic utility
Authors: Cuesta‐Mateos C. , Colom‐Fernández B. , Portero‐Sainz I. , Tejedor R. , García‐García C. , Concha‐Garzón M.J. , De las Heras‐Alonso M.E. , Martínez M.A. , Juarez C. , Muñoz‐Calleja C.
Published: July 2014

Background

Patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) appear to be at risk for developing cancer and interstitial lung diseases, but population data to confirm this hypothesis are limited. Moreover, CADM presents cutaneous and histological findings that may overlap with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE).

Objectives

To determine the association between myositis‐specific autoantibodies, myositis‐associated autoantibodies and CADM in Spanish patients. In addition, to study the usefulness of these autoantibodies in the differential diagnosis between CADM and SCLE.

Methods

Serum samples were tested for myositis‐specific autoantibodies and myositis‐associated autoantibodies through immunoprecipitation and other standardized methods.

Results

Anti‐CADM‐p140 and anti‐p155 antibodies were the only myositis‐specific autoantibodies found and were associated with interstitial lung diseases and cancer respectively. No myositis‐associated autoantibodies were found in CADM. Moreover, clinical subsets and proportions seemed to differ from Asian cohorts, where anti‐CADM‐p140 is considered a CADM hallmark antibody and a risk factor for the development of interstitial lung disease. Interestingly, anti‐SSA was highly associated with SCLE, whereas no myositis‐specific autoantibodies were found in this entity.

Limitations of the study

Association between CADM and myositis‐specific autoantibodies and differences between CADM and SCLE were tested on a relatively small cohort of patients.

Conclusion

There is an association between cancer‐associated myositis and interstitial lung diseases and their hallmark autoantibodies in our cohort. In addition, the combined determination of myositis‐specific autoantibodies and SSA autoantibodies may help to accurately discriminate SCLE from CADM.
Beyond Energy
Authors: Fichter Klaus , Hintemann Ralph
Published: July 2014

This article is based on the first study worldwide to analyze materials present in the equipment of data centers. The study develops a methodology that allows the calculation of the number of data centers of the various size classes and their average equipment with information technology (IT) components and infrastructure elements, such as air‐conditioning systems and power supplies. This enables detailed statements to be made on the materials present in the equipment of approximately 53,000 data centers in Germany. In 2008, the total amount of materials in the equipment of data centers in Germany was 110,300 tonnes (t). IT equipment (servers, storage equipment, and network) accounted for 37,500 t (34%), racks and containments for 30,700 t (28%), cooling and air‐conditioning systems for 12,000 t (11%), and the power infrastructure for 30,000 t (27%). A comprehensive analysis of the type of materials being used yielded the following values: Approximately 58,400 t of iron, 18,600 t of copper, 11,600 t of circuit boards, 11,100 t of plastics, 7,400 t of aluminum, and 6,500 t of miscellaneous materials were present in German data centers. The electronic material contained 1.8 t of gold, 7.5 t of silver, and 0.8 t of palladium. Because it can be assumed that prices for precious metals, and also for bulk metals, will continue to rise, the recovery of raw materials from the IT devices of data centers is an interesting option. Additionally, the development of appropriate product design and recycling strategies for servers and storage units should be implemented.
Securing a Competitive Advantage through Industrial Symbiosis Development
Authors: Park Joo Young , Park Hung‐Suck
Published: July 2014

Hyosung Yongyeon Plants

Plant I: Operated since 1991

Plant II: Operated since 1997

Plant III: Built in 2009

Organization type: Production facilities of Hyosung, a public company

Headquarters: Seoul, Republic of Korea

Industries: Chemical

Plant I: Polypropylene (PP)

Plant II: TPA (purified terephthalic acid)

Plant III: Optical TAC (cellulose triacetate) film

Employees: 450

Annual production:

Plant I: 300,000 tonnes of PP

Plant II: 420,000 tonnes of TPA

Plant III: 50 million square meters (m2) of liquid crystal display (LCD) TAC film
A study on the inhibition of VEGF expression in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cells via iNOS gene RNAi in vitro
Authors: Ou Yang Ke‐Xiong , Liang Jun , Yang Zi‐Nan , Zhao Jian‐Jiang
Published: July 2014

In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). Using RNAi, we transfected chemically synthesised iNOS siRNA into ACC‐M cells (a highly metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line) and detected the change in the gene and protein expression levels of iNOS and VEGF by qRT‐PCR and Western blotting. A transwell invasiveness assay was used to examine the changes in invasive ability of ACC‐M cells. Cell growth was determined using a CCK‐8 assay. Apoptosis and cell‐cycle phases were detected by flow cytometry. We found that silencing iNOS down‐regulated the expression of VEGF and then inhibited cell growth and invasiveness of SACC cells, while it increased apoptosis. Therefore, we concluded that iNOS can regulate VEGF expression and iNOS may be a therapeutic target.
Exfoliative cytology as a tool for monitoring pre‐malignant and malignant lesions based on combined stains and morphometry techniques
Authors: Gonzalez Segura Ignacio , Secchi Dante , Carrica Andres , Barello Rosario , Arbelo Dario , Burgos Adriana , Brunotto Mabel , Zarate Ana M.
Published: July 2014

Background

Prevention and early diagnosis have the greatest potential for public health and are the most effective method in the long‐term to control oral cancer. The aim was to apply PAP staining together with AgNOR staining and morphometric analysis in oral exfoliative cytology, to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these methods in the detection of malignant changes for the purposes of both initial population monitoring and follow‐up.

