bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Conversion to Multiple Sclerosis in Patients with Clinical Isolated Syndrome Using the 2010 Revised McDonald Criteria
Authors: Alroughani R. , Al Hashel J. , Lamdhade S. , Ahmed S. F.
Published: November 2012

Background. Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is the first neurologic episode of multiple sclerosis (MS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical features are used to predict risk of conversion to MS. Objectives. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate predictors of conversion of CIS to McDonald MS. Method. 97 patients with CIS have been followed for 2 years. Age of onset, gender, initial clinical presentation, and MRI brain and spine were assessed. The 2010 revised McDonald criteria were applied. Results. Fifty-nine patients (60.8%) with CIS converted to McDonald MS after 10.1 + 4.2 months. Thirty-seven (38.1%) of the convertors satisfied the diagnostic criteria based on the radiological parameters, while 21.7% sustained their second clinical events. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that high number of lesions in MRI (P=0.001) and earlier age of onset (P=0.043) predicted the conversion of CIS to McDonald MS. Gender (P=0.5) and initial clinical presentation (optic pathway (P=0.4), supratentorial (P=0.91), brain stem/ cerebellum (P=0.97), and spinal (P=0.76)) were not statistically significant. Conclusion. Age of onset and MRI parameters can be used as predictors of CIS conversion to McDonald MS. Application of the 2010 revised McDonald criteria allows an earlier MS diagnosis.
Wavelet-Based Multiscale Adaptive LBP with Directional Statistical Features for Recognizing Artificial Faces
Authors: Mohamed Abdallah A. , Yampolskiy Roman V.
Published: November 2012

Recognizing avatar faces is a very important issue for the security of virtual worlds. In this paper, a novel face recognition technique based on the wavelet transform and the multiscale representation of the adaptive local binary pattern (ALBP) with directional statistical features is proposed to increase the accuracy rate of recognizing avatars in different virtual worlds. The proposed technique consists of three stages: preprocessing, feature extraction, and recognition. In the preprocessing and feature extraction stages, wavelet decomposition is used to enhance the common features of the same subject of images and the multiscale ALBP (MALBP) is used to extract representative features from each facial image. Then, in the recognition stage the wavelet MALBP (WMALBP) histogram dissimilarity with statistical features of each test image and each class model is used within the nearest neighbor classifier to improve the classification accuracy of the WMALBP. Experiments conducted on two virtual world avatar face image datasets show that our technique performs better than LBP, PCA, multiscale local binary pattern, ALBP, and ALBP with directional statistical features (ALBPF) in terms of the accuracy and the time required to classify each facial image to its subject.
Current Status of Schistosoma mansoni Infections and Associated Risk Factors among Students in Gorgora Town, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Essa Tarko , Birhane Yemane , Endris Mengistu , Moges Asmeret , Moges Feleke
Published: November 2012

Background and Objective. Schistosomiasis is highly prevalent in tropics and causes morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Ethiopia. This study is aimed to assess the current status of S. mansoni infections and associated risk factors among students in Gorgora town, Northwest Ethiopia. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2010 to November 2010 at Gorgora, Northwest Ethiopia. All students (579) present during the study period were enrolled. Pretested questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data and predisposing factors. Stool examination was performed using wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. Data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software. Result. Among 579 students enrolled, 291 (50.3%) were positive for one or more intestinal parasites. Prevalence of S. mansoni was found to be 20.6% with mean intensity of infection (125 eggs per gram of feces). Lack of awareness and water contact habits such as frequent swimming in the open water source, agricultural activities on bare foot, and washing clothes were also associated with high risk of S. mansoni infection. Conclusion. Even though there seems to be a decline in the prevalence of S. mansoni infections in the study area, the problem still persists and affects students significantly. Therefore, therapeutic intervention and health education are needed.
Evaluating the implementation of health coaching in a rural setting
Authors: Ervin Kaye E. , Jeffery Vivienne , Koschel Alison
Published: November 2012

Objective: The aim of this project was to explore the barriers and enablers to implementation of staff training in Health Coaching, a model of care employed in primary care to facilitate client self management of chronic disease.Methods: Forty six staff from five rural community health settings were recruited to undertake training in Health Coaching. A simple post training quantitative evaluation was conducted by surveying staff five months post training. Results: There was a 68% response rate to the surveys. Only 50% of staff trained in Health Coaching reported implementing it into practice. Enabling factors to implementing the training were reported as peer and organisational support.Conclusion: Effective models of self management in chronic disease should not be aimed at staff training alone. This study suggests that implementation of new models of care requires a significant change in clinician practice which is not readily embraced by staff.    Key words: chronic disease, early intervention, self management, staff training, training implementation.
Preceptorship: Exploring the experiences of final year student nurses in acute hospital setting.
Authors: Varley Lorraine , MacNamara Catherine , Mannix-McNamara Patricia
Published: November 2012

