bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marble in Oesophagus of Neonate: A Unique and Unprecedented Case Report
Authors: Ehtesham H.N. Sayyed , Beg Mohammed Haneef , Haseen Azam , Akhtar Sadik
Published: November 2015

One of the most serious causes of morbidity and mortality in children below 5 years of age are swallowed and inhaled foreign bodies. Children of age 5month – 8years are at vary high risk of foreign body ingestion. Ingestion of foreign body in neonatal period is although rare. We here by describe a 21-day-old neonate who had a large sized spherical glass marble impacted in the cervical oesophagus for a long period. The foreign body was successfully removed by rigid oesophagoscopy. The case is discussed as it was first large sized spherical glass marble to be impacted and removed from cervical oesophagus of a neonate which has not been earlier reported in world English literature.
Evidence in Czech research evaluation policy: measured and contested
Authors: Sima Karel
Published: November 2015

The Czech research evaluation policy was rooted in an instrumental paradigm of policy process and evidence embodied in metrics-based cost-benefit logic. But this framework disintegrated when confronted with actual institutional interests. Based on the ethnography of university departments, this study shows how academics challenged the notion of evidence for evaluation. It is argued that research policy should be studied as an arena of conflicting group and individual interests, where policy process is regarded as a contested meaning-making process rather than a rational-technical one. It is demonstrated that the role of evidence in research evaluation policies is situational according to the knowledge regimes of the academic communities involved.
Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) Mapping Coupled with Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) for Studying the Miscibility of Chlorobutyl Rubber/Polyamide-12 Blends
Authors: Tang Yongjiao , Jing Nan , Zhang Pudun
Published: November 2015

A series of chlorobutyl rubber/polyamide-12 (CIIR/PA-12) blends compatibilized by different amounts of maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) were investigated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) mapping. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) was used to process the FT-IR images. Both the spectra of pure components in the blends and their concentration distributions in a micro-region were acquired. Our results demonstrated that the blend with 15 parts per hundred rubber PP-g-MAH showed the best miscibility. An amide interphase and an imide interphase were inferred by analyzing the spectra of MCR component 3 of the blends with and without PP-g-MAH, respectively. Correspondingly, two different compatibilizing mechanisms were proposed for these blends.
Accuracy of Noninvasive Glucose Sensing Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Jin , Liu Rong , Xu Kexin
Published: November 2015

The noninvasive sensing of the blood glucose concentration is usually based on optical, electrical, or acoustical signals induced by blood glucose; these signals are extremely weak and subject to fluctuations caused by the variation in the body or surroundings. Therefore, it is challenging to detect blood glucose noninvasively with high accuracy, and no successful accurate and noninvasive clinical application has been reported. We found that there are two key measurement issues to be addressed: systematic errors, such as the errors induced by the drifts of devices or by variations in body temperature, among others, are too large to guarantee the trueness of measurement at present; and random disturbances in repeated tests, such as disturbances associated with variations in the human–machine interface, pulses, and the thermal noise of the devices, cause larger repeated measurement errors and compromise precision. Recent novel reference measurements based on differential near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy are considered promising for solving the systematic error issue by establishing matched references, collected at another detection site or at another time, and subsequently differencing to remove the common systematic errors. However, differencing weakens the signal of interest itself and enlarges the effects of the second issue, random disturbances affecting the precision. It is understood that only reference measurements that can meet the precision requirement will be promising for future applications. Therefore, this study quantitatively evaluates the precision of the main differential NIR spectroscopy measurements considering similar conditions and minimized random disturbances. The precision of the measurements under these conditions should represent their optimal precision levels. After the evaluation, noninvasive glucose-sensing methods that hold promise for future clinical application are proposed. Finally, the evaluation criteria could be a reference for the noninvasive detection of other physiological components.
Imaging of Hydrophilicity and its Inhomogeneity on a Titanium Dioxide Film Exposed to Ultraviolet Irradiation Using a Newly Developed Near-Infrared Camera
Authors: Tanabe Ichiro , Ishikawa Daitaro , Furukawa Daiki , Ishigaki Mika , Goto Takeyoshi , Morishima Tetsu , Okuno Toshiaki , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: November 2015

This study has investigated hydrophilicity changes and their inhomogeneity of TiO2 films on Pyrex glasses by near-infrared (NIR) spectral imaging. Near-infrared spectra of TiO2 films in the 9000–4000 cm−1 region were measured using a newly developed NIR camera named Compovision. A band in the 5400–4800 cm−1 region, which is assigned to a combination ( v2 + v3) mode of bending ( v2) and antisymmetric stretching ( v3) modes of the H2O molecule, was clearly identified and its intensity increased with time in the air. It is interesting that the increased rate rose with ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation (300–400 nm, 1 mW cm−2) compared to without UV light irradiation. This result suggested that the hydrophilicity of TiO2 was enhanced about twice upon the UV light irradiation. Moreover, the NIR images clarified spatial distributions of the hydrophilicity on the TiO2 surface with a significantly wide area (20 × 40 mm) and a high speed (within 5 s for one image). This rapid imaging system enabled us to detect the hydrophilicity change during only 1 min. The potential of this camera is quite superior, not only for basic research, but also for diverse industrial applications.
Application of Low- and Mid-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy to Characterize the Amorphous-Crystalline Transformation of Indomethacin
Authors: Larkin Peter J. , Wasylyk John , Raglione Michaella
Published: November 2015