Methods

AgNOR, Papanicolau, and morphometric tests were conducted in samples of patients with oral cancer, oral potentially malignant disorders and controls (opposite side of lesions). Specificity and sensitivity values for each stain method and the curve under ROC area were estimated.

Results

The diagnostic variables which allowed greatest accuracy in identifying malignancy relative to the healthy control were cluster (76.92%), satellite (75.64%), and total (90%). The diagnosis was seen to be associated with PAP and total AgNOR, total AgNOR and PAP, total AgNOR and satellites and clusters, and total AgNOR nuclear area/cytoplasmic area ratio.

Conclusions

The total number of AgNOR is a reliable marker for detecting neoplastic cells; this method increases sensitivity and specificity by decreasing the likelihood of false negatives or positives, as the accuracy obtained was 90%. It is also a low‐cost, non‐invasive, simple methodology that can be recommended to help the early detection of oral cancer and monitoring of patients with a first diagnosis of cancer.
INTRA‐DIALYTIC EXERCISE TRAINING: A PRAGMATIC APPROACH
Authors: Greenwood Sharlene A. , Naish Patrick , Clark Rachel , O'Connor Ellen , Pursey Victoria A. , Macdougall Iain C. , Mercer Thomas H. , Koufaki Pelagia
Published: July 2014

This continuing education paper outlines the skills and knowledge required to plan, implement and evaluate a pragmatic approach to intra‐dialytic exercise training.

Aim: The aim of this continuing education article is to enable the nephrology multi‐disciplinary team (MDT) to plan, implement and evaluate the provision of intra‐dialytic exercise training for patients receiving haemodialysis therapy.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After reading this article the reader should be able to:

Appreciate the level of evidence base for the clinical effectiveness of renal exercise rehabilitation and locate credible sources of research and educational information

Understand and consider the need for appropriate evaluation and assessment outcomes as part of a renal rehabilitation plan

Understand the components of exercise programming and prescription as part of an integrated renal rehabilitation plan

Develop a sustainable longer term exercise and physical activity plan
Evaluation of Urethral Stent Placement for Benign Urethral Obstructions in Dogs
Authors: Hill T.L. , Berent A.C. , Weisse C.W.
Published: July 2014

Background

Benign urethral obstructions (BUO) in dogs result in substantial morbidity because of challenges with conventional therapies. Treatment of malignant urethral obstructions with intraluminal urethral stents is reported to successfully relieve obstructions.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of urethral stent placement for treatment ofBUOin dogs.

Animals

Eleven client‐owned animals with urethral stents placed for treatment ofBUO.

Methods

Retrospective study in which medical records were reviewed in dogs diagnosed withBUOand treated with a metallic urethral stent. Data collected included signalment, cause of benign obstruction, procedure time, size and type of stent, complications, and short‐ and long‐term outcome.

Results

Eleven dogs with 15 urethral stents were included. Intraluminal urethral stent(s) relieved the obstructions in all dogs. Four dogs had 2 stents placed in separate procedures because of incomplete patency after treatment (n = 1), inadvertent compression of the stent (n = 1), or tissue ingrowth through the stent (n = 2). The median continence score after stent placement was 10 of 10 (range 3–10) with 6 dogs being continent, 3 mildly incontinent, and 1 each moderately and severely incontinent. All owners considered their dog to have an excellent long‐term clinical outcome with long‐term urethral patency. The median follow‐up time was 24 months (range 4–48).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Urethral stents appear to be an effective treatment for benign urinary obstructions. Moderate to severe incontinence developed in a minority (12.5%) of dogs. Stents relieved obstructions in all dogs with an excellent long‐term outcome.
Is Organizational Justice the New Industrial Relations? A Debate on Individual Versus Collective Underpinnings of Justice
Authors: Gilliland Stephen W. , Gross Michael A. , Hogler Raymond L.
Published: July 2014

This study is based on a debate about the nature of two intellectual domains, industrial relations (IR) and organizational behavior (OB). Ray Hogler (Colorado State University) argues that the distinguishing feature of IR is its collectivist approach to work and organizations. As OB came to dominate the academic landscape, the research landscape shifted to a microanalytical focus. In consequence, business schools have failed to engage with the social problem of inequality of wealth. Early figures in American economic development, such as John D. Rockefeller, Jr., offered a more expansive vision of firms and labor than the current intellectual climate driven by an agency theory of management aimed at short‐term profit. In his response, Stephen Gilliland (University of Arizona) asserts that the individualistic orientation of organizational justice provides a much more strategic and aligned approach to employee–employer relations. Unions provide a broad brush approach grounded in adversarial relationships and unfairness. By satisfying individual interests of fair treatment, leading through organizational justice provides benefits for employees, organizations, and their stakeholders. Fair treatment of employees has a ripple effect that impacts customer treatment and satisfaction. Whether the organization's strategy is based on value, customer service, or innovation, organizational justice can be aligned with strategic goals for the benefit of all.
Gluten quality of bread wheat is associated with activity of RabD GTPases
Authors: Tyler Adam M. , Bhandari Dhan G. , Poole Mervin , Napier Johnathan A. , Jones Huw D. , Lu Chungui , Lycett Grantley W.
Published: July 2014

