bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tooth Wear Related to Marine Foraging, Agro‐Pastoralism and the Formative Transition on the Northern Chilean Coast
Authors: Watson J. T. , Arriaza B. , Standen V. , Muñoz Ovalle I.
Published: June 2013

Occlusal surface wear scores were examined in a sample of 200 Formative period (1500 bc–ad 500) skeletons from the lower Azapa Valley in northwest Chile. Wear rate and plane (angle) were additionally evaluated using a subsample of paired first and second mandibular molars. The Formative period represents the transition from marine foraging to agro‐pastoral dependence in the region, and differences in oral pathology indicate that diet varied by site location (coast vs valley interior) but not by archaeological phase (early vs late). We predicted that occlusal wear would demonstrate similar patterns, resulting from differences in food consistency, and therefore hypothesised that in coastal groups consuming greater quantities of foraged foods, occlusal surfaces should wear faster and exhibit flat molar wear, whereas among valley interior groups consuming greater quantities of agro‐pastoral products, these should wear slower but exhibit more angled molar wear. Heavier posterior tooth wear was identified among coastal residents, but rate and angle of molar occlusal attrition did not differ significantly by location. Heavier overall wear and a steeper molar wear plane were identified during the early phase indicating that food consistency varied somewhat over the course of the Formative period. Overall, the results indicate that, although limited differences in tooth wear exist by site location, wear varied more over time likely reflecting a gradual transition from foraging to agro‐pastoral dependence in the lower Azapa Valley. Although oral health indicators point to differences in dietary investment by location, maintenance of a mixed subsistence economy likely sustained a comparative consistency of foodstuffs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Skeletal Manifestations of Skin Ulcer in the Lower Leg
Authors: Boel L. W. T. , Ortner D. J.
Published: June 2013

Skin ulcers of the lower leg are known to cause both destructive and, more commonly, bone‐forming lesions. Typically, bone‐forming lesions in this disorder have clearly defined margins although there may be extensive reactive bone formation involving much or all of the adjacent diaphysis. These lesions are best described in patients from tropical areas, and in these environmental contexts, these are known as tropical ulcers, but leg ulcers can be caused by a variety of diseases and conditions, of which vascular insufficiency plays an important role among the elderly. The lesions are important clinically because of the disability associated with the ulcer and because of complications that can develop including osteomyelitis and cancer. In most cases, the bone lesions caused by ulcer are easily diagnosed in archaeological human skeletal remains and provide some insight into the prevalence of this disorder in antiquity.

In this paper, we review the gross and radiological manifestations of bone lesions resulting from overlying skin ulcer in tibiae of 13 cases including archaeological and modern medically documented skeletons. In two of the cases, there is medical documentation regarding the presence of a chronic ulcer on the lower leg. The objectives of this paper were to explore the diversity of bone lesions associated with ulcers of the tibia and to provide an improved basis for the diagnosis of this disorder in human skeletal remains. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Podocyte loss involves MDM2‐driven mitotic catastrophe
Authors: Mulay Shrikant R , Thomasova Dana , Ryu Mi , Kulkarni Onkar P , Migliorini Adriana , Bruns Hauke , Gröbmayr Regina , Lazzeri Elena , Lasagni Laura , Liapis Helen , Romagnani Paola , Anders Hans‐Joachim
Published: June 2013

Podocyte apoptosis as a pathway of podocyte loss is often suspected but rarely detected. To study podocyte apoptosis versus inflammatory forms of podocyte death in vivo, we targeted murine double minute (MDM)‐2 for three reasons. First, MDM2 inhibits p53‐dependent apoptosis; second, MDM2 facilitates NF‐κB signalling; and third, podocytes show strong MDM2 expression. We hypothesized that blocking MDM2 during glomerular injury may trigger p53‐mediated podocyte apoptosis, proteinuria, and glomerulosclerosis. Unexpectedly, MDM2 blockade in early adriamycin nephropathy of Balb/c mice had the opposite effect and reduced intra‐renal cytokine and chemokine expression, glomerular macrophage and T‐cell counts, and plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. In cultured podocytes exposed to adriamycin, MDM2 blockade did not trigger podocyte death but induced G2/M arrest to prevent aberrant nuclear divisions and detachment of dying aneuploid podocytes, a feature of mitotic catastrophe in vitro and in vivo. Consistent with these observations, 12 of 164 consecutive human renal biopsies revealed features of podocyte mitotic catastrophe but only in glomerular disorders with proteinuria. Furthermore, delayed MDM2 blockade reduced plasma creatinine levels, blood urea nitrogen, tubular atrophy, interstitial leukocyte numbers, and cytokine expression as well as interstitial fibrosis. Together, MDM2‐mediated mitotic catastrophe is a previously unrecognized variant of podocyte loss where MDM2 forces podocytes to complete the cell cycle, which in the absence of cytokinesis leads to podocyte aneuploidy, mitotic catastrophe, and loss by detachment. MDM2 blockade with nutlin‐3a could be a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent renal inflammation, podocyte loss, glomerulosclerosis, proteinuria, and progressive kidney disease. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cationic poly(ester‐phosphoester)s: Facile synthesis and antibacterial properties
Authors: Zhu Weipu , Du Hong , Huang Ying , Sun Shuai , Xu Ning , Ni Huagang , Cai Xia , Li Xiaodong , Shen Zhiquan
Published: June 2013

