bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seeking the Pleasure Zone: Understanding Young Adult's Intoxication Culture
Authors: Fry Marie-Louise
Published: December 2010

While drinking in moderation is preferred, the reality is that many young people are deliberately engaging in hedonistic drinking where the ‘buzz’ effect of alcohol has become an important commodity within the contemporary leisure culture. Drawing on qualitative research, this paper analyses young adult's narratives surrounding ‘excessive drinking’ to elucidate the importance of alcohol as an essential ‘pleasure’ commodity within the experience economy. Findings demonstrate alcohol is largely conceptualised as a pleasure state, with pleasure valued as either a state of ‘happiness’ or as a state ‘annihilation’. Seeking alcohol-induced pleasure operates within temporal, spacial and social consumption limits and occurs within a framework of rational cost-benefit analysis. Greater understanding of the impact of pleasure on young adult's alcohol consumption experiences opens up the possibility for creating relevant, realistic, targeted harm reduction policy and practice. To produce an effective policy mix promoting sensible drinking among young people, harm reduction models need to consider the cultural entrenchment of young adult's alcohol consumption and the way they manage their alcohol experiences.
Does minimal access major surgery in the newborn hurt less? An evaluation of cumulative opioid doses
Authors: Ceelie I. , van Dijk M. , Bax N.M.A. , de Wildt S.N. , Tibboell D.
Published: December 2010

Background: Minimal access surgery (MAS) in adults is associated with less postoperative pain in comparison to conventional ‘open’ surgery. It is not known whether this holds true for neonates as well. Less pain would imply that opioid consumption can be reduced, which has a beneficial effect on morbidity.

Aim: To evaluate potential differences in' opioid consumption between neonates undergoing thoracoscopic minimal access surgery or conventional surgery of esophageal atresia (EA) and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we included two controls for each MAS patient, matched on diagnosis, sex and age at surgery. Opioid dose titration was based on validated pain scores (VAS and COMFORT behaviour), applied by protocol. Cumulative opioid doses at 12, 24, 48 h and 7 days postoperatively were compared between groups with the Mann—Whitney test.

Results: The study group consisted of 24 MAS patients (14 EA; 10 CDH). These were matched to 48 control patients (28 EA; 20 CDH). At none of the time points cumulative opioid (median in mg/kg (IQR)) doses significantly differed between MAS patients and controls, both with CDH and EA. For example at 24 h postoperative for CDH patients cumulative opioid doses were [0.84(0.61–1.83) MAS vs. 1.06(0.60–1.36) p =1.0] controls, For EA patients at 24 h the cumulative opioid doses were [0.48(0.30–0.75) MAS vs. 0.49(0.35–0.79) p =0.83] controls. This held true for the postoperative pain scores as well.

Conclusions: Minimal access surgery for the repair of esophageal atresia or congenital diaphragmatic hernia is not associated with less cumulative opioid doses.
Self‐reported sleep duration associated with distraction analgesia, hyperemia, and secondary hyperalgesia in the heat‐capsaicin nociceptive model
Authors: Campbelll Claudia M. , Boundsl Sara C. , Simangol Mpepera B. , Witmerl Kenneth R. , Campbelll James N. , Edwardsl Robert R. , Haythornthwaitel Jennifer A. , Smithl Michael T.
Published: December 2010

Although sleep deprivation is known to heighten pain sensitivity, the mechanisms by which sleep modifies nociception are largely unknown. Few studies of sleep—pain interactions have utilized quantitative sensory testing models that implicate specific underlying physiologic mechanisms. One possibility, which is beginning to receive attention, is that differences in sleep may alter the analgesic effects of distraction. We utilized the heat‐capsaicin nociceptive model to examine whether self‐reported habitual sleep duration is associated with distraction analgesia, the degree of secondary hyperalgesia and skin flare, markers implicating both central and peripheral processes that heighten pain. Twenty‐eight healthy participants completed three experimental sessions in a randomized within subjects design. In the pain only condition, pain was induced for approximately 70‐min via application of heat and capsaicin to the dorsum of the non‐dominant hand. Verbal pain ratings were obtained at regular intervals. In the distraction condition, identical procedures were followed, but during heat‐capsaicin pain, subjects played a series of video games. The third session involved assessing performance on the video games (no capsaicin). Participants indicated their normal self‐reported habitual sleep duration over the past month. Individuals who slept less than 6.5 h/night in the month prior to the study experienced significantly less behavioral analgesia, increased skin flare and augmented secondary hyperalgesia. These findings suggest that reduced sleep time is associated with diminished analgesic benefits from distraction and/or individuals obtaining less sleep have a reduced ability to disengage from pain‐related sensations. The secondary hyperalgesia finding may implicate central involvement, whereas enhanced skin flare response suggests that sleep duration may also impact peripheral inflammatory mechanisms.
Differences in activity‐related behaviour among patients with chronic low back pain
Authors: Huijnenl Ivan P.J. , Verbuntl Jeanine A. , Petersl Madelon L. , Smeetsl Rob J.E.M. , Kindermansl Hanne P.J. , Roelofsl Jeffrey , Goossensl Marielle , Seelenl Henk A.M.
Published: December 2010

The aim of the present study was to compare the subjectively reported and objectively assessed activity‐related characteristics of patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) who were classified according to their scores on the Patterns of Activity Measure‐Pain (POAM‐P) into avoiders, persisters, mixed performers (i.e. high scores on both avoidance and persistence behaviour) or functional performers (i.e. low scores on avoidance and persistence behaviour).

