bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of pig genetic type on sensory properties and consumer acceptance of Parma, San Daniele and Toscano dry‐cured hams
Authors: Pagliarini Ella , Laureati Monica , Dinnella Caterina , Monteleone Erminio , Proserpio Cristina , Piasentier Edi
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the sensory properties and acceptability of different Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) dry‐cured hams. For each PDO, two genotypes were selected: IL×LW (reference hybrid) and Goland (commercial hybrid).

RESULTS

According to descriptive analysis, genetic variance affected few attributes describing Toscano and San Daniele ham sensory quality. The commercial hybrid Parma ham was distinct from the traditional one, the Goland genotype being significantly higher in red color, saltiness, dryness and hardness and showing a lower intensity of pork‐meat odor/flavor and sweetness than the IL×LW genotype. Consumer acceptance was mainly influenced by the PDO technology. A genotype effect on acceptance was only observed in Toscano ham. Principal component regression analysis revealed that Toscano ham was the preferred sample. Considering that the consumers involved were from Tuscany, it is likely that Toscano ham was preferred owing to their higher familiarity with this product.

CONCLUSION

Sensory properties of ham samples were better discriminated according to their PDO than their genotype. Likewise, consumer liking was more affected by the specific PDO technology than by genetic type. Toscano ham was the most preferred and most familiar product among Tuscan consumers, indicating that familiarity with the product was the best driver of dry‐cured ham preference. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Dynamics of Runoff and Suspended Sediment Transport in a Highly Erodible Catchment on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Tian Peng , Zhai Jianqing , Zhao Guangju , Mu Xingmin
Published: February 2015

Runoff is the key factor to understand the land degradation causing high risk of soil erosion and can reduce the water available for human societies and ecosystems. The dynamics of runoff and suspended sediment transport are not completely understood. In this study, we examined the trends, breaking point and regime changes for the runoff and sediment load at different temporal scales using 50 years of continuous observational data from a highly erodible sub‐catchment with an area of 7,325 km2 in the Beiluo River basin on the Loess Plateau, China. At the annual scale, the runoff and sediment load declined significantly (p < 0·05) with decreasing rates of −0·23 mm y−1 and −164·9 Mg km−2 y−1, respectively. Abrupt changes in the runoff and sediment load series were detected between 1979 and 1999; thus, the data were divided into intervals of 1960–1979, 1980–1999 and 2000–2009. The flow duration curve analysis indicated increasing low‐flow values and decreasing daily runoff and sediment discharge peaks, which suggested that soil and water conservation measures reduced the volume of runoff and the sediment load. This led to a more uniform runoff regime. At the flood event scale, we investigated the relationship between runoff and the suspended sediment load based on 123 flood events, which showed clearly that the magnitude and frequency of hyper‐concentrated sediment flows decreased in 2000–2009 compared with 1960–1999. The annual erosive rainfall exhibited non‐significant changes throughout the entire study period. We conclude that soil and water conservation measures (e.g. afforestation, grassing, terraces and check dams) have played major roles in the changes in runoff and the sediment load in the Beiluo River catchment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lp‐boundedness and topological structure of solutions for flexible structural systems
Authors: Andrade Filipe , Cuevas Claudio , Dantas Filipe , Soto Herme
Published: February 2015

This work deals with Lp‐boundedness of mild solutions for an abstract version of the damped wave equation u′′+αu′′′=βΔu + γΔu′+f that models the vibrations of flexible structures possessing internal material damping and external force f. We prove that the set consisting of mild solutions for this problem is compact and connected in the space of continuous functions. This property is known in the literature as the Kneser's property. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Evidence of Early Chalcolithic Interpersonal Violence in the Middle Ebro Valley (Spain): Two Arrowhead Injuries from the Swallet of Las Yurdinas II
Authors: Fernández‐Crespo T.
Published: February 2015

Two new cases of Early Chalcolithic arrowhead injuries are described. They come from the funerary site of Las Yurdinas II (Basque Country, Spain), a rock shelter with a little swallet where at least 90 subjects were interred. The lesions are located in a right humerus and a left ulna belonging to adult individuals, one of whom is a male, and both show signs of healing. Other possible signs of violence have been found in the collection, including one cranial trauma and two parry fractures. Both arrowhead injuries are set in the context of similar findings in the Middle Ebro Valley, assessing the number and distribution of cases, signs of healing, possible impact trajectory and the age and sex estimation of the individuals affected. Increasing social complexity and demographic pressure in the region may be causally linked to such an evidence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardioprotective role of growth/differentiation factor 1 in post‐infarction left ventricular remodelling and dysfunction
Authors: Bao Ming‐Wei , Zhang Xiao‐Jing , Li Liangpeng , Cai Zhongxiang , Liu Xiaoxiong , Wan Nian , Hu Gangying , Wan Fengwei , Zhang Rui , Zhu Xueyong , Xia Hao , Li Hongliang
Published: February 2015