Background: Preceptors play a pivotal role in inducting, supporting, teaching and assessing students on clinical placement. This research sought to examine student nurses’ experiences of preceptorship during their clinical placement in their final year of studies in order to further illuminate what is known about preceptorship in Ireland. Method: A qualitative research design was adopted for this study. Forty-seven final year nursing students were questioned using a structured enquiry schedule about their experiences of preceptorship during clinical placement. All participants were female. The data were analysed thematically according to Smith, Flowers and Larkin’s (2009) framework. Results: The results indicate that while a small minority found the experience of preceptors enhanced their learning while on clinical placement, the majority has a less than optimal experience. Reasons for this included: busy workloads of preceptors, difficulty in the accessibility of the preceptor and lack of preceptor training. Conclusions: The results highlight a number of challenges facing students and preceptors in the study. The authors advocate for a more systematic national study into preceptorship implementation in Ireland. This is necessary in order to inform a more coherent framework with national standards for preceptor training and implementation.
Coping with the Standards Regime: Analyzing Export Competitiveness of Indian Seafood Industry
Authors: Somasekharan Jayasekhar , K. N Harilal , M. Parameswaran
Published: November 2012

In this research paper a Constant Market Share (CMS) approach was employed to learn export performance dynamics of Indian seafood (shrimps and cephalopods) in the major export destinations (EU, USA and select Asian countries), which accounts for a sizeable market for Indian seafood. The Constant Market Share model was used to disintegrate the growth in exports of seafood into market size effect, market composition effect and competitiveness effect. The analysis was performed for the seafood exports for a span of 12 years from the year 1996 to the year 2007, the period during which India had to face severe challenges from evolving food safety regulations in the EU and USA. The analysis was extended to account for the competitiveness at dis-aggregated commodity level. In the present study we observed enhanced competitiveness in the case of cephalopods while shrimp exports were less competitive. To a certain extent it shows that trade facilitating as well as trade restricting effects can coexist as an impact of strict food safety regulations.
Solve It! Student Thinking: Relatively Speaking
Authors: Bair Sherry L. , Mooney Edward S.
Published: November 2012

Students' thinking is discussed, and the procedures used with problem solving are explored.
Palette of Problems – November 2012
Authors: Rock David , Amidon Joel
Published: November 2012

A monthly set of problems is aimed at a variety of ability levels.
An Exce-L-ent Algorithm for Factors and Multiples
Authors: Lee Jae Ki , Choi Kyong Mi , McAninch Melissa
Published: November 2012

The L-shaped 2-5-3-7 algorithm, combining efficient Singaporean and Korean procedures with divisibility rules of primes 2, 3, 5, and 7, helps students identify LCMs and GCFs.
The Menu for Every Young Mathematician's Appetite
Authors: Legnard Danielle S. , Austin Susan L.
Published: November 2012

A first-grade teacher demonstrates how to serve up this model of inquiry-based instruction in any classroom.
Voting Changed My Teaching Approach
Authors: Saari Donald G.
Published: November 2012

Fourth graders' creative thinking concerning a long-standing research problem stimulated changes in instructional strategies.
A Revealing Interview
Authors: Utz Gary N.
Published: November 2012

Back Talk highlights the learning of one or two students and their approach to solving a math problem. Each article includes the prompt used to initiate the discussion, a portion of dialogue, student work samples (when applicable), and teacher insights into the mathematical thinking of the students. A teacher relates her one-on-one interview with a fifth-grade student who is asked to solve a word problem using mental math.
Applied TEM Approach for Micro/Nanostructural Characterization of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Cementitious Composites
Authors: Aich Nirupam , Zohhadi Nima , Khan Iftheker A. , Matta Fabio , Ziehl Paul , Saleh Navid B.
Published: November 2012

A novel colloidal technique for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of graphitic nano-reinforced cementitious (GNRC) composites was developed. Single-walled and multiwalled nanotubes (SWNTs and MWNTs) were functionalized using an acid etching technique to obtain stable aqueous suspensions that were incorporated in the mix design of a cement paste. Effective functionalization was demonstrated by Raman spectroscopic measurements and time resolved dynamic light scattering measurements. The functionalized nano-reinforcement and binding characteristics were observed at the nanoscale for the first time using high resolution TEM imaging. Functionalized CNTs were found to be well distributed and preferentially associated with the cementitious matrix. This newly developed colloidal technique for TEM imaging of GNRC composites is a viable approach to characterize the interfacial compatibility between graphitic nano-reinforcement and cementitious matrices.
Microstructural Parameters of HPMC/PVP Polymer Blends Using Wide Angle X-Ray Technique
Authors: Prakash Y. , Mahadevaiah D , Somashekarappa H. , Demappa T. , Somashekar R.
Published: November 2012