Patients carried an electronic diary during 14 days to assess the self‐reported activity and pain intensity levels in daily life. An accelerometer was used to objectively assess their activity level during the same time period.

Results were available for 79 patients. Avoiders, persisters and mixed performers showed a higher level of self‐reported disability than functional performers. Avoiders were characterized by a low level of self‐reported habitual activities and persisters by long objectively measured daily uptime. The objectively assessed level of physical activity did not differ between the four groups. A further analysis tested the association between pain intensity levels and self‐reported and objectively assessed daily life activity levels in avoiders and persisters. In persisters, a higher level of self‐reported activities in daily life was related to increased pain. The objectively assessed activity level was not associated with pain intensity.
Finitely summable Fredholm modules over higher rank groups and lattices
Authors: Puschnigg Michael
Published: January 2011

We give a classification (up to smooth homotopy) of finitely summable Fredholm representations (Fredholm modules) over higher rank groups and lattices. Our results are a direct consequence of work of Bader, Furman, Gelander and Monod on generalizations of Kazhdan's property T for locally compact groups.
ON THE NUMBER OF POINTS OVER FINITE FIELDS ON VARIETIES RELATED TO CLUSTER ALGEBRAS
Authors: CHAPOTON F.
Published: January 2011

We start here the study of some algebraic varieties related to cluster algebras. These varieties are defined as the fibres of the projection map from the cluster variety to the affine space of coefficients. We compute the number of points over finite fields on these varieties, for all simply laced Dynkin diagrams. We also compute the cohomology with compact support in some cases.
Innovation and productivity in dryland agriculture: a return-risk analysis for Australia
Authors: CARBERRY P. S. , BRUCE S. E. , WALCOTT J. J. , KEATING B. A.
Published: January 2011

Despite a highly variable climate and fragile soils, dryland farming systems in Australia continue to be productive and viable. This review nominates the farming practices, and their development through investment in science and technology, that have helped sustain dryland farming systems in Australia. It sets the context for dryland agriculture in Australia and specifically examines the risks and returns from technological innovations over the past 30 years. It then examines possible sources of productivity gains in the next 20 years.

Australian dryland farming systems have performed favourably compared to the agricultural sectors in most other countries over the past 30 years. Australian Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) has been a significant contributor to the realized agricultural productivity growth over this period. However, growth in the productivity of agriculture appears to have slowed down in the last 10 years: this is partly a result of extended dry conditions and declining growth in public investment in RD&E. It is reflected in slowing rates of technology adoption on broadacre farms and changes in investment confidence of farm owners.

Future productivity gains will require continued strong investment in RD&E to meet current and emerging challenges. Future technologies and policies will help improve productivity by removing inefficiencies, increasing the efficiency of resource use and developing breakthrough innovations.

As evidenced by Australia's success in productivity growth, meeting the global challenge to produce more food in the future will depend partly on investments in RD&E, risk management systems, farmer skill and human capital and policies that encourage efficiency gains.
IDEAL VERSUS ACTUAL: THE CONTRADICTION IN NUMBER OF CHILDREN BORN TO NIGERIAN WOMEN
Authors: IBISOMI LATIFAT , GYIMAH STEPHEN , MUINDI KANYIVA , ADJEI JONES
Published: January 2011

Although desired family size is often different from actual family size, the dynamics of this difference are not well understood. This paper examines the patterns and determinants of the difference between desired and actual number of children (unmet fertility desires) among women aged 15–49 years using pooled data from the 1990, 1999 and 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHSs). The results show that more than two-thirds of the sample have unmet fertility desires (18.1% have more while 52.4% have fewer than desired). It was found that early and late childbearing increased the odds of unmet fertility desires. Also, women with low levels of education, from poor households, rural residents as well as those who had experienced child death were at a higher risk of unmet fertility desires in the multivariate context. The study highlights the policy and programme implications of the findings.
Cloning, expression and characterization of NAD+-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of adult Haemonchus contortus†
Authors: Han K. , Xu L. , Yan R. , Song X. , Li X.
Published: January 2011