Growth/differentiation factor 1 (GDF1) is a secreted glycoprotein of the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily that mediates cell differentiation events during embryonic development. GDF1 is expressed in several tissues, including the heart. However, the functional role of GDF1 in myocardial infarction (MI)‐induced cardiac remodelling and dysfunction is not known. Here, we performed gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function studies using cardiac‐specific GDF1 transgenic (TG) and knockout (KO) mice to determine the role of GDF1 in the pathogenesis of functional and architectural cardiac remodelling after MI, which was induced by surgical left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of GDF1 in the heart causes a significant decrease in MI‐derived mortality post‐MI and leads to attenuated infarct size expansion, left ventricular (LV) dilatation, and cardiac dysfunction at 1 week and 4 weeks after MI injury. Compared with control animals, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, inflammation, hypertrophy, and interstitial fibrosis were all remarkably reduced in the GDF1‐TG mice following MI. In contrast, GDF1 deficiency greatly exacerbated the pathological cardiac remodelling response after infarction. Further analysis of the in vitro and in vivo signalling events indicated that the beneficial role of GDF1 in MI‐induced cardiac dysfunction and LV remodelling was associated with the inhibition of non‐canonical (MEK–ERK1/2) and canonical (Smad) signalling cascades. Overall, our data reveal that GDF1 in the heart is a novel mediator that protects against the development of post‐infarction cardiac remodelling via negative regulation of the MEK–ERK1/2 and Smad signalling pathways. Thus, GDF1 may serve as a valuable therapeutic target for the treatment of MI. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NF‐κB1, NF‐κB2 and c‐Rel differentially regulate susceptibility to colitis‐associated adenoma development in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Burkitt Michael D , Hanedi Abdalla F , Duckworth Carrie A , Williams Jonathan M , Tang Joseph M , O'Reilly Lorraine A , Putoczki Tracy L , Gerondakis Steve , Dimaline Rod , Caamano Jorge H , Pritchard D Mark
Published: February 2015

NF‐κB signalling is an important factor in the development of inflammation‐associated cancers. Mouse models of Helicobacter‐induced gastric cancer and colitis‐associated colorectal cancer have demonstrated that classical NF‐κB signalling is an important regulator of these processes. In the stomach, it has also been demonstrated that signalling involving specific NF‐κB proteins, including NF‐κB1/p50, NF‐κB2/p52, and c‐Rel, differentially regulate the development of gastric pre‐neoplasia. To investigate the effect of NF‐κB subunit loss on colitis‐associated carcinogenesis, we administered azoxymethane followed by pulsed dextran sodium sulphate to C57BL/6, Nfkb1−/−, Nfkb2−/−, and c‐Rel−/−mice. Animals lacking the c‐Rel subunit were more susceptible to colitis‐associated cancer than wild‐type mice, developing 3.5 times more colonic polyps per animal than wild‐type mice. Nfkb2−/− mice were resistant to colitis‐associated cancer, developing fewer polyps per colon than wild‐type mice (median 1 compared to 4). To investigate the mechanisms underlying these trends, azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulphate were administered separately to mice of each genotype. Nfkb2−/− mice developed fewer clinical signs of colitis and exhibited less severe colitis and an attenuated cytokine response compared with all other groups following DSS administration. Azoxymethane administration did not fully suppress colonic epithelial mitosis in c‐Rel−/− mice and less colonic epithelial apoptosis was also observed in this genotype compared to wild‐type counterparts. These observations demonstrate different functions of specific NF‐κB subunits in this model of colitis‐associated carcinogenesis. NF‐κB2/p52 is necessary for the development of colitis, whilst c‐Rel‐mediated signalling regulates colonic epithelial cell turnover following DNA damage. © 2015 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Non‐invasive prenatal diagnosis of achondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia: next‐generation sequencing allows for a safer, more accurate, and comprehensive approach
Authors: Chitty Lyn S. , Mason Sarah , Barrett Angela N. , McKay Fiona , Lench Nicholas , Daley Rebecca , Jenkins Lucy A.
Published: February 2015

Objective

Accurate prenatal diagnosis of genetic conditions can be challenging and usually requires invasive testing. Here, we demonstrate the potential of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) for the analysis of cell‐free DNA in maternal blood to transform prenatal diagnosis of monogenic disorders.

Methods

Analysis of cell‐free DNA using a PCR and restriction enzyme digest (PCR–RED) was compared with a novel NGS assay in pregnancies at risk of achondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia.

Results

PCR–RED was performed in 72 cases and was correct in 88.6%, inconclusive in 7% with one false negative. NGS was performed in 47 cases and was accurate in 96.2% with no inconclusives. Both approaches were used in 27 cases, with NGS giving the correct result in the two cases inconclusive with PCR–RED.

