bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The K+/H+ antiporter LeNHX2 increases salt tolerance by improving K+ homeostasis in transgenic tomato
Authors: HUERTAS RAÚL , RUBIO LOURDES , CAGNAC OLIVIER , GARCÍA‐SÁNCHEZ MARÍA JESÚS , ALCHÉ JUAN DE DIOS , VENEMA KEES , FERNÁNDEZ JOSÉ ANTONIO , RODRÍGUEZ‐ROSALES MARÍA PILAR
Published: April 2013

The endosomal LeNHX2 ion transporter exchanges H+ with K+ and, to lesser extent, Na+. Here, we investigated the response to NaCl supply and K+ deprivation in transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) overexpressing LeNHX2 and show that transformed tomato plants grew better in saline conditions than untransformed controls, whereas in the absence of K+ the opposite was found. Analysis of mineral composition showed a higher K+ content in roots, shoots and xylem sap of transgenic plants and no differences in Na+ content between transgenic and untransformed plants grown either in the presence or the absence of 120 mm NaCl. Transgenic plants showed higher Na+/H+ and, above all, K+/H+ transport activity in root intracellular membrane vesicles. Under K+ limiting conditions, transgenic plants enhanced root expression of the high‐affinity K+ uptake system HAK5 compared to untransformed controls. Furthermore, tomato overexpressing LeNHX2 showed twofold higher K+ depletion rates and half cytosolic K+ activity than untransformed controls. Under NaCl stress, transgenic plants showed higher uptake velocity for K+ and lower cytosolic K+ activity than untransformed plants. These results indicate the fundamental role of K+ homeostasis in the better performance of LeNHX2 overexpressing tomato under NaCl stress.
The treatment of children suffering from chronic myelogenous leukemia: A comparison of the result of treatment with imatinib mesylate and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Hamidieh Amir Ali , Ansari Shahla , Darbandi Bahram , Soroush Alborz , Arjmandi Rafsanjani Khadijeh , Alimoghaddam Kamran , Bahosh Gholamreza , Behfar Maryam , Ghavamzadeh Ardeshir
Published: April 2013

HSCT is the only proven treatment option for CML, a rare disease in children. Recently, there are promising reports on the advantageous effect of imatinib mesylate for pediatric patients with CML. We conducted a retrospective study on 33 pediatric patients suffering from CML. Fourteen underwent HSCT and the rest were treated with imatinib. With a median follow‐up of 24 months, the two‐yr OS in the HSCT group and the imatinib group was 84% and 87%, respectively (p = 0.714). The probabilities of two‐yr DFS were 59% in the HSCT group and 82% in the imatinib group, either (p = 0.880). Relapse occurred in 5 (35.7%) patients of the HSCT group, and 8 (42.1%) patients showed relapse in the imatinib group. Among nine patients who died, five were in the HSCT group and the rest were in the imatinib group. The probability of relapse in the patients of the imatinib group followed up for several consecutive years may be higher than observed in the HSCT group, so we cannot easily conclude which way is more reliable.
Donor‐specific antibodies: Can they predict C4d deposition in pediatric heart recipients?
Authors: Peng David M. , Law Yuk M. , Kemna Mariska S. , Warner Paul , Nelson Karen , Boucek Robert J.
Published: April 2013

There is limited evidence regarding the utility of circulating DSA in surveillance for AMR of pediatric heart recipients. Our hypothesis is that quantitation of DSA improves their power for predicting a C4d+, an integral component in the current diagnostic criteria of AMR. All pediatric recipients transplanted between 10/2005 and 1/2011 were retrospectively reviewed for DSA determined within 48 h of EMB. C4d+ was defined as >25% endothelial cell staining by immunohistochemical methods. A total of 183 paired DSA–EMB determinations were identified in 60 patients, a median of three paired studies per patient (range: 1–9). DSA were detected in 60 of these determinations. A receiver‐operating characteristic plot identified a threshold single‐antibody MFI of >6000 that strongly correlated with C4d+ (p < 0.0001) with a high negative predictive value (0.97) and specificity (0.95). The sensitivity and positive predictive values were 0.71 and 0.60, respectively. The predictive power of single‐antigen DSA for C4d deposition was improved in pediatric heart recipients using an institution‐specific MFI threshold value. In post‐transplant care, quantitative DSA should be an essential component in the surveillance for AMR.
Harmful Ideas, The Structure and Consequences of Anti‐Semitic Beliefs inPoland
Authors: Bilewicz Michal , Winiewski Mikołaj , Kofta Mirosław , Wójcik Adrian
Published: April 2013