Biodegradable poly(ester‐phosphoester)s bearing multiple chloroethyl groups were synthesized facilely by the ring‐opening copolymerization of 2‐(2‐chloroethoxy)‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane (CEP) and ε‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of lanthanum tris(2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenolate)s (La(DBMP)3) as single‐component catalyst under mild conditions. Then the quaternization reaction was carried out between the halide copolymers and a series of N,N‐dimethyl alkylamines to give poly(ester‐phosphoester)s containing ammonium groups with various charge density and alkyl chain length. The antibacterial properties of these cationic poly(esterphosphoester)s were evaluated by OD600 and zone of inhibition methods against gram‐negative (Escherichia coli) and gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Cationic poly(esterphosphoester)s with long alkyl chain on the ammonium groups show excellent antibacterial activity for both gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria even with low charge density. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3667–3673
Long range chirality transfer in free radical polymerization of vinylterphenyl monomers bearing chiral alkoxy groups
Authors: Liu Anhua , Zhao Zhiyuan , Wang Rong , Zhang Jie , Wan Xinhua
Published: June 2013

Two series of chiral bulky vinyl aromatics, 2‐(4'‐alkoxyphenyl)‐5‐(4'‐hexyloxyphenyl)styrene (S‐Am (m = 0, 1, 2, 3)/R‐A0) and 2‐(4'‐hexyloxyphenyl)‐5‐(4'‐alkoxyphenyl)styrene (S‐Bm (m = 0, 1, 2, 3)/R‐B0), were synthesized and radically polymerized (where m denotes the carbon number between stereogenic center and ether oxygen atom). The generation and stereomutation of helical structures as well as chirality transfer from the stereogenic center of the side‐group to the polymer backbone during polymerization were investigated by a combination of 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR, polarimetry, circular dichroism spectroscopy, liquid crystal induced circular dichroism, and computer simulation. All the polymers, except S‐B3, display optical rotations and Cotton effects in the UV‐Vis absorption region of terphenyl pendant, which are quite different from the corresponding model compounds and monomers, suggesting the formation of chiral secondary structures, that is, skewed packing of side‐groups and twisting of polymer backbones with a dominant screw sense. The sign of optical rotation changes alternatively and the strength diminishes when m increases from 1 to 3. However, although the stereogenic centers in S‐A0 and S‐B0 are closer to the vinyl group than those in S‐A1 and S‐B1, separately, a weaker chiral induction power is observed. Moreover, optical rotations of polymers derived from S‐A0/R‐A0 and S‐B0/R‐B0 are opposite in sign and increase with annealing time in tetrahydrofuran. These results are in a sharp contrast with our previous findings in similar vinylterphenyl compounds, where ‐COO‐ rather than ‐O‐ links the chiral alkyl tail to the terphenyl group, manifesting a remarkable effect of small structural variation of side‐group on polymer chiroptical properties and complexity of chirality transfer in helix‐sense‐selective polymerization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3674–3687
Synthesis, self‐assembly and reversible healing of supramolecular perfluoropolyethers
Authors: Li Guoxing , Wie Jeong Jae , Nguyen Ngoc A. , Chung Woo Jin , Kim Eui Tae , Char Kookheon , Mackay Michael E. , Pyun Jeffrey
Published: June 2013

The synthesis and thermomechanical properties of a novel class of self‐healing perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) is reported. By decoration of 2‐ureido‐4[1H]‐pyrimidone end groups on the termini of low molar mass PFPE, the formation of supramolecular polymers and networks held together via hydrogen bonding associations was achieved. These novel supramolecular polymer materials exhibit a combination of enhanced modulus and elasticity, along with self‐healing properties, where rapid self‐healing time was demonstrated using dynamic rheological measurements. These types of supramolecular PFPEs are anticipated to be useful for a number of emerging areas in lubrication. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3598–3606
Polyaddition of bifunctional 1,3‐benzoxazine and 2‐methylresorcinol
Authors: Oie Hiroaki , Mori Atsushi , Sudo Atsushi , Endo Takeshi
Published: June 2013

A polyaddition system consisted of a bifunctional N‐n‐propyl benzoxazine and 2‐methylresorcinol (MR) that proceeds at ambient temperature has been developed. In this system, the aromatic ring of MR acted as a bifunctional monomer, reacting with a two equivalent amount of benzoxazine moieties via their ring‐opening reaction. The polyaddition gave the corresponding linear polymer bearing phenolic moieties bridged by Mannich‐type linkage in the main chain. The linear polymer had a high glass transition temperature, which was comparable to that of the linear polybenzoxazine synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of a monofunctional N‐n‐propyl benzoxazine. The employment of a bifunctional N‐allyl benzoxazine in the polyaddition system resulted in the formation of the corresponding polymer with allyl pendants, which exhibited improved heat resistance due to its thermally induced crosslinking reaction. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3867–3872
Camptothecin‐induced expression of programmed cell death gene 11 in Spodoptera litura
Authors: Gong Liang , Wang Huidong , Huang Jingfei , Hu Meiying , Hu Zheng , Zhong Guohua
Published: June 2013

BACKGROUND

Camptothecin, one of the main active components of extract from the bark of the Chinese camptotheca tree, has been reported as a potent insecticide against various insect species. However, the mechanism of action of camptothecin as a botanical pesticide is not completely understood.

