bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of azathioprine for non‐thymoma myasthenia and risk of cancer: a nationwide case–control study in Denmark
Authors: Pedersen E. G. , Pottegård A. , Hallas J. , Friis S. , Hansen K. , Jensen P. E. H. , Gaist D.
Published: March 2013

Background and purpose

To evaluate the association between the use of azathioprine and risk of cancer in patients with non‐thymoma myasthenia gravis (MG) in a nationwide setting.

Methods

Case–control study based on population‐based registries. Cases were patients with MG with a first time diagnosis of cancer (except non‐melanoma skin cancer) registered during 2000–2009, and controls were patients with MG with no history of cancer. Prior use of azathioprine in cases and controls was assessed through prescription records (1995–2009). We used unconditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer associated with a high cumulative dose [≥ 1000 defined daily doses (DDD)] or long‐term use (≥ 5 years) of azathioprine, compared with never use of the drug and adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

We identified 89 cases and 873 controls. The prevalence of ever use of azathioprine was similar among cases (39.3%) and controls (39.4%). We observed a slightly elevated OR for cancer overall associated with long‐term use of azathioprine (1.22; 95% CI: 0.62–2.40, P = 0.56). The highest ORs were observed for use of 2000 DDD or more of azathioprine; however, these risk estimates were based on small numbers.

Conclusions

Use of azathioprine in patients with non‐thymoma MG may be associated with a slightly increased risk of cancer overall. Larger studies are necessary to address the risk of site‐specific cancers.
Surface‐based laminar analysis of diffusion abnormalities in cortical and white matter layers in neocortical epilepsy
Authors: Govindan Rajkumar Munian , Asano Eishi , Juhasz Csaba , Jeong Jeong‐won , Chugani Harry T.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Microstructural alterations seen in the epileptic cortex have been implicated as a cause and also result of multiple seizure activity. In the present study, we evaluated water diffusion changes at different cortical thickness fractions and in the underlying white matter of the epileptic cortex and compared them with electrographically normal cortex and also with corresponding cortical regions of healthy controls.

Methods

We selected 18 children with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent two‐stage epilepsy surgery to control seizures of neocortical origin, and compared their MR images with those of 18 age‐matched healthy controls. First, delineation of the gray‐white and gray‐pial intersection surfaces was performed on high‐resolution volumetric T1 MR images. Using the delineated surfaces as reference, diffusion values were measured at different cortical thickness fractions and in the underlying white matter at various depths, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Cortical regions representing seizure onset and electrographically normal cortex were differentiated by electrocorticography in the epilepsy patients.

Key Findings

We observed different patterns of diffusion abnormalities in both the seizure onset and electrographically normal cortical regions when compared to healthy controls. In the seizure‐onset regions, a marked increase in diffusivity was noted in the cortical gray matter, and this increase was most pronounced in the outer fraction of the gray matter. Similarly, increased diffusivity was noted in the white matter underlying the epileptic cortex. The electrographically normal cortex, in contrast, showed decreased diffusivity in inner and middle cortical fractions compared to the controls. The white matter underlying the electrographically normal cortex did not show any difference in diffusivity between the children with epilepsy and controls. Finally, both the cortical gray matter and the underlying white matter regions showed decreased anisotropy in epileptic as well as electrographically normal regions when compared to controls.

Significance

Our results suggest specific patterns of diffusion changes in the cortical fractions and the underlying white matter of the epileptic region compared to electrographically normal and normal control regions. The abnormal increase in diffusivity of the superficial cortex might be associated with microstructural abnormalities commonly seen in layers II through IV of epileptic cortex. Such combined use of a high‐resolution structural image to extract the laminar diffusion values, which are highly sensitive to microstructural alterations, could be of clinical value in localizing epileptogenic cortex.
Different electroclinical picture of generalized epilepsy in two families with 15q13.3 microdeletion
Authors: Coppola Antonietta , Bagnasco Irene , Traverso Monica , Brusco Alfredo , Di Gregorio Eleonora , Del Gaudio Luigi , Santulli Lia , Caccavale Carmela , Vigliano Piernanda , Minetti Carlo , Striano Salvatore , Zara Federico , Striano Pasquale
Published: March 2013

15q.13.3 microdeletion has been described in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders. Epilepsy appears to be a common feature and, specifically, the 15q13.3 microdeletion is found in about 1% of patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Recently, absence seizures with intellectual disability (ID) have been reported in patients carrying this mutation. We describe two families in which several affected members carry a 15q13.3 microdeletion in a pattern suggestive of autosomal dominant inheritance. Their phenotype includes mainly absence epilepsy and mild ID, suggesting only similarities with genetic/idiopathic generalized epilepsies but not typical features. The importance of studying such families is crucial to broaden the phenotype and understand the long‐term outcome of patients with this condition.
Informed Trading and Market Structure
Authors: Cai Charlie X. , Harris Jeffrey H. , Hudson Robert S. , Keasey Kevin
Published: March 2013