Conclusion

NGS provides an accurate, flexible approach to non‐invasive prenatal diagnosis of de novo and paternally inherited mutations. It is more sensitive than PCR–RED and is ideal when screening a gene with multiple potential pathogenic mutations. These findings highlight the value of NGS in the development of non‐invasive prenatal diagnosis for other monogenic disorders. © 2015 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Basic substances: an opportunity for approval of low‐concern substances underEUpesticide regulation
Authors: Marchand Patrice A
Published: February 2015

Plant extracts and byproducts furnish various alternative products for crop protection and are traditionally used by farmers. However, the cost and timeframe for their registration as active substances are prohibitive for small companies and farmers' associations with the new Plant Protection Products (PPP) Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009. However, there is now a possibility of registering light compounds as ‘basic substances’, a new category described in Article 23 and in ‘Whereas/Recital 18’. We developed a regulatory expertise on the approval of such products within the framework of thePPPregulation. A Draft Assessment Report in one volume was established, later transformed byECDirectorate into a Basic Substance Application Template, and subsequently used by theECas a matrix for the corresponding Guidelines for applicants (SANCO10363/2012 rev. 9). Here we provide further tools, consisting of methodological, linguistic and strategic recommendations in order to constitute a Basic Substance Application (BSA) and proceed to its registration. While the use of alternative agents for crop protection is increasing both in organic and conventional agriculture, these usages are still considered as ‘minor uses’. Our approach and tools are valuable to non‐PPPspecialised applicants for simplifying and facilitating their submission of theBSA. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Air embolism: a complication of computed tomography‐guided transthoracic needle biopsy
Authors: Pando Sandoval Ana , Ariza Prota Miguel Angel , García Clemente Marta , Prieto Amador , Fole Vázquez David , Casán Pere
Published: February 2015

Air embolism is a pathological condition caused by the entry of gas into vascular structures. It is a rare but feared complication due to its serious morbidity. We report two male patients who were diagnosed with air embolism as a complication of computed tomography‐guided transthoracic needle biopsy. Both patients referred respiratory symptoms minutes after the procedure. The chest computed tomography of one of the patients showed air in the left ventricle and ascending aorta, and in the other, air was noted only in the left ventricle. Both patients suffered myocardial infarction without associated mortality. One patient showed anthracotic dust deposits in the lung biopsy suggestive of pneumoconiosis, and there was no definitive diagnosis in the other. We strongly believe that because of the very low incidence but high mortality of this entity, all physicians should be aware of this complication in order to know how to proceed in this situation.
Age‐Period‐Cohort approaches to back‐calculation of cancer incidence rate
Authors: Oh Cheongeun , Holford Theodore R.
Published: February 2015

A compartment model for cancer incidence and mortality is developed in which healthy subjects may develop cancer and subsequently die of cancer or another cause. In order to adequately represent the experience of a defined population, it is also necessary to allow for subjects who are diagnosed at death, as well as subjects who migrate and are subsequently lost to follow‐up. Expressions are derived for the number of cancer deaths as a function of the number of incidence cases and vice versa, which allows for the use of mortality statistics to obtain estimates of incidence using survival information. In addition, the model can be used to obtain estimates of cancer prevalence, which is useful for health care planning. The method is illustrated using data on lung cancer among males in Connecticut. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Roadmap for Controlled Production of Topological Insulator Nanostructures and Thin Films
Authors: Guo Yunfan , Liu Zhongfan , Peng Hailin
Published: February 2015

The group V–VI chalcogenide semiconductors (Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3, and Sb2Te3) have long been known as thermoelectric materials. Recently, they have been once more generating interest because Bi2Se3, Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 have been crowned as 3D topological insulators (TIs), which have insulating bulk gaps and metallic Dirac surface states. One big challenge in the study of TIs is the lack of high‐quality materials with few defects and insulating bulk states. To manifest the topological surface states, it is critical to suppress the contribution from the bulk carriers. Controlled production of TI nanostructures that have a large surface‐to‐volume ratio is an efficient way to reduce the bulk conductance and to significantly enhance the topological surface conduction. In this review article, the recent progress on the preparation of TI nanostructures is highlighted. Basic production methods for TI nanostructures are introduced in detail. Furthermore, several specific production approaches to reduce the residual bulk carriers from defects are summarized. Finally, the progress and the prospects of the production of TI‐based heterostructures, which hold promise in both fundamental study and novel applications are discussed.
Assessment of Cesarean hysterotomy scar in non‐pregnant women: reliability of transvaginal sonography with and without contrast enhancement
Authors: Baranov A. , Gunnarsson G. , Salvesen K. Å. , Isberg P.‐E. , Vikhareva O.
Published: February 2015

Objectives

To determine intra‐ and interobserver reliability of evaluating the appearance and measurement of Cesarean hysterotomy scars using transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), with and without saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH), in non‐pregnant women.

Methods

Fifty‐six women with one previous Cesarean delivery were examined by TVS, with and without contrast enhancement, 6–9 months after the Cesarean delivery. Two observers, blinded to their own and each other's measurements, evaluated the appearance of the hysterotomy scar and measured the myometrial thickness adjacent to the scar or scar defect (MTS). If a scar defect was noted, the remaining myometrial thickness over the defect (RMT) was measured. A scar defect was defined as large if RMT was ≤ 2.2 mm on conventional TVS and ≤ 2.5 mm when SCSH was performed. Intra‐ and interobserver reliability of conventional TVS and SCSH were assessed.