RESULTS

In this study, the full‐length cDNA (GeneBank number JF681972) of Spodoptera litura programmed cell death protein 11 (pcdp 11) isoform 1 was cloned, sequenced and characterised. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) data showed that pcdp 11 was differentially expressed during the developmental stages, with significantly high expression during the transition from egg to larva and larva to pupa. Furthermore, pcdp 11 was upregulated in a time‐dependent manner in SL‐1 cells after treatment with 1.2 µg mL−1 of camptothecin. The induced expression profile of pcdp 11 in the larval midgut after feeding camptothecin was visualised by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and further quantified by qRT‐PCR. Apoptosis in camptothecin‐treated larval midguts was confirmed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining.

CONCLUSION

The results reveal a clear functional link between pcdp 11 expression and camptothecin‐induced apoptosis, and prove that camptothecin exhibits strong toxicity towards S. litura by inducing midgut epithelial cell apoptosis. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Expectation value based cluster expansion
Authors: Leymann Heinrich A. M. , Foerster Alexander , Wiersig Jan
Published: June 2013

We outline a new formulation of the cluster expansion to derive equations of motion for open quantum systems. Our method uses expectation values instead of correlation functions. The algebraic effort to derive the equations is reduced and the approach is more intuitive.

We demonstrate the efficiency of our method by applying it to the damped Jaynes‐Cummings model. This model is a good starting point to investigate quantum dot based laser systems. Further we will examine the convergence properties of the cluster expansion for various orders. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analytical solutions for electronic states in three‐dimensional semiconductor quantum rings
Authors: Vänskä O. , Kira M. , Koch S. W. , Tittonen I.
Published: June 2013

We study single‐particle electronic states of a threedimensional semiconductor quantum ring. Starting from the envelope‐function theory, we formulate a fully analytical model for single‐particle wave functions and confinement energies of charge carriers.

The approximative harmonic‐oscillator model is found to be in excellent agreement with numerical results. The model is a powerful tool in practical calculations when there is a need to go beyond single particle properties to more demanding many‐body effects. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Maximum likelihood estimation of gamma parameters for coarsely binned and truncated raindrop size data
Authors: Johnson Roger W. , Kliche Donna V. , Smith Paul L.
Published: June 2013

The gamma family of probability densities has recently been used to model raindrop size. However, the traditional approach of using the method of moments to estimate the gamma distribution parameters is known to be biased and can have substantial errors. A recently developed approach combining moment information and a weighted least‐squares analysis generally produces substantially better results. Other procedures superior to the method of moments approach include maximum likelihood. In particular, maximum likelihood estimates have been shown to outperform method of moments estimators, both for the case in which the full range of drop sizes are observed and for the case in which small drop sizes fail to be observed because of the inability of disdrometers to record observations below a threshold.

The foregoing comments on maximum likelihood concern the situation in which drop sizes are measured on a continuous scale. In this work we consider drop sizes from gamma distributions which are classified into broad size bins, as would be the case with data obtained from many disdrometers; this requires some modification of the maximum likelihood procedure. We also allow for the possibility of drop sizes below a threshold, or above another threshold, not being observed. Maximum likelihood performance in this case is investigated through simulation of volume sampling from gamma distributions with known parameters. We compare the performance of the maximum likelihood estimates with those of method of moments (only a truncated‐data version is viable) and the recently developed weighted least‐squares procedure, and also apply the three estimation procedures to some experimental data. Since the experimental data are surface data, we indicate how drop fall velocity may be incorporated to obtain parameters for the volume distributions from the surface data.
Detecting the relationship between competitive intensity and firm product line length: Evidence from the worldwide mobile phone industry
Authors: Giachetti Claudio , Dagnino Giovanni Battista
Published: June 2013

The way firms lengthen or shorten their product line with respect to rivals is regarded as one of the possible strategies firms can pursue to respond to competition. This article builds and tests hypotheses to study the effect of different levels of competitive intensity on product line length. The empirical analysis of data on 3,527 handset models introduced by 66 mobile phone vendors from 1994 to 2010 shows a consistent inverse U‐shaped relationship between competitive intensity and the firm's product line length. In this way, we pinpoint an interesting link between the product line extension literature and the competitive dynamics and competitive intensity perspectives. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Do non‐competition agreements lead firms to pursue risky R&D projects?
Authors: Conti Raffaele
Published: June 2013