Raman spectroscopy using the mid-frequency (1800–1500 cm−1) and low-frequency (200–8 cm−1) spectral regions is used to study the transformation of amorphous indomethacin (IND) to the γ-crystalline form. The low-frequency spectral region provides access to collective vibrations of molecules in the crystalline and amorphous state, while the mid-frequency spectral region provides access to the molecular vibrations that are sensitive to the local functional group environment. Both spectral regions provide distinct Raman bands for the amorphous and crystalline forms of IND. The more intense low-frequency Raman bands provide greater sensitivity for detecting the onset of crystallization in an amorphous matrix. Subtle differences in the behavior of the initial crystalline process of IND are observed between the low-frequency and mid-frequency Raman bands. These observations suggest that different responses for mid- and low-frequency Raman bands occur for the microcrystalline domains present during the initial crystallization process. The suitability of low-frequency Raman spectroscopy to monitor IND in a suspension was demonstrated. This suggests that the technique will be a valuable tool for at-line and on-line monitoring of active pharmaceutical ingredient crystallization.
The bookbinding workshop: Making as collaborative pedagogic practice
Authors: Kealy-Morris Elizabeth
Published: November 2015

This article will consider student engagement through collaborative teaching and learning practices I have developed within a series of bookbinding workshops in which I acquire new skills alongside my students. The bookbinding workshop developed from my desire to seek ways to engage with and alongside students in my practice and research to ground my own making within my pedagogic practice. In this way students are not being ‘instructed’ by a skilled specialist but rather collaborating with a committed enthusiast and researcher learning from their practice and experience. This article will discuss the impact these workshops have had on participating students, their practice and their sense of ‘creative self’ through the analysis of anonymous surveys carried over the span of two years.
Exploring evidence-based practice with external partners: Research development and the ADMHEA northwest network
Authors: Fernie-Clarke Jill , Thomas Barbara
Published: November 2015

This article reflects upon the development of partnerships, initiated in 2005 by one of the authors, through existing links with the then Subject Centre for Art Design and Media of the Higher Education Academy (ADM-HEA). Essentially descriptive and reflective, it looks at the factors contributing to the evolution of collaborative activity over a number of evidence-based projects between 2005 and 2011 and aims to suggest a staged generic model for cross-institutional collaborative working that can be used by first-time researchers new to working in this way. A special feature of the partnerships reflected upon is the non-hierarchical dimension, collaborative working between staff operating at a range of levels in a variety of contexts in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including Higher Education in Further Education (HE in FE). The varied constituency of the network could be described as innovative in that it facilitates a range of formal and informal exchanges, cuts across institutional hierarchies and disciplines within Art, Design and Media subjects, and allows for both the interests of individuals and institutional agendas. Here, the means by which this diversity and collaboration has been achieved is described and explored, as is the role of the network’s HEA-inspired focus on evidence-based practice in the process by which projects for this type of research activity have been conceived, bids written, funding sought and dissemination of the findings accomplished, providing a potential model for colleagues wishing to undertake similar cross-institutional, evidencebased, collaborative activity.
Graphic Design Educators’ Network: Re-establishing the purpose and value of a graphic design subject association
Authors: Burns Justin , Corazzo James , Hardie Kirsten , Harland Robert , Raven Darren
Published: November 2015

This report discusses the Graphic Design Educators’ Network (GDEN): a fledgling subject association that has pedagogic practice, research and scholarship at its heart. The rationale and impetus for creating the network – its origins, development, aims and objectives – are discussed in relation to a number of key contexts and perspectives.
Reviews
Authors: Pryde-Jarman Dr Daniel , Durling David
Published: November 2015

Museums and Higher Education Working Together: Ch allenges and Opportunities, Anne Boddington, Jos Boys and Catherine Speight (eds) (2013) Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 236 pp., ISBN: 9781409448761, h/bk, £65

Design Pedagogy: Developments in Art and Design Ed ucation, M. Tovey (ed.) (2015) Surrey: Gower, 290 pp., ISBN: 9781472415981, h/bk, £70
Journalists do live in a parallel universe: A response to practitioner critiques of journalism academics
Authors: Lugo-Ocando Jairo
Published: November 2015

The Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies (AJMS) is devoted to research with an applied angle in which a clear link is made between the prevalent theories and paradigms that media and communication scholars work with, and the real world where media and communication activities take place. Media and journalism scholars rarely cooperate with the actors with a say in media production. The actors broadly ‘resent’ or discard scholarly work that theorizes and interprets their practice. In an attempt to bridge this gap, AJMS has been and will be open to submissions by both practitioners and academics. It has published many articles by practitioners, which broadly have been critical of academic writings about journalism as theory and practice. Dr Jairo Lugo-Ocando of the University of Leeds, who himself was a reporter and editor before joining academia, comes to academia’s defence. While not absolving academics of the blame for lack of cooperation, he believes journalists also bear the brunt of the failure in rendering scholarly material useful and relevant to their profession.
Exploring the ethical challenge of media ownership: Is Nigerian media’s role in good governance possible?
Authors: Omenugha Kate Azuka , Uzuegbunam Chikezie Emmanuel
Published: November 2015

Fundamental to the litany of Africa’s development issues is the crisis of governance. Naturally, good governance resonates as a panacea for this situation. In this, the role of the media as the bastion of democracy is indubitable. This article with focus on Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, situates the interplay of good governance and media practices within the media ownership debate. It argues that ownership patterns, pressures and politics have, for a long time, challenged the consistent and committed role of the media in deepening our march towards good governance. With clear case studies of media performances in the country over time, the article contends that the media might not totally be ready to take on the saddle of driving the democratic goals, as a result of the influence of ethnic/religious affiliation, political interest/affiliation and economic interest arising from the ownership shackles. The article returns a verdict of collective responsibility – viewing the failings of the media within the larger context of the failings of the social system in which the media are embedded.
How to deal with the Black Sheep? An evaluation of journalists’ reactions towards intentional selfscandalization by politicians
Authors: Haller André
Published: November 2015

Under normal circumstances scandals are negative events for the scandalized persons or institutions. The communication of transgressions of norms or values, followed by public outrage is the beginning of a scandal. Media plays the most important role in what science calls ‘media scandal’, ‘mediated scandal’ or ‘mediatized scandal’. The scandalized players have to react to the accusations; therefore they have to use the media to reach a broad public. Journalists have the power to control which players have the right to speak and how the scandal is communicated to the public. This article will show a new form of scandal, the so called intentional self-scandalization.1 That type of scandal, which will be shown in the field of political communication, is produced on purpose by the scandalized politicians to achieve certain communicative goals. The theory will then be demonstrated using a concrete example, the scandal of a racial campaign in Switzerland in the year 2007. The article identifies three possible reactions by journalists to this special form of scandal: Scandalizing the intended transgression, ignoring it or thematizing the strategy of the scandalized player. The text will also analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the patterns.
Native son? Comparing coverage of Barack Obama’s birthplace controversy in Hawaiian, Kenyan and Washington, DC, media
Authors: Schaefer Todd M. , Fordan Robert
Published: November 2015

This study utilizes a comparative, content analysis of coverage of the Obama ‘Birther’ controversy from 2008 to 2012 in newspapers from relevant geographic locales – Hawaii, Kenya and Washington, DC – in order to determine whether and how localism impacted the framing and portrayal of the dispute to different audiences, as well as to see how responsibly journalists treated this topic. There were geographic differences in the amount and nature of coverage, though all the outlets gave more space to the anti-Obama side than the President’s. In other respects, however, the Kenyan and Hawaiian papers appeared to be more factual and responsible in debunking the false claims about Obama’s birthplace, while the DC papers viewed it more as a political conflict. The article concludes that while localism can lead to more responsible journalism, the case may instead suggest that media organizations are driven by audience more than truth concerns, even in coverage of conspiracy theories.
Reading anger, compassion and longing in Beatrice Culleton Mosionier’s In Search of April Raintree
Authors: Hillsburg Heather
Published: November 2015

This article engages with polarizing debates about compassion by exploring the relationship between this emotional response and anger in Beatrice Culleton Mosionier’s In Search of April Raintree. While Martha Nussbaum argues that compassion functions as an ethical bridge linking one person to the next, affect theorists argue that compassion reaffirms unequal relations of power. This article maps the ways Mosionier’s novel might evoke the reader’s compassion, and investigates the role of this response by focusing on a narrative pattern where April experiences abuse, expresses intense anger at her suffering and then longs for markers of privilege such as white skin and affluence. This article contends that April’s anger interrupts the potential for passive compassion, and foregrounds the social stratification that gives rise to April’s suffering.
While you wait: An analysis of the It Gets Better Project
Authors: Kellinger Janna Jackson , Levine Lianna
Published: November 2015

This article analyses videos created for the It Gets Better Project as well as comments by their viewers. The authors examined the top 21 videos based on number of views and rising popularity. Upon analysis of the comments, it was noted that the majority of them place the onus on the victim to ‘stick it out’ and wait until they are older for the bullying to stop, as opposed to advocating for support and action by responsible adults or bystanders, or even themselves. In addition, the messages within the videos and the comments rarely offered ideas regarding how to put an end to the bullying or that the bullies should be held responsible for their actions. This article draws attention to the unintended, and sometimes contradictory, messages received even when the goal is support.
Evaluating Maps in a Massive Open Online Course
Authors: Robinson Anthony C. , Nelson Jonathan K.
Published: November 2015