The harmfulness of anti‐Semitic beliefs is widely discussed in current political and legal debates (e.g.,Cutler v. Dorn). At the same time, empirical studies of the psychological consequences of such beliefs are scarce. The present research is an attempt to explore the structure of contemporary anti‐Semitic beliefs inPoland—and to evaluate their predictive role in discriminatory intentions and behavior targetingJews. Another aim was to determine dispositional, situational, and identity correlates of different forms of anti‐Semitic beliefs and behavior. Study 1, performed on a nation‐wide representative sample ofPolish adults (N = 979), suggests a three‐factorial structure of anti‐Semitic beliefs, consisting of: (1) belief inJewish conspiracy, (2) traditional religious anti‐Judaic beliefs, and (3) secondary anti‐Semitic beliefs, focusing on Holocaust commemoration. Of these three beliefs, belief inJewish conspiracy was the closest antecedent of anti‐Semitic behavioral intentions. Study 2 (N = 600 Internet users inPoland) confirmed the three‐factor structure of anti‐Semitic beliefs and proved that these beliefs explain actual behavior towardJews in monetary donations. Both studies show that anti‐Semitic beliefs are related to authoritarian personality characteristics, victimhood‐based social identity, and relative deprivation.
History Matters: Effects of Culture‐specific Symbols on Political Attitudes and Intergroup Relations
Authors: Liu James H. , Sibley Chris G. , Huang Li‐Li
Published: April 2013

A theory of the historical anchoring and mobilization of political attitudes is proposed, arguing that culture‐specific symbols, configured by historical charters, are an important resource in defining nationhood and legitimizing public opinion in a way that makes some political attitudes difficult to change. Five studies in New Zealand and Taiwan using diverse methods converged to show that historical events with “charter status” have an additive effect in explaining variance in political attitudes regarding biculturalism in New Zealand and independence in Taiwan even after controlling for the effects of Social Dominance Orientation, Right‐Wing Authoritarianism, relevant social identities, and collective guilt. Field and lab experiments showed that the impact of historical symbols did not depend on the mobilization of social identity (e.g., increasing mean scores and indirect effects), but the historical anchoring of political attitudes in representations was resistant to change. Manipulations of the salience of historical events changed levels of social identification, but did not change mean levels of support for New Zealand biculturalism or Taiwanese independence. Even an intense and immersive pretest/posttest design taking high school students on a national museum tour failed to change attitudes towards biculturalism in New Zealand.
A Change is Gonna Come: Generational Membership and White Racial Attitudes in the 21stCentury
Authors: Nteta Tatishe M. , Greenlee Jill S.
Published: April 2013

The election of PresidentBarackObama offers a unique opportunity to test the impressionable‐years hypothesis—the theory of political socialization that predicts that widely experienced political events can have a lasting impact on the political attitudes of individuals who experience that event in their youth, thereby creating a generational distinction. Using data from an original survey embedded in the 2010CooperativeCongressionalElectionStudy, we examine the racial attitudes of White youth who came of age duringBarackObama's presidential campaign and election to see if those individuals are significantly more liberal on racial attitudes than older generations of Whites. In other words, we look for early evidence that an “Obama generation” has emerged. We find there are indeed early signs of a generational distinction. Members of the “Obama generation” are more strongly opposed to racial resentment, but they exhibit similar levels of opposition to old‐fashioned racism as older cohorts. Additionally, we uncover that the factors that traditionally structure racial attitudes among Whites, most notably contact, education, and residential proximity, work quite differently for members of this generation. We take these findings as initial evidence thatBarackObama's presidency will have a lasting impact on the racial views of a generation of Americans.
Expectations Among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada Regarding the Potential Impacts of a Government Apology
Authors: Bombay Amy , Matheson Kimberly , Anisman Hymie
Published: April 2013

After continued pressure, the Canadian government offered an apology to Aboriginal peoples for its role in the Indian Residential School (IRS) system, where children were removed from their families in an effort to assimilate the Aboriginal population. Although the apology was sought after, it was unclear what Aboriginal peoples expected it to accomplish in relation to their treatment and quality of life within Canada. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that, although Aboriginal adults (N = 164) felt the apology could potentially be a first step towards improved relations with the government and non‐Aboriginal Canadians, expectations that such changes would actually come to fruition were generally pessimistic. In exploring predictors of such expectations, path analysis indicated that those who had been intimately impacted by IRSs reported greater perceived discrimination that, in turn, was associated with lowered intergroup trust and forgiveness. Those who perceived high levels of discrimination were less likely to expect changes following the apology, which was mediated by the low levels of intergroup trust and forgiveness towards the government, but not towards non‐Aboriginal Canadians. Essentially, an apology was not enough to elicit hope for improved intergroup relations, especially when perceptions of continued discrimination impeded the restoration of intergroup trust and forgiveness.
Analysis of Iris yellow spot virus replication in vector and non‐vector thrips species
Authors: Birithia R. , Subramanian S. , Pappu H. R. , Muthomi J. , Narla R. D.
Published: April 2013