Results

Intraobserver reliability was good, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of ≥ 0.97 for measurements of MTS and RMT on conventional TVS and SCSH. Interobserver ICCs for measurements obtained on SCSH were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.76–0.91) for MTS and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93–0.98) for RMT, compared with 0.82 (95% CI, 0.72–0.89) for MTS and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.68–0.95) for RMT measured on conventional TVS. The kappa coefficient for measurements obtained on SCSH was 0.92, compared with 0.85 for conventional TVS. Intermethod ICC was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78–0.92) for measurement of MTS and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.78–0.95) for measurement of RMT, with a kappa coefficient of 0.57.

Conclusions

Measurement of RMT using SCSH is a reliable method for assessing Cesarean hysterotomy scars in non‐pregnant women and can be used in clinical practice. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
ALRT‐based energy detection using uniform noise distribution
Authors: Wang Kezhi , Chen Yunfei , Chen Jiming
Published: February 2015

Energy detection is widely used in cognitive radio due to its low complexity. One fundamental challenge is that its performance degrades in the presence of noise uncertainty, which inevitably occurs in practical implementations. In this work, three novel detectors based on uniformly distributed noise uncertainty as the worst‐case scenario are proposed. Numerical results show that the new detectors outperform the conventional energy detector with considerable performance gains. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus exposed to Orange II and Sudan III azo dyes
Authors: Pan Hongmiao , Xu Joshua , Kweon Oh-Gew , Zou Wen , Feng Jinhui , He Gui-Xin , Cerniglia Carl E , Chen Huizhong
Published: February 2015

We previously demonstrated the effects of azo dyes and their reduction metabolites on bacterial cell growth and cell viability. In this report, the effects of Orange II and Sudan III on gene expression profiling in Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA 1556 were analyzed using microarray and quantitative RT-PCR technology. Upon exposure to 6 μg/ml Orange II for 18 h, 21 genes were found to be differently expressed. Among them, 8 and 13 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively. Most proteins encoded by these differentially expressed genes involve stress response caused by drug metabolism, oxidation, and alkaline shock indicating that S. aureus could adapt to Orange II exposure through a balance between up and down regulated gene expression. Whereas, after exposure to 6 μg/ml Sudan III for 18 h, 57 genes were differentially expressed. In which, 51 genes were up-regulated and 6 were down-regulated. Most proteins encoded by these differentially expressed genes involve in cell wall/membrane biogenesis and biosynthesis, nutrient uptake, transport and metabolite, and stress response, suggesting that Sudan III damages the bacterial cell wall or/and membrane due to binding of the dye. Further analysis indicated that all differentially expressed genes encoded membrane proteins were up-regulated and most of them serve as transporters. The result suggested that these genes might contribute to survival, persistence and growth in the presence of Sudan III. Only one gene msrA, which plays an important role in oxidative stress resistance, was found to be down-regulated after exposure to both Orange II and Sudan III. The present results suggested that both these two azo dyes can cause stress in S. aureus and the response of the bacterium to the stress is mainly related to characteristics of the azo dyes.
European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on quality assurance in mental healthcare
Authors: Gaebel W. , Großimlinghaus I. , Heun R. , Janssen B. , Johnson B. , Kurimay T. , Montellano P. , Muijen M. , Munk-Jorgensen P. , Rössler W. , Ruggeri M. , Thornicroft G. , Zielasek J.
Published: February 2015

Purpose:

To advance the quality of mental healthcare in Europe by developing guidance on implementing quality assurance.

Methods:

We performed a systematic literature search on quality assurance in mental healthcare and the 522 retrieved documents were evaluated by two independent reviewers (B.J. and J.Z.). Based on these evaluations, evidence tables were generated. As it was found that these did not cover all areas of mental healthcare, supplementary hand searches were performed for selected additional areas. Based on these findings, fifteen graded recommendations were developed and consented by the authors. Review by the EPA Guidance Committee and EPA Board led to two additional recommendations (on immigrant mental healthcare and parity of mental and physical healthcare funding).

Results:

Although quality assurance (measures to keep a certain degree of quality), quality control and monitoring (applying quality indicators to the current degree of quality), and quality management (coordinated measures and activities with regard to quality) are conceptually distinct, in practice they are frequently used as if identical and hardly separable. There is a dearth of controlled trials addressing ways to optimize quality assurance in mental healthcare. Altogether, seventeen recommendations were developed addressing a range of aspects of quality assurance in mental healthcare, which appear usable across Europe. These were divided into recommendations about structures, processes and outcomes. Each recommendation was assigned to a hierarchical level of analysis (macro-, meso- and micro-level).

Discussion:

There was a lack of evidence retrievable by a systematic literature search about quality assurance of mental healthcare. Therefore, only after further topics and search had been added it was possible to develop recommendations with mostly medium evidence levels.