New forms of cartographic education are becoming possible with the synthesis of easy to use web GIS tools and learning platforms that support online education at a massive scale. The internet classroom can now support tens of thousands of learners at a time, and while some common types of assessments scale very easily, others face significant hurdles. A particular concern for the cartographic educator is the extent to which original map designs can be evaluated in a massive open online course (MOOC). Based on our experiences in teaching one of the first MOOCs on cartography, we explore the ways in which very large collections of original map designs can be assessed. Our methods include analysis of peer grades and qualitative feedback, visual techniques to explore design methods, and quantitative comparison between expert ratings and peer grades. The results of our work suggest key challenges for teaching cartography at scale where instructors cannot provide individual feedback for every student.
Using the Right Tool: David Woodward's Suggested Framework and the Study of Military Cartography
Authors: Radunzel Joel Douglas
Published: November 2015

In 1974 David Woodward suggested a framework for organizing the study of the history of cartography that unified on one hand the process and the output of cartographic production, and on the other hand the four sequential phases of cartographic production, from information gathering through document use. In a survey of scholars who have cited Woodward’s model I note that, while this framework has influenced the conceptual development of map history, it has rarely been applied rigorously to specific instances of mapping. I argue that this model is an underutilized tool in cartographic scholarship, and that Woodward’s matrix is ideally suited to examining how military units carry out mapping. Because military units, particularly large ones, are in effect self-contained systems that cyclically produce, use, and reproduce their own maps, I contend that scholars can modify Woodward’s original model in content, though not in structure, to study military mapping activities. To illustrate this point, I present as a case study the British military’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) during the Gaza Campaign of late 1917. This force performed a broad range of mapping activity, much of it innovative. A modification of the Woodward framework that brings together the specific elements of the EEF’s information gatherers, information processors, and map users into a single cohesive cartographic system illustrates the value and utility of this framework for studying the history of military cartography.
Systemarchitektur zur Erbringung von Netzunterstützungsmaßnahmen durch gesteuertes Laden von Elektrofahrzeugflotten
Authors: Schwerdfeger Robert , Schlegel Steffen , Jiang Teng , Westermann Dirk
Published: November 2015

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt eine mögliche Systemarchitektur zur Erbringung von netzstützenden Maßnahmen am Beispiel des
gesteuerten Ladens von Elektrofahrzeugflotten. Aufgrund der zunehmenden Bedeutung von Verteilernetzen und deren Anschlussnehmer für die
zukünftige elektrische Energieversorgung sind deren Charakteristika zu berücksichtigen.
Ein Ansatz zur automatisierten Erstellung umfangreicher und komplexer Simulationsmodelle für elektrische Übertragungsnetze aus
OpenStreetMap-Daten
Authors: Çakmak Hüseyin Kemal , Maass Heiko , Bach Felix , Kühnapfel Uwe , Hagenmeyer Veit
Published: November 2015

Lastfluss-Simulationen in Stromnetzen stellen die Grundlage für regelungstechnische Analysen dar, auch und
gerade für Smart Grids der Zukunft. Die Generierung und die Verwaltung von komplexen und umfangreichen Stromnetzmodellen mit
Berücksichtigung variabler regionaler Modellgranularität ist eine große Herausforderung, zumal die manuelle Erstellung aufgrund der
enormen Datenmenge sehr schwer durchzuführen ist. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird ein Ansatz zur automatisierten Generierung von
Stromnetzmodellen ausschließlich aus OpenStreetMap-Daten, frei verfügbaren öffentlichen und amtlichen Datenbanken sowie Geo-Webdiensten
vorgestellt. Eine neue Methode zur Generierung von dynamischen Lasten basierend auf Voronoi-Geopartitionierung unter Berücksichtigung
der Netztopologie wird zudem ausgearbeitet. Ein erstes, voll automatisiert erstelltes Stromnetzmodell für das Übertragungsnetz in
Baden-Württemberg wird mit dynamischer Lastflusssimulation evaluiert.
Grid4EU: Entwicklung und Demonstration eines Systems zur autonomen Netzführung
Authors: Shapovalov Anton , Noglik Peter , Jendernalik Lars , Wiedemann Thomas
Published: November 2015

Der kontinuierlich fortschreitende Ausbau von dezentralen Erzeugungsanlagen (DEA) führt bereits heute zu Engpässen in
Verteilnetzen. Neben dem konventionellen Netzausbau suchen Netzbetreiber nach alternativen Lösungen, die Flexibilität in den Betrieb
einbringen und eine weitere DEA-Integration unterstützen. Im deutschen Teil des europäischen Demonstrationsprojekts Grid4EU wird ein
autonomes System zur Netzüberwachung und Steuerung entwickelt. Durch Stationsautomatisierung und intelligente Algorithmen wird ein
Netzengpassmanagement ermöglicht und der Netzbetrieb optimiert.
A Splitting Scheme to Solve an Equation for Fractional Powers of Elliptic Operators
Authors: Vabishchevich Petr N.
Published: November 2015