We examine London Stock Exchange trading around information releases and link market quality dimensions with market structure during periods with heightened interaction between informed and uninformed traders. We find support for both the hypothesis that automated electronic markets minimise trading costs for liquid stocks and the hypothesis that adverse selection costs are minimised with intermediated trading. We examine how news affects both dealer and electronic systems and find that electronic markets are prone to greater stealth trading and post‐trade volatility, both consistent with the proliferation of algorithmic trading and short‐term volatility events such as the May 6, 2010 ‘flash crash.’
Seasonal variation in the population growth rate of a dominant zooplankter: what determines its population dynamics?
Authors: Jiménez‐Melero Raquel , Ramírez José M. , Guerrero Francisco
Published: March 2013

Most demographic studies predict population dynamics from known vital rates. In natural plankton populations, in contrast, the ecologist faces the ‘inverse problem’ to estimate the vital rates from observations of a population's dynamics. Since this problem is complex, many studies only present time series of abundance data from the field and vital rates estimated from laboratory experiments. Here, however, we estimate vital rates of the copepod Arctodiaptomus salinus from a stage‐dependent matrix model developed from time series of abundances.

We show how each vital rate contributes to the observed variation in the population growth rate (retrospective analyses) and how potential changes in vital rates could affect this growth rate (prospective analyses). Such perturbation analyses can be expected to become very useful management tools, because they show how sensitive the population is to changes in its different life traits and to detect potential disturbances in its habitat.

The models showed that the finite population growth rate (λ) varied seasonally. The population decreased during the summer and was very close to steady state in autumn and winter. The drop in λ in summer was caused mainly by reductions in fertility and in the probability of growth of pre‐adult stages. Fertility and survival of pre‐adult and adult stages were the vital rates contributing most to the variation on λ in autumn. The increment of pre‐adult stage survival determined the increment of λ in winter.

During autumn and winter λ was more sensitive to changes to the probabilities of survival than to the probabilities of growth to the following stage, but in summer the opposite was observed. During the whole of the study period, λ was not very sensitive to changes to fertility.

Since at high temperatures λ decays and the study pond is warm most of the year, global warming might have dramatic consequences for this A. salinus population even in the short term. Results suggest that pre‐adult stages of A. salinus may over‐summer as quiescence stages, which could be a useful strategy for coping with the warming of the pond and, consequently, global warming.
Petroleum system evolution in the inverted Lower Saxony Basin, northwest Germany: a 3D basin modeling study
Authors: Bruns B. , di Primio R. , Berner U. , Littke R.
Published: March 2013

The Lower Saxony Basin (LSB) in northwest Germany is one of the oldest oil‐producing basins in the world, where the first production well was drilled in 1864. It has been intensively investigated with respect to its hydrocarbon potential and can be regarded as a well‐studied example of a sedimentary basin that experienced strong inversion and uplift. Oil and gas source rocks of economic importance include Upper Carboniferous coals as well as Jurassic (Toarcian Posidonia Shale) and Cretaceous (Berriasian/Wealden) shales. We have developed a fully integrated 3D high‐resolution numerical petroleum systems model incorporating the LSB, and parts of the Pompeckj Block in the north as well as the Münsterland Basin in the south. Aside from temperature and maturity modeling calibrated by a large amount of vitrinite reflectance and downhole temperature data, we also investigated petroleum generation and accumulation with special emphasis on the shale gas potential of the Jurassic Posidonia Shale.
Building for the Future: Where Should We Build Houses to Stimulate the Economy?
Authors: Sarling Joe
Published: March 2013

The UK's housing problem has become an economic one. Finding ways to boost the supply of housing across the UK is currently near the top of the Government's economic growth and jobs agenda. As a result of failed policies over the past 60 years ‐ policymakers’ unwillingness to tackle NIMBY interests, a complex national planning system, developers’ unwillingness and inability to build housing at the volume required to maintain stable prices, changing preferences amongst the population ‐ the scale of the problem is vast. However, for any hope of success for the Government's housing strategy, it is vital to understand the extent to which the housing landscape varies significantly across different parts of the country.
Seeing for the state: Kemalist long‐distance nationalism in Australia
Authors: Şenay Banu
Published: March 2013

The recent literature on Muslim organisations in the Turkish diaspora context is voluminous as is analysis of Kurdish and Alevi grassroots politics against the Turkish state. Yet nothing has been written on those whose political orientation is in line with the secularist‐nationalist ideology of the Turkish Republic, that is, of Kemalists. As a contribution to this endeavour, this paper explores Kemalist actors' mobilisation in Australia. The paper argues that their current activism is related to a threatened economic privilege, a loss of cultural capital and a waning political dominance in the ongoing social life of Turkey.
La politique démographique et la protection de la famille en Suède
Authors: MYRDAL Alva
Published: March 2013

La Suède ne s'est pas seulement distinguée pour son avance en matière de politique économique au début des années trente, mais aussi par sa politique familiale. Alva Myrdal – qui reçut par la suite le prix Nobel de la paix – a participé de près à l'élaboration de la politique démographique de la Suède. Nous reprenons ici un article où elle explique quelles étaient les préoccupations de son pays et quels types de mesures ont été proposées [… lire la suite].
Résumé du débat: les causes du chômage dans les pays peu développés et quelques sujets pour la recherche
Authors: LEWIS W. Arthur
Published: March 2013