In the developing endosperm of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), seed storage proteins are produced on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to protein bodies, specialized vacuoles for the storage of protein. The functionally important gluten proteins of wheat are transported by two distinct routes to the protein bodies where they are stored: vesicles that bud directly off the ER and transport through the Golgi. However, little is known about the processing of glutenin and gliadin proteins during these steps or the possible impact on their properties. In plants, the RabD GTPases mediate ER‐to‐Golgi vesicle transport. Available sequence information for Rab GTPases in Arabidopsis, rice, Brachypodium and bread wheat was compiled and compared to identify wheat RabD orthologs. Partial genetic sequences were assembled using the first draft of the Chinese Spring wheat genome. A suitable candidate gene from the RabD clade (TaRabD2a) was chosen for down‐regulation by RNA interference (RNAi), and an RNAi construct was used to transform wheat plants. All four available RabD genes were shown by qRT‐PCR to be down‐regulated in the transgenic developing endosperm. The transgenic grain was found to produce flour with significantly altered processing properties when measured by farinograph and extensograph. SE‐HPLC found that a smaller proportion of HMW‐GS and large proportion of LMW‐GS are incorporated into the glutenin macropolymer in the transgenic dough. Lower protein content but a similar protein profile on SDS‐PAGE was seen in the transgenic grain.
Hydroxyl Radical as an Unlikely Key Intermediate in the Photodegradation of Emerging Pollutants
Authors: Rodriguez‐Muñiz Gemma M. , Gomis Juan , Arques Antonio , Amat Ana M. , Marin M. Luisa , Miranda Miguel A.
Published: July 2014

In this work, a kinetic model, in combination with time‐resolved experiments, is applied to assess the involvement of ·OH in the photodegradation of emerging pollutants (EPs) by means of advanced oxidation processes. In contrast with the general assumption, quenching of the short‐lived ·OH in the real waters by the (highly diluted) EPs must be very inefficient, so removal of EPs cannot purely rely on the generation and reaction of ·OH. This suggests that more complex pathways have to be considered to explain the photodegradation of EPs actually achieved under the employed oxidative conditions, possibly involving other reactive species with longer lifetimes or chain degradation processes.
Techno‐social Life: The Internet, Digital Technology, and Social Connectedness
Authors: Chayko Mary
Published: July 2014

This essay explores what it means to be socially connected in a techno‐social world. It describes how a “triple revolution” in social connectedness has been catalyzed by the ever‐increasing use of the Internet, mobile communication, and social media networking (Rainie and Wellman 2012). It argues for the usefulness of the concepts of the community and the network in understanding how social connectedness is created and experienced in the use of digital (computerized) communication technology. It examines some of the consequences – both benefits and hazards – of being near‐continuously available to one another via the Internet, mobile phones, and social media. And it describes how digital (online) and face‐to‐face (offline) spaces become fully integrated and experienced as a single, enmeshed reality. The article concludes that people's use of digital communication technology tends to strengthen social connectedness and prompt, not deter, face‐to‐face interaction and local community ties.
Comparative study of maximum likelihood and spectral angle mapper algorithms used for automated detection of melanoma
Authors: Ibraheem I.
Published: July 2014

Background

Melanoma is a leading fatal illness responsible for 80% of deaths from skin cancer. It originates in the pigment‐producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanocytes produce the melanin (the dark pigment), which is responsible for the color of skin. As all cancers, melanoma is caused by damage to the DNA of the cells, which causes the cell to grow out of control, leading to a tumor, which is much more dangerous if it cannot be found or detected early. Only biopsy can determine exact malformation diagnosis, although it can rise metastasizing. When a melanoma is suspected, the usual standard procedure is to perform a biopsy and to subsequently analyze the suspicious tissue under the microscope.

Methods

In this paper, we provide a new approach using methods known as ‘imaging spectroscopy’ or ‘spectral imaging’ for early detection of melanoma using two different supervised classifier algorithms, maximum likelihood (ML) and spectral angle mapper (SAM). SAM rests on the spectral ‘angular distances’ and the conventional classifier ML rests on the spectral distance concept.

Results and conclusions

The results show that the ML classifier was more efficient for pixel classification than SAM. However, SAM was more suitable for object classification.
Direct Democracy and Political Equality in the American States*
Authors: Flavin Patrick
Published: July 2014

Objectives

This study investigates the relationship between direct democracy and the equality of opinion‐policy representation in the American states.