An equation containing a fractional power of an elliptic operator of second order
is studied for Dirichlet boundary conditions. Finite difference approximations in space are employed.
The proposed numerical algorithm is based on solving an auxiliary
Cauchy problem for a pseudo-parabolic equation. Unconditionally stable
vector-additive schemes (splitting schemes) are constructed. Numerical results
for a model problem in a rectangle calculated using the splitting with respect to
spatial variables are presented.
Exploring Land use and Land cover change in themining areas of Wa East District, Ghana usingSatellite Imagery
Authors: Basommi Prosper Laari , Guan Qingfeng , Cheng Dandan
Published: November 2015

Satellite imagery has been widely used to monitorthe extent of environmental change in both mine andpost mine areas. This study uses Remote sensing and GeographicalInformation System techniques for the assessmentof land use/land cover dynamics of mine relatedareas in Wa East District of Ghana. Landsat satellite imageriesof three different time periods, i.e., 1991, 2000 and2014 were used to quantify the land use/cover changes inthe area. Supervised Classification using Maximum LikelihoodTechnique in ERDAS was utilized. The images werecategorized into five different classes: Open Savannah,Closed Savannah, Bare Areas, Settlement and Water. Imagedifferencing method of change detection was used toinvestigate the changes. Normalized Differential VegetativeIndex valueswere used to correlate the state of healthyvegetation. The image differencing showed a positive correlationto the changes in the Land use and Land coverclasses. NDVI values reduced from 0.48 to 0.11. The landuse change matrix also showed conversion of savannahareas into bare ground and settlement. Open and closesavannah reduced from 50.80% to 36.5% and 27.80% to22.67% respectively whiles bare land and settlement increased.Overall accuracy of classified 2014 image andkappa statistics was 83.20% and 0.761 respectively. Thestudy revealed the declining nature of the vegetation andthe significance of using satellite imagery. A higher resolutionsatellite Imagery is however needed to satisfactorilydelineate mine areas from other bare areas in such Savannahzones.
On integral equations with Weakly Singular kernel by using
Taylor series and Legendre polynomials
Authors: Babolian Esmail , Hamedzadeh Danial , Jafari Hossein , Hajikandi Asghar Arzhang , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: November 2015

This paper is concerned with the numerical solution
for a class of weakly singular Fredholm integral equations
of the second kind. The Taylor series of the unknown
function, is used to remove the singularity and the truncated
Taylor series to second order of k(x, y) about the
point (x0, y0) is used. The integrals that appear in this
method are computed exactly and some of these integrals
are computed with the Cauchy principal value without using
numerical quadratures. The solution in the Legendre
polynomial form generates a system of linear algebraic
equations, this system is solved numerically. Through numerical
examples, performance of the present method is
discussed concerning the accuracy of the method.
Epigenetic Readers of Lysine Acetylation Regulate Cocaine-Induced Plasticity
Authors: Sartor Gregory C. , Powell Samuel K. , Brothers Shaun P. , Wahlestedt Claes
Published: November 2015

Epigenetic processes that regulate histone acetylation play an essential role in behavioral and molecular responses to cocaine. To date, however, only a small fraction of the mechanisms involved in the addiction-associated acetylome have been investigated. Members of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of epigenetic “reader” proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT) bind acetylated histones and serve as a scaffold for the recruitment of macromolecular complexes to modify chromatin accessibility and transcriptional activity. The role of BET proteins in cocaine-induced plasticity, however, remains elusive. Here, we used behavioral, pharmacological, and molecular techniques to examine the involvement of BET bromodomains in cocaine reward. Of the BET proteins, BRD4, but not BRD2 or BRD3, was significantly elevated in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice and rats following repeated cocaine injections and self-administration. Systemic and intra-accumbal inhibition of BRD4 with the BET inhibitor, JQ1, attenuated the rewarding effects of cocaine in a conditioned place preference procedure but did not affect conditioned place aversion, nor did JQ1 alone induce conditioned aversion or preference. Investigating the underlying mechanisms, we found that repeated cocaine injections enhanced the binding of BRD4, but not BRD3, to the promoter region ofBdnfin the NAc, whereas systemic injection of JQ1 attenuated cocaine-induced expression ofBdnfin the NAc. JQ1 and siRNA-mediated knockdown of BRD4in vitroalso reduced expression ofBdnf. These findings indicate that disrupting the interaction between BET proteins and their acetylated lysine substrates may provide a new therapeutic avenue for the treatment of drug addiction.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTProteins involved in the “readout” of lysine acetylation marks, referred to as BET bromodomain proteins (including BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT), have been shown to be key regulators of chromatin dynamics and disease, and BET inhibitors are currently being studied in several clinical trials. However, their role in addiction-related phenomena remains unknown. In the current studies, we revealed that BRD4 is elevated in the nucleus accumbens and recruited to promoter regions of addiction-related genes following repeated cocaine administration, and that inhibition of BRD4 attenuates transcriptional and behavioral responses to cocaine. Together, these studies reveal that BET inhibitors may have therapeutic utility in the treatment of cocaine addiction.
Separating Visual and Motor Components of Motor Cortex Activation for Multiple Reach Targets: A Visuomotor Adaptation Study
Authors: Grent-'t-Jong Tineke , Oostenveld Robert , Medendorp W. Pieter , Praamstra Peter
Published: November 2015