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV, genus Tospovirus) is a viral disease of bulb and seed onion crops and is transmitted by Thrips tabaci. Foliage damage of up to 75% has been reported in Kenya and Uganda. In this study, the rate of IYSV replication in the larva, pupa and adult stages of T. tabaci and other non‐vector thrips species and colour forms such as Frankliniella occidentalis, F. schultzei (dark) and F. schultzei (pale) was evaluated by monitoring relative levels of nucleocapsid (N) and non‐structural (NSs) proteins using N‐ and NSs‐specific antibodies. The effect of IYSV replication on mortality of thrips was also determined. N protein levels increased in all three stages of IYSV‐fed T. tabaci, indicating replication of IYSV. In IYSV‐fed non‐vector thrips, the increase of N protein levels in the larval stage was lower than IYSV‐fed T. tabaci but higher than their healthy counterparts. The N protein levels did not increase at pupal and adult stages. NSs protein was not detected in first instar of either vector or non‐vector thrips species. After a 4 h post‐acquisition period, a significant increase in NSs proteins was only observed in IYSV‐fed T. tabaci, clearly differentiating vectors and non‐vectors of IYSV. IYSV replication did not influence the survival of the vector thrips species, T. tabaci populations or the non‐vector thrips species. This study indicates the effectiveness of monitoring non‐structural proteins such as NSs, compared to nucleocapsid proteins, for differentiating vectors and non‐vectors of IYSV.
Reversibility of brain morphology after shunt operations and preoperative clinical symptoms in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Wada Tamiki , Kazui Hiroaki , Yamamoto Daisuke , Nomura Keiko , Sugiyama Hiromichi , Shimizu Yoshiro , Yoshida Tetsuhiko , Yoshiyama Kenji , Yamashita Fumio , Kishima Haruhiko , Yoshimine Toshiki , Takeda Masatoshi
Published: April 2013

Aim

Brain deformations might prevent clinical symptoms from worsening in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). We investigated the relationship between reversibility of brain morphology after shunt operations and preoperative clinical symptoms in iNPH patients.

Methods

Using head magnetic resonance images with voxel‐based morphometry, we measured the cerebrospinal fluid volume in the combined areas of the lateral and third ventricles and Sylvian fissure (the volume of the ventricles and Sylvian fissure (vVS)) and the volume of the subarachnoid space at high convexity and midline areas (vHCM) before and 1 year after lumboperitoneal shunt operations in 12 patients with shunt‐responsive iNPH. We used the ratio of normalized vVS to normalized vHCM (nvVS/nvHCM) as an index of the severity of the brain deformation. The degree of reversibility of the brain morphology after the shunt operation was defined as the change ratio of the preoperative nvVS/nvHCM to the postoperative nvVS/nvHCM (CR‐nvVS/nvHCM). Higher CR‐nvVS/nvHCM values indicated more improvement in the brain deformation. In addition, we rated the severity of the white matter lesions on the preoperative magnetic resonance images based on the Fazekas scale. Dependency in activities of daily living, gait and cognition were evaluated before and 1 year after the shunt operations.

Results

After the shunt operations, the nvVS/nvHCM and nvVS decreased significantly, and nvHCM increased significantly. The CR‐nvVS/nvHCM negatively correlated with the preoperative severity of dependency in activities of daily living, gait and cognitive impairments. The CR‐nvVS/nvHCM negatively correlated with the Fazekas scale, but not with age, duration of the disease and cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

Conclusions

Reversibility of brain morphology, which varied among iNPH patients, would prevent clinical symptoms from worsening in iNPH patients. The presence of white matter lesions reduced the degree of reversibility of the brain deformations in iNPH patients.
Budesonide/formoterol via Turbuhaler® versus formoterol via Turbuhaler® in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Phase III multinational study results
Authors: Fukuchi Yoshinosuke , Samoro Ronnie , Fassakhov Rustem , Taniguchi Hiroyuki , Ekelund Jan , Carlsson Lars‐Goran , Ichinose Masakazu
Published: April 2013

Background and objective

The efficacy and tolerability of budesonide/formoterol versus formoterol in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was evaluated.

Methods

In this randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group, phase III study (NCT01069289), patients with moderate to severe COPD for ≥2 years received either budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 μg two inhalations twice daily via Turbuhaler® or formoterol 4.5 μg two inhalations twice daily via Turbuhaler® for 12 weeks. Salbutamol was available as reliever medication. Primary outcome variable: change from baseline to average during treatment in pre‐dose forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1).

Results

One thousand two hundred ninety‐three patients were randomized (budesonide/formoterol n = 636; formoterol n = 657). Both budesonide/formoterol and formoterol increased pre‐dose FEV1 versus baseline (improvements of 4.6% and 1.5% over baseline, respectively), with the increase from baseline being significantly greater with budesonide/formoterol versus formoterol (budesonide/formoterol:formoterol ratio 1.032; 95% confidence interval: 1.013–1.052; P = 0.0011). The budesonide/formoterol group had a significantly prolonged time to first exacerbation versus the formoterol group (hazard ratio: 0.679; 95% confidence interval: 0.507–0.909; P = 0.0094) and significantly greater improvements in many secondary outcome measures. Both treatments were well tolerated; the incidence and type of adverse events were similar: most commonly reported (budesonide/formoterol vs formoterol): COPD (8.0% vs 9.4%) and nasopharyngitis (5.5% vs 4.9%).