Methods

Using public opinion measures from the National Annenberg Election Surveys and data on state policy outputs, I generate an index of the equality of political representation (based on citizens’ incomes) that is comparable across the states. I then evaluate the relationship between different measures of direct democracy and political equality.

Results

States with the ballot initiative process are no more politically equal than states without the process. However, among those that have the ballot initiative process, states where it is easier to place a measure on the ballot for popular vote and states where the ballot initiative is more frequently used tend to weigh citizens’ opinions more equally in the policy‐making process.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that having and frequently using direct democracy leads to more egalitarian policy outcomes. More generally, this study underscores the importance of laws and institutional design in promoting political equality in the United States.
Giardiasis in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient
Authors: Ajumobi A.B. , Daniels J.A. , Sostre C.F. , Trevino H.H.
Published: July 2014

Giardiasis can mimic diarrhea secondary to mucosal injury from the conditioning therapy prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), as well as from graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Herein, we describe the endoscopic diagnosis of giardiasis in a patient 2 months after HSCT for myelodysplastic syndrome. The patient was referred to gastroenterology service for suspected GVHD, but duodenal biopsy results showed Giardia lamblia. He was successfully treated with metronidazole with prompt resolution of all of his gastrointestinal symptoms. This case highlights the need to consider giardiasis in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea in the peri‐transplant period.
A plant‐specific HUA2‐LIKE (HULK) gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana is essential for development
Authors: Jali Sathya S. , Rosloski Sarah M. , Janakirama Preetam , Steffen Joshua G. , Zhurov Vladimir , Berleth Thomas , Clark Richard M. , Grbic Vojislava
Published: July 2014

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the HUA2 gene is required for proper expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and AGAMOUS, key regulators of flowering time and reproductive development, respectively. Although HUA2 is broadly expressed, plants lacking HUA2 function have only moderately reduced plant stature, leaf initiation rate and flowering time. To better understand HUA2 activity, and to test whether redundancy with similar genes underlies the absence of strong phenotypes in HUA2 mutant plants, we identified and subsequently characterized three additional HUA2‐LIKE (HULK) genes in Arabidopsis. These genes form two clades (HUA2/HULK1 and HULK2/HULK3), with members broadly conserved in both vascular and non‐vascular plants, but not present outside the plant kingdom. Plants with progressively reduced HULK activity had increasingly severe developmental defects, and plants homozygous for loss‐of‐function mutations in all four HULK genes were not recovered. Multiple mutants displayed reproductive, embryonic and post‐embryonic abnormalities, and provide detailed insights into the overlapping and unique functions of individual HULK genes. With regard to flowering time, opposing influences were apparent: hua2 hulk1 plants were early‐flowering, while hulk2 hulk3 mutants were late‐flowering, and hua2 acted epistatically to cause early flowering in all combinations. Genome‐wide expression profiling of mutant combinations using RNA‐Seq revealed complex transcriptional changes in seedlings, with FLC, a known target of HUA2, among the most affected. Our studies, which include characterization of HULK expression patterns and subcellular localization, suggest that the HULK genes encode conserved nuclear factors with partially redundant but essential functions associated with diverse genetic pathways in plants.
Function Based Design-by-Analogy: A Functional Vector Approach to Analogical Search
Authors: Murphy Jeremy , Fu Katherine , Otto Kevin , Yang Maria , Jensen Dan , Wood Kristin
Published: July 2014

Design-by-analogy is a powerful approach to augment traditional concept generation methods by expanding the set of generated ideas using similarity relationships from solutions to analogous problems. While the concept of design-by-analogy has been known for some time, few actual methods and tools exist to assist designers in systematically seeking and identifying analogies from general data sources, databases, or repositories, such as patent databases. A new method for extracting functional analogies from data sources has been developed to provide this capability, here based on a functional basis rather than form or conflict descriptions. Building on past research, we utilize a functional vector space model (VSM) to quantify analogous similarity of an idea's functionality. We quantitatively evaluate the functional similarity between represented design problems and, in this case, patent descriptions of products. We also develop document parsing algorithms to reduce text descriptions of the data sources down to the key functions, for use in the functional similarity analysis and functional vector space modeling. To do this, we apply Zipf's law on word count order reduction to reduce the words within the documents down to the applicable functionally critical terms, thus providing a mapping process for function based search. The reduction of a document into functional analogous words enables the matching to novel ideas that are functionally similar, which can be customized various ways. This approach thereby provides relevant sources of design-by-analogy inspiration. As a verification of the approach, two original design problem case studies illustrate the distance range of analogical solutions that can be extracted. This range extends from very near-field, literal solutions to far-field cross-domain analogies.
Pulsed Light-Emitting Diode Photography for Coarse Water Characterization
Authors: Vernon Kris , Hann David , Rice Tim
Published: July 2014