This study investigates the impact of non‐competition agreements on the type of R&D activity undertaken by companies. Non‐competition agreements, by reducing outbound mobility and knowledge leakages to competitors, make high‐risk R&D projects relatively more valuable than low‐risk ones. Thus, they induce companies to choose riskier R&D projects, such that corporate inventions are more likely to lie in the tails of the inventions' value distribution (as breakthroughs or failures) and be in novel technological areas. This study uses data about U.S. patent applications from 1990 to 2000 and considers longitudinal variation in the enforcement of non‐compete clauses. The results indicate that in states with stricter enforcement, companies undertake riskier R&D paths than in states that do not enforce non‐compete agreements as strictly. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal Plasticity FEM Study on the Influence of Crystallographic Orientation in Copper Single Crystals Subjected to Equal Channel Angular Pressing
Authors: Deng Guanyu , Tieu Anh Kiet , Su Lihong , Lu Cheng , Zhu Hongtao , Wei Peitang , Liu Xianghua
Published: June 2013

Over the lasts two decades equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) has been widely used to produce ultrafine grained microstructures with excellent mechanical properties in metallic materials. In this paper, a crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) investigation has been carried out to examine the texture evolution and deformation heterogeneity of copper single crystals deformed by ECAP process. Two single crystals were simulated to examine the influence of initial crystallographic orientation. In the first crystal, the slip plane and the slip direction have been rotated by 20° in a clockwise direction around the transverse direction from the theoretical shear plane and theoretical shear direction of the ECAP die, respectively. By contrast in the second crystal, the slip plane and the slip direction were rotated 20° in a counter‐clockwise direction. The results of the simulation show that the initial crystallographic orientation has a great influence on the deformed geometry, formation of the corner gap, distribution of the plastic strain rate and texture evolution when copper single crystals are undergoing ECAP process. The crystallographic rotation patterns during deformation have been quantitatively estimated and the predicted textures are consistent with the experimental results in the literature.
Formal specification and analysis of functional properties of graph rewriting‐based model transformation
Authors: Asztalos Márk , Lengyel László , Levendovszky Tihamér
Published: June 2013

Model processing programs are regularly used when working with models or synthetizing the code from them; therefore, their verification has become an essential component of constructing reliable software in model‐based software engineering. Models are usually formalized and visualized as graphs; therefore, model processing programs based on algebraic graph rewriting systems—such programs are called model transformations—are often applied, and their verification has become an important research area. The goal of our research is to support offline transformation analysis by automated methods, where offline means that only the definition of the program itself, the language definitions of its source and target models are used during the analysis. Therefore, the results are independent from concrete source models, and the analysis needs to be performed only once. Based on previous work, this paper provides the synthesis and of a set of individual components and improves them to provide a complete verification solution: (i) a language is introduced to specify the properties to be verified; (ii) a formalism to describe model transformations in a declarative way; and (iii) automated algorithms that can analyse the declarative transformations as well as the properties expressed by the language. Besides its theoretical basis, the implementation of a verification framework is presented, and its operation is illustrated on a case study. Although the formal verification of model transformation properties is algorithmically undecidable in general, our goal is to provide a practically usable, scoped framework that can largely facilitate the manual verification of model transformations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New seismic images of the Central Indian Suture Zone and their tectonic implications
Authors: Mandal Biswajit , Sen Mrinal K. , Vijaya Rao V.
Published: June 2013

The Central Indian Suture (CIS), a mega shear zone, located in the central part of the Indian shield exhibits a complex structure with compositional heterogeneity. Multifold deep seismic reflection data acquired across the shear zone have been previously processed using the conventional common midpoint (CMP) method. In this study, we show results from imaging this shear zone using the common reflection surface (CRS) stack method, an alternative to the CMP stack. Our new images reveal geological features that are either poorly resolved or entirely absent in the earlier CMP stack section. Our major findings include a well‐imaged Moho throughout the study area, existence of different crustal blocks each with distinct dipping reflection fabrics on the northern and southern sides of the CIS, a well‐defined 8 km of Moho offset beneath the CIS, and a high‐amplitude reflective zone representing the CIS. The Moho located at a depth of 48 km in the Bastar craton, to the south of the CIS, is also clearly resolved in our CRS stack, as well as in the time‐migrated section. A deeply penetrating crustal‐scale imbricated structure imaged up to a depth of 16.0 s two‐way time (TWT), to the south of the CIS, suggests that the Bastar craton is subducting toward north. An oppositely dipping reflection fabric, a Moho offset, a positive‐negative gravity anomaly pair, and the geological data indicate that the CIS represents a collision zone developed due to the interaction of the Bastar and Bundelkhand cratons with the evolution of the Sausar orogeny at ~1000 Ma. This orogeny is contemporaneous with the Grenvillian orogeny and Rodinia assembly. Another thrust fault extending from 4 to 14 s TWT observed to the north of the CIS may represent the earlier, pre‐Sausar orogenic activity at 1.6–1.5 Ga. The available seismic characteristics suggest that the CIS, the collisional suture, is also likely to represent a strike‐slip fault.
“There goes Bill!”: Bill Hunter and some ideas on experimental design
Authors: Box George E. P.
Published: June 2013

This article is categorized under:

Applications of Computational Statistics > Organizations and Publications
Assimilation of radar altimetry to a routing model of the Brahmaputra River
Authors: Michailovsky Claire I. , Milzow Christian , Bauer‐Gottwein Peter
Published: June 2013