Conclusion:

Evidence-based graded recommendations for quality assurance in mental healthcare were developed which should next be implemented and evaluated for feasibility and validity in some European countries. Due to the small evidence base identified corresponding to the practical obscurity of the concept and methods, a European research initiative is called for by the stakeholders represented in this Guidance to improve the educational, methodological and empirical basis for a future broad implementation of measures for quality assurance in European mental healthcare.
miR‐491‐5p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting JMJD2B in ERα‐positive breast cancer
Authors: Hui Zeng , Yiling Chen , Wenting You , XuQun Huang , ChuanYi Zhou , Hui Li
Published: February 2015

The involvement of miR‐491‐5p in breast cancer development is unclear. This study showed that miR‐491‐5p is significantly downregulated in ERα‐positive breast cancer tissues and cell lines and is generally hypermethylated in ERα‐positive breast cancer. MiR‐491‐5p overexpression significantly suppressed estrogen signaling and estrogen‐stimulated proliferation of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the histone demethylase JMJD2B was identified as a direct target of miR‐491‐5p. The ectopic expression of JMJD2B abrogated the phenotypic changes induced by miR‐491‐5p in breast cancer cells. Collectively, our data indicate that miR‐491‐5p plays a tumor suppressor role in the development and progression of breast caner and may be a novel therapeutic target against ERα‐positive breast cancer.
Marijuana: A Time-Honored but Untested Treatment for Epilepsy
Authors: McLachlan Richard S.
Published: February 2015

The biology of the endocannabinoid system in the brain provides a possible basis for a beneficial pharmacological effect of marijuana on seizures. However, evidence for efficacy of cannabis treatment of epilepsy is anecdotal because no acceptable randomized controlled trials have been done. Proper dosage and means of administration remain unknown. Cannabis is safer than other controlled substances, including tobacco or alcohol, and appears to be relatively safe compared with most pharmaceuticals used to treat epilepsy. This is a review of this topic from a Canadian perspective.
The association between economic inactivity and mental health among young people: a longitudinal study of young adults who are not in employment, education or training
Authors: Power E. , Clarke M. , Kelleher I. , Coughlan H. , Lynch F. , Connor D. , Fitzpatrick C. , Harley M. , Cannon M.
Published: February 2015

Objectives

Increasing rates of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) are a cause of concern both in Ireland and internationally, but little longitudinal research has examined the link between psychiatric disorder in young people and NEET status.

Methods

The Challenging Times (CT) Study is a longitudinal, population-based study of psychopathology among 212 young Irish people. Clinical interviews were performed at two time points: 12–15 years and 19–24 years.

Results

NEET status in young adulthood was associated with a sevenfold increased risk of current suicidal ideation. This result was independent of prior adolescent mental disorder. NEET young people had a fourfold increased odds of being diagnosed with a mental disorder in childhood or early adolescence compared with their economically active peers. NEET young people were at an almost threefold increased risk of any mental health disorder a twofold increased risk of anxiety disorder and threefold increased odds of suicide attempts over their lifetime compared with economically active peers.

Conclusions

NEET young people are at increased risk for mental disorder and suicidal ideation. The association is bidirectional, as prior mental disorder in adolescence appeared to account for much of the association between NEET status and current mental health problems. However, economic inactivity conveys an increased risk for suicidal ideation over and above that due to prior disorder. Our findings provide a compelling economic and societal argument for early intervention and treatment of mental disorder and the importance of vocational interventions for reducing suicide risk in young adults.
GAPS IN TAYLOR SERIES OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Authors: DUTTER SETH
Published: February 2015

Let $f$ be a rational function on an algebraic curve over the complex numbers. For a point $p$ and local parameter $x$ we can consider the Taylor series for $f$ in the variable $x$. In this paper we give an upper bound on the frequency with which the terms in the Taylor series have $0$ as their coefficient.
Daily consumption of white tea (Camellia sinensis (L.)) improves the cerebral cortex metabolic and oxidative profile in prediabetic Wistar rats
Authors: Nunes Ana R. , Alves Marco G. , Tomás Gonçalo D. , Conde Vanessa R. , Cristóvão Ana C. , Moreira Paula I. , Oliveira Pedro F. , Silva Branca M.
Published: February 2015

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem and its incidence is rising dramatically. The brain, particularly the cerebral cortex, is very susceptible to glucose fluctuations and hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress. Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.)) is widely consumed; however, the antidiabetic properties of white tea remain largely unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the effects of daily consumption of white tea on the cerebral cortex of prediabetic rats. The cerebral cortex metabolic profile was evaluated, and the expression levels of GLUT, phosphofructokinase-1, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and monocarboxylate transporter 4 were assessed. LDH activity was also determined. The cerebral cortex oxidative profile was determined by evaluating its antioxidant power, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation levels. Catalase, glutathione, glutamate, N-acetylaspartate, aspartate, choline, γ-aminobutyric acid, taurine and valine contents were determined. Daily consumption of white tea ameliorated glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Moreover, white tea altered the cortex glycolytic profile, modulating GLUT expression and lactate and alanine contents. Finally, white tea consumption restored protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation levels and catalase expression, and improved antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, daily consumption of white tea improved the cerebral cortex metabolic and oxidative profile in prediabetic rats, suggesting it as a good, safe and inexpensive strategy to prevent DM-related effects in the cerebral cortex.
Glycaemic index and glycaemic load of selected popular foods consumed in Southeast Asia
Authors: Sun Lijuan , Lee Davina Elizabeth Mei , Tan Wei Jie Kevin , Ranawana Dinesh Viren , Quek Yu Chin Rina , Goh Hui Jen , Henry Christiani Jeyakumar
Published: February 2015