W. Arthur Lewis, originaire de l'île de Sainte‐Lucie, après avoir enseigné l'économie politique dans plusieurs universités et travaillé pour le système des Nations Unies dans les années cinquante, a poursuivi l'ensemble de sa carrière à Princeton. Le prix Nobel d'économie lui a été décerné en 1979, conjointement avec T. W. Schultz pour leurs travaux sur l'économie du développement [… lire la suite].
Politique commerciale et croissance de l'emploi
Authors: TINBERGEN Jan
Published: March 2013

Jan Tinbergen, lauréat du prix Nobel d'économie en 1969, a participé, à la fin de cette année‐là, à une réunion organisée pour conseiller le BIT sur les priorités que devait se fixer, en matière de recherche, le Programme mondial de l'emploi qui venait d'être créé. Dans sa communication, il traita des rapports entre la politique commerciale internationale et la création d'emplois [… lire la suite].
Crise mondiale, emplois et protection sociale
Authors: STIGLITZ Joseph
Published: March 2013

C'est en 2001 que Joseph Stiglitz s'est vu décerner le prix Nobel d'économie. En 2002, il publiait dans la Revue, vol. 141, n° 1–2, un article intitulé«Emploi, justice sociale et bien‐être». Il y avance que le but de l'activitééconomique est d'améliorer le bienêtre des individus, et l'emploi est essentiel à ce bien‐être; à cet égard, sa description des dégâts du chômage fait écho à celle d'A. Sen [… lire la suite].
La recuperación económica y los problemas laborales en Suecia (II)
Authors: OHLIN Bertil
Published: March 2013

En 1935 muchos países ricos sufrían una depresión económica profunda, caracterizada por un desempleo masivo y por un alto índice de deflación. En Suecia, por el contrario, el retroceso había sido menor y la recuperación más rápida, lo cual suscitaba en aquel entonces un interés considerable, como cabe imaginar. Bertil Ohlin, que con anterioridad había preparado informes sobre la depresión mundial y el desempleo en Suecia (y que más tarde recibió el Premio Nobel de Economía), analiza […] Seguir leyendo
La teoría general del Sr. Keynes sobre el empleo, el interés y la moneda
Authors: LERNER A. P.
Published: March 2013

El artículo de Abba P. Lerner reproducido a continuación fue el primer trabajo teórico que simplificó e hizo inteligible para todos la teoría del empleo de Keynes. De hecho, el propio Keynes lo había leído y aprobado antes de su publicación. Natural de Rumania, Abba P. Lerner estudió en Cambridge y fue profesor de la Escuela de Economía y Ciencia Política de Londres, de la Universidad de California […] Seguir leyendo
Mantenimiento del empleo total después del período de transición: Comparación del problema en los Estados Unidos y en el Reino Unido
Authors: KALECKI Michal
Published: March 2013

Michal Kalecki es un economista polaco cuya contribución a la macroeconomía ha tenido una gran influencia en los economistas de inspiración keynesiana. Tras terminar sus estudios de ingeniería civil en las escuelas politécnicas de Varsovia y Gdansk, comenzó su carrera en el Instituto de Investigación de los Ciclos Empresariales de Varsovia, del cual pasó al Instituto de Estadística de Oxford. Después de trabajar durante un año en la OIT (1945), se incorporó a las Naciones Unidas en Nueva York […] Seguir leyendo
Causas de desempleo en los países en vías de desarrollo y algunos temas de investigación
Authors: LEWIS W. Arthur
Published: March 2013

W. Arthur Lewis, originario de la isla de Santa Lucía, fue profesor de economía política en varias universidades y trabajó para las Naciones Unidas en el decenio de 1950, tras lo cual continuó el ejercicio de su carrera en la Universidad de Princeton. Fue galardonado con el Premio Nobel de Economía en 1979, junto con T. W. Schultz, por sus trabajos sobre economía del desarrollo. Su contribución más importante a esta rama de la disciplina […] Seguir leyendo
Política comercial y crecimiento del empleo
Authors: TINBERGEN J.
Published: March 2013

Jan Tinbergen, galardonado con el primer Premio Nobel de Economía en 1969, participó a finales de ese mismo año en una reunión de economistas que la OIT había convocado con el fin de fijar las prioridades en materia de investigación del recién creado Programa Mundial del Empleo. En su ponencia Tinbergen examinó la influencia de la política comercial internacional en la capacidad de creación de empleo. En su opinión, […] Seguir leyendo
The Retail Planning Problem Under Demand Uncertainty
Authors: Georgiadis George , Rajaram Kumar
Published: March 2013

We consider the retail planning problem in which the retailer chooses suppliers and determines the production, distribution, and inventory planning for products with uncertain demand to minimize total expected costs. This problem is often faced by large retail chains that carry private‐label products. We formulate this problem as a convex‐mixed integer program and show that it is strongly NP‐hard. We determine a lower bound by applying a Lagrangian relaxation and show that this bound outperforms the standard convex programming relaxation while being computationally efficient. We also establish a worst‐case error bound for the Lagrangian relaxation. We then develop heuristics to generate feasible solutions. Our computational results indicate that our convex programming heuristic yields feasible solutions that are close to optimal with an average suboptimality gap at 3.4%. We also develop managerial insights for practitioners who choose suppliers and make production, distribution, and inventory decisions in the supply chain.
Fifteen years of the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ): an update and review
Authors: Golan M.
Published: March 2013

What is already known about this subject

The FEAHQ was originally developed in Israel and designed for use in family‐based weight‐management interventions that emphasized changes in the environment and in parents’ knowledge, behaviors, and modeling.