While satellite‐based remote sensing has provided hydrologists with valuable new data sets, integration of such data sets in operational modeling systems is usually not straightforward due to spatial or temporal resolution issues or because remote sensing does not directly measure the hydrological quantities of interest. This is the case for satellite‐based radar altimetry. River‐level variations can be tracked using radar altimetry at a temporal resolution between 10 and 35 days, depending on the satellite, but hydrologists are typically interested in river flows rather than levels and require predictions at daily or even subdaily temporal resolutions. One way to exploit satellite radar altimetry is therefore to combine the data with hydrological models in a data assimilation framework. In this study, radar altimetry data from six ENVISAT virtual stations were assimilated to a routing model of the main reach of the Brahmaputra River driven by the outputs of a calibrated rainfall runoff model. The extended Kalman filter was used to update the routed water volumes for the years 2008–2010. Model performance was improved with the Nash‐Sutcliffe model efficiency for daily discharge increasing from 0.78 to 0.84. The method uses very little in situ data and is easily implemented as an add‐on to hydrological models, and it therefore has the potential for large‐scale application to improve hydrological predictions in many river basins.
Identification of hydrologic drought triggers from hydroclimatic predictor variables
Authors: Maity Rajib , Ramadas Meenu , Govindaraju Rao S.
Published: June 2013

Drought triggers are patterns in hydroclimatic variables that herald upcoming droughts and form the basis for mitigation plans. This study develops a new method for identification of triggers for hydrologic droughts by examining the association between the various hydroclimatic variables and streamflows. Since numerous variables influence streamflows to varying degrees, principal component analysis (PCA) is utilized for dimensionality reduction in predictor hydroclimatic variables. The joint dependence between the first two principal components, that explain over 98% of the variability in the predictor set, and streamflows is computed by a scale‐free measure of association using asymmetric Archimedean copulas over two study watersheds in Indiana, USA, with unregulated streamflows. The M6 copula model is found to be suitable for the data and is utilized to find expected values and ranges of predictor hydroclimatic variables for different streamflow quantiles. This information is utilized to develop drought triggers for 1 month lead time over the study areas. For the two study watersheds, soil moisture, precipitation, and runoff are found to provide the fidelity to resolve amongst different drought classes. Combining the strengths of PCA for dimensionality reduction and copulas for building joint dependence allows the development of hydrologic drought triggers in an efficient manner.
A data fusion approach for mapping daily evapotranspiration at field scale
Authors: Cammalleri C. , Anderson M. C. , Gao F. , Hain C. R. , Kustas W. P.
Published: June 2013

Thermal remote sensing methods for mapping evapotranspiration (ET) exploit the physical interconnection that exists between land‐surface temperature (LST) and evaporative cooling, employing principles of surface energy balance (SEB). Unfortunately, while many applications in water resource management require ET information at daily and field spatial scales, current satellite‐based thermal sensors are characterized by either low spatial resolution and high repeatability or by moderate/high spatial resolution and low frequency. Here we introduce a novel approach to ET mapping that fuses characteristics of both classes of sensors to provide optimal spatiotemporal coverage. In this approach, coarse resolution daily ET maps generated with a SEB model using geostationary satellite data are spatially disaggregated using daily MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) 1 km and biweekly Landsat LST imagery sharpened to 30 m. These ET fields are then fused to obtain daily ET maps at 30 m spatial resolution. The accuracy of the fused Landsat‐MODIS daily ET maps was evaluated over Iowa using observations collected at eight flux towers sited in corn and soybean fields during the Soil Moisture Experiment of 2002, as well as in comparison with a Landsat‐only retrieval. A significant improvement in ET accuracy (reducing errors from 0.75 to 0.58 mm d−1 on average) was obtained by fusing MODIS and Landsat data in comparison with the Landsat‐only case, with most notable improvements when a rainfall event occurred between two successive Landsat acquisitions. The improvements are further evident at the seasonal timescale, where a 3% error is obtained using Landsat‐MODIS fusion versus a 9% Landsat‐only systematic underestimation.
3Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·8H2O: A Metastable Phase in the System Mg(OH)2‐MgSO4‐H2O
Authors: Dinnebier Robert E. , Pannach Melanie , Freyer Daniela
Published: June 2013

In the course of investigations relating to magnesia oxysulfate cement the basic magnesium salt hydrate 3Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·8H2O (3–1–8 phase) was found as a metastable phase in the system Mg(OH)2‐MgSO4‐H2O at room temperature (the 5–1–2 phase is the stable phase) and was characterized by thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction. The complex crystal structure of the 3–1–8 phase was determined from high resolution laboratory X‐ray powder diffraction data [space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 7.8956(1) Å, b = 9.8302(2) Å, c = 20.1769(2) Å, β = 96.2147(16)°, and V = 1556.84(4) Å3]. In the crystal structure of the 3–1–8 phase, parallel double chains of edge‐linked distorted Mg(OH2)2(OH)4 octahedra run along [–110] and [110] direction forming a pattern of crossed rods. Isolated SO4 tetrahedra and interstitial water molecules separate the stacks of parallel double chains.
Synthesis and Structures of Two Dinuclear Transition Metal Complexes and Their Catalytic Applications in Hydrogenation of Ketones
Authors: He Jianhua , Zeng Mulan , Cheng Haiyan , Chen Zilu , Liang Fupei
Published: June 2013