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) regulates a wide range of biological processes, including pathogen evasion. In the present research, the GAPDH gene of Haemonchus contortus (HcGAPDH) was cloned and characterized. Specific primers for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) were designed based on the expressed sequence tag (EST, AW670737) to amplify the 3′ and 5′ ends of HcGAPDH. The full length of cDNA from this gene was obtained by overlapping the sequences of 3′ and 5′ extremities and amplification by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The biochemical activities of the recombinant protein HcGAPDH, which was expressed in prokaryotic cells and purified by affinity chromatography, were analysed by assays of enzymatic activity, thermal stability and pH. The results showed that the cloned full-length cDNA comprised 1303 bp and encoded a peptide with 341 amino acid residues which showed sequence similarity to several known GAPDHs. The biochemical assay showed that the protein encoded by the HcGAPDH exhibited enzymatic activity with NAD+ as a cofactor. HcGAPDH was stable between pH 5 and 9 and maintained activity at high temperatures of up to 75°C. The natural GAPDH of Haemonchus contortus detected by immunoblot assay was approximately 38 kDa in size, and the recombinant HcGAPDH was recognized strongly by serum from naturally infected goats.
Beyond Identification of the Topos of Household Management: Reading the Household Codes in Light of Recent Methodologies and Theoretical Perspectives in the Study of the New Testament
Authors: MacDonald Margaret Y.
Published: January 2011

From the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s New Testament scholars produced groundbreaking work illustrating that the household code had its origins in discussions of ‘household management’ among philosophers and moralists from Aristotle onward. Despite this general consensus, many points of disagreement remained, especially with respect to the function of the codes in particular New Testament documents and what the codes reveal about the relationship of Christians with the wider world. This article revisits some of the initial debates and traces their influence on subsequent scholarship. The recognition of the household codes as a type of ‘political’ discourse is of particular interest, as well as its impact on subsequent feminist, political and postcolonial interpretation. The conclusion suggests five promising directions, closely tied to the study of early Christian families, for future analysis of the codes leading to a more complete understanding of household management in a house-church setting.
Non-suicidal self-injury in United States adults: prevalence, sociodemographics, topography and functions
Authors: Klonsky E. D.
Published: January 2011

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has received increased attention in the mental health literature and has been proposed as a diagnostic entity for DSM-5. However, data on NSSI in the United States adult population are lacking.

Method

The prevalence and nature of NSSI were examined in a random-digit dialing sample of 439 adults in the United States. Participants were recruited during July and August of 2008.

Results

Lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 5.9%, including 2.7% who had self-injured five or more times. The 12-month prevalence was 0.9%. Methods of NSSI reported included cutting/carving, burning, biting, scraping/scratching skin, hitting, interfering with wound healing and skin picking. Half of self-injurers reported multiple methods. The average age of onset was 16 years (median 14 years). Instances of NSSI infrequently co-occurred with suicidal thoughts and with use of alcohol or drugs and rarely required medical treatment. Most injurers reported that NSSI functioned to alleviate negative emotions. Fewer reported that they self-injured to punish themselves, to communicate with others/get attention or to escape a situation or responsibility. NSSI was associated with younger age, being unmarried and a history of mental health treatment, but not with gender, ethnicity, educational history or household income.

Conclusions

Results are largely consistent with previous research in adolescent and young adult samples. Study limitations notwithstanding, this study provides the most definitive and detailed information to date regarding the prevalence and characteristics of NSSI in US adults. In the future, it will be important for large-scale epidemiological studies of psychopathology to include questions about NSSI.
Exploring the conceptual and semantic structure of human kinship: An experimental investigation of Chinese kin terms
Authors: Liu Chao , Ge Yue , Mai Xiaoqin , Luo Yue-Jia
Published: January 2011

We designed an experiment to test the application of optimality theory (OT) in kinship terminology studies. Specifically, we examined the OT constraints within a set of behavioral data using Chinese kin terms. The results from this behavioral approach support and extend Jones' linguistic approach by identifying underlying cognitive mechanisms that can explain and predict behavioral responses in kinship identification.
Kinship terms are not kinship
Authors: Bloch Maurice
Published: January 2011

The target paper claims to contribute to the conceptualisation of kinship but is, in fact, only concerned with descriptive kinship terminologies. It uses Optimal Theory to analyse this vocabulary but it is not clear if this is to be understood as a psychological phenomenon. Jones does not make clear how this special vocabulary might relate to kinship in general.
Missionary Albert Kruyt and Colonial Modernity in the Dutch East Indies
Authors: Coté Joost
Published: January 2011

Intense debates emerged in the Dutch East Indies during the course of the third decade of the twentieth century concerning the role of missionaries in the development of the Outer Islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Ostensibly concerning “native welfare”, disagreement fundamentally reflected underlying fractures within the Dutch nation, projected through its “colonial mission” concerning the nature of modernity. While the main focus appeared to be a disagreement concerning the goals of mission and government agencies, it would be too simplistic to characterise the debate as one between adherents of a secular versus a religious world view. This paper considers the question of “missions and modernity” in the context of this debate about “native development” in the Dutch East Indies through the prism of the Poso mission in Central Sulawesi, headed by missionary Albert Kruyt, one of the foremost missionaries of his day.
Foreign intervention and warfare in civil wars
Authors: LOCKYER ADAM
Published: January 2011