A key distinction of the FEAHQ from other tools is the ability to evaluate the overall obesogenic environment and, at the same time, each of the family members’ eating and activity patterns, reflecting the importance of parenting behaviors and modeling in child weight status.

The FEAHQ is a useful clinical tool for identifying target behaviors for treatment and monitoring treatment progress.

What this study adds

FEAHQ‐R includes adjustments made to improve the tool use.

New data supporting the psychometric properties of the Revised FEAHQ.

Background

The Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire (FEAHQ) is a 32‐item self‐report instrument designed to assess the eating and activity habits of family members as well as obesogenic factors in the overall home environment (stimulus and behaviour patterns) related to weight. Originally, this questionnaire, which was developed in Israel, was designed for use in family‐based weight‐management interventions that emphasized changes in the environment, and in parents' knowledge, behaviours and modelling. It was developed for use with children aged 6–11 years and designed for co‐completion by parents or caretakers and their children. Over the years, it has been administered in research and clinical settings in Israel, England, Australia and other countries. Its 15‐year anniversary calls for an update in the literature regarding adjustments made to improve its use in different settings and with different ethnic populations and the psychometric properties of the revised version.

Objective

The goal of this paper is threefold: (i) to describe the history and development of the FEAHQ; (ii) to present new data supporting the psychometric properties of the subscales of the Revised FEAHQ (FEAHQ‐R) for ages 6–12 years and (iii) to review the clinical and research literature reporting on FEAHQ subscales.

Methods

The psychometric properties of the revised questionnaire were evaluated in a randomized control trial and in a naturalistic, community‐based study to promote healthy lifestyle among families with children 6–12 years of age from different ethnic populations.

Results

The tool demonstrated good test‐retest reliability when completed by caretakers and very good internal consistency. The questionnaire scores discriminated between obese and normal‐weight children and predicted the weight classification of 66% of the participants.

Conclusions

The FEAHQ‐R is a useful clinical tool for identifying target behaviors for treatment and monitoring treatment progress that centers on overweight prevention and weight management.
ZnO Nanorods as Antireflective Coatings for Industrial‐Scale Single‐Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: Aurang Pantea , Demircioglu Olgu , Es Firat , Turan Rasit , Unalan Husnu Emrah
Published: March 2013

In this work, both planar and textured, industrial scale (156 mm × 156 mm) single‐crystalline silicon (Si) solar cells have been fabricated using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods as antireflection coating (ARC). ZnO nanorods were grown in a few minutes via hydrothermal method within a commercially available microwave oven. Relative improvement in excess of 65% in the reflectivity was observed for both planar and textured Si surfaces. Through ZnO nanorods, effective lifetime (τeff) measurements were presented to investigate the surface passivation property of such an ARC layer. ZnO nanorods increased the τeff from 9 to 71 μs at a carrier injection level of 1015 cm−3. Increased carrier lifetime revealed the passivation effect of the ZnO nanorods in addition to their ARC property. 33% and 16% enhancement in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency was obtained in planar and textured single‐crystalline solar cells, respectively. Our results reveal the potential of ZnO nanorods as ARC that can be deposited through simple solution‐based methods and the method investigated herein can be simply adapted to industrial scale fabrication.
Elucidation of Viscosity Reduction Mechanism of Nano Alumina Suspensions with Fructose Addition by DSC
Authors: Çinar Simge , van Steenhuyse Laura , Akinc Mufit
Published: March 2013

Control of the rheological properties of the nanoparticle suspensions is challenging. In this study influence of the solids content and the fructose addition on the viscosity of nano alumina suspensions have been investigated by low temperature differential scanning calorimetry (LT‐DSC), rheometry, and zeta potential measurements. Analysis of the water melting events in LT‐DSC revealed useful information for explaining the rheological behavior of the nanoparticle suspensions. It was shown that the bound water layer has a negligible effect on the viscosity of micrometer‐size particle suspension while it increases the effective solid content of alumina nanoparticle suspensions significantly leading to high viscosities. The presence of fructose modifies the bound water layer, decreases the effective solids content, hence resulting in viscosity reduction. Fructose addition lowers the pH of the suspension, but has a negligible effect on the zeta potential. The origin of the bound water, and electrostatic and steric effects of the fructose addition on the viscosity are discussed.
Ionomigration of Pores and Gas Bubbles in Yttria‐Stabilized Cubic Zirconia
Authors: Kim Seung‐Wan , Kang Suk‐Joong L. , Chen I‐Wei
Published: March 2013