Conclusions

Budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 μg two inhalations twice daily was effective and well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe COPD, offering benefits over formoterol alone in terms of improved lung function and reduced risk of exacerbation.
Oral health of a child being treated for subtype I Gaucher's disease
Authors: Sousa Lucas Lopes Araújo , Rocha Moema Modesto Fonseca , Mendes Regina Ferraz , Junior Raimundo Rosendo Prado
Published: April 2013

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the absence of glucosylceramidase. The accumulation of substrates of this enzyme in the cytoplasm of cells of the phagocytary system causes skeletal and hematologic disorders, and has oral repercussions. This report describes the findings of the oral cavity of an 8‐year‐old diagnosed with subtype I GD who has been receiving enzyme replacement therapy for the past 6 years without interruption. The report highlights that the child had none of the most common oral disease signs and symptoms, which demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis and continuous treatment. The article also emphasizes that it is important for dentists to recognize oral manifestations of GD (in order to assist in early diagnosis) and understand how to treat the likely oral health conditions of GD patients.
Show Them the Mission: A Comparison of Teacher Recruitment Incentives in High Need Communities
Authors: Shuls James , Maranto Robert
Published: April 2013

Objective

Most public organizations use both materialistic and idealistic appeals to attract valued employees, with the latter being particularly important for difficult jobs. Teaching in high poverty communities is one such job, though none have studied whether successful high poverty schools such as the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) schools make relatively greater use of public service appeals in teacher recruitment. In education, we identify these materialistic and idealistic appeals as teacher‐centered and student‐centered incentives. Teacher‐centered incentives are those that appeal to a teacher's desire for higher compensation or advancement opportunities, whereas student‐centered appeals attempt to attract teachers with a public service mission.

Method

We compare the use of teacher‐centered and student‐centered appeals in teacher recruitment by the universe of KIPP networks (n = 33) and neighboring traditional public school districts (n = 34), each serving disadvantaged populations. Coders record personnel website use of four teacher‐centered appeals (including salary and benefits) and four student‐centered appeals.

Results

Chi‐square tests show that KIPP schools make less use of teacher‐centered appeals, especially monetary compensation, and more use of student‐centered appeals in teacher recruitment.

Conclusion

Supplemented by fieldwork, findings suggest that appeals to mission may work better than merit pay in recruiting effective teachers for high poverty schools.
The Influence of Race, Class, and Metropolitan Area Characteristics on African‐American Residential Segregation
Authors: Spivak Andrew L. , Monnat Shannon M.
Published: April 2013

Objectives

Sociologists and other scholars have debated the causes of continuing residential segregation for several decades. Social class has been largely discounted as a substantial determinant of residential segregation by race, but recent studies have brought renewed attention to class variables. The present study reassesses the role of social class, using household income, while also considering metropolitan area characteristics.

Methods

This study expands on prior research by examining residential segregation between black‐alone and white‐alone households with 2000 decennial Census data for all U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with at least 200,000 or more black population or 1,000,000 total population (60 MSAs total), using both spatial unevenness (dissimilarity) and two types of experiential (i.e., contextual) indicators (exposure indices), measuring socioeconomic status (SES) with a greater range and number of income levels than in past research, and using multivariate models to account for metropolitan area characteristics.

Results

We find that both dissimilarity and exposure measures are significantly associated with household income—black households with higher household incomes live in neighborhoods with greater exposure to whites and lower isolation from other blacks than do black households with lower incomes. Additionally, a number of MSA‐level characteristics—several of which have not been considered in previous research—are substantially associated with black/white residential segregation.

Conclusion

We interpret these findings in the context of spatial assimilation and place stratification perspectives, and conclude that racial segregation is at least partly based on class.
Minority Chairs and Congressional Attention to Minority Issues: The Effect of Descriptive Representation in Positions of Institutional Power
Authors: Ellis William Curtis , Wilson Walter Clark
Published: April 2013

Objectives

Marginalization of minority issues from the congressional agenda is widely recognized as a hurdle to the functional representation of African Americans and Latinos. This article examines whether the descriptive representation of minorities in positions of influence helps to address this marginalization.

Methods

Logistic regression analysis of over 27,000 hearings held in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1979 and 2008 examines whether congressional hearings addressing minority interest issues were more likely to occur under Latino and African‐American committee and subcommittee chairs.

Results

Findings reveal hearings chaired by Latinos and African Americans were more likely to address civil rights, social welfare, and housing issues.

Conclusion

These findings confirm that descriptive representation in positions with influence over committee agendas facilitates institutional attention to minority issues, and suggests that the acquisition of institutional power by black and Latino representatives is critical to the functional representation of minority interests.
The effects of thermal stress and fluid pressure on induced seismicity during stimulation to production within fractured reservoirs
Authors: Izadi Ghazal , Elsworth Derek
Published: April 2013

We use a continuum model of reservoir evolution to explore the interaction of coupled thermal, hydraulic and chemical processes that influence the evolution of seismicity within a fractured reservoir from stimulation to production. Events occur from energy release on seeded fractures enabling moment magnitude, frequency and spatial distribution to be determined with time. Event magnitudes vary in the range −2 to +2 with the largest event size (~2) corresponding to the largest fracture size (~500 m) and a prescribed stress drop of 9 MPa. Modelled b‐values (~0.6–0.7) also correspond to observations (~0.7–0.8) for response in the Cooper Basin (Australia). We track the hydrodynamic and thermal fronts to define causality in the triggering of seismicity. The hydrodynamic front moves twice as fast as the thermal front and envelops the triggered seismicity at early time (days to month) – with higher flow rates correlating with larger magnitude events. For later time (month to years), thermal drawdown and potentially chemical influences principally trigger the seismicity, but result in a reduction in both the number of events and their magnitudes.
Interplay between metamorphic strengthening and structural softening in inclusion‐bearing layered rocks
Authors: Adamuszek Marta , Dabrowski Marcin , Schmid Daniel W.
Published: April 2013