Hydroxypropylemethylecellulose (HPMC) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer virgin and blend films were prepared and investigated using wide angle X-ray scattering method. Microstructural parameters like lattice strain (g %), the crystallite size for individual the Bragg’s reflection (hkl) have been computed using line profile analysis and hence by whole pattern fitting method. The X-ray diffraction study reveals that the blending of PVP decreases the crystallanity of HPMC up to 5:4 concentration and then increases. Measured tensile strength decreases, Young’s Modulus decreases, and % elongation increases as the concentration of PVP increases. The surface morphology investigated using scanning electron microscope, shows that the two polymers were miscible in all concentration range.
Surface Functionalization of TiO2 with Plant Extracts and their Combined Antimicrobial Activities Against E. faecalis and E. Coli
Authors: Maurya Archana , Chauhan Pratima , Mishra Amita , Pandey Abhay K.
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study is to enhance the antibacterial activity of TiO2 by pure plant extracts of Bauhinia variegata and Tinospora. cordifolia by making a composite of plant extract and TiO2. Plant extracts, TiO2 and plant extracts/TiO2 composites were investigated against two bacterial strain Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. X-ray diffraction investigations have confirmed the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles in the plant extract/TiO2 nanocomposites. UV-visible investigations have shown an enhanced photocatalytic activity of plant extract/TiO2 nanocomposites compared to that of pure TiO2 and pure plant extract. Plant extract/TiO2 nanocomposites have shown various level of antibacterial activity on different test microorganisms. The highest antibacterial potentiality expressed in terms of zone of inhibition (ZOI) in mm was exhibited by the aqueous extract of Bauhinia variegata /TiO2 (45 mm against Enterococcus faecalis and 30 mm against Escherichia coli) and benzene extract of Tinospora cordifolia /TiO2 (26 mm) nanocomposites. This is the first study on these types of bio-nano composite materials and it serves as basis for further research on these types of composite materials as a potent antibacterial agent.
Climate change and migration: an overview
Authors: Brown Oli , McLeman Robert
Published: November 2012

Climate change refers generally to persistent, identifiable change in the state of the climate in terms of average conditions and/or variability. Such changes may be stimulated by natural processes or through alteration of the composition of the atmosphere due to human activities such as energy use and forest clearance (also referred to as
anthropogenic climate change
). Widespread concern among physical scientists about the potential global impacts of anthropogenic climate change on sea level, land and sea ice, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events first emerged in the 1980s.
International human rights norms on migrants
Authors: Lyon Beth
Published: November 2012

This essay provides an overview of binding international human rights treaty provisions that protect migrants. Explicitly or through interpretation, nearly every human rights convention protects migrants. Specialized instruments address the situation of migrant subcategories, including refugees and people at risk of torture and other abuse in their home countries, stateless persons, migrant workers, trafficked and smuggled migrants, child migrants, women migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Each of these specialized regimes reflects a different stage of international entrenchment, but the protections they enshrine remain urgently relevant to migrants and their countries of origin and destination.
Remittances and poverty alleviation in poor countries
Authors: Ratha Dilip
Published: November 2012

Remittances sent by migrant workers to their families and friends provide the most tangible and least controversial link between migration and development. A discussion of the developmental impacts of remittances necessarily involves an understanding of migration that precedes remittances. Only 3 percent (about 200 million) of the world's population has migrated to another country; 97 percent of the population have not (United Nations 2010). This implies that migration cannot be a substitute for domestic development and job creation except in the case of very small countries. Of the small fraction of the population that has migrated, over 90 percent have done so for economic reasons, implying that migration is usually beneficial to the employer, the migrant worker, and to the sending and the receiving countries. It also implies that remittances, typically a fraction of a migrant worker's income, are not a “drain” on the host economy.
Social capital and labor‐market outcomes for immigrants
Authors: Lancee Bram
Published: November 2012

Social capital implies that people well equipped with social resources – in the sense of their network and the resources of others they can call upon – are more likely to succeed in attaining their goals (Flap & Völker 2004: 6). Although there is no commonly accepted definition, social capital is often described as the “investment and use of embedded resources in social relations for expected returns” (Lin 1999a: 30). Researchers have suggested that possessing social capital contributes to economic outcomes, such as access to the labor market (Granovetter 1995; Aguilera 2002), wages (Aguilera & Massey 2003; Aguilera 2003) or occupational status (Lin 1999b).
Dual‐Functional Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/MnO2 Nanoellipsoids for Enhancement of Neurite Outgrowth and Exocytosed Biomolecule Sensing in PC12 Cells
Authors: Kim Sojin , Oh Wan‐Kyu , Jeong Yoon Seon , Jang Jyongsik
Published: November 2012

Dual‐functional MnO2‐decorated poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT/MnO2) nanoellipsoids are fabricated for enhancement of neurite outgrowth during differentiation and real‐time monitoring of PC12 cells. The PEDOT nanoellipsoids are prepared by chemical oxidation polymerization in reverse microemulsion and the MnO2 domains on the surface of the PEDOT are formed by redox deposition. A PC12 cell is used as a model cell for neuronal differentiation. The morphology, differentiation efficiency, average neurite length, expression level of DMT1, phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and viability of PC12 cells upon the exposure of the PEDOT/MnO2 nanoellipsoids are examined. The PEDOT/MnO2 nanoellipsoids facilitate neurite outgrowth in proportion to the dose of the nanoellipsoids, and MnO2 domains play a pivotal role in facilitation effects on cell differentiation. The PEDOT/MnO2 nanoellipsoids represent low toxicity in the cells due to biocompatible PEDOT matrix. Moreover, the PEDOT/MnO2 nanoellipsoids are further applied as a transducer material for label‐free real‐time monitoring of PC12 cells. The exocytosed catecholamines from living cells are successfully detected. The dual‐functionalized PEDOT/MnO2 nanoellipsoids may be used in tissue engineering related to the development and monitoring of mammalian nervous systems.
Unexpected Propeller‐Like Hexakis(fluoren‐2‐yl)benzene Cores for Six‐Arm Star‐Shaped Oligofluorenes: Highly Efficient Deep‐Blue Fluorescent Emitters and Good Hole‐Transporting Materials
Authors: Zou Yang , Zou Jianhua , Ye Tengling , Li Hao , Yang Chuluo , Wu Hongbin , Ma Dongge , Qin Jingui , Cao Yong
Published: November 2012