Migration of residual pores in partially sintered 8 mol% yttria‐stabilized zirconia under an electric field was investigated. To avoid shrinkage via sintering, Ar‐filled bubbles introduced to dense ceramic were also studied. Pores/bubbles were found to migrate against the field, e.g., under 1.9 V at 875°C, a temperature when cation diffusion is supposed to have frozen according to the prevailing consensus. Pore/bubble movement left contorted grains in some samples, but not at lower temperatures and higher fields when they apparently pass through grain boundaries without causing any visible distortion. These results are explained by a surface diffusion model and a temperature‐pore‐size map that delineates two distinct modes of pore/boundary pinning and breakaway. The implications of these results to solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysis cells are explored.
Ischemic heart disease is associated with vertebral fractures in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Muñoz‐Torres Manuel , Reyes‐García Rebeca , García‐Martin Antonia , Jiménez‐Moleón José Juan , Gonzalez‐Ramírez Amanda Rocío , Lara‐Villoslada María Jesús , Moreno Pedro Rozas
Published: March 2013

Aims/Introduction

Discordant results about the relationship between diabetes complications and the risk of fragility fractures have been reported. Our aims were to analyze the factors related to morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to explore the association between the presence of VFs and the main cardiovascular risk factors.

Materials and Methods

We carried out a cross‐sectional study including 123 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and in 72 of these patients we recorded data about the risk factors for VFs and comorbidities of diabetes including diabetes‐related microvascular disease and cardiovascular disease.

Results

In the crude analysis, diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio [OR] 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–12.5), ischemic heart disease (OR 5.02, 95% CI 1.1–9.7) and waist circumference (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.006–1.114) were related to VFs. In the full model (adjusted for age, sex, body mass index), ischemic heart disease was the only determinant of VF (OR 3.33, CI 1.02–10.91, P = 0.047); whereas diabetic retinopathy did not reached significance (OR 2.27, CI 0.71–7.27, P = 0.16).

Conclusions

In summary, ischemic heart disease is associated with an increased risk of VFs in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Relatives' experiences of everyday life six months after hypothermia treatment of a significant other′s cardiac arrest
Authors: Wallin Ewa , Larsson Ing‐Marie , Rubertsson Sten , Kristoferzon Marja‐Leena
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectives

To describe relatives' experiences of needing support and information and of the impact on everyday life six months after a significant other survived cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia at an intensive care unit.

Background

Being the relative of a cardiac arrest patient has been described as an unexpected chaotic situation. It is a unique experience because the event was unexpected, but also because of the heart disease and the uncertain neurological impact and outcome.

Design

The design of the study was qualitative.

Methods

Interviews with 20 relatives were conducted six months after a significant other's cardiac arrest. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Three main themes were identified: ‘Difficulties managing a changed life situation’, ‘Feeling like I come second’ and ‘Feeling new hope for the future’. The most common support to relatives came from family and friends, but relatives felt abandoned by healthcare personnel when the significant other was discharged from the intensive care unit and hospital. Relatives lacked information concerning prognosis, rehabilitation and follow‐up. They wished to meet others in the same situation and share experiences. Relatives also felt people around them did not understand their situation.

Conclusions

Everyday life was still affected six months after the event, involving increased domestic responsibilities, restrictions in social life and constant concern for the person stricken by cardiac arrest.

Relevance to clinical practice

The study shows that healthcare personnel need to improve provision of support and information and provide follow‐up appointments for relatives to clarify prognosis and rehabilitation issues.
Hume's Positive Argument on Induction
Authors: Qu Hsueh
Published: March 2013

Discussion on whether Hume's treatment of induction is descriptive or normative has usually centred on Hume's negative argument, somewhat neglecting the positive argument. In this paper, I will buck this trend, focusing on the positive argument. First, I argue that Hume's positive and negative arguments should be read as addressing the same issues (whether normative or descriptive). I then argue that Hume's positive argument in theEnquiryis normative in nature; drawing on his discussion of scepticism in Section 12 of theEnquiry, I explain a framework by which he provides what I callconsequentjustification for our inductive practices in his positive argument. Based on this, I argue that his negative argument in theEnquiryshould similarly be read as normative in nature.
Primed for Change: Developing Ecological Restoration for the 21st Century
Authors: Shackelford Nancy , Hobbs Richard J. , Burgar Joanna M. , Erickson Todd E. , Fontaine Joseph B. , Laliberté Etienne , Ramalho Cristina E. , Perring Michael P. , Standish Rachel J.
Published: March 2013