An optical photography probe employing pulsed light-emitting diode (LED) illumination has been developed for application to coarse water measurement in wet steam. High image resolution (1.38 μm/pixel) and low exposure time (100 ns) photographs capture details of microdynamic flow features with reduced motion blur. Camera and lens are held inside a 50 mm O.D. cylindrical tube, with a custom designed titanium probe head allowing purging air to clear the front optical surface of stagnant liquid. Double exposure images are analyzed using standard image processing techniques to extract the size and velocity of liquid droplets. The accuracy and repeatability of the measurement probe has been verified on air–water sprays with direct comparison to phase-Doppler anemometry (PDA) measurements, which show good agreement.
Computational Analysis of Microbubble Flows in Bifurcating Airways: Role of Gravity, Inertia, and Surface Tension
Authors: Chen Xiaodong , Zielinski Rachel , Ghadiali Samir N.
Published: July 2014

Although mechanical ventilation is a life-saving therapy for patients with severe lung disorders, the microbubble flows generated during ventilation generate hydrodynamic stresses, including pressure and shear stress gradients, which damage the pulmonary epithelium. In this study, we used computational fluid dynamics to investigate how gravity, inertia, and surface tension influence both microbubble flow patterns in bifurcating airways and the magnitude/distribution of hydrodynamic stresses on the airway wall. Direct interface tracking and finite element techniques were used to simulate bubble propagation in a two-dimensional (2D) liquid-filled bifurcating airway. Computational solutions of the full incompressible Navier–Stokes equation were used to investigate how inertia, gravity, and surface tension forces as characterized by the Reynolds (Re), Bond (Bo), and Capillary (Ca) numbers influence pressure and shear stress gradients at the airway wall. Gravity had a significant impact on flow patterns and hydrodynamic stress magnitudes where Bo > 1 led to dramatic changes in bubble shape and increased pressure and shear stress gradients in the upper daughter airway. Interestingly, increased pressure gradients near the bifurcation point (i.e., carina) were only elevated during asymmetric bubble splitting. Although changes in pressure gradient magnitudes were generally more sensitive to Ca, under large Re conditions, both Re and Ca significantly altered the pressure gradient magnitude. We conclude that inertia, gravity, and surface tension can all have a significant impact on microbubble flow patterns and hydrodynamic stresses in bifurcating airways.
DEVELOPMENT THINGS: A Case of Canned Meat
Authors: Fountain Philip
Published: July 2014

Development scholarship in the social sciences has an awkward relationship with development things, often ignoring or sidelining materiality for analysis of cultures, discourses and power dynamics. Yet things are pivotal for how development works. This paper brings the anthropology of development into conversation with the burgeoning field of the anthropology of materiality. It focuses on a particular development thing: canned meat. The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a North American Christian NGO, has facilitated the production of canned meat for relief since the mid-1940s. Despite ideological shifts in conceptualising development, fluctuating financial constraints, changing hygiene regulations, arguments over labels, and the spectre of mad cow disease, canned meat remains a fixture in MCC’s programmatic repertoire. Every winter 10,000 volunteers from rural Mennonite communities can a million pounds of meat for relief. In tracing the surprising voyages of canned meat to Indonesia I probe into how material things might be relocated as a vital area of research on development and in so doing open new lines of investigation. Specifically, and despite the apparent paradox, I propose that a focus on material things can help invigorate research into the emerging field of “religion and development” by drawing attention to what can be called the theological life of things.
RE-IMAGINING INDIGENEITY THROUGH PERFORMANCE: Creative Pathways to Urban Aboriginality and Cultural Survival
Authors: Bright Angel
Published: July 2014

Due to the impacts of colonisation urban Indigenous Australians have been denied access to much of their cultural knowledge. It is their imagination, their own creativity in combining the knowledge that is available to them with other forms of cultural expression, which has helped provide the basis for an urban Aboriginality. By exploring the role of imagination and creativity in the process of cultural survival and the construction of identity, this paper examines contemporary experiences of Indigeneity among Aboriginal performers in Sydney, Australia. It provides an ethnographic account of the Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony and discusses how a group of Indigenous performers are re-imagining Indigeneity and utilising creative action as a resource for challenging negative stereotypes of Aboriginality.
Synthesis of azabicycloalkanone amino acid and azapeptide mimics and their application as modulators of the prostaglandin F2α receptor for delaying preterm birth
Authors: Bourguet Carine B. , Claing Audrey , Laporte Stéphane A. , Hébert Terence E. , Chemtob Sylvain , Lubell William D.
Published: July 2014