We employ numerical and analytical methods to investigate the effect of the presence of rigid porphyroblasts such as garnets on layer strengthening and the folding instability. We use a 50% fraction of non‐overlapping, circular‐shaped inclusions with a wide size distribution. These inclusions cause a fourfold effective viscosity increase and can significantly promote the folding instability. This is not only due to the increased viscosity but also due to the layer interface roughness generation driven by relative movement of inclusions. The increase in layer viscosity promotes strengthening of the whole system. However, with progressive fold development, the system undergoes an effective softening that may counteract the strengthening effect of the porphyroblast growth.
Recycling of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) by PUP1 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Szydlowski Nicolas , Bürkle Lukas , Pourcel Lucille , Moulin Michael , Stolz Jürgen , Fitzpatrick Teresa B.
Published: April 2013

Vitamin B6 is a cofactor for more than 140 essential enzymatic reactions and was recently proposed as a potent antioxidant, playing a role in the photoprotection of plants. De novo biosynthesis of the vitamin has been described relatively recently and is derived from simple sugar precursors as well as glutamine. In addition, the vitamin can be taken up from exogenous sources in a broad range of organisms, including plants. However, specific transporters have been identified only in yeast. Here we assess the ability of the family of Arabidopsis purine permeases (PUPs) to transport vitamin B6. Several members of the family complement the growth phenotype of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain impaired in both de novo biosynthesis of vitamin B6 as well as its uptake. The strongest activity was observed with PUP1 and was confirmed by direct measurement of uptake in yeast as well as in planta, defining PUP1 as a high affinity transporter for pyridoxine. At the tissue level the protein is localised to hydathodes and here we use confocal microscopy to illustrate that at the cellular level it is targeted to the plasma membrane. Interestingly, we observe alterations in pyridoxine recycling from the guttation sap upon overexpression of PUP1 and in a pup1 mutant, consistent with the role of the protein in retrieval of pyridoxine. Furthermore, combining the pup1 mutant with a vitamin B6 de novo biosynthesis mutant (pdx1.3) corroborates that PUP1 is involved in the uptake of the vitamin.
Consultants and the global assemblage of culture and creativity
Authors: Prince Russell
Published: April 2013

Culture and creativity have been increasingly instrumentalised in policy programmes worldwide in recent decades. This has been associated with the rapid development of techniques for quantifying and measuring the sector. This paper argues that the development of these techniques has been central to the mobility of policies and policy concepts that instrumentalise culture and creativity. Using Ong and Collier's notion of global assemblage, it is argued that culture and creativity have been rendered technical in relation to the invention and circulation of a number of interlinked global forms, such as the ‘creative industries’ and the ‘creative class’, which are embedded in abstract, placeless, technical systems that provide them with an apparent universality. How this is achieved is examined in detail through a discussion of the work of a London‐based consultancy specialising in cultural knowledge. The consultancy helps to produce this assemblage by doing the work of producing technical, calculative measures of culture and creativity that translate a messy social world into a set of ordered, rationalised representations that can be compared to similarly produced representations from elsewhere. Their work helps to convert topographical connections between places into topological relations across which appropriate global forms can move with relative ease.
Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in obese Beagle dogs before and after weight loss
Authors: Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Ceron Jose J. , Tecles Fernando
Published: April 2013

Background

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in today's dog population and the major risk factor for a number of related diseases. However, the exact pathogenesis of obesity‐related complications is not always clear. In people, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is suspected to be involved in lipoprotein metabolism and has also been associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease, one of the potential complications related to obesity.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of experimentally induced weight loss onBChE and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in obese dogs to elucidate the possible relationship between these 2 enzymes and obesity.

Methods

Six obese intact female Beagle dogs were allocated to a weight loss program for 3 months.BChE was measured in serum samples using butyrylcholine as substrate, whereasAChE was measured in whole blood after inhibition ofBChE with ethopropazine and using acetylcholine as a substrate.

Results

After rapid weight loss serumBChE activities were statistically significantly lower (P < .05), whereasAChE activities were higher (P < .01). There was a positive correlation between serumBChE activity and concentrations of total cholesterol (TCHOL,P < .001), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C,P < .001), and triglycerides (P < .05). A negative correlation was detected between serumBChE andAChE activities (P < .0001), and betweenAChE activity and serum levels ofTCHOL(P < .01),LDL‐C (P < .01) and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (P < .05).