Restoration is a young and swiftly developing field. It has been almost a decade since the inception of one of the field's foundational documents—the Society for Ecological Restoration International Primer on Ecological Restoration (Primer). Through a series of organized discussions, we assessed the Primer for its currency and relevance in the modern field of ecological restoration. We focused our assessment on the section entitled “The Nine Attributes of a Restored Ecosystem” and grouped each of the attributes into one of four categories: species composition, ecosystem function, ecosystem stability, and landscape context. We found that in the decade since the document's inception, the concepts, methods, goals, and thinking of ecological restoration have shifted significantly. We discuss each of the four categories in this light with the aim of offering comments and suggestions on options for updating the Primer. We also include a fifth category that we believe is increasingly acknowledged in ecological restoration: the human element. The Primer is an important document guiding the practice of restoration. We hope that this critical assessment contributes to its ongoing development and relevance and more generally to the development of restoration ecology, particularly in our current era of rapid environmental change.
Sialometric analysis in young patients with chronic renal insufficiency
Authors: Fregoneze Andréa Paula , de Oliveira Lira Ortega Adriana , Brancher João Armando , Vargas Evelise Tissori , de Paula Meneses Rejane , Strazzeri Bönecker Marcelo José
Published: March 2013

The present study aimed to evaluate whether or not quantitative changes occur in the salivary flow of patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) who have been submitted to Hemodialysis. Twenty‐nine chronic renal patients, between 4 and 25 years of age, submitted to Hemodialysis at Hospital Pequeno Príncipe in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil participated in this study. The results form this study were compared with those of a group consisting of 29 healthy patients, paired by sex and age, whose parents sought out dental treatment at local health clinic in Campo Magro, Paraná. For Sialometric evaluations, samples were collected at the beginning, during and at the end of Hemodialysis, as well as after the analyses had been performed. Salivary flow was calculated by the Banderas – Tarabay formula (1997). The results revealed that the mean salivary flow values presented no difference between the groups. It could therefore be concluded that CRI did not determine quantitative alterations in salivary fluid.
Toothbrushing barriers for people with developmental disabilities: a pilot study
Authors: Shin Christina J. , Saeed Sophia
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aims of this study were: (1) to determine which step in tooth brushing is most difficult for individuals with developmental disabilities and (2) to determine if oral hygiene instruction improves technique.

Material and methods

Once per week for 6 weeks, disclosing solution was applied to the teeth of 14 subjects who were observed individually in their tooth brushing technique. Fourteen distinct steps were measured on a 4‐point Likert scale. Plaque score was measured after brushing.

Results

The step causing greatest difficulty was “able to brush off residual, identified plaque.” Steps that showed greatest improvement were “open toothpaste” and “place toothpaste on brush.” The change in plaque score from the initial visit to the final visit was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Oral hygiene instruction in a group and individual setting increased compliance in the initial steps of tooth brushing.
Ultrahigh vacuum-compatible sockets for pin grid arrays used in nanoscale and atomic physics
Authors: Katoch Jyoti , Glasscock Cameron , Ishigami Masa
Published: March 2013

Pin grid arrays are often used for packaging devices for nanoscale and atomic physics experiments performed in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). These arrays require their complementary socket arrays for measurements, yet UHV-compatible sockets are not commercially available. In this paper, the authors describe the design and construction of fully UHV-compatible sockets, which provide reliable electronic contact down to cryogenic temperatures and survive repeated insertion–retraction cycles.
Surface properties of c-plane GaN grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Cywiński Grzegorz , Kudrawiec Robert , Janicki Łukasz , Misiewicz Jan , Chèze Caroline , Siekacz Marcin , Sawicka Marta , Wolny Paweł , Boćkowski Michał , Skierbiszewski Czesław
Published: March 2013

Two series of GaN van Hoof structures with different thicknesses of an undoped GaN cap layer were grown under metal-rich conditions by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. These were then investigated by contactless electroreflectance (CER) to study the Fermi-level position of the (0001) GaN surface after growth as well as after chemical treatment using Piranha solution. The first and second series of samples were grown on GaN/sapphire templates and high-pressure bulk GaN crystals, respectively. A clear CER resonance followed by Franz–Keldysh oscillations (FKOs) of various periods was clearly observed for both sample series before and after chemical treatment. The Fermi-level position of the GaN surface was determined from the analysis of FKOs related to the built-in electric field in the undoped GaN layer. For the as-grown GaN surface, the Fermi level was found to be located 0.42 and 0.57 eV below the conduction band in samples grown on GaN/sapphire templates and high-pressure bulk GaN crystals, respectively. For the Piranha-etched GaN surfaces, the Fermi level was pinned at almost the same energy (0.49 and 0.48 eV) in each of the two sets of samples. This means that this cleaning procedure, which is commonly used before device processing, is able to saturate the surface states at a certain level of Fermi-level pinning.
Filtered backprojection proton CT reconstruction along most likely paths
Authors: Rit Simon , Dedes George , Freud Nicolas , Sarrut David , Létang Jean Michel
Published: March 2013

Purpose:

Proton CT (pCT) has the potential to accurately measure the electron density map of tissues at low doses but the spatial resolution is prohibitive if the curved paths of protons in matter is not accounted for. The authors propose to account for an estimate of the most likely path of protons in a filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction algorithm.

Methods:

The energy loss of protons is first binned in several proton radiographs at different distances to the proton source to exploit the depth‐dependency of the estimate of the most likely path. This process is named the distance‐driven binning. A voxel‐specific backprojection is then used to select the adequate radiograph in the distance‐driven binning in order to propagate in the pCT image the best achievable spatial resolution in proton radiographs. The improvement in spatial resolution is demonstrated using Monte Carlo simulations of resolution phantoms.