The objective of the present study was to determine the glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) values of standard portion sizes of Southeast Asian traditional foods. A total of fifteen popular Southeast Asian foods were evaluated. Of these foods, three were soft drinks, while the other twelve were solid foods commonly consumed in this region. In total, forty-seven healthy participants (eighteen males and twenty-nine females) volunteered to consume either glucose at least twice or one of the fifteen test foods after a 10–12 h overnight fast. Blood glucose concentrations were analysed before consumption of the test food, and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after food consumption, using capillary blood samples. The GI value of each test food was calculated by expressing the incremental area under the blood glucose response curve (IAUC) value of the test food as a percentage of each participant's average IAUC value, with glucose as the reference food. Among the fifteen foods tested, six belonged to low-GI foods (Ice Green Tea, Beehoon, Pandan Waffle, Curry Puff, Youtiao and Kaya Butter Toast), three belonged to medium-GI foods (Barley Drink, Char Siew Pau and Nasi Lemak), and the other six belonged to high-GI foods (Ice Lemon Tea, Chinese Carrot Cake, Chinese Yam Cake, Chee Cheong Fun, Lo Mai Gai and Pink Rice Cake). The GI and GL values of these traditional foods provide valuable information to consumers, researchers and dietitians on the optimal food choice for glycaemic control. Moreover, our dataset provides GI values of fifteen foods that were not previously tested extensively, and it presents values of foods commonly consumed in Southeast Asia.
Exposure to ‘healthy’ fast food meal bundles in television advertisements promotes liking for fast food but not healthier choices in children
Authors: Boyland Emma J. , Kavanagh-Safran Melissa , Halford Jason C. G.
Published: February 2015

Due to regulatory changes, fast food companies often depict healthy foods in their television advertisements to children. The present study examined how exposure to advertising for ‘healthy’ meal bundles to children influenced the selection of food in children. A total of fifty-nine children (thirty-seven males) aged 7–10 years (8·8 (sd0·9) years) took part in the present study. The within-participant, counterbalanced design had two conditions: control (exposure to ten toy adverts across two breaks of five adverts each) and experimental (the middle advert in each break replaced with one for a McDonald's Happy Meal®depicting the meal bundle as consisting of fish fingers, a fruit bag and a bottle of mineral water). Following viewing of the adverts embedded in a cartoon, children completed a hypothetical menu task that reported liking for McDonald's food and fast food, in general. Nutritional knowledge, height and weight of the children were measured. There was no significant difference between the two advert conditions for the nutritional content of the meal bundles selected. However, children's liking for fast food, in general, increased after exposure to the food adverts relative to control (P= 0·004). Compared to children with high nutritional knowledge, those with low scores selected meals of greater energy content (305 kJ) after viewing the food adverts (P= 0·016). Exposure to adverts for ‘healthy’ meal bundles did not drive healthier choices in children, but did promote liking for fast food. These findings contribute to debates about food advertising to children and the effectiveness of related policies.
The Space between Nation and Empire: The Making and Unmaking of Eastern Bengal and Assam Province, 1905–1911
Authors: Iqbal Iftekhar
Published: February 2015

The article examines the spatial turn in the contestations between the Indian nation and the British empire, as manifested in the creation and annulment of a new province at the turn of the twentieth century. The province, Eastern Bengal and Assam, was a culmination of the British Indian empire's eastern gaze since the early nineteenth century across northeastern India, Burma, and southern China. While the new province was expected to facilitate the empire's eastward transregional engagements, the national resistance to the scheme was influenced more by the comfort zone of the agro-ecological regime of the plains of the Bengal Delta, imagined to be capable of sustaining the Bengali nation in decline. The province was dismantled within six years in the face of the razing national movement, but a century later its legacy returns as India looks east.
On the Source and Rewriting of 1 Corinthians 2.9 in Christian, Jewish and Islamic Traditions (1 Clem34.8;GosJud47.10–13; aḥadīth qudsī)
Authors: Clivaz Claire , Schulthess Sara
Published: February 2015

The article reopens the dossier of the sources, parallels and rewritings of 1 Cor 2.9, a saying that Paul attributes to a written source, when other sources put it into Jesus' mouth (e.g.GosThom17). The state of research shows that the hypothesis of an oral source is generally preferred but an accurate study of 1Clem34.8, a parallel too often neglected, supports the presence of a written source that existed before 1 Cor 2.9.GosJud47.10–13 will help to understand the attribution of the saying to Jesus. Finally, the article takes into account the well-known parallel in Islamic tradition, aḥadīth qudsī.
Interactions between substrate temperature and humidity in signalling cyclical dormancy in seeds of two perennial tropical species
Authors: Duarte Daniela M. , Garcia Queila S.
Published: February 2015