Premature birth (<37 weeks gestation) is the major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity and has been steadily increasing worldwide. Towards the rational design of more effective therapeutic agents for inhibiting uterine contractions and prolonging gestation (a so-called tocolytic drug), our team has targeted the prostaglandin F2α receptor (FP) employing a peptidomimetic approach designed to provide modulators of this novel target. We identified first a lead peptide (PDC113) (1) based on the sequence of the second extracellular loop of FP on the basis that the loop itself might modulate receptor activation. Systematic study of the structure−activity relationships of 1 generated hypotheses concerning the conformation and side-chains responsible for activity that led to the synthesis of PDC113.31 (2), a potent all d-amino acid peptide, which has successfully completed Phase 1b clinical trials. Employing indolizidinone amino acids, peptide mimics were developed that served to probe the mechanism of FP modulation. For example, PDC113.824 (9) was shown to allosterically regulate FP activity contingent on the presence of prostaglandin F2α by a mechanism implicating biased signalling. Although attempts to understand the turn geometry responsible for the activity of 9 by replacement of its indolizidin-2-one moiety with other azabicycloalkanones failed to produce biologically active analogs, employment of aza-aminoacyl-proline analogs resulted in a series of FP modulators exhibiting distinct effects on different G protein-mediated signalling pathways. Our program has thus contributed novel probes for understanding the chemical biology of FP as well as new therapeutic agents with promise for inhibiting uterine contractions and preventing preterm birth.
Optimization of liquid media and biosafety assessment for algae-lysing bacterium NP23
Authors: Liao Chunli , Liu Xiaobo , Shan Linna
Published: July 2014

To control algal bloom caused by nutrient pollution, a wild-type algae-lysing bacterium was isolated from the Baiguishan reservoir in Henan province of China and identified as Enterobacter sp. strain NP23. Algal culture medium was optimized by applying a Placket–Burman design to obtain a high cell concentration of NP23. Three minerals (i.e., 0.6% KNO3, 0.001% MnSO4·H2O, and 0.3% K2HPO4) were found to be independent factors critical for obtaining the highest cell concentration of 1013 CFU/mL, which was 104 times that of the control. In the algae-lysing experiment, the strain exhibited a high lysis rate for the 4 algae test species, namely, Chlorella vulgari, Scenedesmus, Microcystis wesenbergii, and Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Acute toxicity and mutagenicity tests showed that the bacterium NP23 had no toxic and mutagenic effects on fish, even in large doses such as 107 or 109 CFU/mL. Thus, Enterobacter sp. strain NP23 has strong potential application in the microbial algae-lysing project.
Cold tolerance performance of westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and its potential role in influencing interspecific hybridization
Authors: Yau M.M. , Taylor E.B.
Published: July 2014

Hybridization between rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)) and westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (Girard, 1856)) occurs commonly when rainbow trout are introduced into the range of westslope cutthroat trout. Typically, hybridization is most common in warmer, lower elevation habitats, but much less common in colder, higher elevation habitats. We assessed the tolerance to cold water temperature (i.e., critical thermal minimum, CTMin) in juvenile rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout to test the hypothesis that westslope cutthroat trout better tolerate low water temperature, which may explain the lower prevalence of rainbow trout and interspecific hybrids in higher elevation, cold-water habitats (i.e., the “elevation refuge hypothesis”). All fish had significantly lower CTMin values (i.e., were better able to tolerate low temperatures) when they were acclimated to 15 °C (mean CTMin = 1.37 °C) versus 18 °C (mean CTMin = 1.91 °C; p < 0.001). Westslope cutthroat trout tended to have lower CTMin than rainbow trout from two populations, second–generation (F2) hybrids between two rainbow trout populations, and backcrossed rainbow trout at 15 °C (cross type × acclimation temperature interaction; p = 0.018). Differential adaptation to cold water temperatures may play a role in influencing the spatial distribution of hybridization between sympatric species of trout.
Placing Videos on a Semantic Hierarchy for Search Result Navigation
Authors: Tan Song , Jiang Yu-Gang , Ngo Chong-Wah
Published: July 2014

Organizing video search results in a list view is widely adopted by current commercial search engines, which cannot support efficient browsing for complex search topics that have multiple semantic facets. In this article, we propose to organize video search results in a highly structured way. Specifically, videos are placed on a semantic hierarchy that accurately organizes various facets of a given search topic. To pick the most suitable videos for each node of the hierarchy, we define and utilize three important criteria: relevance, uniqueness, and diversity. Extensive evaluations on a large YouTube video dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Personalized Photograph Ranking and Selection System Considering Positive and Negative User Feedback
Authors: Yeh Che-Hua , Barsky Brian A. , Ouhyoung Ming
Published: July 2014

In this article, we propose a novel personalized ranking system for amateur photographs. The proposed framework treats the photograph assessment as a ranking problem and we introduce the idea of
personalized ranking
, which ranks photographs considering both their aesthetic qualities and personal preferences. Photographs are described using three types of features:
photo composition
,
color and intensity distribution
, and
personalized features
. An aesthetic prediction model is learned from labeled photographs by using the proposed image features and RBF-ListNet learning algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed framework outperforms in the ranking performance: a Kendall's tau value of 0.432 is significantly higher than those obtained by the features proposed in one of the state-of-the-art approaches (0.365) and by learning based on support vector regression (0.384). To realize personalization in ranking, three approaches are proposed: the feature-based approach allows users to select photographs with specific rules, the example-based approach takes the positive feedback from users to rerank the photograph, and the list-based approach takes both positive and negative feedback from users into consideration. User studies indicate that all three approaches are effective in both aesthetic and personalized ranking.
Cross-Domain Multi-Event Tracking via CO-PMHT
Authors: Zhang Tianzhu , Xu Changsheng
Published: July 2014