Ethologically inspired models of movement preparation view the sensorimotor system as sampling information from the environment in a parallel fashion in preparation for multiple potential actions. In support, the configuration of the physical workspace, manipulated by the number or spatial separation of potential targets, has been shown to modulate sensorimotor neural activity. It is unclear, however, whether this modulation is driven by the sensory layout of the workspace or through the associated motor plans. Here, we combine a delayed-movement pre-cuing task with visuomotor adaptation to address this question in human subjects while recording MEG. By dissociating visual and motor coordinates of two targets using visuomotor adaptation, the task was designed to evaluate, in a selective fashion, the effects of visual and movement target separation on movement preparatory activity. The results did not allow the intended comparison due to an unanticipated effect of the direction of visuomotor adaptation on baseline oscillatory power in beta and low-gamma bands. Fortuitously, this effect was dependent on whether the adaptation direction decreased or increased the angular separation between alternative movements. That is, there was a sustained reduction of oscillatory power, which was stronger at small compared with large target separation. These results support a direct influence of movement target separation on motor cortex neural activity, mediated by lateral interactions between simultaneously active motor plans. The results further demonstrate a novel effect of visuomotor adaptation on motor cortex oscillatory activity, with properties that support the local nature of learned changes in visuomotor mapping.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThere is growing evidence that the motor cortex routinely prepares for different movements simultaneously, each suited to a possible course of events in the immediate environment. The preparatory motor cortex activity for different movements can be seen as a competition between groups of neurons. This competition is influenced by how similar the alternative movements are; for example, in terms of direction, determined by the proximity of alternative movement goals. This study investigates whether the proximity of alternative reach goals has a direct influence on motor cortex activity (in the form of brain oscillations) or if it has an effect only through conscious evaluation of the separation between targets. We establish that there is a direct effect, supporting the biased competition model of action selection.
Cdk5 Regulates Activity-Dependent Gene Expression and Dendrite Development
Authors: Liang Zhuoyi , Ye Tao , Zhou Xiaopu , Lai Kwok-On , Fu Amy K.Y. , Ip Nancy Y.
Published: November 2015

The proper growth and arborization of dendrites in response to sensory experience are essential for neural connectivity and information processing in the brain. Although neuronal activity is important for sculpting dendrite morphology, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5)-mediated transcriptional regulation is a key mechanism that controls activity-dependent dendrite development in cultured rat neurons. During membrane depolarization, Cdk5 accumulates in the nucleus to regulate the expression of a subset of genes, including that of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor, for subsequent dendritic growth. Furthermore, Cdk5 function is mediated through the phosphorylation of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, a key transcriptional repressor that is mutated in the mental disorder Rett syndrome. These findings collectively suggest that the nuclear import of Cdk5 is crucial for activity-dependent dendrite development by regulating neuronal gene transcription during neural development.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNeural activity directs dendrite development through the regulation of gene transcription. However, how molecular signals link extracellular stimuli to the transcriptional program in the nucleus remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that neuronal activity stimulates the translocation of the kinase Cdk5 from the cytoplasmic compartment into the nucleus; furthermore, the nuclear localization of Cdk5 is required for dendrite development in cultured neurons. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis shows that Cdk5 deficiency specifically disrupts activity-dependent gene transcription ofbdnf. The action of Cdk5 is mediated through the modulation of the transcriptional repressor methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. Therefore, this study elucidates the role of nuclear Cdk5 in the regulation of activity-dependent gene transcription and dendritic growth.
Human Amygdala Represents the Complete Spectrum of Subjective Valence
Authors: Jin Jingwen , Zelano Christina , Gottfried Jay A. , Mohanty Aprajita
Published: November 2015