Grafting six fluorene units to a benzene ring generates a new highly twisted core of hexakis(fluoren‐2‐yl)benzene. Based on the new core, six‐arm star‐shaped oligofluorenes from the first generation T1 to third generation T3 are constructed. Their thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical properties are studied, and the relationship between the structures and properties is discussed. Simple double‐layer electroluminescence (EL) devices using T1–T3 as non‐doped solution‐processed emitters display deep‐blue emissions with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.17, 0.08) for T1, (0.16, 0.08) for T2, and (0.16, 0.07) for T3. These devices exhibit excellent performance, with maximum current efficiency of up to 5.4 cd A−1, and maximum external quantum efficiency of up to 6.8%, which is the highest efficiency for non‐doped solution‐processed deep‐blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on starburst oligofluorenes, and is even comparable with other solution‐processed deep‐blue fluorescent OLEDs. Furthermore, T2‐ and T3‐based devices show striking blue EL color stability independent of driving voltage. In addition, using T0–T3 as hole‐transporting materials, the devices of indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS)/T0–T3/tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (Alq3)/LiF/Al achieve maximum current efficiencies of 5.51–6.62 cd A−1, which are among the highest for hole‐transporting materials in identical device structure.
Hot Spot‐Localized Artificial Antibodies for Label‐Free Plasmonic Biosensing
Authors: Abbas Abdennour , Tian Limei , Morrissey Jeremiah J. , Kharasch Evan D. , Singamaneni Srikanth
Published: November 2012

The development of biomolecular imprinting over the last decade has raised promising perspectives in replacing natural antibodies with artificial antibodies. A significant number of reports have been dedicated to imprinting of organic and inorganic nanostructures, but very few were performed on nanomaterials with a transduction function. Herein, a relatively fast and efficient plasmonic hot spot‐localized surface imprinting of gold nanorods using reversible template immobilization and siloxane copolymerization is described. The technique enables a fine control of the imprinting process at the nanometer scale and provides a nanobiosensor with high selectivity and reusability. Proof of concept is established by the detection of neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL), a biomarker for acute kidney injury, using localized surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The work represents a valuable step towards plasmonic nanobiosensors with synthetic antibodies for label‐free and cost‐efficient diagnostic assays. It is expected that this novel class of surface imprinted plasmonic nanomaterials will open up new possibilities in advancing biomedical applications of plasmonic nanostructures.
Enhanced Light‐Harvesting Capability of a Panchromatic Ru(II) Sensitizer Based on π‐Extended Terpyridine with a 4‐Methylstylryl Group for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Numata Youhei , Singh Surya Prakash , Islam Ashraful , Iwamura Munetaka , Imai Atsushi , Nozaki Koichi , Han Liyuan
Published: November 2012

A novel Ru π‐expanded terpyridyl sensitizer, referred to as HIS‐2, is prepared based on the molecular design strategy of substitution with a moderately electron‐donating 4‐methylstyryl group onto the terpyridyl ligand. The HIS‐2 dye exhibits a slightly increased metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption at around 600 nm and an intense π–π* absorption in the UV region compared with a black dye. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is distributed over the terpyridine and 4‐methylstyryl moieties, which enhances the light‐harvesting capability and is appropriate for smooth electron injection from the dye to the TiO2 conduction band. The incident photon‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency spectrum of HIS‐2 exhibits better photoresponse compared with black dye over the whole spectral region as a result of the extended π‐conjugation. A DSC device based on black dye gives a short‐circuit current (JSC) of 21.28 mA cm−2, open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.69 V, and fill factor (FF) of 0.72, in an overall conversion efficiency (η) of 10.5%. In contrast, an HIS‐2 based cell gives a higher JSC value of 23.07 mA cm−2 with VOC of 0.68 V, and FF of 0.71, and owing to the higher JSC value of HIS‐2, an improved η value of 11.1% is achieved.
Functionalized Silk Biomaterials for Wound Healing
Authors: Gil Eun Seok , Panilaitis Bruce , Bellas Evangelia , Kaplan David L.
Published: November 2012