The involvement of environmental factors in dormancy cycling is well known in temperate annual species, but it is not known how interaction between soil temperatures and humidity can modulate dormancy in perennial tropical species. In this study the effects were evaluated of substrate temperature and humidity on the modulation of the acquisition and overcoming of secondary dormancy in the buried seeds of two endemic Eriocaulaceae species from the rocky fields (campos rupestres) vegetation in south-eastern Brazil. Fresh seeds ofComanthera bisulcataandSyngonanthus verticillatuswere buried and subsequently maintained at temperatures of 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, under three substrate humidity levels (boggy, humid and humid/dry). The seeds were exhumed every 3 months and tested for germination (20°C, 12 h photoperiod) and viability (tetrazolium test). The seeds of both species acquired dormancy after burial in all of the treatments. During the experimental period they demonstrated cycles of acquisition and overcoming of dormancy that were most evident in the treatments involving alterations of the substrate humidity (humid/dry regime) that coincided with the environmental conditions found naturally in the region of origin of the species. The seeds gradually lost dormancy during the dry period and re-acquired it when exposed again to humidity; dormancy would once again be overcome during the subsequent dry period. Burial promoted the acquisition of dormancy inC. bisulcataandS. verticillatusseeds; the lowest temperature tested favoured overcoming dormancy; and varying the humidity regime signalled the acquisition and the overcoming of secondary dormancy.
Inpatient aggression in community hospitals
Authors: Szabo Katalin A. , White Christopher L. , Cummings Stephen E. , Wang Raziya S. , Quanbeck Cameron D.
Published: February 2015

Physical violence is a frequent occurrence in acute community psychiatry units worldwide. Violent acts by patients cause many direct injuries and significantly degrade quality of care. The most accurate tools for predicting near-term violence on acute units rely on current clinical features rather than demographic risk factors. The efficacy of risk assessment strategies to lower incidence of violence on acute units is unknown. A range of behavioral and psychopharmacologic treatments have been shown to reduce violence among psychiatric inpatients.
Mental Capacity
Authors: Klie Thomas , Leuchtner Jörg
Published: February 2015

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted on December 13, 2006. It states that, in order to guarantee their legal capacity, all individuals with a disability are entitled to receive access to legal assistance and support proportionate to the degree of their respective mental capacity. Appropriate professional and legal interaction with people suffering from dementia presents a key challenge to all countries that have ratified the CRPD. This review describes the meaning of Article 12 of the CRPD with regard to the mental capacity of people with dementia as well as the challenges and possible paths of action arising from the ratification of the CRPD in Germany. The review closes with an illustration of exemplary international approaches that provide an opportunity to open up new perspectives.
Comparison of Three Different Assessments of Capacity to Consent in Dementia Patients
Authors: Mueller Tanja , Haberstroh Julia , Knebel Maren , Oswald Frank , Weygandt Martin , Schröder Johannes , Markwort Susanne , Pantel Johannes
Published: February 2015

We compared clinical assessments of capacity to consent to medical treatment with results obtained using the MacArthur Competence Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T). Capacity to consent to treatment with antidementia drugs was assessed in 53 outpatients suffering from mild to moderate dementia. The prevalence of incapacity as evaluated by the physician was 52.8% and differed from the MacCAT-T psychometric assessment (81.1%). A final interdisciplinary assessment combined the two independent measures as well as all other available and relevant information, and concluded that 60.4% did not have the capacity to consent to medical treatment. Possible reasons for disagreement are the differing definitions and thresholds used to evaluate whether the necessary abilities are present, in particular for assessments of the ability “understanding.”
What is Good for Me?
Authors: Panke-Kochinke Birgit
Published: February 2015

The hermeneutic reconstruction of individual strategies for adapting to dementia during one’s lifetime is necessary to determine which forms of support from other people are required to live successfully with this chronic disease. The biographical background is an important factor for determining specific coping strategies, and the support provided by social networks influences the use of these strategies. The results of a qualitative study (SEIN, Selbstbestimmung und Intervention = Self-Determination and Intervention; completed) show how the adaption process of dementia is determined during one’s lifetime.
Outstanding Student Paper Awards
Authors:   AGU
Published: February 2015

Winners of the 2014 Outstanding Student Paper Awards announced
Reduced Emissions Lead to Clearer Skies over Alabama
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: February 2015

Aerosol pollutants are on the decline—and so are their effects.
Volcanic Eruptions Steer Conversations on Climate Intervention
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: February 2015

Studies of volcanoes, Earth's natural climate coolers, cause scientists to question the merits of methods that intend to slow down climate change by injecting the stratosphere with aerosols.
Human and Robotic Missions: To the Moon Again and Beyond
Authors: Kring David A.
Published: February 2015

Robotic probes could help us collect samples from the Moon, potentially revealing the origins of our solar system.
Sharing Science Events Seek to Engage and Inspire
Authors: Adams Mary Catherine
Published: February 2015