The complexes [Ni2(L)2]2·H2O (1) and [Cu2(L)2(H2O)]·2CH3OH (2) were prepared by reaction of the chiral Schiff base ligand N‐[(1R,2S)‐2‐hydroxy‐1,2‐diphenyl]‐acetylacetonimine (H2L) with NiII and CuII ions, respectively, aiming to develop economically and environmentally‐friendly catalysts for the hydrogenation of ketones. They have a dinuclear skeleton with axial vacant sites. The catalytic effects of the two complexes for hydrogenation of ketones were tested using dihydrogen gas as hydrogen source. They present some catalytic effects in hydrogenation of acetophenone, which has a dependence on the temperature and base used in these reactions. However, no apparent catalytic effects were found for the two complexes in hydrogenation of 4‐nitroacetophenone and 4‐methylacetophenone. Although the catalytic conversion in these hydrogenation reactions is low, they do represent a kind of cheap and environmentally‐friendly hydrogenation catalyst.
A frequent splicing mutation and novel missense mutations color the updated mutational spectrum of classic galactosemia in Portugal
Authors: Coelho Ana I. , Ramos Ruben , Gaspar Ana , Costa Cláudia , Oliveira Anabela , Diogo Luísa , Garcia Paula , Paiva Sandra , Martins Esmeralda , Teles Elisa Leão , Rodrigues Esmeralda , Cardoso M. Teresa , Ferreira Elena , Sequeira Sílvia , Leite Margarida , Silva Maria João , de Almeida Isabel Tavares , Vicente João B. , Rivera Isabel
Published: June 2013

Classic galactosemia is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficient galactose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT) activity. Patients develop symptoms in the neonatal period, which can be ameliorated by dietary restriction of galactose. Many patients develop long‐term complications, with a broad range of clinical symptoms whose pathophysiology is poorly understood. The high allelic heterogeneity of GALT gene that characterizes this disorder is thought to play a determinant role in biochemical and clinical phenotypes. We aimed to characterize the mutational spectrum of GALT deficiency in Portugal and to assess potential genotype‐phenotype correlations. Direct sequencing of the GALT gene and in silico analyses were employed to evaluate the impact of uncharacterized mutations upon GALT functionality. Molecular characterization of 42 galactosemic Portuguese patients revealed a mutational spectrum comprising 14 nucleotide substitutions: ten missense, two nonsense and two putative splicing mutations. Sixteen different genotypic combinations were detected, half of the patients being p.Q188R homozygotes. Notably, the second most frequent variation is a splicing mutation. In silico predictions complemented by a close‐up on the mutations in the protein structure suggest that uncharacterized missense mutations have cumulative point effects on protein stability, oligomeric state, or substrate binding. One splicing mutation is predicted to cause an alternative splicing event. This study reinforces the difficulty in establishing a genotype‐phenotype correlation in classic galactosemia, a monogenic disease whose complex pathogenesis and clinical features emphasize the need to expand the knowledge on this “cloudy” disorder.
Habitat‐specific responses of seed germination and seedling establishment to soil water condition in two Rheum species in the high Sino‐Himalayas
Authors: Song Bo , Stöcklin Jürg , Gao Yong‐Qian , Zhang Zhi‐Qiang , Yang Yang , Li Zhi‐Ming , Sun Hang
Published: June 2013

Knowledge of how germination and seedling establishment respond to soil water condition is crucial for plant conservation under global warming and land‐use changes. We tested the flooding and drought tolerance of two plant species with different occurrences along a soil water gradient by assessing seed germination, seedling survival, seedling growth, and root characteristics. In the high Sino‐Himalayas, Rheum alexandrae typically occurs in wetlands, R. nobile in scree or open slope with well‐drained soils. Seeds and seedlings of the two species were subjected to different soil water conditions in controlled greenhouse experiments. Seed germination in both species was inhibited by high soil water content; however, seeds of R. alexandrae were more tolerant to flooding, especially to submergence. Seedling survival, biomass accumulation, root diameter, and root porosity of R. alexandrae increased significantly with increased soil water content, but submergence was lethal for seedlings. Seedling survival, biomass accumulation, and root length of R. nobile increased significantly in response to reduced soil water content. These results indicate that in the two species, seed germination and seedling establishment in response to different soil water condition are habitat‐specific. Because both species are susceptible to moderate changes in soil water condition, their species‐specific requirements with respect to this factor should be a consideration when planning their conservation.
Simulation of the effect of root distribution on hydraulic redistribution in a desert riparian forest
Authors: Hao Xing Ming , Li Wei Hong , Guo Bin , Ma Jian Xin
Published: June 2013