Silk protein‐biomaterial wound dressings with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and silver sulfadiazine were studied with a cutaneous excisional mouse wound model. Three different material designs and two different drug incorporation techniques were studied to compare wound healing responses. Material formats included silk films, lamellar porous silk films and electrospun silk nanofibers, each studied with the silk matrix alone and with drug loading or drug coatings on the silk matrices. Changes in wound size and histological assessments of wound tissues showed that the functionalized silk biomaterial wound dressings increased wound healing rate, including reepithelialization, dermis proliferation, collagen synthesis and reduced scar formation, when compared to air‐permeable Tegaderm tape (3M) (‐ control) and a commercial wound dressing, Tegaderm Hydrocolloid dressing (3M) (+ control). All silk biomaterials were effective for wound healing, while the lamellar porous films and electrospun nanofibers and the incorporation of EGF/silver sulfadiazine, via drug loading or coating, provided the most rapid wound healing responses. This systematic approach to evaluating functionalized silk biomaterial wound dressings demonstrates a useful strategy to select formulations for further study towards new treatment options for chronic wounds.
Stimulus‐Sensitive Polymeric Nanoparticles and Their Applications as Drug and Gene Carriers
Authors: Li Yi , Gao Guang Hui , Lee Doo Sung
Published: November 2012

Polymeric nanoparticles are promising candidates as drug and gene carriers. Among polymeric nanoparticles, those that are responsive to internal or external stimuli are of greater interest because they allow more efficient delivery of therapeutics to pathological regions. Stimulus‐sensitive polymeric nanoparticles have been fabricated based on numerous nanostructures, including micelles, vesicles, crosslinked nanoparticles, and hybrid nanoparticles. The changes in chemical or physical properties of polymeric nanoparticles that occur in response to single, dual, or multiple stimuli endow these nanoparticles with the ability to retain cargoes during circulation, target the pathological region, and release their cargoes after cell internalization. This Review focuses on the most recent developments in the preparation of stimulus‐sensitive polymeric nanoparticles and their applications in drug and gene delivery.
Genomic ancestry of rural African‐derived populations from Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Kimura Lilian , Ribeiro‐Rodrigues Elzemar Martins , De Mello Auricchio Maria Teresa Balester , Vicente João Pedro , Batista Santos Sidney Emanuel , Mingroni‐Netto Regina Célia
Published: November 2012

Objectives:

xMany Africans were brought to Brazil as slaves. The runaway or abandoned slaves founded isolated communities named quilombos. There are many quilombo remnants in Vale do Ribeira region in the southern part of São Paulo State. The aim of our study was to contribute to understanding the origins of these populations, through admixture studies.

Methods:

We genotyped 307 unrelated DNA samples obtained from ten quilombo populations from Vale do Ribeira region, using a panel of 48 INDEL polymorphisms. We estimated genetic differentiation between populations (FST) and genomic ancestry from these populations. Our data were compared to a similar study performed in quilombo remnants from the Brazilian Amazon region.

Results:

Population admixture estimates showed high degree of miscegenation in the quilombo remnants from Vale do Ribeira (average admixture estimates at 39.7% of African, 39.0% of European and 21.3% of Amerindian contribution). The proportions of ancestral genes varied greatly among individuals, ranging from 7.3 to 69.5%, 12.9 to 68.3%, and 7.3 to 58.5% (African, European, and Amerindian, respectively). Genetic differentiation between these populations was low (all FST values <5%), indicating gene flow between them. Both groups of quilombos, from Vale do Ribeira and Amazon, presented similar patterns of admixture.

Conclusions:

INDEL markers were useful to evidence the triple interbreeding among African, European, and Amerindian in the formation of quilombo populations. The low FST values suggested gene flow among quilombos from Vale do Ribeira. Our data highlight the important role of Amerindians in the formation of quilombo populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intrapopulation variation in macro tooth wear patterns—a case study from Igloolik, Canada
Authors: Clement Anna F. , Hillson Simon W.
Published: November 2012

The pattern of human tooth wear—the way it varies between teeth in the mouth—is crucial to our understanding of important questions in archeology and paleoanthropology, such as the contrasts in diet and behavior between Neanderthals and early modern humans in Europe and Asia, or with the adoption of agriculture in the Americas. Little is known, however, about the way in which wear patterns develop with increasing age or the way in which they differ between males and females. One explanation is that few living people show the high rates of tooth wear seen worldwide throughout the preindustrial archaeological record. The study described here investigates the macroscopic pattern of tooth wear in a unique group of known age and sex dental casts from living Canadian Inuit from Igloolik. The results show that the Igloolik people possessed a pattern of extremely heavy anterior tooth wear, relative to the first molar and the other posterior teeth, which is attributed to the use of the anterior teeth in cultural practices as well as the extreme and marginal environments in which they lived. Heavy anterior tooth wear was established at an early age and maintained throughout life; statistically significant differences were found between the wear patterns of males and females and are explained in terms of sexual division of labor within the community. This study highlights the need to understand both intra‐ and interpopulation variation in tooth wear patterns when interpreting patterns in past human groups. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Joseph S. Weiner and the foundation of post‐WW II human biology in the United Kingdom
Authors: Little Michael A. , Collins Kenneth J.
Published: November 2012