Results:

The spatial resolution in the distance‐driven binning depended on the distance of the objects from the source and was optimal in the binned radiograph corresponding to that distance. The spatial resolution in the reconstructed pCT images decreased with the depth in the scanned object but it was always better than previous FBP algorithms assuming straight line paths. In a water cylinder with 20 cm diameter, the observed range of spatial resolutions was 0.7 − 1.6 mm compared to 1.0 − 2.4 mm at best with a straight line path assumption. The improvement was strongly enhanced in shorter 200° scans.

Conclusions:

Improved spatial resolution was obtained in pCT images with filtered backprojection reconstruction using most likely path estimates of protons. The improvement in spatial resolution combined with the practicality of FBP algorithms compared to iterative reconstruction algorithms makes this new algorithm a candidate of choice for clinical pCT.
Micro‐CT artifacts reduction based on detector random shifting and fast data inpainting
Authors: Zhu Yining , Zhao Mengliu , Li Hongwei , Zhang Peng
Published: March 2013

Purpose:

In Micro‐CT systems based on optical coupling detectors, the defects of scintillator or CCD‐camera would lead to heavy artifacts in reconstructed CT images. Meanwhile, different detector units usually suffer from inhomogeneous response, which also leads to artifacts in the CT images. Detector shifting is a simple and efficient method to remove the artifacts due to inhomogeneous responses of detector units. However, it does not work well for heavy artifacts due to defects in scintillator or CCD. The purpose of this paper is to develop a data preprocessing method to reduce both kinds of artifacts.

Methods:

A hybrid method which involves detector random shifting and data inpainting is proposed to correct the projection data, so as to suppress the artifacts in the reconstructed CT images. The defects in scintillator or CCD‐camera lead to data lost in some areas of the projection data. The Criminisi algorithm is employed to recover the lost data. By detector random shifting, the location of the lost data in one view might be shifted away in adjacent views. This feature is utilized to design the search window, such that the best match patch shall be searched across adjacent views. By this way, the best match patches should really enjoy high similarity. As a result, the heavy artifacts due to defects of scintillator or CCD‐camera should be suppressed. Furthermore, a multiscale tessellation method is proposed to locate the defects and similarity patches, which makes the Criminisi algorithm very fast.

Results:

The authors tested the proposed method on both simulated projection data and real projection data. Experiments show that the proposed method could correct the bad data in the projections quite well. Compared to other popular methods, such as linear interpolation, wavelet combining Fourier transform, and TV‐inpainting, experimental results suggest that the CT images reconstructed from the preprocessed data sets by our method is significantly better in quality.

Conclusions:

They have proposed a hybrid method for projection data preprocessing which fits well to typical Micro‐CT systems. The hybrid method could suppress the ring artifacts in the reconstructed CT images efficiently, while the spatial resolution is not reduced even with a critical eye.
A Long-Lived Relativistic Electron Storage Ring Embedded in Earth’s Outer Van Allen Belt
Authors: Baker D. N. , Kanekal S. G. , Hoxie V. C. , Henderson M. G. , Li X. , Spence H. E. , Elkington S. R. , Friedel R. H. W. , Goldstein J. , Hudson M. K. , Reeves G. D. , Thorne R. M. , Kletzing C. A. , Claudepierre S. G.
Published: March 2013

Van Allen Variation

The two rings of relativistic particles called Van Allen Belts that encircle Earth were discovered during the space age, and are known to pose risks to satellites in geostationary orbit. NASA launched twin spacecraft, the Van Allen Probes, on 30 August 2012 to measure and characterize Earth's radiation belt regions.

Baker
et al.

(p.
186
, published online 28 February) have shown that a third, unexpected and temporary, radiation belt formed on 2 September 2012 to disappear 4 weeks later in response to changes in the solar wind.
Genome Sequence of
Methanobrevibacter
sp. Strain JH1, Isolated from Rumen of Korean Native Cattle
Authors: Lee Jong-Hwan , Rhee Moon-Soo , Kumar Sanjay , Lee Geun-Hye , Chang Dong-Ho , Kim Dae-Soo , Choi Sang-Haeng , Lee Dong-Woo , Yoon Min-Ho , Kim Byoung-Chan
Published: March 2013

The
Methanobrevibacter
sp. strain JH1 was isolated from the rumen of Korean native cattle (HanWoo;
Bos taurus
coreanae
). Here, we provide a 2.06-Mb draft genome sequence of strain JH1 that might provide more information about the lifestyle of rumen methanogens and about the genes and proteins that can be targeted to curb methane emissions.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Brevibacillus
sp. Strain BAB-2500, a Strain That Might Play an Important Role in Agriculture
Authors: Joshi M. N. , Sharma A. , Pandit A. S. , Pandya R. V. , Saxena A. K. , Bagatharia S. B.
Published: March 2013