This article explains how foreign assistance to one or both sides in a civil war influences the dynamics of the conflict. It submits that external assistance has the potential of affecting the military capabilities available to the belligerents. It then argues that the balance of those capabilities impacts significantly on whether the warfare in a civil war assumes a conventional, guerrilla or irregular form. These theoretical assertions are tested against the case of the Angolan Civil War. It is shown that during that war, variations in the form of warfare correlated closely to the type, degree, and direction of foreign intervention given to each of the belligerents.
‘Freedom’ through repression: epistemic closure in agricultural trade negotiations
Authors: GRUIN JULIAN
Published: January 2011

A central concern of critical theory is that of how the forces of Modern reason cause certain logics to become reified in the name of rational progress. Two such logics – the ongoing spread of liberal capitalism, and territorial particularism – are simultaneously embodied within social institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) that regulate the global economy, a phenomenon that occurs on the premise of maximising global welfare. Building upon a critical reading of Jürgen Habermas' theory of communicative action, this article undertakes an empirical immanent critique of the extent to which such logics repress the possibility of normative imperatives being considered within agricultural trade negotiations. Specifically, it argues that the dialectic of functionalist and communicative rationality, operating as a theoretical heuristic, reveals that the DDA is susceptible to an ethical indictment that arises from its inability to countenance the alternatives to the dual logics of neo-liberalism and state-interest that could otherwise emerge from a free and rational discussion. The nature of the WTO as a site of social action is revealed to be that of a closed epistemic community in which important normative claims are repressed, and as such, one in which the underlying rational bases for communication are fundamentally distorted.
Automatic feature recognition using artificial neural networks to integrate design and manufacturing: Review of automatic feature recognition systems
Authors: Babić Bojan R. , Nešić Nenad , Miljković Zoran
Published: January 2011

Feature technology is considered an essential tool for integrating design and manufacturing. Automatic feature recognition (AFR) has provided the greatest contribution to fully automated computer-aided process planning system development. The objective of this paper is to review approaches based on application of artificial neural networks for solving major AFR problems. The analysis presented in this paper shows which approaches are suitable for different individual applications and how far away we are from the formation of a general AFR algorithm.
A clinical specimen collection and transport medium for molecular diagnostic and genomic applications
Authors: DAUM L. T. , WORTHY S. A. , YIM K. C. , NOGUERAS M. , SCHUMAN R. F. , CHOI Y. W. , FISCHER G. W.
Published: January 2011

Pathogen detection and genetic characterization has dramatically changed in recent years. Clinical laboratories are transitioning from traditional culture and primer-specific sequencing to more robust and rapid nucleic acid testing such as real-time PCR and meta-genomic characterization, respectively. Specimen collection is the first step in any downstream molecular diagnostic procedure. PrimeStore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) is an optimized blend of nucleic acid stabilizing reagents that includes a non-specific internal positive control that can be amplified using real-time RT–PCR for tracking the integrity of a specimen from the point of collection to detection. PrimeStore MTM is shown here to effectively kill pathogens, including highly pathogenic H5 influenza virus, inactivate nucleases and to protect and preserve released RNA at ambient temperature for up to 30 days for downstream real-time and traditional RT–PCR detection and genetic characterization. PrimeStore MTM is also compatible with a variety of commercial extraction kits. PrimeStore is suited for routine clinical specimens and has added utility for field collection in remote areas, triage centres, border crossings and during pandemics where cold-chain, transport, and dissemination of potentially infectious pathogens are a concern.
Risk factors for symptomatic and asymptomatic norovirus infection in the community
Authors: PHILLIPS G. , TAM C. C. , RODRIGUES L. C. , LOPMAN B.
Published: January 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate risk factors for norovirus-associated infectious intestinal disease (IID) and asymptomatic norovirus infection. Individuals with IID and healthy controls were recruited in a community-based study in England (1993–1996). This is the first risk-factor study to use viral load measurements, generated by real-time RT–PCR, to identify cases of norovirus-associated IID and asymptomatic infections. Using multivariable logistic regression the main risk factor identified for norovirus-associated IID was contact with a person with IID symptoms. Infectious contacts accounted for 54% of norovirus cases in young children and 39% of norovirus cases in older children and adults. For young children, contacts outside the household presented the highest risk; for older children and adults, the highest risk was associated with child contacts inside the household. Foreign travel and consumption of shellfish increased the risk of norovirus-associated IID. Lifestyle and dietary factors were associated with a decreased risk of both norovirus-associated IID and asymptomatic infection. No risk factors were identified for asymptomatic norovirus infection.
Neuropsychological Clustering Highlights Cognitive Differences In Young People Presenting With Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Hermens Daniel F. , Redoblado Hodge M. Antoinette , Naismith Sharon L. , Kaur Manreena , Scott Elizabeth , Hickie Ian B.
Published: January 2011