Both the United States and the United Kingdom experienced a transformation in the science of physical anthropology from the period before World War II until the post‐war period. In the United States, Sherwood L. Washburn is credited with being a leading figure in this transformation. In the United Kingdom, two individuals were instrumental in bringing about a similar change in the profession. These were Joseph S. Weiner at the University of Oxford and Nigel Barnicot at the University of London, with Weiner playing the principal role as leader in what Washburn called the “New Physical Anthropology,” that is, the application of evolutionary theory, the de‐emphasis on race classification, and the application of the scientific method and experimental approaches to problem solving. Weiner's contributions to physical anthropology were broad‐based—climatic and work physiology, paleoanthropology, and human variation—in what became known as human biology in the U.K. and human adaptability internationally. This biographical essay provides evidence for the significant influence of J.S. Weiner on the post‐war development of human biology (biological or physical anthropology) inthe U.K. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ground reaction forces and center of mass mechanics of bipedal capuchin monkeys: Implications for the evolution of human bipedalism
Authors: Demes Brigitte , O'Neill Matthew C.
Published: November 2012

Tufted capuchin monkeys are known to use both quadrupedalism and bipedalism in their natural environments. Although previous studies have investigated limb kinematics and metabolic costs, their ground reaction forces (GRFs) and center of mass (CoM) mechanics during two and four‐legged locomotion are unknown. Here, we determine the hind limb GRFs and CoM energy, work, and power during bipedalism and quadrupedalism over a range of speeds and gaits to investigate the effect of differential limb number on locomotor performance. Our results indicate that capuchin monkeys use a “grounded run” during bipedalism (0.83–1.43 ms−1) and primarily ambling and galloping gaits during quadrupedalism (0.91–6.0 ms−1). CoM energy recoveries are quite low during bipedalism (2–17%), and in general higher during quadrupedalism (4–72%). Consistent with this, hind limb vertical GRFs as well as CoM work, power, and collisional losses are higher in bipedalism than quadrupedalism. The positive CoM work is 2.04 ± 0.40 Jkg−1 m−1 (bipedalism) and 0.70 ± 0.29 Jkg−1 m−1 (quadrupedalism), which is within the range of published values for two and four‐legged terrestrial animals. The results of this study confirm that facultative bipedalism in capuchins and other nonhuman primates need not be restricted to a pendulum‐like walking gait, but rather can include running, albeit without an aerial phase. Based on these results and similar studies of other facultative bipeds, we suggest that important transitions in the evolution of hominin locomotor performance were the emergences of an obligate, pendulum‐like walking gait and a bouncy running gait that included a whole‐body aerial phase. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Technical note: A novel geometric morphometric approach to the study of long bone shape variation
Authors: Frelat Mélanie A. , Katina Stanislav , Weber Gerhard W. , Bookstein Fred L.
Published: November 2012

Procrustes‐based geometric morphometrics (GM) is most often applied to problems of craniofacial shape variation. Here, we demonstrate a novel application of GM to the analysis of whole postcranial elements in a study of 77 hominoid tibiae. We focus on two novel methodological improvements to standard GM approaches: 1) landmark configurations of tibiae including 15 epiphyseal landmarks and 483 semilandmarks along articular surfaces and muscle insertions along the tibial shaft and 2) an artificial affine transformation that sets moments along the shaft equal to the sum of the moments estimated in the other two anatomical directions. Diagrams of the principal components of tibial shapes support most differences between human and non‐human primates reported previously. The artificial affine transformation proposed here results in an improved clustering of the great apes that may prove useful in future discriminant or clustering studies. Since the shape variations observed may be related to different locomotor behaviors, posture, or activity patterns, we suggest that this method be used in functional analyses of tibiae or other long bones in modern populations or fossil specimens. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Victims and survivors: Stable isotopes used to identify migrants from the Great Irish Famine to 19th century London
Authors: Beaumont Julia , Geber Jonny , Powers Natasha , Wilson Andrew , Lee‐Thorp Julia , Montgomery Janet
Published: November 2012

Historical evidence documents mass migration from Ireland to London during the period of the Great Irish Famine of 1845–52. The rural Irish were reliant on a restricted diet based on potatoes but maize, a C4 plant, was imported from the United States of America in 1846–47 to mitigate against Famine. In London, Irish migrants joined a population with a more varied diet. To investigate and characterize their diet, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were obtained from bone collagen of 119 and hair keratin of six individuals from Lukin Street cemetery, Tower Hamlets (1843–54), and bone collagen of 20 individuals from the cemetery at Kilkenny Union Workhouse in Ireland (1847–51). A comparison of the results with other contemporaneous English populations suggests that Londoners may have elevated δ15N compared with their contemporaries in other cities. In comparison, the Irish group have lower δ15N. Hair analysis combined with bone collagen allows the reconstruction of perimortem dietary changes. Three children aged 5–15 years from Kilkenny have bone collagen δ13C values that indicate consumption of maize (C4). As maize was only imported into Ireland in quantity from late 1846 and 1847, these results demonstrate relatively rapid bone collagen turnover in children and highlight the importance of age‐related bone turnover rates, and the impact the age of the individual can have on studies of short‐term dietary change or recent migration. Stable light isotope data in this study are consistent with the epigraphic and documentary evidence for the presence of migrants within the London cemetery. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Brief Report: Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in VKORC1 are risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus in Asians
Authors: Kaiser Rachel , Taylor Kimberly E. , Deng Yun , Zhao Jian , Li Yonghong , Nititham Joanne , Chang Monica , Catanese Joseph , Begovich Ann B. , Brown Elizabeth E. , Edberg Jeffrey C. , McGwin Gerald , Alarcón Graciela S. , Ramsey‐Goldman Rosalind , Reveille John D. , Vila Luis M. , Petri Michelle , Kimberly Robert P. , Feng Xuebing , Sun Lingyun , Shen Nan , Li Wei , Lu Jian‐Xin , Wakeland Edward K. , Li Quan‐Zhen , Yang Wanling , Lau Yu‐Lung , Liu Fei‐Lan , Chang Deh‐Ming , Yu Chack‐Yung , Song Yeong W. ,   Hwee Siew Howe and the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Study Group, Tsao Betty P. , Criswell Lindsey A.
Published: November 2012