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) of roots plays an important role in the water relations of desert riparian plants. In order to estimate the effect of vertical root distribution on the HR process of Populus euphratica Oliv. during the entire growth season, we performed simulation and scenario analyses based on the observed soil water potential and root distribution data. The results showed that our simulation model achieved a good accuracy. The initial value of soil water content could significantly affect the simulated soil water content at soil depths of >90 cm, but had only limited effect on soil water content in the 0‐ to 90‐cm soil layers. Scenario analysis revealed that with increase in root distribution depth, the HR process extended from the upper and middle soil layers downward toward the middle and deeper soil layers: the deeper the root distribution, the more likely it was to trigger the HR process in deep soil layers. However, a deeper rooting system led to a decrease in the total amount of hydraulically redistributed water over the entire soil column. Redistributed water also significantly increased the soil water depletion and the soil water storage. However, the effects of redistributed water (HR vs. without HR) on water depletion and soil water storage were reduced with the deepening of root distribution. These results indicate that HR can obviously affect the moisture of the upper soil layers, while vertical root distribution significantly changes the spatial and quantitative characteristics of HR within soil columns.
Secrets from friends and parents: Longitudinal links with depression and antisocial behavior
Authors: Laird Robert D. , Bridges Brittanee J. , Marsee Monica A.
Published: June 2013

Keeping secrets from parents is associated with depression and antisocial behavior. The current study tested whether keeping secrets from best friends is similarly linked to maladjustment, and whether associations between secrecy and maladjustment are moderated by the quality of the friendship. Adolescents (N = 181; 51% female, 48% white, non‐Hispanic, 45% African American) reported their secrecy from parents and best friends, the quality of their parent–adolescent relationships and best friendships, and their depression and antisocial behavior at ages 12 and 13. Keeping more secrets from best friends was associated with more depression, but not with more antisocial behavior, when controlling for earlier adjustment, secrecy from parents, and the quality of the friendship. For girls associations between maladjustment and secrecy were conditioned by the quality of the relationships and whether secrets were kept from parents and friends. Discussion argues for expanding the study of secrecy in adolescence beyond the parent–child dyad.
Understanding urban transportation in India as polycentric system
Authors: Vaidyanathan Vivek , King Robin A , de Jong Martin
Published: June 2013

This paper attempts to study urban transport planning in India from a polycentric governance point of view. Urban transport planning in India is a relatively new phenomenon and is largely top-down. There have been questions raised about the feasibility of many urban transport projects which have been commissioned. A polycentric governance system with a focus on multiple actors and power centres, a decentralized and participative decision making process offers a different way of understanding governance processes and decision making.
Using Participatory Action Research to Identify Strategies to Improve Pandemic Vaccination
Authors: Crowley Kathleen A. , Myers Ronnie , Riley Halley E.M. , Morse Stephen S. , Brandt-Rauf Paul , Gershon Robyn R.M.
Published: June 2013

Objective

Developing and implementing effective strategies to increase influenza vaccination rates among health care personnel is an ongoing challenge, especially during a pandemic. We used participatory action research (PAR) methodology to identify targeted vaccination interventions that could potentially improve vaccine uptake in a medical center.

Methods

Front-line medical center personnel were recruited to participate in 2 PAR teams (clinical and nonclinical staff). Data from a recent medical center survey on barriers and facilitators to influenza (seasonal, pandemic, and combination) vaccine uptake were reviewed, and strategies to increase vaccination rates among medical center personnel were identified.

Results

Feasible, creative, and low-cost interventions were identified, including organizational strategies that differed from investigator-identified interventions. The recommended strategies also differed by team. The nonclinical team suggested programs focused on dispelling vaccination-related myths, and the clinical team suggested campaigns emphasizing the importance of vaccination to protect patients.

Conclusions

PAR methodology was useful to identify innovative and targeted recommendations for increasing vaccine uptake. By involving representative front-line workers, PAR may help medical centers improve influenza vaccination rates across all work groups. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1–7)
Nutritional impacts of a fruit and vegetable subsidy programme for disadvantaged Australian Aboriginal children
Authors: Black Andrew P. , Vally Hassan , Morris Peter , Daniel Mark , Esterman Adrian , Karschimkus Connie S. , O'Dea Kerin
Published: June 2013

Healthy food subsidy programmes have not been widely implemented in high-income countries apart from the USA and the UK. There is, however, interest being expressed in the potential of healthy food subsidies to complement nutrition promotion initiatives and reduce the social disparities in healthy eating. Herein, we describe the impact of a fruit and vegetable (F&V) subsidy programme on the nutritional status of a cohort of disadvantaged Aboriginal children living in rural Australia. A before-and-after study was used to assess the nutritional impact in 174 children whose families received weekly boxes of subsidised F&V organised through three Aboriginal medical services. The nutritional impact was assessed by comparing 24 h dietary recalls and plasma carotenoid and vitamin C levels at baseline and after 12 months. A general linear model was used to assess the changes in biomarker levels and dietary intake, controlled for age, sex, community and baseline levels. Baseline assessment in 149 children showed low F&V consumption. Significant increases (P< 0·05) in β-cryptoxanthin (28·9 nmol/l, 18 %), vitamin C (10·1 μmol/l, 21 %) and lutein–zeaxanthin (39·3 nmol/l, 11 %) levels were observed at the 12-month follow-up in 115 children, although the self-reported F&V intake was unchanged. The improvements in the levels of biomarkers of F&V intake demonstrated in the present study are consistent with increased F&V intake. Such dietary improvements, if sustained, could reduce non-communicable disease rates. A controlled study of healthy food subsidies, together with an economic analysis, would facilitate a thorough assessment of the costs and benefits of subsidising healthy foods for disadvantaged Aboriginal Australians.
Associations between serum hepcidin, ferritin and Hb concentrations and type 2 diabetes risks in a Han Chinese population
Authors: Guo Xin , Zhou Daizhan , An Peng , Wu Qian , Wang Hao , Wu Aimin , Mu Mingdao , Zhang Di , Zhang Zhou , Wang Hui , He Lin , Liu Yun , Wang Fudi
Published: June 2013