With the massive growth of events on the Internet, efficient organization and monitoring of events becomes a practical challenge. To deal with this problem, we propose a novel CO-PMHT (CO-Probabilistic Multi-Hypothesis Tracking) algorithm for cross-domain multi-event tracking to obtain their informative summary details and evolutionary trends over time. We collect a large-scale dataset by searching keywords on two domains (Gooogle News and Flickr) and downloading both images and textual content for an event. Given the input data, our algorithm can track multiple events in the two domains collaboratively and boost the tracking performance. Specifically, the bridge between two domains is a semantic posterior probability, that avoids the domain gap. After tracking, we can visualize the whole evolutionary process of the event over time and mine the semantic topics of each event for deep understanding and event prediction. The extensive experimental evaluations on the collected dataset well demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for cross-domain multi-event tracking.
Testung auf Humanes Papillomavirus als Primär-Screening für Gebärmutterhalskrebs
Authors: Petry K. Ulrich
Published: July 2014

Große, randomisierte, kontrollierte Studien haben mit einem hohen Maß an Evidenz gezeigt, dass das Primär-Screening auf humanes Papillomavirus (HPV) der Zytologie überlegen ist - sowohl beim Nachweis zervikaler intraepithelialer Neoplasien vom Typ 3 sowie zervikaler Karzinome als auch in der Verringerung der Inzidenz und Mortalität von Gebärmutterhalskrebs. Vorteilhaft und kosteneffizient ist ein solches HPV-Screening jedoch nur bei Frauen ab 30 Jahren und im Rahmen gut strukturierter Programme mit längeren Screening-Intervallen. Pilotprojekte in den USA und Deutschland zeigen, dass ein HPV-Screening auch auf lokaler oder regionaler Ebene mit ähnlicher Wirksamkeit wie in randomisierten, kontrollierten Studien möglich ist. Das einzige verbleibende schwerwiegende Argument gegen den HPV-Test als Screening-Methode - nämlich das Fehlen eines Algorithmus für Frauen mit unauffälligem Zytologiebefund, aber positivem HPV-Test - könnte durch eine Triage mit p16/Ki67-gefärbter Zytologie entkräftet werden.
Giving Blood and Enrolling on the Stem Cell Donor Registry: Ranking of Obstacles and Motives in Switzerland
Authors: Bart Thomas , Volken Thomas , Fischer Yvonne , Mansouri Taleghani Behrouz
Published: July 2014

Background: To obtain a better understanding of factors affecting blood and blood stem cell donation behavior in Switzerland, a series of studies has been performed. In the recent study of this series, which is described here, motivators and barriers in the field of blood and blood stem cell donation were identified. Methods: Web-based survey data from a non-random sample of the Swiss population 2012/2013 (n = 3,153) were used to describe and compare the ranking of motives and obstacles to donate blood and to enroll on the Swiss blood stem cell registry. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Spearman's rank correlations were used to assess differences and associations between ranks and groups. Results: The prospect of saving lives and solidarity were the top two motives to donate blood or to enroll on the blood stem cell registry. The top two obstacles to enroll on the blood stem cell registry were lack of general information on blood stem cell donation and on its risks, whereas the top two obstacles to donate blood were the lack of information where and when to donate and deferral of or exclusion from blood donation. Conclusion: Classical altruistic motives are top drivers for giving blood as well as registering for blood stem cell donation. Recruitment campaigns should focus on these motivators. Similarities in motivational factors as well as in obstacles regarding blood and blood stem cell donation can be found.
The Isoetes longissima complex (Isoetaceae) in Italy: observations on the morphology of spores and leaves, and taxonomic implications
Authors: Troia Angelo , RAIMONDO Francesco Maria , CAMPISI Patrizia
Published: July 2014

The morphological variability of the Isoetes longissima complex in Italy has been analyzed, on the basis of selected herbarium specimens. Observations were made on spore ornamentation and size, number of leaves per plant and maximum leaf length, velum extension and alae width in the basal portion of leaves. The first count of chromosome number on plants from Italy is also made. On the basis of our observations, the five taxa here considered are attributed to two taxa, treated at the species level as follows: I. longissima (incl. I. velata and I. velata [unranked] sicula), and I. tiguliana (incl. I. dubia). Italian distribution of these species is also given.
Centaurea ibn-tattoui (Asteraceae), a new narrow endemic species from north-eastern Morocco
Authors: Chambouleyron Mathieu , BIDAT MATTHIEU , LÉGER JEAN-FRANÇOIS
Published: July 2014

Centaurea ibn-tattoui is described and illustrated as a new species from north-eastern Morocco. Intermediate involucral bracts and leaves are the discriminant features separating it from other closely related taxa of C. sect. Acrocentron.
A new species of rust fungus on the New Zealand endemic plant, Myosotidium, from the isolated Chatham Islands
Authors: Padamsee Mahajabeen , McKenzie Eric H.C.
Published: July 2014