Although the amygdala is a major locus for hedonic processing, how it encodes valence information is poorly understood. Given the hedonic potency of odor stimuli and the amygdala's anatomical proximity to the peripheral olfactory system, we combined high-resolution fMRI with pattern-based multivariate techniques to examine how valence information is encoded in the amygdala. Ten human subjects underwent fMRI scanning while smelling 9 odorants that systematically varied in perceived valence. Representational similarity analyses showed that amygdala codes the entire dimension of valence, ranging from pleasantness to unpleasantness. This unidimensional representation significantly correlated with self-reported valence ratings but not with intensity ratings. Furthermore, within-trial valence representations evolved over time, prioritizing earlier differentiation of unpleasant stimuli. Together, these findings underscore the idea that both spatial and temporal features uniquely encode pleasant and unpleasant odor valence in the amygdala. The availability of a unidimensional valence code in the amygdala, distributed in both space and time, would create greater flexibility in determining the pleasantness or unpleasantness of stimuli, providing a mechanism by which expectation, context, attention, and learning could influence affective boundaries for guiding behavior.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOur findings elucidate the mechanisms of affective processing in the amygdala by demonstrating that this brain region represents the entire valence dimension from pleasant to unpleasant. An important implication of this unidimensional valence code is that pleasant and unpleasant valence cannot coexist in the amygdale because overlap of fMRI ensemble patterns for these two valence extremes obscures their unique content. This functional architecture, whereby subjective valence maps onto a pattern continuum between pleasant and unpleasant poles, offers a robust mechanism by which context, expectation, and experience could alter the set-point for valence-based behavior. Finally, identification of spatial and temporal differentiation of valence in amygdala may shed new insights into individual differences in emotional responding, with potential relevance for affective disorders.
Apoptosis is triggered by melatonin in an in vivo model of ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Chuffa Luiz Gustavo A , Alves Michelly S , Martinez Marcelo , Camargo Isabel Cristina C , Pinheiro Patricia F F , Domeniconi Raquel F , Júnior Luiz Antonio L , Martinez Francisco Eduardo
Published: November 2015

Apoptosis plays an important role in the treatment of cancer, and targeting apoptosis-related molecules in ovarian cancer (OC) is of great therapeutic value. Melatonin (Mel) is an indoleamine displaying several anti-cancer properties and has been reported to modulate apoptosis signaling in multiple tumor subtypes. We investigated OC and the role of Mel therapy on the pro-apoptotic (p53, BAX, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2 and survivin) proteins in an ethanol (EtOH)-preferring rat model. To induce OC, the left ovary was injected directly with a single dose of 100 μg 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene dissolved in 10 μl of sesame oil under the bursa. Right ovaries were used as sham-surgery controls. After developing OC, half of the animals received i.p. injections of Mel (200 μg/100 g BW per day) for 60 days. Body weight gain, EtOH consumption, and energy intake were unaffected by the treatments. Interestingly, absolute and relative OC masses showed a significant reduction after Mel therapy, regardless of EtOH consumption. To accomplish OC-related apoptosis, we first observed that p53, BAX, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3 were downregulated in OC tissue while Bcl-2 and survivin were overexpressed. Notably, Mel therapy and EtOH intake promoted apoptosis along with the upregulation of p53, BAX, and cleaved caspase-3. Fragmentation of DNA observed by TUNEL-positive nuclei was also enhanced following Mel treatment. In addition, Bcl-2 was downregulated by the EtOH intake and lower survivin levels were observed after Mel therapy. Taken together, these results suggest that Mel induce apoptosis in OC cells of EtOH-preferring animals.
The use of reformatted Cone Beam CT images in assessing mid-face trauma, with a focus on the orbital floor fractures
Authors: Roman Raluca , Hedeșiu Mihaela , Fildan Floarea , Ileșan Robert , Mitea Diana , Dinu Cristian , Băciuț Mihaela
Published: November 2015

Background and aim: This study aims at evaluating the reliability on specific multi-planar cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) reconstruction in the orbital floor fractures.Methods: CBCT examination of the mid-face fractures area involving the floor of the orbit was performed in a number of 93 trauma patients by two independent radiologists. Both radiologists assessed the axial, coronal and sagittal sections and also the oblique coronal and sagittal extracted sections evaluating the location of the orbital fractures, its size and displacement, the involvement of the infra-orbital foramen, herniation of fat or muscle within the maxillary sinus, the overall type of the fracture and the implication of lateral or medial orbital wall. We also registered the section that provided better confidence of both examiners in visualizing the fracture of the orbit floor and the presence of herniated soft tissue, on different reformatted sectioning.Results: The presence of pure fracture of the orbital floor was detected in 11% of patients. The association of the orbital fractures with the zygomatic fractures was identified in the majority of the patients. In 86% of patients the displacement of the floor of the orbit was visualized, and in almost 30% of cases more than 50% of the orbital floor was involved in the fracture. Regarding the confidence between examiners, they were more confident using the oblique sagittal CBCT reformatted images for fracture detection and bone displacement evaluation, as for the soft tissue herniation the oblique coronal sections provided the highest level of confidence.Conclusion: Mid-face trauma involves the orbital floor in the majority of situations. CBCT allows to obtain oblique images extracted from the three dimensional (3D) data that provide high confidence level in assessing pure orbital floor fractures.
COST-EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF A MULTI-PAVILION HOSPITAL IN CLUJ COUNTY
Authors: Mleșnițe Mihai , Bocșan Ioan Stelian
Published: November 2015