Conclusions

Short‐term weight loss in obese intact female Beagle dogs resulted in opposite effects in 2 cholinesterase isoenzyme activities, namely lowerBChE and higherAChE activities.
Continuous non‐destructive monitoring of Cyperus rotundus development using a minirhizotron
Authors: Shilo T , Rubin B , Ephrath J E , Eizenberg H
Published: April 2013

A new method for non‐destructive monitoring of the subsurface development of Cyperus rotundus (purple nutsedge) is described. A minirhizotron (MR) system was adopted for use to observe vegetative growth of the weed in a net‐house and under field conditions. In particular, the key stages of tuber production and sprouting were monitored and quantified. The MR system allowed non‐destructive repeated measurements of the key stages in C. rotundus subsurface development, serving as a both quantitative and qualitative tool in the study of C. rotundus. A comparison between the MR method and a destructive method revealed that the former reduces experimental variance, thus providing a more accurate prediction of the sprouting process. The techniques presented in the current study offer advanced methodologies for continuous monitoring of C. rotundus development under the soil surface. The novelty of this method lies in its simplicity and efficiency, allowing continuous observation of specific organs of this noxious weed and potentially of other geophytes.
Assessment of Human Exposures to Animal Vaccines Using Poison Control Records, 2000–2009
Authors: Edison L. , Schulte J. , Schauben J. , Kay R. , Rubin C.
Published: April 2013

To characterize human exposures to vaccines intended for animals, evaluate the human risk due to these exposures and determine whether there is sufficient surveillance in place to monitor them. Retrospective analysis of surveillance data (2000–2009). Information collected by poison specialists during calls reporting human exposure to an animal vaccine product, made to one of the 57 United States Poison Control Centers. Data from the National Poison Data System were analysed to determine the number of calls due to human exposures to animal vaccines, and descriptive statistics were generated to characterize the exposures by age, gender, medical outcome, exposure site, exposure route, vaccine type and intended species, aetiologic agent, call date and exposure reason. Overall, the human health effects were minor, primarily due to unintentional parenteral exposure. Less than 15% of the reports were classified as occupational, and 80% of the exposures took place outside of a workplace or healthcare facility. Almost 60% of calls were due to exposure to the West Nile Virus vaccine; the others distributed among a variety of vaccines. Unintentional exposure to animal vaccines appears to occur almost exclusively among untrained individuals who may benefit from more effective education about the risks and benefits of administering vaccines. Improved reporting of adverse outcomes is essential to adequately define the extent of human exposure and risks associated with availability of new vaccines.
Effects of preparation conditions on the magnetocaloric properties of Gd thin films
Authors: Kirby Hillary F. , Belyea Dustin D. , Willman Jonathon T. , Miller Casey W.
Published: April 2013

The impact of the deposition temperature and chamber gettering on Ta(5 nm)/Gd(30 nm)/Ta(5 nm) thin films magnetocaloric effect properties was investigated. Increasing the deposition temperature generally improves the entropy peak (magnitude, full width at half max, and temperature of the peak) but also leads to significant oxidation. Gettering the chamber prior to deposition not only reduced this oxidation issue but also increased the relative cooling power of films grown at elevated temperatures by as much as 33% over ungettered samples.
Energy levels, oscillator strengths, radiative decay rates, and fine structure collision strengths for Kr VII lines
Authors: Liang Liang , Gao Wen-jing , Zhou Chao
Published: April 2013

Energy levels, line strengths, oscillator strengths, radiative decay rates and fine structure collision strengths are presented for six-times ionized krypton (Kr VII). The atomic data are calculated with the AUTOSTRUCTURE code, where relativistic corrections are introduced according to the Breit–Pauli distorted wave approach. We present calculations of atomic data for 40 fine-structure levels generated from nine configurations ((1s22s22p63s23p63d10)4s2, 4lnl′, n = 4, 5; l = 0, 1; and l′ ≤ 3) of the Zn-like Kr ion. Fine structure collision strengths for transitions from the ground and the first four excited levels are presented at six electron energies: 8, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 80 Ryd. Our atomic structure data are compared with the available experimental and theoretical results.
Genomic compartmentalization of gene families encoding core components of metazoan signaling systems
Authors: Wong Howard , Soh Jung , Gordon Paul M.K. , Yu Tom , Sensen Christoph W. , Parr Edward , Johnston Randal N.
Published: April 2013

To investigate the role of gene localization and genome organization in cell–cell signalling and regulation, we mapped the distribution pattern of gene families that comprise core components of intercellular communication networks. Our study is centered on the distinct evolutionarily conserved metazoan signalling pathways that employ proteins in the receptor tyrosine kinase, WNT, hedgehog, NOTCH, Janus kinase/STAT, transforming growth factor beta, and nuclear hormone receptor protein families. Aberrant activity of these signalling pathways is closely associated with the promotion and maintenance of human cancers. The cataloguing and mapping of genes encoding these signalling proteins and comparisons across species has led us to propose that the genome can be subdivided into six genome-wide primary linkage groups (PLGs). PLGs are composed of assemblages of gene families that are often mutually exclusive, raising the possibility of unique functional identities for each group. Examination of the localization patterns of genes with distinct functions in signal transduction demonstrates dichotomous segregation patterns. For example, gene families of cell-surface receptors localize to genomic compartments that are distinct from the locations of their cognate ligand gene families. Additionally, genes encoding negative-acting components of signalling pathways (inhibitors and antagonists) are topologically separated from their positive regulators and other signal transducer genes. We, therefore, propose the existence of conserved genomic territories that encode key proteins required for the proper activity of metazoan signaling and regulatory systems. Disruption in this pattern of topologic genomic organization may contribute to aberrant regulation in hereditary or acquired diseases such as cancer. We further propose that long-range looping genomic regulatory interactions may provide a mechanism favouring the remarkable retention of these conserved gene clusters during chordate evolution.
A NEW CENTRALITY METRIC BASED ON CLUSTERING COEFFICIENT
Authors: LI CHONG , GUO SHI-ZE , LU ZHE-MING , QIAO YU-LONG , SONG GUANG-HUA
Published: April 2013