Early stages of affective or psychotic disorders may be accompanied by neuropsychological changes that help to predict risk of developing more severe disorders. A comprehensive set of neuropsychological measures was collected in 109 help-seeking young people (16 to 30 years; 54 females), recently diagnosed with an affective or psychotic disorder and presenting with current depression. Hierarchical cluster analysis determined three clusters: one deemed to have a “poor memory” profile (n= 40); another with a “poor mental flexibility” profile (n= 38) and a third with widespread difficulties plus “impaired attention and memory” (n= 31). In general, the three clusters were comparable in demographic, functional and clinical factors suggesting some unique role for neurocognitive impairments. A discriminant function analysis confirmed that the clusters were best characterized by performance in “attentional”versus“learning/memory” measures. Furthermore, profiles of independent neuropsychological variables validated the original solution for two of the clusters, distinguishing all cluster-groups on an attentional measure. The findings of this study suggest that despite presenting with very similar levels of current depressive symptomatology, young help-seeking individuals in the early stages of illness have underlying neuropsychological heterogeneity. Distinct neuropsychological profiling may help to predict later psychiatric outcomes and enhance individually-tailored early intervention strategies. (JINS, 2011,17, 267–276)
Cognitive and Functional Outcome After Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Alexander Michael P. , Lafleche Ginette , Schnyer David , Lim Chun , Verfaellie Mieke
Published: January 2011

The nature of residual cognitive deficits after out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is incompletely described and has never been defined against a cardiac control (CC) group. The objective of this study is to examine neuropsychological outcomes 3 months after OHCA in patients in a “middle range” of acute severity. Thirty prospective OHCA admissions with coma >1 day and responsive but confused at 1 week, and 30 non-OHCA coronary care admissions were administered standard tests in five cognitive domains. OHCA subjects fell into two deficit profiles. One group (N= 20) had mild memory deficits and borderline psychomotor deficits compared to the CC group; 40% had returned to work. The other group (N= 10) had severe impairments in all domains. Coma duration was associated with group. Neither group had a high prevalence of depression. For most patients within the “middle range” of acute severity of OHCA, cognitive and functional outcomes at 3 months were encouraging. (JINS, 2011,17, 364–368)
LABOR SUPPLY AND GROWTH EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY UNDER TECHNOLOGICAL RISK
Authors: Clemens Christiane , Pittel Karen
Published: January 2011

This paper analyzes the effects of technological risk on long-run growth when labor supply is elastic and production gives rise to a pollution externality. We show that the randomness of production, as well as the endogeneity of labor supply, affects the equilibrium solutions for the social planner and for the market economy. We analyze the effects of environmental policy, discuss conditions for an optimal policy, and find that the response of labor supply to changes in the model parameters and to variations in the policy instruments crucially depends on the volatility of output.
Schoolchildren in the Principality of Liechtenstein are mildly iodine deficient
Authors: Hilty Florentine M , Zimmermann Michael B
Published: January 2011

Objective

To investigate the iodine status of schoolchildren in the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Design

A representative, cross-sectional principality-wide screening of iodine level in household salt and urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) in primary-school children. Data were compared with the WHO criteria and with 2009 iodine survey data from Switzerland, a neighbouring country that supplies most of the salt used in Liechtenstein.

Settings

Principality of Liechtenstein.

Subjects

Schoolchildren (n228) aged 6–12 years from five different primary schools representing 11·4 % of the children at this age.

Results

The median UIC was 96 (range: 10–446) μg/l; 11 %, 56 % and 1 % of children had a UIC <50, <100 and >300 μg/l, respectively. In all, 79 % of households were using adequately iodised salt (≥15 ppm). The median UIC was 20 % lower than that in children at comparable age in Switzerland (120 μg/l;P< 0·05).

Conclusions

According to the WHO criteria, schoolchildren in Liechtenstein are mildly iodine deficient and household iodised salt coverage is inadequate. Public health measures to increase iodine intakes in the Principality should be considered.
Astrocyte proximity modulates the myelination gene fabric of oligodendrocytes
Authors: Iacobas Sanda , Iacobas Dumitru A.
Published: January 2011

Extensive literature documented that astrocytes release neurotransmitters, cytokines and other signaling molecules to modulate migration, maturation and myelin synthesis of oligodendrocytes through mechanisms primarily converging on cytosolic [Ca2+] transients. Considering the long-term effects, it is expected that astrocyte-conditioned medium is a major regulator of gene expression in oligodendrocytes even in the absence of cytosol-to-cytosol communication via astrocyte–oligodendrocyte gap junction channels. Indeed, by comparing the transcriptomes of immortalized precursor oligodendrocyte (Oli-neu) cells when cultured alone and co-cultured with non-touching astrocytes we found profound changes in the gene expression level, control and networking. Remarkably, the astrocyte proximity was more effective in remodeling the myelination (MYE) gene fabric and its control by cytokine receptor (CYR)-modulated intercellular Ca2+-signaling (ICS) transcriptomic network than the dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) treatment-induced transformation into myelin-associated glycoprotein-positive oligodendrocyte-like cells. Moreover, astrocyte proximity up-regulated 37 MYE genes and switched on another 14 MYE, 23 ICS and 4 CYR genes, enhancing the roles of the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor and connexins Cx29 and Cx47. The novel prominent gene analysis identified the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 as the most relevant MYE gene in the astrocyte proximity, notch gene homolog 1 in control and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 in differentiated Oli-neu cells.
Development of functional units within trigeminal ganglia correlates with increased expression of proteins involved in neuron–glia interactions
Authors: Durham Paul L. , Garrett F.G.
Published: January 2011