Systemic Fe overload can contribute to abnormal glucose metabolism and the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although hepcidin is the master regulator of systemic Fe homeostasis, few studies have systematically evaluated the associations of serum hepcidin concentrations with Fe metabolism parameters and risks for the development of T2D. In this regard, whether hepcidin concentrations are associated with T2D remains controversial. We measured serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations in a case–control study of 1259 Han Chinese participants to evaluate the possible associations of serum hepcidin concentrations with Fe metabolism parameters and risks of T2D. Individuals with diabetes (n 555) and control participants (n 704) were recruited and serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations were quantified. Additionally, selected biochemical and anthropometric variables were determined. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations with T2D. A linear regression analysis was used to test for associations between serum hepcidin and ferritin concentrations and a number of clinical, demographic and diabetes-associated variables. We found that serum hepcidin concentrations correlated with Hb and serum ferritin concentrations. No differences in hepcidin concentrations were found between the group with diabetes and the control group. Hepcidin concentrations were not significantly correlated with T2D risk factors. We also found that serum ferritin concentrations were elevated in individuals with diabetes and were positively correlated with both Hb concentrations and T2D risk factors. The present findings suggest that serum ferritin concentrations correlate with T2D risk factors, while serum hepcidin concentrations are positively associated with Hb and serum ferritin concentrations, but do not correlate with T2D.
Graptoloid evolutionary rates track Ordovician–Silurian global climate change
Authors: COOPER ROGER A. , SADLER PETER M. , MUNNECKE AXEL , CRAMPTON JAMES S.
Published: June 2013

Graptoloid evolutionary dynamics show a marked contrast from the Ordovician to the Silurian. Subdued extinction and origination rates during the Ordovician give way, during the late Katian, to rates that were highly volatile and of higher mean value through the Silurian, reflecting the significantly shorter lifespan of Silurian species. These patterns are revealed in high-resolution rate curves derived from the CONOP (constrained optimization) scaled and calibrated global composite sequence of 2094 graptoloid species. The end-Ordovician mass depletion was driven primarily by an elevated extinction rate which lasted forc. 1.2 Ma with two main spikes during the Hirnantian. The early Silurian recovery, although initiated by a peak in origination rate, was maintained by a complex interplay of origination and extinction rates, with both rates rising and falling sharply. The global δ13C curve echoes the graptoloid evolutionary rates pattern; the prominent and well-known positive isotope excursions during the Late Ordovician and Silurian lie on or close to times of sharp decline in graptoloid species richness, commonly associated with extinction rate spikes. The graptoloid and isotope data point to a relatively steady marine environment in the Ordovician with mainly background extinction rates, changing during the Katian to a more volatile climatic regime that prevailed through the Silurian, with several sharp extinction episodes triggered by environmental crises. The correlation of graptoloid species diversity with isotopic ratios was positive in the Ordovician and negative in the Silurian, suggesting different causal linkages. Throughout the history of the graptoloid clade all major depletions in species richness except for one were caused by elevated extinction rate rather than decreased origination rate.
Seroprevalence and GIS-supported risk factor analysis of Fasciola hepatica infections in dairy herds in Germany
Authors: KUERPICK BIRTE , CONRATHS FRANZ J. , STAUBACH CHRISTOPH , FRÖHLICH ANDREAS , SCHNIEDER THOMAS , STRUBE CHRISTINA
Published: June 2013

A total of 20 749 bulk tank milk (BTM) samples was collected in November 2008 from all over Germany, corresponding to 20·9% of all German dairy herds. The BTM samples were analysed for antibodies against Fasciola hepatica using the excretory–secretory (ES) ELISA. A geospatial map was drawn to show herd prevalences per postal code area. Various spatial risk factors were tested for potential statistical associations with the ELISA results in logistic regression supported by a geographical information system (GIS). The mean seroprevalence was 23·6% and prevalences in different German federal states varied between 2·6% and 38·4%. GIS analysis revealed statistically significant positive associations between the proportion of grassed area and water bodies per postal code area and positive BTM ELISA results. This can be explained by the biology of the intermediate host, the amphibious snail Galba (Lymnea) truncatula and the pasture-borne nature of fasciolosis. The full logistic regression model had a Pseudo-R2 of 22%, while the final model obtained by controlled stepwise model building revealed a Pseudo-R2 of 14%, indicating that additional, unrecorded factors and random effects contributed substantially to the occurrence of positive ELISA results. Considering the high seroprevalences in some areas and the economic impact of fasciolosis, farmers and veterinarians should be strongly advised to implement effective liver fluke control programmes.