A Gram-positive bacterium,
Brevibacillus
sp. strain BAB-2500, was isolated as a lab contaminant in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. The draft genome (5.3 Mb) of the strain possesses genes for the reduction of arsenate and aluminum. These findings might provide insights into the utilization of this strain for improving crop production.
Genome Sequence of Enterobacter cancerogenus YZ1
Authors: Wei Yifeng , Yang Yu , Zhou Lisha , Liu Zhangyi , Wang Xiangyan , Yang Rentao , Su Qingqing , Zhou Yuping , Zhao Jiao , Yang Jun
Published: March 2013

Enterobacter cancerogenus
is usually known as an opportunistic human pathogen. Recently, it has attracted great attention for its capability to produce bioemulsifier, degrade xenobiotics, and resist alkalis and antibiotics. Here we report the complete genome of
Enterobacter cancerogenus
YZ1, isolated from a bran-feeding
Coleoptera
insect's frass.
Genome Sequence of Lawsonia intracellularis Strain N343, Isolated from a Sow with Hemorrhagic Proliferative Enteropathy
Authors: Sait Michelle , Aitchison Kevin , Wheelhouse Nick , Wilson Kim , Lainson F. Alex , Longbottom David , Smith David G. E.
Published: March 2013

Lawsonia intracellularis
is the etiological agent of proliferative enteropathy (PE), causing mild or acute hemorrhagic diarrhea in infected animals. Here we report the genome sequence of strain N343, isolated from a sow that died of hemorrhagic PE. N343 contains 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 90 indels compared to the reference strain PHE/MN1-00.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Fusarium fujikuroi
B14, the Causal Agent of the Bakanae Disease of Rice
Authors: Jeong Haeyoung , Lee Seunghoon , Choi Gyung Ja , Lee Theresa , Yun Sung-Hwan
Published: March 2013

Here, we present the genome sequence of a Korean strain (B14) of
Fusarium fujikuroi
, a fungal rice pathogen. The final assembly consists of 455 contigs with 43,810,516 bp and 14,017 predicted genes. Comparison with the
F. verticillioides
7600 genome revealed a reference coverage of 83% (66.3% of reads mapped).
Draft Genome Sequence of the Phyllosphere Model Bacterium Pantoea agglomerans 299R
Authors: Remus-Emsermann Mitja N. P. , Kim Eun Bae , Marco Maria L. , Tecon Robin , Leveau Johan H. J.
Published: March 2013

Bacteria belonging to the genus
Pantoea
are common colonizers of plant leaf surfaces. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of
Pantoea agglomerans
299R, a phyllosphere isolate that has become a model strain for studying the ecology of plant leaf-associated bacterial commensals.
The Nonstructural Protein 2C of a Picorna-Like Virus Displays Nucleic Acid Helix Destabilizing Activity That Can Be Functionally Separated from Its ATPase Activity
Authors: Cheng Zhenyun , Yang Jie , Xia Hongjie , Qiu Yang , Wang Zhaowei , Han Yajuan , Xia Xiaoling , Qin Cheng-Feng , Hu Yuanyang , Zhou Xi
Published: March 2013

Picorna-like viruses in the
Picornavirales
order are a large group of positive-strand RNA viruses that include numerous important pathogens for plants, insects, and humans. In these viruses, nonstructural protein 2C is one of the most conserved proteins and contains ATPase activity and putative RNA helicase activity. Here we expressed 2C protein of
Ectropis obliqua
picorna-like virus (EoV; genus
Iflavirus
, family
Iflaviridae
, order
Picornavirales
) in a eukaryotic expression system and determined that EoV 2C displays ATP-independent nucleic acid helix destabilizing and strand annealing acceleration activity in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that this picornaviral 2C is more like an RNA chaperone than like the previously predicted RNA helicase. Our further characterization of EoV 2C revealed that divalent metal ions, such as Mg
2+
and Zn
2+
, inhibit 2C-mediated helix destabilization to different extents. Moreover, we determined that EoV 2C also contains ATPase activity like that of other picornaviral 2C proteins and further assessed the functional relevance between its RNA chaperone-like and ATPase activities using mutational analysis as well as their responses to Mg
2+
. Our data show that, when one of the two 2C activities was dramatically inhibited or almost abolished, the other activity could remain intact, showing that the RNA chaperone-like and ATPase activities of EoV 2C can be functionally separated. This report reveals that a picorna-like virus 2C protein displays RNA helix destabilizing and strand annealing acceleration activity, which may be critical for picornaviral replication and pathogenesis, and should foster our understanding of picorna-like viruses and viral RNA chaperones.
KIR2DL4Copy Number Variation Is Associated with CD4+T-Cell Depletion and Function of Cytokine-Producing NK Cell Subsets in SIV-InfectedMamu-A*01-Negative Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Hellmann Ina , Letvin Norman L. , Schmitz Jörn E.
Published: March 2013

Here, we demonstrate thatKIR2DL4copy number variation (CNV) is associated with CD4+T-cell decline and functionality of cytokine-producing NK cells during primary simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection inMamu-A*01−Indian-origin rhesus macaques, with higherKIR2DL4copy numbers being associated with a better preservation of CD4+T cells and an increased gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production from stimulated cytokine-producing NK cell subsets during acute SIVmac251 infection. These findings underscore the crucial role of activating killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in NK cell-mediated SIV responses during early SIV infection.