Objective

The increased risk of thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be partially explained by interrelated genetic pathways for thrombosis and SLE. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether 33 established and novel single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 genes involved in hemostasis pathways that have been associated with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the general population are risk factors for SLE among Asian subjects.

Methods

Patients in the discovery cohort were enrolled in 1 of 2 North American SLE cohorts. Patients in the replication cohort were enrolled in 1 of 4 Asian or 2 North American cohorts. We first genotyped 263 Asian patients with SLE and 357 healthy Asian control subjects for 33 SNPs in the discovery phase, and then genotyped 5 SNPs in up to an additional 1,496 patients and 993 controls in the replication phase. Patients were compared to controls for bivariate association with minor alleles. Principal components analysis was used to control for intra‐Asian ancestry in the replication cohort.

Results

Two genetic variants in the gene VKORC1 were highly significant in both the discovery and replication cohorts: rs9934438 (in the discovery cohort, odds ratio [OR] 2.45, P = 2 × 10−9; in the replication cohort, OR 1.54, P = 4 × 10−6) and rs9923231 (in the discovery cohort, OR 2.40, P = 6 × 10−9; in the replication cohort, OR 1.53, P = 5 × 10−6). These associations were significant in the replication cohort after adjustment for intra‐Asian ancestry: for rs9934438, OR 1.34, P = 0.0029; for rs9923231, OR 1.34, P = 0.0032.

Conclusion

Genetic variants in VKORC1, which are involved in vitamin K reduction and associated with DVT, correlate with SLE development in Asian subjects. These results suggest that there may be intersecting genetic pathways for the development of SLE and thrombosis.
Genome‐wide profiling of bone reveals differentially methylated regions in osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
Authors: Delgado‐Calle Jesús , Fernández Agustín F. , Sainz Jesús , Zarrabeitia María T. , Sañudo Carolina , García‐Renedo Raúl , Pérez‐Núñez María I. , García‐Ibarbia Carmen , Fraga Mario F. , Riancho José A.
Published: November 2012

Objective

To determine genome‐wide methylation profiles of bone from patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) and those with osteoporotic (OP) hip fractures.

Methods

Trabecular bone pieces were obtained from the central part of the femoral head of 27 patients with hip fractures and 26 patients with hip OA. DNA was isolated, and methylation was explored with Illumina methylation arrays. RNA was extracted, pooled, and deep‐sequenced to obtain the whole transcriptome. Differentially methylated regions were identified, and connections between genes with differentially methylated regions were explored by pathway and text‐mining analyses.

Results

After quality control, methylation of 23,367 CpG sites (13,463 genes) was analyzed. There was a genome‐wide inverse relationship between methylation and gene expression in both patient groups. Comparison of OP and OA bones revealed 241 CpG sites, located in 228 genes, with significant differences in methylation (false discovery rate <0.05). Of them, 217 were less methylated in OP than in OA. The absolute methylation differences were >5% in 128 CpG sites and >10% in 45 CpG sites. The differentially methylated genes were enriched for association with bone traits in the genome‐wide association study catalog. Pathway analysis and text‐mining analysis with Gene Relationships Across Implicated Loci software revealed enrichment in genes participating in glycoprotein metabolism or cell differentiation, and particularly in the homeobox superfamily of transcription factors.

Conclusion

Genome‐wide methylation profiling of bone samples revealed differentially methylated regions in OP and OA. These regions were enriched in genes associated with cell differentiation and skeletal embryogenesis, such as those in the homeobox superfamily, suggesting the existence of a developmental component in the predisposition to these disorders.
Rituximab in the treatment of refractory adult and juvenile dermatomyositis and adult polymyositis: A randomized, placebo‐phase trial
Authors: Oddis Chester V. , Reed Ann M. , Aggarwal Rohit , Rider Lisa G. , Ascherman Dana P. , Levesque Marc C. , Barohn Richard J. , Feldman Brian M. , Harris‐Love Michael O. , Koontz Diane C. , Fertig Noreen , Kelley Stephanie S. , Pryber Sherrie L. , Miller Frederick W. , Rockette Howard E. ,   and the RIM Study Group
Published: November 2012

Objective

To assess the safety and efficacy of rituximab in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐phase trial in adult and pediatric myositis patients.