Cell bodies of trigeminal nerves, which are located in the trigeminal ganglion, are completely surrounded by satellite glial cells and together form a functional unit that regulates neuronal excitability. The goals of this study were to investigate the cellular organization of the rat trigeminal ganglia during postnatal development and correlate those findings with expression of proteins implicated in neuron–glia interactions. During postnatal development there was an increase in the volume of the neuronal cell body, which correlated with a steady increase in the number of glial cells associated with an individual neuron from an average of 2.16 at birth to 7.35 on day 56 in young adults. Interestingly, while the levels of the inwardly rectifying K+channel Kir4.1 were barely detectable during the first week, its expression in satellite glial cells increased by day 9 and correlated with initial formation of functional units. Similarly, expression of the vesicle docking protein SNAP-25 and neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide was readily detected beginning on day 9 and remained elevated throughout postnatal development. Based on our findings, we propose that the expression of proteins involved in facilitating neuron–glia interactions temporally correlates with the formation of mature functional units during postnatal development of trigeminal ganglion.
Applying of novel subtracted method Genetically Directed Differential Subtraction Chain (GDDSC) in plant genomes
Authors: Siedlecka Ewa , Hromada-Judycka Aneta , Pawełkowicz Magdalena , Wóycicki Rafał , Rakoczy-Trojanowska Monika , Przybecki Zbigniew
Published: December 2010

We present a simple subtraction procedure of GDDSC as a modification of the original DSC and GDRDA methods. Genetically Directed Differential Subtraction Chain (GDDSC) is a process by which highly related genomes are compared in order to isolate tags carrying the polymorphisms.To detect specific DNA fragment (tag), we can then monitor offspring plants for efficient molecular breeding. The GDDSC protocol was applied to isolation of new sex related clones from cucumber plants (Cucumissativus L.) and new tissue culture response clones from rye (Secalecereale L.). The newly identified tags, obtained by GDDSC represent pools of candidate genes and other sequences, which could serve as potential markers for requested traits.
Gas phase enthalpies of formation for aminonitroacetylene, aminonitromethane, and diaminodinitromethane: A Gaussian-4 (G4) theoretical study
Authors: Rayne Sierra , Forest Kaya
Published: December 2010

Gas phase (298.15 K, 1 atm) enthalpies of formation were calculated at the Gaussian-4 (G4) level of theory using the atomization energy approach for the proposed high energy materials aminonitroacetylene (284.0 to 285.7 kJ/mol), aminonitromethane (-66.4 to -65.0 kJ/mol), and diaminodinitromethane (-84.0 to -81.6 kJ/mol). The results are in good agreement with prior G2 and G3 level estimates, and should help constrain the actual enthalpies of formation for these potential HEMs.
Wavelengths, Transition Probabilities, and Energy Levels for the Spectra of Barium (BaIII through BaLVI)
Authors: Sansonetti J. E. , Curry J. J.
Published: December 2010

Energy levels, with designations and uncertainties, have been compiled for the spectra of barium (Z=56) ions from doubly ionized to hydrogenlike. Wavelengths with classifications, intensities, and transition probabilities are also tabulated. In addition, ground states and ionization energies are listed. For many ionization stages experimental data are available; however, for those for which only theoretical calculations or fitted values exist, these are reported. There are a few ionization stages for which only a calculated ionization potential is available.
Optofluidic planar reactors for photocatalytic water treatment using solar energy
Authors: Lei Lei , Wang Ning , Zhang X. M. , Tai Qidong , Tsai Din Ping , Chan Helen L. W.
Published: December 2010

Optofluidics may hold the key to greater success of photocatalytic water treatment. This is evidenced by our findings in this paper that the planar microfluidic reactor can overcome the limitations of mass transfer and photon transfer in the previous photocatalytic reactors and improve the photoreaction efficiency by more than 100 times. The microreactor has a planar chamber (5 cm×1.8 cm×100 μm) enclosed by two TiO2-coated glass slides as the top cover and bottom substrate and a microstructured UV-cured NOA81 layer as the sealant and flow input/output. In experiment, the microreactor achieves 30% degradation of 3 ml 3×10−5M methylene blue within 5 min and shows a reaction rate constant two orders higher than the bulk reactor. Under optimized conditions, a reaction rate of 8% s−1 is achieved under solar irradiation. The average apparent quantum efficiency is found to be only 0.25%, but the effective apparent quantum efficiency reaches as high as 25%. Optofluidic reactors inherit the merits of microfluidics, such as large surface/volume ratio, easy flow control, and rapid fabrication and offer a promising prospect for large-volume photocatalytic water treatment.
Optofluidic microcavities: Dye-lasers and biosensors
Authors: Chen Y. , Lei L. , Zhang K. , Shi J. , Wang L. , Li H. , Zhang X. M. , Wang Y. , Chan H. L. W.
Published: December 2010