Pucciniastrum myosotidii sp. nov. is described from plants of the Chatham Island forget-me-not (Myosotidium hortensium), a host plant that has a conservation status of “nationally endangered”. The rust has been found only on cultivated plants and not on wild plants. Although no teliospores were found, LSU and SSU sequence analysis showed that the new rust is closely related to some species of Pucciniastrum and Thekopsora forming a weakly supported clade together with P. boehmeriae, P. epilobii, P. circaeae, P. goeppertianum, P. guttatum, P. pustulatum, T. minima and Melampsorella symphyti. If this rust is endemic to Chatham Islands, then it must be accepted as a species of conservation value since the host plant is under threat from grazing animals and habitat loss.
A new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Southwestern Thailand
Authors: Ruchisansakun Saroj , TRIBOUN PRAMOTE , JENJITTIKUL THAYA
Published: July 2014

Impatiens suksathanii Ruchis. & Triboun, a new species from a limestone area in Kanchanaburi Province in Southwestern Thailand, is described and illustrated. This endemic new species is clearly distinguished from the most similar I. namkatensis T.Shimizu by having sessile to very short petioles, linear, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate laminas, and pale pink flowers. Its conservation status is also assessed as Critically Endangered.
Rafflesia mixta (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Surigao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines
Authors: Barcelona Julie F. , Manting Muhmin Michael E. , Arbolonio Romel B. , Carballero Rolly B. , Pelser Pieter B.
Published: July 2014

Rafflesia mixta Barcelona, Manting, Arbolonio, Caballero & Pelser is described as a new species from the Caraga Region of northeastern Mindanao, Philippines. In their general morphology, the flowers of this species most closely resemble those of R. mira, but they are different in details of the perigone warts and processes, disk color, and relative size of the diaphragm opening. This discovery brings the total number of Philippine Rafflesia species to twelve, of which four are found on the island of Mindanao.
Caridina simoni Bouvier, 1904 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyoidea: Atyidae) and the synonymy by Johnson, 1963
Authors: RICHARD JASMINE , CLARK PAUL F.
Published: July 2014

Johnson (1963) attempted to review the ‘Caridina nilotica complex’ established by Bouvier (1925) and as a result considered several distinct freshwater shrimp species from Indo-West Pacific region as junior synonyms of C. simoni Bouvier, 1904. However, Tiwari and Pillai (1971) indicated the need to clarify the taxonomical status of the many synonyms created by Johnson (1963). Therefore, type and non-type specimens were examined for the present study including C. simoni Bouvier, 1904, C. gracilipes De Man, 1908, C. peninsularis Kemp, 1918, C. mccullochi J. Roux, 1926, C. meridionalis J. Roux, 1926 and C. novaecaledoniae J. Roux, 1926. These species were re-described, illustrated and their taxonomic status confirmed. The type series of C. mccullochi and C. meridionalis was found to comprise a number of already described Caridina species. In addition, three undescribed species were discovered in a series of specimens identified as C. meridionalis and one in material assigned to C. mccullochi.
On three endemic species of the linyphiid spider genus Canariphantes Wunderlich, 1992 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from the Azores archipelago
Authors: CRESPO LUÍS CARLOS , BOSMANS ROBERT , CARDOSO PEDRO , BORGES PAULO A.V.
Published: July 2014

We describe Canariphantes junipericola n. sp. and C. relictus n. sp., new single-island endemic linyphiid spiders from the islands of Flores and Santa Maria (Azorean archipelago, Macaronesia), respectively. The female of the first species was incorrectly assigned to Canariphantes acoreensis (Wunderlich, 1992), a species occurring in four islands in the Central Group of Azores (Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira). The latter species is transferred to Canariphantes, its male redescribed and the female genitalia described for the first time. We discuss the systematic affinities of these new species and comment on their conservation status.
Three new species of Neoperla in the montivaga group (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China
Authors: Kong Fanbin , Lv Junfeng , Li Weihai
Published: July 2014

Three new species of the genus Neoperla in the montivaga species group, N. baisha Kong & Li, sp. nov., N. bicurvata Kong & Li, sp. nov., and N. furcomaculata Kong & Li, sp. nov., are proposed from Hainan Province, China. Their taxonomic relationships are discussed with related congeners.
First record of rare dobsonfly species Acanthacorydalis asiatica (Wood-Mason, 1884) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) in Myanmar
Authors: BOLOTOV IVAN N. , TUMPEESUWAN SAKBOWORN
Published: July 2014

The species in the dobsonfly genus Acanthacorydalis van der Weele, 1907 (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) are some of the largest freshwater insects in the World. It is a small genus occurring only in Asia and currently comprises eight species, seven of which are restricted to the Oriental Realm (Glorioso 1981; Liu et al. 2005; Yang & Liu 2010; Cao & Liu 2013). Six species are known from China (four considered endemic), two from India, and two species occur in Vietnam (Liu et al. 2005; Yang & Liu 2010; Letardi et al. 2012). Glorioso (1981) noted that the geographical range of the genus extended from northeastern India to Vietnam. No records of Acanthacorydalis are currently available from Myanmar.