Background and aim: Multi-hospital health systems have become the most popular administrative structure in healthcare, leading to both opportunities and challenges for hospital administrators. In government-funded healthcare systems, there is a balance between costs and the provision of health services.The aim of the present study is to assess the efficiency in terms of costs of a multi-pavilion hospital from Cluj County, Romania.Methods: The institution analyzed in this article is the Adults’ Clinical Hospital in Cluj-Napoca. A descriptive retrospective study collected data from January 2004 to December 2010. A set of indicators were compiled, divided into three main categories: personnel, statistics, and financial.Results: Twenty-one financial indicators were investigated. Heterogeneity between different years was observed for the continuous hospitalization indicator and the wage budget indicator. The highest variability was observed between the budget and expenses indicators, while a smaller variability was observed at the average costs per patient. The costs per patient have increased at all pavilions in the studied time frame, the higher costs being at the Internal Medicine and Surgery pavilions: 10,203 RON in 2010 (1 euro ~ 4.4 RON)Conclusion: The pavilions included in the Adults’ Clinical Hospital Cluj-Napoca have different expenses patterns, as each pavilion is focused on different specialties. Each pavilion serves different target groups, requiring different procedures. This in turn results in different expense patterns across each pavilion.
COMPARISON BETWEEN A MULTI-PAVILION HOSPITAL AND A SINGLE PAVILION HOSPITAL
Authors: Mleșnițe Mihai , Bocșan Ioan Stelian
Published: November 2015

Background and aim: Defining and measuring hospital efficiency is a hard task, in spite of the agreement that hospitals need to be efficient. Thus, while research might focus on the relationship between costs and outcomes, measurements differ significantly across studies.The aim of the present study is to compare a multi-pavilion hospital with a single hospital from Cluj-Napoca, Romania.Methods: Statistical and financial (effective expenses, salaries, drugs, materials, reagents, food) indicators were used to compare two hospitals from Cluj-Napoca: the Adults’ Clinical Hospital in Cluj-Napoca, and the Rehabilitation Hospital from Cluj-Napoca respectively. Data related to these indicators were collected at each hospital level, between 2004 and 2010.Results: When investigating the expenses on medicine, data showed the two hospitals had similar values in 2004, 13.09% and 14.43% for the multi-pavilion hospital and single hospital, respectively. After 2004, the expenses started to drop simultaneously, being around 11% in 2006 and 2007 for both hospitals. The mortality rate was significantly different for the two hospitals. The multi-pavilion had a much higher mortality rate, when compared to the single hospital. From 2004 until 2007 a steady increase was observed for the multi-pavilion hospital, from 1.09 to 2.57 respectively.Conclusion: The significant differences found between the two hospitals look being unavoidable, as long as they seem to stem from the hospitals’ ownership, their addressability and their targeted diseases and associated procedures.
Frigram: a French Interaction Grammar
Authors: Perrier Guy , Guillaume Bruno
Published: November 2015

We present Frigram, a French grammar with a large coverage, written in the formalism of Interaction Grammars. The originality of the formalism lies in its system of polarities, which expresses the resource sensitivity of natural languages and which is used to guide syntactic composition.We focus the presentation on the principles of the grammar, its modular architecture, the link with a lexicon independent of the formalism and the companion property, which helps to guarantee the consistency of the whole grammar.
A logical approach to grammar description
Authors: Clément Lionel , Kirman Jérôme , Salvati Sylvain
Published: November 2015

In the tradition of Model Theoretic Syntax, we propose a logical approach to the description of grammars. We combine in one formalism several tools that are used throughout computer science for their power of abstraction: logic and lambda-calculus. We propose then a high-level formalism for describing mildly context sensitive grammars and their semantic interpretation. As we rely on the correspondence between logic and finite state automata, our method combines conciseness to effectivity. We illustrate our approach with a simple linguistic model of several interleaved linguistic phenomena involving extraction. The level of abstraction provided by logic and λ-calculus allows us not only to use this linguistic model for several languages, namely English, German and Dutch, but also for semantic interpretation.
Crescimento e produtividade de duas cultivares de feijão em função de doses de ácido 2,3,5-triiodobenzoico
Authors: Soratto Rogério Peres , Souza-Schlick Genivaldo David de , Fernandes Adalton Mazetti , Oliveira Luís Fernando Fontana Antunes de
Published: November 2015

RESUMO: O crescimento excessivo da parte aérea do feijoeiro pode aumentar o acamamento das plantas e promover fechamento muito rápido da cultura, limitando a produtividade de grãos. O uso de reguladores de crescimento, como o ácido 2,3,5-triiodobenzoico (TIBA), pode reduzir o crescimento das plantas, porém, não existem informações sobre o uso dessa tecnologia na cultura do feijão. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de doses de TIBA (0, 8, 16, 32, 64 e 128g do i.a. ha-1) sobre o crescimento e a produtividade de grãos de duas cultivares de feijão ('IAC Alvorada' e 'IAC Jabola'). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. A aplicação de TIBA reduziu o comprimento da maior haste de ambas as cultivares, até a dose média estimada de 100g ha-1 de TIBA. A altura de inserção da primeira vagem foi reduzida apenas na cultivar IAC Alvorada até a dose de 88g ha-1 de TIBA. A aplicação de TIBA reduziu em 10% o número de grãos por vagem. A utilização de TIBA não afetou a produtividade de grãos, sendo uma alternativa para diminuir o porte das plantas de feijão.