Optofluidic microcavities are integrated elements of microfluidics that can be explored for a large variety of applications. In this review, we first introduce the physics basis of optical microcavities and microflow control. Then, we describe four types of optofluidic dye lasers developed so far based on both simple and advanced device fabrication technologies. To illustrate the application potential of such devices, we present two types of laser intracavity measurements for chemical solution and single cell analyses. In addition, the possibility of single molecule detection is discussed. All these recent achievements demonstrated the great importance of the topics in biology and several other disciplines.
Optofluidic refractometer using resonant optical tunneling effect
Authors: Jian A. Q. , Zhang X. M. , Zhu W. M. , Yu M.
Published: December 2010

This paper presents the design and analysis of a liquid refractive index sensor that utilizes a unique physical mechanism of resonant optical tunneling effect (ROTE). The sensor consists of two hemicylindrical prisms, two air gaps, and a microfluidic channel. All parts can be microfabricated using an optical resin NOA81. Theoretical study shows that this ROTE sensor has extremely sharp transmission peak and achieves a sensitivity of 760 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and a detectivity of 85 000 RIU−1. Although the sensitivity is smaller than that of a typical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor (3200 nm/RIU) and is comparable to a 95% reflectivity Fabry–Pérot (FP) etalon (440 nm/RIU), the detectivity is 17 000 times larger than that of the SPR sensor and 85 times larger than that of the FP etalon. Such ROTE sensor could potentially achieve an ultrahigh sensitivity of 10−9 RIU, two orders higher than the best results of current methods.
Cell differentiation modeled via a coupled two-switch regulatory network
Authors: Schittler D. , Hasenauer J. , Allgöwer F. , Waldherr S.
Published: December 2010

Mesenchymal stem cells can give rise to bone and other tissue cells, but their differentiation still escapes full control. In this paper we address this issue by mathematical modeling. We present a model for a genetic switch determining the cell fate of progenitor cells which can differentiate into osteoblasts (bone cells) or chondrocytes (cartilage cells). The model consists of two switch mechanisms and reproduces the experimentally observed three stable equilibrium states: a progenitor, an osteogenic, and a chondrogenic state. Conventionally, the loss of an intermediate (progenitor) state and the entailed attraction to one of two opposite (differentiated) states is modeled as a result of changing parameters. In our model in contrast, we achieve this by distributing the differentiation process to two functional switch parts acting in concert: one triggering differentiation and the other determining cell fate. Via stability and bifurcation analysis, we investigate the effects of biochemical stimuli associated with different system inputs. We employ our model to generate differentiation scenarios on the single cell as well as on the cell population level. The single cell scenarios allow to reconstruct the switching upon extrinsic signals, whereas the cell population scenarios provide a framework to identify the impact of intrinsic properties and the limiting factors for successful differentiation.
Portable laser speckle perfusion imaging system based on digital signal processor
Authors: Tang Xuejun , Feng Nengyun , Sun Xiaoli , Li Pengcheng , Luo Qingming
Published: December 2010

The ability to monitor blood flow in vivo is of major importance in clinical diagnosis and in basic researches of life science. As a noninvasive full-field technique without the need of scanning, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is widely used to study blood flow with high spatial and temporal resolution. Current LSCI systems are based on personal computers for image processing with large size, which potentially limit the widespread clinical utility. The need for portable laser speckle contrast imaging system that does not compromise processing efficiency is crucial in clinical diagnosis. However, the processing of laser speckle contrast images is time-consuming due to the heavy calculation for enormous high-resolution image data. To address this problem, a portable laser speckle perfusion imaging system based on digital signal processor (DSP) and the algorithm which is suitable for DSP is described. With highly integrated DSP and the algorithm, we have markedly reduced the size and weight of the system as well as its energy consumption while preserving the high processing speed. In vivo experiments demonstrate that our portable laser speckle perfusion imaging system can obtain blood flow images at 25 frames per second with the resolution of 640 × 480 pixels. The portable and lightweight features make it capable of being adapted to a wide variety of application areas such as research laboratory, operating room, ambulance, and even disaster site.
Two-color optical charge-coupled-device–based pyrometer using a two-peak filter
Authors: Fu Tairan , Zhao Huan , Zeng Jun , Zhong Maohua , Shi Congling
Published: December 2010