Methods

Adults with refractory polymyositis (PM) and adults and children with refractory dermatomyositis (DM) were enrolled. Entry criteria included muscle weakness and ≥2 additional abnormal values on core set measures (CSMs) for adults. Juvenile DM patients required ≥3 abnormal CSMs, with or without muscle weakness. Patients were randomized to receive either rituximab early or rituximab late, and glucocorticoid or immunosuppressive therapy was allowed at study entry. The primary end point compared the time to achieve the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group preliminary definition of improvement (DOI) between the 2 groups. The secondary end points were the time to achieve ≥20% improvement in muscle strength and the proportions of patients in the early and late rituximab groups achieving the DOI at week 8.

Results

Among 200 randomized patients (76 with PM, 76 with DM, and 48 with juvenile DM), 195 showed no difference in the time to achieving the DOI between the rituximab late (n = 102) and rituximab early (n = 93) groups (P = 0.74 by log rank test), with a median time to achieving a DOI of 20.2 weeks and 20.0 weeks, respectively. The secondary end points also did not significantly differ between the 2 treatment groups. However, 161 (83%) of the randomized patients met the DOI, and individual CSMs improved in both groups throughout the 44‐week trial.

Conclusion

Although there were no significant differences in the 2 treatment arms for the primary and secondary end points, 83% of adult and juvenile myositis patients with refractory disease met the DOI. The role of B cell–depleting therapies in myositis warrants further study, with consideration for a different trial design.
ADAM‐10 is overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue and mediates angiogenesis
Authors: Isozaki Takeo , Rabquer Bradley J. , Ruth Jeffrey H. , Haines G. Kenneth , Koch Alisa E.
Published: November 2012

Objective

To examine the expression of ADAM‐10 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue (ST) and the role it plays in angiogenesis.

Methods

ADAM‐10 expression was determined using immunohistology, Western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In order to examine the role of ADAM‐10 in angiogenesis, we performed in vitro Matrigel tube formation and chemotaxis assays using human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) transfected with control or ADAM‐10 small interfering RNA (siRNA). To determine whether ADAM‐10 plays a role in angiogenesis in the context of RA, we performed Matrigel assays using a coculture system of HMVECs and RA synovial fibroblasts.

Results

Endothelial cells and lining cells within RA ST expressed high levels of ADAM‐10 compared with cells within osteoarthritis ST and normal ST. ADAM‐10 expression was significantly elevated at the protein and messenger RNA levels in HMVECs and RA synovial fibroblasts stimulated with proinflammatory mediators compared with unstimulated cells. ADAM‐10 siRNA–treated HMVECs had decreased endothelial cell tube formation and migration compared with control siRNA–treated HMVECs. In addition, ADAM‐10 siRNA–treated HMVECs from the RA synovial fibroblast coculture system had decreased endothelial cell tube formation compared with control siRNA–treated HMVECs.

Conclusion

These data show that ADAM‐10 is overexpressed in RA and suggest that ADAM‐10 may play a role in RA angiogenesis. ADAM‐10 may be a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory angiogenic diseases such as RA.
A pilot open‐label phase II trial of rituximab for non‐criteria manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Erkan Doruk , Vega JoAnn , Ramón Glendalee , Kozora Elizabeth , Lockshin Michael D.
Published: November 2012

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of rituximab in antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)–positive patients with non‐criteria manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the effect of rituximab on the aPL profile and to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab treatment for non‐criteria manifestations of APS.

Methods

In this 12‐month, phase II pilot study, adult aPL‐positive patients with thrombocytopenia, cardiac valve disease, skin ulcer, aPL nephropathy, and/or cognitive dysfunction received 2 doses of rituximab (1,000 mg) on days 1 and 15. Antiphospholipid antibody profiles and clinical outcome measures, which were categorized as complete response, partial response, no response, or recurrence, were analyzed at preset time points.

Results

Two of 19 patients experienced infusion reactions, resulting in early termination. Twelve serious adverse events and 49 nonserious adverse events were recorded. All patients who had positive results of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, and anti–β2‐glycoprotein I antibody tests at baseline had positive results at 24 weeks and 52 weeks. The numbers of patients with a complete response, a partial response, no response, and recurrence for the clinical outcome measures at 24 weeks were as follows: for thrombocytopenia, 1, 1, 2, and 0, respectively; for cardiac valve disease, 0, 0, 3, and not analyzed, respectively; for skin ulcer, 3, 1, 0, and 1, respectively; for aPL nephropathy, 0, 1, 0, and 0, respectively; and for cognitive dysfunction, 3, 1, 1, and not analyzed, respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this uncontrolled and nonrandomized pilot study suggest that the safety of rituximab in aPL‐positive patients is consistent with the safety profile of rituximab. Despite causing no substantial change in aPL profiles, rituximab may be effective in controlling some but not all non‐criteria manifestations of APS.