More than 20 events at the 2014 Fall Meeting sought to provide scientists with opportunities, tools, and support to communicate the value of widespread awareness of Earth and space science.
Precision Assembly of Complex Cellular Microenvironments using Holographic Optical Tweezers
Authors: Kirkham Glen R. , Britchford Emily , Upton Thomas , Ware James , Gibson Graham M. , Devaud Yannick , Ehrbar Martin , Padgett Miles , Allen Stephanie , Buttery Lee D. , Shakesheff Kevin
Published: February 2015

The accurate study of cellular microenvironments is limited by the lack of technologies that can manipulate cells in 3D at a sufficiently small length scale. The ability to build and manipulate multicellular microscopic structures will facilitate a more detailed understanding of cellular function in fields such as developmental and stem cell biology. We present a holographic optical tweezers based technology to accurately generate bespoke cellular micro-architectures. Using embryonic stem cells, 3D structures of varying geometries were created and stabilized using hydrogels and cell-cell adhesion methods. Control of chemical microenvironments was achieved by the temporal release of specific factors from polymer microparticles positioned within these constructs. Complex co-culture micro-environmental analogues were also generated to reproduce structures found within adult stem cell niches. The application of holographic optical tweezers-based micromanipulation will enable novel insights into biological microenvironments by allowing researchers to form complex architectures with sub-micron precision of cells, matrices and molecules.
Directionally hiding objects and creating illusions above a carpet-like device by reflection holography
Authors: Cheng Qiluan , Wu Kedi , Shi Yile , Wang Hui , Wang Guo Ping
Published: February 2015

Realization of a perfect invisibility cloak still challenges the current fabricating technologies. Most experiments, if not all, are hence focused on carpet cloaks because of their relatively low requirements to material properties. Nevertheless, present invisibility carpets are used to hide beneath objects. Here, we report a carpet-like device to directionally conceal objects and further to create illusions above it. The device is fabricated through recording a reflection hologram of objects and is used to produce a time-reversed signal to compensate for the information of the objects and further to create light field of another object so as to realize both functions of hiding the objects and creating illusions, respectively. The carpet-like device can work for macroscopic objects at visible wavelength as the distance between objects and device is at decimeter scale. Our carpet-like device to realizing invisibility and creating illusions may provide a robust way for crucial applications of magic camouflaging and anti-detection etc.
Quantification of the binding potential of cell-surface receptors in fresh excised specimens via dual-probe modeling of SERS nanoparticles
Authors: Sinha Lagnojita , Wang Yu , Yang Cynthia , Khan Altaz , Brankov Jovan G. , Liu Jonathan T. C. , Tichauer Kenneth M.
Published: February 2015

The complete removal of cancerous tissue is a central aim of surgical oncology, but is difficult to achieve in certain cases, especially when the removal of surrounding normal tissues must be minimized. Therefore, when post-operative pathology identifies residual tumor at the surgical margins, re-excision surgeries are often necessary. An intraoperative approach for tumor-margin assessment, insensitive to nonspecific sources of molecular probe accumulation and contrast, is presented employing kinetic-modeling analysis of dual-probe staining using surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoparticles (SERS NPs). Human glioma (U251) and epidermoid (A431) tumors were implanted subcutaneously in six athymic mice. Fresh resected tissues were stained with an equimolar mixture of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted and untargeted SERS NPs. The binding potential (BP; proportional to receptor concentration) of EGFR – a cell-surface receptor associated with cancer – was estimated from kinetic modeling of targeted and untargeted NP concentrations in response to serial rinsing. EGFR BPs in healthy, U251 and A431 tissues were 0.06 ± 0.14, 1.13 ± 0.40 and 2.23 ± 0.86, respectively, which agree with flow-cytometry measurements and published reports. The ability of this approach to quantify the BP of cell-surface biomarkers in fresh tissues opens up an accurate new approach to analyze tumor margins intraoperatively.
Optimization of the heme biosynthesis pathway for the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid in Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhang Junli , Kang Zhen , Chen Jian , Du Guocheng
Published: February 2015

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), the committed intermediate of the heme biosynthesis pathway, shows significant promise for cancer treatment. Here, we identified that in addition to hemA and hemL, hemB, hemD, hemF, hemG and hemH are also the major regulatory targets of the heme biosynthesis pathway. Interestingly, up-regulation of hemD and hemF benefited ALA accumulation whereas overexpression of hemB, hemG and hemH diminished ALA accumulation. Accordingly, by combinatorial overexpression of the hemA, hemL, hemD and hemF with different copy-number plasmids, the titer of ALA was improved to 3.25 g l−1. Furthermore, in combination with transcriptional and enzymatic analysis, we demonstrated that ALA dehydratase (HemB) encoded by hemB is feedback inhibited by the downstream intermediate protoporphyrinogen IX. This work has great potential to be scaled-up for microbial production of ALA and provides new important insights into the regulatory mechanism of the heme biosynthesis pathway.