A two-color optical charge-coupled-device (CCD)–based pyrometer was developed using a multipeak interference filter with a color CCD sensor to measure multicolor signals with specified wavelengths. The effective and simple method adjusts the fixed spectrum response characteristics of a color CCD to allow improved temperature measurements. This pyrometer system not only has the advantage of traditional two-color (two-wavelength) pyrometry, but also overcomes the restrictions of color CCDs that can only be applied in waveband measurements. The measurement performance of the system using a two-peak filter \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$(\lambda _1 = 643\,{\rm nm,}\;\lambda _2 = 564\,{\rm nm})$\end{document}(λ1=643 nm ,λ2=564 nm ) was evaluated by blackbody experiments. The results show that the low temperature detection limit is increased about 200 K with an increase in the sensitivity of the measured signals compared with the original system without two-peak filter [Fu, et al., Opt. Laser Technol. 42, 586 (2010)]. And the effective temperature range is also increased when T > 1233 K. The measured ratio \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$C_{\rm R} /C_{\rm G} $\end{document}CR/CG is monotonically relative to the temperature, which simplifies the measurements. The temperature sensitivity of 2.49 is larger and more uniform than the temperature sensitivity of 1.36 in the previous original system. Thus, the measurement performance of the new system is greatly improved. Finally, as an application, the surface temperature distribution of stainless steel sample in hot environments was determined by this new CCD-based pyrometer. The results agree well with the spectrometer-based results and further verify the applicability of the new system.
Emergence of modularity and disassortativity in protein-protein interaction networks
Authors: Wan Xi , Cai Shuiming , Zhou Jin , Liu Zengrong
Published: December 2010

In this paper, we present a simple evolution model of protein-protein interaction networks by introducing a rule of small-preference duplication of a node, meaning that the probability of a node chosen to duplicate is inversely proportional to its degree, and subsequent divergence plus nonuniform heterodimerization based on some plausible mechanisms in biology. We show that our model cannot only reproduce scale-free connectivity and small-world pattern, but also exhibit hierarchical modularity and disassortativity. After comparing the features of our model with those of real protein-protein interaction networks, we believe that our model can provide relevant insights into the mechanism underlying the evolution of protein-protein interaction networks.
A cutoff phenomenon in accelerated stochastic simulations of chemical kinetics via flow averaging (FLAVOR-SSA)
Authors: Bayati Basil , Owhadi Houman , Koumoutsakos Petros
Published: December 2010

We present a simple algorithm for the simulation of stiff, discrete-space, continuous-time Markov processes. The algorithm is based on the concept of flow averaging for the integration of stiff ordinary and stochastic differential equations and ultimately leads to a straightforward variation of the the well-known stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA). The speedup that can be achieved by the present algorithm [flow averaging integrator SSA (FLAVOR-SSA)] over the classical SSA comes naturally at the expense of its accuracy. The error of the proposed method exhibits a cutoff phenomenon as a function of its speed-up, allowing for optimal tuning. Two numerical examples from chemical kinetics are provided to illustrate the efficiency of the method.
Cardiovascular regulation during sleep quantified by symbolic coupling traces
Authors: Suhrbier A. , Riedl M. , Malberg H. , Penzel T. , Bretthauer G. , Kurths J. , Wessel N.
Published: December 2010

Sleep is a complex regulated process with short periods of wakefulness and different sleep stages. These sleep stages modulate autonomous functions such as blood pressure and heart rate. The method of symbolic coupling traces (SCT) is used to analyze and quantify time-delayed coupling of these measurements during different sleep stages. The symbolic coupling traces, defined as the symmetric and diametric traces of the bivariate word distribution matrix, allow the quantification of time-delayed coupling. In this paper, the method is applied to heart rate and systolic blood pressure time series during different sleep stages for healthy controls as well as for normotensive and hypertensive patients with sleep apneas. Using the SCT, significant different cardiovascular mechanisms not only between the deep sleep and the other sleep stages but also between healthy subjects and patients can be revealed. The SCT method is applied to model systems, compared with established methods, such as cross correlation, mutual information, and cross recurrence analysis and demonstrates its advantages especially for nonstationary physiological data. As a result, SCT proves to be more specific in detecting delays of directional interactions than standard coupling analysis methods and yields additional information which cannot be measured by standard parameters of heart rate and blood pressure variability. The proposed method may help to indicate the pathological changes in cardiovascular regulation and also the effects of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on the cardiovascular system.
Adaptive functional systems: Learning with chaos
Authors: Komarov M. A. , Osipov G. V. , Burtsev M. S.
Published: December 2010

We propose a new model of adaptive behavior that combines a winnerless competition principle and chaos to learn new functional systems. The model consists of a complex network of nonlinear dynamical elements producing sequences of goal-directed actions. Each element describes dynamics and activity of the functional system which is supposed to be a distributed set of interacting physiological elements such as nerve or muscle that cooperates to obtain certain goal at the level of the whole organism. During “normal” behavior, the dynamics of the system follows heteroclinic channels, but in the novel situation chaotic search is activated and a new channel leading to the target state is gradually created simulating the process of learning. The model was tested in single and multigoal environments and had demonstrated a good potential for generation of new adaptations.