Many centrality metrics have been proposed over the years to compute the centrality of nodes, which has been a key issue in complex network analysis. The most important node can be estimated through a variety of metrics, such as degree, closeness, eigenvector, betweenness, flow betweenness, cumulated nominations and subgraph. Simulated flow is a common method adopted by many centrality metrics, such as flow betweenness centrality, which assumes that the information spreads freely in the entire network. Generally speaking, the farther the information travels, the more times the information passes the geometric center. Thus, it is easy to determine which node is more likely to be the center of the geometry network. However, during information transmission, different nodes do not share the same vitality, and some nodes are more active than others. Therefore, the product of one node's degree and its clustering coefficient can be viewed as a good factor to show how active this node is. In this paper, a new centrality metric called vitality centrality is introduced, which is only based on this product and the simulated flow. Simulation experiments based on six test networks have been carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of our new metric.
SPATIAL GRAPH EXTERIORS REALIZING GIVEN JSJ DECOMPOSITION GRAPHS
Authors: IKEDA TORU
Published: April 2013

If the exterior E(G) of a spatial graph G in a closed orientable 3-manifold is an irreducible 3-manifold with incompressible boundary, there is a unique finite graph Γ associated to the JSJ decomposition of E(G). This paper provides a method for constructing spatial graphs such that a given finite connected graph is associated to the JSJ decompositions of their exteriors.
ACADEMIC LANDSCAPE OF INNOVATION RESEARCH AND NATIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM POLICY REFORMATION IN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES
Authors: HASHIMOTO MASAHIRO , KAJIKAWA YUYA , SAKATA ICHIRO , TAKEDA YOSHIYUKI , MATSUSHIMA KATSUMORI
Published: April 2013

Academic landscape of innovation research was analyzed by citation network analysis, which was divided into three main clusters; with "technological innovation" as the central core together with "innovation fundamentals" and "innovation management". Historically, research on innovation started from innovation management, such as innovational organization research, but research in the other two cluster areas is currently more active. With this background, we prepared a historical overview of national innovation system policy in Japan and the United States. Finally, we compared the trend of global innovation research with that of the national innovation systems in Japan and the United States.
NANOPOROUS COPPER–SILICON COMPOSITE PREPARED BY CHEMICAL DEALLOYING AS ANODE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Authors: LI GUIJING , SONG YANYAN , ZHANG LINPING , WEI XIN , SONG XIAOPING , SUN ZHANBO
Published: April 2013

A novel and simple method has been developed to prepare the Cu-Si composite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Nanoporous Cu-Si composite with pore sizes of 1~30 nm was prepared by dealloying the melt-spun Al-Cu-Si-Ce ribbons in a 5 wt.% HCl solution. Electrochemical tests revealed that the nanoporous Cu-Si electrodes exhibited highly reversible capacity of 2317 mAhg-1 and retained a capacity of 1030 mAhg-1 over 20 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique porous structure of the Cu-Si composite. Our results demonstrate that this novel composite is a promising anode candidate for high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND LUMINESCENT PROPERTIES OF Sr2B2O5:Eu2+ BLUE PHOSPHORS
Authors: LIU QUAN-SHENG , ZHENG ZHAO-YANG , CHENG LI-QUN , ZHANG XI-YAN , SONG YUE , LIU JING-WEN , CUI TIAN
Published: April 2013

The Sr2B2O5:Eu2+ phosphor was synthesized by high-temperature solid state reaction. The crystal structure of Sr2B2O5:Eu2+ phosphor is monoclinic system with space group of P21/a(14). Due to Eu2+ ion doping, the lattice parameters and unit cell volume decreased. The luminescence spectrum is a broad luminescence band peaking at 468 nm and 478 nm, which corresponds to the transition of 5d-low energy state in Eu2 and Eu1 to the ground state. The excitation spectrum is at UV region less than 264 nm corresponding to the band gap transition of borate host. The low energy level of 5d-band locates 20921 cm-1, the band width is 1 eV. The electronegativity of O2- anions around Eu1 and Eu2 is 3.147 eV and 3.326 eV respectively, which determines the split of 5d energy level.
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS ANDIN VITROCYTOXICITY AND GENOTOXICITY OF NANOMATERIALS
Authors: WEBSTER THOMAS J. , STOUT DAVID A. , KALMODIA SUSHMA , BASU BIKRAMJIT
Published: April 2013

Exposure to nanosized materials (specifically, materials with one dimension less than 100 nm) is nothing new. Humans have long been exposed to nanomaterials from various earth related processes, like forest fires and volcanoes, as well as naturally occurring events, such as sea spray. Due to the advent of modern nanotechnology research, however, the arrival of the industrial nanotechnology age is upon us where large quantities of various synthetic nanomaterials are formulated and exposed to humans on a daily basis. As such, there is an on-going need for more researchers to determine human and environmental toxicity of nanomaterials. This review paper will assess the current knowledge on the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of nanomaterials while summarizing the exploration of nanotechnology within the specific world of biomaterials. An overview of material characterization studies as well as various biological assays currently used to evaluate cytotoxicity and genotoxicity will also be addressed. Specifically, after defining some basic definitions of biomaterials and biocompatibility, commonly used cytotoxicity assays are summarized, and some examples of nanomaterial cytotoxicity studies presented. Next, an understanding of genotoxicity assays and associated mechanisms with nanomaterials are presented. Finally, some future thoughts on nanobiomaterial (that is, nanomaterials used as biomaterials) cytotoxicity and genotoxicity are presented. Such an overview reflects a comprehensive effort to gain an understanding of the toxicity of nanobiomaterials at the molecular level requiring the use of a battery of toxicological assays. The purpose of this review article is to serve as reference for those new to the field of nanotoxicity and to encourage others to conduct accurate and meaningful nanotoxicity studies.
PREDICTING MACROSCOPIC COLLOIDAL DEPOSITION AND TRANSPORTATION BASED ON DIMENSIONLESS TABOR'S PARAMETER
Authors: WANG XIN , LI YUEYUN , GU APRIL Z. , WAN KAI-TAK
Published: April 2013

Bacterial deposition–transportation via a porous medium can be quantified by a dimensionless Tabor's parameter, μ, which accounts for the deformation of an elastic sphere in the presence of intersurface forces based on the classical Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory. A concentrated solution of model spheres or bacterial strains passing through a packed sand column leads to water filtration, where the efficiency is measured by the efflux concentration, C/C0, of particles. Experimental data of model latex spheres with ranges of size, ionic concentration and pH obtained by Elimelech, and our measurements of six different bacterial strains are analyzed. A strong correlation between C/C0 and μ is found and can be used to predict deposition–transportation once the microscopic properties are known.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SYRIA
Authors: BREISINGER CLEMENS , ZHU TINGJU , AL RIFFAI PERRIHAN , NELSON GERALD , ROBERTSON RICHARD , FUNES JOSE , VERNER DORTE
Published: April 2013

There is broad consensus among scientists that climate change is altering weather patterns around the world. However, economists are only beginning to develop comprehensive tools that allow for the quantification of such weather changes on countries' economies and people. This paper presents a modeling suite that links the downscaling of global climate models, crop modeling, global economic modeling, and sub-national-level dynamic computable equilibrium modeling. Important to note is that this approach allows for decomposing the potential global and local economic effects on countries, including various economic sectors and different household groups. We apply this modeling suite to Syria, a relevant case study given the country's location in a region that is consistently projected to be among those hit hardest by climate change. We find that, despite a certain degree of endogenous adaptation, local impacts of climate change (through declining yields) are likely to affect Syria beyond the agricultural sector and farmers and also reduce economy-wide growth and incomes of urban households in the long term. The overall effects of global climate change (through higher food prices) are also negative, but some farmers may reap the benefit of higher prices. Combining local and global climate change scenarios shows welfare losses across all rural and urban household groups, whereas the poorest household groups are the hardest hit.
LUMINESCENT AGGREGATES OF 1,2,3,4,5-PENTAPHENYLPHOSPHOLE OXIDE FOR NITROAROMATIC EXPLOSIVE DETECTION
Authors: SHIRAISHI KENTARO , SANJI TAKANOBU , TANAKA MASATO
Published: April 2013

We demonstrate that 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylphosphole oxide is aggregation-induced emission-active, and we also show the potential utility of the luminescent aggregates for detection of nitroaromatic explosives.
Behavior-oriented data resource management in medical sensing systems
Authors: Noshadi Hyduke , Dabiri Foad , Meguerdichian Saro , Potkonjak Miodrag , Sarrafzadeh Majid
Published: April 2013

Wearable sensing systems have recently enabled a variety of medical monitoring and diagnostic applications in wireless health. The need for multiple sensors and constant monitoring leads these systems to be power hungry and expensive with short operating lifetimes. We introduce a novel methodology that takes advantage of contextual and semantic properties in human behavior to enable efficient design and optimization of such systems from the data and information point of view. This, in turn, directly influences the wireless communication and local processing power consumption. We exploit intrinsic space and temporal correlations between sensor data while considering both user and system contextual behavior. Our goal is to select a small subset of sensors that accurately capture and/or predict all possible signals of a fully instrumented wearable sensing system. Our approach leverages novel modeling, partitioning, and behavioral optimization, which consists of signal characterization, segmentation and time shifting, mutual signal prediction, and a simultaneous minimization composed of subset sensor selection and opportunistic sampling. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique on an insole instrumented with 99 pressure sensors placed in each shoe, which cover the bottom of the entire foot, resulting in energy reduction of 72% to 97% for error rates of 5% to 17.5%.